3. Ra

Chapter 3

Ra

The humid heat of the Asian continent felt like a sauna after the cold wind of the City of Souls. Ugh. He did not need to be thinking about saunas when Mica was right there. The portal had opened unusually close to the soaring main entrance to the limestone caves that made up the sentient stronghold of the Earth Court. Portal magic was rare on the Melded Earths and the elemental rulers had taken exception to their formation anywhere near their power bases when it had come up at the global summit. Mica must've made an exception because he was travelling through it himself.

Kaia's surprised laugh sounded from nearby and Ra glanced over to see her standing near his gear where Mica was talking to an elemental with a slight build and wings the colour of oxidised copper. He recognised the elemental from previous surveillance as Wren, the Earth Court seneschal. On either side of them, lush jungle clung to the steep hillside the caves were set into.

"What's so funny K-Bear?" he asked, moving closer.

"The stronghold likes you. It got all fizzy in my mind when you stepped through," Kaia explained, smiling up at him.

As a human, Ra couldn't hear the stronghold like the elementals could, but he wasn't going to let that stop him communicating with it. Bowing low toward the entrance, he turned on the charm. "I'm fizzing, too. It's an honour to set foot in such exquisite beauty," he told the caves.

"What is he doing here?" Wren snapped at Mica.

Ra raised an eyebrow at the borderline rude tone, although the shitty attitude toward him wasn't exactly unexpected. It wouldn't be the first time he had to win over a tough crowd. "Hi, I'm Ra," he said, forcing his voice to stay upbeat and reaching out a hand to shake that Wren ignored.

"He's moving in while Kaia trains with us. Have the guest suite in my wing prepared," Mica said.

"My Lord, he doesn't deserve such an honour. Surely, he would be better placed with the girl in the trainee quarters, or at least in the usual guest quarters," Wren muttered, just loud enough to ensure Ra caught the words.

Ra snorted softly to himself and let his hand fall back to his side. Could the guy be any more obvious with his crush as he stared up at Mica with that obsequious obsession? In his role advising Bast, he'd kept up with all the gossip of the elemental courts. He'd heard the ponderings on why the seneschal had stayed in his position so long when most used it as a springboard to regional leadership of one of the Earth Court territories. Looked like the theories of unrequited love were spot on. Although, given the light colouring of Wren's feathers, it was possible the seneschal didn't have enough magic to be promoted elsewhere. The most powerful Earth mages all shared at least some of the shining metallic copper of Mica's wings, but Wren's had only the barest hint of that colouring on their edges.

"Do not question me, Wren. He is mine until he leaves. I need him close where I can keep an eye on him," Mica said, his eyes flicking down the length of Ra's body on those last words.

Fuck him. Ra didn't belong to anybody and that possessive crap shouldn't have him adjusting his jeans where they were becoming too tight, dammit.

"You cannot be serious after what he did. Whatever he's offered to get you to agree to this, I'm sure I can provide it for you," Wren said.

Ra's smirk turned into outright laughter at the thinly veiled come-on Mica seemed utterly oblivious to. "Dude, desperation isn't a good look on you. If you're so keen to claim him, why don't you piss a circle around him while you're at it?"

"Ra, behave!" Mica growled, narrowing his eyes at him. "And Wren, I already gave you your orders. I expect the suite to be ready by the time we get there. Now, where is Serena? I thought she would be here to greet Kaia and help her settle in."

Wren's eyes shifted back and forth between him and the Earth Lord like he was deciding how much to say. "She was called away unexpectedly. I can show the girl to her room."

Ra frowned at the thought of this asshole taking Kaia anywhere. And what was so urgent that the head of magical training needed to leave just as her new charge arrived? None of this was reassuring him Kaia would be safe here. Thank fuck he'd managed to convince Mica to let him come and keep an eye on her.

"Called to where?" Mica asked.

"Perhaps we can discuss this once your guests are more comfortable," Wren said.

"Wren, I give you a lot of leeway because of your centuries of service but I am losing patience. When I ask you a question, I expect an answer," Mica said, voice cold.

