Akna tapped her feet against the legs of the chair. This library was not what she had come to think of as a library. Not that she’d had much experience with them. There were libraries in some Ninifin temples—at least, she was pretty sure there were—but she had never actually been in one. However, she’d been in the one on Scovese and the one in the Hall of Knowledge. The latter was nowhere near the size of the one on Scovese, but the basic aesthetic was the same: a bunch of shelves stuffed with books.
The Belone library, on the other hand, was just a few books—maybe a dozen?—on a single shelf over the fireplace. The rest of the room contained plush chairs and couches, as well as a long table with stiff-backed chairs. A spot to read those books, she supposed, but still not a library. But then, the names of rooms in the palace showed only a token acknowledgement to any logic. Felitïa had said it was the same in the Royal Palace in Arnor City. It was Foliths being Foliths.
Akna tapped her feet a few more times and buried her head in her hands.
She was getting nowhere. She was bored, and tired. So tired.
Chica had left her here. When they’d arrived in the palace, they had come directly here. Chica had told her to sit down and wait. Then she had stood in one place for ages—not saying a word, not responding to anything from Akna—before finally walking out of the room.
Akna tried to follow her, but discovered she couldn’t stand up. She still couldn’t. She could move her arms and legs, turn her head, and do just about anything that didn’t require standing up first. She’d tried moving the chair back and just sliding across the room with it, but had discovered she couldn’t move the chair more than an inch or so. So, she’d just ended up sitting here tapping her legs. She wasn’t sure how long it had been. Hours? It felt like it.
No one had come in during that time either. From her own time in the palace, this room had not seemed the most heavily used, but people had used it to pass through. She had passed through it many times herself. She would have expected a servant or two to go through by now.
But the whole palace seemed strangely empty. When she and Chica had arrived, they walked across the grounds and through the palace itself barely seeing anyone. A lot of guards were attacking the Hall of Knowledge, so it made sense there weren’t many left here. But what about the servants?
And where Chica gone?
She still didn’t know who Chica really was, and it was obvious Chica knew Akna was not going to start believing, so why keep up the deception?
The sound of raised voices came from the nearest door. A moment later, they swung violently open and Danel Belone stormed into the room, followed by a courtier Akna only vaguely recognised, and behind them, Anita.
Anita!
“...don’t return here by morning, then they will be hunted down and executed! I want this spread throughout—”
All three of them stopped and stared at Akna.
Anita’s mouth trembled.
Akna smiled at her. “Hi, Anita.” It had been so long since she’d last seen her. She wanted to do so much more than smile, but…
Anita slapped a hand over her mouth to muffle a cry, then ran to Akna. “They said you were dead!”
Danel rounded on the courtier. “What is that savage doing here? She’s supposed to be dead!”
The courtier recoiled and raised his hands and arms, and shrugged.
Anita bent down beside Akna and threw her arms around her, wailing.
“I’m sorry I can’t get up,” Akna said. “I seem to be stuck.”
“Good! It’ll make you an easier target. Guards! Guards!” Danel rounded on the courtier again. “Where are my guards? Find them! I want her dead!”
The courtier nodded and ran from the room.
Danel stormed towards Akna, one hand raised.
Anita moved between him and Akna. “Don’t you dare touch her!”
Danel hesitated a moment, but then slapped Anita, who stumbled back with a cry.
Akna rattled about in her chair. She reached for either Anita or Danel, but they were both too far away. “Bastard! Do that again and I will fucking kill you.”
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Danel pushed Anita aside and strode closer to Akna, but still staying out of her reach. “Oh? But you say you can’t move.” He looked her over. “I don’t see any rope. What’s holding you? Glue?”
“Magic, you dumb fuck.”
He laughed and rolled his eyes. “Of course it is. Chemicals can produce the most incredible things, you know? Lord Plavin has been telling me all about it.”
Anita jumped at him and clawed at his face. He elbowed her in the stomach and she fell back again, gasping.
Danel rubbed at his face where Anita’s nails had scratched him. “I put up with a lot from you, Anita, because you are my sister and I love you. But continue in this way, and I won’t hesitate to execute you along with your unnatural lover.”
Akna resisted the urge to try to leap at him again. It wouldn’t work, and she would just waste energy. She needed to keep control, and be ready to kill him the moment she could move.
“Guards!” Danel paced a bit, then stomped back to the doors. “Guards! Where are they? Where is anyone? Fine, I’ll do it myself.” He stomped over to the fireplace and grabbed a poker. Then he turned towards Akna.
Anita moved in the way again.
“Move aside, Anita.”
Anita shook her head.
“I will do it.”
“Then do it.”
Danel scowled and stood there for a few moments. “Fine.” He started forward.
“No! You will not harm her!”
The new voice came from the doors at the other side of the room. They were open now and Chica was standing in them.
Danel stopped and stared at Chica. “What did you say?”
“I said, you will not harm her. I need her.”
“How dare you? I am Lord here. I tolerate your presence because Lord Plavin suggested I do so, but do not presume to tell me what to do. Why my father put up with you for so long, I’ll never know.”
Chica tilted her head slightly. “You will not harm the Unifier. I will not repeat myself again.”
“Traitor! I’ll come for you when I’m done with her.” But Danel didn’t move. There was strain on his face and he was trembling.
Akna smiled. She wasn’t fond of the person pretending to be Chica, but Danel deserved this.
“What is happening?” Danel croaked.
“I told you already,” Akna said. “It’s called magic, you dumb fuck. Mentalism magic.”
Anita turned around and came back over to Akna. She laughed. “You’re such an idiot, Danel.”
“When my guards get here…”
“They’ll do nothing, because they’re not coming.” Akna nodded towards Chica. “She’s made sure of that.”
“I’ll see all three of you dead.”
Akna let out an exaggerated sigh, then looked to Anita. “You’re okay now with me killing him as soon as I’m able, right?”
Anita smiled sadly, leaned over, and kissed Akna.
Chica strode over to them. She made a rising motion with her hand. “Up.”
Akna tried to resist as her body pushed the chair back and stood up, but her body didn’t obey.
Chica placed a hand on Akna’s cheek and caressed it. “We have work to do, my love.”
Anita clutched Akna’s arm. “I don’t understand. What’s she talking about?”
Akna patted Anita’s arm. “An act. You probably don’t even see it. She’s trying to drive me mad.” She turned her attention to Chica. “But you know I don’t believe. In fact, I know who you are now. Why keep up the act?”
Chica smiled. “It’s fun. Still, you’re probably right. It’s excess energy. Not much, but I could use all the energy I can get right now.” The image of Chica faded away, replaced by the winged form of Plavistalorik. Her face was raised, and she stared at Akna with pale grey eyes.
“Felitïa said you weren’t a mentalist,” Akna said, “but I guess she was wrong.”
“The Will-Breaker is a fool and undeserving of her title. Such is the folly of prophecy. But enough talk. We have important work to do.” The Isyar’s eyes turned towards Anita. “You will remain here with your sibling.” She turned and walked towards the doors.
Once again, Akna’s body moved without her consent, and followed Plavistalorik.
“Akna, I can’t move!” Anita called.
Akna found she couldn’t even look back at Anita. “I’ll come back for you! I promise!” Her hands grabbed the door handles and pulled them shut.