Page 39 of From the Myths of Kings

Far below them, the Under Kingdom fanned out in a dense network of streets and tightly packed homes, the city carved into the cave floor as organically as the sea caves on the coast. The impressive expanse of stone buildings unspooled for as far as the eye could see, illuminated by bioluminescent moss that glowed on the cavernous ceiling. Tiered homes were carved into colossal stalagmites and spiraling staircases latticed over the city, connecting various turrets that grew from the earth. Clusters of bright crystals bloomed like flowers out of crevices in the stone, some standing as tall as trees. From this distance, the lights twinkling from hundreds of open windows looked like a star-studded sky.

Her eyes traced over the dark cityscape, taking in the flowing river that wound through the center of the city like a shining mirror. Its silver waters glowed, reflecting the lights of the houses and shimmering with luminous algae that clung to submerged rocks. Tiny boats drifted along its glass-like surface. Below the city streets, Saoirse knew there were even more hidden chambers and tunnel systems that lashed deep into the earth, splintering off into more unseen quarters of the city. At the lowest depths of the Under Kingdom, extensive mining operations cleaved even deeper into the earth, harvesting rare geological materials found nowhere else in Revelore. It was overwhelming and breathtaking all at once. One could explore the Under Kingdom for years and still not come close to uncovering all of its secrets.

“It’s just as I remember it,” Tezrus breathed from somewhere on Saoirse’s right. “How I wish?”

Blinding pain suddenly erupted through Saoirse’s body. Before she could double over, unseen hands wrapped around her arms and fingernails bit into her skin. Cold metal was fitted over her wrists before she even had time to process what was happening. A gag was shoved into her mouth before she could yell for help.

“What is the meaning of thi?” Neia’s voice cut off, presumably because another filthy rag had been stuffed into her mouth.

The torchlight flickered back to life and brightened the tunnel once more. Realization dawned on Saoirse in appalling pieces: They were surrounded by a swarm of guards. Every member of their group was shackled in chains just like Saoirse, wadded gags rammed into their mouths. All…except for Rymir, Ezra, Larken, and Xander, who were standing among the crowd of armed soldiers unbound.

They’d been betrayed.

Understanding struck through Saoirse’s heart like a blade, chased by a rising sense of panic.

“You are hereby under arrest by decree of King Grivur Cragmane, the fifth of his name and Lord of All Things Below. You are charged with conspiracy against the crown.”

Neia’s eyes blazed with fury, her knife-like gaze tearing into Rymir, who stared absently at his boots. Disbelief, confusion, and the bright pain of betrayal churned in the depths of her eyes.

How could you, that look said.

Saoirse struggled to comprehend the horrific turn of events unfolding around her. Rymir had betrayed them? None of it made any sense. Then Saoirse’s world went dark as a black hood was shoved over her head.

18

SAOIRSE

The dark hood was finally ripped from Saoirse’s head.

Disoriented, she was shoved forward. She fell on her hands and knees, the stone floor biting into her palms. The shackles on her wrists clanked together as she caught herself.

Her eyes slowly adjusted to the dim light. She was in a tiny cell that butted up against a craggy stone wall, surrounded by iron bars that protruded from the rocky floor like stalagmites. The only wavering light came from a lone sconce that hung further down the hallway. The damp chamber smelled of earth and mold. She had no idea where the prison block was located. They could be miles below the Under Kingdom for all she knew.

To Saoirse’s right, Tezrus huddled in the corner of his cell, appearing frailer than ever. He was overtaken by a state of shock, his luminous eyes unfocused. On the adjacent wall of the prison block, Hasana was similarly herded into her iron-barred cell.

Neia was the last to be locked up. When the dark hood was torn from her face, Neia ripped the wadded gag from her mouth. “Bastards!” she spat. Her bottom lip was split, garish bright blood smeared across her pale cheek.

King Grivur’s underguards slammed the cell door closed without a second glance at their former commander. Neia grabbed the bars, pressing her face against the iron.

“If you’re going to arrest me, you must also arrest Captain Rymir Barrow,” she screamed hoarsely at the guards’ retreating backs. “He has sold hundreds of Grivur’s secrets to the rebellion. He was involved in the Meysam uprising, did you know that?” Her voice grew frantic as their footsteps disappeared down the hallway and she pressed closer to the bars, her nails clawing at the rusted metal. “He may have turned us over, but that won’t absolve his contributions to our cause. Please. He’ll betray you just as he betrayed us!” Her words were futile.

Neia slumped back against the stone floor, her shoulders stooping with despair. A curtain of white hair fell over her shoulder and hid her face.

“I can’t believe this.” Her voice came out in a broken whisper. “Rymir has always been faithful to me. I’ve treated him like a brother all these years. I didn’t think him capable of duplicity.” A sob hitched in Neia’s voice and Saoirse’s heart broke for her.

She crept over to the wall of iron bars that they shared. “It’s not your fault. You couldn’t have known this was going to happen.”

Neia looked at her from behind the veil of white hair, watery eyes despondent in the faint torchlight. “We stole the Crown of Revelore against all odds. You survived the Soundless Oasis. We battled an ancient sea monster during a maelstrom. All of it for nothing. I knew something wasn’t right. Our luck was bound to run out eventually. I just didn’t think it would end this way.”

“It’s not over yet,” Saoirse countered, though she wasn’t sure if she even believed her own words. Their situation was bleak. They were imprisoned somewhere deep within the earth, at the mercy of a mad king who would likely torture them to death. “Adresin and Noora are still with the ship. When we don’t come back, they’ll sense something went wrong. Perhaps they’ll come for us.” Even to Saoirse’s ears, the odds of Adresin and Noora coming to their rescue were abysmal. Neia’s silence confirmed they would not be foolish enough to attempt a rescue.

Hasana’s hoarse voice floated across the cell block. “If Grivur truly has succumbed to madness, death by the sea monster’s jaws might’ve been preferable to whatever horrors he has planned for us. Or he may just ship us off to Aurandel. Queen Raven would offer him a trove of wealth for our capture. She’ll want a public execution, at the very least. Make an example of us.”

Neia shook her head sadly. “If Grivur has locked himself in the Under Kingdom and cut himself off from the rest of Revelore, something tells me he won’t be trading our lives for coin. He’ll have some dark purpose for us here.”

She was right. If Grivur’s paranoia was so great he would ignore Raven’s call to arms and execute his closest advisors for conspiracy, Saoirse didn’t want to imagine what he might do to rebel leaders caught infiltrating his kingdom.

Weighty silence fell over the prison block. A distant drip of water echoed through the damp chamber, mirroring Saoirse’s pounding heartbeat. Tension settled in her stomach like a stone. This couldn’t be the end, could it?

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