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My knowledge of oases was limited, but I had a feeling it should be greener than this. The vegetation was brown and brittle, and the towering palm trees had wilted ferns and shriveled fruit.

Thaydril led us deeper into the heart of the copper city, his robe trailing behind him like a billowing curtain.

Pillars rose above us, topped with massive statues resembling hawks in flight.

Their enormous wings extended out like canopies, casting marvelous shade over the city.

The statues were sculpted with such detail that it looked like they could take off at any moment.

“The Sunshades were once majestic hawks that flew over the city,” Thaydril commented, noticing where my gaze lingered.

“They were great friends to the desert elves, granting us blessèd shade during the day as they hovered in the sky. They left these lands long ago, but these stones were erected in their image.”

“They’re incredible,” I remarked, enjoying the reprieve from the relentless sun.

“This way,” Thaydril said as we entered a vibrant desert market.

The air swirled with the scents of warm stone, pottery, and dyed fabric.

Though crowded, the market appeared to have seen better days.

The colorful tents were faded and tattered.

The stalls were filled with jewelry, tools, and handcrafted knickknacks.

No fresh fruits, food, or water in sight.

Vendors approached and tempted us to purchase their wares. If I were allowed the luxury, I would’ve perused the shops until my feet ached, but there were more pressing matters.

The desert elves moved gracefully, yet their demeanor appeared skittish and nervous. They wore light, gauzy fabrics, sweeping shawls, colorful scarves, and headwraps .

There was something about their expressions that hinted at distress.

“This is clearly your first time in Hara’dune,” Thaydril commented, noting the look of wonder in my eyes.

“It is,” I said, not wanting to blink and miss a single detail.

“This place is giving me the creeps,” Maddock whispered, noticing the look of despair I had seen as well.

“Not our finest hour,” Thaydril agreed, confirming my suspicions.

“Nor is it anyone’s,” Dyani said, striding alongside Maddock. “Many villages and citydoms are struggling?—”

“No one here is struggling,” interrupted the guard with sun-bleached hair.

“Of course not,” Thaydril said, rolling his eyes before gesturing to the structure towering above the city.

“Behold one of Hara’dune’s most impressive landmarks: the palace.

It is said we have the most stunning sunrises on the planet.

Our princess loves watching it from her balcony surrounded by birdsong. ”

“Sounds like the princess has it made,” Maddock said, his neck tipping back to admire the palace.

I wasn’t so sure. Rayal said if I found her city, I would be amongst friends, but so far, our visit felt . . . off.

Thaydril shifted his attention to me. “As you can imagine, not many know the ancient greeting. This is the most excitement I’ve had in a while, and you brought so many gorgeous treats with you,” he said, eyeing Maddock.

Jealousy shot to my belly as his eyes languidly perused over him.

Suddenly, a lake came into view, its blue water sparkling like a diamond in the desert. Though it was beautiful, it was nearly empty.

More guards surrounded the lake, their gold armor, curved blades, and watchful eyes glinted in the light. It looked as if they were protecting the water. But from what?

My unease grew with every step deeper into Hara-dune.

A young elve in tattered clothes darted from the crowd and tugged on my pant leg.

“Water,” the small voice said as he pointed to my canteen.

“Do you want some?” I asked, my eyes widening at how frail and dirty he was. And it hit me why the guards were standing by the water—the oasis was suffering from drought.

My throat dried. I knew the feeling all too well.

I unclipped my waterskin from my hip and offered it to the young elve. His pale skin was dirt-stained, and as he voraciously drank my water, rivulets of mud dripped from his chin.

The guards noticed the young elve and marched toward us. The youngling’s eyes flashed to the soldiers in terror. He took a few more desperate gulps before handing me back my canteen and darting away.

“Are you okay?” Rowen asked, wrapping a comforting arm around my shoulder.

“I’m fine, but they aren’t,” I replied, gesturing to the elves of all sizes, colors, and ages, aimlessly wandering. The city was grand and beautiful, but the inhabitants were suffering.

“Why can’t they drink from the lake?” Rowen asked, nodding his bearded chin to the well.

