Song of Blood & Stone (Earthsinger Chronicles #1)(70)

Jack knelt on one knee at the bottom of the bowl, underneath a long, white capsule floating in midair. The smooth, seamless surface of the capsule was made of the same strange material as the walls. The object resembled an elongated egg, about six feet in length. It hovered courtesy of an ancient, intensely powerful spell that tingled the edges of her senses like static electricity.

Jack rose, facing her as she found her footing and gingerly stepped down the concave floor. Exhaustion wearied his features, but his expression brightened at the sight of her. She slid into his arms, and he held her so tightly she could scarcely breathe. But she did not complain. Finally, he released the embrace, stroked her face, and kissed her.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered.

“No, don’t be. I should apologize. I cannot change the rules we both agreed upon.” She was instantly lost in the depths of his eyes and wanted to stay there.

“I don’t want there to be any rules for us. I just wish—” He squeezed her tight to his chest again, and she relaxed against him.

“Are we where I think we are?”

Jack lifted his head, looking up at the floating capsule. “The resting place of the Queen Who Sleeps.”

She stared in awe. “But this chamber is sacred. I should not be here.”

“Not even the Sisterhood may come down here—only the Prince Regent and those closest to him.” He took her hand and pulled her directly underneath the Queen’s encased form, then led her to kneel with him. “We come to seek Her counsel and wisdom, to pray for the knowledge and strength to lead in Her stead.”

She wrenched her gaze from the smooth surface of the Queen’s tomb. Not tomb, for She slept only, and if the Promise was true, She would one day awaken. Jasminda looked at Jack, his expression heartbreaking.

She ran her fingers through his somewhat disheveled hair. “What is happening?”

He shook his head and grabbed both of her hands in his. Her heart caught in her chest as he told her of the letter from the True Father and the terrible demands.

“And the Council will take a vote?” she said, incredulous.

“Tomorrow.” His voice was solemn.

Tears stung her eyes at the thought of all it had taken for the refugees to make it to Elsira in the first place. Only to be sent back . . . It was unthinkable, but she knew too well how little value a Lagrimari life held here.

“And there is a chance the Council will vote to send them back?”

“I can only hope that Nirall does not follow suit with the rest of them. As of now, he is the holdout. If all the ministers agree, my options are very limited. The Prince Regent cannot override a unanimous Council vote.”

“There would be nothing you could do?”

He closed his eyes. “Only invoke Prince’s Right.”

“And Prince’s Right would dissolve the Council?” She now wished she’d paid more attention to the Elsiran civics and history lessons her mother had given her.

Jack nodded slowly. “And label me a tyrant. I would be only the second Prince Regent in Elsira’s history to do so.”

“And what happened to the first?”

“He was beheaded in a coup.”

Jasminda took a deep breath, her heart torn over his impossible choice. Deep within her Song, the spell surrounding the Queen’s encasement pulsed. “And has She given any counsel?”

He shook his head. “She has not blessed my dreams. I do not think I hold Her favor. I pray mostly for Her awakening to save this land from me.”

“Jack,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around him and drawing him closer. “You are a good prince. You are selfless and fearless.”

His head dropped. “I am constantly afraid.”

She grabbed his chin and tilted his head up to face her. “But you rise above it.”

He smiled grimly. “Even you are too good for me.”

“Nonsense,” she said and pressed her lips to his. He kissed her back greedily, holding her head firm in his grip. Gasping for air, she pulled back and rested her forehead on his. Her fingers found his head again, rubbing his scalp gently until he relaxed a fraction.

“What I can’t figure out is why he wants the refugees back,” he said. “Only a fraction of them have their Songs. Beyond using them to increase his power, of what value are they?”

Jasminda had made a promise, one she’d intended to keep, but this new threat changed the situation. This chamber was the most secure location in all of Rosira. She felt no betrayal when she reached into her pocket and retrieved the bundle.

“He wants this,” she said, unwrapping the cloth, careful not to touch the stone. Jack inspected the caldera without reaching for it, a frown marring his face. “This is the reason the Keepers came. They needed to get this away from the True Father. He knows it’s here, and he wants it.”

“What is it?” His voice was cautious, his brow furrowed. It was as if on some level he could sense the caldera’s power.

She told him of Darvyn’s discovery of the stone and the Keepers’ suspicion that the vision she’d had in the cave and her ability to sing there were linked to her ability to use the caldera and learn to wake the Queen.

“And it’s been giving you visions?”

“Yes, though it’s going more slowly than I'd like since it depletes my Song each time.”