Wren's face flushed red with embarrassment and Ra was surprised he didn't drop to his knees in supplication. "Of course, my lord. I apologise. She is settling Kim and Jasper in the Tree City. She should return in time for the welcome dinner."

Ra could tell he was missing important context to this conversation. The Tree City was the nearest elemental city. It was home to those without enough power or status to justify a place in the stronghold, although he suspected many of the stronghold's residents also had homes there given how much easier it was to take flight from a tree than a cave for the winged elementals. Kim and Jasper must be trainees if Serena had missed their arrival to help them, but he'd thought trainees needed the proximity to the stronghold to stabilise their power as they learned. That was the whole reason Kaia was moving there after all. This was giving him a very bad feeling. He'd keep his concerns to himself for now to avoid stressing Kaia out, but he'd be quizzing Mica later for sure.

Mica's face had turned carefully neutral at his seneschal's words. "I will show Kaia to her room while you prepare the suite."

"As you wish," Wren said, gesturing to another elemental who'd appeared to collect Ra's tech gear.

"Be careful with that. It's as delicate as Wren's ego," Ra called, winking at the elemental in question, a young woman with enough copper in her wings to suggest she was going places. She stifled a laugh while Wren shot him a murderous look.

Mica growled under his breath. "Do you have a setting that isn't either flirt or aggravate?"

Kaia chose that moment to slip her hand into his and squeeze hard. Looking down at her, he could see the worry on her face. He needed to rein it in and focus on making her feel comfortable.

"I do. Protecting my family," he answered.

The walk through the caves and tunnels of the Earth Stronghold was eye-opening, and probably not for the reasons it usually would be. Sure, even he could sense the vast magic of the place he knew was a nexus of dozens of the ley lines crisscrossing the Earths as the source of elemental power. The limestone walls glistened with mica and the odd vein of quartz ribboned with tungsten ore that glittered under the magical illumination. It was deeply beautiful and the sense of age and calm from walking through the depths of the earth was impressive.

What he noticed most as they paused in a vast chamber that formed a crossroads, though, was the quiet. The space was lit by thousands of glowing tendrils hanging from its roof in rainbow shades and a dozen holes at various heights around its walls shone with artificial light where pathways curved out into the rest of the subterranean stronghold. It should have been bustling with elementals flying back and forth in the middle of the day like this, but the few people they passed were only those who were clearly going about a duty. No one lingered at the benches where clever mirrors let the sunshine through to creeping greenery. Conversations were hushed. The sounds of laughter and teasing he was used to from staff working in Soul Tower were absent.

The other thing that became clear as they made their way deeper was that the stronghold had, not surprisingly, not been designed for humans. The first time they reached a crossways where they needed to shift levels, he watched as Mica and Kaia spread their wings wide to coast down from the tunnel they were leaving to the cave floor and he was forced to clamber down a ladder while they waited for him. As he crossed the chamber, he noticed a pile of crumbled rockfall to their left that looked suspiciously like a tunnel collapse. Had the stronghold been destabilised enough to damage itself that way?

The next time they arrived at a chamber sporting a convergence of tunnels, there wasn't even a ladder to climb.

Mica cleared his throat awkwardly. "My apologies. We don't get many human visitors. If I'd known you were coming, we would have worked something out already. The trainee quarters are just through there," he said, gesturing to a wide tunnel to their right and above them. "Your suite will be more accessible to you. It's back the way we came on the main thoroughfares."

Leaning forward, Ra stared up across the cave wall. He was a decent rock climber, and it had enough texture that he should be able to manage it without ropes. He didn't want to be reliant on the Earth Court placing ladders for him to get to Kaia because he was certain Wren and anyone else who had it in for him would find a way to use the need against him.

Reaching out, he touched the wall, getting a feel for how well it might support him. A moment later, a noise like rockfall filled the air and he jerked his hand back as the wall started to move. A narrow staircase levered itself out from the sides of the cave to join the two tunnels he needed to navigate sending a shower of stones scattering down.

"Aren't you a clever thing?" Ra murmured to the stronghold. "Thank you."

"It's not supposed to do that without being asked," Mica said, concern in his voice.

"It really likes you Uncle Sunshine," Kaia said, smiling up at him.

