Page 95 of Artemysia
The Syf seem to agree with his logic.Syf are logical.I am still having trouble wrapping my head around the idea that Syf can be rational beings, not just ferocious killers.
“We will escort you to the palace. This is highly unusual,” says the fourth, the smallest and youngest.
“Thank you,” I say, equally confused by the lack of aggression.
The first two lead the way.
The smallest Syf rides alongside me, watching my every move.
“I’m Eira. I have never seen humans before, besides illustrations in books.” She cocks her head, studying me with curiosity. “But I only recently joined the legions and haven’t been allowed outside of Artemysia yet.”
“You aren’t trained to kill humans?”
“No! We preserve them.”
Odd choice of word,preserve.
“Doespreservemeankillin Artemysia?” Ivy mumbles.
The guards ride animals like those of the army in the forest, with much larger heads, and shorter, squatter bodies than elk. None have antlers, and their coats come in many colors. Mahogany, black, gray, and white—unlike our elk, which only come in shades of brown.
“What are your steeds called?” I ask Eira, figuring I should start with an easy question.
“Mine is named Frost.”
“Butwhatare they?”
“Oh, horses? They’re not as fast or brave as elk, but they’re easier to handle. They know their names.”
“Horses, huh.”
“What’s it like in your city—” the young Syf asks but is cut off.
“Eira!” the Syf leading us admonishes her. “It might be prudentnotto say too much before the king decides what to do with them.”
“Sorry,” Eira says. She shrugs at me with a crooked smile and is silent the rest of the way, but I catch her glancing at me every once in a while, as if trying her best to contain her curiosity.
It shocks me to see Syf with such human-like tendencies.
Up close, the peaks of the Artemysia castle are scalloped, gilded, and rise into points sharp as needles. Banners of sea-green and gold fly from the steepled towers. We’re led across a moat of glowing indigo water, and Eira instructs us to dismount.
What makes the water glow? Is it algae, like in the purple pools of the cave? I swallow back the memory of Riev in the cave pools, controlling my thoughts even as heat creeps up my cheeks. Are my emotions getting in the way of making good decisions as a leader? I begin to second-guess myself. Are we here because it’s the best strategy to complete our mission?
Or is it only because I want Riev back?
I convince myself it’s the former.
Silently, we follow the four Syf into the most spectacular castle I could ever imagine. Our own King Galke maintains a rectangular stronghold of granite. Gray and functional. No fancy architecture or color except for his blue and ivory moonflower banners.
Here in the entryway, glittering gemstones are embedded in white marble walls, layered in ribboned patterns along both sides of a grand archway. High windows and skylights above us stream sunlight through stained glass, casting kaleidoscopic beams of light across the emerald and gold-swirled floors of the keep. Apple-green luna moths with extra-long tails flutter everywhere.
It smells as bright as it looks, like mint and lemons. Farther in, leafy garlands hang from the ceiling, decorating the walls in half-loops. A quick glance down a side corridor shows a garden in an open courtyard.
A messenger is sent to the Syf king. Not long after, he’s running back toward us down the endless hall. His soft leather shoes slap the hard, shiny floor.
“King Foss requests your immediate presence,” he wheezes, out ofbreath. They don’t seem that different from us. Except for the wings and tails, of course. I barely notice the ears. They speak more formally, using stiff words and fewer facial expressions.
Our weapons are stripped away, and we’re ushered through a maze of hallways to an open throne room.
