I’ve been staring at a speck in the distance for hours.
Only now, it’s grown into a city that stretches before us.
A maze of docks splatters the horizon, sitting within the bright blue water. Dozens of boats bob beside them, some larger like the mangled one we’re arriving on, though most are small and sturdy. Squinting, I can just make out the large fishing nets that hang from their sides.
I breathe in the sea’s scent, willing the ship to move faster. With the storm having subsided, Gusts now litter the deck, pushing wind into the large sails. I tap a foot impatiently, my eyes skipping over the crew. They avoid my gaze, focusing instead on their duties and the difficult task of ensuring the crumbling ship makes it to land.
With the torn sails, missing railings, and splintered boards across the deck, it’s a miracle we aren’t sitting at the bottom of the Shallows. And that is just the damage I can see.
“Raise the flag!”
The captain’s bellow has a sailor pulling at the rigging, obeying the command. I watch as a white flag rises into the sky, halting beside Ilya’s swirling crest that has now been thoroughly tattered.
My wandering gaze falls back to the deck before landing on that familiar figure stepping out onto it. Kai lifts a hand to shade his eyes from the sudden brightness, and I can’t help but take the moment to stare unabashedly at him. His clothes ripple in the wind, pressing to the strong body beneath. Black hair splashes over his brow like the unruly waves beneath us. And those gray eyes—
They are suddenly on me.
He smiles in a way that suggests he knows exactly how much I was admiring him. Even after striding toward me, the smug look never leaves his face. “Enjoying the view, Gray?”
“Of Izram?” I shoot back with a smile of my own. “Why, yes, I am, Azer.”
He leans his forearms against the splintered railing, grinning enough to have those dimples on display. I look away before he can catch me staring yet again. “Why did we raise a white flag?” I ask quietly.
“Izram hasn’t seen a ship with our crest on it in nearly a decade.” He nods to a large watchtower that looms over the bay. “We don’t want them thinking we have ill intentions. Just like in Dor and Tando, they won’t be too happy with Elites showing up.”
I lean against the railing beside him, our arms brushing. “Then it’s a good thing a benevolent Ordinary will be greeting them.”
“Yes, with a crew of Elites,” he muses. “And the Enforcer.”
“And a crate of coveted roses,” I add, sounding hopeful. “Now, I vaguely remember reading about Izram’s queen, Zailah, as a child. But I’m not sure what I should expect.”
“It’s been said,” Kai recalls, “that she is ruthless. Some say she killed her husband for the throne, others believe he died of natural causes.” He lifts a shoulder in a lazy shrug. “Either way, she’s helped Izram thrive. They rely on the sea and its fish to survive, and from the moment Zailah sat on that throne, their harvest has been nothing but plentiful.”
“Hmm.” I spin the ring on my thumb distractedly. “And it’s been several years since she became queen, yes?”
Kai’s eyes meet mine. “Nearly a decade ago.”
I tuck that bit of interesting information away and turn my attention toward the dock we are heading for. A throng of guards stand atop the weathered wood, dressed in royal blue and holding spears. The sharp tips glint in the sun, forcing me to look away from the odd sight.
It’s strange, seeing such obvious weapons on a guard. Most Imperials don’t even bother carrying a sword when they can rely fully on an ability. But the people of Izram don’t possess powers. They depend on their own might, their own will. And I admire that far more than unearned strength.
The shining points of the guards’ spears seem to sharpen as the ship drifts closer. They stand stiffly along the wooden planks, lining the creaking dock with solemn expressions and a tightening grip on their weapons.
They are afraid of us.
I lurch forward into the railing when the ship groans. We slide against the dock, drawing a long screech from the hull. When we finally come to a stop within the port, my wide eyes manage to make their way to Kai’s. He wears a familiar expression, one that creeps onto the corners of his features.
It’s a slight smugness that touches his lips, I realize. A brightening of his eyes and relaxing of the body beneath.
He enjoys being feared.
I suppose I would too if even an inkling of his power dwelled beneath my skin. But I am something less than fear and power and Elite. For that reason, I step cautiously behind the Enforcer as he strides across the deck.
A teetering wooden ramp sprawls between the ship and dock beneath. Sparkling water sways beneath us, lapping at the hull and reaching for the bridge we step out onto. Without hesitation, Kai strides down the creaking wood to greet the gaggle of guards.
But he doesn’t even make it to the dock.
Dozens of spears are swiftly pointed at his chest, gleaming ominously as they inch toward the sliver of bare skin beneath his loosely buttoned shirt. I tense, heart stalling as I take in every long weapon aimed at the Enforcer.
Though, the lack of tension clutching his shoulders tells me he doesn’t seem to mind. Still standing behind him, I can just make out the lifted corner of that cocky grin he’s wearing. I shouldn’t be surprised by this, and yet, I want to hit him over the head all the same.
