In the Garden of Gold & Stone

by Ryan Muree

  “Nida, stand on my right side,” Brynn bit. “If they say anything that I don’t understand, I’ll need you to explain. She fluffed her hair and her robes out a few more times. “Where’s Drathella?”

  “Here, My Queen,” Drathella said, sliding in from the side of the room.

  It took everything for Nida not to roll her eyes.

  “Listen, learn. Don’t speak,” Brynn snapped.

  Drathella nodded once and took her place on the other side of Brynn.

  Nida couldn’t get distracted. She was doing this for Rowec and her sisters. Any information she could glean from his people, she would relay to him. She straightened herself with her hands folded neatly in front of her.

  “Send them in,” Brynn commanded.

  After the guards opened the two golden doors to the throne room, two humans entered the wide hall.

  One was male, tall, toned but more gangly. He had dark hair and green eyes—Rowec’s brother. It had to be Rowec’s brother. She recognized him, but would Brynn?

  The other beside him was female and considerably smaller. She had dainty hands and tiny feet. Her jet-black hair was braided and tied into an elegant knot at the back of her head. She had alabaster skin in a beautiful sky-blue gown. Was she a sister? Rowec hadn’t mentioned a sister.

  They both tipped their heads at Brynn.

  Brynn nodded back and spread her arms wide. “I am Brynntial, Queen of the Tial Jungle. What brings you to my temple?”

  Curious how the sudden requirement of needing to act like a queen sobered her up.

  “We-we—” The male cleared his throat and took a deep breath. “We’ve come to barter for my brother’s life.”

  Brynn let one clawed finger tap against her knee. “You are the one who stole from us.”

  The man swallowed and nodded. “Maur, ma’am… Your Majesty.” He tipped his head again.

  Nida smiled.

  No wonder Rowec had stepped in for him. His fingers fidgeted at his belt loop. He bumbled through his sentences. Maur was a mess. He would have never survived Drathella. She might have actually eaten him alive.

  Nida caught the black-haired woman beside him staring at her. She had a cut about her, something vicious in her stare that pierced Nida. It was cold, calculating. Nida had recognized that same stare in Drathella.

  “And who are you? His sister? Did his whole family come to beg for his life?” Brynn asked.

  The girl bowed again. “No, I’m Etta, daughter to the chief of the Zchi Village. You’ve captured my future husband, and I’m here to ask for him back.”

  The blood drained from Nida’s face for the millionth time that day. Etta? Etta was here demanding her future husband to be returned to her? And she was gorgeous. She was… flawless.

  Brynn turned her head slightly toward Nida.

  She didn’t react—she wouldn’t. This was Etta. The one Rowec hated and ignored but felt chained to. The one he wanted to escape from.

  But if she couldn’t figure out how to save his life in the ceremony, what would he choose? Death or Etta? It was clear what he’d pick when she simplified it.

  “I’m sorry, but he’s already agreed to go through with the ceremony,” Brynn said, waving a hand off.

  “That’s unacceptable!” Etta burst, taking a step forward.

  Rowec’s brother tried to pull her back and quiet her, but she ignored him and yanked her arm free.

  “He’s my future husband. He doesn’t belong to you. He’s mine,” Etta spat.

  Brynn tilted her head. “And that lanky thing stole from us. How do you suggest he pay for his crimes?”

  “Take him instead,” Etta said without pause, shoving Maur forward.

  Maur squirmed out of her hold. “Hey, wait, now, I was hoping we would negotiate a little—”

  “Shut up, moron,” Etta bit.

  “Is this it?” Brynn sighed dramatically, seeming bored with their bickering. “Is this all you have to say? You came all this way, found your way back to the temple without getting eaten in the jungle, and you say, ‘He’s mine?’” Brynn rose, lengthening her torso and displaying the scales along her body.

  Maur swallowed; Etta stood her ground.

  No wonder Rowec felt trapped. This tiny woman was unbelievable. She truly felt like she was owed Rowec. She wasn’t here for his future or for his safety, but for her satisfaction—her husband.

  But Rowec had to see reason, all things considered. If she and Ascara couldn’t figure out how to change the ceremony, Etta was the better choice. At least he’d be alive. Maybe he wouldn’t understand it immediately, but life with Etta had to be better than death.

  And her sisters… Tears welled and threatened to fall. How could she choose? Her sisters over Rowec? Rowec over her sisters? It wasn’t fair!

  It wasn’t fair, but when had that been new? Rowec would need a backup escape plan in case they didn’t find the solution to the ceremony.

  In a couple days, the pre-hatching festival would be held in the main hall off the southern side of the garden. It’d be dark, crowded, and Nida could sneak him into that garden. The walls were too high and sloped on the inside, so that he wouldn’t be able to climb them by himself. But if she gave some rope to Etta, who then could throw it over the wall from the outside and help him climb up, he’d get out. Etta could save him if she couldn’t.

