Page 64 of Legacy of the Heirs (The Lost Kingdom Saga #2)

Sadira

G rowing up, Sadira had an interesting relationship with the sun.

There was a time when she worshipped it for the life it gave plants and flowers, but when she learned to grow plants herself, the sun offered little more than light on a dark day.

After living on a windy island for years and then moving to a realm often cool and rainy, the warmth of Keres offered Sadira a new appreciation for the sun.

The rays warmed her skin as she gripped the stoned wall along the tiled terrace.

She had never seen so many brightly coloured patterns, a stark contrast to the dark woods she had become accustomed to in Garridon or the stone and ivy of Doltas Island.

The terrace attached to her room was on the side of Tabheri Palace, closest to the busy streets in the city.

As Sadira closed her eyes, she heard the calls, the hustle and bustle of readying markets she desperately wished to spend her day exploring instead.

While she did not think she could live in such a city, it made for an exciting change to the peace and quiet of the gardens her rooms overlooked in Antor.

They left the neutral city through the Keres gate immediately after sending word to their homes to have possessions packed and ready for collection.

It felt odd not returning to Garridon. By the time they reached the palace, they were exhausted and separated to their assigned quarters with the agreement to meet the following morning.

Yet now it was morning, and Sadira was not ready to face the looming threat.

Yesterday’s revelations were a lot to take in, leaving her drained as they travelled to Keres.

She spent the journey attempting to recall every detail of their encounter with the gods.

She wished she had written down everything the gods had said about the creatures and sword.

When she tried to recall the specifics, she was distracted by the image of Garridon.

Sadira had struggled to read her god or understand his views on the tense dynamic between his descendants, but she was positive Soren piqued his interest. She did not think Caellum had noticed, but Sadira saw Garridon’s stolen glances at her sister.

Nevertheless, Sadira would happily take Garridon’s uncertainty over Vala’s outburst against Elisara.

While she imagined most would have latched onto Vala’s words about the sullying of her bloodline, Sadira was more focused on Kazaar’s unwavering defence of his queen.

Sadira admired Kazaar’s attitude and would also defend those she loved just as fiercely should it be required of her.

Sadira smiled as arms wrapped around her waist, and a gentle kiss graced her bare shoulder.

“Good morning,” Caellum murmured onto her skin before resting his chin in the crook of her neck, pulling her closer. “You look beautiful today.”

Sadira blushed. Her dress was far thinner than her usual gowns, the sunset shades blending into the red rooftops of the city. Caellum’s thumb stroked the small triangular cut out over Sadira’s torso, no bigger than her fist.

“Did you sleep well?” Sadira asked, moving her hands to his.

“How could I not with you beside me?” he asked. She smiled again. “And you?”

Sadira nodded. “As well as to be expected, given the pressures upon us.” It felt so right yet wrong to stand with Caellum overlooking Tabheri, as if it was immoral to do anything else other than worry for their people.

“Are you not warm with your hair down?” Caellum asked, combing his fingers through it.

“It is impossible not to be warm here,” Sadira chuckled, though some of that warmth left her as Caellum withdrew and stepped back into their rooms. She turned to see what he was doing.

The light cast her silhouette across the patterned floor as Caellum strolled in his loose white shirt to grab a green ribbon from the dressing table.

He stroked the silk through his fingers.

“A small reminder of our realm,” he smiled, motioning for Sadira to turn.

She tossed her loose curls over her shoulders and shivered as his fingers grazed her nape.

Neither had addressed their moment in the tavern.

It was not because Sadira was embarrassed; she simply did not wish to ruin their contentment.

But she would be lying if she said she did not ache to experience more.

Sadira swallowed as Caellum tugged and tied the ribbon.

His hand trailed down her back to the tips of her hair, dangling against her skin.

He moved his hands back around her waist.

“I suppose we should go,” she sighed, and Caellum squeezed her waist.

“Let’s have one more minute together before we must play king and queen.”

***

Sadira was grateful for the up-do as she fanned herself below the palm tree.