Kai lifts his hands slowly, showing his seemingly harmless palms to the guards. Yes, he does enjoy this. Fear is power. And where there is power, there is something for him to wield.
“State your business here, Elites,” booms a steady voice belonging to a particularly gilded guard. Glancing over the golden buttons adorning his uniform, I catch the small pin above his heart.
Ilya’s Enforcer has just met Izram’s captain of the guard.
“Easy, gentlemen,” Kai says smoothly, lowering the tip of a prodding spear with his palm. “I’m sure this is quite the surprise, but we come in peace. Things are changing in Ilya, so I’m here to escort our future queen to meet with yours. She will explain everything.” Kai gestures behind him to where I stand, stiff and unsure. “This is Paedyn Gray. The Ordinary.”
Astonished blinks are the only response to his words. I watch the captain and his guards take me in, eying the silver hair I earned from the Plague. I clear my throat, uncomfortable. “We brought a gift,” I blurt quickly. “As a gesture of goodwill.”
The captain meets my eyes, his own skeptical. They are a warm brown, crowded by the lines that a life of laughter carves into one’s skin. But that stern expression solidified onto his face smothers the happiness that once came so easily. And yet, even as a middle-aged man, he’s quite handsome.
“You’re telling me,” the captain says slowly, “that a crew from Ilya braved the Shallows just to reintroduce themselves to the kingdom they shut out?”
His question spurs me forward until I’ve stepped beside Kai and planted my feet before the multitude of spears. “Yes,” I say, voice even. “I’ve fought to survive every day. Just like all of you. And I will do anything to see Ilya become free and welcoming again.”
A long stretch of silence stifles everything but the sound of sloshing water around us. The captain keeps his gaze pinned on mine, though not in a way that tells me he’s scrutinizing every disheveled piece of me.
I believe it might even be hope I hear in his voice when he orders, “Lower your weapons, men. We’re taking our guests to the castle.”
We have been walking for nearly an hour, cocooned within a constricting circle of guards.
They barely bother glancing at me when the Enforcer strides among them. Every eye is trained on him, every weapon at the ready to defend themselves from the Elite that stepped straight out of a bedtime story they tell their children.
Captain Torri walks beside me, surprisingly silent. I was only allowed the company of two Elites on this hike to the castle. The rest of the crew was left to patch up what is left of the Reckoning that currently bobs sadly beside the dock.
I’ve had plenty of time to take in the surrounding city. It’s filled with a quieter sort of bustle than Ilya. The cobblestone streets are even and neat, filled with mindful men and women. Bright blue banners hang from roofs and stretch between wide alleyways. Merchants are kind, children are well-behaved, and smiles are shared regularly.
It’s an anomaly I find both comforting and concerning.
I breathe in the salty air and grant myself a moment to acknowledge the warmth coating my face. The sun seems to shine only for me, painting my skin in a soft glow and wrapping its rays around me. A cool breeze ruffles my short hair, and I shut my eyes, relishing the feel of a sturdy ground beneath my feet.
People stop and stare at the spectacle I don’t doubt we are. I’m swallowed by guards, forced to dodge the piercing tips of their spears. They herd us up another hilly path that has me panting before my eyes lift to the towering castle.
I step into its shadow, feeling so small beside the mass of stone. The castle is encased in a pearly white stone that winks in the dripping sunlight. Tall towers spring up into the sky, casting ribbons of shadow across the path. Billowing blue flags sprout from the highest spires to display what I recognize as Izram’s crest.
I lift a hand to shield my gaze from the peering sun and scan the flapping fabric. A pair of swirling fish create a perfect circle within the sea of blue. Atop the rippling flag, it seems as though they are forever swimming around each other, creating a constant balance.
A barked order from the captain of the guard has us coming to a halt at the base of several pristine stairs. They ascend toward a milky set of doors that match the steps beneath. Everything about this castle is light and airy, as if the sky hanging low above the water was personified.
I watch the captain peel away from his guards and head beyond those towering doors. He walks stiffly, seemingly unexcited about the task at hand. But when Kai’s rough knuckles brush against mine, the observation and my accompanying curiosity swiftly float away on a salty breeze.
My eyes flick up to find a crease of concern nestling between his brows. “Are you all right?”
The question is worrying enough to startle one in response. “Why, do I not look all right?”
“Gray, you always look far more than all right.” He says this with a low chuckle, his voice soft enough to slip past the guards unnoticed. “But I know this is a lot. I want to make sure you’re doing okay.”
“Quite the gentleman you’ve become,” I croon.
“Only for you.”
His words have my smile melting into something sweeter. “I’m… okay. Just hoping my benevolence doesn’t fail me,” I say weakly before continuing to whisper, “I have no idea who to be or what to say. Better yet, I have no idea how to speak to a queen, let alone be one.”
