Page 132 of The Sea of Zemira (The Zemiran Chronicles 1)

Queen Cassia nodded. “As I have said, the punishment was fair, believe me!”

The siren glared up into the queen’s silvery eyes. “He saved me from a troll inside that forest,” Nola said. “That does not sound like someone who deserves the kind of punishment you gave him.”

The queen smirked. “Well, that was the first time Aiden’s saved anyone, Nola. I was beginning to think there was no fixing him.”

The queen signaled with her head for Nola to follow her the remaining way down the cliffside. They entered a spacious yet empty field. The only piece of nature was a tall, black-barked tree standing at the center. The leaves were bright green, like the color of Lincoln’s eyes—its beauty was hard to turn away from.

The siren could feel its powerful energy radiate out towards them. “What is so special about this tree?” Nola asked.

Queen Cassia placed her hand on the tree, but only for a moment. “It offers truth. For example, you stand here, with a great desire to wage war against a kingdom, but you are afraid, and you hide it quite well,” the queen said, running her hands along the bark. “It speaks to you, opening your mind to what you try to shield from others.”

Nola looked at her quizzically. “I always believed the Fae to be an honest race. Why use this tree?”

Cassia smirked. “No one is honest, especially to themselves. This power allows us to find the truth when there is a crime. We don’t even need a trial.”

“So why am I here?” Nola asked.

The queen’s brows quirked up. “Because I need a question answered that I do not believe you will give me the answer to.”

Nola snickered. “And you think I am going to place my hand on that bark, willingly, and give you that answer?” the siren said; her tone sounded brave and courageous. However, she was anything but at that moment. “The Fae are not a bright race, either. Are they?”

I am going to regret that, Nola thought. A hint of fear, or maybe it was hatred, rushed through her veins.

No monstrous beast of the sea, swamp or a cowardly king had ever made her feel the way the queen did. She was threatening the siren to reveal her secrets. Nola was beginning to feel aggravated—feeling like she had no choice. There was no greater darkness than that.

The queen rolled her eyes. “I never said willingly.”

Queen Cassia’s wings came out from her back as she lifted her hand and moved it swiftly in the air. Nola flew forward closer to the tree until she planted both hands on it. The queen’s strong power kept Nola’s hands to the bark.

“Stop!” Nola cried, “what are you doing?”

Cassia glided slowly over to Nola and grimaced. “When you were a baby, your father placed a ruby on you before you and your mother went out to the sea.”

Nola’s stomach tightened, nerves making her nauseous. She had the ruby in the satchel placed under her shirt. All the queen had to do was reach up and get it. The siren pressed her lips together, willing herself to fight against the power flooding into her body.

“Do you have it?” the queen asked.

Nola shook her head, finding the strength to shut her brain off so the words would not come. The power entered her mind, commanding her mouth to speak the truth. Her hair stood on end as fear swallowed her.

The queen scowled, looking frustrated. “I will ask you again. The ruby. Where is it?”

Nola did open her mouth that time but only to ask, “What do you want with the ruby? What does it do?”

All Nola knew was, according to Elijah, it was a key to something called the Kroneon.

“Do you have it?” That time the queen shouted, her cheeks turning bright red.

“Yes!” the words came out before she could stop them.

Dammit! She cried in her thoughts. Do not be a fool. Fight it.

The queen smoothed out her hair and placed her hands behind her back, locking her fingers. “It’s a key to a weapon, Nola; a weapon that belongs to the Fae. I only want to keep it safe from our enemies,” she said, “Tell me where you have hidden it?”

Nola shook her head, fighting the need to tell the truth. “What kind of weapon?” she asked the queen as beads of sweat trickled down her forehead. The heat from the magic made her feel faint.

The white-haired queen was starting to lose her patience; her hands dropped to her side as the features on her face grew hard.

“It is a shame you know nothing of your past.” Cassia walked around the tree, resting her hand upon it, and looked Nola deep into her eyes. “When the ruby sits at the center of the compass, it activates its power.” She pointed south. “The compass is hidden in a cave on Crotona Island. You can see the peak of the cliff from where we stand—at about an hour on a fast ship. You and I can go there together and get it. I do not have the map anymore. But the ruby will help us find the compass, as the two powers will be drawn to each other.”

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