Page 71 of Return of the Darkness
“You do not have the authority to aid the Queen of Keres,” Larelle called.
“Someone needs to help!” Soren snapped, yet no darkness lingered in the venom of her voice. Instead, her voice held determination—determination to repay Nyzaia and help search for Farid. The temperature in the room dropped.
“You murdered a king,” Larelle said firmly. Nyzaia did not raise her head at the changing topic. Farid was not a priority for any of them. The quick dismissal of saving Farid made flamesflicker in her palms.
“And it is not your judgement that befalls me either, Queen Larelle,” Soren snapped. Nyzaia angled her head to watch Sadira rise. The widow rested her hand on Sir Cain’s shoulder, keeping her steady as he knelt over his king.
“I will not bloody the Garridon lineage further by ordering your execution, even though it is deserved,” Sadira said clearly. “Soren Mordane, you are hereby stripped of your family name and all ties to the royal line. You are banished from the realm of Garridon and its jurisdiction on Doltas Island. You may not wear the royal sigil or associate with my house. You are entitled to place no foot within my borders, and if you do, it is with the understanding you will face death upon your capture.”
Soren remained still and silent. Nyzaia almost admired her determination not to beg or plead, especially as Nyzaia knew she had done everything for her sister. Was Sadira’s grief clouding her empathy, her ability to understand that Soren had not committed such an act on purpose? “You can be claimed by any other realm or left to wander the kingdom. I no longer care what you do or who you are with.” Sadira’s respectful and commanding voice dropped to a whisper. She no longer spoke like a queen, but a betrayed widow. “You are no longer my sister.” Nyzaia turned her head from Sadira to Soren, who kept her head high. Pain glinted in her glassy eyes as blood trickled from the nails digging into her palms. She remained silent, even as her sister took everything she had, including her realm, for she must have known it was the only decision that would allow Sadira to move on. Even now, Soren was determined to protect her sister. If Nyzaia requested it of her, Soren would willingly use that same determination to find Farid, too. Nyzaia locked eyes with the Queen of Garridon.
“Keres claims her.”
Chapter Forty-Seven
Larelle
The tension floating in the temple's air was rife with unspoken questions and words as Larelle glanced between Nyzaia and Sadira. The Queen of Garridon’s expression hardened, her eyes growing dark. Why would Nyzaia claim Soren as a citizen of her realm? Though perhaps it was better she was monitored, instead of being left to roam aimlessly around Novisia. Sadira and Caellum had explained the journals they found, and the state of his father and grandfather’s minds, yet Larelle was still sceptical as she watched Soren now. Garridon said it would worsen before it got better, seemingly referencing the dark corners in her mind—but was she truly sane? Even if the remnants of Caligh’s power had vanished, Soren had endless trauma to resolve.
“I accept,” Sadira finally said, her words clipped. Nyzaia nodded.
“Wait outside with Jabir,” Nyzaia commanded Soren. “Explain everything to him.” Soren bowed to the Queen of Keres before turning and leaving the room, wiping her sleeve across her face.
“Sir Cain, are you able to explain more—” Sadira was cut off as the ground shook again, but it was far more violent, prompting screams from the people outside. Zarya cried into her mother’s shoulder, who held tightly to her daughter. The four cracked pieces of the stone table began to separate, and Alvan was quick to tug Larelle’s hand, pulling her away before the pieces fell as they once had when crushing the rulers’ families.
“Shit,” Nyzaia murmured as the stones fell inward. The ground in the temple’s centre sank away into darkness.
“Out!” Sir Cain commanded, lifting Caellum’s limp body over his shoulder, and guiding his queen forward. “I’ve got him! Go!”
Before Larelle waited to ensure everyone followed, Alvan dragged her from the temple while Zarya screamed. Like on the Isle of Gods, Larelle heard falling rubble, but she did not know when it landed or if it continued falling inward. She glanced one last time at the ancient mirror, not only trapping Farid but Olden’s body too. She could not give him a proper farewell. He was gone.