He shakes his head, gaze unfaltering. “I think you know exactly who you want to be. Who you are.” His words are like a soft battle cry. “You’re the leader you always wanted for Ilya. You’re our Silver Savior.”
I reach for his hand before realizing that I shouldn’t. Instead, I settle on a relieved smile and a lingering look in which I’m lost within the storm that is his eyes. It’s only when a shadow falls over his face that I rip my gaze from it.
“Now, there’s a ship name!” Captain Torri shoves past a guard to invade the little space we have. “The Silver Savior. If we make it back to Ilya, I’ll need to find me a new ship, and I may just name her that.”
I glance at Kai. Then back to the captain. “I’m flattered.”
“Speaking of ships,” Kai adds quickly, “how is ours looking? I can’t help but notice that you seem… skeptical about returning to Ilya.”
Torri blows out a breath that I lean away from. “Well, I’ll be honest with you, Highness. She’s not looking too pretty right now. But I’ve got the crew on it, so hopefully she will be patched up before we set sail.”
I’m preparing to ask a few questions I likely won’t want to know the answer to when a stern voice echoes behind me. “The queen is ready for you.”
I spin on my heel, finding the captain of the guard beckoning me forward. The men crowded around us tear away at the silent command, freeing me from the cage of spears. My tired feet carry me toward the mountain of steps, Kai at my side while Torri lingers behind.
I spin the ring on my thumb, seeking comfort from the cool steel. The shimmering doors above swing open as we near, and I watch Izram’s captain stroll into the hall beyond. The comforting sunlight is stolen from my skin when I follow him into the castle.
My gaze widens before gliding across the gilded room.
This is certainly not Ilya.
This is the opposite of bold greens and dark details. This is teeming with puddles of light and pops of blue. The long hall stretches into a pair of curved staircases on either end, each of which are wrapped in soft carpet. Everything here is gleaming and simple and crawling with delicacy.
There is no show of strength, no obvious need for attention. And its simplicity is breathtaking.
“She will see you in the throne room,” the captain informs without turning to look at me. Continuing his steady pace, he leads us to another pair of shiny white doors. “The court also awaits you after hearing of Ilya’s unexpected arrival. And that’s the only useful information I have for you.” He nods to the pair of guards framing the doors. “The queen will see you now.”
My heart pounds as the throne room slowly comes into view. A long blue carpet awaits me, leading all the way to the dais. Windows line the room in a wavelike pattern, bordered by spiraling molding. My eyes flick over the several circular tables littering the gleaming floor that allow the court members to comfortably enjoy the show.
But it is the woman seated elegantly on a throne of bones that thoroughly steals my attention.
The queen lounges in a skeleton of sorts, though I haven’t the slightest clue what animal it once belonged to. Thick vertebrae create the center of the seat while long rib bones jut out from it and curl around her. Beneath her tanned shoulders, the bones curve upward to hang slightly over her head of black hair.
I force my feet forward despite the urge to stand and gawk. Even from this distance, the queen’s piercing green eyes seem to cut right through me. I’ve never seen such a bright color dwell within someone’s gaze. It’s not the light green of Kitt’s eyes, crisp and warm. No, this is a vivid, gleaming sort of shade, as if she sees the world through a sheet of emerald.
When we halt before the dais, Zailah’s gleaming stare turns to Kai when he speaks. “Your Majesty”—he bows gracefully, reminding me to attempt a curtsy—“I apologize for the unexpected visit. I’m Kai Azer, Enforcer to Ilya’s king, and I have escorted Paedyn Gray here to welcome trade back into our kingdom.”
The queen’s eyes flick back to mine, as striking as they are searching. “I’ve heard whispers of you, child. You seem much too young to have caused such trouble in Ilya.” She smiles, and I catch the glint of sharp canines. “I admire that.”
“Well, my days of causing trouble are behind me. Hopefully,” I add with a small smile of my own. Kai steps aside, ushering Torri with him. “I’m here now to help create a new and better Ilya.”
“You see,” Zailah says slowly, “the last time I heard your name, it was followed by a list of treasonous crimes against Ilya. There was even a price on your head if you ever managed to make it across the Shallows.” She raises a sharp nail at Kai. “Now you’re in my kingdom with the Enforcer. And wearing a very shiny engagement ring.” Another smile curls her perfect lips. “Do tell. You’ve intrigued me, and that is no simple task.”
I lick my dry lips. “In short, Ilya is in need of resources. Over the decades, we have exhausted our food supply and overpopulated the land behind our closed borders. With Kitt Azer on the throne, he has become aware that the kingdom must return to its more welcoming roots. Ordinaries and Elites will coexist once again”—I gesture to the queen—“along with trade between the surrounding cities.
