“She is trying to tell you that she cannot speak.” Xio opened the door across from my room and entered the hall.
I narrowed my eyes and looked at her flushed face. The room she just walked out of wasn’t hers.
“Please bring the princess something to eat.” She waved the boy away.
“You,” I mouthed as I pulled her into my room and slammed the door shut. “I knew it.” I smiled and clapped my hands together. “You like him.”
She turned around to face the window, but I saw her smile before she could hide. “Rylo asked that I join him for breakfast.” Her voice was light. “He is a kind man.”
I crossed my arms and tapped my foot. She tried so hard to hide her feelings, but there was nothing wrong with finding a walker attractive.
“I can help you dress while we wait for your breakfast.” She took the clothes from my arms and handed me a piece of light cloth.
She hid a smile behind her hand. I held the see-through garment on the tip of a finger. The delicate lace wouldn’t cover an inch of skin. It had to be a veil of some sort. I stretched it over my face. Maybe it was meant to be a net to contain my hair. I stretched it over my head and frowned. Two holes left the sides exposed.
“I think it’s torn.” I mouthed.
“No, Princess.” She laughed and gently pulled it off my head. “Underthings. You wear them beneath your clothes. The mistress of the inn explained that it protects your lady bits.”
It was my turn to blush. I stepped into the flimsy material and slid them up my thighs. They were soft, and I had to admit, after looking in a cracked mirror, they were pretty.
“Now. For the tights.” She helped me into the stretchy material. They hugged my legs and were tight around my waist, but they made it easier to walk and didn’t itch.
The tunic she helped pull over my head was thick and gray. The long sleeves fell past my hands, but it was easily remedied by folding them three times.
I stood in front of the mirror and stared at my reflection. I barely recognized myself. I had legs like a walker, I dressed like one, and I was living among them, yet I felt like a fraud.
It took me time to accept the strange way my legs looked, but I was growing to like them. It was easier for me to move around, and I liked the way they looked in clothing, but would the others see through my façade? Would they accept me?
Tap. Tap.
Xiomara opened the door and took a large tray from the boy’s hands.
“Is there anything else I can get ya?” He looked at Xiomara, then at me. Curiosity burned in his eyes.
I gestured for him to join us. He bravely entered but jumped when the door shut behind him with an audible click. I hid my smile behind my sleeve and pointed out the window toward the red mountains and the creatures circling the sky.
“Hmm?” He parted the curtains. “Drogon peak?”
I nodded and raised my arms and mimicked the birds.
“Those are dragons. They like to snatch up anything that moves, and they steal anything that shines.” He poked out his lips.
“Fascinating,” Xio murmured. “These dragons, do they leave their home?”
“Not anymore. They listen to the Drogon king, but they say he has been placed under a nasty curse. He has been asleep for the past year. No one knows when he will wake.”
I couldn’t imagine being cursed in such a way. An eternal slumber, dreams and nightmares your only companions.
“How terrifying.” Xiomara placed the tray on the table and laid out the dishes.
The boy stared at me before heading to the door. “Do not worry about the Drogons. They wouldn’t be dumb enough to mess with a Sirensia.” He walked out with his hands behind his back and a bounce in his step.
“What is a Sirensia?” I asked Xio when she faced me.
“I am not sure, most likely another term for royalty.” She shrugged and poured fragrant steaming water into small cups. “Rylo called this tea. It can be made from many plants and their roots.”
There was another knock at the door, and Etan swept into the room clad in all-black robes. His face was clean and freshly shaven, and his hair was brushed and shining. He looked so different. He seemed taller, regal, more prince-like.
“Grand risings,” he greeted. He grabbed my hand and lightly kissed the top. “I hope you slept well.”
I smiled and pulled away. “The sun is so bright, and the trees so green,” I mouthed.
“The Drogons are fascinating creatures.” Xiomara joined us at the table. “Does the Drogon king keep them as pets? Do they have power like Naga?”