  She blinked tears and wiped them away as discreetly as possible.

  “… And therefore, you will return to your chief and discuss the problems with the pact. I have my solution. He needs a better one for next time.”

  Etta was fuming. Maur was stunned, eyes wide. Brynn was smirking. She had angered them.

  Brynn waved at her guards. “Escort them out.”

  Etta began hollering and demanding Brynn listen, while Maur begged that they be given a second chance to explain.

  This was her chance. Nida stepped back behind the throne and tore down the hall. She had to get to the storage room and outside before they got too deep into the jungle.

  She tore past the classrooms and the kitchens to the storage room on the far east side. The doors groaned as she pulled them open.

  Stick. Stick. Stick. Rope!

  She grabbed the rope and slung it over her shoulder. She had to make it to the eastern entrance into the jungle. It was the small one by the dining hall, but if she sneaked by carefully enough, no one would suspect a thing.

  At least that’s what she told herself repeatedly. No one sees me. I am invisible. No one sees me. I am invisible.

  She ducked and darted across room openings when no one was looking, until finally reaching the eastern entrance. She slid the door open wide enough for only her body to slip through and let it carefully close behind her without a sound.

  The gryllids chirped their songs as she edged out onto the lawn surrounding the temple. She couldn’t see anyone anywhere, and if the two humans had already made it back to the brush, then she definitely wouldn’t be able to see them.

  “Etta, I’m really starting to wonder about your motives.”

  “My motives. I came because you asked me to. You thought I could reason with them. I tried.”

  Their voices carried from around the front side of the temple. They hadn’t made it to the jungle yet.

  Nida slipped through the shadows to cut them off as they crossed on the eastern side of the lawn.

  “So you don’t want your future husband back?” Maur asked.

  “I do. Of course I do. But not with you standing there like an idiot. How did you even become a warrior?”

  “I just want to get my brother back—”

  Nida cleared her throat.

  They froze and stared in her direction.

  She was still in the shadow, so she doubted they could see much of her face. It was better that way, honestly.

  “Who’s there?” Etta demanded.

  “I-I am.” Nida closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and came forward.

  Etta leaned back.
r />   “What do you want?” Maur asked.

  She offered the rope. “In two nights, we’ll be in the garden.”

  Maur just stared.

  Nida urged him to take the rope from her hands. “I’m going to try to find a way to save Rowec. But if I can’t, he’ll need you to throw this over the garden walls, so he can climb out.”

  “How do you know him?” Maur asked. “How can we trust you?”

  “I’ve been caring for him.” That came out wrong. “I mean, I’m giving him food and water.”

  Maur swallowed and nodded, tears forming in his eyes. “He’s okay, then? Really? He’s alive?”

  He’d feared Brynn had been lying to him? He truly cared for his brother.

  She nodded and smiled. “Yes, I promise. And I want to get him out.”

  Etta, however, wore a grimace and shoved past him. “Why would he need a rope? Have you tortured him? Is he unable to climb? He’s the best there is.”

  Nida inhaled deeply and decided it was best to focus on Maur. “The wall where you climbed to steal the paratils was only part of the garden. If you can get inside that garden again, without getting caught, there’s another wall farther in.”

  He nodded. “Okay.”

  “That’s the one you can’t climb out of from the inside. It’s sloped. He’ll need someone on the outside to help hoist him to the top.” She placed the rope in his hands. “In two nights, when the moon is right there.” She pointed just over the horizon.

  Etta squinted. “What are you things? Slitherskins?”

  Maur shoved her toward the jungle but kept his eyes on Nida. “I’ll be here, I promise. Thank you.”

  “Hey, don’t shove me aside!” Etta whined.

  They ran for the jungle’s edge, Maur telling Etta that maybe his brother was right about her, which just sent her squealing and fighting even more.

  Nida ducked back inside. Now to tell Rowec and fix the ceremony.

  ***

  Rowec paced the room, did some squats and lunges, then jogged in place for a few minutes. He’d screwed up bad with Nida. He could feel it.

  Raz lounged back and licked his belly.

  “You need to get up and move, Raz. You’ve been eating too many durlos.”

  Raz yawned in response.

  Nida probably wouldn’t come to see him tonight, and he deserved that. He had yelled at her sister, lost his temper, and, thanks to Brynn, she’d gotten a generous reminder of how terrible his people could be.

  He groaned and punched the stone wall. His knuckles ached, but he shook it off.

  Some diplomat he was. Maybe fighting was all there would ever be for him. Maybe the elders and the chief were right in thinking he couldn’t be more.