“It’s low, but there’s still water in it. Surely that’s better than letting your younglings die of thirst,” Dyani agreed, her face pinched with disgust.

“To speak ill against King Aedris’ laws is grounds for imprisonment,” said the guard with hazel eyes. “His family must have gone through their rations. The new king sees to it that everyone is cared for.”

My fists balled in frustration. I’d been here thirty seconds and knew that wasn’t true .

There was a new king, and he was lying to his people, pulling the wool over their eyes to shield them from what was happening to Luneth. No wonder the borders were closed and Thaydril had chaperones.

I wanted to scream and cry and summon a rainstorm or find water deep within the earth to pull to the surface, but when I reached for my power, it was so faint I could barely feel it.

This was not good, but I had to remind myself why we were here. Defeating Erovos was the first step to restoring Luneth. I had to focus all my attention on convincing the desert elves to join our battle.

The sound of grinding stone startled me out of my thoughts as my gaze snapped skyward. The hawk statues folded their wings into their bodies, revealing the sparkling cosmos overhead.

The sun had set since we’d ventured into Hara’dune, and the desert landscape offered a whole new sensation to the comets and galaxies overhead.

“How do they do that?” I asked, pointing to the stone Sunshades.

“The desert elves can command sand and stone,” he replied. “How else do you think we erected this marvelous city?”

“Similar to how we command wood and vegetation,” Dyani added, her sharp eyes calculating.

“Fascinating,” I said, my neck aching from tilting my head back. The deep connection between the elves and nature never ceased to amaze me.

“I will show you to your quarters,” Thaydril said, his painted toenails peeking out from his robes.

“You said you were taking us to Rayal?” I questioned, my brows furrowing.

“I said to ‘follow me,’ and you did so without question,” he replied, and my jaw dropped. I knew to be more precise with wording. A carefully crafted sentence had saved me many times.

“But—”

“You’re lucky they don’t throw you in the cells. You all look filthy and unfit to meet the princess,” he continued. It was clear he was placating to the guards, walking a fine line from being thrown into prison himself. “And you should know, you can’t just summon royalty.”

“We don’t have time for formalities! It’s urgent that I speak with her.”

“Look, I’m sure you’re used to getting your way,” he said, his eyes darting to Rowen and Maddock. “But those big, silver eyes won’t work on me. There is a way to how things work around here. I will show you to your rooms now.”

“I’m not ready to go back to any cells just yet,” Maddock said, resting his hand on my shoulder.

“Viewing our quarters would be lovely,” Dyani agreed, giving me a look. “When might we be granted an audience with the princess?”

“I will see if I can arrange something tomorrow. For now, this should keep you comfortable. How many rooms will you be needing?” Thaydril asked as he directed us to a mesa rising above the desert. A multi-story building with pillars and arched windows was carved into the smooth stone.

“Three, please,” Rowen said. “If you can spare the room.”

“Of course,” he replied, leading us through the stone doorway, up several flights of stairs, and down a long corridor. The Keeper motioned to three handcrafted doors at the end of the hall. “I hope you find them to your liking. Only the best for Rayal’s friends.”

Maddock picked the first door, and Dyani the second. Rowen opened the third door for us.

It wasn’t dark or damp but unexpectedly inviting.

There were no constructed walls or ceilings, just raw stone elaborately chiseled away into intricate designs.

The room extended into a breathtaking balcony, overlooking the dunes rippling like the sea.

The gold sand appeared indigo under the night sky.

Brass lanterns hung around the room at varying heights, casting a warm and pulsating mosaic of light.

Woven rugs and cushions covered the floors, and billowing curtains hung from the ceiling, offering a luxurious feel amidst all the hard stone.

Our room perfectly incorporated the beauty of the desert along with modern comforts.

“It’s breathtaking, thank you,” I said, trying to remain calm even though my nerves were screaming at me to do something, anything but just sit here and wait.

“It is much appreciated,” Rowen said, his watchful eyes studying the room.

“You’re very welcome,” Thaydril said with a bow of his head. “Keep your lanterns lit. It’s said to be a very dark night.”

Once the door closed, I turned to Rowen, his expression as suspicious as mine. “What the fuck is going on here?”