Page 26 of From the Mouths of Sirens

Saoirse reluctantly emerged from the pool, water dripping down her body and pooling on the floor. She toweled herself off, spreading some of the salve that Vangelis had given her over her scales before slipping on her clothes. She chose a plain tunic and breeches, deciding that the looser and more breathable the better. She took a dose of titansblood, the familiar shifting of her lungs no more comfortable today than yesterday.

After dressing, Saoirse clasped her belt around her waist and hooked her sword on her hip. She then strapped the dagger she’d wagered to her thigh, making sure it was visible. She felt foolish. Here she was, on the eve of the Tournament, fighting over some stupid dagger that meant nothing to her. She didn’t even know if Rook and his companions would show up at sunrise after she had so thoroughly offended him last night.

A soft knock sounded at the door, and Saoirse opened it to see Aurelia and Sune standing in the dim hallway. Aurelia grinned at her, something like glee in her turquoise eyes. Sune merely frowned as Saoirse left the chamber.

“I still don’t think this is a good idea,” Sune said as the three of them headed down the hallway. “That wager was foolish, and I didn’t even agree to it.”

“And yet here you are,” Saoirse retorted. Of course she agreed with him, but she would never admit it.

“Any chance we have to best those arrogant birds is a chance worth taking,” Aurelia assured Sune. “So what if it was a reckless move? I’ve never been afraid of a little recklessness.”

“It’s dangerous to let your pride get in the way,” Sune replied, opening the door of the hallway and leading them out into the open courtyard. The sun was only just beginning to rise, still a mere blur on the horizon. The moon was still visible against the dark sky, shrouded by a blanket of clouds.

“Think of this as an opportunity to assess the enemy,” Saoirse said, striding purposefully through the lower half of the Citadel. “We’ll observe how they fight and what tactics they use in combat. We can use that to our advantage in the Tournament.”

Sune merely gave a disapproving scowl as the three of them entered the empty city streets. They headed uphill, striding toward the eastern sky bridge that hovered high in the clouds. Saoirse’s legs burned as they walked up the inclined roads, her muscles unused to the feeling of walking. Even in the darkness, the city of Coarinth was as beautiful as it had been when they first arrived. The open-aired buildings and floating pavilions were so different from the coral architecture in Kellam Keep.

As they headed east, the roar of pounding water slowly grew louder. At the far eastern border of Coarinth, a brilliant blue waterfall cascaded down from the mountain, shimmering in the wan morning sunrise. The water flowed downward through the city, cutting through the beautiful sandstone streets and spilling across the slopes like a maiden’s unbound hair. In a few places, the river branched off into different canals that connected various quarters of the city. Small boats used the waterways as a mode of transportation through the city, floating downstream. The river ran all the way down the mountain, providing water to many towns along the way. At the top of the cliffs, the sky bridge hung over the waterfall, framed by two towers on either side.

“You couldn’t have chosen somewhere lower to the ground?” Aurelia huffed as they reached a long set of stairs that was carved into the mountain itself.

“It wasn’t my decision,” Saoirse mumbled as they began to climb upward. She hoped that after all this, the Aurans would actually meet them there.

The three of them trudged up the treacherous stone staircase in silence, sparing the occasional glance downward as they continued climbing. As they rose higher, the view of the city below grew even more breathtaking. Still soft and unfocused on the horizon, the rising sun silhouetted the city skyline in gold. Every few steps, a soft mist drifted towards them from the roaring waterfall, dampening their dry skin and scales in a rejuvenating spray.

After what seemed like an eternity, they finally reached the top of the staircase. The sky bridge was anchored to the two towers that framed the waterfall, hung above the roaring waters below. They were so high up that tendrils of clouds drifted across the bridge, tinged a pale pink in the sunrise. Tangles of vines hung along the railing of the bridge, hanging down in strands of lush greenery. Birds dove around the sky bridge, flying under and over it in a sort of dance. Saoirse had to admit that even if Rook and his companions didn’t meet them, the spectacular sight was worth the effort.

“More bloody stairs,” Aurelia muttered, leading them to the tower that stood beside the waterfall. Through the rounded doorway, a spiral staircase curled upward through the tower, meeting the sky bridge at the very top.

“By the time we get to the top, we’ll have no strength left,” Sune cursed.

Suddenly, a breeze blew in from above and the beat of wings filled the air. Much to Saoirse’s relief and annoyance, Rook and his two companions flew down to meet them, shooting through the clouds. The prince landed softly on the ground, his fellow tributes right behind him.

“Good morning, Mer,” Rook offered with a mock bow of respect.

Memories of their searing exchange of words the night before surged into her mind. “Thank you for honoring our wager,” Saoirse replied, giving him a slight nod.

“I never turn down a wager,” Rook answered, giving her a dimpled grin. Though he smiled, Saoirse could still see a flare of hostility in his eyes.

“Allow me to introduce my companions. This is Aurelia Eleni and Sune Kresten, captains of the Torqen and my fellow tributes in the Tournament.”

“A pleasure to make your acquaintance,” Rook said with a flourish, bowing elaborately to Sune and Aurelia. Through his forced smile, it was clear he was guarded.“Veila Stjarna and Eros Morningstar,” he told them, turning back to his companions. “The greatest warriors among the Aerials.”

Eros was tall and broad, his wings as black as a raven’s feathers. He nodded to them, offering a friendly smile that made Saoirse uncomfortable. Beside Eros, Veila merely crossed her arms and gave them an assessing gaze. Her white wings were pristine in the sunrise, her feathers unruffled. For a woman of such small stature, she was possibly the most intimidating fighter there.

“Shall we head up?” Eros asked, his ochre brown hair tousling in the wind as he looked up to the sky bridge.

“We’re ready when you are,” Aurelia replied confidently. A grin tugged at her lips. She was enjoying this entirely too much.

Without warning, the three Aurans strode up to each of them and grabbed them by the shoulders, hauling them into the air. Saoirse squirmed against Eros’s arms, unprepared for his crushing hold. But as they rose upward, Saoirse stopped her flailing and clutched his shoulders, her stomach dropping as they ascended. She might have found it amusing to see Rook carrying an offended-looking Sune upward through the clouds had she not been deathly afraid of plummeting to the earth herself. Eros dove through clouds gracefully, dodging birds that drifted beside them in the hazy morning light. He flew parallel to the crystal-blue waterfall as they continued upward, and soft mist clung to their skin and clothes as they shot upward.

Just as fast as they had risen into the air, they suddenly landed on the sky bridge. Saoirse quickly scrambled out of Eros’s arms, scowling when she saw Rook giving her a satisfied grin. Veila landed gently onto the bridge next to them, releasing Aurelia in an unceremonious heap.

Saoirse’s head was spinning with the change in altitude. Though she wanted to collapse in a heap and wait for the dizziness to pass, she staggered over to the railing of the bridge, trying to hold onto what little scraps of dignity she had left. The pounding of the water was deafening, roaring like a beast. She stood at the edge of the sky bridge, realizing that she had never been so high in her life.

“How do you like the view?” Rook asked beside her, taking a place at the railing. If he noticed how flustered she was, he didn’t say a word about it.

She looked up at him, noticing how the golden warmth of the sunrise caught on his dark hair. She hated herself for noticing such a small detail. “I’d like it better if you hadn’t hauled us up here without warning,” she retorted. “Let’s get this over with. The sooner we win this duel, the quicker we’ll be able to prepare for the Tournament tomorrow.”

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