No fucking way.
It’s not snow…it’s ash.
My head snaps up and I frantically search for something, anything, that will tell me I’m wrong. There are no trees, no bushes, no foliage of any kind. The only living things that I can see are us and the guards still checking everyone’s documents.
My shocked stare skims across the light gray ash that’s dusted over everything. It’s what the wind is kicking up. What’s choked the life out of the very land beneath our feet. With a start, I realize we’re in the Ash Barrens.
As soon as the thought registers, all the pieces fall into place. The restricted airspace. The time limit. The way Aeson freaked the fuck out. There’s only one possible reason why we’d be here…
“You’re all set, Scion Noctis,” a guard declares with a respectful nod. “Welcome back to the Fae Gate base camp.”
Bloody fuck.
Disbelief jabs me right in the chest, and a chill slithers down my spine. No wonder Aeson freaked out. I didn’t think anyone was allowed up here for any reason other than to protect the Fae Gate and ensure that it stays closed. But if that’s true, then why would the Matron of the Relacour Blood Crafters be allowed anywhere near the Fae Gate? Her bloodline was one of the main covens who participated in the rebellion; they can’t be trusted.
I look around, searching for the gate itself, but the inlet around me hides its location.
“Captain Zhao will escort you to your quarters. Would you like us to wake Matron Relacour now?”
“No, it’s late, we can wait until a more reasonable hour later today to meet with her. But per section forty-three through forty-nine of secondary security protocol, please keep the jump portal open,” Aeson orders, and the guard nods and then his gaze jumps back to me.
Another guard approaches the group, and we follow him away from the gate, my thoughts racing a mile a minute. Why didn’t the king tell me this is where I would be going? Is this some kind of a weird test?
Glacial wind wails at us as we make our way through a rocky maze. I start to question whether or not we’re being led in circles when we round a bend and there it is, the Fae Gate that almost destroyed our world.
It sits at one end of a valley, and I sense a hum of ominous power vibrating steadily from the massive ring that’s bordered by tall cliffs on each side. It has to be well over a hundred feet tall and wide, with edges banded in metal. A metal that doesn’t naturally occur in this world, and one scientists haven’t been able to replicate no matter how many times they try. The surrounding border is covered in glyphs that look similar to sorcai runes, but these markings are different and can only be read by the fae. The whole thing is bigger and far more intimidating than I could have ever imagined, not that I would have thought in my wildest dreams of being here one day, staring up at it.
At the base of the gate is a small town that’s reminiscent of something that could be found in an ancient black-and-white Western. One- and two-story buildings line a single road. There appears to be housing, a canteen of sorts, and a small supply store for the squads and leadership stationed up here. There’s also an army’s worth of defensive tech and monitoring systems built into the surrounding cliffs to protect the gate itself and us from the gate if needed.
We’re led toward a two-story building that sits opposite the Fae Gate. I don’t spot anyone moving around, probably because of the late hour. Not that this is the kind of place where people just mill about.
A line of vehicles are parked off to the side of the building next to ours. They look like modified ourocycles, but the front and back rotors are horizontal instead of vertical. They appear to be more machine than magic, sort of like the frankensteined creations we have back home, but these aren’t welded-together death traps. They’re top-of-the-line and pristine.
“You’ve been here before?” I ask Jori, the closest guard to me.
“A couple times,” he answers but doesn’t offer anything more than that.
The guard leads us to a building and we pile inside. It’s surprisingly spacious and comfortable looking with a bottom floor that appears to be some kind of rec area with several tables to sit and eat at, a lounge space, and some game tables. Our escort explains that there are a few private quarters toward the back of this ground floor, while the rest of the rooms are located upstairs.
“As a reminder, please be mindful that no weapons will be allowed outside these premises. You can wear them when you depart, as you did when you arrived, but they are to be stored in your room for the remainder of your stay here, or they will be seized.” Captain Zhao looks pointedly at me.
I sigh, figuring thebut I just got themargument isn’t going to cut it with him. I’m probably lucky they haven’t already confiscated them. If I were traveling with anyone other than a member of the royal family, they probably would have.
“Noted,” I acknowledge politely.
With that, Captain Zhao leaves, and it takes exactly three seconds for Aeson to turn to everyone, arms folded across his chest, with an expectant look fixed on his face.
“Get some rest. It’s been a long day,” he orders, looking around as though he expects someone to argue with him.
No one does.
Karis hands the commander his bag, and then he gives him my pack too—the one he stole from me earlier when we were leaving the keep. Aeson’s unreadable blue eyes meet mine, and my pulse instantaneously spikes.
The commander turns to stride down a hall, calling back over his shoulder, “Let’s go, Claws. You’re with me.”
Chapter 45
AESON DROPS BOTH OF OUR packs onto the large bed that’s pushed up against the far wall. He starts to look around, peeking behind the door we just entered through before he wanders over to a solitary armchair that’s sitting in front of an unlit fireplace. From there, he strides into the attached bathroom like he’s clearing it of potential attackers. I have no idea why he’s doing any of this; if there were someone in here other than us, he’d hear or smell them, but I keep my mouth shut and take in the view of the Fae Gate from the window. It looks so innocuous right now, so deceptively dormant. How could something so simple be responsible for so much desolation and destruction?
