Vivienne squinted. “Elandra.”
Lewis nodded. “She’s in every Harvest Moon Festival statue.”
“We share a deity,” Vivienne mused, her fingers following the vines and leaves wrapping around Elandra’s arms.
Near the back of the chamber, four carvings stood out. They were less weathered and their lines much sharper.
“These look newer,” she murmured.
Lewis compared them to the others. “Less moss and water damage, too.”
The first depicted a large, leafless tree with people running toward it. The next showed the island’s tiered waterfalls. Another showed the goddess Elandra crying over Verdance. The last of the newer carvings showed a strange combination of the moon, an owl, and a flower.
Vivienne pulled parchment and charcoal from her pack. “Help me get tracings”
They worked quickly, pressing parchment against the stone and rubbing charcoal over the engravings, capturing the images before night overcame the tower.
By the time they rolled the imprints into her pack, darkness had settled over the ruins. Shouldering their supplies, they turned toward the glow of the campfires, the thrill of discovery swelling in their chests.
* * *
As the crewstirred from their makeshift camp, Vivienne was already awake, her mind restless with the mysteries of the ruins.
Nearby, Captain Garrett spoke in hushed but firm tones to Commander Thorne. “I want small teams canvassing the area. Note anything unusual, any remains, anything at all.”
Thorne gave a sharp nod and began issuing orders. Lewis, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, grabbed his supplies and joined Vivienne.
“We should go back to the central tower,” she suggested, eyes locked on its formidable silhouette. “There are so many carvings to study.”
Lewis yawned. “Agreed, but—” He tensed, head snapping toward the tree line. “Viv, do you hear that?”
Heavy boots crunched through the underbrush. Shadows emerged from the dense foliage, figures moving with calculated menace.
“Enyo,” Garrett muttered, his expression hardening as his hand drifted to his sword. He didn’t draw it, yet.
Vivienne felt her breathing turn shallow as Captain Enyo stepped forward, his wiry frame oozing confidence. He strolled toward them like a man who knew he held the upper hand. His crew, rough and armed to the teeth, fanned out, cutting off any escape.
Cirrus appeared at Vivienne’s side, stepping in front of her with his cutlass drawn. Sunlight glinted off the curved blade.
“Garrett,” Enyo drawled, his gravelly voice shrouded in contempt. “How nice of you to join us.”
“We don’t want any trouble, Enyo,” Garrett said, his tone low and even.
Enyo flashed a mocking grin, his silver tooth catching the light. “Trouble? No, of course not. Just two crews, stranded on an island, racing against time to find a mystical tribute. What trouble could we possibly get into?”
Vivienne frowned. She scanned Enyo’s men.Only twenty?There had to be more. Her heart fell into her stomach.Where are the rest?
“We’re not racing against you,” Garrett countered. “We’re completing our assignment.”
“Assignment?” Enyo scoffed, his voice scraping like stone. “The King called it a competition. Didn’t he, Miss Banner?” His gaze flicked past Cirrus, locking onto her. “Nice guard dog, by the way.”
Vivienne inhaled to respond, but Thorne stepped in.
“If this is a competition,” the commander said coolly, “then may the best and most honorable crew succeed.”
Enyo let out a dry chuckle. “Thorne, isn’t it? I remember you. Funnyyouwould mention honor?—”
Cirrus cut in, impatient. “What do you want, Enyo? We know this isn’t a social call.”
