Kari tilted her head at Noramilli and walked into the grand hall.
It was the biggest room in the palace, decorated with woven tapestries that hung from the marble walls and a golden table with wing-shaped legs in the middle of the room. The thousand-piece diamond chandelier hanging from the ceiling was a gift to Apollyon from Vallich.
Kari’s stomach lurched. She need not be reminded of him tonight.
Kari glided, with as much poise as she could muster, across the space between her and the table, where four people sat drinking and eating. Xenophon was at the head of the table, the others on either side, clustered around him. The glow of the setting sun poured through the massive southern-facing windows.
Her dress trailed elegantly along the floor behind her as she approached. “I suppose I am late,” she said.
One of the women had her feet propped up on the table. She pushed off the edge of it, causing her chair to spin. “Not late, sweetie. We just got here early to drink! Would you like one?” She stomped her foot on the ground and her chair banged back down onto all four legs. “Wow! You’re eyes really are always white.”
Kari looked at the woman, who licked her luscious lips. She was clad in tight leather pants that accentuated her muscular legs and a piece of black cloth that barely covered her chest. Her toned stomach was bare. She was beautiful, in a wild kind of way, but this was hardly an outfit appropriate for a formal dinner.
“Forgive my niece, Amelie,” a short woman said. Kari recognized Lord Ceridia. “She behaves as if it is her first time out of the forest, apparently.”
Amelie scoffed and rolled her eyes at her lord. As she turned back to the table, flipping her long, dark hair over the backside of her chair, Kari caught sight of a Godstone stitched into a thick, leather armband. Amelie was her competition.
“If I must do this for the God-King, then I will at least have a little fun,” Amelie said, casting a quick wink over her shoulder at Kari.
A warmth rushed to Kari’s cheeks.
“Kari.” A man on the opposite side of the table stood. His hair was slicked back all the way down his neck. He was garbed in a long, grey coat that brushed the tops of his knees and a pair of matching pants. Golden chains were woven into the lapels of the coat. He wore nothing underneath, leaving his olive chest exposed. “Xenophon has told us so much about you. Allow me to serve you a more palatable introduction.” He bowed deeply. “I am Lord Salmond of Granbek, and it appears we will be in competition with one another.”
Lord Salmond was the newest lord of Azanthea, having sleazed his way into the position only a year prior. When a draught hit Míastrad the summer prior, he had earned his position by cleverly proposing a new lake at the base of Soot Falls, where the water from the mines ran off into Granbek. He had built it on his own lands with labourers he paid out of his own pocket. That was how he bought his lordship. And his project succeeded. Where there once was a massive swamp, now sat a lake filled with mining runoff to be transported back to the mines if need be. But he made the trade at a cost. The water was toxic, and now all of the townspeople were terribly ill.
He didn’t seem all too bothered by that tonight.
Kari took a seat next to Lord Salmond, and he poured her a glass of wine.
“We were just getting to know one another a little, Kari,” Xenophon said.
“Yes, and I would like to know a little more about Kari Sangdroi,” Lord Salmond said, leaning over the table. “The last of the God-King’s bloodline.”
“Agreed,” Amelie said, taking a swig of wine. “Do tell us.”
Kari looked from the rough woman to the man drenched in gold chains and was suddenly speechless. What could she tell these people who had seen the world, who had probably seen battle? That she loved books?
Her hand went to Mímrvor.
Lord Salmond’s eyes widened eagerly. “Yes, why don’t we start with that?”
Kari’s eyes met his. They were hungry—so were Amelie’s. They wanted to know about her unique connection to Mímrvor.
Horns blared outside and the low beating of drums started. They all stood and rushed over to the window to see the commotion.
A brigade of ships sailed in front of the palace, heading towards the Capital Ports. At the lead was a small ship Kari recognized. Built of smuggled woods from the Raknabrooke Rainforest and high-quality sails from Sable, the small ship looked more worn than she remembered. But there was no doubt about it. Kari smiled.
