Page 123 of The Princesses of Ruin
Waiting on the shore is a cadre of Spiders on horseback. My heart soars at the sight of the white-haired Winifred. She stomps her hooves when she sees me, dipping a foot into the water despite the Spiders’ loud protests. Finally, Kor’tar nips her hindquarter, whinnying at her to come back, and she does.
We don’t waste time tying off the boat. There are only days left until Ashai’s statis ends, according to Zephrom. Alyse has been in contact with me for the last day, whispering things she’s learned.
Like that the goddess is planning on sabotaging our lives years in the future after we defeat the dark goddess. It’s hard to believe, but…I trust Alyse. She may be different, darker and dangerous, but she still loves me. She loves our family and wants to protect us.
That, and she showed me the interaction regarding the mask. It could’ve been fabricated—she is a wonderful story spinner—but again, it didn’t ring with any falsehoods.
It makes too much sense.
If we can kill one god, what’s stopping us from taking on the rest?
I would be scared if my immortality could be threatened, too.
But only malevolent gods need worry about that, and Zephrom…I have yet to fully write her off. She’s been a guiding light for me in dark times. Justice and the ever-present goal of reclaiming my kingdom from the grip of evil were my companions when I lost everything to Ashai. No books, no training, no lessons…once she’d picked me as her host, my life was extinguished. And Zephrom’s mission was all I had.
“What’s the status here?” I ask as I approach Rivera, the seasoned leader of the third squad.
“The queen is quiet,” he says, his gravelly voice tight with emotion he won’t show.
Winifred drops her head for me. I grace her with a quick pat before I grab the horn of the saddle and swing myself up into the seat.
“And the people?”
“Hungry,” he says, his dark brow furrowed.
“There’s about a month’s worth of fish frozen in the hold. That should help,” Jasper says as he pulls himself up into Kor’Tar’s saddle.
“It’ll be greatly appreciated, my lords,” Rivera says. “It was a fruitful mission, then?”
Most of the Spiders believe we were out on a deep-sea fishing trip to help offset the lack of grain stores and game to hunt. Coming back empty-handed would’ve been highly suspect.
Rivera is one of the few in the know. Zane’s generals that could be trusted beyond a doubt were informed of our suicide missions and given explicit instructions to evacuate everyone if we disappeared. Where they could run from a goddess hells bent on scorching Gaien,I don’t know…but maybe running could’ve helped. Maybe there are other avenues of survival if this fails.
“It was,” I say, my hand resting on the satchel at my side.
His shoulders drop away from his ears, and he sighs deeply, muttering, “Thank the gods.”
“We’ll see you back there,” I say, turning Winifred toward the well-trodden road into the Underbelly.
We nudge our horses into action, and they take off at a gallop. They run like a storm. Their presence is inescapable. We pass guard stations like a torrent of wind, whipping heads following as we go. The gates of the Wall have been removed, making it easy to come and go. With the queen petrified and her power cloistered, we don’t fear any of her agents getting through. The snow-dusted streets are busy, but everyone makes way for us. Smoke rises from the chimneys of the crooked apartments of the Underbelly, and children spill out into the alleys to play.
Despite the dire times, they’re happier than they were. Even with families doubled up to a house, they find ways to be content and comfortable. There’s no other option, I suppose, but it speaks to the fortitude of the people here.
Perhaps some of the wealthy aristocrats are getting a taste of grit—of resilience. I certainly had to when I was on my own with Jasper. He taught me so much by just letting me be my stubborn self. A little dirt under their nails will be good for them, just like it was for me.
Once this is over, the Wall will come down, the division of our people will end, and the kingdom will be stronger and closer than ever before. We will return from the ashes and thrive.
Ashai doesn’t know what she’s done.
We stable the horses and rush to the war room. The chill of the sea clings to the fabric of my scarf so I peel it off as we make our way inside. Spiders are moving about in a hurry as they always do, but Aleks catches my eye. He makes his way to us with haste.
“Princess Reina.” He sketches a speedy bow before going on. I want to interrupt him, to tell him not to, but it’d be wasting more time. “They’re in the lab.”
I wonder if Adrik told Aleks more than he needed to know. I nod thanks and continue stripping, piling my clothes up in my arms as I go. The air in the dungeon is colder than even outside. I shiver, wishing I had warm, dry clothes. But again, wasting time.
The door to the lab swings open as we approach. Aleks wasn’t lying;everyoneis inside. It’s crowded and warm, and despite there being very little personal space for us in here, I like it.
Alyse wraps an arm around my neck, and I drop my clothes, holding her tight. Her bone-deep agony seeps into me. Her empathetic wails resonate through the room, though she doesn’t make a sound. Lily’s arms come around us, and Scarlett envelops us with her spindles since the spider egg prevents her from hugging us close. We seal her into our love.
