Why had she agreed to this again?
Kamira groaned and turned to fall back against the sand dune, searching the churning sea toward where theCursed Soullingered—no more than a speck between the light blue sky and deep blue ocean. Waves crashed onto the shore and rolled toward her, stopping just before her feet as the tide pulled it back in.
They didn’t know if more of the Emerald King’s warships were on Neilmaar’s waters so they had stopped just far enough away not to be spotted by any oncoming ships, or vessels docked close to the city.
If only she could blink and be there in the city’s center. That journey through the rough white caps had taken more out of her than she had expected. Suddenly, an idea popped into her head that had her laughing for not thinking of it sooner.
Kamira pushed herself up, spinning to face the dune once again, one hand on her hip in determination, another held out in front of her as she pushed against the earth, bending it to her will. A staircase of carved sand emerged from the dune in front of her. With a satisfied smirk, Kamira ascended her makeshift steps until her feet met with the soft green grass of a wide open field covered in blossoms of yellow and orange. The wind brushed by her, tickling the field and sending the flowers dancing in a wave of color. With a flick of her wrist, the sand folded into itself to form a smooth dune once more.
Determined, Kamira huffed, shielding her eyes from the sun rays, and mapped a path toward the city that lay just beyond the humps of green ahead of her. She walked through the blossoming field, enjoying the feel of solid ground beneath her for the first time in weeks. Her body swayed back and forth, as if the tides of the sea still bobbed beneath her. She had grown accustomed to the constant rocking of the ship, and the sea had become especially rough over the past week as they sailed through the harsh Uskdar sea. Kamira was feeling its effects, and it made her slightly nauseous as she trekked onward.
By the time she made it over the gentle slopes of the grassy knolls, the entire city of Neilmaar was spread out before her in all its glory. It was so much more spectacular and breathtaking than she could have even imagined.
The city spanned from the Kryystal Cove to the Estdar sea. Bordering its southern edge was the Neim Forest, which boasted monstrous trees with branches full of deep red and bright copper leaves. The entire city sparkled like a pearl beneath the sun, enriched with flourishing landscapes and shimmering waves. From the red terra-cotta roofs, to the scattered cobbled lanes, and the naturally carved sandstone structures, history emanated from every nook. She wanted to learn its secrets and uncover mysteries, all the while wondering how it would feel to live in such a spectacular place.
A swift breeze wisped around her, bringing the smell of crisp exotic spices and the sweet scent of nectar. The sun was beginning to lower in the sky, the red and cream of the city falling into shadow. She needed to get inside before night fell completely.
A barrier of weathered tan stone encircled the city, caging its beauty within. An obstacle that Kamira had not prepared for. She hadn’t thought Neilmaar would be so heavily guarded, but it looked to be the only possible way into the city from her position atop the hill. With spears in their hands and swords at their sides, guards stood still as statues on either side of a worn and rusted iron gate. Black metal breast plates painted with the Emperor’s sigil—a crowned bronze falcon—covered their ruddy red leathers, and winged russet helmets hid their faces. The large gate loomed behind them, steadfast and imposing—the thick bars resembling a prison cell.
As she approached them, she took a deep breath, feeling a twinge of unease. The guards eyed her suspiciously, their hands moving to the swords on their hips. Kamira was still dressed like a boy, so she knew she didn’t look like a threat, but their hard stares made her feel like they could see straight through her disguise.
“State your business,” the guard on the right said gruffly.
“I’m here to visit my brother,” she squeaked, clearing her throat and clasping her hands together to keep them from shaking.
“Name?” the large guard asked.
“Adonis Nardisee.”
The guard nodded, obviously recognizing the name, and yelled up to the guard stationed atop the wall to open the gate.
She didn’t dare take a breath until she was inside the city walls. When she finally heard the solid sound of the iron gate clanging back into place, she let out a breath and turned to the city before her, eyes growing wide with bewilderment. She hadn’t thought it possible, but the city was far more dazzling from within.
She had never seen so many people in one space in her life. Not even Emmoria’s capital city of Aksahri was this full of life. The wealth and power of this place was painted not only in the streets but in the massive white stone buildings, in the clothes the people wore, and in the very air she was breathing. For a place so crowded, the air smelt as if a perfume of lavender and mint had been spritzed all throughout it. The white buildings were spotless, glowing under the sun rays, all of them massive structures that looked like castles built for a king. The entire city looked like it was connected, with bridges arching from one building to the next, creating tunnels beneath where townsfolk scurried back and forth.
It was huge—much larger than she thought it would be. She knew Aksahri was the largest of the cities in Emmoria, but the buildings there were not nearly as tall as these, and the ruddy tan of the Aksahrian structures made the entire city almost blend into the desert, hiding its true size from view.
How was she going to find her brother in a place like this? It would take her days to find him in all of this, and where did she even start? Adonis never told her where exactly the Brothers were, or where he was in this city for that matter. When he had left all those years ago, all he told her was that he was going to Neilmaar and had joined the Brothers of the Spring, a place where he could freely use his powers.
Kamira closed her eyes and whispered, “Sea and sky help me,” into the crisp, sweet air before she stepped into the throng of people.
21
Doraan
Thefloralscentofwildflowers mingled with the salty mist of the oceans spray as Kamira rowed to shore. Doraan held his breath, watching Kamira through the spy glass until she safely landed on the beach. He let out a sigh of relief. “She made it,” he said, putting down the telescope as he turned to Cormac. “Now we wait and hope for the best.”
Cormac nodded solemnly. “There is a shift in the wind. A storm may be approaching. I’ll have the men prepare.”
“Do you think she’ll be okay?” Doraan asked, ignoring Cormac’s words.
“She’ll be alright. She’s strong, a fighter like us.”
“What if she doesn’t come back? She could have been playing us this whole time. Using us just to get far away from Aksahri.” The words tasted sour in his mouth.
“You know that isn’t true, Doraan. You’re spiraling. Reel in your thoughts.”
Doraan sighed. He knew Cormac was right, but so much was riding on Kamira. Their lives were, quite literally, in her hands. He had to trust her.
