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AERI

CITY OF HALLAN, GAYA

W e land in the port of Hallan on Gaya. Mikail said Hallan used to be a thriving city, catering to pilgrims who visited the sacred black wood forests and the lumberjacks, artisans, and mills that used the wood.

The city is now a shell of what it used to be because my father burned down the forest nearly twenty years ago.

We tie up the skiff and walk out of the port. Somehow, even this close to the ocean, this city smells like a campfire nearly twenty years later. So, the rumors of it being magical must be true.

It’s after dark, and the town is covered in low fog, making it hard to see. I stick out my arm and can barely make out my fingertips. Everything about this place says to leave and find somewhere else, but we think the temple is around here, so we have to stay.

“We should probably all room together tonight,” Sora says. She pulls her cloak tighter around her shoulders.

No one argues. Four blades are better than one.

We make our way through the fog and find an inn at the edge of town.

This city seems far older than Berm, the streets worn and winding—more like Umbria than an island.

The three of us wait outside while Mikail rents a room at the Canopy Inn.

We need to go unnoticed, since our last trip to Gaya ended in disaster.

Somehow, even being over six feet tall with teal eyes, he is the least distinct of the group.

Mikail comes out and gestures to Sora, who joins him inside.

Royo and I wait a few more minutes. I fold my arms to block the chill because the fog makes my skin damp and my cloak is light.

Royo looks over and waves me to him. I stare for a second, puzzled.

But then he opens his arms. I rush to him and nuzzle against his chest. I let out a contented sigh, his warmth surrounding me.

We haven’t spoken about what happened on the skiff.

I hadn’t meant to make out with him—or, well, I did, but it wasn’t like I’d planned it out.

I was just trying to save him, and I wasn’t even sure it would work.

Kissing him was the only thing I could think of to distract him.

Royo’s too strong, too capable of evading me, otherwise.

Not that I minded, though. A pleasant shiver runs along my back as I think about wrapping my legs around him.

A minute later, we walk into the once grand inn. The ceiling is high and lined with black beams, and the woven rugs are ornate but worn down. Same with the couches and chairs in the empty lobby. Everything is from before the forest burned.

We take the marble stairs up to the second-floor corner room. A placard on the wall calls it the royal suite.

Ironic.

I knock twice on the door, and Mikail lets us in. The suite has two bedrooms and a living space with a couch.

Mikail goes to the water pitcher and starts guzzling down glass after glass. He grimaces. He must be in severe pain, but he doesn’t say a word about it.

“So are we just here for the one night?” Royo asks Mikail, but there’s no response.

“Mikail?” Royo says.

Mikail stares at him like he’s confused. “Yes?”

Sora and I exchange glances.

Royo blinks. “What’s the plan?”

“Rest tonight, and we’ll leave to find the temple tomorrow. We’ll get supplies for the forest in case it takes a few days to find it. I assume it’s hidden, probably underground now, but we’ll see.”

Mikail’s answer is fully lucid. He must not have heard Royo the first time. It’s been a long day. Still, there was something unsettling about his confusion.

He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand and then looks at Royo. “You’re sharing a bed with me again, right?”

Royo’s jaw drops open. Sora suppresses a laugh as Mikail grins.

“It was a joke,” Mikail says. “You should share a room with Aeri—to protect her.” Then he turns to Sora. “I can take the couch.”

“We should talk.” Her fingers worry the beading on her purse.

He nods and drinks another glass of water. He’s, of course, thirsty from wielding, but my stomach growls.

“Anyone else hungry?” I ask.

The three of them stare at me, but Royo and I missed lunch.

I’ve been hungry since I was watching him sleep.

Not only am I starving, but I’d like to avoid this uncomfortable moment.

I’m sure they need to discuss what happened on the path and maybe what happened with Fallador.

Sora did kind of try to kill him, and she’s too good of a person to just let it lie.

Still, it’s better if I’m not here for it.

Apologies are better without an audience.

“I could eat,” Royo says.

My heart leaps. Before Rahway, he would’ve rather starved than leave with me. I smile at him. His lips twitch, and then he looks away.

“Don’t go far,” Mikail says.

Memories of Oosant flood my mind—the gang, the feeling of being prey, the worry of leaving, knowing we’d soon be attacked. “We’ll eat downstairs and bring you back supper.”

“That’s kind of you,” Sora says. But she’s not looking at me. She’s eyeing Mikail. He turns to face her as well.

Royo and I hustle out and close the door behind us.