by Coco Ma
He rubbed the scars on his wrists, charmed into invisibility, his eyes flicking to the tattoo on his left wrist of a fox entwined with a serpent—marking his everlasting loyalty to the House of the Serpent. For a long time, his powers had posed more of a danger than protection. Only after years of training could he rein them in.
Quinlan tossed the omnistone aside and called upon a hail of fire arrows, his magic shuddering out of him with delicious relief. He watched as the arrows whizzed around the room, their smoky trails billowing up to the low ceiling. He didn’t need a firestone, or any stone at all for that matter, but he kept one on him for appearances’ sake. Relying on an affinity stone had only brought him a childhood of misery—but these arrows could deliver that misery tenfold. Could blaze through cities like a match lit to parchment, devouring all they touched to cinders, any building disintegrating to dust at the slightest wayward wind. They could burn through this very palace, taking everything and everyone he wished with it.
Including Asterin’s handsome Guardian … Quinlan snorted at himself and rubbed his temple, his thoughts once more returning to the princess. His arrows dissipated with a soft hiss. A few glowing embers drifted down, singeing his tunic. The burn marks on the fabric faded away with a brush of his hand, the taste of ash and magic filling his mouth.
He cursed, suddenly remembering that he didn’t live alone. Hopefully the fumes would fade by the time the others returned. They still had drills with Captain Covington to look forward to after dinner.
His stomach grumbled. As Gino so eloquently put it … Food. Now. Getting up from his bunk, Quinlan stretched and left the barracks, climbing the stairs and following the sound of Orion’s unmistakable laugh to Mess Hall.
The other Elites saved his usual spot for him, between Rose and Casper. Quinlan’s gaze lingered on Asterin, seated mere feet away—and yet, with the way her Guardian had her enrapt with some stupid story, it felt as though they were stuck in separate universes. Rose elbowed him, eyebrow arched. He cleared his throat and reached for a soup tureen, chancing a look over his shoulder to the flock of nobles in all their finery roosting at the head table, looking down on the rest of the court as they nestled closer around the finest of them all.
Quinlan had heard many tales regaling the beauty of the Queen of Axaria—and while few were actually true, he couldn’t deny those about her eyes. They were the stunning teal of the Syr Sea, and, if the tales were to be believed, an extraordinary one-of-a-kind—not even inherited by her own daughter, who was currently biting down on a bread roll to stifle her laughter.
Asterin caught his stare and raised an eyebrow. What, asshole? she mouthed.
He shrugged, lifting his glass in toast. To you, he mouthed back. Brat.
Her smile could have lit the darkest of nights.
And though he’d never seen eyes quite like Queen Priscilla’s before, he would trade them for a particular pair of emerald greens any day.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Eadric thundered up the stairs, only half-dressed. The message a servant had delivered to him was crumpled in his fist. Only four words had been scribbled upon it, in Asterin’s hand, heavily underlined. Urgent. Come at once.
He flew down the corridor and burst around the corner to her chambers. He found Orion standing in the open doorway, unusually pale. Without a word, the Guardian beckoned Eadric into the sitting parlor, where Asterin waited beside a cart of untouched sandwiches.
“Your Highness! Are you all right?” Eadric demanded, heart pounding. He searched her blank expression. “Your Highness?”
Finally, she gestured for him to take the seat across from her. Her fingers were knotted in her lap, the knuckles bone-white. Quietly, she asked, “Did you know that thirty royal soldiers have disappeared?”
“Disappeared?” Eadric frowned. “General Garringsford informed me that the squads are just doing some rounds through the kingdom. They should be back tomorrow, actually.”
“No. They won’t be.” She revealed a scrap of metal that she had been hiding in her lap, about the size of her palm and scorched black. Flecks of ash stained her trousers. “I was on my way to the stables when I intercepted a messenger by the gates.”
Eadric peered closer at the crimson-painted metal. There was a flash of silver, the muzzle of a snarling wolf—
His eyes widened. “Is that …?”
