Page 16 of Queen of the Night
The Lucent Mountains sit at the Eastern edge of the kingdom. Originally named after Lucentia, they used to be brimming with lucent. I’ve heard fantastical stories of magical, lucent creatures who lived there, of forests so colorful and vivid they looked right out of a dream. Those who were weak and had difficulty pulling lucent magic for themselves could go to the rivers in these mountains and soak up pure lucent. It was also told to be teeming with nymphs—powerful magical creatures connected to the earth—who lived in small communities throughout the mountain range.
I’vealsoheard that people stopped traveling these mountains years and years ago because gloam had overtaken them and they were much too dangerous, which is why I balked when Ikar initially told me he intended to travel them to find the magic flower the king needs. It’s funny how desperate life situations and large amounts of money can change things.
Just after we pass into the mountain range, dark clouds roll across the sky, and within moments, it begins to rain. Our visibility reduces to almost zero with a gray fog so denseI can hardly spot Rhosse and Darvy on either side of us. What might have been a chill drizzle on the ground stings harshly against the exposed skin on my face with the speed and height of our travel. The weather is always unpredictable and drastic, going from hot and sunny to forceful winds and snow in less than a minute at times. While I’m not at all surprised, Iamirked at the moisture that sneaks beneath my cloak and begins to dampen my clothing beneath. I’m relieved when Ikar finally motions with his hand, and the three of us circle a few times around a misty meadow before landing.
Once the sharp flyer touches down and its skittering comes to a stop, I take a moment to look around. We may be some of the first magic users to travel these mountains in hundreds of years, and it feels very… eerie.
“You sure this is where we’re supposed to start?” I ask Ikar as the chill rain beats down on us. It looks blazing creepy to me.
“As good a place as any,” he says matter-of-factly as he dismounts, jumping to the dirt and leaving my back and legs immediately chilled without his solid, warm presence behind me. I want to pull him back into the saddle and fly away together, but whether by duty or contract… we’re both stuck here.
I can tell he’s about to turn toward me to offer help, but I catch Darvy and Rhosse watching, so I slide off on my own. It may not be the most graceful dismount, but I don’t fall, and I consider it a win. I already shared a saddle with Ikar for half a day; it’s time to show that I can hold my weight on this journey. Especially for Darvy and Rhosse who don’t know me as well. I’m no delicate lady. I’ve assisted hunters for years now, and though I may not be the best with weapons, tracking, or directions in general… and I’m not even quite sure why Ikar hired me when he has an entire selection of royal battle-trained originators at his beck and call… Icanoffer lucent, more than any originator, though this team will never know that—and I believe I’m capable of handling most things. I wouldn’t be a very good assistant if the hunters were so worried about treating me as a lady that they couldn’t focus on their jobs. Ikar grins a little, as if he sees what I’m trying to prove, but he wisely says nothing before he turns and calls the others over.
I’m used to it just being Ikar and me, but with Darvy and Rhosse here now, I sense the brotherly camaraderie between the three men stronger than ever, and I’m left feeling out of place. I find I’m also hyperaware of my feelings for Ikar with his two friends around. Will they notice? Am I revealing too much? I don’t know how to be normal around him. I nearly groan.
They converse a few feet away, and I catch a word every now and then as they discuss directions and other important details I can’t help with. Instead, I busy myself by patting the sharp flyer on its long scaly neck in thanks. It leans into my hand. Surprisingly, I’m finding comfort beside its large form as I stare at the murky forest that surrounds the field we landed in. I snort. The first time I saw a sharp flyer, I was terrified and refused to mount—which almost got Ikar and me recaptured by the shifters. Look at me now, friends with one of the large beasts.
My eyes drift back to the forest that awaits us, and I swallow hard. Gloam curls like black fog along the ground and claws its way up the trunks of the tall fir trees. I even see wisps of it lingering higher above, a growing monster attempting to devour everything it can reach. And in a sense, it is.
I unbutton my pocket and Rupi pokes her rumpled head out, her feathers quilling as she turns her head to eye what awaits us. I stroke her tiny head with two fingers tosettle her, but the action also serves to comfortme. What have I gotten us into this time?
