Overhead, dramatic stalactites hang like sentinels, while cleverly strung lights, reminiscent of festive lanterns, cast a soft glow upon the diverse goods laid out below. From rich textiles and gleaming metalwork to fresh produce and ancient artifacts, the market offers a treasure trove for every taste.
Ryker holds me close as he leads me through the crowded space toward a vendor that claims to sell ancient artifacts. Whether they’re real or not, I have no idea. Despite being underground, the space feels open, with lighting that mimics sunlight, casting pools of warm light every now and then.
The market is loud and filled with the scent of spiced meats, garlic, and roasted vegetables. Nobody notices our small party as we move through the halls of shops and tents.
“This is insane,” I say with a bit of awe. "I’ve always wanted to come here.”
Ryker squeezes my hand in response. Finally, we come upon a shop carved out of the cavern and reinforced with steel. Above the door is a sign that reads“Artifacts and Books”.
A bell dings as we enter the shop, and when the door closes behind the three of us—Ezra choosing to remain outside—the chatter of the room disappears with it. An older man behind the wooden desk at the back welcomes us without looking up.
Around the room, there are shelves and shelves of old books, jewelry, and artifacts made from wood, stone, and various metals. Some are large, while others are no bigger than my palm, but all appear extremely old. My gaze snags on a glass orb seated on the end of a bronze staff. The artifact is nestled on a bed of midnight blue silk. It reminds me of the one gifted to me by the Ancestor Isles elder,though I still haven’t been able to figure out what its purpose is. It sits there day and night, swirling softly with white.
I reach for it just as the man appears beside me. “Ah,” he says, startling me. “The orb of Elder Elric. The third member elected to the second council.” The hairs on my arms stand up as my gaze swings to him.
“The second council,” I repeat. “As in?—”
“The fae one, Princess. He channeled his magic through the orb.”
So that's its purpose?
Ryker appears at my side, wrapping a protective hand around my waist that does not go unnoticed by the man. “And what magic was that?”
The older man appraises Ryker with keen eyes. His monocle is pinched between unblemished, youthful-looking, pale skin, despite his age. “He could borrow other people’s magic, but he had no way of controlling it without the orb. It was gifted to him by the Elven counsel, in fact.” His gaze swings to me before going back to Ryker. “Tell me, to what do I owe the visit of both royal households today?”
“We’re looking for Elison Kolbek.”
The old man grins at me. “You’ve found him.”
forty-nine
. . .
ryker
The sunsetson Zayla are beautiful. Raea and I have to head back to school tomorrow, but our week here has been effective. I don’t even know what to do with all the knowledge Elison shared with us. Artifacts and books were only the beginning; then he spent hours retelling us stories that had been passed down through his family, generation after generation.
His ancestors had given their lifeforce, but not without preserving the knowledge first. They were once tasked with ensuring that histories were recorded under the Fae king in Auralan, and now they pass it on verbally, sometimes in writing, to their sons. Over and over for almost a thousand years.
His suggestion to us was to find a way out of our system—Caelestis, he called it. He wants us to make our way to Auralan when the veil falls. He said it was essential we train our gifts. He’s agreed to gather his things and is moving to Kyrr to live at the palace with his family, which we learned is relatively large. Raea’s excited to have access to all the books. I’m interested in the artifacts that we learned are not for sale, at least not the real ones.
I stop along a section of the palace grounds dedicated to training. There’s a cache of weapons at the far end, along with various ringsdedicated to different types of weapons. Even in this heat, their Regils are out here weight training. I had asked King Osiris if he had a gym, and he sent me here. Kuron asked if he could accompany me, claiming he needed to move his body.
After a grueling workout, Kuron and I call it quits. I need to bathe before dinner. Before we can leave the training pit, one of the guards approaches, his uniform white like a typical Regil, but the style matches that of the kingdom. He bows deeply before handing me a written message.
“When we return to school,” Kuron says, “will Raea be attacked by your friend again?”
The question catches me off guard as I scan the letter. I look up at him, and something like disappointment flashes across his features. Not at me, I realize, but himself for not being able to stop the attack.
If only he knew about the first one.
“Sienna no longer attends Drithm. I pulled a few strings.” I pause our walk. “She matters to me—deeply. Not just her physical well-being, but also her mental well-being. I should have had Sienna moved much earlier. I take full responsibility for that incident.”
Kuron nods, and we keep walking. I hand the letter to him. “What do you make of this?”
He reads it once, twice, flipping it over to see if there’s more. There isn’t. “I think it’s time to head home tonight.” I agree as our pace quickens back to the palace, and back to Raea.
I knock once before letting myself into her chambers. Her chamber ladies gasp when I enter. I offer a quick apology before finding Raea seated at a vanity, her hair being pinned by her handmaid. She smiles when she sees me in the mirror.
