Chapter 4
After comparing all the historical, theological, and geographical information from the northern plains, correlating this with the dramatic rise in diafol attacks on livestock, I’m certain I’ve discovered another potential Vyrium site at the coordinates indicated on the enclosed map.
You’ll be pleased to learn I’ve already sent a copy of my findings to the crown’s engineering master, instructing them to send a small company to test the area immediately.
— LETTERS FROM THE ROYAL RESEARCHER, SORROW VILLENTE, TO HIS HIGHNESS, KING ROMERO IV
Dawn crept across the sky, sweeping away the darkness like a lover stealing away in the night.
The damned unceasing rolling of the boat had temporarily stripped me of the deep well of anger and nerves.
But now that we were back on the mainland, and the meagre contents of my stomach weren’t threatening to make a reappearance, they had returned with a vengeance.
I peered through the gloom at the tiny port, breathing in the cloying mix of salt air and damp fishing nets.
I blinked, and a ramshackle collection of mismatched houses emerged, staring down onto a rocky harbour.
A group of Romero’s guards mingled around the onyx carriage that would transport me to my new husband.
I clicked my tongue as I gazed about. There was no chance of me making a break for freedom – not yet anyway.
The king permitted us a few minutes to eat a modest breakfast before the two-day journey to the rendezvous point, where I’d be presented to the king who’d bartered away a fraction of their control in return for the bastard princess.
Heat rose up my neck as I pictured greeting them.
I doubted the vulgar gesture I envisaged would be deemed appropriate.
Pablo licked his chops as I fed him chunks of salty bacon, any hunger of my own gone. I scoured the harbour, sliding down the damp wall to crouch next to Pablo, throwing him the last of my food.
A small group of children gathered further along the wall, pointing towards Pablo and shoving each other. I ran my hand down his back.
‘Be careful, Pab. You’re attracting more attention than the king. Perhaps you should scare them away before it pisses him off.’
By the way he cocked his head, he’d obviously decided to ignore me. One of the children leapt down and strode towards us. The lad hopped from one foot to the other, before turning back over his shoulder and puffing out his chest.
‘That a wolf?’ The shake in his voice betrayed his otherwise confident stance as he jutted his chin in Pablo’s direction.
‘And I thought my sight was bad. Yes, he’s a wolf. His name’s Pablo.’
‘Pablo?’
I nodded before rising. I turned towards a flurry of activity from the guards as the king strode from the inn towards the carriage.
‘What does he eat?’
The desire to say ‘nosy little boys’ was overwhelming, but I couldn’t help but smile.
‘Anything really. Rabbit, sheep, deer when he can catch it.’
The boy gulped. His brown eyes widened as Pablo stood, and he craned his neck to see the wolf better.
‘And… and when he can’t catch those?’
I bent down and put my mouth close to his ear.
‘Well, he’s rather fond of nibbling the backside out of teachers’ breeches.’
The boy giggled, revealing a gappy smile before racing back to his friends.
‘You’ve made his day there, miss.’ I jumped at finding one of the guards standing nearby. The wolf usually warned me when a stranger got too close. I glared at Pablo, nudged him with my knee. He rewarded me by sneezing on my skirts.
‘I’m Tenner, miss. Your father’s asked me to ensure your safety till we get to your intended. Congratulations by the way.’
‘The king isn’t my father, and thank you… I think.’
Tenner reached out, ready to offer me his arm, and I repressed a groan. The moment people learned I was partially sighted, their attitude altered. I’d been told they were only trying to be kind, but were they incapable of asking if I required help first?
Pablo stalked towards Tenner, who drew back quickly.
Facing him, with his baby face and slightly too big uniform, it was clear why he’d been awarded the unenviable job of watching me.
A well-built guard helped Enfys into the carriage as we crossed the bustling harbour. A grin tugged at the corner of my mouth as they gave us a wide berth after spotting the prowling wolf. I sighed, ignoring Tenner’s offered arm again, and instead focused on the carriage.
The scarlet interior was overwhelmingly dark. I rested my arms on either side of the doorway, choosing to disregard Tenner’s outstretched arm for a third time.
‘No need to be nervous, miss,’ the guard said, his voice low.
I turned my head, catching sight of a warm smile I had no intention of returning.
