Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
I watch the Elvarran soldiers mobilize the following morning while I silently stand on the porch waiting for instructions.
They pack away weapons for a later battle, slinging large packs over their shoulders.
A stir of light chatter hums among them.
Is this all they have left? Wrath told me he lost half of his troops. By the looks of it, it seems like more.
“Ready?” I hear Wrath’s voice behind me.
“Yes.” I turn to face him. Wrath wears well-tailored, clean, dark clothing as he stands beside me, not a detail out of place. “Are we not riding?” I notice an absence of horses below.
“We are not,” he replies vaguely, walking down the steps and disappearing into the crowd.
I reach the bottom of the stairs and find Taryn waiting for me. “You survived your first battle,” she says proudly.
“I feel dreadful,” I admit, my head still aching.
She pats my shoulder. “You’ll get used to it.”
“What do you mean by used to it—?”
Wrath’s announcement cuts off my question. “My devoted royal guard, I am eternally grateful for every one of you. Your service has allowed us to return safely home, where you all will take a well-deserved break.”
The soldiers erupt into cheers around me, some raising their fists into the sky as they celebrate.
Wrath’s small squadron felled its second human kingdom, an accomplishment that would go down in history.
With Nythara and Avelisar gone, I wonder if Wrath will continue his conquests after winter, still greedy for more destruction.
While I’m in Khalessor, I must study Wrath’s tactics and determine what moves he plans to make next.
Now that he knows Cathros has five thousand men, he may target Oderris next.
If he intends to attack my home kingdom, I could send Valentin a letter and warn them of his plans, allowing him time to launch a counterattack.
The squadron hikes towards the base of the mountain, while my sore muscles scream in agony at the thought of climbing such a daunting path.
It envelops my vision, and I crane my neck to see the peak.
The trail ahead is narrow, a steady, winding incline into the trees.
My boots slip on rocks, the loose dirt making my steps unsteady as I climb.
“Are we truly hiking over a mountain?” I ask in disbelief, watching the Elvarrans pass through the terrain with ease.
“Well, your brother controls Crossgate.” Taryn’s smile widens. “So… over the mountain we go!” Her voice is cheery, almost teasing.
I let out a noise of dismay.
There’s a river up ahead. The only way across is a log. Ignoring my unease, I step onto it, wobbling slightly before steadying myself. I hold my arms out to the side to balance as I advance, one foot in front of the other.
Taryn snickers behind me.
“You find this amusing?” I ask, my voice trembling.
My steps are slow, knees shaking as I do my best not to slip. Although the water doesn’t appear deep, I don’t think I could survive the embarrassment of taking a plunge. I’d much rather let the waves sweep me away than face Wrath sopping wet.
“You’re like a bumbling doe.” Taryn torments me, pushing me from behind. “Hurry up! You’re holding up the line.”
“Taryn!” I cry out, stumbling forward as she lets out raucous laughter.
“Come on, Raelys!” she teases. “A snail can pass you at this pace.”
I whip my head around to glare at her, but as I do, I lose my footing. Gasping, my arms flail wildly to keep my balance. Taryn's hands grab my tunic, yanking me upright before I plunge into the river.
“I won’t let you fall,” Taryn insists. “Now, go.”
Sighing, I turn and quicken my steps across the log, rushing to the end.
My boot touches the dirt, and I feel my shoulders relax.
How humiliating, to be nearly bested by the small task of crossing a log.
Every lesson Margaret taught me is useless here.
I was never allowed any physical training; they believed I didn’t need it as I always had a guard.
Sure, I could play a fugue on the pianoforte, or recount every historical figure in Dratheria, but I am helpless to protect myself.
“You can drop the prim act, Princess.” Taryn bumps her shoulder into mine, sending me into a nearby bush. “Have a little fun."
“I wasn’t allowed much fun in Cathros,” I tell her, clawing out of the brush and back onto the trail.
“Lemme guess,” she says. “You need to be a lady.” Her voice drips with sarcasm.
“Something like that,” I reply, picking a stray branch from my hair.
“Sounds boring.” Taryn huffs. “You royals are a bunch of schmucks.”
“I heard that.” Wrath calls out from ahead of us.
“Especially you!” Taryn yells across the trail, and Wrath’s laughter echoes in return. She turns back to me, seemingly boundless with her energy today. “So—”
“Gods,” I say under my breath, unsure of what she’s going to ask next.