Dane had arrived.
Chapter 27
The Southern Sea, 14th Day of the Month of Warmth, 1114 A.F.F.
The sun had just fully set and they were heading west. The night sky was dark, the stars not even visible through the dense clouds that had swept over Sable’s coast earlier that day. The only light came from the few small torches on their ship.
Kuba had never been on the ocean before, and so far, he hated it. It was beautiful at sunset, sure, but as the darkness set in and his stomach tumbled, it was just miserable and creepy.
Another wave crashed into the sloop and Kuba rushed to the side in case he had to vomit. He swallowed hard, trying to force himself to keep everything down. But the boat rocked again, and he was unable to hold it back. Involuntary tears streamed down his face as he hurled over the side. When they had picked up the boat from a small port in Sable earlier that day, it had seemed harmless. Even on the easier southward sail during the day, Kuba couldn’t keep anything solid down. Now, out on the open seas, he struggled to even drink water.
He coughed to get the last of it up.
“Y’okay?” asked Ion from beneath the sail. Ion had never been on a sloop before, but Kuba thought he seemed to be tending to the sails well enough.
“I’m good,” said Kuba as he wiped the back of his wrist across his mouth.
“Good,” Aurelia said. “The last of the daylight is gone.”
Kuba nodded, knowing what that meant. He grabbed his Godstone and he was up.
He looked towards the shore off in the distance. He could only make it out by the few scattered lights on the shoreline. When he turned to face the front of the boat, there was nothing but the dark ocean and sky blurring into one infinite abyss.
It gave Kuba the chills.
“Hold the sails steady,” Aurelia called to Ion as she walked over to Kuba.
“Aye-aye,” Ion yelled back.
Aurelia smiled and put her hands on Kuba’s shoulders. “You ready to try this?”
He nodded, his stomach lurching still.
“Close your eyes,” Aurelia said, scooping Kuba’s hands into her own. She put pressure on his hands with her palms. He could feel the energy from his Godstone searing into his hands.
“Slow your breathing.”
Kuba obeyed.
“Empty your mind.” Aurelia’s words echoed in his head.
He let his thoughts slip away, giving in to the uncomfortable feeling of the Godstone. He could feel himself slowly slipping, becoming one with the Godstone’s energy. His mind emptied completely… and so did his stomach as another large wave hit the boat.
Kuba’s eyes shot open as he forcefully vomited all over Aurelia.
When he was finally done, Kuba tried to take a step back, but Aurelia was still clutching his hands. She was motionless—an ice statue covered in vomit.
She slowly released his hands. Her brow was furrowed, and Kuba could see her face was red underneath the vomit.
As she wiped her face, Kuba glanced over at Ion. His brother was nearly on the deck, holding back his laughter. This was bad.
“It’s okay,” she said. Her voice was higher than usual. She took a step towards the side of the boat. “It’s okay.”
Kuba recoiled, not wanting to be within her reach. He watched as she struggled to splash her face with the water from the waves.
“Here, let me help,” said Ion as he ran over from the sail.
Kuba was surprised that Aurelia did not refuse. He heard Ion let out a chuckle as he helpe
d Aurelia wash her face. He waited silently until they were done.
“Sorry,” he said when the pair turned around.
Aurelia’s jaw was still firmly clenched. “I’ve already said it’s okay. Let’s just get going.”
“Maybe he’s a little too sick—”
Kuba saw Aurelia shoot Ion a warning glare and gulped.
“Why don’t you try lying down this time?” Aurelia suggested. “At least then, if you are sick, it will be on the floor.”
Kuba did as he was told and lay down on the wooden deck. It honestly made his stomach feel worse, but he would rather not fight with Aurelia at the moment.
He brought his Godstone to his chest and placed both hands over it. As he shut his eyes, he heard someone sit next to him.
“Empty your mind,” said Aurelia from beside him. “Focus on nothing but the Godstone.”
