The City of Zirdai

by Maria V. Snyder

“I’m doing it for Mojag.”

  “He might never forgive you.”

  “I know, but if I do my very best as the prince, then maybe in the future I can forgive myself.”

  “All right.” She led him to one of the empty guest suites. “There’s a water closet you can use. They just fixed the pipes.”

  He nodded. And Shyla took note of his bedraggled clothing. That wouldn’t do for a prince. She flagged down one of the staff—they were no longer called servants—and asked about clean clothes for Jayden. The young woman said she knew just the thing and dashed off.

  By the time Jayden had shaved and scrubbed the grime from his body, the lady returned with a red tunic and black pants made from expensive silk. The pants were a little big, but overall the clothing fit well.

  “They were the prince’s,” she said before leaving.

  Jayden and Shyla glanced at each other.

  “That’s a very good sign,” Shyla said.

  He laughed. “Since when do you believe in signs?”

  “Since I survived an explosion. Come on.”

  They reached Hanif’s temporary office, which had been the prince’s main place to do business. Two piles of rubble framed the entrance, which was just big enough for one person to cross. Jayden paused, peering at them.

  “This is nothing in comparison to the rest,” she said. “No one died here.”

  He smoothed his tunic. “Two hundred and sixty-four.”

  “They should never be forgotten.”

  “They won’t be.”

  Inside the room an angry male voice rose. “Which is why we can’t leave the running of our city in the hands of an amateur.”

  “That’s my cue.” Jayden straightened his shoulders and entered the room. “I can assure you the city won’t be run by an amateur,” he said.

  Shyla slipped in. About twenty unhappy people sat around the large conference table. Hanif sat on the far end—literally cross-legged on the tabletop with a serene expression on his face, which no doubt infuriated the elders. Rendor stood along the wall with a couple armed protectors. Something about his posture worried Shyla. Did he think these people would riot?

  “Who in the seven hells are you?” the same querulous voice asked.

  “I am the new Water Prince.”

  Jayden’s declaration caused an immediate reaction. And, for a moment, Shyla thought being in the middle of a cave-in was quieter. Hanif grinned at Shyla and left the room, leaving Jayden in charge. Shyla stood next to Rendor in case Jayden used magic to defuse the situation.

  However, using the skills he learned over the years with the communes and the Invisible Sword, the Vagrant Prince transformed into the Water Prince. Hanif was bound to gloat the next time they were together. While Jayden took control of the meeting, Shyla scanned the “guests” with her magic. No one said she couldn’t.

  Anger, confusion, frustration, greed, and disbelief rolled through them, but nothing dangerous. At least, not yet. Jayden would have to watch his back. Two faces seemed familiar—a young man and his father, their resemblance unmistakable. When the young man glanced at Rendor for the third time, she remembered.

  Hastin! Rendor’s older brother. No wonder Rendor was so tense. She laced her fingers with his and gave him an encouraging squeeze. He glanced at her and then visibly relaxed before giving her a squeeze back and releasing her hand. She wasn’t offended—she knew he needed to be ready just in case violence broke out. It didn’t, but a number of poisonous looks were aimed at Jayden as the elders left. Rendor and his men escorted them out.

  “You still have a long way to go,” she said to Jayden.

  “No kidding.” He looked at her as if in pain. “Are you going to take my magic now?”

  “No. I think that should be done in front of everyone.”

  Alarmed, he asked, “The entire city?”

  “No, just the Invisible Swords, Hanif, Kaveri, and the protectors.”

  “Do all the protectors know about wielders?”

  “Yes. When Rendor recruited them to our side, he told them. When he was the captain of the Water Prince’s guards, he always told them what was going on if he could. That’s why they trusted him more than Yates.”

  “Isn’t Rendor still the captain?”

  “He’s my captain, not yours. You’ll have to find your own.”

  Jayden was thoughtful. “Perhaps he’ll have some recommendations for me.”

  “I’m sure he will.”

  After a time was set for Jayden’s unofficial coronation—the official one would be when the King’s emissary arrived—Shyla returned to her room. Rendor was already there. He worked at the desk, assigning shifts. Another thing Jayden would need to do was recruit more protectors.

  She told him about the plans for Jayden and mentioned that he would be asking for recommendations, but Rendor was distracted and closed off, reminding her of when she’d first met him. And she didn’t need to read his emotions to know something was bothering him. She only needed on guess to figure out what.

  “Time for a break,” she said.

  “I need to get this done,” he said, writing team names.

  “It wasn’t a suggestion.” This time her voice was firm.

  “Huh?” Rendor barely glanced at her. “Just a couple more---”

  “Captain, take a break.”

  She had his full attention. Fun. However, his scowl wasn’t as fun. Shyla took his hands in hers. “Do you really care what they think?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Your family. Is it important to you that they change their opinions about you?”