Taryn laughs, clapping a hand on my shoulder. “Oh, come on! I’m not going to hurt you.” She gives me a scrutinizing gaze. “You’re more fun to torment than my little sister.”
“Glad I can be of entertainment,” I huff, turning my attention back to the trail.
At the base of the mountain is a large opening, a deep tunnel carved into the stone. Elvarrans disappear into the dark, each one seemingly unfazed by what lies inside. As we approach, I feel my spine straighten in apprehension.
What if there is a bear? Or a wolf? What if—?
“Goddess above, Raelys, are you afraid of everything?” Taryn loops her arm in mine. “Come on!” She surges ahead, yanking me with her into the dark as she drags me along.
“I’m not—” My words stop mid-sentence as we plunge deeper into the cave, eyes adjusting slowly to the lack of light as we descend. All around us are blue, glowing stones that light the path. “What is that?”
“Nithite crystals. They glow in the dark.”
“And if you mine them?”
“They still glow,” Taryn explains, leading me quickly through the humid tunnel. “I wouldn’t recommend keeping them, though. The light will keep you up all night long.”
The small passageway eventually expands outwards, into a tall cavern with thick stalactites hanging from the ceiling. Below us, a pool of turquoise water stretches through the cavern, illuminated by the stones. Thousands of tiny blue stars surround us, the crystals twinkling as we pass.
“Whoa…” I whisper, stunned by the beauty.
Before I can process the scene, my gaze lands on a tall stone arch, the group of travelers stopping at its entrance. I don’t understand why we need to pass through an empty arch. I can see through it to the other side, which looks identical to this one.
Wrath presses his palm to the surface of the arch, and a ribbon of silver light races along its inner edge.
The space ripples, warping as the magic cinches tight, then splits open to reveal a passageway.
I tilt my head to get a better look and see forest shimmering on the other side.
The soldiers file into the magic arch, disappearing without a trace.
“Come on, then.” Taryn surges forward, pulling me along. “Keep your eyes forward. The magic can be a little mischievous sometimes.”
“What do you mean?” I ask in confusion as Taryn walks us through the opening. We step through a long tunnel of light, the surrounding area shimmering with vibrant colors. I hear faint voices around me, the magic whispering in my ears.
“Long live the queen…”
“My mortal star…”
“Cursebreaker…”
The voices make my head turn. It sounds familiar, but I can’t place who is speaking. My gaze searches to find the source, but I don’t see anything. Everything around us is too bright, like the world stripped raw.
Taryn tightens her grip on me. “Eyes forward.” Her voice is deadly. “Now.”
I return my head forward, focusing on the exit in the distance.
The voices grow, all talking over one another until my ears ring.
Each voice beckons me to the edge of the passage, waiting for me to fall right off, into the bottomless abyss of the magic.
The sensations are terribly overwhelming.
I close my eyes and inhale sharply, spine locked straight, fighting to keep myself anchored in the flood of chaos.
“Traitor…”
“Liar…”
“Deceiver…”
“No,” I whisper, praying for the end.
A thousand voices shriek in my ears. No matter how much I try to block it out, the ghostly whispers take root in my mind, tormenting me with slander and malignance. My heart skitters in my chest, unable to function among the chaos.
As quickly as the voices flooded in, they became silent.
My eyes fly open. Taryn is beside me, holding me close as she walks us away from the arch. Glancing over my shoulder, I watch Wrath lift a hand to the stone. The strange gateway seals shut, leaving an empty arch.
“What was that?” I turn back to Taryn, completely frightened.
“You’ve got a lot to learn, Princess.”
I’m about to press Taryn further when I realize where we are. My breath catches in my throat in disbelief, eyes darting from left to right as I take everything in. My feet carry me forward of their own volition as I drop Taryn’s arm and surge forward.
Khalessor.
The Elvarran kingdom unfolds around me like a masterfully crafted painting.
The trees are tall, with thick trunks and branches densely covered in green foliage.
Soft moss grows on nearly every surface, climbing up the trees and covering almost every stone.
I see small clusters of colorful mushrooms and thick tree roots beneath my boots as I walk, beckoning me to continue exploring.
There are tiny bugs with lights on them. They illuminate the forest with a golden glow as they flit happily around us. Every corner of Khalessor seems to be straight out of a fairytale. Dozens of white flowers bloom in the bushes, their petals glistening like starlight in the sun.
I lean down to smell them—
“Don’t smell those!” Taryn yells.
“Why?” I startle upright, my cheeks heating.