Page 54 of Daughter of the Darkened City

The nymph gestured to the water. “Take a drink. All of you. It will heal your cuts and bruises and give you energy.”

Kaemon took a cup and gave a drink to Enid as she refused to let go of Avenay. It tasted sweet, like honeysuckle nectar and floral tea. She felt the effect almost immediately. Her body lit up, a slight burning filling her limbs at first and then finally settling over her in a soft warmth. Slowly, her limbs stopped aching and clarity washed over her mind and ease through her limbs.

“Follow me. I’ll take you to a place to rest. You look tired and hungry. I’m Sylvaine, by the way.” The nymph walked forward, the people parting as they followed.

“I have a lot of questions,” Onora said, taking in her surroundings one more time, eyes wide enough that her scowl was barely visible next to the surprise.

“All in due time,” Sylvaine said. “We can answer any questions you have, but come along now, because the king will want to meet all of you.”

“The king?” Dryston asked.

“Yes, King Edond,” Sylvaine said, her voice softening in reverence.

Fingers brushed along Enid’s arms and wings as she passed, the people staring at them in the same awe Enid felt. She wanted to bark at them to stop, but she understood the need to feel it was real. Each one of their touches confirmed it for her, too. There were so manyquestions, too many questions perhaps. How could Evolis still exist, and no one in living memory had heard of it?

Tightly packed buildings lined the way as they followed Sylvaine through the winding streets. Birds flitted about, resting on balconies and drinking from fountains. People poked their heads out of the buildings to stare, and Enid marveled at the sheer number of people here.

Every step formed a new question, every new street she beheld rattled the same one in her mind: how had no one heard from Evolis in ages?

They arrived at the palace with a throng following them, having to be held back and told they couldn’t follow in. Enid peeked over her shoulder as they walked to see them all standing outside, watching.

Sylvaine gestured to an elfe in white robes, a servant of the castle by the looks of her, and the female walked forward, bowing.

“Maru, please take the seraphe to a room to rest and bring in the physicians to do a full checkup on her.”

Maru came forward, two elves appearing behind her to help, and Enid stepped forward.

“I’ll follow you,” she said.

Sylvaine shook her head. “Oh no, dear. The king will want to see you. Your friend will be fine. She will most likely rest for a few days.”

Enid held her ground, her wings curling in, her face set. Dryston’s frown fell away as his eyes darted around her wings, him and Kaemon exchanging a glance. Great, just what she needed. Dryston would now give her a big brother talk later about mates and all that. She tried to not visibly cringe at the thought.

“Enid, she’ll be fine,” Dryston said, his voice calm and brotherly in a way she’d never heard before. “We should meet the king.”

She gave him a flat lipped smile. Of course. Always the politician. She opened her mouth to speak, but he interrupted her, his tone still calm but with the slightest edge of the dominance, playing his card as her Lord. “Enid, she’ll be fine. You can visit her after.”

Normally she would fold under that pressure, the pull of her to obey her Lord and leader of the colony. She felt the magic twine around inside her, dark shadows curling and pulling. But she wouldn’t give in. That light from Avenay pushed against the compulsion, and she saw the spark of surprise in Dryston’s face when she did.

But she also knew that it would cause more problems later. She could feel the tension in the air and how Sylvaine watched them carefully. And while she hated how easily Dryston slipped into thepolitician role, she understood the need to look unified in a new land. They had no idea who these people were and if they would strike against any weakness.

“I’ll keep watch over her,” Cyrus said, giving Enid a keen and knowing look. She hated that almost as much as her brothers. Though it made her ease a little, knowing that Avenay’s friend would be next to her. He was an imposing figure as well, so she had no doubt that if anyone tried anything, they’d regret it.

She handed Avenay over, running a finger along her cheek, then reluctantly turned and followed the others to the throne room. Her clothes were still soaked through, hair matted to her face, and she stank of dirt and blood, the smell bringing up other memories inside her that she scrambled to knock down. That spot in her abdomen throbbed with a phantom pain and she pressed a hand over it.

They arrived at two double doors, servants bustling about hurriedly, clearly waking from their sleep and hastening to be ready for guests. They all paused as they passed to stare, then shook their heads as if in a daze and continued on. The doors opened, and Sylvaine led them in. Enid expected a grand throne room with a king on the dais, but instead it was a dining hall with a table loaded with food and drink, as more was brought in.

At the head of the table stood a strong male, tall and broad, talking to a woman. They stopped talking as they entered, and his eyes widened as they met Enid and the others. Sylvaine immediately bowed.

This was the king.

Enid quickly followed suit, as did all the others but Dryston, who squared his stance, letting his wings fan out further. Onora, kneeling next to him, rolled her eyes at the gesture.

But it didn’t matter. For the king fell prostrate before them, his body wracked in sobs. “Praise the Mother!”

A chorus of praises came from the others in the room as some began to weep. Enid’s head swiveled to take in the people again, her eyes landing on Kaemon, his face mirroring her confusion.

The king sat up on his knees, looking at them with tears. “You have no idea how long we’ve been waiting for you to come.” His eyes scanned from Dryston to each one of them, a deep well of emotion there when his eyes met Enid’s.

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