The connection came so much quicker than it had before. The rush of energy was overwhelming, almost making Kuba want to pull out of the connection. But he knew he couldn’t. The Godstone’s noise filled his brain, the energy buzzed, and the light burned. Kuba allowed himself to be completely consumed by it.
And then, silence. The pure connection with the Godstone. It was beautiful and exhausting all at once. Kuba could already feel it taking a toll.
His eyes shot open and he gaped up at the night sky. He could feel the static skipping around him, the lightning in the thick clouds above. His eyes instinctively followed the energy. He sat up, holding his Godstone in one hand.
“That’s it, Kuba,” said Aurelia. “You’ve got this.” Her voice was right next to him, but it was faint compared to the calling of the lightning. Kuba could feel it; it was much closer this time. Just to the south, in the clouds above. Kuba focused all his energy on it.
Completely by instinct, he raised his empty hand towards the south. He grasped at the air as if he were grasping at the lightning itself. Each time, it slipped through his fingers.
The grappling was exhausting, but he kept going. With every attempt, his heart rate increased.
“He’s sweating like crazy!” Kuba barely heard Ion through his intense concentration.
“He is fine,” said Aurelia.
Kuba’s heart beat even faster. His chest started to feel tight, and the clarity began slipping. He was not fine. He wanted to stop. With each attempted mental grasp, he felt increasingly depleted.
Vincent had said this would happen, though. He had said to push through this limit, to risk death.
Kuba heaved for air. Was he brave enough to risk death?
Thoughts of his Aunt Evie and Uncle Malek made their way into his mind. Thoughts of his parents, whom he had never gotten the chance to know. Thoughts of Zar on fire.
He had to be brave.
Kuba let out a harrowing yell as he pushed through the overwhelming pain. He continued to grasp at the air.
And then he felt it. It was as if he really did have something in his hand. Kuba knew he had latched onto a bolt. He dug his fingers deep into the air, solidifying his clasp on the lightning.
Kuba began to pull his arm back, dragging the lightning towards him. But there was resistance, as if all the forces of nature were fighting against him.
“He’s doing it!” Kuba heard Aurelia say as he pulled the lightning closer.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Kuba’s heart pounded like it never had before. It felt like it had jumped into his throat, causing him to choke. His arm dropped to its original position.
He tried to pull again, screaming as he did. He had summoned the lightning about halfway when his screaming stopped. He could no longer breathe.
His lungs had simply stopped working, giving up under the stress. He felt his grip on the lightning slipping, his fingers loosening.
A hand fell on his shoulder. “You can do this, brother.”
Kuba turned his head towards the voice. His ears felt like they were clogged, his jaw slack. His chest squealed with every desperate gasp for air.
He felt Ion press his hand on the side of his face.
“I believe in you.”
Kuba took one last look into Ion’s blue eyes and noticed that they were filled with tears. He had to do this for his family.
He turned to face south once again. The space around him was beginning to spin, the lack of air caused spots in his vision to fade in and out. He let the faces of his loved ones flash through his mind, Ion’s words reverberating in his head.
He felt his fingers tighten. He knew he had it. He twisted his hand in the air and jolted his arm towards his body.
A wave of sheet lightning ripped through the sky. Kuba released his fingers and the lightning flashed right on top of them, accompanied by a roar of thunder.
As soon as he let go, air flooded back into his lungs. He was exhausted, but at least he could breathe. Mentally, he grabbed onto the lightning again before it moved away, his hand mimicking the same gesture.
“You did it!” said Ion.
Kuba turned to look at his brother, whose tears had begun to fall.
Ion embraced Kuba, nearly knocking him over, he was so weak. Kuba let out a laboured sigh.
“Not now, Ion,” Aurelia said, ripping his brother off him.
Kuba did not have the energy to speak.
“Okay, Kuba. We will try to make this short,” said Aurelia. “On my go…”
Kuba waited, barely able to hold himself in his seated position, as Aurelia stood up.
“Go!”
