Chapter 48 #2
Queen Meganna leans forward, her heavy gold earrings swaying beneath her long, dark hair. “What is your Bond like? You say it’s strong. How do you know?” Her accent is thick as she says, “I’d like to understand why you would risk it so close to The Ceremony.” She looks at both of us expectantly.
I answer, “The Lumos Bond—we noticed it on the first day of school. It’s bright iridescent white and soft pastels, but it’s the energy that is exchanged each time we touch that alerted us at first."
“There’s something deeper as well.” Ryker takes my hand in his and kisses my knuckles.
The public display has my cheeks heating.
His words play in my mind. I love you. A human lifespan, or an immortal one, I will always love you.
“I’ve been drawn to her for years, but this year, I can’t not be around her. It’s like a magnet.”
I smile softly at him. “No matter how hard I fought it,” I’m speaking to her, but keep my attention on him, “I couldn’t stay away. I knew early on he was it for me. He would be my husband.”
I don’t say Bonded because I don’t think the Lumos Bond holds any real power, not anymore. Mate. He was chosen for me long before the Lumos Bond was even created. It’s not a flimsy Bond to power the veil, that’s for sure.
“Wow,” Queen Meganna says. I look her way to find her beaming. “How godsblessed you both are. I look forward to witnessing your story unfold. You two will be powerful leaders.”
We eat and exchange stories for the rest of the evening, the air thick with the scent of Mori spices and quiet conversations.
When the tables are cleared, Queen Meganna pulls Ryker and me onto the dance floor, and the music swells around us.
She guides my movements with a warm smile, her own gold bangles chiming softly with each graceful twist. King Osiris, meanwhile, laughs as he demonstrates steps to Ryker, their shared amusement echoing across the hall.
It’s a performance for the court, a public affirmation of our burgeoning ‘love story,’ yet beneath the watchful eyes of their kingdom, something genuine blooms—a friendship.
Ryker and I move together, our steps improvised, our laughter blending with the traditional music, earning warm smiles from the King and Queen.
Seeing their own deep, enduring love, so evident in their intertwined steps and tender glances, fills me with a quiet hope for our own future.
That night, as I drift to sleep, I thank Astor and Calia, and the Primordials, for choosing Ry to be mine.
We’re exploring Hiekka Torg, one of the underground colonies on Soren. The entire colony is an intricate network of tunnels and caverns, housing four distinct bustling cities. Vibrant markets draw in visitors yearly with goods that can’t be found anywhere else in the system.
The colony houses hundreds of thousands of residents and just as many visitors, hidden beneath a vast and deadly landscape.
On the surface, there’s nothing for hundreds of miles except for sand dunes, deadly snakes and creatures, and the occasional shifting sand trap.
If you didn’t know where to look, you’d never realize it was there.
The King and Queen stayed on Zayla, as they needed to attend meetings, but sent a royal caravan with us.
They’ve been instructed to remain out of sight so we can go about our business.
Ryker and I are both dressed in traditional Mori garb, and I’ve included a headpiece that covers both my hair and face, leaving only an opening for my eyes.
He has a cloth covering his mouth and nose.
Hopefully, we can find some information on Elison’s whereabouts.
We’ve narrowed it down to Soren, but we haven’t heard anything more yet.
He’s sure making it difficult to locate him.
A small transport carries us, along with Rune and Ezra, into a crevice in the landscape that conceals the entire cavern system below. It docks, allowing us to blend with the crowded market. Kuron is already here, somewhere, along with a few members of the Regils who are undercover.
Pathways, some cobbled and others smoothed by countless footsteps, wind through an intricate labyrinth of stalls and shops. The air hums with the lively chatter of merchants bartering their wares, the enticing aromas of exotic spices mingling with the damp scent of the cavern.
Overhead, dramatic stalactites hang like sentinels, while cleverly strung lights, reminiscent of festive lanterns, cast a soft glow upon the diverse goods laid out below.
From rich textiles and gleaming metalwork to fresh produce and ancient artifacts, the market offers a treasure trove for every taste.
Ryker holds me close as he leads me through the crowded space toward a vendor that claims to sell ancient artifacts. Whether they’re real or not, I have no idea. Despite being underground, the space feels open, with lighting that mimics sunlight, casting pools of warm light every now and then.
The market is loud and filled with the scent of spiced meats, garlic, and roasted vegetables. Nobody notices our small party as we move through the halls of shops and tents.
“This is insane,” I say with a bit of awe. "I’ve always wanted to come here.”
Ryker squeezes my hand in response. Finally, we come upon a shop carved out of the cavern and reinforced with steel. Above the door is a sign that reads “Artifacts and Books”.
A bell dings as we enter the shop, and when the door closes behind the three of us—Ezra choosing to remain outside—the chatter of the room disappears with it. An older man behind the wooden desk at the back welcomes us without looking up.
Around the room, there are shelves and shelves of old books, jewelry, and artifacts made from wood, stone, and various metals.
Some are large, while others are no bigger than my palm, but all appear extremely old.
My gaze snags on a glass orb seated on the end of a bronze staff.
The artifact is nestled on a bed of midnight blue silk.
It reminds me of the one gifted to me by the Ancestor Isles elder, though I still haven’t been able to figure out what its purpose is.
It sits there day and night, swirling softly with white.
I reach for it just as the man appears beside me. “Ah,” he says, startling me. “The orb of Elder Elric. The third member elected to the second council.” The hairs on my arms stand up as my gaze swings to him.
“The second council,” I repeat. “As in—”
“The fae one, Princess. He channeled his magic through the orb.”
So that's its purpose?
Ryker appears at my side, wrapping a protective hand around my waist that does not go unnoticed by the man. “And what magic was that?”
The older man appraises Ryker with keen eyes.
His monocle is pinched between unblemished, youthful-looking, pale skin, despite his age.
“He could borrow other people’s magic, but he had no way of controlling it without the orb.
It was gifted to him by the Elven counsel, in fact.
” His gaze swings to me before going back to Ryker.
“Tell me, to what do I owe the visit of both royal households today?”
“We’re looking for Elison Kolbek.”
The old man grins at me. “You’ve found him.”