  He studied her for a few moments. “Are you offering to use your magic?”

  “No, but I’m offering you my support if you want to talk to them.”

  “They’re not my family. They disowned me.” The words came out flat and emotionless as if he’d repeated this to himself so many times that it no longer hurt to say it.

  “There’s been a lot of changes. You’ve changed the most. Plus it’s a new era. And you’re no longer working for the prince, but for me.”

  He laughed without humor. “I doubt they’d think that was an improvement.”

  “Insult aside, let me ask you again. Do you really care what they think?”

  He bent his head, and stared at their clasped hands. Shyla waited as he sorted through his emotions. But before he could reply, Mojag and Gurice poked their heads into the room.

  “Are you ready, Rendor?” Gurice asked. “This little sand rat’s driving me crazy.”

  “Sand rat? You’re just mad I disarmed you in five moves,” Mojag said.

  “Disarmed?” Shyla asked Gurice.

  “Yeah, we’re both learning how to fight with a sword.”

  “And some of us are quicker to learn,” Mojag added with a smirk.

  Shyla glanced at Rendor. He peered at the pair as if seeing them for the first time.

  “Uh, Rendor, are you coming? Can’t have a lesson without the instructor,” Gurice said.

  “I’ll meet you there in a couple angles. Try not to settle any sibling rivalries with the practice swords before I get there.”

  “No promises. Come on, rat.” Gurice pulled Mojag from the room.

  Shyla crossed her arms. “You have to answer my question about your family before you can leave.”

  “They’re not my family.”

  “You said that.”

  “Yes, but this time I believe it. Why would I care what they think? They’re not my family.” He pulled her closer. “My family is you and the Invisible Swords.”

  She leaned forward so her nose almost touched his. “What a coincidence, they’re my family, too.”

  “And me?”

  “You’re just mine.”

  They assembled in the training room. It was the only space big enough for the one hundred and three protectors, thirty-five Invisible Swords, one monk, the Heliacal Priestess, and the interim Water Prince. If this didn’t work, th
ey’d need to find another interim prince or princess.

  Jayden stood in the front with Shyla. There was a bucket of sand between them. She’d explained to the crowd that Jayden had voluntarily agreed to give up his magic. And then added the disclaimer that this might not work. Gurice gave them both an encouraging thumbs-up. She was sitting in the front with Rendor and a number of the Invisible Swords who knew Jayden. Mojag was as far away as physically possible and his back was turned toward them. If Shyla hadn’t ordered him, he wouldn’t be here at all.

  “Ready?” she asked Jayden.

  “No, but I doubt I’ll ever be ready.” He took a deep breath. “Please continue.”

  “Use your magic to move the sand.”

  Jayden stared at the bucket. Grains of sand rose into the air. They converged and formed a young woman around Shyla’s age made of sand. Murmurs raced through the crowd at the display. Most of the protectors hadn’t seen magic in action. The sound piqued Mojag’s interest and he glanced over his shoulder. The sand woman smiled at the boy.

  “Is that your sister?” Shyla asked Jayden.

  “Yes. Beautiful, isn’t she?”

  “She is.”

  “This is how I’ll always remember her. I thought she’d be perfect for my last sculpture.”

  “She is.” Shyla focused on him.

  Jayden’s entire body glowed with magic. Not like an open druk lantern at all. Head to toe, he was filled. When she tried to close it, the power found a way to escape; it was like trying to put too much water into a skin. She needed to switch tactics. If she couldn’t squash it, perhaps she could drain it. Shyla tugged on his magic, pulling it from him like unraveling a ball of yarn.

  He hunched over with a grunt of pain. The sculpture began losing shape as the grains fell back into the bucket. Then he cried out and went down on his knees as Shyla collected more and more of his power. While she had access to his mind, she erased his memories of the location of the Invisible Sword’s headquarters and the tunnel they were building to connect it to Zirdai. If Jayden turned into another despot—doubtful, but better to be safe—she didn’t want him knowing where to find them.

  When she ripped the last thread from his soul, he screamed and the ball of magic in her hands exploded. The invisible blast sent her flying across the room while Jayden was pushed in the opposite direction.

  She had no memory of hitting the floor.

  Rendor was next to her when she woke. Everyone was on their feet and glancing between her and Jayden.

  “How is he?” she asked.

  “Like you, knocked out.” He helped her sit up. “Zhek says he should be fine.”

  “Did it work?” Gurice asked.

  “Give her some time,” Rendor snapped.

  “It’s okay.” She stood but grabbed Rendor’s arm for support. Thankfully, he kept quiet as he assisted her over to Jayden.

  Jayden was still sitting on the floor. He rubbed his chest absently. “I feel empty.”

  “Can you move the sand?” she asked.

  He stared at the bucket. Nothing happened. No glow inside him. Shyla thought she was going to be sick. How could she do that to another person? Turning away to avoid his reaction, she said, “It worked.”

