Brightly Woven

near-exact copy of it in North’s messy scrawl as he presented the information to his mother, only Palmarta did not exist on this map. The borders of Palmarta had disappeared, as if the small country had been swallowed whole. I took in every line with a sharp sense of dread, but an even sharper eye.
    “Your blessings?” the king asked again.
    “How can I give you my blessings,” I began, steadying my voice, “when I do not approve of this war at all?”
    The representatives of the other nations crowded in, their voices leaping forth in protest. The king held up a silencing hand, his face red as he turned to the priest.
    “The scriptures said we would have to bring her into the world slowly,” the old man said. “She knows not what she says.”
    I recognized my mistake immediately. Losing the king’s trust and faith would also mean losing my life.
    The king gave a curt nod. “Continue with the ceremony, then.”
    When the priest spoke, it was in a language I had never heard before, a tongue that sounded like the groaning of an old wagon. His words were deep and lyrical, thundering through the great hall. The spectators, as well as the king and queen, responded in turn. I strained my ears, trying to catch a familiar word.
    The priest turned back toward me expectantly, touching his scepter to my forehead. The king lit a small stick of incense that burned with the smell of jasmine and sandalwood and held it out to me. I opened my hand to take it from him, but his other hand closed over mine. The priest began his strange speech again, waving his scepter above our heads twice. I would have dropped my hand from the king’s sweaty grip had the priest not suddenly wrapped our joined hands together with a long, golden string. Suddenly the priest stopped speaking. All those in the hall turned their eyes toward me, the priest leaning forward as if to say it was my turn.
    I nodded slowly, biting my tongue. That seemed to satisfy the two men, who broke out into smiles that turned my insides to stone. What exactly had I just agreed to?
    I maintained my composure through the rest of the strange ceremony; they seemed to find it appropriate that the vessel of their goddess was reserved in both her words and outward affection. When the cord unwrapped itself from our hands like a snake, I snatched my hand away, withdrawing it into my cool, dry robes.
    Men and women were allowed to approach us then,stooping to place small gifts at our feet. At least, I assumed they were gifts until the king turned and spoke to me.
    He waved his arm over the piles of fruit, weapons, and tools that surrounded us. “These are the requirements for your miracle, my Great Lady,” the king said. “The Book mentioned the weapon you would construct for us from these parts. Everything is here.”
    I stared helplessly at the floor, feeling the pull of panic. There had to be a way I could play this.
    “I claim no such power,” I said. “You have misread the Book.”
    “My Great Lady,” the priest said, his eyes narrowed slightly, “I assure you that we have interpreted the Book correctly. Please bless us with your power.” I heard the crowd murmur.
    “I can’t…,” I mumbled.
    “Silence!” the king bellowed to the nobles. He turned back to me, speaking in the same strange language as before, studying my face closely for any sign of recognition.
    “She does not understand the holy tongue,” the queen said shrewdly from her throne.
    “Is that so?” The king seized me by the shoulders, giving me the slightest of shakes. He spoke again in the language I didn’t understand, his words punctuated with flying spit.
    My entire body began to shake, and I tried to pull away. “Let me go!” I cried, but the king was still shouting at me in that horrible speech.
    “If I may interrupt,” a voice called over the others. “I think you may need to give her a moment.”
    Dorwan stood at the very back of the chamber in his pale coat, and for the first and only time, I was actually relieved to see him. The king released me immediately, and I stumbled back.
    “Get that lying demon out of here!” the king bellowed, sounding nothing like the gentle man I had met in private. “Throw him into the ocean for all I care! Let this be a lesson to everyone never to trust a wizard!”
    A small troop of guards rushed toward Dorwan, but the wizard merely held out his hands to stop them.
    “I tried to warn you that not all of her powers would have awakened