Chapter 27
The queen rose from the floor, unrestricted by the tether of stone and metal at her feet. The fountain on which she stood a mere lily pad in the pond of her reality. Rosalie could see it now. The statue’s cross-purposes of queen and goddess, ruler and manipulator, in this world and countless others.
‘We must be wary of every thought, word, and action here,’ Rosalie said. ‘Much is hidden from us.’
‘Mam.’ Florentine grasped her elbow. ‘I’ll just go check on the whereabouts of the nightwatchmen.’
‘Also, Florrie, place wards across the passageways to keep them from returning to the nave.’
Florentine kept to the walls and columns as she went off into the darkness to lay a protective line of energy across the long nave.
‘Anastasia, place five poppets on the floor evenly around t
