than I’ve had my title; but that’s part of why I’m stepping down. Azami is young; she’s able to adapt to the changing times in ways I struggle to see.”
“Last summer, we were on the verge of a crisis when many of our hot springs started to run dry. But, now…” Azami’s words trail off with a grin that has my blood warming. “Now, you’ll have to let us show you. Follow me right this way! We’ll have your belongings waiting for you in your rooms.”
Every bone in my body is aching, and the absolute last thing I can imagine doing is making small talk with strangers. Especially when I need to hurry and get to the fire serpent. Though I’m still not certain how I’m going to use it, I can’t do anything until that artifact is mine.
But I’m still here on a false mission, after all. And it’s practically guaranteed not all in the crowd are Valukans. Though everyone wears the same brilliant shade of ruby, I’ve no doubt some of those faces are truly Ikaean reporters trying to blend in. With them watching, I’ll need to bide my time for the right moment.
Not to mention that Azami’s excitement is infectious. Despite everything, I find myself drawn to her, wanting to follow.
And so I say, “It’d be my pleasure,” because what does one more night matter? Just one more night, before I’m forced to choose my fate.
“Come on then.” Azami grabs hold of my hand. “Valuka’s waiting for you.”
* * *
Winters on Valuka are too hot for a cloak. Even my thin linen shirt sticks to my clammy skin in the clotting heat.
Gods, I can’t imagine living here during the summer.
We’re deep in the water territory, surrounded by swamps with water so thick and green it’s impossible to see even an inch down into it. Overgrown vines and gnarled roots snake from the ground, forming crooked, uneven pathways between the water. Most of the trees have been cleared away, creating a stretch of swamplands and marshes with wet earth that mucks onto our boots.
“Our island is the largest in the kingdom,” Lord Bargas says, hands folded behind his back as he assesses the terrain around him, wrinkling his nose at the mud on his boots and trousers. “Because of that, we’ve adopted some alternative methods of transportation. This is where I’ll be leaving you today, I’m afraid. But not without a gift.”
He sweeps both hands into the air, and all around him the marshes come to life, muddy water spiraling out of them. But the water doesn’t fall; instead, it takes shape as it did back on the bay, turning into a smaller, watery green dragon that hovers in the air. Beside it, more water springs from nearby marshes and takes shape into four horses that stamp their misty hooves against the ground and shake the strands of algae and vines that form their manes.
“They’ll get you where you need to go,” Lord Bargas offers. “Azami, I’m putting our queen and her companions in your care.”
Azami grins, making a fist that she punches down at the earth. A chunk of it splits beneath her feet, lifting from the ground so that she’s hovering upon it.
“She’ll be in good hands, Uncle. Are you ready, Amora?”
The dragon winds around me, dipping between my legs and hoisting me onto its back in one quick motion. I gasp, expecting to be soaked, but every part of the dragon that I’ve touched has turned to solid ice.
“Are you sure there isn’t a more … sanitary way for us to get there?” Ferrick grimaces at the cloudy water while Shanty gleefully climbs atop her steed. Vataea’s more curious than she is cautious, running her fingers through the water. I can practically see her mind working to decipher whether she could produce something like this on her own.
“I’d no idea Valukan magic could be so versatile,” Bastian says as he eyes his horse.
“Oh?” Lord Bargas asks with mock surprise. “I would have thought that someone impersonating a Valukan would have known more about it.” He doesn’t give Bastian the chance to bite back. Instead, he gives his wrist a small flick, and the water horse throws its head into Bastian’s stomach, tossing him onto its back.
“Don’t you dare, you old man—” Bastian’s voice cuts off with a sharp yelp as the water horse takes off and Bastian’s forced to hold on. All the while Lord Bargas laughs with such gusto his belly shakes.
The rest of