Chapter 35
Ara
Ryvin tossedand turned every time I took a step and I held my breath as I pulled a tunic over my head. I couldn’t risk staying too long or making too much noise. I stared at my desk, wishing I’d thought to leave the supplies out to write him a letter. If I opened the drawers, he’d be certain to wake. Instead, I left the necklace my mother gave me on my desk, hoping Ryvin understood it as my way of saying goodbye.
With my trousers and sandals in hand, I carefully opened my door and closed it as quietly as I could. Thankfully, there were no guards in my hall. I hurried to pull on my trousers and stepped into my sandals. My heart raced, certain I was going to be caught at any moment.
When I crossed into the main hall, I paused, glancing around at all the milling soldiers. Some of them glanced my way, but they either knew who I was or didn’t see me as a threat.
I could feel their eyes on me as I walked, but I continued along with my chin high, acting as if walking through the palace in the middle of the night was something I typically did.
Hoping that Laera was staying in the same room she’d been in last time, I walked with purpose, knowing it was possible Ryvin could wake at any time. I needed to be beyond the shield before that happened.
There were no guards stationed in the halls. Probably because they needed everyone to rest tonight for tomorrow’s potential slaughter. My jaw tightened and I walked faster, hurrying to Laera’s room.
I didn’t bother knocking and was surprised to see the princess was sitting in a chair staring into a crackling fire in her fireplace.
“I wondered how long I’d have to wait before you came,” she said without turning to look at me.
“It’s not polite to be in other people’s heads,” I replied.
“I didn’t have to be in your head to know you’d do something to make yourself into the sacrificial hero.” She stood and turned to me. “It’s your story, Ara. Why the fates wanted you dead. I can’t recall another who fought for those they love rather than glory or selfish reasons. Even I have a hard time believing your motives and I can read it all. I know it’s real.”
“So you know what I’m going to ask,” I said.
She sighed. “I knew as soon as I mentioned that the shield wouldn’t keep a god out.”
“So?”
“In theory, you can leave the shield without any trouble. Getting back in could be tricky, but I don’t see that as relevant since it won’t matter by morning, anyway.”
“Because the shield will be gone, or because I will?” I asked before I could stop myself.
“Even I don’t know that,” she said.
“You’re not going to try to stop me.” It wasn’t a question. I knew she wouldn’t and it made me respect her even more.
“I’ll make sure his dreams are pleasant for the next hour to give you a head start,” she said.
My brows lifted. “You can keep people asleep?”
She shrugged.
“Thank you.”
“Go. There’s not a lot of time before sunrise,” she said.
I walked to the door, then turned to give her a nod of gratitude before I closed the door behind me.
Exitingthrough the front would draw too much attention, so I headed toward the kitchens. I didn’t expect to find Cora sitting on a counter, kicking her feet while she ate grapes from a bowl.
Her eyes widened when she saw me. She set down the fruit and hopped off the counter. She scanned my clothing, her mouth twisting to the side as she took in my all black outfit. “Where are you off to?”
“Please don’t tell anyone,” I said.
She frowned. “You’re sneaking out.”
I nodded.
“To do something really, really stupid.”
I didn’t argue with her.
She sighed, her whole body looking as if she’d just surrendered. “I’ll give you until sunrise. But if you’re not back, what do you want me to tell them?”
“If I’m not back by sunrise, and the Fae King still attacks, tell them I’m sorry I failed,” I said.
“Fuck, Ara. You know you don’t always have to be the one who does everything for everyone else.” She stepped closer to me. “Do you need help? Want me to come along?”
I almost laughed. She looked genuine, but there was a bit of fear I caught in her eyes. As if she was concerned I might take her up on her offer. “I need to do this, alright?”
She moved closer, then gave me a hug. I wrapped my arms around her. “I will try to come back.”
“I know.” She stepped back. “Good luck.”
I smiled, then walked to the back door, not letting myself look back. As soon as I was through, I blew out a long breath. I trusted that she’d keep quiet about seeing me, but it was possible that Ryvin could wake any minute. I needed to get as far from here as I could before that happened.