“The remains of an Axarian shield, brought by the messenger. There was a letter, too. He refused to part with either—at least, until I ordered him to.” She turned the scrap over in her hands, before tossing it to him. “They’re dead. Every single one of them.”
In his shock, he nearly dropped it. The royal shields were the size of a carriage wheel, made of lightweight steel and strengthened with magic—resistant to fire, acid, various attack spells, and nearly indestructible by force. Eadric gripped the ridges even as they cut into his skin, struck dumb. Fellow soldiers that he’d known for years, all gone in one fell swoop. “But how?”
“I don’t know,” Asterin said. “I hoped you might have an idea.”
He could only shake his head. “Who was the messenger supposed to deliver it to?”
Orion looked up from the ground. “Who else?”
“I think,” said Asterin at last, expression grave, “that I need to have a conversation with my mother.”
The three of them filed silently into Throne Hall. No sooner had the doors closed behind Eadric than they opened a second time. He leapt back, sinking to one knee, Asterin and Orion following suit as the Queen of Axaria stormed past, General Garringsford at her heels, as always.
“What is the meaning of this, Princess Asterin?” Queen Priscilla demanded. She shook her head at her kneeling daughter. “I do not appreciate being fetched at such short notice.” Settling into her throne, she swept a hand. “Rise and speak.”
Asterin strode forward, brandishing the chunk of shield. “What is this?”
The queen froze. “Where did you get that? Give that to me at once.”
“Mother,” Asterin hissed, shoulders shaking, though whether from grief or anger, Eadric couldn’t tell.
“Your tone, Princess,” the queen warned. “Hand it over.” Asterin complied reluctantly. The queen examined the scrap of shield for a moment and then set it gently aside. They stared at one another, the tension mounting, before at last the queen exhaled. “Daughter—”
“I want answers,” she said.
Asterin’s mother raised an eyebrow. “Was that an order?”
Asterin averted her eyes. “It was a request.”
The queen sighed. “I hoped you wouldn’t find out. Not like this, anyway. How convenient for you that a guest arrived mere minutes ago … you may stay and hear him out. Carlotta, if you would please bring him in?”
The general nodded and disappeared through the doors.
The queen stood from the throne and descended the dais. “As of late, there have been an increasing number of reports describing some kind of monstrous beast terrorizing the outskirts of the kingdom. In particular, the Aswiyre Forest and its surrounding villages. It started by targeting wild animals, and then livestock, and now … humans. Regardless of day or night, man or woman, they are being slaughtered like cattle.”
The doors opened, and they all turned to see Garringsford leading in an enormous, hulking stranger with a wiry black beard and caterpillar eyebrows that covered nearly all of his forehead.
Queen Priscilla waved to the man. “This gentleman goes by Crawson. He owns a farm near the southwest part of the forest and allegedly spotted the beast.” She turned to Crawson. “Do you still remember what it looked like?”
Crawson stepped forward. In a gruff voice, he said, “No one who saw the damned thing would ever forget it fer the rest of his days, Your Majesty ’n’ Highness. It had rubies fer eyes and fur blacker than coal, I tell ye. Claws fer cuttin’ stone and fa
ngs like rows of knives. And wings … wings stretchin’ toward the sky, blockin’ the clouds and the light of the moon, massive and webbed. It moved like a shadow, I tell ye, totally silent, slippin’ in and out of wherever it pleased without the slightest sound, leavin’ only carnage in its wake.”
In the silence that followed, Eadric spoke first. Tread lightly, he reminded himself, chest tight. “Is there a reason I wasn’t notified of this matter?”
Queen Priscilla fixed her cold gaze on him. “Simply put, yes. I knew you would have told Princess Asterin.”
“And why shouldn’t he have?” Asterin cut in. “You can’t just bargain the lives of our soldiers—”
“Everything has a price,” the queen snarled, so viciously that they all jumped. She took a deep breath. “I know the cost, daughter. I ordered ten soldiers to go and investigate. When they didn’t return, I sent another twenty. And I am well aware that my decision means not a single one will ever return. As queen, I sometimes must make hard choices for the greater good. You would do well to remember that.” She shook her head. “But of course I never intended to lose so many … I suspect that the demon can only be defeated with powerful magic, but we have no one qualified for such a task.”