One of Nyzaia’s guards, Jabir, had met them at their door to escort them to Nyzaia’s father’s chambers, the quietest and most secure room in the palace.

It was smart, given the sensitivity of the conversation.

The rooms were eerie when they entered until they reached a high-walled terrace.

Dust coated the furniture, reminding Sadira of the owner’s death.

While the terrace overlooked the city, it resembled a tropical garden in size and greenery.

At first, Sadira had welcomed the plants for their shade but was now conscious of the humidity.

Sadira was comfortable in the silence with Caellum as they waited for the others.

Slipping off her silk slippers, she breathed a sigh of relief as her feet met the cool shaded tiles beneath the table.

Seeking distraction, she propped her elbow on the table and rested her head on her fists, watching Caellum as he made quick work of slicing the stone fruit in his left hand, with the knife in his right.

Juice dripped down the side of his thumb as he placed the pieces in a ceramic bowl.

She focused on his lips as he licked it off his finger and reached for a cloth to wipe his hands. He smiled.

“What?” he chuckled, and Sadira blushed.

“Nothing. I was just thinking,” she said. He grinned before biting into a slice of fruit.

“About?”

Sadira watched his lips intently as he bit into another piece and licked his lips.

“Just that your fruit looks good,” she mumbled, clearing her throat. Caellum reached for another piece and leaned towards her. She opened her mouth for him as he slid the small piece in, their eyes locking as she chewed.

“What?” she laughed, and he shook his head.

“Nothing, the fruit looks good .” She rolled her eyes at his mockery.

“I am not interrupting anything, am I?” called Larelle, padding onto the terrace with a sly smile. Sadira expected an interrogation later.

“Not at all,” Sadira said, rising to greet her friend. Sadira was desperate for a moment alone with her to check she was truly okay.

“Oh, really?” Caellum mouthed to Sadira, who turned and greeted Larelle with a warm kiss on the cheek.

It was not long before Elisara and Kazaar arrived, followed closely by Nyzaia.

Farid closed the door behind them and stationed himself outside.

It struck Sadira that this was the first time in a while with only the rulers in one room, Kazaar being the only exception.

She did not expect the pair to be separated any time soon.

“Where do we begin?” Nyzaia asked. Elisara looked at Kazaar, the only one with extensive knowledge of the intricacies of battle. None of them had prepared for the throne, let alone a war on the kingdom.

“We need a plan for where we should position the infantry, as well as strategic movements to attack on the defence rather than offense, seeing as we do not know the numbers we will face.” Kazaar looked at Larelle, an unusual softness in his eyes.

She smiled politely at him. “But to do that, we must know everything we can about what we are facing and to decipher what the gods told us.”

Sadira reached to squeeze Larelle’s hand as she retold her experience with the creatures.

The group remained silent, allowing her time and patience to retell the tale.

She told them of the creature’s transformations and their appearances, and Sadira refrained from gasping when she referred to Osiris and Arik, recalling the creature that had tried to kill her and Caellum at the ball with its golden-ringed eyes.

Discovering now that it possessed human intelligence left an uneasy feeling in her stomach.

Larelle recalled everything she could, including her suspicions that Osiris knew more about the prophecy and talisman and the names he referenced to Larelle, which she had never heard. When she was finished, the group was quiet as they took in the new information. Kazaar was the first one to speak.

“We must work on the assumption that even in human form—whether that is all or some of them—they still cannot be killed by anything other than the Sword of Sonos, which poses difficulties given we only have one.” Sadira glanced at Caellum, and he nodded, urging her to speak.

“On the subject of the swords,” she began, hoping she was not betraying any sacred trust of the Wiccan clans. “I think there is a way to imbue a normal sword with similar power. I cannot promise it will work, but I can try.”

Kazaar frowned and peered at Elisara. “Could you imbue it with our blood as a first step? Would that be enough to mimic the Sword of Sonos?” he asked.

“I could try, but I do not understand how your blood affects them.” Sadira wondered aloud. Nyzaia shifted in her seat and glanced at the pair.

“You should tell them,” said Nyzaia, and Elisara stiffened.