Page 116

Though she’d been willing to work with them. To a point. She must have known enough about them to contact them.

“I’m missing something,” I said softly, letting my head fall back against the padded seat. Then remembered they might be listening. I sighed, closing my eyes. Trying to relax. Let my mind and magic work. :Something about Shadow.:

:Considering what died in the basement…: Rik said. :Could it be something about Scáthach? She was known as the Shadow, and Her legendary castle on the Isle of Skye was Dún Scáith, the Fortress of Shadows.:

I sat up straighter, my eyes flying open. :Possibly. Too bad Gina already left. I wonder if there’s something in the Skye legacy from Scáthach that might help.:

Magnum stepped closer, drawing my attention. “I can help with that, Your Majesty.”

:The Skye legacy?:

She nodded. “Another time, I would love to show you the throne room. It contains many prizes and artifacts of Isador conquests.”

I nodded. “Yes, please. That would be fantastic.”

“A moment, Your Majesty.”

:’The hunger battle-birds were filled in Skye with blood of foemen killed,’: Warwick whispered. When I turned my head to look at him, he inclined his head in a short bow. :A line from The Heimskrigla, a poem of The Norse Kings.:

:What’s the next line?: I asked him.

:And wolves on Tyree’s lonely shore, Dyed red their hairy jaws in gore.:

A cold, hard smile curved my lips. :Appropriate. Thank you, Sir Warwick.:

Magnum returned carrying a box covered in a sky-blue cloth. Two white circles embroidered with glittering diamonds and pearls in spirals caught the light. Jet black beads connected the two circles in an overlapping Z of jagged lightning bolts. Winston cleared the tray, and she set the box in front of me and reverently drew back the cloth to fold it neatly in her arms.

The simple wooden box was smooth except for a curved boat on its lid. Similar to a Viking ship, I thought, but not as long. Paddles dipped into gentle waves around the boat.

“I believe it’s called a Birlinn boat,” Magnum said. “The five oars represent the peninsulas of the Isle of Skye.”

:Why is it here? I thought Gina kept the legacy in the vault:

Her head tipped slightly. “Because it’s yours now, Your Majesty. All of them are here.”

52

SHARA

“All of them are here,” repeated in my head over and over.

Keisha’s, of course. The first queen I killed. But then add in the Dauphine’s legacy. Rosalind’s. All the Valois siblings I’d killed…

I shook my head, trying to picture the jumble of boxes and chests stacked around. Though I didn’t have time to examine them tonight.

A slight oval depression was the only indication of a possible lock on the center front of the box. I pressed my thumb against the spot and felt the tiny prick. A drop of my blood sank into the wood, and a crack appeared.

Even now, a part of my mind quivered with surprise, even shock, that the Skye legacy had opened for me. Because I carried all of Keisha’s blood.

Magnum carefully lifted the lid and set it aside so I could look at its contents. I hadn’t looked inside a legacy box since Gina showed me the Isador chest. Mine held earthen jars, similar to canopic funerary jars, though the cat head, cobra, black wings, and crocodile on the lids symbolized the gifts of my legacy I inherited from Isis. The items inside the box didn’t hold the goddess’ power directly, but they were physical representations of each gift.

I’d never looked at any of the other queens’ legacies, but I was hopeful there might be clues that might prove to be useful before I went back to snoop in the basement of what had been Skye Tower before I’d arrived in the city.

The first item was a small piece of dark-colored stone carved in the shape of a bird. Hunger battle-bird, I thought, remembering Warwick’s poem. I handed the small carving to Nevarre. :Does it give you any special senses or feelings?:

:It feels like a close cousin or sibling to the Morrigan’s ravens. Screaming out a battle cry, swooping over the field.: He turned the carving over his palm and shivered. Goosebumps raced down his arms. :It calls the spirts of the fallen warriors to fly to the underworld. A psychopomp.:

He handed it back to me and I set it back into the box. The next item was a yellowed ivory stick with a notched end. I picked it up, rolling the rod on my palm.