Asterin stepped forth. “I am.” Her eyes blazed with determination. “I’m powerful enough. Let me go.”
Asterin’s mother stared at her. And then she burst into laughter. Hurt flashed across Asterin’s face. Once the queen’s laughter had subsided, she waved at Crawson. “Thank you, Mister Crawson, for your help. As promised, your bravery will be generously rewarded. Please wait outside. I will address you as soon as I am finished here.” The grizzly man bowed and lumbered away. As soon as he left, Queen Priscilla stood from the throne. She strode toward Asterin and grabbed her by the shoulders. “Have you lost your mind?”
Asterin’s jaw jutted out. “Why can’t I go?”
The queen snorted delicately. “What makes you think that you can accomplish the task that dozens of my best soldiers cannot?”
“Because I’m omnifinitied.”
Priscilla’s mouth fell open. “You mean to say … but since when?”
“Since a few weeks ago.”
Her mother’s eyes softened. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Asterin averted her gaze, fists clenched. “Does it matter?”
“Asterin—”
“Because I want you to be proud of me for who I am! ” Asterin hollered. The queen flinched, as if her daughter had struck her. “Not what I can do. Nothing except for my magic has ever impressed you. Not my training progress or my combat abilities. And I know that you don’t consider those to be ‘ladylike,’ but it’s what Father would have wanted, and more importantly, what I want. And I’m proud of that.”
Eadric felt a little breathless watching Asterin’s back straighten while she confessed, as if each word was a physical weight unloading from her shoulders.
Asterin took a step closer, barreling onward. “Mother, this is the perfect opportunity to test my powers. Even without the control of the other elements, you know that I’m more powerful than any guard. This is my chance to see what I’m truly capable of. To see if I’m worthy of the throne.”
“Even if you’re more powerful than any one of the guards,” Queen Priscilla argued, “their powers combined surely outmatch yours.”
Orion cleared his throat, ice-blue eyes unwavering. “As her Royal Guardian, it is my duty to protect the princess. Wherever she goes, I will follow.”
Eadric nodded. “As will I.”
“There,” Asterin said triumphantly. “Our powers easily match those of a dozen guards.”
Priscilla observed the three of them. “You can’t be serious.”
“We’re very serious, Your Majesty,” Orion replied.
General Garringsford spoke up. “My queen … if I may. The princess has a point. How many more men—good, loyal men—can we stand to waste? When does the cost of attempting to kill the demon become too great? None of them stand a chance against it, but Princess Asterin has both the skill and the power.” Garringsford turned to Asterin, who could scarcely hide her astonishment at the general’s support. “I’ve seen her take on a half-dozen guards twice her size and come out unscathed. If there is anyone who can beat unbeatable odds, it will be her.”
“Why, Carlotta,” said the queen with a frown. “Where were your sweet words when Asterin was practicing magic?”
Garringsford’s lips pursed, as if she were trying to summon a smile but could only manage a mild grimace. “Everyone needs a little push now and then. The point is that we simply cannot throw away the lives of our soldiers any longer. My queen, if Asterin has even the slightest chance of succeeding, then we must seize it.”
“Please, Mother,” Asterin begged. “What purpose does a ruler serve if they cannot protect their own people? If I’m your only hope, then let me go.”
Queen Priscilla turned her back on them, seating herself on the throne. In a rare moment of vulnerability, she sagged against the armrests. “It seems I have no other choice.”
Asterin exhaled. “Thank you, Mother. I won’t fail—”
“I’m not finished,” Priscilla interrupted. Asterin shrank. “Three is a sacred number, but it is not enough for the task at hand. If you can find three more brave souls willing to lay their lives at your feet, Princess, then I …” She rubbed her temple. “I will allow you to go. Keep in mind these are three lives you are willing to sacrifice, as well.”
