She started running fast, like the wind was pushing her from behind. Eude might have called after her, asking her to slow down, but she wanted to know, no, she needed to know what was at the end of the tunnel. When the tunnel turned to the left, Ayla used her hands to avoid slamming into the wall. She turned left and kept running. And running. The tunnel seemed endless. “Ayla! Stop running! There could be more undead things in the tunnel,” Eude yelled. She knew he was right, but for some reason, she needed to get to the end. There was something there, waiting for her. But what? How? A few minutes later, they reached a cavern that was at the end of the tunnel. Stalactites hung from the ceiling. The wall to the right cast a faint glow, Ayla was drawn to it the moment she laid eyes on it. Rania and the twins caught up with her. “Where’s the fire?” Eude mumbled. “I see that training with Godefray has been very effective,” Hudde complained. Ayla gave them an apologetic smile bef
Eude scratched the back of his head. “Where else to put it then?” Ayla grinned. “Up your ass!” The twins thought for a moment. “Nah!” “Should we tell anyone about this place?” Rania asked. Ayla was about to reply when she felt as if someone had stabbed her in the stomach. It hurt so badly she could barely breathe. She braced herself against the statue. “Ayla! What’s wrong?” Hudde asked, concerned. The pain was so real, so strong, Ayla couldn’t talk. She felt a second stabbing. It felt like she was cut in half. Her left wrist felt like it was on fire. “Rhobart,” Ayla croaked. “He is badly hurt.” Silence fell around the room. No one said anything, probably too shocked by what Ayla said. Ayla had never felt so much pain in her life. Not even when Galian broke her fingers or whipped her. Feeling Rhobart getting hurt was so painful… tears ran down her cheeks. Her entire being screamed in agony. Rhobart could not die, not after everything he had endured. Ayla started running. If
On the night the Kingdom of Nordmar held its most important celebration, the Fire Clan was mourning all those that had lost their lives the previous night. The dead were placed on pyres in the courtyard. The biggest one was in the middle, the Arch-Mage Semias on top of it. His hair and beard had been combed and braided, and he had been dressed in a new robe. Those who had come to pay their final respects to the dead had put on grey clothes, ash in their hair, and painted their faces white—as was the custom in Nordmar. Ayla did the same. She and Rhobart had a few hours of sleep before the Mages set the pyres on fire. Rhobart, Ayla, the Paladins, and Milton stood next to the new Arch-Mage—a woman called Syndra. The Arch-Mage Semias had appointed her as his successor months ago. Rhobart held a torch in his right hand, and the new Arch-Mage Syndra lit it. “Tonight, we should have laughed and celebrated O’neltxero, but instead, we have gathered here to mourn our dead,” Rhobart said, loo
“By saving Cyan, you save Eydyia and her gryphling. I am in your debt!” Zell said to Rhobart. “I killed the shadow! What about me?” Hudde complained. Zell looked at the Paladin. “How about a dance tonight, after Rania and Sylvar’s ceremony?” Rania and Sylvar were to have their alxa-lotx ceremony after sunset. Hudde seemed satisfied. “Deal.” He turned his attention to Eude. “Come, brother, there is much to do before the ceremony, and time is short!” The twins left, heading to the Fire Monastery. Ayla grabbed Rania by her arm. “You need to get ready for the ceremony. Zell, are you coming with us?” Zell shrugged. “I don’t have anything better to do.” Ayla kissed Rhobart’s cheek. “I am taking Rania and Zell to our room. If you need anything, knock before you enter.” The three women stepped outside the stable and went to Ayla’s room. Rania and Zell looked around, amazed. After a few ‘ooohs’ and ‘ahhs,’ they sat, Rania on the bed and Zell on a chair. “You sleep on this bed every
Ayla was happy for the twins. She knew how much they wanted to find their n’alxa, and she was sure they would make Zell very happy if she let them. Eude and Hudde had wanted someone sweet and gentle, but Zell was the right n’alxa for them. Atlas frowned, drank from his goblet, but said nothing. Rhobart moved next to Ayla. He grinned and said into her ear, “Zell and the twins? I can’t wait to see how this unfolds.” Zell shook her head. “You don’t understand. If I don’t marry him, the Emperor will destroy my tribe. But as Prince Timon’s wife, I can ask, beg even, for the Emperor to spare my people.” Eude ran his thumb over Zell’s cheek. “We will save your tribe, but you have to trust us.” Zell jerked herself away from the twins and held her head high. “Your t’aja or not, I am returning to Tuhai. As I said before, I don’t do manwhores. You are not worthy of being my t’ajas, my n’alxaes.” Zell turned on her heels and left. The twins looked devastated. How could Zell reject her s
Ayla studied the wall for a few seconds. There was nothing that indicated there was anything behind it. Ayla was about to turn on her heels when something caught her eye. On the bottom left corner, a little piece was missing. She crouched to take a better look at it. Kerra grabbed Ayla’s messenger bag and pulled hard. “Kerra, stop!” Ayla said, but the snowcat ignored her. “Don’t tell me you are hungry. Haven’t you been hunting?” Kerra, somehow, opened the messenger bag and got inside. “Kerra, get out of there!” When Kerra refused to do as Ayla demanded, she grabbed the snowcat, pulled her out of the bag, and put her on the floor. Kerra dropped something at Ayla’s feet. “What’s that?” Ayla asked, picking up the item. It was the quartz Ayla had found in the magic pool. Ayla narrowed her eyes. The shape, the color… Ayla glanced at Kerra and then at the wall. “Do you think it’s the missing piece?” To Ayla’s surprise, it did fit. The wall vibrated and disappeared beneath the flo
“Do not dare talk back to me! And what are you wearing? Look at your hair. I can’t decide if you want to look like a cheap Nordmarian whore or if you are pretending to be a man.” “I am wearing what King Rhobart gives me. I can’t make demands of the King. I am nothing more than a slave to him.” “Ah, but a slave that warms his bed. Too bad he has to find another whore to fuck. We are leaving!” the man said angrily. Ayla tried to take a step back, but the man grabbed her hand. “But… but I am King Rhobart’s property! You can’t take me away when you wish to.” He slapped her again. Tears pricked her eyes, but she blinked them away. “You will do as I say. Besides, your days as a spy are over. Your work here is done.” Someone stepped out from behind a half-burned bookshelf. Godefray. Ayla had to stop herself from cursing and shouting at Godefray. She should have brought Kerra with her, after all. “I never doubted that you were as rotten as your brother and father, but to come to Nord
“You killed my mother and grandmother?” Ayla asked Galian. Galian pulled her hair up, forcing her to stand on her toes. “Stop calling them that! I had to kill them because of you!” “Galian,” Rhobart snarled. “Let go of my wife! This is the last time I am going to ask you nicely.” Galian ignored Rhobart. “Queen Lavia might not be my birth mother, but she and my father were soulmates. She promised my father to love and care for me as if I were her real daughter. Queen Lavia is my mother. One day, you will pay for what you did to them,” she promised Galian. Galian tsked. “The only one that will suffer is going to be you. Have you told your husband my favorite game while growing up?” She never wanted Rhobart to know. “Don’t!” she begged him. “So you didn’t?” Galian looked at Rhobart. “My favorite game was to count how many times I could make Ayla scream while I broke her fingers or I whipped her. Among other things.” Rhobart snarled, “You did what?” Milton and the twins turned p