  “I’m allowed to walk down the hall.” Nida’s voice carried into his room.

  He dashed for the entrance, but the purple and yellow guards blocked the way.

  “Nida!” he called.

  She stepped in front of his entrance, but he could only see her between her sisters’ shoulders when she stood on her tiptoes.

  “Rowec, I’m here. Can I please pass?”

  Her sisters didn’t budge.

  “We’re under strict orders,” the purple one said. “He no longer leaves, and no one comes in.”

  “I just need to talk to him,” she said. “I can’t even talk to him now?”

  Her mouth, her eyes, were twisted. With what though? Fear? Sadness?

  “It’s okay, Nida. Just tell me.”

  She shook her head. “I can’t.”

  The guards still didn’t budge. Leaders didn’t ramp up security unless they were afraid or furious. “I guess I made Brynn too angry,” he said.

  “No, it’s me. She doesn’t want me to see you.”

  The yellow-scaled guard gestured at her. “Go on, Nida. You can’t stay.”

  His mind reeled. What had happened between Brynn and Nida after he’d left?

  Brynn had wanted a romantic dinner. She had wanted him to accept whatever she said as truth. She was angry at Nida for telling him information about the hatching ceremony. Was she jealous?

  He leaned forward, and the purple-scaled guard spun and shoved him. His backside hit the ground hard and sparked pain through his torso. He grunted and jumped back up.

  “Don’t!” Nida cried out. “Stop, Lavyra! Rowec, don’t get in trouble. It’s okay.”

  Lavyra lifted her scaled chin at him.

  “I’ll be back,” Nida said.

  No. She couldn’t go yet. She had something to tell him. She looked distraught. He needed to hear it. He wanted to make her feel better. He wanted to fix it. “Wait, just tell me, Nida. Who cares if they hear?”

  “Go, Nida.” The yellow-scaled guard stepped toward her.

  “I can’t, Rowec. I’ll talk to you as soon as possible.”

  Tears. She had tears. Something was very wrong.

  “I’ll be back soon,” she croaked, and she took off in the direction of the hatchery. “I promise.”

  He ran his hands through his hair and squeezed them into fists. What had Brynn done? Was the hatchery in trouble?

  He grimaced at Lavyra, and she smirked.

  “I guess I’ll just wait,” he called back, hoping Nida could still hear him.

  Lavyra turned back around and faced the hall.

  CHAPTER 16

  Nida finished caring for her sisters in the hatchery and raced for the prayer room for answers about the ceremony.

  Her backup plan had only given them two days—two days—to save their sisters.

  Ascara was inside, crouched in a corner, while two other sisters, Hollina and Prythi, knelt at the base of the statues of their late queen and her mate. The human mate had been carved with a smile on his face.

  She jerked her head away. “Ascara?”

  Ascara spun and stood. “I think I found something.”

  The two sisters kneeling shushed them.

  Nida lifted her eyebrows and crouched beside her.

  “See this?” Ascara pointed to the molding in the corner.

  Embossed in the corner was a geometric pattern. Two triangles with their top points aimed at one another, a circle, and then two parallel lines.

  “It’s just a decoration.”

  Ascara shrugged. “Maybe, but it’s weird. It goes all the way up in every corner.”

  The two sisters shushed them again.

  Nida dropped her voice. “So?”

  “They stretch to the ceiling. Look up there?” She pointed with a manicured claw where the molding met the ceiling.

  The pattern started in the corner but continued on with the same geometric shape, only ten times larger.

  “Doesn’t it look like something?” Ascara asked.

  “Seriously, Ascara?” Hollina asked. “We’re praying.”

  Ascara rolled her eyes. “Seriously, Hollina? No, you’re not. You’re trying to eavesdrop. Pray later.” She pulled them by their robes until they scooted along out the door.

  Nida glared at her. “Ascara…”

  “They weren’t praying. Now, what does it look like?” She pointed again to the ceiling.

  Nida took a deep breath.

  They hadn’t even let her speak with Rowec. She wasn’t even allowed to see him. That gave her no time to tell him about her plan or her backup plan…

  “Nida? Are you even paying attention?”

  She shook her head. “Yes. No, I’m sorry. Brynn has Rowec on constant watch. I can’t even talk to him before the ceremony.”

  “Then you’ll just have to tell him at the festival. Now, look again. What’s unusual in the pattern?”

  She took a deep breath and tried again. “I don’t know. It’s triangle, triangle, circle, and then lines.”

  “Wow. Okay, the bottom triangle is missing its bottom line. That makes it look like legs, right?”

  Nida turned her head and stood back. “Legs? Oh! It’s a person lifting their arms up.”

  “Yes! Thank you.”
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  “It’s several little people lifting up other people all the way to the ceiling. So?”