Free The Shadowed Throne by K. J. Taylor

me . . .
    Then she realised she couldn’t move. She was trapped, frozen in a block of ice, watching as Arenadd walked away into the adoring throng.
    The dream twisted, and a rush of confused sensations tangled themselves around her. Cold, so cold.
Moving
cold, cold clutching at her, embracing her, muttering and moaning in her ears, and she was helpless, sick inside with the knowledge.
Isn’t this what you wanted?
    She woke up retching, confused by the sound of knocking outside.
    â€œMy lady!
My lady!
”
    Saeddryn sat up, blinking. Her ruined eye ached horrendously, and she put her hand over it. “What? What’s that . . . ?”
    Light poured into her room, and a shadowy figure came with it. “My lady—! I’m so sorry, but something’s . . .”
    Saeddryn snatched up her eyepatch from the bedside table and got up, still wearing her woollen night-gown. “What’s going on?” she snapped. “This had better be important, or I swear—”
    The young woman who’d disturbed her was too distressed to bow. “It’s the Temple! Saeddryn, it’s burning! The Temple’s burning!”
    Saeddryn gaped at her. “What? What d’ye mean it’s . . . ?”
    â€œIt’s bad, my lady. Very bad. They’re trying to put it out, but I don’t know . . .”
    Saeddryn felt as if someone had reached into her chest and tried to rip her heart out.
“How?”
    â€œDeliberate, my lady,” the messenger gulped. “They already caught the one who did it.”
    â€œWho was it?
Who did this?
”
    â€œI’m not sure. Garnoc has her down in the cells—they’ll be questioning her now.”
    Saeddryn was already pulling on a gown. “I’m going to go see this myself.”
    â€œYes, my lady. Should I go tell the Queen?”
    Saeddryn stopped. “She hasn’t been told?”
    â€œNot that I know. I came to ye first.”
    â€œGo an’ tell her, then,” Saeddryn growled.
But she already knows.
    She dressed as quickly as she could and almost ran into Aenae’s nest to wake him.
    The big griffin rose, huffing irritably. “What is this?”
    â€œIt’s the Temple,” Saeddryn said. “The half-breed’s made her move.”
    â€œWhat of the Temple?”
    Saeddryn closed her eye for a moment. “She’s had it set on fire.”
    Aenae’s wings opened. “
Our
Temple?”
    â€œYes.” Saeddryn’s fists clenched.
    Moving quickly and efficiently, Aenae unhooked his harness from the wall and tossed it at her feet. “Put this on me. We must go there at once.”
    Saeddryn obeyed, and, within moments, she was on his back, and he was taking off.
    The air was freezing outside, the night sky brilliant with stars. But they were all outshone by the terrible glow down in the city. Saeddryn saw the smoke blacken the moonlight, and her heart gave another, brutal wrench.
    As Aenae flew down toward her beloved Temple, she began to see the full horror of what it had become. The tower behind the dome had become a pillar of flame, red and orange tongues stretching high into the sky. The dome itself, made from stone, was veiled in a huge bank of smoke, and below it the windows threw ghastly orange light over everything.
    It’s the wrath of Gryphus,
Saeddryn thought irrationally.
The Night God has abandoned us for accepting a half-breed as our ruler. My Temple . . .
    Aenae landed outside the front doors. They were hanging open, and a group of priestesses were clustered outside, watching helplessly.
    They ran to meet their leader.
    â€œI’m so sorry, my lady,” one said. “There was nothing I . . . if only . . . oh Night God . . .” She broke down in sobs.
    Saeddryn stared stonily at the burning building. Not much was being done to save it—because there was