Quickly, I checked that the pouch was still attached to the cord around my neck. I could feel the object inside it. It was a small, round ball, but I still had no idea what it was or how it could help me.
The gardens and grounds were full of people. Some were in tents, others were sharing blankets spread on the earth. A few guards mingled, and I even saw a couple of citizens walking around. Nobody seemed to care that I was walking toward the shield. I suppose after watching it keep the fae out today, there wasn’t much risk in anyone going in or out. It would be suicide to leave if the shield was guarded by any fae.
I stopped right at the point where I could feel the magic, and after a quick backward glance at the palace, I called Ryvin’s shadows. Breathing steadily, I summoned them around me like a cloak of darkness. Shielding me from view the way we’d done when we arrived in Drakous. I could have used this to get out of the palace, but I’d never tried it before and wasn’t sure how long I could hold the shadows.
Before I could talk myself out of it, I stepped through the invisible barrier, sucking in a breath from the icy cold, before emerging on the other side.
My pulse raced as I walked down the road toward town. I expected to encounter fae soldiers at every step, but the roads were silent.
Once I reached the city, I scanned for any signs of movement. Buildings were destroyed everywhere I turned. Doors torn from hinges, roofs caved in, the contents of shops and homes tossed into the streets. My chest tightened as I took in the destruction. We’d have a lot to rebuild once the fae left our shores.
I could feel my hold on the shadows fading, so I released them and kept to the natural shadows as I crept through the city. I’d need them again to get into the camp and didn’t want to waste them all now.
Laughter sounded and I darted through a doorway, moving quickly to the side so I was hidden from view. I peered around the edge of the doorframe, catching sight of a small patrol of six fae. They were talking and laughing as they walked up the street. One of them was throwing something into the air and catching it repeatedly as they walked. Another was smoking something, blowing out perfectly formed rings.
They had to be the most unbothered, casual patrol I’d ever seen. They were either off duty and exploring the ruins of Athos, or they were certain they had nothing to watch for. A smile tugged on my lips. That would work to my advantage. If all the fae were this relaxed, there was no way I’d be caught sneaking into their camp.
As soon as I couldn”t hear their voices anymore I continued along, meeting no other guards or soldiers as I crept through the silent city. The last few times I had walked through here I had felt the desolation and sadness. I didn”t think it could get any worse, but I was going through a defeated city. A place that no longer resembled the home I remembered. My people deserved better. They deserved happiness and peace and a chance to truly thrive.
I tried to keep those thoughts at the forefront of my mind as I stared down at the beach. My chest tightened and I could feel the blood draining from my face as I stared at a thousand tents squashed together, spread across the sand. They had taken over, claiming the space as theirs.
I could hear the crash of the waves and I wondered if I could call to them and have them rise up and pull the entire camp back into the sea. Something told me that wouldn”t be enough. There were thousands more fae in Drakous and I knew that to end this, we had to eliminate the king.
It took several tries to find that dark spot inside where my magic resided. I had to shut down the fear and that part of me that was warning me to turn back. Finally, I regained a sense of calm, shutting everything else out the way as I had done in the past. I had to turn it all off. All the fear, all the love. I settled into numb indifference and the shadows came. They swirled around me like an old friend, familiar and comforting. Almost as if Ryvin were here with me, guiding me through what I needed to do.
I kept my mind clear as my feet touched the sand, abandoning my sandals after only a few steps. I buried them, hoping that no one would find them before I revealed myself.
The camp was alive. Soldiers sat around bonfires laughing and drinking fae wine. Others were going in and out of tents or stumbling around, clearly already several glasses of wine into their revelry. The camp had an air of celebration, even though they would return to battle in the morning. It was as if they were already counting their victory. That drew a flicker of anger that made my shadows tremble. I shoved it away, working to keep my emotions at bay so that I could maintain absolute control.
I knew the king would likely be protected by guards and that he’d be in the largest and grandest tent. The camp was massive, but I had a feeling he wouldn”t risk being too close to the sea. I walked toward what felt like the middle of the mass of tents and began to look for signs that might point me toward the Fae King”s tent.