He straightened and adjusted his clothes. “No, they are not pets, and yes, they do use magic—but Naga is different. He uses his star vision, a concentrated dose of starlight expelled through his body. Once used, he burns out. The dragons use a combination of venom and fire that is naturally formed in their bodies.”
“Naga burns out?” Xio looked at him in horror.
“Don’t worry. He will be reborn from moonlight and will return sooner or later.” He sat down at the table and began loading his plate with the deliciously aromatic food.
I sat across from him and studied the fare. My mouth watered.
“This is bread.” He picked up a brown lump that resembled a stone, pulled his knife from its sheath, and cut it into thick slices. He slathered it with a light yellow paste and handed me the steaming piece.
My eyes rolled to the back of my head. The bread disintegrated as soon as it hit my tongue. It was soft, warm, and lightly sweetened. It was the best thing I had ever eaten.
Etan chuckled. “I love bread too. I missed having warm meals in general.”
He scooped a pile of something soft and yellow into my plate and a shiny brown lump. “Cheese grits and sausage. I love the simplicity of the forest folks’ meals.”
I bit into the sausage and moaned. It popped in my mouth and flooded it with a mixture of spice and juices. The grits were hearty with a mellow taste that balanced out the saltiness of the meat. I finished every bite on my plate and sat back in my seat, my hunger sated.
Etan cleaned up and placed the dishes back on the tray. “The castle is still a two-day ride from here. We should arrive in Irkalla, a small town outside of the city, tonight. I wanted to stay there for a day or two.” He fidgeted in his seat. “I have some business to handle.”
I looked around the room and shrugged. I had nothing to pack or anyone to say goodbye to. I pointed at my chest and then the door. “I'm ready.”
“I will meet you and Xio downstairs.” He walked out, banged on the door across the hall, and stomped down the stairs without another word.
Rylo stepped out and threw a green cape over one shoulder. His eyes scanned my body. “Boots.” He sighed. “The man forgot the boots.”
He rushed behind Etan, his dark curls bouncing as he descended the stairs. They were an odd pair, Etan and Rylo, and it was obvious they were accustomed to each other’s strange ways. At least Rylo was friendly.
Etan seemed distracted. I had seen the worry in his eyes, but he didn’t have to worry about me exposing any secrets. I couldn’t speak, for one, and the only one I could confide in was Xio.
If he was afraid of having me around, he could tell me at least. I would understand. And if he felt a certain way about marrying me, he didn’t have to go through with it. I never wanted to marry to begin with.
I wouldn’t beg for his attentions, and I definitely wasn’t going to force anyone into a marriage I didn’t even want.
I was alone, but I wasn’t desperate for affection. I would rather return to the sea than chase behind a man.
Chapter Sixteen
Sarai
We rode with the carriage window open. The day was mild, and great white clouds dotted the bright blue sky. The air was fresh, and laughter rang out around us.
Rylo rode beside the window and happily conversed with Xio. He told her about the land and pointed out different animals and small creatures he called
sprites. They were tiny things with glittering wings, cold eyes, and sharp teeth who liked to pull on my hair.
“This land once belonged to the Drogon tribes. When their king was cursed, the tribesmen fell into a deep sleep and turned into trees. They say that when the wind blows through their branches just right, you can hear the cries of the tribe. That is why they are called Drogon trees, and cutting them down is forbidden.”
I shivered and looked up at the blood-red leaves of the gruesome trees. Magic wasn’t a toy that one simply played with. I knew what magic was capable of, and in the wrong hands, things like what happened to the Drogons occurred. What could an entire village have done to deserve such a fate?
“Where we come from, there is a garden where a witch keeps statues of those who break their deals.” Xiomara’s voice was grave. “Thousands lay in the sand, waiting for the day they are released.”
Rylo shook his head. “Pesky business, magic. It is beautiful but dangerous.” He looked at me and smiled. “Sarai, I’m sure Etan’s told you how he got tangled up with his fair share of magic.”
