Page 91 of Beyond Those Gilded Walls

“I apologize, my lord, for the interruption,” he began with a bow. “I have an urgent message for you.”

“Clear the room,” Kalyx ordered after watching the man for a moment. He raised a brow to me and Tallon. “You may stay.”

The courtiers cleared out, leaving us with the anxious man, Tallon, and my grandfather in the spacious room. The weight of judging stares lifted, I felt more at ease and studied the man. He wore a gold brocaded jacket, heavy and certainly expensive.

“Odyssa, this is Caspian,” Tallon introduced. “He is the messenger between the gods.”

“Who has a message for me?” Kalyx asked, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees.

“Alastriona is having,” he paused and grimaced, as if searching for the right word, “difficulties with some pirates off the coast kidnapping her heralds. She’s requested your assistance in dealing with them.”

“Of course she is.” Kalyx sighed heavily, rubbing his brow. “Alright, then, tell her I will be there in a moment.”

The man bowed before hastily retreating.

“And tell her I will be bringing my heirs,” Kalyx called to his back. He eyed us as the doors swung shut. “Yes, I did hear that little conversation between you. We will discuss it tomorrow.”

My face flushed, fearing an admonishment, but Tallon merely scoffed. “It delighted you; do not lie. Now you do not have to make a choice.”

“Alastriona is…?” I asked, trying to remember the stories my mother had told me and coming up short.

“You do not have to change the subject, Odyssa. This is not like Auretras,” Tallon said. “No one will harm you for having an opinion, nor for questioning Kalyx.”

I nodded, grateful that again he’d seen through the mask I hadn’t even realized I’d put on. I squeezed his hand. “Thank you, Tallon. Truly, though, I do not remember who Alastriona is.”

“Goddess of the seas,” Tallon supplied, squeezing my fingers in return as I smiled at him in thanks. He winked at me. “You will like her.”

“How can you help her?” I asked Kalyx. I had to ignore Tallon’s teasing even as it made my heart soar with joy, lest my questions go perpetually unanswered. “What does she want you to do?

“I’m not sure that I can help, really. If she wanted them simply killed, she could have done it herself.” He shrugged, standing from his throne and adjusting his clothing. “But we are friendly, so I’ll at least go see what is happening. Come with us, Odyssa. I’d like you to meet her. Tallon is right; you will like her. I have a strange feeling she will like you as well.”