Page 5

Chapter

Four

I took a few moments to admire what lay before me.

The path wasn’t like the dirt roads of Escalia but rather a polished cobble walkway that wound through a garden before reaching the glistening building.

I stood amidst untamed blossoms mingled with elegant roses alongside trees and bushes of all sizes.

The breeze carried a symphony of scents that enveloped me, wrapping me in its embrace, hinting at the capital’s opulence.

Pausing, I drank in the swirling palette of colors, lost in their beauty.

How tall is this? I tilted my head back, my eyes tracing the palace's endless ascent. Towers and spires rose to different heights, each one piercing the sky. The intricate design, with sections spiraling upward, suggested an otherworldly craftsmanship that defied the limits of ordinary construction. No building in Escalia was taller than three stories. The palace was several hundred feet high.

Pay attention . Look where your feet are going . Not accustomed to walking on cobblestone, I slipped a few times, catching myself before anyone noticed.

The smell of the olive grove reached me prior to turning the corner. Its trees lined the two hundred yards or so of walkway that led to the massive entrance where palatial guards stood dutifully. Carvings ran up the sides of the doorway and building. Even though I couldn’t make them out, I could see that they were detailed and intricate.

“Nice, isn’t it?” A familiar voice interrupted my thoughts. I turned around to see Lil walking towards me. “Have a good flight?”

“It’s something I can now say I’ve done and will be fine if I never do again,” I replied, smiling at her.

“Yeah, it isn’t fun. At least you got to hug that… I don’t even want to call him a man as few men I’ve ever encountered looked like that,” she said with a grin. “What’s his name?”

The Walker—it took everything in me not to blush. “I never got it,” I said as she made her way next to me.

Other arrivals braved what lay ahead as they made their way toward the open doors. I can do this .

Don’t panic.

I am more than my fear; I am the story I choose to write.

Sensing my trepidation, she wrapped her arm under mine, pulling me close. “Well, best we get to it then. Need to find out that man's name after all, don’t we?” She gave me a grin. “Brida Larrow, ready for our lives to begin?”

Despite the unease twisting in my gut, I went along with Lil. Azmeer would have to be my fresh start—a place to shed the past and become someone...more. Someone who belonged here. Someone who could let herself be led by the arm of a stranger, confident and fearless.

The guards paid us no attention as we entered through heavy wooden doors. “It’s stunning," I remarked. The entryway was several hundred feet tall with mosaic tiles from the floor to the ceiling, depicting scenes of the emergence of each court and how the ruling family came to Azmeer. The images showed each court in its location.

“That’s the Court of Reflection,” Lil pointed toward a collection of blue and green tiles mixed with ivory to construct the court that sat on the edge of the Hydratas Sea. “It takes your breath away no matter how many times you see it.” She sighed.

From my reading, I recognized the Court of Whispers, symbolized by the array of purples that formed a formidable fortress seated amongst the clouds. Tactical in its position, the Tactras Mountains reigned as the tallest in the world. The Eternal Court mosaic stood no less impressive, yet everything remained shrouded by the onyx tiles, holding the mysteries of the Court of Shadows. Something about the way the light glinted on the black and red made me pause.

“Over there,” Lil interrupted, pointing forward. Ahead were tables with people waiting to check us in. “If we’re lucky, maybe we’ll stay together,” Lil leaned in. “It’ll be nice to know someone.”

I smiled, remembering I already knew someone here: Kadian. I was relieved knowing that if he hadn't arrived yet, he would soon. I looked around the cavernous space in the hopes I’d catch a glimpse of him.

“Looking for someone ?” Lil laughed as she whispered into my ear.

“It’s not like that. I’m not looking for the Walker.” The hall continued to fill with people, but Kadian was nowhere to be seen.

“Why not? I sure am.”

“It’s my friend from home. I’m supposed to meet him here.” I said.

“ Oh . Well, that explains it,” Lil chuckled.

“It’s not like that,” I said again, looking at her. “I’ve known him my whole life. His mother was best friends with my mother. We grew up together, and when my mom died…” I paused. “Well, she became a surrogate mother to me. We’ve always been close.”

The words barely left my lips before I felt the sting of self-consciousness settling in. This was the most I’d ever spoken to a stranger in one go, and the tension building in my chest now clawed its way up my throat. My heart raced, each beat echoing the internal command I gave myself: Relax, Brida. Breathe.

But the command did little to ease the familiar discomfort creeping over me. I’d always been more comfortable blending into the background, letting others take the lead in conversations. Even as a child, I was the one who preferred the quiet corners of the room, burying my nose in a book or watching from the sidelines as others chatted away with ease. Kadian had been the exception—the one person who could coax me out of my shell, who knew how to draw me into the world with his easy smiles and gentle nudges.

“You’re lucky you’ll have that slice of home here with you. I was the only one from Lesalia, so it’s just me!” Despite her bright smile and upbeat chatter, her eyes betrayed a fleeting shadow of melancholy. When she laughed, it didn’t quite reach the corners of her eyes, which lingered on a distant thought.

“Well, you’ll love Kadian. He’s charming and clever.” I bumped her hip in a poor attempt to cheer her up. Gods, Brida.

“I can’t wait to meet him!” She forced a smile.

The women at the table radiated intensity. Their dark brown hair, streaked with blonde, was tied back, and their sun-kissed skin bore battle marks. Amber eyes cut through the room with a fierce gaze. Clad in worn brown leathers, their movements were sharp and deliberate, their beauty edged with a commanding presence that identified them as members of the Eternal Court.

“Lilianna Towler,” Lil said.

I swallowed hard, trying to steady my nerves. “Brida Larrow,” I said, lowering my face to stare at my shoes as if they held the answers to my anxiety. I could only hope they didn’t notice the slight tremor in my voice.

The woman paused, just for a fraction of a second, but it was enough to send a jolt of fear through me. I forced myself to remain still, resisting the urge to fidget under her scrutiny.

“Your names have been registered. Make your way through the colonnade into the courtyard. Good luck with the first task.”

As we walked away, my heart pounded in my chest. I couldn’t shake the feeling that the woman’s gaze lingered on me, as if she had sensed something off, something that didn’t quite fit. The forged invitation felt like a lead weight, dragging me down with every step I took. One wrong move, one misstep, and everything could come crashing down.

Columns that seemed to rise several hundred feet high, each carved with the lore of the Primals in addition to the trials of King Elidas, cascaded toward the ceiling. The pale limestone offered a beautiful contrast to the landscape that lay just beyond.

As we walked through the colonnade, the grandeur became clearer. It loomed in the distance, beyond a vast expanse of lush gardens and sprawling courtyards. The path ahead stretched out, lined with flowers and trees, leading to the true palace. My heart sank a little as I realized that what I had thought was the palace was merely an elaborate entrance hall, a gateway to the magnificence that lay beyond.

Lil squeezed my arm, sensing my disappointment. “It’s still a long way to go,” she whispered with a smile. “But we’re getting closer.”

I nodded, feeling the weight of the journey ahead. The real challenge was just beginning.