Page 62 of The King's Weapon

Fingers wrapped around her wrists and the voices faded into the darkness of her mind as the heaviness came again. Unlike in the past, she didn’t fight the darkness but fell into it, happy to put off the truth of everything she needed to face.

* * *

The faceless manlooked down at her, and she reached up to touch his cheek. Perhaps, if she touched his skin, his features would come into focus. But when the tips of her fingers were a hair’s breadth away, the man wrapped his hand around hers and brought it to her face instead. His hands were warm as though they had been in the sun for hours, yet she still could not identify him.

She tilted her head as she leaned into his hand now clasping hers. "Who are you?" She whispered, afraid to scare the man away.

He did not respond. Instead, he guided her deeper into the lake. Wet sand mushed between her toes. The bottom half of her dress was soaked and the fabric billowed around her as the water rose to her knees. The only ripples in the water came from their steps on the otherwise paper-smooth surface.

On the other side of the lake, a towering waterfall surrounded the other half of the lake. Water cascaded off the cliffs, foaming at the bottom, though somehow managing to leave the lake's surface undisturbed.

The water was at Kallie's ribcage now. The man led her toward the rushing water and Kallie's heart fluttered. As they walked forward, the path became slick and marble glittered beneath her feet, forming a pathway leading to the heart of the waterfall.

They followed the path, and as they approached the falling water, Kallie flinched in anticipation.

* * *

Firm hands wrappedaround her and Kallie leaned into the warmth. Her head felt detached from her body as it bobbed back and forth. Her skin, clammy. A cold feeling began to rise in her throat and her stomach churned.

"It's happening again," someone said.

“One more time, Terin," someone else groaned in response, their voice strained.

Then a heavy warmth cocooned her body, a blanket, and replaced the nausea that was quickly forming. She wanted to return to that lake, wherever it was. She wanted to feel the heat of the sun. She wanted to feel solid ground beneath her feet. Anything but this rocking motion. Her mind drifted as she thought of the figure, and she felt herself being pulled back toward the lake.

* * *

A pairof marble eyes stared down at her.A marble statue of a woman towered over Kallie. The statue was beautifully crafted, the lines of her face appearing impossibly soft for being made out of stone. The statue reminded Kallie of the statues in the welcoming hall in the castle. And the one before her contained some resemblance to Sabina, but at the same time, it was vastly different.Besides the long flowing hair and the overall body shape, this statue was much more detailed. Delicate. Her facial features, which were always hidden in the statues she had seen in Ardentol, were unobscured and prominent. A small pointy nose with large lips had been carved into the stone. The goddess's gaze was soft, yet stern. Powerful.

Why was the goddess here, hidden behind the waterfall? And why did the man take her here?

In the pit of her stomach, her gift stirred. It became wild. Bubbling up as though it wanted to explode from her body. A grating against her brain began, bringing Kallie to her knees. She groaned out in pain as the pain continued, spreading. Intensifying. Her mind was being torn in two.

Kallie looked back toward the man out of fear of whatever was happening to her. But when she turned, he was nowhere to be found. Beads of sweat glittered across her arms. Then her vision flashed white.

Chapter19

Kallie woketo darkness with the urgent need to relieve herself. Her body ached from sleep as though she hadn’t moved since she shut her eyes. She tried to think back to her dream, but she had little recollection of it. And then her bladder pressed against her. She untangled her legs from the blankets and climbed out of the hammock.

"Ow."

She released a yelp at the voice that was not her own. She was not alone. She squinted into the shadows, forcing her vision to adjust to the darkness. Slowly, an outline of a person formed.

She went to grab her dagger stowed beneath her pillow, but when the individual said, "Watch where you step," Kallie froze. She knew that deep voice.

"Graeson," she hissed. "What are you doing in my room?"

The floorboards creaked. "Well, Iwassleeping until your large, clumsy feet stepped on me."

Kallie frowned. Her feet were not large. If anything, they were very much average, but she didn't have the energy to argue. "Whatever. Move. My clumsy feet and I have to pee."

In the small cabin space, Kallie couldn't avoid her arm brushing against Graeson's as she slid by him. She opened the door and headed toward the small closet Squires had shown her when they had arrived. She squatted over the bucket and did her business quickly.

After washing her hands in the basin, she shook them dry and headed to the deck, but a lit lantern made her stop in her tracks.

In the glow of the light, Graeson stood overlooking the railing at the bow of the boat. He must have followed her out of the room.

At the sound of her steps, Graeson turned. Although Kallie had planned on returning to bed, her feet were already leading her to the open spot beside him.

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