Not with the princess.
But with Asha.
How is it that my mind has twisted so? That what I thought was true is now being challenged?
“This weak thing is incapable of making anyone happy,”I had said to Elena.
Yet waking up with her curled in my arms, I knew more joy than I had any right to feel.
Jacek jogs over to me, his expression solemn, and I wonder if The Tomb has suffered another setback.
A part of me wishes it had, which shows how far my honor has fallen.
He halts and scans the area, making sure no one is around to listen in.
“You are needed at The Tomb.”
My brow furrows. “Why?”
“It is best you come and see for yourself.”
We head over, being careful not to be followed by a curious Penticari.
Once inside, he brings me to the off-planet communication room, which, to my knowledge, has never been used except when we arrived.
Occasionally, it will release pre-recorded messages regarding the terraforming process, but that is rare.
“Why are we in here when it is still several cycles before we send word to Tempest?”
“Because a message has been released.”
“And why was it not Grixis you sought?”
“Because it is meant only for you.”
My brow pinches in confusion. “Do others get messages like this often?”
“No, never.”
“Then why?”
“That is for you to say. Now I will leave you so that you might listen.” He exits the room, and I turn to look at the glowing monitor.
Something feels off, and for a moment, I wonder if somehow Tempest saw my coupling with Asha.
But that is simply not possible. The Tomb was here long before we were, as there were others exiled before us to tend to it.
Any communication stored on the shop must have been recorded long ago, and transmitted as we arrived here.
Still, that someone took the time to record a message meant for me alone is a mystery I mislike.
Knowing only cowards run from their fears, I hit ENTER, and the screen comes to life, telling me to place my hand on a sensor, to identify me.
My heart hammers in my chest as a picture of the Great Princess Kasmina manifests before my eyes, the soft blue hue of her flesh looking exactly as I remember it.
“My dearest Ramsey, I hope this message finds you well.
“It was just hours ago that you were escorted into your ship, the one that is to take you to the seed planet: Cryon-2-7-9. I know your exile must have brought great confusion to you, but you have to understand, war is brewing in Tempest, and in order for my mother to stay in power, we needed more resources. Much more.
