Chapter 41
Chapter
Forty-One
-brIDA-
“So, this is where you’re from.”
Marius had been silent for the majority of our walk. Despite the fatigue and the ache of my feet, I was happy to be able to move. Free of the constraints of my cell. I had yearned to be let out, to wander.
“Eldara is my home now,” He said. “But yes, this is where I’m from.” Marius's pace quickened, not wanting to appear weak in front of Sarina and the two guards with her. I chuckled to myself as I lowered my gaze to my shoes.
“Primal magic,” he whispered, “extends well beyond the borders of Eldara. You will soon come to realize that Quiala and Eldara are similar in many ways, and vastly different in others.”
The woman named Sarina looked back at us, her expression murderous.
Taking note of the situation unfolding, Marius distanced himself from us, moving forward in the pack.
“You really do have the smallest feet.” Marsh had made his way beside me and offered a smile.
“Is that a compliment, or an insult?” I raised my brow as we marched in tandem with one another.
“Neither, simply an observation. But then again, all of you is rather petite.” He held his hand out to the middle of his chest, the place where the top of my head lined up with him.
“It never bothered you before.”
“And it doesn’t now.” He placed his hands in his pockets, a move I had seen him do as himself, and one that Yezed had done in imitation of him.
“Marsh.” I stopped our walking as the two guards moved around us, affording us a moment of privacy. As much as they were here for all of us, their purpose was Marius. Something that we would deal with when we arrived at the capital.
“Brida.” He tilted his head to the side as the last light of the day hit his hair, highlighting the violet sheen.
“Uhm,” I cleared my throat. This was not a speech I had anticipated needing to give. Not one I thought I would want to give. Up until a few hours ago, I blamed him for everything that had happened, when in reality, he was as much a victim as I had been. Moreso. He was in this predicament due to me.
“The last time you and I saw each other… Well, the last time I saw you you, you know, you as you, not Yezed as you.” Gods, this is going horribly. I ran a hand down my face, my mouth agape. “There was a moment between you and me.”
Marsh nodded, saying nothing.
“I want you, no, need you to know that my feelings for you were genuine. And I am so grateful for everything you’ve done for me. You kept my secret, Gods, you were the reason I was even allowed to compete in the Courting.”
He continued to say nothing, offering nothing other than the visible pulse in his taut neck.
“Quite a lot has happened, and, Gods, I’m so sorry.
” I covered my face with both hands, unable to articulate the swirl of emotions within me.
The words were there, desperate to claw free of me.
I am in love with Dainan… but how much of that is me?
Is it the part of me that belongs to her that yearns for Dainan?
Does he remind her of her lover? Perhaps they look similar.
She wields light, he wields shadows. They will find each other. They always find each other.
Marsh stepped forward, removing his hands from his pockets. “May I?” He asked as he extended his arms.
I lowered my gaze as I stepped into his embrace. His hug was tight, cool, grounding. His sweet scent of honey—so familiar and comforting, and yet, not the one that my body, my soul craved. Perhaps months ago, this would have been enough. He would have been enough for me.
You thought Dainan was beautiful the moment you saw him.
There was an immediate connection. Said a voice deep inside me.
There had been. But, there had been one with Marsh, too.
His smile, his charm, the mystery surrounding the Fae from the Court of Whispers.
It had drawn me to him, but nothing more than his kindness.
He vouched for me, afforded me the opportunity to compete.
My father wouldn’t be alive without him.
“It’s okay.” He lifted my chin with his cool hand. “Sometimes fate has a hand in things. I will consider myself lucky if we can move on from this as friends. After all,” he paused, “I owe you my life.”
Tears welled in my eyes before cascading down my cheeks. I pulled him tighter to me and whispered, “I am a luckier person for having known you, Reed Marsh.”
After a few moments, I heard a cough. I opened my eyes to find my father waiting on a nearby rock. “If you’re quite finished.” He laughed, raising himself to his full height.
“Yes,” a chuckle escaped me as I wiped my eyes. “Dad, I would like you to formally meet Reed Marsh. Marsh is the one who escorted me to Azmeer. The one who helped me sneak into the Courting.”
“He did what!” My father shouted, causing the guards to turn their gazes back and wait for us.
