Page 26 of Twins for the Barbarians

“You don’t believe in Sunna’s so-called inner fire?” I ask Helios.

“I started considering it as a real possibility after Cynthia told us about her experience,” he concedes. “But I will remain skeptical until I see it with my own eyes.”

“A pragmatic man,” Kingo says. “I admire that.”

I certainly understand. Cynthia is the epitome of empiricism, yet I believe what she saw, felt, and tasted when the red desert opened up to her was real. We went back there more than once, but it was gone. We don’t know what happened, but it’s possible a sandstorm covered everything, and we didn’t have any equipment to assist us in locating the stream. I know Cynthia still sends a drone out once in a while to survey the area, but there haven’t been any sightings of similar phenomena anywhere in that region.

Looking at the peak of Kaos again, however, I’m starting to think that perhaps the orange glow I’m seeing may be evidence of precisely what Cynthia saw. I’ve never seen that color before. I’m an avid reader of mythology, but much like Helios, I prefer facts and evidence. But I also know my best friend is of sound mind. She didn’t imagine any of it.

“I’m fine with wherever you decide is a good camping spot for us,” I tell Helios. “As long as we can rest our heads in peace.”

“There haven’t been any issues along the way so far,” Kharo replies. “I’m happy to conclude that Helios was right on the money on this. Not even the worst of our kind wish to be here.”

“It has made our journey safer,” Kingo chimes in. “But that black mist…what the hell is it?”

“We’ll need to get closer and test the atmosphere in that area,” I tell him. “Do you think your equipment can measure the air quality?”

He shrugs once. “We shall find out.”

By nightfall, Opal City, standing tall and dark against the southern horizon amid a black mist, is within a half-day’s drive. Behind it, the orange glow of Kaos’ peak sends shivers down my spine, but I push the thought to the back of my mind and focus on starting a fire. We’ve found a thick cluster of obsidian cliffs to hide behind, just in case any marauders are insane enough to travel this far, though it has become evident that we’re the only crazy ones.

“Something strange is happening there,” Helios says after peering through binoculars. “It’s not just a black mist. I also see some odd structures on the city’s outer border.”

He offers me the binoculars, and I hold my breath as I focus the lenses. “Oh, wow,” I mumble when I see what he means. “Black rock or obsidian walls?”

“They look like they vary in height the closer they are to the mist,” he replies. “They could be additional defenses.”

“Were walls mentioned anywhere?” I ask Kingo, who’s already flipping through his notes on Opal City—carefully and laboriously collected from history books. “The black walls surrounding the city should be much taller. The ones we’re seeing are maybe twenty feet tall, at most.”

“Maybe even fifteen feet, and look toward the western border,” Helios says.

“From what I can tell, the walls there can’t be more than ten feet tall,” I reply, growing increasingly intrigued.

Kingo looks just as puzzled. “The city’s single black wall is supposed to be fifty feet tall. It should encircle the city. What we’re seeing doesn’t make sense.”

“I bet a lot that’s not the only thing that won’t make sense once we get there,” Kharo grumbles, warming his hands near the fire while I listen to its flames crackling as they consume the wood. “At the risk of repeating myself, I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

A sudden heat blows through my stomach and works its way up to my throat. I barely manage to excuse myself as I rush behind one of the blackwood trees and puke my guts out. Cold sweat blooms all over my face and neck as I heave and gag and try to catch my breath again, startled by my own body’s reaction. Reaction to what, though?

And then it hits me. I missed my period. It was supposed to happen sometime last week.

“Are you okay?” Kharo asks, quick to reach me.

I nod vehemently and offer a weak smile. “Yes. Sorry. I think the exhaustion has finally gotten to me.”

“You look pale, Alicia,” he says. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

“Yes, I promise,” I insist, and he gives me a water flask to drink from and to splash on my face.

“I just need to get some food in my stomach. Perhaps some dried plums. It’s possible I inhaled a little too much dust and ash on the way here.”

He takes the measure of me from head to toe, and I feel so fucking naked and vulnerable when he does that, even though I know he’s just worried about me. All I can do is laugh nervously to try to keep him from worrying.

“I’m serious, Kharo, I’m fine. I’m just…it’s been a long few weeks.”

“I believe you. But you’ll tell me if you’re unwell, right?” he asks.

I throw my arms around his waist and melt in his embrace, resting my head against his muscular chest. The rhythm of his heart echoes mine, and for the briefest of moments, I feel like I’m at peace. I’m at home in his arms. Safe. “I will tell you; I promise. It’s nothing.”

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