Eighty-Two Samkiel

Clouds swirled behind us as we cut through the billowing misty masses. We descended, and my thighs tightened against the metal saddle, the air growing warmer the lower we went.

“I hate this,”Dianna said through our connection. “Why do I have to be a giant flying worm?”

The wind ate my chuckle. “Technically, you’re not a worm. Ryphors are ancient beasts and much more intelligent than a worm.”

“It’s a fucking worm, Sami, and I hate you.”

I merely patted her soothingly as she grumbled. I supposed the creature’s overall shape did look like a giant worm. The thick metallic gray plate that covered its head in a semicircular crown ran the length of its body, tapering toward the tail. The smooth underbelly had round vents that somehow lifted it into the air. Its mouth was nothing short of a nightmare. The serrated teeth and split jaws were bad enough, but it was the smaller tentacle tongue with the mouth at the end that was truly unnerving. Ryphors were unpredictable, violent, and aggressive, yet somehow, Nismera had managed to tame at least one and breed it.

“Mm-hmm. I feel they are more closely related to those hoklok that lurk in the reefs, not worms. You know, they are slimy, vicious, stupid, and attack anything that moves.”

“I still hate you.”

I threw my head back and laughed. Veruka’s eyes widened as her ryphor curved through the sky next to us. I hadn’t told her of the power I had crafted into our rings because, no matter what Orym said, I did not trust her fully. Dianna was right. Veruka smelled of my brother, and I wasn’t convinced it was just for the sake of the mission.

We broke through the low-hanging clouds, and rows and rows of hexagonal tents came into focus below us. My eyes caught on one tent in the middle of the camp that sat a little higher than the rest. Soldiers crawled over the camp, voices reaching us even up here.

Veruka whistled, and we turned and sailed toward the southern end of the camp. We sailed over the ryphors locked on their posts, and they raised their heads as we passed. I prayed Veruka’s witch was strong enough to mask our scents. I knew we were in the clear when none of them screamed or chased after us.

Veruka pulled back on her reins, hovering near an elongated tent, and Dianna followed suit. Dust curled around our feet as Veruka and I hopped off. She nodded toward the tent behind me before heading to the one just on the other side. Dianna followed me in, her long serpentine body coiling to fit. She changed back to her lithe form as soon as the flap fell, a shudder of relief going through her.

“I counted at least a hundred as we passed over,” she said, peeking out. “Not counting the ones inside the stable.”

Dianna stepped back, and Veruka walked in, one of those small wisps darting around her head. Her tail whipped behind her, and she stopped short, not wanting to crowd Dianna. “Orym is atop the nearest hill. No one has come or gone besides us in the last hour, so Illian is here.”

I nodded. Illian was the commander here, his legion the one that frequented the area. The information Veruka provided said that he was a carviann, a species with four arms, skin the color of the ocean, with spikes protruding from his elbows.

It was astounding to me that those who hated the gods so desperately seemed eager to join Nismera’s legions and work for her. Even the most vicious and rebellious bent to her will, and I didn’t understand why. Why work for a goddess who destroyed your way of life?

“All right,” I said. Dianna came to my side, careful not to touch me. I hated it. “We need to find his tent first, then gather the documents.”

“Okay, well, we passed over that large one. My bet is that’s his,” Dianna said.

Veruka and I both shook our heads.

“Wouldn’t be,” Veruka said. “It would be waving a flag to anyone attempting to raid this place. If anything, it’s a trap in case someone comes snooping.”

“Correct,” I added. “I saw a smaller one toward the back. We can check there first.”

Veruka shook her head again and tapped her chin. “Too close to the forest’s edge. He will still be in the middle of the camp but hidden. Nismera is too on edge right now. She wouldn’t leave things lying around. We need to look for the one where soldiers are hanging around outside but trying not to act like they are guarding it.”

“All right,” I said, nodding.

I turned toward Dianna, who just watched us both.

“I’ll be back as soon as we collect it, and then we leave. Dianna, you wait here and stay hidden.”

“Quietly,” Veruka added.

