Page 49 of Queen of Shadows and Ruin

Her eyes flew open, and she sat up in her bed. It was still dark outside, and the sun was just beginning to lift over the horizon. Her skin was clammy and sweat beaded on her forehead. Her pulse was racing, and her heart thrashed against her ribs.

Why did she keep having that dream? And why now? Who was the golden woman in the corner? And what did she have to do with any of this?

Shoving the covers off, she slid out of bed and padded to the window. Snow fell in soft flakes, covering everything with a pristine blanket of white. She missed the beaches of Daragaab, their warm breezes, and the crash of the sea, but she couldn’t deny Andhera’s pure tranquility.

Despite her wariness, she realized she was already falling in love with this place. It was as if her consciousness knew this was where she’d always belonged.

Knowing she couldn’t sleep anymore, she decided to do some reading.

Tossing on some warm clothes, she made her way through the quiet halls of the castle, her route lit by dim, flickering torchlight.

She stopped before a long stretch of tapestries, carefully studying the buildings and streets of the great city that had once stood nestled in these mountains.

Taaranas.

Through her many hours spent in Abishek’s library, she’d learned all about the ancient city where the Ashvin twins had once ruled, their power spreading far and wide over Rahajhan.

She noted the great stepped pyramid of the Temple of Starlight—made entirely of silver bricks—with a massive star hovering at its peak. This had been the twins’ fortress where they gathered followers and worshipers, who came bearing gold and gifts to earn the twins’ favor.

Zarya noted the hundreds of people woven into the scene. She wondered who they were, what they’d been thinking. What happened to them when the worst came? She shivered at the thought of these poor families swept away by a tide of nairatta.

A distant noise had her spinning around, her heart thumping in her chest. But the corridor was empty, and she shook it off. She was letting her mind get the best of her. Still, she hurried along, traversing the halls quickly until she spied the familiar entrance to Abishek’s library.

She was surprised to find the king seated at a table, reading by the light of a small yellow orb floating next to him. He looked up at her approach, his brow furrowing. “Zarya, what are you doing here at this hour?”

“Where have you been? I’ve been wanting to speak with you.”

“Ah,” Abishek said, closing his book and folding his hands over the cover. “I’m very sorry. I’ve been dealing with some issues at my northern borders. The mountain clans have blocked some critical passes, preventing supply access into the city.” He shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. “It’s all very messy but also very boring and nothing you need to trouble yourself with.”

He patted the table. “Come and have a seat and tell me how I can help.”

“I was having trouble sleeping,” she admitted as she wandered closer, perching on a stool across from him. “Dreams. Nightmares. Visions. I’m having trouble separating it all at this point.”

“More of the same? Would you like to talk about it?”

This was one thing she appreciated about him. Despite his never-ending thirst for knowledge, he always offered his undivided attention whenever she spoke. It made her feel important. Maybe even loved.

“It’s my mother,” she said as she watched his brows climb up his forehead. “I keep seeing her in a room with windows, and the wind howls around us. Someone has hurt her. She’s wearing barely any clothing, and she’s shivering. She’s covered in bruises and marks.”

Zarya touched her arm like she could feel her mother’s phantom pains.

Abishek was staring at her intently now, something passing behind his eyes. “What happened in the dream?” he asked.

“Not much. I circled up some stairs, came to the top, saw her, and then I woke up.”

“That’s it?” he asked.

“I almost touched her, and there was a strange flash of light,” she said, still feeling the strange chill that had settled over her. “I thought I saw someone else, too. But the dream ended before I could reach her.”

Abishek continued to study her carefully. “Who did you see?”

“I’m not sure. It almost looked like a golden woman.”

“And what do you think it might mean?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s just my mind playing tricks on me. She’s been in my thoughts more than ever.”

Abishek nodded. “That makes sense. Perhaps being here, meeting me, and seeing this place stirs up many feelings of family and belonging.”