Light of Stars [2]

Chapter Twenty-Four

♕ River and Mist ♕

The skyline of Mistburgh was barely visible through the fog, the armors of the guards waiting in the sea line shining underneath the few glimpses of sunlight that went through the clouds. Aubrette stepped froward, if they could already spot their ship in between the mist she did not know, but she could see them, clearer than any day sky. She had tried to make herself look presentable, tried and failed to make herself appear as a queen. The way others perceived you was important. That was one thing she'd learned from her mother, from the way she had dressed to impose fear, to demand respect from the second she entered a room. But right now, Aubrette did not have the privilege of diamond covered dresses and black stone hovering her skin in jewelry. She had only the gleam of her eyes, the color of her hair, and the rushing warmth of her blessing at the reach of a breath, waiting for her to grab it.

Zander had not been worried or surprised when she had asked him to let her make the arrangements for their entry. She needed to be the one to make the deal for their acceptance into Luxem, into Starhaven. Needed to be the one that looked like a leader, but above all she wanted them to believe Zander's alliance was with her now. Even if she was not sure herself. It was the only leverage she had. A fake one and a weak one, but the only one that she could play at the moment.

Their ship halted, the Silent Grave coming to its end. The wind seemed to stop with it. A different sort of silence rushing to lure them inside. The guards did not move from their posts, even as water rushed to wet the sand underneath their feet, soaking them above their ankles. She tried to look into their eyes, search for any sort of wonder or surprise at Zander's emblem drawn in the veils.

Somehow, they'd been expecting their arrival, preparing for it.

Mistburgh's shore was different from Goldcrest's in every way. Between the fog and blue shaded shadows of mountains covering those of the guards waiting for them below, there was not much for her to spot, not much she could distinguish, the city seemed to be submerged inside a cloud.

"I still think we should join you. Just in case." Sybilla said, both Izabella and Mason nodding in agreemnet. Aubrette turned to her and forced a smile.

"If we don't return, I need you to turn back the ship and go back to Regno"

"No" Sybilla said immediately. Aubrette sighed, looking at Mason. "No" Sybilla said again. "If neither of you come back..."

"It won't come to that" Zander said, stepping next to her. "But if it does, please listen to Aubrette"

"Like hell will we listen to either of you" Izabella said. "We'll burn the city to the ground if we have to" Aubrette looked down, holding her breath at the assured tone of Izabella, the red in Sybilla's eyes. Even when she did not feel as if she deserve it, the look of loyalty inside their eyes, she understood because she would burn cities for them as well, and let those flames turn the world into ashes.

"Let me come" Mason said. Sybilla's face turned to him. "I guarantee you'll come back" Silence fell over all of them. "Let me do this last thing. Before I leave, let me help."

Aubrette forced herself to look at him, then back at the lineup of guards waiting for them. She looked towards Zander, remembering his words, how he'd committed treason by joining the King. No matter how noble the reasons behind it were. They were no longer home, no longer knew what would wait for them beyond the wall of mountains covering the mist city.

"Fine" Aubrette said. "Zander" she said looking at him, his eyes on Sybilla, who was now walking to the edge of the ship.

"Let's go" Zander said.