Page 54 of Daughter of the Dark Sea
“I’ll get you some books for research.” Agatha rose from her chair, lifting her skirts and tapping on the floorboards with her heeled boot until a hollow sound followed. “Research is vital for learning. You may need all the help you can get before you reach the Silver Sisters.”
Kora knelt, assisting Agatha in collecting two leather-bound tomes, the squared edges covered in rusted iron metal. One was dark blue, the other dark green, both embossed with flakes of pure gold into the lettering. It was hard not to let her eyesbulge from their sockets. The scripture was in Devanian, and she frowned, trying to understand the complexity of the words.
Agatha gently placed her hand on Kora’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, it’ll come to you. I expect these returned here—inpristinecondition.”
Kora sheepishly smiled, remembering a time she’d accidentally set one of Agatha’s ‘spell’ books on fire by dropping it in a puddle of spilt oil near the blacksmith’s, followed by knocking over a lit lantern. Agatha had made her sweep and clean the floors of the entire Emporium for a month.
“I’ll miss you,” she admitted.
Agatha let out a single laugh and traced Kora’s face, memorising the planes of her features. Her crooked fingers hovered over her cheekbones, lightly touching each one, before planting a kiss above each of her fluttering eyes.
“So will I, my child. Please be careful.” Agatha placed a curled hand on Kora’s chest, resting gently on the talisman, and sharply inhaled before retreating, wistfully wishing her a well voyage.
As Kora slipped into the darkening streets of the decrepit town, she couldn’t shake the feeling of unease growing and seeping into the rest of her body.
23
Night had fallen, the stars shone brightly, and the moon beamed a pale, glistening light across the tiled courtyard of Cadell Manor. Kora lingered beneath a large lemon tree, her cloak blending her into the darkness as she stood watch, fixated on the climbing wisteria of the eastern tower.
Lit lanterns, attached to the exterior walls of the manor, created soft amber circles, intermittently illuminating the grounds. Kora peered at the dark night sky and her eyes strained, seeking out the familiar twinkle of the stars.
Thanos, please let him be there, please be happy and resting, she prayed, closing her eyes. When they opened, she clasped her hand over her mouth, holding in a scream as a tall dark figure smiled down at her, the whites of his teeth visible in the night.
“Having a nap?” Blake teased.
Kora swatted his arm. “You scared me half to death!”
“Well . . . we certainly wouldn’t want that,” his voice lowered, and a shiver ran through her as he stepped underneath the lush canopy of the lemon tree. He was so close their breath mingled in the chilled air, creating a gentle puff of smoke.
Blake cupped her cheek as he lowered his face to rest his forehead against hers. He inhaled deeply and released a sigh, steadying himself against her as she wrapped her fingers around his wrist, savouring his warmth. They stood for a while, holding each other, their breathing falling into synchronicity with their eyes shut.
“A lot is happening,” he broke the silence. “I’m worried I . . . I won’t be able to keep you safe much longer,asterya.”
“I can look after myself,” Kora retorted.
“Things are changing, Kora.” Blake’s emerald eyes turned as sharp as his tone. “If the king is trying to finally become emperor, it could causea lotof unease around here. On top of that, lower societies are rife with mutiny. Wenches and pirates are allying . . . Galen is returning to the world.”
She bristled at his words. She’d blocked the council’s decree of slaughter from her mind for most of the day, but the hallow orders flooded back. They wereherorders. She would have to stoop low, as far as mindless execution, killing pirates, and rebels, and anyone associated with them.
That would make them no better than Galen. She favoured witnessing enemies suffer in the courts and trials, followed by serving their penance in prison. Death was only admirable in warfare when her own life was on the line.
“Surely the continent uniting usallis a good thing?”
Blake’s jaw twitched. “Maybe not. We’ve been commanded and lead by the viceroys since the conquest. The king and his ancestors haven’t stepped foot on this land indecades. The viceroys have become comfortable here. The noble houses, too. Change may not be welcomed.”
“Such old, stubborn bastards. How’d you know this?”
“I have connections. Being a champion of the Darkoning Trials has its perks.” He winked, attempting to lighten the mood, but Kora turned surly at the memory of failing to become the champion of the trials, finishing second in Blake’s shadow. He followed with a fluttering kiss to her cheek, and she waved him off with a small chuckle.
“You said there are mutinies?”
Blake nodded, his fingers trailing up her arms as he spoke. “Since we’ve returned to Aldara, I’ve heard reports in the barracks that there’s been more resistance in the slums, Scarlet Bay, and the workhouses near Blackstone Reef. It stretches as far as the mining outposts in Talmon, as well. Pirates are liberating workers, and recruiting them to join their crew.”
She gasped. Had she murdered civilians of the Azarian Islands on boardDemon Sea Siren? They’d taken a chance of freedom from the workhouses . . . only to be obliterated byher. Blake’s hands rested on her shoulders, squeezing lightly.
“If they join the crew, then they are pirates,” he spoke firmly, reading the thoughts openly flitting across her face. Kora nodded once, painfully swallowing her guilt.
“Have you been to the lower district lately?”