Dianna’s lips thinned. “Well, it seems like you all have the perfect plan. I’ll just wait here.” She bared her teeth at Veruka. “Quietly.”

I reached for her but stopped short, my hand collapsing into itself. She said nothing. She just wiped her hands on her dark pants and stepped back. Dark mist boiled from her skin and expanded, coalescing into the large, formidable form of the ryphor again. Veruka nodded toward the tent exit, and I tossed a thin smile to Dianna from beneath my helmet before we left.

We strode side by side, blending in with the soldiers we passed. Veruka received a barely-there nod from those who passed, but I remained quiet until we passed another tent.

“Watch how you speak to her,” I said, keeping my voice low and my eyes forward.

I felt the tension leaking from Veruka as she cleared her throat. “I meant no disrespect, but she is not battle-trained.”

My hand went to her arm, and I pulled her to the side, turning her to face me. “She will be your queen.”

I could see the resignation in her eyes, and I let her go. “Does she know that?”

“What is that supposed to mean?” I asked in a hushed voice as a few soldiers passed.

“I barely know her, mostly only what Orym has said. Her will and alliance are to you and your family, but the realms? She does not act for them. He told me what she had done. What the others see as a rebellion seeking freedom from Nismera’s tyranny was merely to keep you safe.”

I said nothing.

“Are you sure she even wants to be queen, or does she merely wish to be with you? Did you ask her, or are both of you blinded by love and not focused on duty?”

A shriek filled the air, and we glanced up. A few ryphors flew past, turning toward the right and settling away from the stable tents in a plume of billowing dust. I recognized the commander riding atop the largest beast. Veruka and I shared a glance and nodded, refocusing on our mission.

“I suppose we don’t have to guess what tent,” she said as we walked toward the noise.

Soldiers passed us, headed the opposite way, returning to where they should have been. It seemed he had been gone long enough for them to decide to take a break. Now, break time was over. Veruka and I ducked around a neighboring tent near where he had landed. We pretended to be deep in conversation while we looked around. The ryphors were tethered to their posts, but Illian and his personal guards were nowhere in sight.

“I am going to do a quick perimeter sweep,” Veruka said, taking another glance. “Then we can move in. Stay here.”

I nodded, and she hurried past. I moved toward a few crates, doing my best to seem busy.

“Dianna.”My mind stretched eagerly toward her. I felt the tug of the connection, but there was no answer. “Dianna,” I said again, more firmly this time.

“What? Tired of your new girlfriend already?”Her frustration felt like a brush of ice across my mind.

“Funny.”

“Just saying I could have stayed at the top of the hill with Orym instead of in a sweaty tent that smells like worm shit.”

My hand clenched, tightening my grip on the ring that I wore beneath my gauntlet. “I wish it was you instead. I’ve only been around Orym’s twin for mere moments, and she’s already annoyed me.”

Her anger felt like needles prickling across my scalp. “What did she do?”

I focused, showing Dianna the actual conversation. She listened to what Veruka had said to me, and I felt the knot in my gut tighten. It was true that I had never asked Dianna if she even wanted to be queen. I had been far too excited to be with her, dragging her into my world and responsibilities without ever—

“Sami.”Her voice was a soothing balm that brought my thoughts to a screeching halt. “You dragged me into nothing I did not want. I chose you, Sami, and I will, over and over again. Plus, I knew you were king when I tried to kill you the first time.”

I laughed and covered it with a cough as a passing soldier glanced at me. He didn’t say anything and just continued on his way.

“It changes nothing, and Veruka can mind her own godsdamn business. You stuck me with nothing I do not want. This whole saving the world and ruling kingdoms is a package deal with you, and I’d have it no other way.”

“But I never asked, Dianna, and now we’re married. It was selfish.”

“Not in the least. I’m a smart girl, and I knew what this came with. I’d have you with or without a crown. As long as I have you.”

That warmth spread, not just in my head or through my body, but it flooded my fucking heart. This woman . . . she was my everything. Veruka appeared next to me, and I turned to meet her gaze.

Veruka nodded. “I found his tent. He just stepped out with a general, so our window is limited,” she said. “We need to go now.”