Page 92 of To Scale the Emerald Mountain

Mother smiled and kissed me softly on the forehead like she did when I was a boy. She stood, extending her arm to me to help me up. Standing too quickly, I stumbled and realized I was still mostly drunk.

“Go sleep it off. In a real bed. Tomorrow is a new day.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

ELLYA

Sweat slides down my back in the dry desert heat as I wipe gritty red sand from my hands.

The Capital stands proud to the north of us, a giant oasis in a desolate desert on the shore, surrounded by lush urban farms that sustain all three Kingdoms. The Vhelisean Sea’s glittering waters churn to my right.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Kraeston asks. “Again, all yours, Princess.” He claps me roughly on the shoulder. “Try again. I’ve seen you melt these sands with your heat.”

Kraeston’s placating tone only produces a growl from me.

I’m hot, hungry, and tired. The scorching sun on my skin stopped being a charge at least an hour ago, now I just want to escape from it.

“Come on, try once more and we’ll give it a rest for today. Maybe we can go get some of that roasted lamb you love so much.”

The thought of roasted lamb in this heat makes me want to vomit.

I drain the rest of my water before I crouch down, clawing my hands in the rust colored sand for the twentieth time today. Just weeks ago I did this so easily,and it felt so good.

Kraeston adjusted our schedule a week ago, after my last catastrophic conversation with Alec and I reverted to wanting to stay curled in bed. Now, in the mornings we jump to the outskirts of the city for me to practice wielding my electricity. But every time I try to use my gift, it’s like the spools of power within me have turned solid and are very reluctant to unroll. It’s taking me longer to channel and let my much weaker power flow. My electricity flickers and dies long before it reaches my targets, only sending up the smallest plume of white-gold smoke.

Shaking my head angrily, I try to yank on that spool with all my might, willing my power to flow through me. Tiny spiderwebs barely shine through the ground in the hot sun and die just inches from my fingers.

“I’m done,” I pant.

Kraeston claps me on the shoulder and tells me I did well—that we will come back again tomorrow and the next day. His optimism makes me want to punch him.

“You’re tired. Lean into me, and I’ll bring you back.” Kraeston holds out the crook of his arm. I grab it readily, eager to get out of the dry, blazing heat.

We reappear in a square of the city with jets of water shooting up from the ground. Children run happily while their parents splash handfuls of water on their faces and necks to cool down.

“It’s always warm here but right before the season shifts it gets hottest,” Kraeston explains, washing off his hands in the fountains. He indicates for me to do the same.

“Should we not have gone to change and bathe before going about the town?”

“Do you really care?”

After considering the question,I shake my head. “I really don’t.”

“Let’s go eat.” Kraeston begins walking towards a restaurant across from the fountains.

We get seated and place orders when a matter I’ve been wondering about comes out. “You’ve been spending a lot of time with me. Why?”

He studies my face before answering, honestly as always. “Because we’ve known each other most of your life. And you’ve responded with less hostility to me than Alec or your grandmother.”

“Maybe because you’re not always treating me like I’m some sad, broken creature. Or lying to me to protect me and give me a false sense of security.” My voice holds the hostility he speaks of.

“And that is exactly what I told them. They are coming from a good place, but you’re not a child anymore. And you may be sad, but you are not broken.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be the king’s personal guard?”

“Not anymore. I’m your guard now. Of course, it’s your decision on whether you want to keep me.”

“Who’s taken your place?” The question slips out quietly.