Page 17 of Legacy of the Heirs (The Lost Kingdom Saga #2)
Nyzaia
N yzaia felt oddly sentimental as they arrived in Khami, though only Farid appeared to notice; her syndicate did not.
She could not deny the hurt that neither Tajana nor the rest of her syndicate had referenced their time here together, yet the Red Stones rarely shared their feelings.
Since leaving that way of life behind, Nyzaia realised how much of a front one had to wear, like the one she wore now of an unburdened queen, not a queen who fretted about the correct way of behaving in the public eye.
Khami was where the syndicate’s first mission unfolded after they completed the trials and gained full membership with the Red Stones.
It had also been the place of her first kiss with Tajana, yet Tajana barely batted an eyelid as they passed under the palm tree where their initials remained carved.
Farid had seemed to notice Nyzaia’s lingering look as they entered the city and simply inclined his head, his way of checking in.
Nyzaia spent a lot of time in Khami when she first joined the Red Stones, having been first appointed to the Spies, one of the six pillars.
It was the most common camp for the Spies, given it was the only settlement with a close border to another realm.
While the Abis Forge neighboured Vala’s Zivoi Mountains, there was little activity there.
Some places in Khami offered visibility of the Garridon soldiers in their watchtowers, as well as a view of the Neutral City, allowing spies to keep watch of those who entered and departed.
It also offered the spies insight into stray wanderers roaming Hybrooke Forest or the Ashun Desert.
After becoming queen of the Red Stones, she had spent little time there and had not visited at all since becoming queen of Keres. It was different from Tabheri: less crowded, shorter buildings, and paler walls to stand out against. She felt too exposed.
Farid nodded at Nyzaia as they arrived at the large wooden doors marking the entrance to Lord Arnav’s home on the edge of Khami.
Farid was ready. He had asked no questions, having immediately agreed to tail Tajana that evening.
Something still felt wrong. After they were intimate, Nyzaia expected their relationship to return to normal, yet something remained amiss.
It was unlike Tajana to find any opportunity to disappear; she had always been protective of Nyzaia, yet lately, it felt like Farid was the captain of her Queen’s Guard. The wooden gates opened.
“My queen!” Lord Arnav boomed. He stood on the tiled steps leading to his home, his yellow sherwani and turban matching the bright flowers lining the walkway.
His eyes were young—playful, even. He flashed a smile, revealed by his closely shaved beard that was a pleasant contrast to the thicker facial hair favoured by the other Lords.
Nyzaia raised her eyebrows. The home was much changed from when Arnav had taken over from his deceased father.
The walls around the home distinguished it from the rest of Khami, as though an artist had started their work here and left the remainder of the city a blank canvas.
There was not a single tile, piece of brick, or flowerbed without colour.
The pillars the lord waited in-between were tiled in the brightest fuchsias, standing tall on a mosaic of a rising sun above the desert.
The procession dismounted from their horses in the courtyard and immediately led them to the fountain in the centre to relinquish their thirst.
Nyzaia stepped towards the lord and brushed the desert sand from her clothing. It made little difference.
“Lord Arnav, it is lovely to see you again. You left so soon after our ball for Queen Elisara.” Nyzaia gestured to her friend, who approached with Kazaar by her side.
“Ah yes, Queen Elisara,” said the lord. With a glint in his eye, he glanced between Elisara and her commander.
“A pleasure to see you again.” He bowed and kissed the back of her hand.
Nyzaia practically felt the testosterone rise as Kazaar stepped forward, introducing himself to remove the lord’s lips from her hand.
“I hear I missed quite the show. I left long before the dancing was over,” Lord Arnav said, addressing Nyzaia again.
“A show?” she asked, confused. The Lord cocked his head to one side and straightened his sherwani.
“Yes. I hear you had some sort of magical display—a fancy talent involving the smoke from your fire, perhaps?”
Nyzaia realised he referred to the shadows that appeared right before she was called to find Kazaar.
She was grateful her lords’ minds were too small to ponder bigger threats.
