Page 36 of From the Myths of Kings

Aurelia dragged a hand through her tangled blonde hair, raking her gaze across the sea. “In that case, I’m glad she spared our encampments. But still, if you want us to trust you, you must learn to trust us. Do not attempt to hide anything else from?”

Her words were cut off as the platform tottered with a swift gust of wind. The wood beneath their feet fractured with a sickening crack. Suddenly, they were hurtling toward shards of broken planks, serrated rocks, and pounding surf. Rook reflexively grabbed Aurelia as they plummeted, unfurling his wings just before they were impaled. As the wind caught in his wings and he was snapped backward with a jerk, Rook bit back a cry of pain. Clutching a flailing Aurelia in his arms, he attempted to stabilize them in the air. The string of incoherent curses that flew from her mouth was snatched away by the rushing wind.

Rook flapped his wings and hauled them upward, each beat sending splinters of pain through his shoulder blades. When they hovered safely over the wreckage of Widow’s Cove, Rook readjusted his hold on Aurelia, who was doing her best to keep as much distance between them as possible.

“I promise not to withhold anything else from you,” he finally rasped. His entire body felt like it was on fire.

“Thank you,” Aurelia replied, a self-satisfied look on her face. She looked down at the thrashing waves below. “You can just drop me. I’ll swim back.”

Rook nearly laughed out loud. Did she really find the idea of flying with him so abhorrent?

“Don’t be daft. I’ll fly you back to camp. You don’t know what beasts might be lurking down there.” He began flying toward the direction of the beach.

“Is this how you wooed Saoirse?” Aurelia called over the wind. “You scooped her up and she swooned in your arms? You’ll not win me over so easily.”

This time, Rook really did laugh. “Yes, that’s exactly what I did.”

16

SAOIRSE

For the first time in her entire life, Saoirse wanted nothing more than to be out of the ocean and on dry land. She’d become a sorry excuse of a Mer indeed. As the distant stretch of Terradrin’s coastline crept into view like a shadow, relief settled over her shoulders. They had not encountered any more of Selussa’s ancient sea monsters for the last two days but knowing they could be attacked at any moment set her on edge. Even with Kaja swimming alongside their hull, her colossal, spiked spine protruding from the waves, a lingering feeling of icy dread draped over the entire ship.

Saoirse stood at the taffrail, watching as Terradrin’s rocky terrain unspooled before them. They’d waited to draw closer to the shoreline until the veil of night cloaked them in shadow. The pale moon was shrouded in heavy clouds, drenching the sea in darkness.

“Are you ready?” Tezrus came to stand next to Saoirse at the railing. His colorless eyes swam with emotion as he took in the distant coastline of his homeland, a sight he had not seen for twenty years.

“Ready as I can be,” she replied, feeling her own share of tangled emotions.

“It’s strange, isn’t it? Seeing nothing but empty terrain for as far as the eye can see. You’d expect to see a dense city skyline, but the great Under Kingdom is completely underground. Thousands of souls out of eyesight.”

It was disconcerting indeed. From what she’d studied of the subterranean capital of Terradrin, there were only three main entry points. After passing through the gates and descending into a series of sloping tunnels, the city splintered off into vast cave systems and elaborate tunnel networks that only those native to the city could navigate. The main roads were well-lit by torches of undying flame, bioluminescent glow worms, and a sweeping cityscape of buildings brightened by countless windows that winked with candles. But the secret tunnels that skirted the densely populated city crawled through the darkness like spindly tree branches, teeming with hostile subterranean wildlife, outcasts of society, and smugglers who conducted black market trading and other nefarious affairs in unmapped caves.

Populated with hundreds of thousands, the Under Kingdom was just the beginning of an unfathomable series of connected tunnels and caverns that uncoiled into more cities and towns across the continent, some at impossibly low depths and others carved out near the surface. The only city half-surfaced above the earth was the trade city of Meysam that flanked the edge of Aurandel.

A splash rippled in the dark waters below and Saoirse nearly jumped out of her skin. It was only Kaja, her massive head rising from the water to reveal moon-gilded scales and bright yellow eyes. Saoirse didn’t know if she would ever get used to seeing the sea dragon floating next to the hull like a loyal hound. Kaja peered at her intently, huffing fish-soured breath over her face. The foul odor made her eyes water. Hiding her grimace, Saoirse reached out a hand and rested her fingers against the dragon’s rough nose, fighting the urge to flinch when she caught a glimpse of sharp ivory teeth.

