40. Zai #2
“Oh yes!” Vela’s eyes sparkled. “She’s helping the Dual Wielder! They’re traveling together! Can you believe it?”
I couldn’t hide the smile creeping across my lips. Kestrel had done it again.
His voice lowered to a dramatic whisper. “You’re kidding! This is too good to be true!” He immediately spun the revelation into melody. “One day, she joined the Dual Wielder! And together they—” He stopped mid-verse, glancing expectantly at Vela.
She filled the silence without hesitation. “Lora’s escorting him into the Sun Kingdom right now. Father worries himself sick, but I know she can handle it. She always does.”
Curiosity and suspicion clashed in my chest. Why in the sunless void was moon girl escorting the Dual Wielder into the Sun Kingdom?
Kestrel wove each detail into song, voice swelling with drama. “And together they journeyed, brave and bold—into peril untold! Straight into the sinful, savage Sun Kingdom, to—” He wiggled his eyebrows at her.
“To get a sun stone from the… what was it… oh yes, the Forbidden Archives.”
My brows drew together as I glanced at Flint. Confusion carved into his weathered features.
The Forbidden Archives housed dangerous artifacts, locked away for public safety. Only scholars and the royal family had access. I’d stepped through those vaulted doors a couple of times through the years, whenever Father sent me to retrieve items he was interested in.
What in the abyss was moon girl thinking?
Did she honestly believe they could break into one of the most guarded places in the Sun Kingdom?
And for a sun stone of all things? The only thing I knew about them was that guards confiscated sun stones whenever they encountered one, based on some ancient law dictating they were dangerous. But no one really knew how to use them.
What if the Dual Wielder knew? Maybe the stone was the key to controlling his powers.
Kestrel stayed silent a beat too long, his gaze distant and unfocused, as if her words had dragged him somewhere else entirely.
He blinked and shook himself free, and his voice returned, weaving Vela’s revelation into melody, finishing with: “…they needed the sun stone desperatelyyy. So they set out to seal his destinyyyyy!” He flung his arms wide and tilted his head back with dramatic flair.
Vela doubled over, her laughter mingling with Flint’s grunting chuckles. The cheerful atmosphere was contagious, and I couldn’t suppress the smile tugging at my mouth.
Kestrel bowed deep. “Thank you, thank you.”
Vela struggled to breathe between fits of giggles. “You… are… hilarious!”
“Thank you! But really, I’m just a messenger of sorts. Your sister is the true hero.”
Still giggling, she straightened. “She sure is.”
Pride glowed in her eyes as words bubbled out of her—how her sister hunted monsters to protect the village, and how everyone looked up to her.
Each word twisted something in my gut. This wasn’t the vicious warrior I’d fought. She was someone’s daughter. Someone’s sister. Someone they loved.
I clenched my jaw, shoving away the uncomfortable thoughts.
The Dual Wielder and his moon wench planned to infiltrate the capital, the heart of my country. My home. If he got his hands on a sun stone, he’d no doubt use it to destroy us from the inside.
Bright enthusiasm danced in Kestrel’s eyes. “Thank you for this delightful tale. Your sister sounds absolutely amazing! When might we get the chance to meet her?”
“Oh, I’m afraid you just missed her. She and Erion headed upstream this morning.”
My stomach dropped. This morning? We must’ve missed them by no more than a candlemark. And if they went by the same river we’d followed here, we must’ve walked straight past them. Had they heard Kestrel’s endless rambling through the underbrush?
Even worse, the river cut into Blightlands, passing not far from where the Skydagger had touched down. What if Tera spotted them and ordered the crew to capture the Dual Wielder and kill the moon girl? My chest squeezed even tighter than it had at the thought of the Dual Wielder destroying my home.
A frustrated growl built in my chest before I could suppress it.
Vela’s brow creased as she glanced at me, as if she’d forgotten I was there. “Are you all right, sir?”
Kestrel spread his hands wide. “Don’t mind my grumpy friend. He had a few too many drinks last night.”
Vela’s frown shifted into understanding. “Oh, I see. We actually have remedies for that.”
Kestrel beamed. “Of course you do!”
I stalked toward the door. “We need to go.”
Kestrel dug into his pouch and produced a few nuggets. “I’ll take whatever treats grumpiness, please.” He winked at her.
Vela stifled a giggle and plucked a small ceramic flask from the shelf. “This one is for headaches. Only two nuggets.”
“Perfect!” He dropped the coins into her palm and tucked the flask into his belt bag.
She thanked him and headed to the counter. “Wait, sir!”
Glancing over my shoulder, I found her staring straight at me.
“Don’t forget your nuggets.” She gestured toward the four coins still sitting where Maelor had left them.
Her innocence was infuriating. I’d left the coins on purpose, because honestly, only six nuggets for my hands fully restored was a joke. She could’ve just pocketed them without a word. Instead, she called me back.
These people were too scorching nice.
Already halfway through the door, I waved her off. “Keep the change.”