Page 47 of The Demon Tide

The Wyvernguard

North Wyvernguard Island, Noilaan

Eastern Realm

Sixth Month

Vothendrile

“The problems of the Western Realm need to stay in the Western Realm!” Heelyn insists to Min Lo as she slices the air with her rune-marked hands.

I take in the dragon image of the Goddess Vo shaved on the side of Heelyn’s head as I watch my two childhood friends face off. Trystan stands a short distance away, dressed in his sapphire Vu Trin apprentice uniform, my thoughts flitting to when he burned his Gardnerian garb a few nights past.

“There arechildren...familiesdyingon their way to the Eastern Realm,” Min Lo says to the room full of apprentices and soldiers, pointedly ignoring Heelyn’s censure. “Who’s willing to fly out with me tonight and help them?”

I scan the crowd assembled in the large circular weapons room, everyone awaiting Weapons Master Jyl Hin’s arrival. Blue torchlight casts them in a moody glow, the armory’s stone walls filled with countless runic weapons hung in neat, deadly rows.

Min Lo’s dark eyes blaze, the silence she’s met with only stoking her passion. “The people fleeing here have no idea what the waters of the Zonor River are like. Storms are forecast for tonight, and there’s always the danger of migrating kraken. Vu Trin scouts have spotted a number of Westerners moving toward the river. They need our help.”

I let out a long sigh.Always the revolutionary, Minyl. Always taking the unpopular political side and pushing others to join you.

“And by rescuing these Kelts and Urisk,” Heelyn snaps back, “you’re encouraging more to come and putting more at risk.”

“You think they’ll just stay put if we don’t save some of them from drowning?” Minyl’s question sounds calm, but I can sense her outrage rising.

“Ithink,” Heelyn says, “that if we’re not careful, the Eastern Realm will become the Western Realm. The Kelts and Urisk are as backward as the Gardnerians—”

“I’m quite clear on how you feel, Heelyn,” Minyl throws down in an obvious attempt to shut Heelyn up.

“No women are allowed in the Keltish military,” Heelyn reminds her. “Women are forbidden from bearing arms. All because their holy book tells them so. The same holy book the Crows follow minus a few pages, I might add. Is that what you want here in the Eastern Realm?”

“Have you forgotten that the Kelts were our allies in the Realm War?” Min Lo shoots back.

Heelyn spits out a sound of derision. “So were the Amaz. Who kill all men who wander into their territory. Who leave male babies in the woods todie.”

Min Lo takes a step toward Heelyn, her fists tight around the hilts of the curved swords sheathed at her sides. “All I know, Heelyn,” she counters, “is that while we stand here and debate, families are about to try and cross the Zonor withabsolutely no knowledgeof the undertow that was magicked into its center during the Realm War. Or how fast the storms and kraken can move in.” Minyl glances around the room with what feels like a silent plea for compassion. “Don’t you see? This could be any of us, if we were born in a place in turmoil. People are on their way here as we speak. Let’s help them. Who’s with me? Ung Li has granted me permission to use four rune skiffs.”

I take in the uncomfortable looks being traded around the uniformly Noi apprentices and soldiers, save Trystan, and my sympathy rises for Minyl when no one volunteers.

She’s fighting a losing battle. Commander Ung Li’s soft spot for refugees from the Western Realm—save Gardnerians and Alfsigr—is not one of her popular stances. The tides of opinion in the Eastern Realm are turning. Before, when it was a trickle of refugees, mostly Fae who brought power to the Wyvernguard, sympathies ran high, everyone united against the Gardnerians and their allies, the Alfsigr Elves. But now, with that flow accelerating...the doors are slamming shut.

My own people are with the Noi Conclave in this, and I’m inclined to agree with them. Heelyn is right. The problems of the Western Realm need to stay in the Western Realm. The Amaz will bring their hatred of men. The Kelts their backwardBook of the Ancients. The Urisk their class-based infighting and potentially dangerous geomancy. The Fae their revolutionary groups looking for a return to Fae supremacy over both Realms. And the Lupines...the growing Gerwulf Lupine pack bows to no one, not even the Noi Conclave. They’re aligned with the East for now, but will they be forever? And now, even Mage refugees are filtering in.

The Eastern Realm is courting chaos.

“A baby drowned last week,” Minyl tries again. She looks straight at me. “Vothe, you’re my good friend. You’ve always been a person of high integrity. Come and help me.”

“Minyl...” Dismay rises inside me to disappoint her so publicly. “I can’t help you. You know that. I’m the son of the Zhilon’ile Regent. It would be seen as a political statement—”

“Have you forgotten what the dragon that marks your uniform stands for?” Minyl challenges, her voice thick with emotion. Her gaze sweeps the room. “The Compassionate Vo? Goddess of Mercy?”

“Goddess of theNoi religion,” Heelyn says. “Not Goddess of the Kelts or the Urisk.”

“Really, Heelyn?” Minyl counters. “Where exactly is it written in theTeachings of the Blessed Vothat compassion is solely for the Noi?”

“There won’t be anyTeachings of the Blessed Vo, or a Noilaan for that matter, if we let the West overrun the East!” Heelyn cries out.

“I volunteer.”

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