The Realm Protectors

Chapter 46 - Nile

Lyra opens the tunnel to Vesi at the end of the week, leading us straight into my home city. Call me biased, but Saari is the most beautiful capital of any country in the Realm. Clear blue water, bright green grass, soft brown sand – it's home. Enya clasps my hand as we emerge on one of the hills surrounding the bay city. As much as Enya has deep-rooted pride for her home country, she fell in love with Vesi the few times she's been here with me to see my family.

"The soldiers' camp is that way," Tucker tells us, pointing north into the hills. The gateway catches the light slightly on the horizon, the waterfall it's located in shimmering in the sunlight.

"Perfect," Enya nods. "Let's go." We start hiking up the path into the hills, my friends admiring the ponds and streams that break across the landscape. Gulls soar across the sky above us, their cries echoing into the horizon. The packed dirt path starts turning to grass, and we finally arrive at the camp. Hundreds of tents are arranged in concentric circles, some marked with different symbols denoting their purpose. The gateway is still a few hundred yards away, just to make sure we're not directly in the path of destruction should it actually get attacked.

"Ah, there you are." Senator Nimve Zale is waiting for us by the break in the tents used as the main entrance into the camp. She's waiting with a woman dressed in a perfectly pressed Vesi officer's uniform, the medals and strips on her breast pocket shining in the sun. "Your Highnesses, this is Officer Dwyn Kersey. Grandshield Brooks has been coordinating with her over the past few days. She'll be your escort during your stay here in Saari." Tucker nods in confirmation.

"Wonderful," Enya grins. "I'm sure we'll be very comfortable in your hands, Officer.'"

Officer Kersey bows her head. "I will do my very best, your Highness. If you follow me, I'll lead you to your campsites." We gather all our bags and follow the officer into the ring of tents. The outermost ring is filled with large tents, each marked with symbols of cutlery for the mess halls or a blue cross for infirmaries. The ring after that is made of tents marked with swords and bows, designating them for training. Then comes officers' tents, marked with their names and titles, and three rings for the soldiers themselves to sleep in. The innermost ring has nine tents – one for each of us and Tucker – and a large fire pit for the entire army to gather around. Each of our tents is dyed the color of our element: orange for Enya, blue for me, yellow for Ciana, green for Avani, black for Nik, dark blue for Carter, purple for Lyra, and gray for Faris. Tucker's tent is marked with a golden shield.

"This will be perfect," Enya nods, surveying our site. "Thank you, Officer Kersey." Kersey bows and waits while we disperse into our tents and drop off our bags. The inside of my tent is laid out simply: a decent bed in one corner, with a small folding table to act as a desk in another corner. I drop my bags of clothes in one corner, making a mental note to deal with them later.

Enya's waiting outside my tent when I emerge, braiding her hair back away from her face. It's a lot warmer here than it was in Stelluna, even at the beginning of May. The hair at the nape of my neck is beginning to get sticky from the humidity. A few stray hairs curl around Enya's temples, framing her face and the shimmering whorls of fire around her eyes. In the late-day sun, she looks like a fire goddess.

"What are you staring at me for?" Enya asks, a devilish smirk twisting her lips.

"Why wouldn't I stare at you?" I reply, my own lips pulling up into a matching smirk. "You're gorgeous."

Enya rolls her eyes, tying off her braid and letting it drop onto her shoulder. "You always say that," She purrs, wrapping her arms around my neck and pressing her body against mine. My hands rest on her hips.

"It's the truth," I tell her, bending down and pressing kisses to her jawline. Her body goes taut in my grip before melting into my embrace.

"Nile," Her voice is husky and it lights my veins on fire. "We can't do this out here."