Chapter 5
ARIEL
A s I stared at the genuflected group before us, a deafening chime sounded. The tolling bell was so loud that I dropped my staff to cover my ears. Shayfer did the same, but when I glanced back at Hemming, he stood unfazed by the noxious sound, sword in hand as he watched the cluster of males bowing in front of him.
Though it seemed to chime forever, the bell (and the ringing in my ears) eventually stopped. The males surrounding us rose and stared as if awaiting instructions. Before I could even think of what to say or do, the door next to me slowly creaked open, startling the three of us. Hemming’s blade shot out, but quickly dropped when a tiny, gaunt face poked through the opening—followed by one right above it.
And still another above that.
Three young, wide-eyed boys stared at me with mouths open as other doors along the stony path followed suit. One by one, colorfully-winged Minyades made their way out of hiding to look at us, each falling to their knees, hands clasped in prayer when their gazes fell upon me.
Shayfer stepped aside with a graceful bow to let me step forward.
I scooped my staff from the rocky ground and secured it to my back. It was clear that I wouldn't be needing it, which was at once both a welcome and damning realization.
As I tried to take everything in, the male who’d addressed me rose and stepped forward. “My name is Eldrien. My father, Ruven, was your mother’s most trusted advisor, and he fought to keep Anemosia together in her absence…and I in yours.”
“Ariel,” I said with a tight nod. “This is Shayfer and Hemming.”
He looked them over respectively, letting his gaze fall on their pointed ears. “Are they the ones who helped you escape?” he asked.
I stared back at him, doing all I could to keep the confusion I felt from my face. “They did.”
Eldrien forced a smile. “Then we are grateful to them. Now, follow me. You must be tired after your long journey. As I assume you’ve seen, our land is not particularly forgiving.”
He turned on his heels and the growing mob behind him quickly split, affording him passage. Shayfer swept his arm, gesturing for me to follow, but I hesitated for a moment. I looked at the trio of sandy-haired boys to my right, who’d stepped outside. Their soiled, tattered clothes hung like rags over too-thin bodies, and their golden wings looked pale and dull. Unease washed over me instantly. The youngest, who could not have been more than four years of age, flashed a smile that rivaled Shayfer’s in mischief, and I winked at him in return.
Then I walked away before my rising emotions could betray me.
Hemming, seeming to sense my distress, put a hand on the small of my back to usher me forward. Though I wanted to lean into his touch with every fiber of my being, I instead quickened my pace to catch up with Eldrien.
Something was very wrong in Anemosia.
And I needed to find out exactly what.
E ldrien led the way through the maze of stony homes until we finally reached a clearing of sorts. Though still carved into the rocky coastline, it stood high above the rest like a plateau on a mountaintop. It was there that the brass bell hung, along with recessed bench seating of a sort carved into the ground itself. It was a gathering place, not unlike my father’s war room, but this was far greater in size with a massive fire pit in the middle.
For a moment, I wondered if it was to warm the space—or to sacrifice unwanted trespassers.
“I imagine you have questions for me, as I do you,” Eldrien said as he led the way down to the center of the seating area.
“Many.”
He stopped and turned to face me. “Ask whatever you wish. I will answer to the best of my ability.”
Questions raced through my mind, and I tried to filter through which ones would sound least suspicious to voice. Yes, I wanted answers—that was the entire purpose of our journey to Anemosia—but having walked into such an unexpected scenario, only to learn that the Minyades thought I was their salvation, changed things a bit. I needed to tread lightly to start..
“I was young when my mother died, so I know very little about the Aima Kori . What it means to be the princess. How that title even befell me in the first place.”
His lips pressed to a thin line and he nodded. “I understand what it’s like to have knowledge lost with a parent before it could be shared with you,” he replied. “Your lineage is what bestowed the honor of ruling the Minyades. As for what responsibilities that honor carries with it, that depends on the situation.” His gaze fell upon those that were congregating in the vast, stony space. “Unfortunately, it is rather dire at the moment, though your return will soon change that.”
