Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 156907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
“She says I’ll be fine,” I told him quietly.
“She is not right, but you will go on,” he replied.
“Cass?” I called, tipping my head back.
“Yes, Ellie,” he answered, dipping his chin down.
“To the sun and every star beyond,” I whispered.
He dipped even farther, and in a return whisper against my lips, he said, “To the sun and every star beyond, my darling.”
Prince Cassius
Night Heights Mountain Range
AIREN
Three days hence, Cassius entered the cottage at the queen’s behest.
He moved to stand by her bed.
She stared up at him.
“You do?” she asked, her voice a memory of what it once was.
“I do,” he answered, his voice strong as granite.
“You will?” she asked.
“With my all, with my life,” he answered.
“Take my hand,” she ordered.
He bent to take her hand.
She closed her eyes.
He waited.
Then he felt a curious sensation, like a feather was brushing his palm.
She opened her eyes, he let her go and straightened.
“When they come, as you first hold them to you, their heads cradled in your palm, whisper in their ears, ‘Your grandmother loves you,’ and they will know.”
He felt his jaw flex as he clenched his teeth.
“Promise me, son,” she urged.
“It will be done,” he gritted.
“You were loved,” she shared.
His voice was thick when he replied, “I know.”
Her head made a slight movement against its pillow, like a nod.
“I must rest.”
He bowed to her and moved to the door.
Before he opened it, he turned back.
“You were loved,” he told her.
“I know,” she replied.
The Squad of the Sisterhood of the Nadirii and the Airenzian Battalion
Night Heights Mountain Range
AIREN
Four days hence, the Sisterhood of the Nadirii formed circles around a platform made of piled stones, pinecones and dirt.
These circles of sisters started small and tight to the altar atop which lay the body shrouded in coral and purple. Close to the backs of the circle at the altar formed the next. And close behind them, the next. And so on.
The Airenzian soldiers stood at the back, not in circles, amongst them The Drakkar and his princess.
All except for the crowned prince of Airen, and his lieutenants Macrinus, Antonius and Nero.
These men stood in the circle at the front along with G’Liam of the Go’Doan and his chosen one, Saira.
The queen’s lieutenants moved silently around the edges of the altar, placing candles on the ground and in the stones and lighting them.
The hums began when Melisse, Lucinda, Agnes and Julia joined the circle closest to the altar and everyone amongst all the rings held hands.
The hum sifted through the sisters, rising higher, as bodies swayed side to side.
The Nadirii kept their gazes focused on the remains of their queen, their thoughts on her, or in prayer, as their mournful hum drifted through the pines.
The soldiers at the back began to shuffle and mill when the breeze came, the needles of the pines rustling, as if attempting to join in with the hum.
The united sound of the Sisterhood grew louder as the swaying broke its cadence. Some sisters rounding their torsos, some swinging front to back, some moving faster, some slower, as all tilted their heads back and stared into the heavens.
Clasped hands were raised, two by two, front, back, middle, all around, until all those joined had lifted fists to the skies along with their voices.
And then, after this had gone on for much time, suddenly, startling the soldiers, as one, all of the Nadirii drew their arms down and bent their knees, and a gust so great it could be seen whooshed over the body, extinguishing the candles.
The Airenzian soldiers crept away as this wind soared through the Nadirii, wafting their hair, billowing their cloaks.
But it halted at the end of its sisters and drew back with great speed toward the altar.
And as it retreated to its origin, it dragged the Sisterhood with it so they were crowded against each other, their arms lifted to the sky.
A great Nadirii yell soared from hundreds of throats, rending the air as the pines around them swayed violently and the moon and stars grew blurry.
Then suddenly, it was gone, as was the body atop the altar.
And Queen Ophelia of the Nadirii had become one with the veil.
King Aramus
Bedchamber of the King, Keel Castle, Nautilus
MAR-EL
Aramus jerked awake when his wife did the same.
He turned direct to her, and for a moment, his heart stopped as Ha-Lah stared, motionless and unseeing into the moonlit room.
She then turned into his body, burrowing in, sobbing.
“Ha-Lah,” he whispered into her hair.
“Ophelia,” she hiccupped into his chest.
He held her tighter and closed his eyes.
The loss was great.
But as ever, it was indication time marched on.
Just as it was an indication he could not ignore that it was also time to prepare.
He set thoughts of that aside for the now and focused on soothing his queen.
Hold her tight in your embrace, he prayed to Medusa.