Chapter 13

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As it turned out, it had taken us closer to two hours to reach Boreas’s kingdom, as Raiden had to circle around the jagged mountains to find out just where the castle was nestled. I could still remember my awe at looking at the patch of green, vibrant life laid out in a valley. Dark and rocky mountains surrounded it fully, yet still a wind blew through the kingdom from being so high up.

Raiden landed us down in the long, flowing grass before he flew away to rest upon the surrounding mountains. It was still cloudy out, and a fine mist of fog swirled around our feet in smooth patterns as we walked.

I tried not to be awed by the sheer size of the castle looming before us, nor by the beauty of it. It was made of a dark, nearly black rock, and vines of a wild growing flower entwined itself up the walls. The dusty purple of the flower’s petals stood out starkly against the gray sky and mist around us.

“I’m guessing that he doesn’t have a village?” My eyes wandered around to find a dense collection of stalls and houses like there was in the other kingdoms, but all I could see were houses scattered around in the large valley, too far out to even be called anything like a village.

“No, not really. There’s a market of some sorts behind us, but the people here aren’t too fond of staying close together. There’s really no need to, anyways. What are the odds of an attack this high up?”

I watched my breath come out in a misty cloud. “I guess that makes sense. Only it’s a little depressing. What about being social?”

Instinctively my attention was drawn behind me to try and catch someone peeking out in curiosity at us. To my satisfaction, a group of kids sunk low into the mist playfully while throwing cautious glances our way. So there was social interaction.

“Halt there!” A loud voice boomed from a distance in front of us.

Instinctively, my heart picked up its pace and began to hammer against my chest with the steady beat of nervosity.

Vibrations pounded into the ground with the steps of horses drawing near us, their dark forms stirring up the mist at our feet before stopping a several feet from our position.

Niram threw me a reassuring look before he turned to a man on a white and black horse. “King Regis, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” He bowed, and with a discreet nudge, caused me to curtsy.

“Who are you,” The King’s voice boomed dark and brooding. His head was held up high, his chestnut colored hair streaked with gray. Lines of wrinkles hardened his face into a look of constant disconent. 

“Niram Merrick, your majesty. King Fletcher’s son.” His gaze flicked over to me briefly. “And this is Eris Kindler, the Seer he had mentioned.”

A silence soon followed this statement. The King exchanged glances with the guards around him warily, obviously debating his actions in his head. A wind tore through the air and tugged at all of our clothing. It sent the grass to stir at our feet and bring up a fresh smell of rich Earth.

The King shot us one more wary glance before letting out a hesitant, “Okay. You’re here to see Boreas, I presume?”

Niram just nodded. I stayed slightly behind him and kept my gaze trained on the ground or wafting in the distance.

“Very well,” His dark eyes bore into my skin with a judging stare. It felt like a physical pressure, as if he was actually pressing down onto me with his hands. It made it hard to breathe. “Follow me.”

With that, he turned his horse around swiftly and began his way back to the castle.

Niram shot back an exasperated look before he motioned me along to follow. Obviously this kingdom wasn’t a very friendly one. To me, it seemed like a strict community that indulged in little, if at all.

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