Page 97 of A World of Ruins

Then, out of the blue, Rydan asks, ‘Do you think Sarilyn switched sides because she knew Nara was a Solaris reincarnation?’

My chest suddenly feels heavy.

‘Maybe,’ Link says, mystified.

‘She’s just doing anything to stay alive,’ I mutter, wishing we could go back to messing around instead of talking about Sarilyn.

‘Or she could genuinely know more than she’s let on.’ Rydan raises his eyebrows at me. ‘She did speak with a seer once, and they are practically impossible to come by unless you capture one of those creatures from Terranos.’

He’s thinking of the Galgr.

‘Or . ..’ Link drags out the word. ‘If you happen to have a friend who is half witch.’

Rydan waves a hand non-committally. ‘A witch telling you a rhyme is hardly the same as a seer—’

‘Freya would slap you for that,’ Link comments, holding back a smile.

‘She’s become too comfortable with that hand of hers.’ Rydan shudders. ‘The other day she hit me because I asked her who she would rather bed, Iker or Idris—’

Oh, Solaris.

Link’s mouth drops. ‘Why in Solaris’s name would you ask her that?’

‘I was just trying to help. She has no idea both are pining for her and clearly needs a nudge in the right direction . . .’

Rydan’s words trail off when a distant rumble reverberates through the earth. The air vibrates with something ominous, and I clutch the dried grass as my gaze whips to the birds scattering from hidden treetops and the dragons, growling as if sensing danger.

The ground beneath us begins to shudder and convulse, and I take in a sharp gasp of air as Link and Rydan hold on to me. Darius is already running towards us with Tibith panicking on his shoulder. Idris is yelling my name, while Iker covers Freya with his body on the ground, and everyone else scatters inside.

I clench my eyes shut, unable to move from the ground. I hear faraway cries from the city, and I imagine the look of terror in people’s eyes as they stumble and seek stability from the things around them.

Our world is in ruins because of you!

Neither of you is fit to rule over a kingdom.

Tell me, if it means saving Zerathion, is the Golden Thief worth dying for?

My gaze snaps wide open at the last whisper of words inside my head, and then, as abruptly as it began, the trembling subsides, leaving a strange stillness in its wake.

Darius slows down to a stop, metres away from us, and I quickly rise to my feet, panting.

‘Nara?’ Rydan says from below.

‘I have to go,’ I rush out, my legs stumbling as I make my way towards Darius. He grabs me by my forearms and searches my face with furrowed brows.

‘Wait, Nara—’ Rydan says, his head peering down beside him. ‘The grass.’ He sounds bewildered, but there’s no time.

I look to my left as my brothers and Freya start jogging towards me. I face Darius, saying in a low voice, ‘If my brothers ask where I am going, just tell them I won’t be long.’

Rydan says from behind me, ‘Wait, Nara, the grass—’

‘I’ll be back soon!’ I yell at them, slipping away from Darius’s grip as I run off in the other direction.

CHAPTERFORTY-ONE

The entrance to the dungeons stares right back at me as I stay still, contemplating it all; my memories of staying here, and the damage that caused, never ease. Since Aurum, the cells are emptier than they used to be. Our only prisoner now is Sarilyn.

A fetid smell makes my nostrils twitch, and I shake my head before stepping inside the narrow hallways.

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