“We’ll return in just a few days,” she assured the dragon. She still didn’t know if Kaja understood a word she said, but the dragon hadn’t given any indication she misunderstood so far. “Stay here and guard our ship.”

“Actually, I might have a task for Kaja, should you agree to it,” Hasana proposed, sidling up to them. Her dark cloak was clasped together with a bronze pin molded into the sun emblem of Tellusun, complete with spiraling sunbeams that glinted in the darkness. “I do not want to leave this unattended, nor do I think it wise to bring it with us into the Under Kingdom.” From between the folds of her cloak, Hasana pulled out an object bound in oiled cloth. She carefully unwound the wrappings. The blood-red Arrow of Tellusun gleamed in her hands as though forged from starlight. This was the Huntress’s arrow that pierced the heart of Titan of the Desert, Nasoor the Cunning, centuries ago. Kaja, the treasure-obsessed beast that she was, cocked her head like a magpie glimpsing a shining coin on the ground.

“Hel’s teeth,” Tezrus breathed. The ruby arrow refracted red-tinged moonlight against the old man’s pale skin as he leaned closer to inspect the artifact. “I’ve seen drawings of this Relic, but it is more beautiful than I could’ve ever imagined. Your family has guarded the arrow all these years? How did you keep it from the Order of Elders in Tellusun?”

Hasana nodded. “We kept it in our vault not knowing its true value. Only those of House Yerimya may unlock the vault. It is sealed with similar magic to the enchantment that only allows for the royal bloodline of Elorshin to release prisoners from the Fretum. The Elders have tried to get their hands on the arrow over the years, as they have in the other kingdoms, but they were unsuccessful. I don’t even want to think about what Selussa would’ve done to my kingdom a hundred years ago. Had she been successful in stealing the Dark Pearl of Elorshin the first time, she would’ve moved onto Tellusun and infiltrated our ranks, likely killing my ancestors just as she killed your great-uncle, King Lorsan.” She turned to Saoirse, honey-brown eyes glinting from under her hood. “Kaja kept her oath to protect the dark pearl for a hundred years. Can you think of anyone better suited to look over the Tellusun Relic while we venture into the Under Kingdom?”

Saoirse had to admit it was a good idea. The only reason Kaja had lost the dark pearl was because she had stolen it, an heir of the very king who’d charged the dragon with protecting the Relic in the first place. “And Selussa won’t suspect Kaja has it,” she mused. “The Sea Witch likely thinks we’re carrying it with us. When Selussa comes for the third Relic, she won’t find it with us.”

“My thoughts exactly.” Hasana smiled at Kaja, who was still eyeing the ruby arrow with blatant hunger. She held out the Relic reverently. “Would you protect this for us, Kaja, just as you once guarded the dark pearl?”

Without fear, Hasana drew closer to the dragon and offered up her kingdom’s most treasured possession. Kaja inclined her head as if in answer, rivulets of water running down her scaled neck and splashing on the deck. She opened her great jaw and leaned forward, rows of blade-like teeth on full display. Saoirse tensed as Hasana reached into the dragon’s open mouth. She placed the arrow between Kaja’s teeth gently and stepped back. Kaja’s jaw hinged shut and she slid back into the water, a self-satisfied look burning in her yellow eyes as she sank beneath the waves with unnerving silence. Even though Saoirse knew the dragon could be trusted, unease flickered in her heart. What if Kaja was secretly loyal to Selussa and they’d just handed over the third Relic to her?

Sensing the direction of her thoughts, Hasana hedged, “It will be safe with Kaja. Besides, we have little other choice. We cannot risk losing the arrow in the Under Kingdom. And if Terradrin scouts find our ship by some twist of bad luck, we cannot risk the Relic’s discovery onboard.”

“You’re right.” Saoirse watched as Kaja slipped further away, her dark form smudging into obscurity under moon-silvered waves. “I’m sure everything will go according to plan.” It must.

“The boat is prepared.” Neia’s boots echoed across the deck as she strode over to them. A dark cloak fluttered over her onyx-colored armor and a longsword was strapped across her back. Her white hair was braided around her head like a crown, easily concealed under her hood. Behind her, Rymir stood wearing an identical uniform of onyx. Despite the grave atmosphere, an easy smile still touched his lips.

“The torch signal has been spotted in the cave. It’s time to go.”

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