High Queen Elandra's Arc

Chapter 2 of 4

She does not answer right away. Instead, she leads him deeper into the hall, past the tomb he has chosen to stand beside these three nights, to a side chamber where the divination bowl rests on its pedestal. The onyx surface catches the torchlight. The silver water inside moves without wind, shimmering like something alive. She gestures for him to look into it. He leans forward, and whatever he sees in the rippling surface makes his breath catch. She watches his face, not the water. She already knows what it shows — the days he has left, numbered and finite. When he straightens, his expression has not changed. He knew before he came here. The bowl has only confirmed it. She speaks the question she has never asked a mortal this early. "How long?" He meets her eyes without flinching. "Six days. Maybe seven." The answer settles into her like a stone dropping into deep water. She has time to decide, but not much. Not enough to wait and watch him return again, not enough to test whether he understands what he is asking for. She could turn him tonight and never know if he was worthy, or she could wait and lose him entirely. The choice has always been hers to make. Now it has a deadline. She nods once, dismissing him, and he leaves without another word. Alone in the chamber, she stares into the bowl. The water shows her nothing new. It never does.