Page 178 of The Incendiary

Incense was used in the corridors to mitigate any musty smell, and plenty of that permeated into the halls, but the earthy scent was persistent. I had expected to feel claustrophobic, but the hallways were wide, and the wider they became, the closer I knew I had to be to the center of the cave system.

I jumped and squealed when a cold, wet nose brushed against my palm.

“Sorry,” said Shera, “but you left me there with your friends. They let me out after you. I’m just as averse to the sound of human infants screaming as you are.”

Somehow, I doubted that. “I just needed to go.” I continued to walk with my umbra by my side. “Elias is going to be pissed that we’re out here without him.”

“Good,” Shera responded. “We don’t need him.”

“Just stay close.”

She obeyed, stalking stealthily in the shadows against the wall. Every fifteen to twenty steps there was another door to another set of living quarters, and more pathways veering off into additional tunnels. Thousands of people lived beneath this mountain. I hadn’t grasped its sheer size before witnessing it now. It felt like we’d been walking for ages by the time we saw a vast opening. A swell of voices hummed against the rocky walls, and what looked like natural light poured into our path.

“Are you ready?” I asked Shera while I stood frozen in place.

“The real question is, are you?”

I remembered how it felt in Warrich when Gemma told me I was queen. Absurd and impossible, like the gods were playing a joke on me. But I had been desperate to find some reason to live, and my options had been to accept it or starve. So, I’d accepted it, hoping the man that saved me from that wolf might always be nearby, watching over me.

He wasn’t here, but being ready to face and lead these people was what I’d been working toward.

“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”

“He’s with you, you know,” Shera reminded me softly before I could take another step. “He always will be.”

Blinking a rogue tear away, I exhaled and stepped out of the dark hallway. The massive, bright, and airy main atrium took my breath away. The hallways I’d traversed were just one level. Here, there were four to five stories of balconies and galleries built into the rock walls. I looked up to see where the natural light was coming from: thick glass skylights, scattered across the ceiling, built deep enough into the mountains above.

On one side, there was a market where food and other goods were being exchanged. Toward the middle, some people sat enjoying meals. Three waterfalls poured from various heights into pools warm enough that there were children splashing and swimming. The grays and browns of the cave walls were offset by reds, blues, yellows, and greens of textiles hanging from walls and vibrant garments worn by people milling about. It felt like the center of a thriving city, and I supposed it was.

This place felt full of life. Joy and warmth were thick in the air. Community, friendship, and family.

My time to admire the view was cut short when a middle-aged woman gasped and dropped her basket of linens. “The queen!” she exclaimed, falling to her knees.

Others followed, as the news rippled through the great atrium.

I went rigid as some people rushed toward me, only to stop and scream in fright when Shera lunged forward and snarled at them in warning.

“Calm down,” I warned her, painting on my best patient smile.

“I will not allow you to be smothered. They can admire you from afar.”

Now even those who had rushed forward were kneeling, some crying out in gratitude as they did. To these people, I was a symbol of hope, even if I didn’t want to be.

Hundreds of eyes were fixed on me, waiting.

“Back up! And calm down, all of you!” Elias shouted from behind the crowd. As he emerged through, they parted for him like he was their king. “Give her space! I’ve told you, there will be time for introductions.” When he looked at me, his jaw was tight, clearly not pleased I’d done this without him, but reprimanding me in front of our people wasn’t wise. “Your Highness.” He offered a firm nod and reached for my hand. “Your father wants to see you.”

My pulse raced. My father?

“He means Simeon,” Shera reminded me, her voice especially sour.

It had been so long since I thought of him as anything other than my ancient, manipulative, sorcerer uncle that I’d forgotten who they all still believed I was.

“Hey! Commander Fuckwit!”

Elias’s frown reversed as he burst into laughter, carefree, and light, before turning to the source of the voice. A stunning young woman with waves of dark hair trailing down her back sidled up to him. Her arms were crossed over a knit violet sweater, and she looked confident enough to run the entire cave system.

“Good gods. Where have you been? I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” Elias shook his head and took in her tall, athletic form. “Did you grow another inch?” I didn’t like how my mind automatically wondered if she was another one of his friends. It wasn’t jealousy I felt, but discomfort.