Chapter 28 A Princess with Nothing
A Princess with Nothing
“Centuries past, bladebreathers were used to attack ships and conquer. The waters became so saturated with quills, they named it the Sea of Blades.”
— A History of Heretics, by Coleson James
I didn’t go.
Riven had fogged my brain of any sense. I had no reason to train.
Xavian would be declared king in two weeks, then the Dark Natured would be free to seek refuge in Castivian, and that would be that.
The hard days were behind me. I refused to set myself up for any further disappointment by being in my brother's presence.
Leaving Sailor’s Tear for the day seemed like the wise choice. Riven wouldn’t be able to find me, and I had no desire to be taunted about my absence, nor dragged all the way through the capital to Xavian Steele’s doorstep.
The dark stone streets were immaculate compared to the Waywards. The seaside air was pleasant enough that no cloak or long sleeves were necessary. Singer and the orb were at each hip, daring anyone to fuck with me on my day off, training or not.
People of all ages tossed around orbs of Dreamsoul blue, Flamecastor red, Stonesender grey, Nightcastor black, Lyonheart gold, and Blackheart violet.
A group of Imps, adorned in expensive fashions, sat on a restaurant patio, enjoying lunch, while a flock of birds fluttered around them, singing a birthday song.
It was all so different. The Waywards were dead, but Castivian was alive.
An artist worked in the window of her shop, sculpting clay and humming a jaunty, unfamiliar tune. Meanwhile, a plump man slid a tray of freshly made bread out of a stone arched opening, stacking the loaves on a display cart.
Potion shops, infusing lessons, botany markets—so many businesses that would have never been allowed in Drakington.
I loved it.
The further I went, the more altitude I gained. I didn’t notice until I glanced back and could see the entire seaside city on its slow slope. The ocean gradually came into view as I peered over the black-slate roofs.
Past the bustling businesses was a stretch of sizable residences.
The neighborhood was like a kaleidoscope.
Vibrant greens, various tones of blue, deep purples, silver, and pops of pink.
They all had matching black roofs and doors, with long pointed arches, ribbed vaults, spires, and stained glass windows.
I picked at the skin of my pointer finger. One of those houses could have been mine, but under no circumstances would I beg my brother for charity.
The need to look away from the unattainable homes hit me like a wall of bricks. I swallowed hard, my face tightening. It was all so ridiculous. This land would no longer be a territory of Drakington, but its own kingdom with me as its princess.
A princess with nothing.
I no longer wanted to walk through the city. I just wanted to sleep, with no bizarre dreams or waking up at the break of dawn. To close my eyes, and not have to feel this way, just for a little while.
Shoulders slumped, I turned back towards home, but as I made the first few steps, a shadow soared overhead. I twisted, looking skyward. A bladebreather left a trail of red mist as it flapped its great wings. The blonde woman rode on its back, fearless and free.
My heart drummed in my chest as my legs moved with a mind of their own.
Maybe I was losing it, but I didn’t care.
Hitting the outskirts of the city, I chased after the winged beast as if by wild instinct.
The bladebreather passed over the smooth stretch of land at the top of the hill, just ahead of a heavy woodline. There were scattered livestock throughout the plains and a few small buildings. Most of the field was rock and dirt, with scattered patches of tall grass.
Where the hell was the rider going? The opportunity to see more bladebreathers or even potentially get close to one was irresistible. I’d been drawn to paintings and stories of them since I was a child.
This was my opportunity for a future, maybe even my destiny.
I sprinted across the flat terrain.The burning in my chest had long gone, leaving only euphoria as the distant ocean bore witness to me blazing down the wide dirt road.
I pushed harder, running into the woods.
The beast glided over the trees, increasingly difficult to follow through the dense foliage. My steps faltered as I struggled to keep up, desperately searching for the trail or the sound of a beating wing.
“Wait!” I called out, voice hoarse, legs pushing as hard as they could.
Every so often, I passed others along the trail who gave judgmental scowls and mocking stares, but it didn’t matter if they thought I was mad. I was far beyond shame.
The green canopy became so thick it blocked my view of the sky entirely, making it impossible to tell which path to take.
My desire to press on was hindered, but I fought the part of me that was so ready to give up.
The muscles in my legs burned, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the sting I would feel of another disappointment.
Faster. Faster. Faster. Faster—
A person dropped through the trees, boots landing on the ground a few feet ahead. I gasped, trying to stop before I trampled them.
“Mother of Moons!” I yelled, tripping and smacking my palms into the ground, poison involuntarily spraying from them and into the dirt.
Steps approached, but nausea overcame me before I could look up. My hands pressed into the blood and poison-soaked ground as I spewed the contents of my stomach.
My eyes clenched shut—jaw locking tight.
I was so angry. So tired of being a Blackheart. My eyes stung with grief as pain flared in my chest.
So tired of being me.
“God fucking dammit! I hate this shit,” I seethed, trying to gather myself.
“Oh!” a cheerful voice chimed.
I glanced up. The blonde woman stood there, observing me curiously.
“Oh?” I repeated.
She was tall, wearing a practical, ankle-length red dress that fit her large and curvy figure, complemented by a bold ruby necklace. She reached inside the brown bag hanging from her shoulder and pulled out a cloth.
“Here, for your spill.” She held it towards me, green eyes bright.
