Page 102 of Prince of the Phantom Sky

“Leto Morgan, keeping dirty secrets from us.” Skylar waved a hand in the air against the smoke. “Someone open a window.”

The smoke was peculiar, a shimmer weaving throughout it. Aerion sighed, pushing open the nearest window, allowing Leto’s habit to waft out and join the Mist. Against the grey aura of the blanket of power, Leto’s pipe smoke appeared almost lavender in colour.

“The Mist is fading as well,” Aerion added, pointing to his map of Galen. Chalk had been used to outline the Mist’s reach, nearing Peril Cove. “Meaning our enemy will be able to invade soon. Barron could easily reach our shores once again. Keep a look out for hawks with . . . purple eyes. Only communicate through private channels—wind, magic, missives with your personal hawks only.”

If Barron was heading toward Galen, Kora might have her chance of defeating him sooner than she first thought. The benefits outweighed the cons. Not having to sail into the heart of the enemy, not having to trek across Talmon to his new outpost.

But it also came at a cost. Samuel, Theron, and Ivar would be lost. Left in the arms of the cold and wicked. But if she killed Barron, would that set them free?

“We need another scout mission,” Kora announced. “I—we—need to know if he’s coming here already.”

“Ye don’t tell us what to do,” Hector snapped.

“She’s right,” Aerion added. “Hector, you’re too wounded to sail. Cassidy can go in your place. Set up another perimeter scout of the island. Leto, as soon as you feel weak, return here immediately. We can’t risk you being seen.”

“Can you change your sails?” Kora pondered, and multiple sets of eyes blinked at her. “You sail empire ships, so brand yourselves as the empire. If Leto’s magic fails, you can blend in until you return. Don’t take any Galenite ships, they’ll give you away.”

“Clever girl!” Mara filled the silence.

“We might have something,” Cassidy’s lips pursed. “We’ll set sail the day after tomorrow. Leto needs to regain his strength.”

Talks continued back-and-forth about war strategies, the concern over the protection of the Mist, and Cassidy’s proposed scouting route. Resolve and pride flitted through Kora, knowing she’d contributed, that she’d been heard. All the way through it, Raiden’s gaze lingered on Kora’s face, and her skin instantly heated, unable to meet his stare.

Would he stop staring?

Raiden promptly grinned and Kora froze, wondering whether she’d finally mastered this mind magic.

“I hear you, Huntress.”

44

Raiden

Ineed you to do me a favour.” Raiden pulled Leto to the side by the main dock in Mistros City. Glowing honey droplets lined the shoreline from the lamps, the Mist appearing darker than usual with the dreary weather. Aerion and Skylar barked commands as Cassidy’s ship was refitted with a green sail.

“Whilst scouting, check if you can see any suspicious . . . shipments happening,” Raiden signed by his chest, hiding the movement.

“Why?” Leto signed. His eyes seemed brighter, the day’s rest allowing his essence to refill. Like his power, they swirled with greens and purples, and he glanced around to make sure no one was nearby.

“I think . . . I think Barron’s using some kind of runed stone on his soldiers. It’s black, and combined with the malachite, it’s created a magic block. Only runes could be capable of defence against magic, like an enchantment.” Raiden’s nightly episodes hadn’t ceased, and he couldn’t ask anyone else to make the journey in hopes of finding a scripture he theorised only existed in Skybell Castle.

And he couldn’t make the journey without floating up during the night. The Mist’s prison had eased each day, the taste of freedom like fine droplets of rainwater. Soon, he wouldn’t feel it anymore.

“But you don’t know what stone?”

Raiden shook his head. “There’s nothing in our library to suggest what it could be. No record of anything like this before.”

“Didn’t know you could read,” Leto winked as his hands flourished in the air. His black pipe poked out from his right pocket, the edges rimmed with an unfamiliar powder. He’d been smoking since the Mist appeared apparently, the stress and loneliness driving him to new pleasures.

“Be careful out there, Brother,” Raiden turned serious, placing a hand on Leto’s empty shoulder. The last time he’d tried to pet Mara, she’d nearly torn his fingernails clean off.

“It’s pretty hard to catch a ghost.” Leto vanished and Raiden blinked, almost laughing as Leto appeared in front of Skylar, giving her a fright.

“Get on that damned ship now!” she hollered.

Raiden exhaled, his hunch settling in his gut. Those soldiers, their stench, their glistening black armour, had been playing on his mind. It was made of something devoid of life, of nature. A black spot staining the islands’ balance, tearing magic apart, deflecting it back to its wielder.

He glanced back to Windspire Castle at the top of the hill behind the city, sparkling through the blanket of Mist. Time was running out. He could feel the urgency cresting within Kora, the lines of her body coiling more each day. Her face hardening, returning to her cold captain, the darkness within regaining its strength.