My brows pinched together. “How can you be so certain?”
“Because your presence should break the curse.”
My body stiffened at his words, and my hand slowly drifted behind my back, prepared to draw my staff. “Why do you think that?”
His gaze dropped to my moving arm, and he took a step back. “Anemosia was cursed by the gods as punishment for your mother’s abduction. It stands to reason that her daughter’s return should appease them.”
“It hasn’t yet,” Hemming said from behind me. The suspicion in his tone was impossible to ignore.
Eldrien’s sharp blue stare turned to him as his eyes narrowed. “I am aware of that, which is why we tolled the bell—to call forth Minyades from along the coast until all arrive. Together, we will not only celebrate Ariel’s return, but also draw the attention of the gods so that we may ask their forgiveness.”
“And if that fails?” Hemming pressed as he stepped up to my side.
The Minyade leader glared back. “It won’t.” He turned his attention back to me, and his expression immediately relaxed. “May I ask you something, Ariel?”
The arm reaching for my staff relaxed to my side. “Of course.”
“We have been trying to locate you for a very long time—from the moment we learned of your existence—to no avail. So how is it that, now, you finally appear in Anemosia, but unaccompanied by those we most recently entrusted to return you home?”
“Because they are dead,” I replied, “as I stated before. But it was they who made me aware that the Minyades were searching for me at all. Until recently, I had no knowledge of this. Or of what I am.”
Eldrien’s expression soured. “How did they die?”
“I killed one,” Hemming said. “They all fell in a battle created as a distraction so that Ariel could be taken and killed.” In a tactical move, he left out the part about the Nychterides and the coup against my father. ‘Basic and fluid’ were Shayfer’s directives, and Hemming followed them to the letter.
“They failed, as you can see,” I added quickly.
“Did you use that failed attempt to flee the Midlands?” Eldrien looked at me curiously as his words settled over my addled mind. “Because it’s hard to fathom how else you were able to escape the enemy’s hold.”
Flee the Midlands…
Escape the enemy’s hold…
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how best to respond. And though I worried that the pause drawing out between us would only elicit his suspicion, I had no idea how to answer the question when I didn’t know who exactly the ‘enemy’ was.
“We did,” Shayfer said on my behalf, “though Ariel was not aware of all the details. I thought it best at the time to keep her in the dark.”
“Surely the Neráides know by now that she is gone,” Eldrien pointed out. “It will only be a matter of time before they come for her. We must prepare for his attack.”
I looked around at the few men who looked capable of fighting. Their numbers were small and grim indeed. Had there been an army on its way, they would have fallen in a matter of minutes.
“I don’t believe that will be necessary for now,” Shayfer said in a reassuring tone. “Measures have been taken to alleviate that concern.”
“Underestimating the enemy would be unwise,” Eldrien cautioned as he turned to me. “Your mother did that once, and it cost her her life.”
“I’m aware of that,” I replied, venom edging my tone. “I watched her die.”
He gave an apologetic nod. “Then you understand exactly what we’re up against.” His gaze darted between Hemming and Shayfer. “Your brethren are a dangerous lot.”
“The fae will not come for us,” I said with confidence, because I knew it was true. Not after how we’d left.
Eldrien’s brows pinched together; he seemed unconvinced. “Perhaps not of their own devices, but they will at his command. And he is the greatest threat to your life.”
And there it was…
Eldrien knew who hunted me.
“ Name him ,” I said, unable to stop myself, even if it might give us away. All I wanted from my journey to Anemosia was answers, and the moment he spoke that name, I would have a big one. “I need to hear you say it aloud.”
Eldrien looked at me, unable to hide the disgust and disdain from his expression. “Lord Kaplyn Corvallym.” As my heart nearly slammed to a stop, he leaned in closer still, the dying light of the sun highlighting every line of hatred etched into his expression. “He stole your mother from us years ago and held her captive, then did the same to you. On my life, he will never have you again.”