Page 109 of Fate and Flame
The king motioned to me.
I squatted down to speak to him at the head of the table.
“I’m working on figuring out what the lost artifact is. Ara told me about Nadra’s magic. I give you my word, we will keep her safe. Not only because Ara’s life depends on it, but because you are a member of this court. If you’ll have us.”
I looked away, wondering if Fenlas could also read minds.
“It’s not a requirement,” Ara leaned in. “You don’t have to stay here. It’s only an offer. Have you decided on your team?”
“I have.”
“Apart from Gaea, who will you take?”
“Greeve only.”
She bit her lip, her mind working. “You’re sure?”
“For many reasons. He’d kill me if I didn’t, but also, I’m guessing the more people we bring into their sacred city, the more unsettling it will be for them. If it is the way the giant described, then they aren’t going to be welcoming to outsiders. I need a warrior. Someone their legends have spoken about. A draconian should do it.”
“You’re smart.” She popped a grape into her mouth. “I’m glad you’re here, Temir.”
I looked to Nadra, and she winked at me, lifted her wine glass in the air and laughed at something Kai said. Perhaps I needed to try harder.Kai had been spending a massive amount of time in the sea court, and still he’d found time to be a part of this family. Limited as it might be. I’d healed him after an injury down there and I had a feeling he was struggling in his own way. Thought he didn’t lean on anyone with his troubles. As the commander of the Flame Court army, he ran a tight ship. Yet here he was.
The next morning, we stood in King Fenlas’ study as the smell of old books and the vision of the cracked spines brought nostalgic feelings and thoughts back to me. He had piles of them all over his disheveled desk. Some were spread on the floor. There were discarded papers and notes everywhere. I could tell by the king’s bloodshot eyes he hadn’t slept. Possibly for days.
“All set?” Gaea asked, the last to join us as she walked in with more weapons strapped to her than I’d ever seen her wear.
“It’s important you explain the full situation. Whoever Heva is, he has to understand that he still has a stake in all of this,” the king said.
“How much force do I use?” Greeve asked, tightening a strap on Gaea’s back.
“None,” Ara answered. “We aren’t trying to create more enemies.”
“But don’t take no for an answer,” I said, nodding. “No problem.”
We spirited as close to The Bog as Gaea could take us, and a shock of cold air ran down my spine. I wasn’t acclimated to the desert yet, but I was certainly growing used to it. I pulled the furs closer to my ears, blocking the icy breeze that chilled my neck.
The water never froze here because of the magic of the gryla population that lived below the surface of the long body of shallow water. It was as still as glass. A mirror to the painted sky above. Tall, barren trees lined the water as our feet crunched along the ice-covered ground.
Gaea slowed our pace, each of us watching for movement in the water as we walked along the edge. Greeve pulled his infamous sword as we went. She had warned him of what we would find here. Why no one came to The Bog. Why no one knew what lay beyond it.
“There.” Gaea pointed at a gurgle of bubbles along the surface of the water.
“New plan,” I spoke just as the gryla rose to the surface, her long, wet hair covering her face and half of her naked green body. “Greeve, take Gaea to the other side. As far as you can get from here.”
He grabbed her arm.
“Wait, what about you?” she asked, staring at the hideous creature crawling out of the water.
“Come back for me,” I said.
They were gone on the breeze.
I held my sword out as the gryla stood and cocked her head sideways in an unnatural way. Her eyes hidden.“I know you.” Her voice was scratchy as she pointed at me. “My payment to the king.”
“Stay back,” I warned.
“You don’t come to my land and tell me what to do.” Her voice split into two tones as the demon within her rose to the surface. She moved quicker than I had expected, knocking my sword to the side and gripping my neck.
