Page 18 of From the Mouths of Sirens

“I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“And to think we’ll dine at the top of that mountain,” Sune added after he had downed his titansblood elixir. He shook out his own dark hair, sending droplets flying everywhere. Saoirse squinted at Mt. Thalia, as if she could make out the infamous sky Citadel that nestled in the heart of Coarinth.

“Tributes,” a voice interrupted. Saoirse turned, seeing Vangelis approach them from the ocean staircase. The ambassador was tall and lean, his slightly-transparent scales a deep blue against his skin. As the Tournament Ambassador of Elorshin, he represented the throne from afar.

“I have a salve for you all,” Vangelis said, pulling out three glass jars from a satchel at his waist. “Put a thin layer over your scales every morning and night. It will prevent your skin from drying out and cracking. The air up at the mountain’s peak is swift and unforgiving.”

Saoirse took the jars from his outstretched hands, giving one to Sune and Aurelia. She dipped a finger into the soft salve. It was cool and rich to the touch.

“Never go anywhere without your titansblood elixirs,” Vangelis warned them. “You must carry it with you at all times. One dose wears out after five hours. If you are without it, suffocation is sure to follow.” The three of them nodded, tucking their vials of titansblood into their satchels. Just as a surface dweller might drown in the ocean, drowning on land was a very real possibility for them.

“Before we arrive in Coarinth, you also must prepare yourselves for hostility,” Vangelis continued gravely. “I’ve visited the capital several times over the years. Though I was treated cordially by the palace officials for the most part, do not expect to be welcomed as equals. There will be whispers behind your back, and perhaps even direct threats to your face. Every Auran has been taught that Mer are the cause of every evil that has occurred on the continent, including the Revelore Tournament itself.”

“So we’ll be hated, whether secretly or blatantly,” Aurelia huffed, crossing her arms.

“I wouldn’t expect anything less of their kind,” Sune added. “They’re a prejudiced lot. They think that just because they rule the skies, they can look down on everyone else.”

“Not just the Aura,” Vangelis continued. “The Tellusun and Terradrin too. They’ve all been taught that we can’t be trusted. In their eyes, the Mer are deceptive and cunning.”

“Good to know,” Aurelia replied with a snort. “I’ll return the favor, I can assure you. If they want to treat us like animals, I’ll treat them like sea scum,” she spat.

“I don’t think we should do that,” Saoirse offered quietly. They all looked at her skeptically. “We should get to know them. The closer we are to our enemies, the more likely it will be that we can uncover their weak spots. They won’t let us close if we are hostile.”

“I’d rather be kept at arm’s length than be a submissive servant, groveling at their sandaled-feet,” Aurelia countered.

“I am not one to grovel, nor do I readily submit myself to someone else’s prejudice,” Saoirse returned. “But I believe we should approach this with a different strategy. We should make them think they can trust us. Make them think we are weak and passive. It will be unexpected.”

“Perhaps she is right,” Sune said thoughtfully. “They expect us to return their hostility. They’d be taken aback by our openness. We can use that to our advantage.”

“Unless they suspect us for acting kindly,” Aurelia shook her head. “I’ll play along, but only so far. I won’t put up with slander. I’ll speak up if I hear any words against our king and our people.” She stomped off, her Torqen armor catching the light of the sun as she headed for the treeline.

Saoirse followed her, their party trailing up the beach behind them. It was true that she needed to be close to her enemies. If she wasn’t familiar with their weaknesses, she didn’t stand a chance in the trials. But there was more to her strategy than that. With every step forward, she was reminded of her bargain with Selussa. I want you to kill the prince. The words echoed through her head like the pounding of a drum. Prince Rook was not only a closely-guarded royal and fierce competitor, he was an enigma she didn’t understand. She needed to think like him, study his moves, and predict his choices. And if she ever had a chance at gaining such information about him, she needed to get close.

Sighing, she trailed after them, her feet sinking into the white sand. As she walked through the sloped hills, her neck prickled with the sensation that someone was watching her. She glanced over her shoulder, quickly averting her eyes when she spotted Adda staring at her from afar. She could feel the Elder’s piercing green eyes boring into her, following her every move. She shivered in the haunting feeling of Adda’s gaze. The High Elder would be there every step of the way, following in her shadow.

You made this choice, Saoirse chided herself. Now it's time to follow through.

They halted at the treeline, gathering together under the towering branches. Saoirse stared in awe at the mighty canopies of green woven together high above. This world was so different from the vibrant coral walls and jungles of seagrass in Kellam. She looked down at the white sand that merged together with rich brown soil, mingling seamlessly. Little pink seashells were scattered throughout the soil, small reminders of the sea stretching beyond.

The trees began to rustle above them, shuddering in a chorus of shifting leaves. The sound of distant wingbeats filled the air like the rumble of thunder. Saoirse glanced up and shielded her eyes as a strong gust of wind swept across the sand.

Six white carriages emerged from the clouds, spiraling down as gracefully as doves. Teams of winged horses sped through the air, pulling the carriages along behind them. The horses moved as one unit, lifting their wings in unison.

“Titans,” Aurelia breathed, her eyes widening as the horses galloped through the clouds. They were all different colors, some speckled gray and others as dark as the night sky. The winged horses were hitched together by shimmering silver chains and painted with crushed gold flecks. They dove down, spiraling to the earth in a swirl of feathers.

The carriages halted before the crowd of Mer, sand spraying everywhere as the horses landed on solid ground. The first carriage opened, and a striking woman emerged from the cabin, her silver-grey hair catching in the afternoon light. She was clad in the traditional robes of the Aura. Her dress were gathered to one shoulder, clasped together by a gold medallion. Her sandals were tied intricately across her ankles, curving up her calves.

“Ambassador Cresta,” Vangelis called with a bow. “A pleasure to see you, as always.”

“The pleasure is mine,” Cresta replied with a bow in return. “I trust your travels went smoothly?” Her eyes scanned the crowd behind him, sizing up the entire Mer party. While pleasantries slipped from her lips, her mouth seemed to be in a perpetual frown.

“Indeed,” Vangelis answered. He took a step back, gesturing to the tributes. “I present to you the tributes of Elorshin. Aurelia Eleni and Sune Kresten, captains of the Torqen guard,” he offered, directing Cresta’s gaze toward the pair of leaders.

“And-” he paused, “Princess Saoirse Kellamheart, daughter of King Angwin.”

Cresta gazed at Saoirse, assessing her with hawk-like focus. But she said nothing, merely blinking at her. “Welcome, tributes,” the ambassador said with a nod. “It is a great honor to be selected for the Revelore Tournament. You bring your country immense honor.” She looked at each one of them slowly, as if she could see right through their silver armor. “If you would please follow me to our raeda, we shall ferry you to Mt. Thalia.” With that, she swiftly turned and walked back to the carriages.

The rest of their entourage followed behind, carrying their various chests and trunks to the awaiting carriages. Aurelia stepped into the raeda without a second thought, reaching a hand out to Saoirse. Saoirse paused and stared at the huge horses connected to the carriage. They kicked at the ground impatiently, their hooves spraying sand. Saoirse tore her gaze away and grabbed Aurelia ’s outstretched hand, hoisting herself up. Inside, the interior of the coach was decadently lavish. The cabin was surrounded by windows so large that every occupant had a breathtaking view even while seated. The walls were framed by polished gold paneling, and plush cushions lined the booths. Placed on each seat, a pair of boots sat waiting for them.

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