Page 11 of Storms of His Wrath

They reached a structure larger than the others, its entrance marked by two towering stone pillars carved with symbols that Naya didn’t recognize. Inside, the space opened into a circular chamber where sunlight streamed in through a natural opening in the rock ceiling. The walls were covered in paintings and etchings.

At the center of the chamber stood a large stone table, its surface worn smooth by generations of use. Oshrun approached it, running her hand along its edge with a reverence that spoke of its importance.

“You asked about the ‘normal way’ to travel between our lands,” she said, turning to face Naya. “This is it. At least, it was.”

Naya stepped closer, examining the table. At first glance, it appeared to be simply a large slab of stone. But as she looked more carefully, she noticed intricate patterns carved into its surface—spirals and shapes that seemed to flow and connect in ways that made her eyes water if she stared too long. But she recognized the symbols.

“This is a portal?” she asked, looking up at Oshrun.

“It is a gateway, yes.” She traced one of the patterns with her finger. “These are not just decorations. They are instructions, written in a language foreign to most in Tsashokra.”

Naya’s heart quickened. “The Ancient Tongue.”

Oshrun’s eyes snapped to her. “Yes. You know it?”

“Yes. When I escaped from King Sy, I used the Ancient Tongue verbally to control the wild magic.”

A murmur of surprise rose from the entrance to the chamber, and Naya turned to see that several Omegas had gathered there, listening intently to their conversation.

“That explains a lot,” Oshrun said thoughtfully. “Few outsiders know the language, fewer still can wield it effectively.” She studied Naya with renewed interest. “Tell me, this Empire of Lox you speak of, where exactly is it located?”

“Very far,” Naya said. “I don’t know what direction it’s in but Akoro—King Sy—had to take me to a sand drift to create a portal to go there.”

Something shifted in Oshrun’s expression, a subtle tightening around her eyes. “The Known Lands,” she said, her voice suddenly cool. “You are from the Known Lands.”

The way she said it made it clear there was history here.

“Yes,” Naya said, cautiously. “I am the daughter of Emperor Drocco and Empress Cailyn of the Lox Empire.”

“It used to be called the Eastern Lands?”

“Yes.”

A hush fell over the chamber. Oshrun’s face had gone completely still, her eyes burning with an emotion Naya couldn’t quite place.

“So,” she said finally, her voice low and controlled. “History repeats itself after all.”

She turned away abruptly, addressing the gathered Omegas in their native tongue. Though Naya couldn’t understand the words, the tone was clear—urgent, commanding. The women dispersed quickly, their movements efficient and purposeful.

Oshrun turned back to Naya, her expression once again composed, as she moved to the other end of the chamber and leaned her staff against the wall. “This is our history,” she said, gesturing to a section of the wall covered in detailed etchings, “not the history King Sy consoles himself with, but the truth as we have lived it.”

The etchings depicted many different scenes—from conflict to peace, and seemingly everything in between.

“Long ago, the Tri-Dynasty had created the perfect balance of life here in the Tsashokra region,” Oshrun explained, walking back over to her. “The Vos were architects, builders, cultivators. They created beauty and sustenance. The Qor were warriors, protectors. And the Sy—” Her voice hardened. “The Sy weremerchants and magicians, enhancing life but always seeking more power, more control.”

Naya nodded. That aligned with what Akoro had said.

Oshrun tapped on a scene at the beginning of the section, showing a couple embracing. One was much smaller than the other and smaller figures, probably children, surrounded them. “Life was good for Alphas and Omegas too. Over sixty percent of couples were true mate pairings and society benefited from the contributions and efforts of both dynamics.”

Naya’s eyes widened. She hadn’t even thought to ask Akoro about the Alpha and Omega situation during the Tri-Dynasty era. The wild magic would have been confined to the Nnin-kaa Sands during that time, so Omegas wouldn’t have attracted it, which meant they would’ve been part of society. She moved closer to the wall, peering at the scene. Sixty percent of true mate couples was an extremely high number. This society had to have been thriving, with lots of children and lots of true Alphas and Omegas. Maybe that was why they’d had so many great achievements over such a huge region.

“When the Sy Dynasty became more powerful than the other two dynasties,” Oshrun continued, “the Vos and Qor weren’t paying enough attention to what was happening out in the region of Tsashokra.”

“What do you mean?” Naya asked. “What was happening?”

Oshrun’s finger moved to another scene—larger figures clustered around a smaller figure. “Omegas were disappearing. At first it seemed like there was no pattern to them. But it was always single Omegas born to small families, usually between the ages of thirteen and twenty.”

Naya stared at her, dread creeping into her veins. Omegas had been disappearing years ago in her land, too, except they had disappeared during childhood, before they could evenpresent as an Omega. The Mothers had been responsible for that.

---