"The feeling's mutual," Ra said, stroking the wall again, which warmed and thrummed beneath his fingers until he could feel the life in it.

The entrance to the trainee quarters was an inviting space hung with bright tapestries depicting the history of the Earth Court and the stages of magical learning. Ra stayed quiet as Mica played tour guide, slowing to explain each of the images to Kaia—the first stage of connection with the stronghold to stabilise a young elemental's growing power, the process of learning to channel magic safely, and finally the specialisations of each of the main types of magic that were taught.

Kaia wouldn't stay long enough to specialise, but hopefully she could carry on learning from Zee back home once she could safely control her power. The terms of her training had been spelled out by a contract between the courts and Mica had only committed to teaching her the basics of each magical specialty—defensive, offensive, and crafting and influence of the natural world. Ra was guessing the focus would be on areas more like Zee's magical engineering or uncontroversial magics like shielding and healing rather than anything that could be used to attack the Earth Court if they were at odds in the future. He hoped that wouldn't hold Kaia back from going as far as she could with her power. Even things like Mica's ability to calm and influence the predatory wyrms—earth dragons that flew beneath the earths' surface—could be used offensively, so her training would be very limited if they avoided anything dangerous.

The room Kaia was shown to was small but pleasant—just a single bed and desk—but the ensuite bathroom was a luxury he hadn't expected for her. Somehow, her bags had made it there ahead of them. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders as she took it in. It was a big change from her room in Soul Tower with its floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the city.

"What do you think, sweetheart?" he asked.

Mica had stayed out in the hallway to give them a modicum of privacy, which was just as well given the size of the room would've had them standing nearly on top of each other.

"It's nice. It feels cosy nestled in the earth like this with the stronghold," she murmured.

The light that emanated from the walls in lieu of any light fixture flared briefly as the stronghold responded to her words.

"Ah, there you are, my lord. Welcome back. I apologise for my tardiness," a woman's voice called from nearby.

Leaving Kaia to inspect her new home, Ra stepped back into the hallway to see an elemental with sweeping wings of copper and bronze walking toward them. Her brown eyes shone with bright intelligence and the rich purple silk of her shirt matched her long dyed hair. The stronghold's light seemed to gather against the light brown of her skin and the metallic sheen of her feathers, making her almost glow. In fact, now that he had time to stop and observe, he could see the same effect was even more marked on Mica, like he was bathed in power. As if the elemental needed to be any more attractive.

He'd done his research before coming, he had co-ordinated the Soul Court's intelligence after all, so he knew this was Serena—the missing head trainer who would have primary care for Kaia's wellbeing while she was there.

"Hi there. I'm Ra," he said, extending his hand to her like he had with Wren and wondering if he was about to be spectacularly rejected again.

"My goodness! Look at you! The stronghold is positively smitten with you and is that the Soul Lord's mark you bear? How intriguing. I haven't had a chance to study soulweaving but I'd love to learn more about it. Does it feel warm or cool when it's activated? Does the mark mean you can channel some of it yourself?" Serena asked, reaching out to shake his hand with enthusiasm as the questions tumbled from her lips.

"Perhaps wait a few days before you start the inquisition, Serena," Mica said, voice dry with humour.

Ra grinned at her enthusiasm. "I'm happy to chat magic with you any time, Teach."

"And you must be Kaia!" Serena said, turning to where the girl was cautiously poking her head from the room.

"Yes, ma'am. It's a pleasure to meet you," Kaia said, bowing like she'd been taught.

"None of that! You're family while you're here. Come here," Serena said, pulling the girl into a hug.

The tension that had been ratcheting ever tighter inside him since the second he'd arrived and noticed the tell-tale signs that things weren't right here loosened a little as Kaia relaxed into the embrace. Finally, here was someone he might actually be able to trust with his niece.

"Serena has shepherded hundreds of scared teenagers into confidence with their power. I told you Kaia would be well cared for," Mica murmured. "Must you give everyone an irritating nickname, though? ‘Teach'? She is an elder here and deserves more respect."

Huh. He wouldn't have guessed Serena was older than Mica. The elemental didn't look a day over twenty-five, not that any of the immortals did.

