A chill trickled down my spine—this wasn’t over. Razel had come to make a power play, and Ericen had intervened. She would find another way.
Thirteen
A couple of hours later, Ericen and I sat in a carriage heading down Sordell’s main street. The rain had let up, and though the sky hadn’t cleared, patches of stars shone overhead. Beneath them, Illucian citizens mixed almost indecipherably with soldiers in the streets.
Ericen wore his Vykryn uniform, and I’d changed into a dress along with a thin leather coat and boots. The prince didn’t say a word. When he’d left the arena, he hadn’t gone to the healer’s quarters to get the wound bandaged. It had stopped bleeding, however, the cut much shallower than I’d thought.
I studied him as he studied the city outside. Why had he intervened with Razel? Had he been that eager for a fight with his mother, or had he known I wouldn’t be prepared? Either way, I couldn’t shake the feeling something had shifted between us.
As the door opened, Ericen met my gaze for the first time, and I raised an eyebrow. “I can tell this is going to be a very productive meal.”
He smiled in the way that made me think he might not be as horrid as he seemed. “Stealing my lines is a cheap move.”
“You’re not worth more effort in this state.”
“Fair point. I shall endeavor to be more infuriating.” He stepped out of the carriage, offering me his hand. I climbed out on my own.
We stood at the opening of a massive bridge, easily the width of five normal roads. The river it spanned was nearly double that, with several arches along the bridge’s length letting water through in a multipronged waterfall. Colorful lights reflected off even more colorful buildings, casting a rainbowlike glow across the water. The bridge was a part of the city itself, like the creators had met the river and continued building right across it.
“People call it the Colorfalls. A hundred years ago, the bridge was a gift from Rhodaire to cross the River Ren,” Ericen said as we started toward the bridge. “It was made with the help of your earth crows. All the city’s best food is here.”
Though it seemed strange to imagine, it made sense that Rhodaire and Illucia might not have always hated each other. When had that changed?
The cobblestone street sidewalks were damp from the rain, but people were still out in full force. Giant potted trees lined the street, hung with shards of colored glass reflecting the lantern light. Shops sold everything from thick sheep wool sweaters and scarves to blocks of peat bundled together with dried herbs for different aromas. We passed the open doors of restaurants, the air filled with the scent of freshly baked bread and cooking stew. From a tavern to our right, the music of a string instrument filled the night.
Hanging overhead, strung from one side of the buildings to the next all along the street, dangled countless colored sona lamps. They had glass of deep crimson and purple, bright gold and sunset orange, all casting brightly colored glows on the stone buildings.
I stared at the colors. Sona lamps weren’t cheap; we barely had enough to light the main castle halls in Aris.
This was what conquering kingdoms gave you: wealth and technology.
Without a reliance on magic, Illucia had found other ways to stay competitive. Maybe that was why everything here was so clean, so crisp, as if the city had been newly built. It was beautiful but cold, and I longed for the soul and authenticity of Aris. We may not have sona lamps at every corner or walkways of stone and manicured streets, but at least it felt real.
Ericen led the way to an empty hole-in-the-wall restaurant in the middle of the bridge. The man who greeted us bowed deeply before seating us at a table by the window. He returned a few moments later with cups of water and a bottle of Trendellan wine, pouring us each a glass.
I eyed the wine. “I thought Trendell didn’t trade with Illucia.”
Ericen hesitated a moment before responding. “They don’t.”
Which meant this wine had been stolen. Maybe even from shipments to Rhodaire.
I pushed the glass aside. “This city’s so clean and organized. Does your army patrol the streets righting overturned flowerpots and straightening askew signs?”
“Only the particularly crooked ones,” he replied, and a traitorous smile tugged at my lips. Ericen’s eyes grew warm as he said, “People take a lot of pride in Sordell. My mother doesn’t tolerate laziness. Everyone in the city has a job or supports the kingdom in some way.”
“She sounds like a military commander.”
“She is.” He smirked at the surprise that flitted across my face. “Darkward is also Sordell’s school. All children attend from five until sixteen, when they can either finish the final two years or pick another trade. Over half the city stays committed, but only the best are chosen as Vykryn.”
My gaze dropped to the golden horse head symbol on his chest.Like him.
“No one’s afforded more respect in Illucia than soldiers, except maybe the masters at Darkward. But my mother was trained like every queen and king before her, both to rule and to lead an army in battle. She’s the Valix, leader of the Vykryn, and I will be after her.” He straightened, as if bolstered by his own words.
It made sense. It wasn’t difficult to imagine Razel astride one of those massive Illucian warhorses, prepared to destroy an entire kingdom.
“You’re glowering again.”
I straightened, blinking rapidly. “What?”
