Page 132 of Daughter of the Dark Sea

“People have killed for less. I will build these islands in a new image. Where only the most deserving thrive.”

“When it’s you versus the world, it usually meansyou’rethe bad guy. You can’t kill everyone who disagrees with you.”

Barron merely laughed, and gestured to Garvan. Kora’s stomach plummeted, a cold sweat breaking out and puckering her flesh as he produced a second set of shackles.

“Kora Cadell,” Garvan began as she fought against Blake, screaming as he clamped a thick metal collar around her throat. “You are hereby stripped of your title as captain,” the lock clicked and she kicked her legs out, her throat burning from screaming. “You will be sentenced to the dungeons of the Citadel. Without trial,” a chain looped from her throat to her wrists, “as a prisoner of the Talmon Empire. You are charged with forgery, embezzlement, and thievery.”

Garvan knelt, and the guards pinned her flailing legs down as he secured a third set of thick, cold shackles around her ankles. The metal snapped together, allowing no give between her limbs. She couldn’t even walk. Tears poured down her face as she screamed for Erick—foranyoneto hear her.

“You hereby acknowledge your status as a prisoner of the Talmon Empire, thus, you are nowownedby the Talmon Empire. To recover the profits and loss to the state, you will work under the direction of the viceroys until your debt has been paid back. If you are unable to repay your debt, the viceroys will determine a just punishment . . .”

Garvan’s voice faded out as he continued reading her rights—which were none. Her life was over. Her dream no longer existed. Kora turned utterly numb as they guided her from the room, dragging her across carpet runners, down twisting gilded hallways of the Citadel. Tapestries lined the walls, depicting the empire’s ascension. The final one before they exited the guest wing illustrated Barron in all his glory. Surrounded by gold, his arms raised as citizens praised him.

She spat at it as they whipped round the corner.Fuck him.

She was no longer a captain. Her whole world, completely shattered into tiny, irreparable pieces. She’d been content putting Blake before her dreams, risking fleeing to Shannara for that pathetic trinket.

How wrong she was. This was inconceivable.

“What do I do. . .”she reached out into the void, seeking the only companion she could think of.

Empty nothingness slammed against her mind.

The connection was severed, she could feel it. There wasnothingon the other side of the void. Not even a flicker ofhim.Something was wrong. Her mind had never felt so silent . . . so alone. Ten years of comforting guidance had been ripped away.

And somehow, that hurt even more. Her muscles weakened as defeat consumed her. She had royally fucked up.

They descended the marble staircase leading to the ballroom, and the guards lifted her, allowing her the small reprieve of not bashing down step after gilded step. How thoughtful.

“Kora!”

Erick rushed towards them, his sword drawn, green cape billowing behind him.

“Barron! Stop this! What are youdoing?”

Kora sobbed at the sight of Erick squaring up to his oldest friend, his face taut with fury. His rich brown eyesburnedwith rage.

“She has committed a crime, Cadell,” Barron spoke calmly, signalling the guards to continue carrying her.

Erick snarled at Barron. “Let my daughter go.Now.”

Barron stilled, his dark gaze sliding to Erick. “You forget,Erick.I gave you everything, and I can just as easily take it away.”

Erick faltered, his face slackened as devastation consumed him. He glanced to her. “You wouldn’t . . .”

“Try me,” Barron challenged. “Marwood, take him away. He doesn’t need to see this.”

“Tell me what happened,” Erick pleaded. “Kora, talk to me!”

She opened her mouth but only a hoarse rasp escaped after her screaming.

“She stole from me,” Barron answered. “Now she will be punished.”

Blake advanced towards Erick, forcing him back with surprising strength. Erick cried out, grasping for Kora, his fingers barely brushing her steel chains as Blake held him at bay. They continued their march towards the dungeons, and panic seeped into the edges of her numbness.

Garvan pushed open the gilded, large double doors to the ballroom, and she grimaced as they strode in, her body hanging between the silvered guards like a wet blanket.

“Why . . .” she rasped, “. . . here?”