Page 36 of Death Will Follow

“As much as I love an adventure, we should return to Silvergard as soon as possible,” Lucan said. “I’ll prepare our things and send for the horses.”

“With the mercenaries joining Omen, I’m concerned others may follow suit,” Nox added.

Lucan pulled Nova into a tight hug. After clasping arms with Callan, the commander left the library.

Nox fished for Nova’s hand. “Promise me you’ll be careful.”

Nova nodded and embraced her uncle, who then turned to Callan.

“See that my niece keeps her promise.”

Callan laid a hand over his heart.

“Nova is quite capable of protecting herself,” Nox continued. “But I’m pleased she also has you to rely on.”

Nox took Nova’s hands once more, squeezing them gently, then left Nova and Callan alone.

“I’m coming with you to Tundara,” Callan insisted as he looped an arm around her waist.

“Of course you are,” Nova sighed, well aware there was no sense in arguing with him. She laid her head flat against his chest. “But you’re not setting a foot near that lake.”

She smiled to herself as Callan rested his chin on top of her head.

“We’ll see about that,” he muttered.

Fifteen

The departure for the Summer Court was swiftly arranged. Samira portaled ahead of them to make preparations, disappearing from the courtyard in a bright flash of lightning and an earsplitting crack that rattled Nova’s rib cage. As Nova, Callan, and Bryn readied the horses in the courtyard, Thorn came to bid them goodbye. Though Thorn may have warmed to Nova, if only by a degree, Lady Estrid and Lord Rowan were noticeably absent.

“The Noble Lord and Lady are otherwise occupied, I’m afraid,” Thorn informed them, tactfully dancing around the truth of the matter: Estrid and Rowan had refused to see them off.

Nova nodded, accepting their mistrust with a quiet stab of sadness. Estrid had once asked her to think of the Autumn Court as home. When she turned her face away from the others to compose herself, Nova spied Evander lingering beside Bryn’s horse a handful of strides away. Though he appeared to have reined in his emotions, his mouth was a hard line as he toed the ground with his boot, casting furtive glances in their direction. She couldn’t imagine Evander wished to speak with her, but perhaps he’d come to make amends with Callan before they left. Nova turned her attention to the others for an instant, and when she looked back, Evander was gone.

Shortly after, they exited the gates of Pyralis. The portal to Tundara wasn’t far—only a half-day’s ride under a somber, overcast sky. Callan trotted ahead, leading Nova and Bryn through the autumn woods to the site of a second portal. By midday, they passed, one by one, between two towering cairns atop a hill covered in tall, sallow grass.

The familiar sensation of a great weight pressed down on Nova from all directions, a low hum droning in her ears. Complete darkness greeted her when she emerged on the other side. She blinked rapidly, her vision slowly adjusting and latching onto a thin strip of light in the distance.

The hum in her ears soon faded, and she followed the sound of Callan’s voice rising above the rush of flowing water. The source of the light, she discovered, was an opening that led out of the cavern. A wall of water cascaded down over the mouth of the cave, warping her view of a dense green forest beyond and obscuring the entrance behind a breathtaking waterfall.

A narrow path led around the edge of the falling water, overlooking a deep pool. The waterfall splashed onto large, flat rocks, churning white and sending ripples bobbing through the reflection of the lush greenery and vibrant flowers. Cool spray misted Nova’s cheeks, providing a bit of relief from the humidity that enveloped her like a wet blanket as soon as she left the cave.

Blooms of orange and magenta, as large as her hand with her fingers spread wide, lined the path, and orchids grew nestled in the knotted trunks of enormous trees. Birds with plumage as vibrant and colorful as the flowers flitted about the canopy above. Delighted, Nova craned her neck and watched them darting from limb to limb as she followed close behind Callan, the horses carefully maneuvering over the thick roots crisscrossing the forest floor.

Finally, they emerged from the jungle, the view opening up along the horizon before them. Though the air was less humid, the temperature was equally hot. The Tundara Estate stood high on a hill, an imposing structure of sand-colored stone accentuated by the pinks and oranges of the sunset streaking the sky behind it. A city of sun-bleached structures spiraled out in every direction around the base of the hill. From above, Nova imagined it might look like a great seashell. A cart road fortified with stone walls coiled around the hillside, leading to the entrance.

Nova and Bryn trailed Callan across an expanse of open field and through a grove of trees, the fresh scent of citrus, and other fruits Nova didn’t know the names of, drifting on the breeze.

By the time they reached the end of the winding path at the summit and passed through the fortress gates, their poor horses were spent, broad sides heaving and sweating through their coats. The three travelers dismounted and were ushered inside to meet Lady Samira once again, leaving the animals happily drinking cool water from a basin in the courtyard.

They found the Lady seated upon a throne formed from the base of a live tree. Samira was resplendent in a flowing coral gown and fresh flowers in her hair. Above, the branches spread out nearly to the edges of the room, creating a thick canopy of waxy greenery. Bits of golden sunlight speared through gaps in the leaves, dappling the stone floor with warm light. The room itself felt alive, with vining plants climbing the walls and flowers sprouting from the cracks between the stones. Butterflies and hummingbirds floated in the air over their heads. Nova peeked through the leaves and realized there was no ceiling; the throne room was open to the sky. She wondered what it would be like during a storm.

Samira rose and descended the steps to meet them. “Welcome, friends, to Tundara.” She reached out and grasped Nova’s hands in her own, her long, graceful fingers bedecked with golden rings.

“It’s good to be back,” Callan remarked, tipping his head to take in the living ceiling. He swiped a sleeve across his forehead. “Though I seem to have blocked out memories of the heat.”

“Rooms have been prepared so you might freshen up before the evening meal.” Samira crinkled her nose ever so slightly as she eyed the three visitors. Nova glanced down at her clothing and the ring of darkened fabric around her neck. She was drenched with sweat.

“That would be lovely,” Nova said.