Page 53

fifty-two

Ereon

L anding on the wet sand on Antalis’ shore wasn’t precisely what I had in mind, but at least I can tell by the looming castle in the distance, we arrived precisely in the kingdom we were supposed to. I push myself to my knees, anxiously scanning my surroundings. Panic grips my heart as I realize Carnaxa is nowhere to be seen.

No. I stand up, turning in circles, looking for anyone. I couldn’t have left them in Shaston. I watched as Anara and Thylas left us to fight the kukhe . A cough catches my attention and a sigh of relief releases from me. Siphonie and Rhenor struggle to get up from the water, flailing near the shore.

“Your landing could use some work,” Rhenor yells at me, but he smiles down at Siphonie. “It’s a good thing we are both strong swimmers. We were about thirty feet from the shore.”

“I didn’t bring us here. I had hoped to, but realized quickly no ice was here. So I was going for ‘anywhere but where we were.’ This is Naxa’s doing,” I say as I go to help them. Siphonie stands and I immediately begin volleying her with questions, “Carnaxa? Have you seen her? Where is she? Is she hurt?” They both look at me, confused.

Siphonie answers, “We thought she was with you, we were together and just assumed the two of you would have been.”

“Carnaxa!” I shout. Running my hands through my wet curls as I do. Siphonie and Rhenor scream as well. Running up and down the beach, I run until my lungs burn and my chest heaves with every desperate gasp for breath.

“Where are you?” I mumble to the wind that sweeps across the sea in front of us.

Rhenor catches up to me, Siphonie not far behind. “We will find her. She can’t be far. Maybe she is with Anara and Thylas? They were coming here too, weren’t they?”

A sharp, piercing cry comes across the waves and catches our attention. Amongst the cresting waves emerges something I had only ever heard of in legends. The colossal body of the w?ngesk emerges from the waves, holding Carnaxa delicately in its tentacles. Her strands of cerulean hair, wet and flowing down her arms, provide a vivid contrast to the creature’s dark, iridescent frame. Her body emits a white light from her soul, driving away the darkness of the surrounding night — a beacon calling us all to her. Her eyes meet mine and I gasp at the full beauty she is. She fondly touches the w?ngesk’s head as it moves effortlessly across the waves and brings her back to me.

Rhenor and Siphonie’s knees buckle beneath them as they lower themselves to the ground, their hands reaching towards the heavens in a gesture of honor to the Goddess. No, not to the Goddess — Carnaxa. Instead of reaching their hands up to the sky or the moon above, they extended them forward, towards her. The w?ngesk was a creature only the Goddess herself was said to control, and yet Carnaxa yields it like a close friend.

The w?ngesk slows down as it breaches the shallower waters and releases Carnaxa. My beautiful wife leans down and kisses the top of its head. “Thank you for answering.”

The sound of a sharp and shrill cry fills the air as it disappears beneath the water’s surface. She turns to us, her eyes falling upon Siphonie and Rhenor, who remain on their knees. “Get up. This is embarrassing.”

Rhenor speaks first, “Magic has awoken … The rings of color have returned … and now, the w?ngesk heeds you. I don’t understand it, but I know what I see.”

“You are the Goddess,” Siphonie whispers.

Unbidden, my legs march me to Carnaxa, grasping her around her waist and spinning her around, I pull her into my chest. She meets my embrace with one of her own, her fingers digging into the back of my neck and back, as if she would lose me if she let go. I stop, letting her feet hit the sands and pull her lips to mine. A kiss full of fear — of losing the other — grips us, and I forget anyone else is around. My fingers wrap in her hair as I pull her closer, breathing her in.

Siphonie’s soft cries catch my ears despite the crashing waves, and Carnaxa backs away. She walks to Siphonie pulling her into a hug. “Don’t cry, we are all okay. And I’m not the Goddess. Stop that.” Carnaxa reaches to brush away the few tears on Siphonie’s cheeks.

Siphonie responds by batting Carnaxa away. “The pregnancy ... it has me all a mess of tears. And if you aren’t the Goddess, then explain.”

Carnaxa turns around, her eyes searching the beach. “Thylas? Anara?”

I shake my head. I knew when Thylas departed to join Anara in the fight against the kukhe that he wasn’t planning to come here. Both he and Anara made it known they wanted to return to Shaston. I just didn’t think they would be stupid enough to go through with it. “I don’t think they ever planned to come here.”

