The Oracle scoffed dismissively. “He is resting and shall not be disturbed,” he replied flatly. “The emperor asked me to express his deep and growing concern that you have yet to produce the lost heiress,” he offered while staring coldly at Razine.
“I demand to see Malicus,” Razine ordered. He was beyond frustrated that Malicus would summon him and yet send the Oracle as his proxy. Razine had never understood why Malicus had welcomed the Oracle into his inner circle so quickly. The Oracle had served Empress Astrella, and yet he was the only one to survive and continue to serve the throne.
Razine had inquired a few times about where the Oracle had come from or how he’d come to serve House Colfax, but answers either didn’t exist or were only vague hints of the truth. Regardless, his presence always made Razine uncomfortable.
“Demand? Are you sure that is wise?” the Oracle sneered. “And what would you tell him of your failure to find the one thing he seeks?”
“The lost heiress? Still believing the empty threat of a dying empress?” Razine questioned incredulously. The general had supported his friend’s hunt for the girl, even if he always thought the idea of a lost heiress was completely ridiculous. After years spent in pursuit, however, neither the Oracle nor his prophecy of some daughter gone astray were things Razine felt still deserved his respect or full attention.
“Only you, a mad emperor, and a dying empress ever truly believed she existed. How many women have been put through the trials, and yet nothing? Tinkerers imprisoned, women brutally killed, and for what? The true daughter of Obsidia doesn’t exist any more than her predicted return or reckoning exists. The empress’ words were hollow. They were nothing more than the desperate words of a dying woman being consumed by fear, anger, and flames. You took her words and crafted a prophecy to match. It is all a lie,” Razine stated, staring at the Oracle.
“A lie? And yet it is a lie you follow. You need it to be true, as I know it to be true. You need this because it delivers you what you wish. You have grown powerful in your hunt for the very thing you seem to dismiss so easily. Should we call off the pursuit then? Would you so easily slide back into Malicus’ shadow?” the Oracle asked, grinning intensely at Razine.
Razine knew there was more truth to the Oracle’s words than he was comfortable with, and he felt his will to protest falter. Sometimes he worried that the same madness that had gripped Malicus had now set its sights on him. More often than not, he found himself questioning how his path had led him to where he now found himself.
The general took a deep breath and regained his composure. The Oracle would not be allowed to see him so rattled. “I wonder if the emperor is the one that is truly concerned? How long does one remain an oracle if their one and only prophecy is proven to be untrue?” countered Razine, with a smile and the hope that the Oracle was the one now feeling rattled.
“My prophecy is very reliable, and your concern should be with how your faith in it and usefulness fulfilling it remains true. The emperor grows impatient and believes you have been given ample time and resources to produce the lost heiress. Yet, somehow you continue to fail at your task,” the Oracle replied, sounding agitated.
“I have put countless women through your trials, and yet the result is always the same. Whether they live or die, none are this lost heiress you have so pinned your reputation and influence on. Perhaps the doubt should be placed on the one who demands and designs these tests,” Razine countered while moving within a few inches of the Oracle.
“These tests are a means to an end, nothing more. Do not doubt, however, that the lost heiress exists,” the Oracle declared firmly before smiling at Razine. “Now, I have heard the most interesting report coming from the southern province. A supposedly elite agent of yours has tried and failed twice to capture an Unmarked and bring her in for testing. The emperor finds this girl’s success to be intriguing, as is your continued lack of success,” said the Oracle grinning, while placing his finger to his lips, as if to ponder the implications of such a failure. “I wonder how many times one can disappoint before they are deemed unworthy.”
Razine was no fool, and he was not about to give the Oracle the satisfaction of catching him off guard, even if he had. Instead, he simply nodded and stated firmly, “It is being dealt with.”
The Oracle looked directly at Razine and said menacingly, “Good. I certainly hope it is dealt with soon. I would hate for the emperor to learn you could no longer be trusted to carry out his divine will. He allows you a great many freedoms with the resources of the empire. Just remember, no one is beyond the emperor’s love or his wrath.”
Razine stared at the Oracle for a moment before turning and walking out. He left that meeting with two thoughts. The first was that he should have seen to the Oracle’s swift demise a long time
