Korrin

KORRIN

M ila stepped forward, her movements slow and deliberate. She reached into her cloak, pulling out a small, ornate box.

My heart raced as she opened it, revealing a sphere about the size of a large marble. The object gleamed with a silvery-blue sheen, its surface covered in a complex network of raised lines and depressions. A bright purple light emanated from its core, casting an eerie glow over Mila's face.

I leaned closer, fascinated by the intricate details. One side was flat with a circular indentation, while the opposite had a small protrusion. Along its equator, I noticed small, retractable pins. The sphere pulsed with energy, bathing the room in a soft purple light.

Denna reached into her bag, withdrawing two objects. The first was my old necklace—a flat, irregular hexagon with swirling, circuit-like patterns. At its center, a small circular crystal pulsed with blue light. The second piece was an elongated triangle with curved sides and raised geometric patterns on its surface.

Mila's brow furrowed. "Two relics? Were you sent to find both?"

Denna shook her head. "The second one was a surprise. It came from Korinn's mother, Baroness Balinta."

At the mention of my mother's name, Drax's eyes widened. He opened his mouth as if to speak, then closed it abruptly. I filed away his reaction for later questioning.

As the three pieces were brought closer together, they began to vibrate. Protrusions and pins appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. Mila's sphere fit perfectly into the depression on my mother's piece, while the protrusion on the sphere aligned with my necklace.

The pins on the sphere's equator extended, interlocking with teeth that had suddenly appeared on my mother's relic. The patterns on all three pieces aligned, forming a complete, intricate design.

A soft humming filled the room as the assembled device pulsed with energy. Suddenly, it emitted a bright flash, causing us all to shield our eyes.

Denna's tracking necklace responded, pulsing with an intense blue light. The spindle in its center spun rapidly. She removed it, holding it out before her.

A small, flickering image appeared above the necklace. A human woman with almost translucent skin and striking red hair shorn close to the scalp. A metal plate was visible behind one of her ears, and her eyes held a depth of ancient wisdom and deep sorrow.

The image spoke: "Congratulations, Denna, on assembling the control component. It is urgent that you bring it to me immediately."

As the message faded, a map appeared floating in the air, with a marker near the far side of the Canyonlands, almost at the base of the Teksha mountains.

Tharon's face contorted with rage. "Who is this woman?"

The women exchanged confused glances. Lita spoke up, "That is Niam. She's the Oracle at the Temple. She's the one who sent us here."

Tharon's eyes flashed dangerously. "Who hurt her? Why does she look like that?"

His shoulders broadened, hands clawing.

I tensed, recognizing the signs of a man losing control of his Valti. Ashur and I moved instinctively, putting ourselves between Tharon and the human women. Drax stepped forward to confront his brother.

"Tharon, calm yourself," Drax said, his voice low and steady.

Tharon's chest heaved as he struggled for control. After a moment, his breathing evened out, but his eyes remained wild.

"I will take the device to Niam," Tharon declared, his tone brooking no argument.

Drax's eyebrows shot up. "What about your responsibilities here? The kingdom needs you."

A smirk played at the corners of Tharon's mouth. "It'll be good for you to be in charge for a change, brother."

The air in the room grew thick until I could almost see the charge building between the brothers, like lightning about to strike. My hand inched toward my weapon, unsure of what might happen next.

Tharon's laughter cut through the room like a blade, his eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and challenge. "Don't you trust me, brother?"

I watched the exchange, my mind racing. There was clearly more to this story than met the eye. The dynamics between these brothers were complex, layered with years of history I couldn't begin to fathom.

Lita's voice rang out, sharp and clear. "No."

Her blunt response startled me. I glanced at her, noting the set of her jaw and the fire in her eyes. What had transpired between them to breed such animus?

Drax took a step back, his expression thoughtful. He studied Tharon, as if seeing him in a new light. The silence stretched, thick with unspoken words and shared history.

Finally, Drax spoke, his voice measured. "Maybe... just for this, Tharon really could be trusted."

The words hung in the air, heavy with implications. I watched Tharon's face, catching a flicker of surprise in his eyes. For just a moment, something else flashed across his features—gratitude. It was gone in an instant, but I'd seen it.

The dynamic in the room shifted, subtly but unmistakably. Tharon's shoulders relaxed slightly, his stance less combative. Drax's words had struck a chord, opening a door that had long been closed between them.

Denna's eyes flashed with anger as she stepped forward, her hand closing protectively around the device. "This isn't yours to take, Tharon. You have no idea what it is or what it does."

I tensed, ready to back Denna if needed. The air in the room felt electric, charged with the brewing conflict.

Tharon's lip curled. "And you do? You're fumbling in the dark as much as the rest of us."

"At least we have a connection to it," Lita interjected, moving to stand beside Denna. "This is Temple business. It's our responsibility."

Mila nodded, her voice steady. "We were chosen for this task. We can't just hand it over to you on a whim."

I watched the exchange, torn between wanting to support Denna and the desire to see her free of this dangerous mission. The device hummed softly in her hand, its glow casting eerie shadows across the faces of those gathered.

Tharon's eyes narrowed. "You have no idea what dangers lie in those mountains. It's safer for you to stay."

"We've faced plenty of dangers already," Denna shot back. "We're not helpless."

"No one's saying you are," I found myself saying, earning a sharp look from Denna. "But Tharon's right about the risks."

Tharon nodded, a smug expression crossing his face. "If I die out there, who would mourn? But if any of you fall, your mates would grieve. Is that what you want?"

The words struck home. I saw Denna's resolve waver for a moment, her eyes meeting mine. The thought of losing her made my chest tighten.

