question, yes. These are yours and four others who’ve agreed to work for me.”
Isley quickly approached Celacia, even reaching for one of the orbs, but she scooped them into her fists and turned. “Ah-ah-ah,” she said. “I might one day give these to you but for now they’re my insurance that you’re loyal to me.”
Isley was in awe. He smiled large and uncharacteristicly wide. His eyes were alight now with that fervor that often made Nuriel feel uneasy about him. It was the same fanatic light in his face that day he first told her about Celacia. “Nuriel,” said Isley, looking at her with eyes wide. “It’s true! These are our Bloodstars!”
“I thought you might like knowing I held yours now,” said Celacia. There was a small case upon her hip that was part of her armor, and she placed them into it. “But Nuriel, you don’t seem too happy. Why the long face?”
“Nuriel,” said Isley. “This is a good thing! We don’t have to worry any longer about being found out! We don’t need to worry about Sanctuary knowing! We don’t need to worry about Gatima looking for us! We can now fully devote ourselves to Celacia!”
Nuriel bit her lip and looked down. It was true that if Celacia held their Sanguinastrums they would no longer need to worry about being found out since Sanctuary could no longer have them recalled. However, Nuriel couldn’t help but feel that she’d rather have Holy Father Admael holding her Sanguinastrum than Celacia. She sniffled and tucked her golden hair behind her ear. She looked down and bit her lip, trying to prevent her eyes from tearing up. Now there was no way she could go back to Sanctuary; no way she could ever leave Celacia’s servitude.
Isley wrapped his arms around her, laughing in her ear. “This is a good thing, Nuriel!” he said again, shaking her by the shoulders in his ecstatic glee. He grabbed her chin and raised her head to him. “This is good, Nuriel. This is very good!” He turned to Celacia. “How?”
“Erygion got them for me,” said Celacia. “So you really owe him your thanks.”
“But…won’t Sanctuary know?” asked Nuriel softly. “They’ll know they’re missing.”
“Don’t you see?” said Isley, grabbing Nuriel by the shoulders and peering into her eyes. “It no longer matters! Nuriel, it no longer matters if they find out we have abandoned Sanctuary!”
“If it helps put your mind at ease, Nuriel, Erygion says he’s taken these things before,” piped Celacia. “He says he’s replaced them with fakes, so you have nothing to worry about. Still, I’d rather you two keep a low profile about this. I don’t want Sanctuary knowing exactly who’s working for me. At least not right now. Loose lips sink ships…or something like that I guess.”
“Milady,” interrupted Lord Briarthorn. “I do not mean to interrupt, but we do have the matter of the approaching army.”
“Oh right!” chirped Celacia. “I almost forgot. We have that Saint Ramiel guy and his deity friend…” she snapped her fingers at Lord Briarthorn.
“The Golden Cockerel,” reminded Lord Briarthorn.
“Ah, yes, the Exalted Golden Cockerel who claims to be the Lord of Dawn’s Sun,” said Celacia. “Alrighty then,” she said, clapping her hands excitedly. “This is going to be so much fun!”
Nuriel couldn’t help but notice the ground beneath Celacia’s feet was starting to crack and crumble more than usual. She took a couple tiny steps back to avoid the spreading death of the stone.
“Lord Briarthorn, have your men start building the cart to haul this thing away.” said Celacia. “We’ll have to roll it out of here on some logs or something, unless maybe Nuriel has anymore tricks up her sleeve?” Celacia looked at Nuriel with those gleaming emerald eyes of hers.
“No, I don’t think so,” said Nuriel. She forced a little smile before averting her eyes.
“Well, in that case, you and Isley come with me.” said Celacia. “It’s
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