Kuba released his grip. Lightning flashed across the sky. He quickly caught it again and nearly toppled over. But he kept his grip firm.
“Kuba!” shouted Ion as he ran over. Kuba felt Ion lift him from behind into his lap.
“He’s barely breathing,” said Ion. “Hurry up, dammit!”
“We can’t make them too close together!” said Aurelia. “Someone may notice.”
“We don’t have time for that,” Ion said. Kuba felt a light tap on his cheek. “Stay with me, Kuba.”
“Go!”
Kuba released his fingers. His eyes were barely open enough to see the lightning. He narrowly caught it again. His heart, which had been pumping so fast, was pulsing slow and irregularly. Everything seemed to be slipping away. But he had to hold on, for his family.
Aurelia groaned, stoping her foot on the deck.
“What’s wrong?” asked Ion. Kuba could hear the concern in his voice.
“I don’t see anything.”
“Then let him stop!” Ion cried.
“No! He can do this.”
“Kuba,” Ion tapped on his face again. “Kuba, it’s okay. You can stop—”
“No, wait!” Aurelia shouted. Kuba could hear her running around frantically. “The darkest night! It’s not dark enough. The torches, we have to put out the torches.”
Kuba heard her running across the deck. The golden hue that lit up the deck slowly disappeared.
Everything went dark. Kuba was certain he was dead. He couldn’t hear himself breathe; he felt no blood pumping through his veins.
“Go!” A voice shattered through the darkness, and Kuba released his grip one last time. He released the imprisoned energy. The lightning was so bright it made him wince, even with his eyes closed. Everything was slipping away.
“I see it!” He heard Aurelia’s muffled shout. The haziness growing in his mind was all-consuming.
“What?” He heard his brother say, but before he could hear the answer, consciousness slipped from his grasp.
Chapter 28
Azul, 14th Day of the Month of Warmth, 1114 A.F.F.
Kari pushed her way through the growing crowd towards the cliff that dropped off into the ocean. At the cliff’s base were Capital Ports. She looked down to the worn ship pulling into the wooden docks. Dane had finally arrived.
He had left them years ago, when the God-King had appointed him Lord of the newly named Diamonwon province. Kari remembered him from long before then. She had been just
a little girl when they had first met—not yet a member of the House of Historians, not yet a Wielder. Dane, who was about ten years her elder, still went by Danielle back then and was a prodigy in the United Azanthean Army.
Over the years, Kari watched as he clawed his way to the top, conquering every challenge the God-King put in front of him. Then, finally, when she found Mímrvor, she was lucky enough to have had him as her instructor upon initiation. He was less cruel than the other instructors, kind even. She would be forever thankful to him, for he was the one that saw she was no soldier. He was the one who sent her to the House of Historians.
Kari sped down the rock stairs carved into the side of the cliff to the docks below, brushing past the other spectators who came to greet their visitors from the North. Her shining blue dress trailed along the ground as she ran, shimmering in the torchlight and the soft glow of the city behind her. There were normally only a few merchants and fishermen on the docks at this hour, but the brigade from Diamonwon had drawn the attention of anyone still awake, and it seemed as though the entire city was here to greet them. To greet Dane.
“Dane!” Kari called out as soon as she reached the bottom of the stairway. She paused peering through the crowd. She was still quite far from where his ship had docked.
“Kari Sangdroi,” whispered an elderly man next to her.
Kari turned to him, and he dropped into a low bow. She looked around for someone to tell her what to do, how to respond. But no one was there. Xenophon was back in the palace. She was on her own, surrounded by the God-King’s subjects. Kari swallowed a growing lump in her throat. “Thank y—still skies.”
“And strong roofs.” The man looked up at her, his dark eyes meeting hers, his bottom lip was trembling. He quickly looked away. “My champion.”
Whispers weaved through the crowd on the docks. When Kari turned back towards Dane’s ship, the crowd had parted. She could feel her heartbeat speed up; she couldn’t remember the last time she was alone with the common folk of Azul. Perhaps she never had been.
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