"Why? Are you jealous I haven't given you one, Lord Mica?" Ra asked. "Speaking of names, does the stronghold have one?"

Mica looked surprised. "Yes. Its name is Earth Stronghold," he deadpanned.

Ra rolled his eyes. "That's not a fucking name, is it baby?" he said, addressing the caves. "I'm going to call you Earthshine."

The stone floor beneath his feet warmed in response and light danced across the minerals embedded in the ceiling.

Mica looked pained. "I don't suppose you could be a little less endearing to my stronghold? It's uncomfortable."

"Why? Because you want it to hate me as much as you do?"

"Exactly that," Mica said.

"Fascinating. Are they always like this? Why did my Lord let him come?" Serena asked Kaia, mischief in her voice. She was obviously old enough to get away with the teasing.

"They used to be sweeter together, but yeah, they always look like they're about to jump each other's bones. Uncle's going to use his technology to help heal the stronghold," Kaia said.

Oof. From the mouths of children. He could've done without that truth bomb.

"I trust Serena, but I'd appreciate it if you'd keep the information about the stronghold to yourself for now, Kaia. The other trainees and staff don't need to worry about it," Mica said.

"Where are the other trainees?" Ra asked.

Serena and Mica shared a significant look that confirmed his suspicions that something was wrong. The space was too quiet to be the residence of a bunch of teenagers.

"The other trainees have been here longer. The younger ones are spending some time in the Tree City to study the magics that went into constructing it. The older ones are venturing further afield," Serena said.

That may have technically been the truth, but he was betting there was a lot more to the story.

"If you're available now, we will leave Kaia in your capable hands until dinner," Mica told Serena.

"My pleasure," Serena said, smiling down at the girl.

Ra did his best to hide his wave of irritation at Mica's presumption he would leave with him. "That okay with you K-bear? I'm happy to stick around."

"I'm fine, Uncle. Go."

Ra reached out and ruffled her white-blond hair. "I see how it is. Too cool for your Uncle Sunshine already."

Kaia rolled her eyes and hugged him goodbye.

Mica was already stalking ahead of him back the way they'd come when he finally pulled away. Sighing to himself, Ra jogged to catch up, ignoring the way the elemental's wings framed his ass perfectly in his tailored suit pants.

"If you coddle her, she will lose her confidence," Mica said.

"Chill. She's only twelve and we just got here."

Glancing over, Ra watched Mica's jaw tighten in the warm light emanating from the tunnel walls. "I will show you to your room and then I have things to see to until dinner. Do not venture into the tunnels without a guide. You'll get lost."

"I'm sure I'll be fine. Your stronghold's not going to let me get lost are you, Earthshine?" he asked the walls.

"Stop doing that," Mica growled.

Ra's temper flared. "No."

Mica swung around faster than Ra expected and he was pinned against the nearest wall before he had a chance to react, strong arms caging him in on either side of his head. "You are in my territory now. You do as I say."

"Yeah, no. That's not how this is going to go," Ra said, glaring up at Mica. "Especially when your orders are bullshit. I'm going to be sending drones all over your sweetheart of a stronghold. I need it to trust me so I can help it heal. You know. The whole reason you let me come."

The copper of Mica's magic flared so brightly in his wings that Ra was forced to squint and a sensation like a landslide slipped over his skin as it rushed over him.

"You gonna lose your temper with me, Lord Mica? Is this your famed diplomacy?" he taunted, which probably wasn't the brightest move to make. What could he say? The elemental brought out the worst in him.

Mica snarled and the sensation of power coming from the hand resting near his ear grew even stronger. Hot earth magic snaked around his neck and he tried to jerk away too late with nowhere to go. Had he really pushed Mica to attack so soon? He'd thought they'd last at least a few hours.

The Earth Lord pulled back a moment later, his eyes flicking down to a new weight resting on Ra's collarbones before turning away. Reaching up, Ra felt a thin strangely flexible length of a smooth warm mineral around his neck. His searching fingers found no seams or sharp edges and no obvious way to remove the construct.

"Did you just fucking collar me?!" Ra yelled.