Just as quickly as it began, the rain stops and the clouds part to reveal the three hot suns that will dry and warm us quickly. That is, if it doesn’t start raining again. The lack of lucent magic creates havoc with the weather as well as everything else. For now, though, I’m grateful for the warmth and the way the light cuts through some of the gloam around us making it not look quite so scary—even if it’s temporary.
“It’ll be a quick journey, Rupi. I hope.” My voice comes out in a whisper.
I admit it doesn’t sound convincing. Rupi’s tiny fluffy body trembles even through the layers of my clothing. I notice the men pulling out weapons, which had been stored in their packs for the flight, and strapping and tucking them across their leather armor. How many weapons do three men need? Soldiers will be soldiers, I guess. I only ever carry two weapons, my dagger and my trusty old short sword.
I instinctively move to pat the hilt, but my hand smacks empty leather sheath, and I frown down at it with concern.I have no sword.I’d meant to ask Ikar for one to borrow before we left, but when he’d found me in the stables…How could I have forgotten?I blow out a deep breath. Admittedly, he distracts me. What sort of adventuress who contracts with the high king’s best soldiers heads out with only a somewhat dull dagger? I nearly groan beneath the weight of feeling even more the imposter than I was before.
I quickly wipe my expression of any self-doubt as Ikar heads my way, a swagger in his stride and a confident set to his lips. I step back beneath the steadiness of his gaze as he comes closer. He looks like he’s about to slide his hands along my jaw and kiss me senseless against this sharp flyer—ormaybe it’s just my inappropriate imagination wishing he would.
“I have something for you.” He reaches around me, and for a moment, it seems as if he truly is going to kiss me, and butterflies burst into flight in my stomach. But it seems he’s merely inflicting torture upon me as the saddle bag opens behind my head, and his scent tickles my nose as his arm brushes my ear. I realize I should’ve moved, how this must look, but before I can step aside, he finds what he’s looking for. He steps back and lays a blade flat against both palms and bows in a gentlemanly way that forces a smile to my disappointed lips.
I catch Darvy and Rhosse glancing in our direction with curious gazes and admit that it would have been horribly awkward timing for a kiss anyway. And what happened to my intention to create space between us? I’ve already failed.
“My lady, your sword.” He stands up straight and offers it to me with a heart-stopping smile.
Rupi offers a short trill of approval from my pocket, perking up immediately with Ikar so near.
I look closer at the sword he holds, and my gaze immediately locks on the hilt. It appears to be made of a smooth ivory material, like the tusk of a beast or…
“The bantha claw?” I can’t help the laugh of wonder and delighted surprise that bubbles up as my eyes caress the smooth hilt and the gleaming silver hand guard engraved with intricate vines and tiny birds that look very much like Rupi.
The blade is sharper than a deathstalker spike with those same beautiful etchings traveling midway down. It’s obviously brand-new, and of higher quality than I’ve ever owned. My eyes burn, and I blink to clear the blur of moisture as I stare at the sword in awe. It’s the weapon of my dreams.
“It’s yours, and it gets better.” I finallylook up to see his blue eyes eager and his hand outstretched, waiting for the sword. “Lend me lucent.”
I put it in his hand and he steps back, tossing it in the air and snatching the hilt, readying the exquisite weapon before him. When I hesitate, he simply nods for me to go ahead. I can’t help but laugh and shake my head, but I send him lucent and watch as the blade immediately glows. He smiles as he watches it, and the enthusiasm so blatant in his expression makes my heart stop for a moment. I’ve known he loves weapons, and I’ve come to realize that his sword is basically a revered companion, but now I’m reminded how much. While my eyes want to linger on his face, I force myself to drag them away and take a good look at my new sword held firmly in his grasp, the blade bright with lucent magic.
I frown. “It’s enchanted?” I ask, a little breathless at this lighter side of Ikar I’ve only seen glimpses of. I like it.
“You need an enchanted weapon for this journey,” he says matter-of-factly.
As if it wouldn’t cost me an entire year, or more, of savings to pay for.
I wrap my hand around the smooth hilt, still warm from his grip. “But I know how expensive these are. I’ve contracted with a weapon enchanter before?—”
“Don’t worry about the cost.” He stares intently into my eyes. “Your safety is the kingdom’s highest priority.”