Marsh stepped forward, offering his father my hand, “Very good to meet you, sir. Outside of a cell, that is.”
My father raised his eyebrows.
I smiled at two of the men in my life, getting to know each other. I wished Dad would have had more time with Alvar, that he would get to know Dainan. The tugging sensation in my chest grew taut. “Let’s move, and we’ll tell you the story.”
As we crested the hill in front of us, my father said, “Reed Marsh…that is a most unfortunate name…”
Our path transformed from dirt to stone to a reflective silver sheen under the light of the moon. Splashes from our feet hitting the water were audible but somehow our feet remained dry.
“What do you know of this place?” I asked Marsh, who hadn’t left my side.
“Likely no more than you.”
“This isn’t the time to be modest,” I looked up to appreciate a palace in its full glory.
The castle was constructed to look as though a stone had risen from the depths and shaped itself into towers, bridges, and archways.
A waterfall of soft light cascaded from the highest spires, illuminating the intricate designs carved into the walls—ancient sigils, twisting vines, and depictions of creatures I didn’t recognize.
The walkway led us over a dark, glassy pool that reflected the palace like a second world beneath our feet.
Trees, impossibly tall and vibrant in shades of violet and blue, grew along the terraces, their leaves catching the glow of unseen lanterns.
Strange, silver fish drifted through the air, their movements slow and deliberate, like they were part of the palace’s quiet breath.
“Do you think they want some design tips?” Marsh mused beside me, his tone light.
I exhaled sharply, torn between admiration and unease.
This place was too perfect, too untouched, like a storybook illustration brought to life.
And yet, beneath the beauty, something ancient hummed, waiting. Watching.
“Come,” Sarina’s voice echoed as if we were hundreds of feet below, “she awaits.”
A drawbridge, something I had only ever read about in The Trials of Thale, lowered itself, creaking with each notch of the chains. With a loud crash, it fell to the ground, and we stepped onto the worn wood, etched with runes in a language I didn’t recognize.
“Be careful,” I mouthed to my father, who grabbed my hand in response, squeezing once before letting go.
Sarina and her guards advanced, allowing us to walk at our own pace, marveling at everything we saw. Standing next to the front doors of the palace stood two statues, two sirens, mouths open, their song calling the visitor home.
The doors opened with a brush of Sarina’s hand, and I held my breath as we took our first steps inside.
The ceilings were taller than any I had seen in Azmeer or the Court of Whispers.
Its beauty was not to be outdone by the pale marble that lined the floors, the color of the water in the Hydratas Sea, at least if the tiles in the mosaic in Azmeer were to be believed.
The way light shifted as you took each step made the floor appear like waves cascading with your movements.
Sconces in the shape of seashells lined the corridors, flames dancing from within their depths, the light only amplified by the water that lined the walls. The walls themselves remained still, but the life within was vibrant, in constant motion.
“Do I need to remind you where to go, Marius?” Sarina raised an eyebrow as we stopped at the base of an ivory stairwell. “I know it’s been a while.”
“You do not,” he replied through gritted teeth.
The lines around her mouth deepened as her smile grew. “As much as I would love to see what becomes of you, we’ve been instructed to wait here.”
“Well, at least there’s that.” Marius reached for my wrist. “Let’s get this over with.” He muttered as he led me up the stairs.
The staircase spiraled, allowing for a quick exit on each floor.
As we reached the third exit, Marius ushered us forward.
“What sort of situation are we walking into here?” I inclined my head towards the doors that now separated us from whoever was waiting.
“Sarina implied that you’re in danger for whatever it is you’ve done. Anything you’d care to warn me about?”
Marius sighed, running a hand through his now dark hair.
“Your hair’s changed.” I pointed.
“Yes, and we’ll get to that later, but for now…” He ran a hand over his face before slapping himself in the cheeks, “It’s best you don’t know anything.”
Marius took deliberate steps to the sentinels outside of the doors, offering each of them a curt nod. “She’s expecting us.”
They lowered their heads and moved to the side before the doors opened.
I wasn’t surprised we had been brought to the throne room. Unlike the throne room in Azmeer, this one did not possess a throne made of bone, for which I was grateful. The throne that rested on the far side of the room shimmered with each step we took towards it.
Fish scales. I thought, that is what makes it shine.