Descendants of the Kings (Book 2)

Ch 65.2: I am your sword

Summer. That was Gidden's first thought.

Warm, buttery rays of sunlight seeping through veiny green foliage. Heat and the scent of baked earth, moss and water.

He blinked, rubbing his eyes, trying to find his bearings. He was no longer in the Gerrathean palace. Wherever he was, it was outside, daytime.

He looked around in wonder. Soaring, cavernous stone walls lined with moss and lichen. A gurgling stream dripping, casting blue lights on the walls.

With a start, he realised he was back in Cereas. An elated breath left his lips as he ran a hand down a mossy jutting rock. He knew this place. It was the underground cave he used to frequent with Briar.

Except it was summer. The sun was out, streaming in through the top of the cave, gilding it all in warmth. The air was heavy with pollen, and the scent of flowers. Not a hint of snow or cold.

He approached the little underground lake, where he'd often swam in. Crystalline blue. He was tempted to jump in, to get a taste of that freshness he hadn't felt in so long. Before he could, a voice interrupted him.

A woman sat on a jutting rock, one foot lazily dragging over the rippling surface of the water. She jotted something on a journal in her lap. Without looking up, she said, "Who goes there?"

Gidden opened his mouth, embarrassed. "I— Excuse me. I did not know anyone was here, miss—"

"Well?" she cut in, finally looking up.

His breath died in his throat when she did. She was breathtaking. Not pretty, so much as alluring. An unruly mass of auburn hair framed her angular face. Her nose was crooked, dusted with freckles, and her jaw was sharp as knives, offset by a wide, curving mouth.

She had an arresting, unconventional sort of beauty. Beautiful in the way the forest was beautiful, yet wildly dangerous. There was nothing delicate about her—she was earthy and strong.

Her eyes glowed softly. He'd never seen something like them, they were stunning in their duality. One was the green of moss, the other a warm, doe brown. They reminded him of the of the damp earth, the sweetness of mulch and sap, the stirrings of fresh grass poking from the earth—life and death.

"Speak," she said firmly, her deep voice carrying like thunder. "State your intentions at once or be gone."

Gidden opened his mouth, lifting his hands. "You'll excuse me, I had not meant to interrupt you. I do not know how—"

The woman narrowed her eyes at him, but then, she smiled. Her cheeks lifted, her mouth curved, eyes crinkled with joy. A peal of laughter tore from her.

"It is you," she exclaimed, getting to her feet. "Oh, how I've longed to see you!"

Gidden frowned, confused. Before he could begin to question her, she leapt from her spot. In only three steps, nimble like a fox, she propelled herself away from the ledge and jumped in front of Gidden.

Gidden took a tumbling step back, but she didn't register him. Her attention was wholly focused on some point behind him.

A woman stood at the cave entrance, gently making her way down the steep incline. Though it was a rough terrain, she seemed to float, her feet barely touching the ground.

Golden white hair backlit by the sun, a massive pair of pearly wings tucked behind her. She looked like a goddess descending from the heavens.

No sooner than she'd stepped foot into the cave, the ginger woman was upon her, throwing her arms around the other woman.