“To encourage this… unpopular change, I—an Ordinary and survivor of the Purging Trials—am to marry the king. This will bridge the gap between Ordinaries and Elites.” I take a breath, ready to spew more information—
“And what of your treason?” Zailah asks, seeming amused. “Has the king so quickly forgotten how you killed his father? At least, that is what I heard.”
“That was a misunderstanding. One the kingdom has become aware of,” I state as convincingly as possible. “And I am here to not only prove myself to you, but also to Ilya.”
She quirks a dark brow. “Go on.”
“I competed in the Purging Trials as an Ordinary.” My throat has become absurdly dry. “And now, to earn the respect and trust of those Elites who despise the idea of an Ordinary on the throne, I have stepped into a series of my own Trials.”
The queen blinks before a laugh transforms her harsh features. The sound is biting against her beautiful face. “So you crossed the Shallows. Barely.”
I smile politely. “Yes. Benevolence is the second of the three B’s by which Ilya’s rulers live.”
“Benevolence, really?” She scoffs. “I’m not sure I live by that myself.”
“Then accept mine,” I say quickly. “As a gesture of good faith, I’ve brought roses for you and your kingdom to use. I hope the many healing properties they possess are enough incentive for you to welcome us.”
Her eyes narrow in a scrutinizing sort of way. “They are a gift from your king?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Zailah’s voice is a soothing sound. “And you know nothing else of it?”
“No,” I answer evenly.
“Hmm.” She sits back, looking oddly comfortable in her throne of bones. “All I have heard, Paedyn Gray, is a cry for help. Ilya only opens its borders when in need of something. Only allows us Ordinaries—as you say—into the land when there is no other alternative. And you speak on behalf of a king who—”
“I do not speak for Kitt Azer.” My voice rings out over the queen’s, drawing a hushed gasp from the court. “I speak for myself. For the powerless who deserve to live within Ilya. Not a king.”
My echoing voice fades from the throne room, leaving only a stifling silence. I lift my chin and force my gaze to remain on the queen I so blatantly interrupted. But I can’t afford to show remorse now. No, I must stand here and exude a strength I don’t currently feel.
Zailah lets the tension stew between us. Then, another biting smile. “Still, I do not welcome Ilya.”
My breath catches, hope sputtering out in my chest—
“But I welcome the fact that you need me. The powerful, arrogant Ilya—brought to its knees.”
My gaze lifts in time to watch the next words fall from her lips. “Hear this, child. Ilya has done nothing for my kingdom. We have been shut out and cut off from your coveted resources for three decades now. I have no desire to help Ilya out of whatever goodness remains in my heart. But you…” Her red lips twitch. “You remind me of myself. So youthful. So determined. I only hope that drive doesn’t darken you.”
Her words hit a nerve, forcing me to fight off my flinch. Because I know what darkness she speaks of, feel it festering in the gaping hole of my heart where Adena once lived. And for the sake of her memory, her goodness, I shove it down.
The navy dress hugging Zailah’s curvy form flashes as she shifts in the throne of bones. She lifts a hand, inspecting her sharp nails. “So, for you, I will attempt benevolence. For Ilya, I will attempt mercy.”
Relief floods through me. “Thank you, Your Majesty. Your generosity will not go unnoticed.”
“No, I would hope not,” she says airily. “Now, tell me, how did an Ilyan ship survive my Shallows?”
Her obvious possession of the sea has me pausing long enough for Captain Torri to speak. “Well, Your Majesty”—he steps onto the blue carpet, snatching the hat off his head before sweeping into a bow—“I managed to captain the Reckoning across the treacherous sea. It was no simple task, but I am also no stranger to the water—”
The queen raises a silencing hand. “So, I take it that you didn’t encounter the beast?”
“Uh…,” Torri stutters. “Well, no, but—”
“Then you have survived nothing at all,” she states simply. “You may gloat only after you meet such a beautiful creature. And live to tell the tale.”
Torri opens his mouth, shuts it, and steps back beside Kai. Zailah smiles at this. “I’ll allow you three days to piece back together what is left of your ship. Rooms will be arranged within the castle for Paedyn alone.” She waves a dismissive hand. “The rest of you may sleep on your leaking boat. That is the extent of my generosity.”
I offer a bow of my head, if only to hide the grin spreading across my face. “Again, thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Yes, yes, I’m magnificent.” Her eyes slide hesitantly to the captain of her guard, allowing me to study her fully. She seems to glow with beauty, making it hard to look away. Her features are a contradiction of young and old, sharp and soft. Everything about her is a mystery, right down to the age she embodies.
“Adyn,” she calls, even as those green eyes fall back on me. When her captain appears beside me, I realize that the shouted name belongs to him. He folds stiff arms behind his back, locking his brown gaze on the dais’s floor.
“Escort Paedyn to her rooms,” the queen orders. “And ensure the others make it back to their ship.”
Adyn nods, his eyes flicking up momentarily. “Happily, Your Majesty.”