From here, it was difficult to tell any differences or direction at all. All the tents looked the same, but there was less activity here than there had been on the outskirts of the encampment. It was quieter, and I took that as a good sign.
Instead of walking toward the sounds of guards playing games of chance, or telling lewd tales around campfires, I walked toward the silence.
As I continued along, there were fewer guards walking around and no signs of amusement or activities. My heart pounded so loudly I was worried someone else might hear it. Every hair was on edge and a trickle of cold ran down my spine. My instincts were telling me to turn and run. I had to be close.
I continued forward until it caught sight of a large group of guards making a perimeter around a tent that looked the same as all the rest. Narrowing my eyes, I studied them, watching their movements. It could be a prisoner. Moving a little closer, I caught a strong floral scent. That wasn’t likely to come from a prisoner’s tent. It had to be the king.
There was only one additional row of tents between the king”s tent and the sea. My fingers itched, feeling that connection to the water, begging to be used. I thought about it again, about trying to send him to a watery grave, but it wasn”t enough. If I could guarantee a monster tearing him apart limb by limb, maybe I would use the magic my mother gave me.
I felt for the pouch, pressing my finger and thumb against the small circular object inside. I was going to use the magic my mother gave me, anyway. Part of me wondered if this was what she always intended it for. I had thought it was something that might save me if I were in mortal peril, but I knew deep in my gut that the object she gave me was not something that gave life, but rather something that would take life away. I knew it was a weapon, even if I couldn”t explain how I knew that.
I stood behind the tent next to the king”s tent wondering how I could get past his guards without alerting them. The shadows were a good cover, but once the tent flap moved, they’d know.
I glanced again toward the sea, feeling an urge to connect to it the way that I had before. Then I realized it wasn”t the water that was calling to me, but something within the water. Someone who was starting to feel like an old friend.
I smiled, then worked to keep hold of the shadows around me while I reached for my other magic. The magic that had been stripped from me just as I was learning how to wield it. After my deal with Nyx, I no longer had to fear using it.
It came easier than it ever had before. As if it were relived to come back to me, back to where it belonged. The sensations like reconnecting with an old friend. I felt strong and ready as I called to everything I had. I pulled on the water, bringing it toward me, willing it to come all the way up to that first row of tents.
The waves roared to life and crashed into the shore, causing the sea to swell and surge as the tide rose. Water surged over rocks, spreading beyond its normal reach. It continued to rise, the tide creeping farther until it began to kiss the bottoms of the first row of tents.
Screams and movement surrounded me as soldiers emerged from their tents and started to hastily pack them up, preparing to get out of the way of the water.
The guards around the king”s tent were curious, watching with furrowed brows, but maintained their positions. As I continued to bring the water higher and higher and closer and closer, the guards around the king”s tent began to get a little restless.
I pulled back just enough that they would think they were safe to stay where they were and the guards who”d started to disassemble stopped and waited. Dozens of men stood near their tents, staring out into the sea as if they could command it to retreat.
I asked the water to grow a little calmer to lull them into a false sense of security. A couple of the soldiers re-entered their tents, apparently satisfied that the water would go no higher. Others stood and watched, cautious about the will of the sea. They were the smarter ones, but they were about to regret that they were standing so close to the edge without any weapons.
I caught the faintest glint of scales under the moonlight a moment before the sea serpent”s head rose from the water and attacked, grabbing one of those waiting soldiers and pulling him into the ocean.
His scream was short lived as he was dragged below, but it got the attention of the other soldiers who quickly ran away or returned to their tents and emerged with weapons. The sea serpent swam farther down the shore, grabbing more of the men even as they aimed their swords or attempted to blindly shoot arrows into the dark water.
I let the water rise, giving the serpent more depth so it was easier for her to hunt. She attacked again and again, dragging screaming fae into the depths before returning to take more victims.
I looked over at the king”s tent and noticed the guards getting increasingly agitated. They were talking to each other in hushed tones and finally half of them drew their swords and raced to the aid of their companions. Still under the cover of shadows, I moved closer to the king”s tent, and while the guards were busy staring at the massacre happening at the shore, I slipped inside.