“But I saw them walk into the flames,” Carnaxa says, fear lacing her words.

“They did. But neither of them are here, and I don’t think they ever wanted to be.”

She seems to take in the words and her gaze shifts from me to her friends, their expressions filled with anticipation. With a furrowed brow, she bites her lip, deep in contemplation, her beautiful head filled with a multitude of thoughts. “We will send a messenger for them as soon as we reach the castle. For now, I have much to tell you all, and I need to get to my father.”

The area is too quiet, devoid of any sounds except for the soft whisper of the wind. Carnaxa is constantly twirling her braid as we walk, her anxiety clear. Antalis’ streets, leading up to the inner ring’s bridge, lack the magical glow of sea glass that typically adorns them. Two guards stand in front of the bridge, their armor the colors of Shaston and not the golden colors of Antalis. In fact, not a single Antalian soldier has crossed our path since we started our trek to the castle.

“Stop! Who goes there?” One soldier steps toward us, the snake of Shaston embossed into the dark breastplate. My father’s men.

“Why are you in Antalis? Should you not be helping prepare Shaston’s defenses against the kukhe and the khind ?”

The man sneers at me, revealing he cares not for being questioned. “The curfew has already come to pass, return to your homes,” the speaker commands.

“And where are the Antalian soldiers?” Carnaxa speaks up from behind me. “Niv and Fekev have always guarded this bridge to the castle on the night shift.”

I take a step back, surprised that she would remember soldiers’ names. But then again, no, I’m not .

“They are in the dungeons with all the others. The Antalian King is no longer in charge here, King Atlas of Shaston is.” His eyes glance up at the banners that sway in the breeze — my kingdom’s banners. “Where are you from?”

“I have come to see King Clennom. Move out of my way,” Carnaxa speaks with a regal tone. The soldier in front of her foolishly grabs for his weapon and her arm concurrently. Just as he tries to latch on, she swiftly pulls herself out of his grip.

I push Carnaxa back with my forearm, gliding her body behind mine. These are my men and they will never take orders from a woman.

“Touch her again, and it’ll be your last mistake.” My hands grab for the swords at my back, and I send up a thankful, silent prayer, glad they made the trip.

“Oh, look at this ... another pussy-whipped man of Antalis, protecting their ... let me guess, twin drop? It’s always the same pathetic story.” The soldier speaks to the other one standing behind him, not concerned about anything else going on.

Sizing them up, I cock my head and study their every move. They are young, not one of my personally trained, which means they are new to the Prel . I presume they were secured by my father while I was here in Antalis. As the soldier walks towards me, his hand firmly clasping the hilt of his sword, I catch his eye and wink.

He’s consumed by fury, too emotional ... too young to be doing whatever it is that my father has them doing. I meet his blade with both of mine as it slices down at me. Pushing against him, he stumbles. He lets out a roar of rage as he tries again, but this time. I lock his blade within mine and pull it from his grasp, throwing it to the street beneath us.

“Interesting way to greet your prince,” I remark, a hint of amusement in my voice. “It’s interesting that you would raise your sword in challenge, especially since I am here on official Shaston business.”

He nervously shifts his gaze back and forth between me and his companion. “You don’t wear a crown.” I roll my eyes, feeling a mix of annoyance and frustration. Fuck. My father and that crown.

Rhenor breaks the silence, his voice strong and unwavering. “It’s true.” My name is Bêl Rhenor and this is my wife, Bêlit Siphonie. And this is Prince Ereon of Shaston and Princess Carnaxa of Antalis. We have traveled with them so that she may see her sick father before his departure to Mohasha .”

“How do we know it’s true?”

And ... I am tired of this. My hands shoot up and a wave of icy energy blasts from them, instantly immobilizing the guards in a frozen vice. Rhenor expresses his disapproval with a grunt, and I swiftly turn to face him, ensuring that I still have a firm hold on the guards. “Something to add?“

“I tried,” Rhenor says, shaking his head in frustration.

The icy tendrils wrap around their throat, suffocating them until they faint. I casually toss them aside. “I didn’t kill them ... be happy for that, Rhenor. Now, my queen ... let’s get you home.”