I cautiously took it and glanced around. No sign of the bladebreather, to my utter dismay, though she was definitely the rider.
I cleaned my hands, noting the wipe worked impressively well on my Nature.
“I know you,” I said. “You’re the woman who escorted our ship from Drakington.”
“Yep.” The woman brought two fingers to her mouth, letting out a loud whistle.
Descending through the trees, the bladebreather landed with a ground-shaking thud before stretching his neck. He inspected me with huge amber eyes, while his feathered tail whipped back and forth in a feline motion.
Others walking the trail scurried off.
I stayed rooted in place.
His gleaming scales were magnificent up close, and while his wings and teeth were intimidating, they were more majestic than any castle ever would be.
“His name is Zephyros,” the blonde woman said.
“But I’m perfectly content being called Zephy,” his chipper voice chimed in my head. His mouth did not move when he spoke, yet I knew it was him.
My eyes shot to the woman. “Why can I hear him?”
“Because you’re Natured.”
No one had ever told me bladebreathers could speak.
The woman placed a hand on Zephy, giving him an encouraging pat.
“And your name?” he asked me.
“Uh, I’m Elora Amona, of Blackheart.” I still sat on the ground with my hands planted behind me, in awe of him—of both of them.
The thin straps of her gown displayed soft, rosy arms, and her long, straight hair rustled in the breeze.
“I'm Amzee, Flamecastor. Though, we usually don’t lead with that.”
It should have been obvious she was a Flamecastor, as they were all marked with a red, glimmering streak. Sometimes with multiple. But usually the marks were across their cheeks or forehead. Amzee’s shimmers were perfectly over her eyelids like cosmetics.
Still surrounded by vomit, I tried not to stew in humiliation as I got to my feet and wiped the dirt off my pants.
“You! I want my money back! You’re a cheater!” a man yelled from the distance, sprinting in Amzee’s direction with a drawn sword.
Her smile didn’t falter. In fact, she looked… excited?
The winded man glared at Zephy, his weapon held high and puffy cheeks red. “I’ll kill you and your beast too if you don't give me my money!”
Amzee scoffed. “He’s just a baby, and sir, we placed a fair bet. Don’t be a sore loser,” she scolded.
The balding man spat at the ground, wiping back sweaty wisps of hair. “Have it the hard way then,” he said, charging her with his blade.
“No!” I screeched. I thought of when a Sapphire targeted Luna.
Amzee did not cower or flinch, but brought her hand to her mouth and blew a sultry kiss.
Flames barreled out from her lips, quickly expanding. The man screeched as it engulfed him.
Zephy coughed, releasing a sharp quill from his throat. It stabbed straight through the man's throat, abruptly ending his suffering.
My jaw dropped. I had never witnessed someone use their Nature in that manner before.
Amzee plopped her bag on top of Zephy’s head for safekeeping and went over to the dead body, its torso still aflame. She grabbed him by the ankles.
“It would be frowned upon to leave him here,” she explained with a slight smile.
She dragged him off the trail and into the woodline. Once pleased with the spot, she shook her hand and flexed it a few times, sparks igniting with each movement while she hummed a playful tune.
With both palms out, Amzee torched the body, incinerating it into ash.
When there was nothing left but a charred spot on the grass, she turned to me, spirits still high. “Well! He was totally unpleasant.”
Zephy sat happily as Amzee took her bag off his head and slung it over her shoulder.
Typically, such cheerfulness was unnerving, but I wasn’t entirely deterred by her. More so, I was envious.
“He was very slow, and kinda mean,” Zephy complained.
Amzee shifted her gaze to me. “Now, why were you chasing us?”
“Curiosity, I think.”
“About?”
I picked at the skin on my fingers behind my back.
“About where a bladebreather would go, or where more would be.”
It sounded comical, but I had nothing to lose.
“Oh! Easy answer, they live in Moon Hollow. It’s pretty close.”
There were more bladebreathers. While she said they weren’t far, the sun would set soon. I needed to head back.
“Where is Moon Hollow?”
She pointed to a crooked sign labeling a trail.
“It’s in a newly developing area, Moonhill.
There aren’t people living there yet, or a lord overseeing it.
It’s pretty unkempt, but the breathers gravitate to it.
Without riders, most of them can’t go far anyway.
Maybe when a lord brings people in, we’ll be able to move them around. ”
Moonhill.
There was no Lord of Moonhill because there was supposed to be a Lady. Clarke had promised me the land as my reward, and I had completely abandoned it.
My heart sank. If that land was intended for riders and their bladebreathers, I surely wasn’t qualified to oversee it.
“I hear war is coming,” Amzee said. “I visited the House of Sterling today to speak with Lord Xavian Steele about us helping again. I’m told we will be of good use soon, though I fear there aren’t many brave enough to face a bladebreather; thus, we are lacking in riders.
It sounds like that might interest you. There are many wings waiting. ”
That caught my attention.
“War with who?”
She shrugged. “Saffron is walking a fine line with Lord Xavian Steele, and I’ve heard King Clarke is sick. If he dies, who knows what the next ruler will try to do with Castivian? I know Lord Xavian would never give up these lands without a fight. So me and Zephy are prepared.”
She had no idea what was truly coming. The Drakington council would be in outrage when Xavian finally became king, and the Blood Prince had already made his father’s intentions clear. Was my twin prepared for war against two kingdoms?
I needed to speak with him.