9. Lora
Lora
Erion and I had just found our way back through the palace corridors, heading for our chambers, when a man’s voice echoed through the hallway.
“Dual Wielder.”
Erion spun around, surprise etched on his features.
I glared at the man—a guard, judging by his leather armor. “His name is Erion.”
“Right.” The guard cleared his throat. “The Queen requests your presence.”
Erion’s gaze snapped to me.
I linked my arm with his. “Then I’m coming too.”
“Yes, she requested you both.” He gave a curt nod and turned. “This way.”
My stomach tightened as we followed him outside and around the palace. Summoning both of us—what could she want? Silt and rot, what if she’d decided I wasn’t trustworthy enough to accompany Erion on his journey to the sun wielder?
Erion’s fingers closed over mine, slightly damp with sweat. I anchored him with a gentle squeeze.
Queen Elavara waited in the garden, flanked by guards. Sunlight caught on the silver embroidery of her deep blue gown. Her assessing gaze swept over me, offering the barest nod.
“Erion, Lora, thank you for joining me. There’s something I want you to see.”
We exchanged a glance as she led us deeper into the garden.
Fragrant blooms spilled over marble paths, fountains trickling in the soft evening light. The Queen stopped before a large statue of a naked man and woman holding the moon above their heads. A guard pulled open a hidden door at the statue’s base, revealing a staircase descending into the ground.
Another guard lit four torches, handing one to each of her comrades. Two guards led the way down the stairs, and the Queen followed, gesturing for us to do the same. The remaining two guards brought up the rear, their torches casting flickering light against the stone walls.
With each step, the air grew cooler and damper.
At the bottom, an underground canal cut through the passage.
Its dark surface rippled in the torchlight.
Turning left, we followed a narrow walkway carved into the stone.
The click of our boots echoed off curved walls, mingling with the gentle lap of water.
Our path ended at a vaulted door carved from raw granite, veined with ribbons of black and silver.
The Queen unhooked a moon-shaped brooch from her gown and pricked her finger with the needle.
A crimson bead welled up, and she pressed it to the stone.
The door hummed, swallowing the blood, and swung open with a vibrating groan.
“Welcome to the Vault of Secrets,” the Queen said.
My heart stuttered. I’d never heard of this place. What could be so secret it had to be locked away down here instead of in the Grand Moon Master’s archives?
Shelves lined the chamber, crowded with strange objects: trinkets sculpted from bone or glass, wooden cases etched with unfamiliar symbols, and an entire section of books in all sizes and bindings.
As the guards escorted us inside, their torchlight cast flickering shadows, making the objects seem almost alive.
Dust hung thick in the air, mixing with the metallic tang of old bronze and the mustiness of ancient parchment. On one shelf, a few crystal orbs pulsed with faint blue and purple light, their surfaces clouded with age.
Weapons lined one wall—spears with tips too dark to be iron, swords with bone-carved handles, daggers wrapped in cloth so old it crumbled at the edges.
A chill crept across my skin as my gaze snagged on a shelf of leather masks. Their hollow eyes stared at nothing, expressions frozen in silent screams or too-wide smiles.
But the Queen moved past all of it, stopping at a stone tablet on a pedestal by the far wall. Six lines of text had been carved deep into its surface.
“Read it,” the Queen said.
Erion hesitated, so I stepped closer, reading the words aloud.
When sun and moon combine their might
A rift shall tear and free the blight
“The prophecy,” Erion whispered.
But more lines continued beneath them, words I’d never encountered before.
Erion leaned forward and read them aloud.
A Dual Wielder seeks his fate
To scattered artifacts locate
If joined anew in full eclipse
The truth shall spill from bearer’s lips
I stared at the words Dual Wielder. So this was where the Queen got the title from.
She traced the tablet’s edge, her golden-brown curls sliding forward over her shoulder. “These lines have been guarded for generations. Only the royal family knows they exist.”
Bitterness curdled in my stomach. Of course the royal family hoarded secrets. But why hide something like this? Were they protecting the people—or themselves?
I pointed at the words. “What are these ‘scattered artifacts’ referring to?”
“That knowledge is lost,” the Queen said, her voice muted in the crammed room. “But one thing is certain—there will be an eclipse in about two months.”
Erion’s loud swallow pierced the silence.
Her gaze fixed on him. “You’re clearly meant to find these artifacts and combine them during the eclipse. If you succeed, the truth about how to close the rift will spill from your lips.”
My mind reeled. This was why the Queen believed Erion could seal the rift. It wasn’t based on some flimsy intuition or desperate hope, but ancient words carved in stone.
A flicker of excitement sparked inside me. After almost a hundred years of monsters, death, and misery—could Erion truly be the key to ending the nightmare?
“Moon’s mercy,” he murmured, his voice hoarse. “How am I supposed to do all that in two months?”
“It’s your destiny. You’ll find a way.” The Queen’s voice carried the soft certainty of someone who’d never faced true struggle beyond the palace walls.
Erion’s eyes glazed over, staring at nothing.
Just what his shaky confidence needed. A deadline.
“I have some unfortunate news.” The Queen’s voice took on a sharper edge. “The sun wielder is unable to answer our summons. I’ve arranged for you to travel to her instead.”
I crossed my arms. “You just told Erion he has two months to find some lost artifacts and master his powers. You seriously want him to spend weeks traveling to some reclusive sun wielder who can’t even answer a royal summons?”
The Queen’s gaze slid to me, a serene smile on her lips. “You have spirit, Hunter Lora. I can see how you gained Erion’s trust. He’s fortunate to have you by his side.”
Annoyance prickled up my neck. She’d sidestepped my question entirely, smoothing it over with compliments.
Her brown eyes glinted in the eerie light of the glowing orbs. “I’ll send moon guards and a moon master with Erion, but he also needs someone he trusts. A friend.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I’ve already promised to follow Erion wherever he goes.”
“Good.” The Queen’s smile blossomed with quiet delight. “With your support, I have every confidence he’ll succeed.” She strolled past us toward the vaulted door.
Erion’s gaze remained fixed somewhere in the distance, as if he hadn’t heard our discussion. He was so fragile. I could understand how all the expectations weighed him down, but he didn’t have to crumble beneath them entirely, did he?
I had to admit; the Queen had a point. Erion needed a friend. She’d probably noticed how I’d helped him display his powers in the throne room and decided to bring me here to ensure I’d stay with him.
Maybe there was a hint of intelligence behind that delicate face after all.
And perhaps this was the reason why I’d found him. He needed me. Warmth stirred in my chest, a fierce certainty settling deep in my bones.
I brushed his arm. “Remember what I said about that mountain?”
He blinked, glancing at me.
“One step at a time.” I tugged him along toward the door. “We’ll find a way. Together.”
A weak smile flickered across his lips.
As we were led back outside, I squeezed his hand, my back straight with new resolve.
I’d be his friend. His protector. His rock to cling to.
I’d be whatever he needed me to be.