The Darkest Magic (A Book of Spirits and Thieves) by Morgan Rhodes Page B

honey poisoned with venom. “I grow stronger through the presence of each and every one of you.”
    The crowd chimed with respectful hollers of appreciation. She smiled, and Maddox wondered if he was the only one who thought it looked more like a grimace than a grin.
    Valoria waited for the crowd to hush before going on. “I’m sure most of you have heard by now that I’ve decided to extend the commemorative celebrations until the end of the year.”
    The crowd broke out in cheers, this time more joyful than reverent.
    Valoria’s smile slipped. A flash of annoyance flickered over her lovely face. Suddenly, the ground began to tremble, the shaking quickly evolving into a rippling earthquake. The violent waves of stone and earth made their way across the square, knocking hundreds of people off their feet and injuring several others.
    Camilla grasped hold of Maddox’s arm to remain on her feet. Barnabas simply glared up at the goddess, his fists clenched at his sides. He then sent a quick, concerned glance at Maddox. “You all right?”
    Maddox nodded. “For now.”
    The brunt of the quake passed, but the ground still shook with a buzzing tremor.
    “Silence!” the goddess commanded. “I’ve more to say.”
    The battered crowd—now moaning and sobbing instead of cheering—went silent in an instant.
    The ground went still, and Valoria’s smile returned. “My decision to extend the celebrations is in gratitude to you all for your loyalty to me these past fifteen years. Today is a special day, for it is the day that I shall finally bless my kingdom with an official name.”
    Valoria gazed down at her cowering, injured people. “Two words can express the way I rule this land:
strength
and
wisdom
.
Limo
and
rossa
, in the language of my people. And so this is why I have chosen to use my reign and my power to rename Northern Mytica . . .” Valoria paused here, allowing a sense of drama to hover over the square. Then, with a smile more insidious than Maddox had seen on her yet, she delivered her pronouncement.
“Limeros.”
    The crowd below was motionless, silent. Maddox looked about to gauge their reactions, but all they did was stare, waiting.
    “You no longer have to remain silent,” she announced with an arched brow.
    The crowd erupted in a forced, whining cheer, while Barnabas just narrowed his eyes with even more hatred.
    Maddox scrunched up his nose. “Strength and wisdom? That’s what
Limeros
means?”
    Barnabas sneered. “For a woman who forces chastity on her people and values only abnegation and piety, she truly is the vainest person I’ve ever known.” He let out a groan as the people once again policed themselves into silence. “Oh my. It seems as though she’s not done yet.”
    Indeed, the goddess was still on the balcony, poised to go on. “I spoke about the importance of loyalty,” she said, pacing the balcony as if to make sure everyone below her knew she was talking to them. “Indeed, there is truly nothing I value higher. Without trusted mortals at my side, without devotees who unquestioningly obey the commands that keep our kingdom fed, clothed, and housed—why, I could not rule at all. Over the last several days, some events have transpired that have tested this theory and proved that it has never been more true. It has recently come to my attention that one of the mortals I’ve come to trust more than anyone else is planning to betray me. His plot to rise up against me and in effect our entire kingdom has come to me in a clear vision of prophecy. As a suspected traitor, he shall be beheaded here today.”
    Barnabas and Maddox shared a furtive look. Of all the things they’d prepared to do today, witnessing a public beheading was not one of them.
    “Before the execution begins, I have another announcement to make. In light of this and other suspicions of betrayal, I have called for the immediate arrest of any and all witches who are breakingthe law by practicing magic in this