Sun Broken (The Wild Hunt #11) - Yasmine Galenorn Page 0,23
cabin was long and narrow, with bunk beds buttressing the end of the room. A sofa ran the length of the starboard wall, and the bathroom door stood to the right of the beds.
Another door next to the bathroom door led to a closet. The kitchenette lined half of the port wall, and the rest was taken up by a floor-to-ceiling bay window. Everything was decorated in shades of silver and gray, and it felt very misty.
“Should I change?” I asked. Sometimes, Morgana demanded those of us in her pledge to dress up when we entered her realm. It was more a show of respect than anything else, and the first time, I had balked at the tradition but now I just accepted it as matter of course.
“Please. You’ll find your dress in the closet.”
I opened the closet, expecting to see the gown I’d worn the last time I’d been here, but it had been replaced with a flowing gown the color of the indigo night, beaded with crystals. The gown had tank-top straps and a sweetheart neckline. It was fitted to the waist, then flowed out in a bohemian-style skirt.
“This is beautiful. You’re sure it will fit me?”
Aoife nodded. “Yes, it will fit. Go change.”
I carried the gown into the bathroom and slipped out of my jeans and top, adjusting my boobs. My bra did a good job of keeping them in place, but the underwire was wearing thin and the material was beginning to stretch a bit. I needed to go shopping. I slid the dress over my head and the gown fell loosely around my legs. It was so light that I almost felt naked, though I knew that I wasn’t anywhere near exposing anything except some cleavage.
I changed my boots for the slippers that went with the gown. They were better suited for walking in the sand, as I’d have to walk along the shore once I went through the portal. I stepped out of the bathroom with a smile on my face. It felt nice to be dressed up, especially after the heaviness of examining Mendin’s home, and of interviewing Isolde.
“I actually need this today,” I said, smiling at Aoife. “It’s been a rough day and it’s not likely to get any better for a week or so.” I brushed my hand across my forehead, wincing. “Have you got anything for a headache?”
“Ask Morgana when you get there. She’ll be able to help you.” Aoife led me to a ladder on the other side of the bathroom door that went to the roof. “Come.”
I began to climb, following her up the ladder. She opened the skylight overhead but we weren’t climbing onto any roof.
We climbed up onto a spit of sand next to a rolling ocean. The waves were continually singing their song as they crashed into the land and then withdrew, only to come rolling in again.
The sand spit led to a castle that was built out over the ocean. The castle was immense, rising glossy black against the setting sun, embossed with silver etchings that lined the base. There were sirens in those images, luring sailors into the ocean, and bas-reliefs of a regal people I did not recognize. The windows of the castle flickered with light from within, and a parade of battlements crowned the walls. It was still light enough to see the merlons jutting into the sky. As before when I had come here, the castle intimidated me. It seemed so heavy and oppressive for a goddess who lived on quicksilver and moonlight.
Aoife motioned to the path leading to the castle. “Do you remember the way, or do you need me to lead you again?”
“I remember the way,” I said. “If you’ll just wait for me so I can get back through the portal when I return.” I smiled at her. “Your life must be full of waiting.”
“It’s not so bad. I work every other week, so I have plenty of time off. And it’s not like I don’t have Netflix and an e-reader! Go now, and I hope you have a good visit.” She turned back to the portal and settled on a rock near the entrance.
I turned back to the castle. The path was barely twelve inches wide, and to my left were stark cliffs towering above the castle. Beyond the edge of the cliffs, it looked like a forest took hold, but I couldn’t see much of it from below. As I started walking, the sound of