  As Rendor guided her from the room, they passed Mojag. He was staring at Jayden as if he’d never seen him before. It was better than anger. They didn’t get far before Shyla sagged against Rendor.

  “Should I find Zhek?” he asked, scooping her up.

  “It’s not something he can cure.” She snuggled against his warm, broad chest. “Take me home please.”

  The King’s emissary arrived two hundred sun jumps after the defeat. Shyla decided that “defeat” was the best way to describe the events leading up to the deaths of the Water Prince and Heliacal Priestess. By then, Jayden was working hard to enact all the conditions he’d promised. And Kaveri had fully embraced her new role. She’d banned the green robes because the people no longer trusted the green anymore. Too many bad memories. They all wore yellow tunics and pants instead.

  Hanif was back at the monastery, but he frequently visited the priestess. And the Invisible Swords had returned to the Temple of Arinna. They’d made progress in cleaning out the temple and finished the hidden tunnel into Zirdai. Best of all, in her and Rendor’s new room was the biggest, thickest, softest sleeping cushion she could buy.

  The emissary interviewed almost everyone involved with the defeat. He spent half a dozen sun jumps inspecting the destruction and visiting all the chapels in Zirdai. Gurice said he even talked to the university’s professors. However, he didn’t question Shyla. In fact, he actively avoided her, which was odd. Did he think she’d lie to him? Or was he one of those people who believed sun-kisseds should be sacrificed to the Sun Goddess? His strange behavior caused worry to simmer in her guts.

  Everyone agreed they wouldn’t mention magic or that The Eyes were anything but priceless artifacts that caused the prince and priestess to go to war. They did inform him about the role of the Invisible Swords in the defeat. History was on their side. Yet the King was known to be alarmed by groups like theirs. He feared being overthrown, which was why he had amassed such a large and well-trained army.

  Would he consider Shyla dangerous to his rule? He shouldn’t. She’d refused to become Zirdai’s Water Princess. But Jayden had told her the emissary didn’t seem to believe him when he explained why Shyla turned down the role. Did the emissary think she had her sights on the King’s job? Why not just ask her?

  Everyone released a huge sigh of relief once the emissary concluded that all the events they had reported to the King had been truthful and necessary. He officially approved the appointment of the new Water Prince and Heliacal Priestess. There would be a ceremony and city-wide celebration the next sun jump.

  A few angles before the event, Shyla dressed in a new tunic and pants. She decided to leave her wrap behind. Rendor looked…damn fine in his clothes. Too fine.

  She yanked on his shirt. “We really don’t need to go. I think we should stay here and…snuggle.”

  He stilled her hands. “We have all the time to snuggle. This is an important occasion. One we worked very hard to bring about.”

  Rendor was right. And it was a lovely ceremony. Jayden looked handsome and regal and quite smitten with Aphra, his new archeologist. Kaveri shone almost as bright as the sun.

  During the party afterwards, someone tapped on her shoulder. Shyla turned to face the King’s emissary.

  “Are you Shyla Sun-Kissed?” he asked as if he hadn’t been avoiding her all this time.

  Strange. No one had used that name in a long time. “Yes.”

  He handed her a thin scroll sealed with wax.

  “What’s this?”

  “You’ve been summoned to appear before the King of Koraha.

  Thank You

  Thank you for choosing The Eyes of Tamburah, the award-winning first book of my Archives of the Invisible Sword fantasy series. The hot desert sands of the world of Koraha was inspired by my visits to the Australian Outback.

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  Acknowledgments

  In the acknowledgements of my last book, Chasing the Shadows, I wondered if any of my readers read the acknowledgements of books. The answer was a resounding yes! And many of my readers appreciated my Acknowledgement Quiz. So in that same spirit, I give you an Acknowledgment Word Search! You will find all the names of those who have helped me make this story better, and those that provided love, support, and wine, on the next page. A gigantic THANK YOU to all of you!!

  ANNABEL

  JOHANNA

  MICHELLE

  RODNEY

  ELLE

  JULIA

  MINDY

  SAM

  ELOISE

  KATHY

  NATALIE

  JEFF

  KRISTIAN

  RACHAEL

  JENNA

  MICAELA

  REEMA

  Read on for an excerpt from The King of Koraha

  coming November 22, 2021

  The King of Koraha

  * * *

  Ever since Shyla was six circuits old, she’d wanted to visit all the vast underground cities of Koraha. At that time, her world had been very limited. Raised in a monastery by the Monks of Parzival for eighteen circuits, she’d only ventured out to the nearby city of Zirdai on the rare occasion. Her desire to travel never dimmed as she researched the history of each city, their various famous and infamous inhabitants, and catalogued the underground wonders of Koraha. In her dreams, she’d plan her visits, listing the sights that shouldn’t be missed.