Enough of my excuses. I'm still struggling to come up with a name for Naren's mother. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd really appreciate them.
Chapter 7
The Faceless reached the end of the final row and turned,
their empty hoods raised towards the crowd gathered on the balcony. As one,
they bowed low to Azrael, who returned the gesture with a slight nod of his
head. There had only been a few unusual transformations. A couple of the initiates
had sprouted wings, which would no doubt lead to fresh rumours about the royal
family and wild oats. There was the poor girl whose Blessing had manifested as
rock-like skin, and had been subdued by the Healers before being removed from
the courtyard. One boy had manifested what appeared to be dozens of eyes,
although he didn’t seem the least bit surprised. Probably a hereditary
Blessing, Naren decided. And other than a few changes in skin and hair colour,
it seemed that most of the Blessings were internal, without any visible outward
signs.
The Faceless in the
courtyard gathered in a circle, no doubt comparing notes of the transformations
that had taken place. For the good of the nation, those who had Ascended today
would be assigned career paths dependant on their powers. Some might even be
invited to remain in Haven, if they had a particularly strong or unusual
Blessing. After all, it wouldn’t do to have too much power going unchecked
among the commoners.
Naren made his way to
the centre of the hall. Behind him, three other initiates from noble houses
stood in a semicircle. From the corner of his eye he saw the priests of the
Faceless- Bishops, unlike the regular priests in the courtyard, approach the
waiting children. Silence fell over the Hall.
His mother rose from
her throne and descended the steps towards him. She placed her hands on his
head. As far as he could remember, Naren had never lied to his mother; there
was no point. Naren had grown up with his mother’s thoughts a continual
presence in his own mind. His whole life, she had been privy to his every
thought, every secret, every desire. Whether he liked it or not.
But this was different.
The feeling itself was familiar, although her presence in his mind more
cautiously than it ever had before. He felt her probe through his psyche
gently. And then her mind darted forward, slicing through his thoughts like a
knife. Naren clenched his fists. He would not- could not- show any sign of
weakness. Not here, not now.
He felt her power
coil around a space at the bottom of his brain, sending a shiver down his
spine. This was it. The tension increased, filling him with a roaring silence
that drowned out everything else.
And then her mind
pulled back, retreating from his brain like a startled animal.
Naren opened his
eyes. His gaze locked with his mother’s. It took him a moment to decipher the
look on her normally placid features. It only took her a second to recompose
herself, but Naren knew what he had seen. It was shock. Shock and fear.
His mother turned her back on him, addressing
Azrael where he sat on his throne.
‘He is Ascended,’ she
declared, her clear voice filling the silent Hall. Naren glanced behind him,
and saw the Faceless retreat from the other teenagers, who’s Ascension had been
completed without him even realising.
‘He is Ascended!’ The
words were echoed by the crowd, quietly at first, and then louder and louder,
until the Hall and the courtyard beyond were filled with the sound of chanting.
Pain shot through Naren’s
mind. He stumbled forwards, barely catching himself from falling to the floor.
A second stab, like the blade of a heated knife, exploded behind his eyes. He
locked eyes once more with his mother as she turned back towards him, before
silence and darkness muffled his mind, and he sank into unconsciousness.
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