Dust filled the square as they ran from the temple. In the square, the Neridian guards ran forward as the crowds fled, likely recalling the day of the explosion. Her guards stepped around Larelle to form a line as they backed up and away from the temple. Larelle’s eyes counted every individual running from the temple—everyone was out. Everyone was safe. Yet as the temple ruins collapsed, Larelle wondered how long that would last. The place that had started it all now crumbled, falling into the ground. As a pit of darkness yawned open to swallow the temple, they backed away, terrified.The kingdom will fall. Find your reflection in the ancient and say goodbye.The gods had known. They had known using Elisara’s power to break the tie between Novisia and the Isle of Gods would destroy their kingdom.Listen to the land and understand you are bound—and now, they were no longer connected. The Isle of Gods existed first, created for a reason they were yet to discover, but without the link, there was nothing keeping their kingdom bound with this existence. The shaking stopped as the dark chasm finished consuming everything in its path, including the entire temple and half the square. Larelle’s eyes widened in realisation, and she gasped, pressing her fingertips to her mouth. Sir Cain had said the ground shook daily. Every day, the ground would shake and wreak havoc, taking more of the kingdom with it. Every day, until nothing remained of Novisia. The gods had sentenced their people to death.
“We need to evacuate the city,” Larelle informed her guards as the other rulers edged around the square toward her, as if onewrong step would trigger the chasm to open further. The guards turned to relay the information to the others but paused when they saw Garridon’s guards kneeling, their fists on their chests. Sir Cain shifted Caellum from his shoulder to lay him gently on the ground. Sadira bowed her head to her guards, murmuring something Larelle could not hear.
“We don’t have time,” Alvan told the Neridian guards, who hurried off to knock on doors.
“My guards are sending word to the military to help with the evacuation,” Sadira said, her voice devoid of emotion as she bravely put aside her grief to be queen.
“What are we going to do?” Elisara asked, leaning against Vlad. “If this happens every day, we will end up restricted at the edges of the realms.”
“Even in Nerida, we would not have enough boats for everyone, and where would we even go?” Larelle asked. Zarya sniffed and lifted her head off her mother’s shoulder, wiping her eyes. Larelle was unsure if her tears were from exhaustion or sadness about Olden—perhaps both. Larelle brushed back her hair with her hand.
“Ossie said you would need to get a message to him,” Zarya sniffed. Larelle watched her for a moment, trying to understand. How would he be able to help them?
“He’s a prince,” Larelle mumbled before raising her voice and looking at the others. “He is a prince! He is now free of Caligh’s control. He must have plenty of ships to help sail our people off Novisia.”
“Perhaps he is the Prince of Xyliar,” Nyzaia suggested, crossing her arms. “The gods mentioned the Prince of Xyliar must follow his path correctly to help break the curse on other lands once the link between Novisia and the Isle of Gods was broken.” Larelle frowned. Maybe the gods had not sentenced their people to death, but freedom.
“Is there a way to contact him?” Elisara asked, glancing at the Princess of Nerida.
“He said Zarya would find him when we were ready,” Larelle murmured, thinking of the copper floral pin in the vanity of her chambers. Alvan wrapped an arm around them as everyone looked at the five-year-old in her arms. The Princess of Nerida was the only one who could save their people.
***
The ocean waves lapped against the walls of Mera castle. The salt breeze was one of the few things managing to calm Larelle as she gripped the terrace wall, staring up at the moon. It was different. She wondered if it had changed every night since her absence, or if there was something significant about tonight. The moon hovered over the ocean’s horizon, five times larger than usual, with a red-tinged glow. The same glow lit the ocean, and suddenly, Larelle was reminded of all the blood spilled in battle and the lives that continued to be taken as the kingdom fell. Now would be the perfect time for Caligh to strike while their kingdom crumbled. Their focus now was moving people towards the coasts. A part of her was glad Olden was at peace and had not experienced this fear. She closed her eyes. Was that selfish of her? He had seemed prepared, as though Nerida had shown him what he needed to pass on.
“She’s asleep,” Alvan whispered. The glass doors to the terrace clicked shut as he strode up behind Larelle and wrapped his arms around her waist. “You’ll catch a chill if you aren’t careful,” he murmured, kissing her shoulder. Her curls were still damp from bathing, and the silk of her navy robe was the only thing shielding her body. She was not exactly designed to keep someone warm. She slid her hands over his arms, pulling him tighter.