Razik, Issam, and Jabir had quickly handled the concerned crowds, explaining that the show was an intended display of magic.
As though sensing her thoughts, Farid said, “My queen, we should really retire to your chambers so you can rest,” interrupted Farid. “You do not wish to dine with us?” asked Lord Arnav.
“I would love to, but next time, Lord Arnav. We must rise early tomorrow to reach Antor for the engagement ball. A quiet evening would be best,” she explained, while Farid asked a guard for directions to her chambers.
“I was disappointed not to receive an invitation,” said the lord. Nyzaia would determine whether to pre-warn Caellum about offending Keres’ lords, depending on how he acted upon her arrival tomorrow.
“It is a small affair. The future bride and groom do not know each other well. I am sure you will be invited to the wedding along with the other lords,” Elisara said beside her with a tight smile.
Lord Arnav did not push the matter further and allowed his guards to guide the group to their rooms. Farid discreetly tapped the side of Nyzaia’s elbow and stepped away from the others.
“I shall knock three times upon my return,” said Farid in a hushed tone. She nodded as he backed away and feigned a position at the door with the rest of her Queen’s Guard. Tajana peered back at Farid as she moved gracefully towards Nyzaia in her leathers.
“What did Farid want?” Tajana reached towards Nyzaia’s arm. She angled herself away and Tajana sighed. “This? Again?”
“He’s going to guard tonight along with Elisara’s Queen’s Guard.
We are spending the evening together.” Nyzaia smiled sweetly.
“You and the syndicate can have the night off.” Tajana did not respond.
Reaching for her hand, Nyzaia gave it a gentle squeeze and watched as Tajana’s shoulders relaxed.
“You’ve been doing so much for me with your role as captain and mediating with the Red Stones.
You deserve a break.” Tajana tucked a strand of hair behind Nyzaia’s ear, who allowed it, hoping she would accept the offer without a fight.
“Thank you, love. I appreciate that. Would you like me to pick you up some of the pistachio dessert you like from the evening market?” A pang of guilt flooded Nyzaia then, yet why had Tajana so easily accepted an evening away?
It made little sense. Nyzaia prayed the person who had once calmed her fire was not about to burn her.
***
Elisara’s disappointment caught Nyzaia off guard when she said she was sick and could no longer dine together.
She had never intended to; Elisara was an alibi to allow Tajana the evening off, while Nyzaia sat alone and read until Farid returned with updates.
She had never been one for reading, but the book weighed on her mind all day, burning a hole in her back.
Nyzaia bathed long enough to wash off the sand and dirt from the journey before rushing to pull on her robe and dive under the bedsheets that matched the vibrancy of the rest of the home.
The interiors were similar to the exterior of Lord Arnav’s residence, with Nyzaia’s room a vibrant shade of teal.
She ignited a flame in the lantern beside her bed and dragged the Myths and Lies of Ithyion tome onto her lap.
The bed was all-consuming as she sank further into the mattress and tucked her knees up to prop the leather book against her thighs.
She scanned the faded contents for something legible, but when she discerned nothing, she flicked to the book’s centre where she had first read about the celestial ties.
She read over it again, but the passage was so short she would have labelled it a lie if not for watching it manifest between Kazaar and Elisara.
Flipping to the next page, she read the beginning of what she assumed were chapters or volumes, and when she opened the book wider, she found a tear down its middle.
She pulled the book closer. A page was missing, but after flipping through it, it was clear someone had torn out several pages.
What information did her father wish to keep secret?
Or had someone else from long ago pulled the pages?
It made sense why the passage on celestial ties was so short; the rest was simply missing.
Nyzaia turned back to that page. The next page was labelled Q’Ohar.
She flicked through the pages and scanned the titles, searching for anything related to the prophecy.
She paused on a page of sketches etched in worn charcoal.
There were three odd symbols, and below each was a different drawing that she could barely make out.
She sighed at the book’s poor condition, wishing the previous owners had taken better care of it.