Lita scoffed. "That's manipulation, pure and simple. We're not children to be protected."

"No," Mila said slowly, "but maybe he has a point. We don't know what we're walking into."

The room fell silent for a moment. I could hear the distant sounds of the city through the windows—merchants hawking wares, the clop of hooves on cobblestones. The normalcy of it all felt surreal compared to what was happening here in this room.

Denna's shoulders slumped slightly. "Maybe... maybe we should let him take it."

"Denna!" Lita exclaimed, but Mila held up a hand.

"Think about it," Mila said. "He can move faster alone. And if something goes wrong, we'll still be free to act."

Tharon's eyes gleamed with triumph. "A wise decision. I'll leave immediately."

"Not so fast," Lita said, her voice sharp. "You'll send word back with messenger birds. Regular updates. If we don't hear from you, we'll assume something's wrong and come after you."

Tharon's mouth twisted into a mocking smile. "As you wish, my lady." He bowed with an exaggerated flourish. "Now, if you'll hand over the device?"

Denna hesitated for a moment, then slowly extended her hand. The device pulsed once as Tharon took it, as if sensing the change in ownership.

"Don't make us regret this," Lita warned.

Tharon merely smirked, tucking the device into a pouch at his belt. With another mocking bow, he turned and strode from the room, the door closing behind him with a resounding thud.

The tension in the room deflated like a punctured balloon. Denna sagged against me, and I wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Did we do the right thing?" she murmured.

I wished I had a clear answer for her. Instead, I simply held her closer, my thoughts a tumult of worry and relief.

Ashur cleared his throat, drawing our attention. "Perhaps we should move this conversation upstairs. The sitting room would be more comfortable."

Mila nodded, her eyes smiling. "We'll have to serve ourselves, but at least we won't have to worry about prying eyes and ears like at the castle."

As the others moved towards the stairs, Drax caught my arm. ", stay back a moment." I watched as Ashur, Denna, Mila, and Lita disappeared up the staircase, leaving Drax and me alone in the room.

I hesitated, glancing at Denna's retreating form. She caught my eye and gave a small nod before disappearing up the stairs.

Once we were alone, Drax's demeanor shifted. The easy charm he usually exuded gave way to something more serious, almost vulnerable.

"I need to ask you about Baroness Balinta," he said, his eyes searching my face.

My back stiffened. "Balinta is my mother. The heart and soul of the Wandering Nation. What do you know of her?"

Drax's gaze dropped for a moment before meeting mine again. "Only a name I heard. From my own mother."

"Who is your mother?"

A soft smile played at the corners of Drax's mouth, his eyes distant. "A wanderer, she went by many names. But with me, she shared her secret name. One from the past that no other should know."

I knew what was coming, but I wasn't prepared for it.

"Ninnitah," Drax said.

The name hit me like a physical blow. My aunt's name, one I'd heard whispered in sorrow and anger throughout my childhood. The sister my mother had lost, captured and enslaved by Zashi soldiers before I was born.

My mother had never gotten over it.

My mind reeled, struggling to make sense of this revelation. "But... how? She was enslaved..."

Drax shook his head. "No, she was never a slave. She found my father, Sarl, wounded on the battlefield. She nursed him back to health. They fell in love."

The pieces began to fall into place, a picture I wasn't sure I wanted to see. "But Sarl was already married..."

"A political marriage," Drax confirmed. "His queen was already pregnant with his heir."

Tharon. It had to be.

Drax continued, his voice low. "Sarl and Ninnitah couldn't bear to part. She tried sending messages back to her people, but Queen Kiha used that as an excuse to accuse Ninnitah of conspiring against Zashi. So she stopped sending messages. She was worried Kiha would use them as a reason to send Zashi's army."

My fists clenched at my sides, anger and confusion warring within me. "And my mother? Did she ever know?"

"I don't think so," Drax said. "Ninnitah died when I was young, but she never forgot her homeland. She told me stories of the Wandering Nation, of her sister Balinta. I grew up with those tales."

The room spun around me. I gripped the back of a nearby chair, steadying myself. My mother's grief, her bitterness towards Zashi, it all took on a new light. All these years, she'd believed her sister a slave or worse, when in reality...

It was too much to process. The woman I'd grown up hearing about, the aunt I'd never known but whose loss had shaped so much of my childhood, had been alive all this time. Living a life of luxury while my mother mourned her.

But no, that wasn't fair. From what Drax said, Ninnitah had been trapped in her own way. Unable to reach out, unable to go home.

I opened my eyes to find Drax watching me, concern etched on his features. "I'm sorry," he said. "I know this must be a shock."

A bitter laugh escaped me. "A shock? That's one way to put it."

Drax reached out, then thought better of it, his hand falling back to his side. "What will you do?"

I ran a hand through my hair, my mind racing. "I don't know. I need to tell my mother, but..."

But what? How could I possibly explain this to her? How could I undo years of grief and anger with a few words?

The sound of laughter drifted down from upstairs, reminding me of where we were, of the larger situation at hand. I straightened, pushing my tumultuous emotions aside for the moment.

"We should join the others."

Drax nodded, but his eyes remained fixed on me. "My family here is… complicated, I know" he admitted. "Lita is my everything. Her sisters, I would care for as my own. But you and I have a different tie, if you want."

I met his gaze, seeing the sincerity there. Despite everything, I found myself nodding. "Cousins, it seems."

A small smile tugged at Drax's lips. "Cousins," he agreed.

As I headed up the stairs, my mind whirled with the implications of what I'd learned. The past I thought I knew had been rewritten, and I wasn't sure what that meant for the future.