I leaned forward and shook my head. I knew next to nothing about Etan. He was as foreign as this land. “I would love to know more,” I mouthed.
“Why don’t you tell them your stories, Rylo? You are the prince of mischief,” Etan grumbled from the front of the carriage.
Rylo smiled and winked. “You’re no fun. If you would have acted this way in Bimini, we wouldn’t have had to fight our way out of the rainforest.”
“Rainforest?” Xio gasped. “You must tell us more!”
He told us about their journey to the fountain of youth and their fight with the shape-shifting Biminians. That story led to another and another one after that. The pink sky was streaked with red and purple by the time we arrived at a large stone wall.
“Just in time.” Etan stopped the carriage and climbed down from his seat. He looked up at the quickly darkening sky. “I didn’t want to sleep outside.”
Rylo jumped from his steed and opened the carriage door. “Do your boots fit fine?”
I looked down at my feet and the soft leather that rose past my knees. I nodded and placed my hand over my heart.
“You are welcome.” He offered his arm and helped me down.
I walked around the horses and stood beside Etan.
“It has been a long time since I’ve seen this place.” He looked up just as a ray of light slipped through the trees and hit the wall. “The door only opens twice a day, for a few minutes at a time. Look.” He pointed at the space in front of us.
The stone shuddered, as if taking a breath, and split in two. An opening wide enough for us and the horses to walk through quickly formed.
Rylo held the reins to Thunder, his stallion, and whistled. “We made it by the hair on a rat’s a—”
“If we don’t hurry, we will be stuck here until dawn, and I don’t feel like dealing with the fairies and their tricks.” Etan grabbed my hand and pulled me through the entrance.
I looked back at the forest and gasped. Where the carriage and horses once stood, only a cracked coconut and two faded seashells remained.
∞∞∞
The town was colorful and full of the dead. Their spirits walked along blue paths and called out to each other from their bright homes. Men, women, and children of all shapes and sizes went about their days as if they were still living.
“This is Irkalla.” Etan nodded at a translucent man who walked by. “Home to spirits who didn’t wish to leave this world.”
I watched as lights slowly flickered on in their metal cages and the air began to fill with the delectable aroma of cooking food. I was amazed by the barrage of colors and sounds. Everything here seemed brighter, more alive, than the world we just left. The colors, the people, the tall golden-domed buildings, and the amethyst-colored pathways, all of it made the living world look like a poorly constructed copy.
“They try to live how they use to before their…shift.” He waved at an older woman with shining silver hair that brushed the back of her ankles. A crown made of golden roses delicately balanced on the top of her head. She drifted down the jeweled walkway with her shoulders back and her chin high.
We passed several stalls, all full of wondrous things, and finally stopped at one where a young lady was shining crystals.
“Cyntheria.” Etan knocked on the wooden counter.
The woman stopped and looked up at us, the annoyance in her eyes softening as soon as they landed on him. She looked different than the others. She didn’t have the same glow around her body like the spirits who were out shopping, yet she wasn’t like us.
“Etan!” she squealed and wrapped her arms around his neck. “You’re here, you’re finally here! Treniv!” she called out to the stall beside us. “Watch my globe.”
A balding man with wispy hair and faint eyebrows leaned out of his stall. “Tell Kamryn I found what he asked for. In fact," he tossed her a small bag, “take it to him and tell him it wasn’t easy to find. I want double the asking price.”
She rolled her eyes and tied it to a beaded chain wrapped around her waist. “Let’s go before anyone asks questions. We don’t need the market in an uproar tonight.”
The girl didn’t acknowledge us. She didn’t even look our way. In fact, when I thought about it, none of the residents had spared us a glance. It was as if we weren’t there.
Etan gently tugged on my arm and propelled us forward. “The town seems to have grown since I last stepped through the gate.”
He looked at a stall that was lined with wicker baskets brimming with colorful fruits. A woman with flowers for hair and velvety leaves for clothes wiggled her fingers in our direction.
