Page 78 of Return of the Darkness
“You don’t need to leave,” Nyzaia said. Taryn glanced at Soren.
“My queen wished to speak with you regarding some basic defence training.” Taryn looked at Soren again, making the reason for Sadira’s request clear. Soren rolled her eyes and turned back to the book in her lap.
“Very well, let’s go,” Nyzaia said.
“No, it is fine–”
“She is already outside the door. That is why he is so hesitant,” Soren said. She always sensed her sister’s presence. Tarynnarrowed his eyes, and Nyzaia looked between them both. Soren shrugged, as if to say, ‘Tell me where you want me to go.’ The decision was made for them when Sadira entered, her head held high. Soren leaned forward in her chair and lowered her book. Something was different. Sadira’s arms and face had thinned, like she had not been eating, yet the rest of her body appeared as it usually did. A deep green gown covered her entire body, except for her face and neck—a dress to show the queen in mourning. If Soren knew her sister, she would forever be. The fabric was close-fitting to her arms, neck, chest, and ribs, only flowing out into a chiffon waterfall once it hit her waist. A gold chain hung around her neck beneath the Garridon talisman.Caellum’s wedding ring.His bloodied body beneath Soren’s dagger flickered in her mind, and she forced herself to focus on her sister. Sadira only looked at Soren briefly before refocusing her attention on Nyzaia.
“I don’t wish to disturb your intimate evening,” she began. Soren wanted to roll her eyes at the dig, but kept her face neutral out of respect. “If we do indeed set sail in two days, I would like to spend some time on the ship learning some hand-to-hand defence. We may, of course, be entering unknown dangers, and I must be able to protect myself.” Sadira smoothed the skirts; her hands lingered on her stomach. Soren tilted her head.
“Of course. We can start the first day we sail,” Nyzaia said, her words clipped as if sensing Soren’s discomfort. Sadira nodded at Taryn and turned to leave. Against Soren’s better judgement, she opened her mouth.
“Sadira–”
“No!” Sadira whirled to face her sister. Vines twisted from the ground, enveloping Soren’s arms and chaining her to the chair. Soren did not fight. Nyzaia took a step towards Soren, only one, but it was something. Varna lowered her head, a low rumble sounding in the back of her throat. “You do not speak to me; you do not look at me. If I could control it, I would not even have youthinkof me. I would wipe my existence from your memory.” Sorenhad never seen Sadira sneer until now.
“Sadira—” Nyzaia tried to speak, her voice soft. Perhaps somebody might actually defend Soren.
“I did not question your choice, Nyzaia. Do not make me regret it. I can still have her executed.” Sadira turned back to leave, and Nyzaia’s eyes flickered with flames.
“No, you can’t,” she said. Sadira and Taryn froze.
“Excuse me?” Sadira whispered, facing the door, away from Soren.
“She was claimed by Keres—by me. If you were to kill a citizen of Keres, I would be forced to seek justice.” Nyzaia raised her chin. Soren moved, wanting to diffuse the tension, but Nyzaia moved her hand the smallest amount in a silent request she stay put. She lowered herself back into the chair.
“Is that a threat?” Sadira asked. Seiko rose from his position and padded over to Nyzaia to sit by her side.
“It does not have to be,” Nyzaia answered. Both queens looked at one another, waiting for the other to break. Eventually Sadira turned.
“Now is a poor time to make an enemy of one another, Nyzaia.”
Chapter Fifty-Two
Sadira
Unclenching and clenching her hand, Sadira slowed the growth of the flower in her palm in time with her breathing. The sea breeze blew through the white iris before she hid it away again. Her body was restless, and she had given up on sleep hours ago, resorting to sitting out on the terrace of her chambers in Nerida. There were a number of reasons she was resistant to sleep; she was sick with anticipation, wondering whether Osiris would indeed land on the shores tomorrow, nauseous from the children growing in her womb, and suffocated from nature’s absence replaced with brick and ocean. Backing onto the beach, the castle of Mera had no gardens and so the iris in the queen’s palm would have to suffice.
Sadira looked to the left of her terrace, to where she could see her realm in the distance beneath the moonlight. Larelle had been sweet to offer her chambers in this direction, but Sadira’s heart ached at the thought of her husband, left alone in a crumbling kingdom. Her hand crept to the chain around her neck to turn Caellum’s wedding ring round and round. She still wore hers.
“I miss you,” she whispered to the sky. A breeze brushed her skin in response at the same moment the sound of birds chirped somewhere above. Sighing, Sadira reached for the steaming cup on the nearest table. She glanced at the box beside it and lifted the cup to her lips, relishing the sweet floral taste. It reminded her of the tea Arabella had offered in her small home in Albyn. At the thought of the Wiccan, Sadira lifted the lid of the box. It was filled with sentimental items, things she could not bear to leave behind.The family tree Caellum had found in his father’s study, a small rattle from Edlen and Eve’s old nursery, embroidery from Aurelia’s collection, a necklace from the late queen, and a dagger from the one of the prince’s belongings. The jacket Caellum wore on their wedding day sat beneath it all with the strips they had tied around their hands—it still smelt like him. She rummaged beneath it for the smaller trinket box hidden away.
Setting down her tea, Sadira unlocked the clasp. Four pins now sat within. The wolf head, the Wiccan symbol, and the other unknown were all a dull metal. The fourth stood out beside it. It was a golden pin of the Garridon sigil etched with a raised hawk. Sadira held it up to the moonlight and grazed her thumb over the ridges of its wings and the small emerald in its eye. Sadira thought of the redheaded Wiccan who forced it into her hand.A promise that I will be by your side one day.Suddenly, the wind picked up, knocking over the teacup and spilling the loose leaves across the table. Sadira cursed and moved her robes to keep from getting wet in the tea’s puddle spilling onto the stone floor.
“I wondered when you might finally look at the pin again,” a soft voice whispered. Sadira lunged for the dagger in the box and rose from her seat, spinning towards the voice in the darkness of her rooms.
“Show yourself,” Sadira commanded, taking a cautious step back on the terrace.
“I mean no harm, I only answer your call,” the female said, stepping through the open glass doors and onto the moonlit terrace.
“Arabella,” Sadira said. The queen kept the dagger in front of her. The woman raised her hands.
“I am sworn to protect you, your Majesty. I mean you and your babes no harm.” Sadira’s hand wavered. Nobody knew about the babies. Nobody except Sir Cain and Athena. Sadira had not even told Elisara yet. Sadira pointed the dagger towards the bench, gesturing for Arabella to sit. She stepped towards it but stayed standing.
“It would be improper to sit while my queen remains standing,” she said. Arabella lowered her hands and clasped them in front of her woollen cloak, hiding her clothing, but also any concealed weapons. “You can call for the captain of your guard, if you wish. I will not be offended if you desire his presence.” Sadira lowered her hand at the offer but did not call Taryn from where he stood outside her door. “Please,” Arabella said, gesturing to the chair that was a safe distance from the bench. Sadira lowered slowly, tightening her hold on the dagger. Only when Sadira was sat and facing Arabella did the woman finally sit too.
“Tell me where you entered, so I can prevent others from trying the same,” Sadira said, her voice was level and commanding. The voice of a queen. Arabella watched the queen, her blue eyes sparkling as though excited.