Asterin bit her lip, faltering, but Eadric knew that particular set of her chin all too well. “I will find another three,” she said, voice perfectly even. “We’ll slay the demon, no matter the cost.”
“And if the cost is your own life?”
Asterin huffed a bitter laugh. “Doesn’t everything have a price, Mother? You’ve sent me away to complete tasks before. For this one, I won’t even have to leave the kingdom. And I will not fail.”
The queen looked away. Finally, she said, “Immortals help me. You are fools, all of you. May the Council pity you and look down upon you in favor. Set out at first light. Head for the village of Corinthe, where the demon was last seen. Take whatever supplies you require. I don’t want you in the village itself, however, in case the demon attacks it. Carlotta, your contact?”
Garringsford nodded. “He lives in the Aswiyre Forest, just north of Corinthe. I will send a message to him immediately and provide you with the maps. He goes by the name of Harry.”
“The Aswiyre Forest is notorious for strange happenings,” warned Priscilla. “Caves that come and go with the full moon, enchanted lakes. Proceed with the utmost caution. It appears that you may very well be Axaria’s last hope, Princess Asterin.” The queen flicked her wrist toward the doors. “Now get out of my sight, before I change my mind.”
“We’ll find the demon before it can kill anyone else,” Asterin promised, eyes glinting with fearless conviction.
Queen Priscilla shook her head. “Just pray that it doesn’t find you first.”
Asterin didn’t realize where her feet were taking her until she arrived at the door to Luna’s workshop, tucked into a snug corner in the south wing. Still caught in a sort of trance, she knocked thrice. When there was no answer, she let herself in, taking a deep inhale of the musty smell of damp earth.
She had requested the old parlor be renovated into a workshop some years back as a gift for her best friend. Although Luna’s duties kept her from working on her sculptures more than a few times a week, the room was filled with new wonders every time Asterin visited.
The girl herself stood in the center of the room, dancing around an enormous slab of white stone, chisel in hand. She hummed a little tune in time with her chips, the light of the single window glinting off her honey hair and a little wrinkle creasing her brow.
When Asterin tapped her shoulder, Luna jumpe
d, the chisel clattering to the floor. “Immortals have mercy,” she gasped. It took her less than a second to read Asterin’s expression. “What’s wrong?”
Asterin told her everything, from the shield and the deaths of the guards to the demon and the queen’s requirement that she choose three more people to accompany her. Silence fell.
Luna reached out to grab her hands. “I’ll go with you.”
Asterin stared at her. “What?”
“I’m coming,” her friend repeated, grip tightening.
“No.”
“Asterin, all I have is you, Eadric, and Orion. I am sworn to serve you, just as they are. I may not be able to wield powerful magic, but … we’ve been together for so many years. I could never stand to lose you.” Blue-flamed resolve burned in Luna’s eyes. “I’ll help you in whatever small way I can.”
“Luna …” Asterin bit her lip, mulling her words over, still on the verge of saying no—but found that she couldn’t. Finally, she asked, “You would trust me with your life?”
At that, Luna rolled her eyes. “As if I don’t, every single time you dream up one of your harebrained schemes.”
“Fine,” said Asterin, chest tight, hating herself for bringing Luna—innocent, sweet Luna—into this mess. “Because that’s exactly what you’ll have to do.”
CHAPTER NINE
The ten Elite Royal Guards were already lined up in the high-ceilinged concourse training hall when Eadric arrived. They snapped their heels and saluted, a synchronous thump of hands on shoulders. All were in full dress uniform, save Quinlan, who had yet to receive his cloak. Its absence from his shoulders left him looking strangely exposed—all the same, he stood just as tall as the rest.
“At ease,” Eadric said and pulled the doors shut. The lamps flared brighter, the sole light source since there were no windows. “What I’m about to share with you is for your ears only: A beast of unknown origins has been terrorizing the people living near the Aswiyre Forest. The Queen of Axaria has allowed Princess Asterin the task of killing it, and as such, her Royal Guardian and I will be accompanying her. However, the queen has required that we choose three more of you to join us.”