“Kamryn has been soul collecting almost every full moon. It seems like more and more are refusing to cross over.” Cyntheria frowned at the woman.
“I see.” Etan averted his eyes. “Death is difficult to accept.”
“Yes, but it is a part of life.” She looked at him expectantly. “You’re back now. Does that mean you come with a wedding announcement?”
“Not yet.” He seemed to blush. “I have some things to deal with first.”
“Now I’m curious.” She pinched her chin and cocked her head. “I saw a wedding in the jade ball, but I just started working with it so I may have been wrong.”
Etan threw his head back and let out a hearty laugh. “You and your sight. I didn’t give you permission to look into my future.”
“I had no choice. You left without a word, and after what happened to Kwame,” she narrowed her pale eyes and eyed his stiff posture, “I have to be sure that everyone is safe. You are different now. What changed?”
“Nothing that cannot be fixed.” He looked away.
“Yet you came to Kamryn before going back home to face the mess you left behind. It must be bad.” She led us out of the bustling market and onto a quiet street lined with colorful houses that reminded me of the reefs back home. Purple, orange, blue, and bright shades of pinks. No two homes were the same. Some had colorful gardens that perfumed the air, and others had trees made of glass bottles that whistled when the wind blew.
We stopped in front of a pristine white, marble palace with golden-domed turrets. Two furry animals sat at the golden gates. One was all white with a black spot on its ear and the other was gray with black dots on its belly.
“We have visitors.” Cyntheria bent down and placed the pouch around the white creature’s neck.
It looked at her as if it didn’t approve of her touch, and then it looked at me. When its eyes landed on my face, the hair on its back rose in alarm. Its tail grew to double its size, and it began to hiss like an eel.
Xiomara gasped and grabbed me by the elbow. The creature crept forward and howled at my feet. I tried to kick the crazed beast, but it hissed and scratched at my boot.
“What’s wrong?” The girl looked in our direction, waved her hand in front of my face, then slid her arm through my ribs. She gasped
and stepped back. “Who’s there?” she hissed as she held her arm.
It was like I had swallowed ice-cold water on an empty stomach. I let out a silent scream and clutched at my ribs. I ran my fingers up and down my rib cage and gasped for breath. Etan placed his hand on my chest. Light gathered at the tips of his fingers, and warmth instantly replaced the creeping cold.
“Why, Etan, you managed to snag yourself a pretty little fish.” The second creature licked its tail and yawned before standing on all four feet. “Come in then.” He walked up the path and through the gates.
“You could have told me you brought a guest.” Cyntheria pinched Etan’s elbow. “I am so sorry.” She looked in my direction and put her hands up.
“You’re careless.” He pulled me to his side and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “You should have seen them in that crystal ball of yours.”
“I have seen plenty of things. And some I hope are not true.” She stared him down even though he was over a foot taller.
“You can’t always trust what you see. As you can see.” He tapped her head with his pointer finger. “Or not.”
Cyntheria huffed and rolled her eyes before following the beast through the golden gates.
Etan let out a sigh and wiped his forehead. “Let’s go inside.”
My jaw dropped as soon as we stepped through the palace doors. Paintings of all shapes and sizes covered every wall. Each one was of a different subject, in a different location, wearing outlandish clothing, but the one that stuck out the most was the painting of a high-strung woman.
She had long curly hair and captivating amethyst eyes. Her skin was a rich copper with bright silver freckles spread across her perky nose and cheeks. I peeled myself from Etan’s side and walked up to the portrait.
“You could have met me at the gate, offered me a proper welcome,” Etan spoke to the creature.
I knew the woman. I recognized the look of disdain in her eyes. The artist had captured her essence well. I could feel her presence now, commanding authority as it had that day in the garden. This was Mother’s friend. The woman who carried lightning in her hands. And at her side was the creature who had been with her in the garden. It was the same one who had met us at the gate.
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