‘I’ve heard the rumours too. That there’s diafols on the road, and I know I look young and all, but you’re lucky to have me.’
I took him in, wondering how many years would pass before he grew into his uniform. If he had to face one of the distorted creatures tainted by Vyrium, I wouldn’t place any bets in his favour.
He drew even closer, his face swimming in my vision. ‘Your father didn’t want any old guard. I’m an Anomaly!’
As the final word left his lips, Tenner pushed his shoulders back, raised his chin.
I stood on the step, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. ‘Fresh out of training then?’
‘Only last month, miss,’ he said, drawing back. ‘I can’t say much about my power.’ He offered a conspiratorial wink.
I exhaled slowly. This was the king’s guard. Over half of them were fresh out of training whatever magical gift our benevolent Goddess Evella had blessed them with.
‘And this blade here?’ I started as he unsheathed the bronze-tinged blade. ‘Imbued with only the finest Vyrium. So you see, miss’ – he grabbed my elbow, pushing me into the cramped interior – ‘you’ve nothing to fear.’
‘You’ve no idea how relieved I am,’ I muttered through clenched teeth, stumbling into the confined carriage.
Enfys coughed, and as my eyes adjusted, I made out a vacant seat next to her. Opposite, the king had spread out his papers. I snorted. He needn’t have bothered going to such great lengths to claim his side. I’d no desire to sit next to him.
I clicked my tongue at Pablo, who placed his great paws on the floor of the carriage.
‘Absolutely not,’ the king spat as the carriage lurched. ‘If you insist that comes along, it follows outside.’
‘But what if we come across hunters?’ I couldn’t see his expression, but I didn’t miss his aggravated sigh. ‘They’re supposed to keep us safe from the diafols, but they kill any creature they come across, whether it’s a diafol or not. Say they can’t take a risk, and Pablo is hardly tiny. He’s—’
‘Enough, girl.’
Pablo twisted his head, glancing between us, his back paw scratching the bottom step.
‘I am not travelling with your sorry excuse for a rug in my carriage. It travels outside or not at all.’
A burning heat spread across my cheeks.
‘Pablo. Out.’ The wolf snorted before turning his harsh gaze to the king, who merely ruffled his papers.
My body tensed, then slumped back as he turned away. This was not the time for Pablo to show his rebellious streak.
Then the horses whickered, and a whip cracked through the air. The carriage rocked as we set off.
I’d had no intention of falling asleep, but at some point I suffered Enfys’s elbow digging into my side. Snorting, I stared wide-eyed around the blurry carriage.
‘You were dribbling,’ she whispered.
Wiping my chin, I discovered she hadn’t been lying and shifted to face her.
Enfys’s gaze remained locked on her well-worn copy of The Histories and Prophecies of the Star-Crossed Gods.
She’d tried reading some of her favourite verses, regaling us with passages of Vyrus’s ill-fated attempt to destroy our planet with his poisoned meteor shower, only to be thwarted by Evella’s love for us, turning the deadly fragments of rocks into a blessing.
For once, both the king and I were in agreement, and Enfys eventually fell silent.
After facing my fate as a Tribute, I’d no mind to receive a lecture on the virtues of adoring Evella and fearing the fiery wrath of Vyrus.
The diafols weren’t the only ones to be tainted by the fickle rock.
It had been sent to destroy us, but the Goddess who protects us changed its intention.
Evella uses the magic within to grant those mortals she deems worthy a unique gift.
They become a vicious weapon forged by Vyrium.
The chosen ones. Anomalies. Untouched by the poisonous rock and able to stave off the effects of its contamination: as long as they find a mentor and train as soon as the headaches begin.
Mentors ensure those who develop gifts can control them and fight off the devastating effects of the dreaded blight – an affliction that drives emerging Anomalies manic with pain and always, always leads to their death.
Enfys had just begun emerging as an Anomaly as I’d left for the library.
She’d sobbed as the convulsions and the urge to itch tore her apart.
Her power battling to be contained before she learned how to tamp it down.
The finest mentors were brought in from far and wide to ensure the princess didn’t suffer.
I could almost picture the warmth in Mama’s eyes if she’d lived long enough to learn her daughter was a healer.
And as for me? I shivered, glad Mama would never know Romero thought Evella had stripped me of my blessing.