‘You didn’t need to take all our things from us. We’d never dream of hurting you,’ she pressed.

  Sapora drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair, the tips of his claws echoing off the marble across the vast room. ‘I told you the next time you saw the palace would be from behind bars.’

  Amarah stiffened. Her enjoyment at riling the snake disappeared immediately, replaced by a deep-set hatred.

  ‘You know this riff-raff?’ The Varkain beside Sapora said, before he took another large gulp.

  ‘Amarah,’ Sapora replied coldly. ‘I flew on her ship prior to becoming king.’

  The Varkain stroked his chin as he thought. ‘Hmm, I know that name. Where do I know that name, from?’

  Sapora blinked and turned to look at him. His lip curled in the beginnings of a snarl.

  ‘Ah. Of course. Our dear sister mentioned her. Another conspirator, perhaps? Don’t trust her.’

  Sapora looked back at Amarah. ‘Conspirator? Hardly. Sky pirate, definitely. The punishment for that particular crime is life imprisonment, but perhaps I should write in a new law that all sky pirates are to be put to death.’

  ‘Shall I fetch a scroll, my liege?’ The steward asked, almost excited at the prospect.

  ‘Not necessary, Koraki.’

  Amarah knew she walked the line of death with Sapora, but she continued to goad him anyway. She needed him to become agitated. ‘If you kill us, you won’t know anything about Veynothi.’

  ‘I’m not so quick to kill as people might think,’ Sapora replied. He sat back in his chair and exhaled slowly, as though calming himself down. ‘So. What do you know about Veynothi that’s so important? I told your friend beside you to get proof. I don’t see any proof.’

  Amarah took a step forward, but the guards around the room responded immediately, drawing their weapons and holding her at bay. She looked at them and laughed. ‘Touchy, aren’t we?’

  ‘And with not much patience. I can have them kill your crew if it’ll loosen your tongue.’

  Solvi stiffened at the threat and Amarah swallowed. She caught Antar and Judd’s eyes, who both gave away nothing, then she licked her lips. ‘I don’t have the proof because your guard took it from me.’ She nodded to the Varkain in question.

  Sapora leaned back to whisper something in the ear of the Varkain who stood at attention behind him. The guard then walked to the soldier with their weapons.

  ‘Tell him which one,’ Sapora said.

  Amarah sighed. ‘The odd one out. It’s stone.’

  When she said the word, tension shrouded the room. The two Varkain either side of Sapora whispered excitedly, and she even saw the whites of Sapora’s eyes.

  It didn’t take the guard long to find it.

  He drew the stone sword from its sheath and held it out for Sapora and the others to see. ‘King Sapora. This...this is no weapon produced by a blacksmith.’

  ‘Give it to me.’ The old Varkain said, pushing up from his chair and hobbling over to the guard, his hands outstretched.

  Amarah wanted to flee. The memory of Veynothi’s golden eyes flickered in her mind.

  The old Varkain claimed the weapon from the guard. He held it gently in his hands, almost delicately, as if it were a flower that might wilt at the lightest touch. He brought the edge close to his face to take a closer look, then shifted the handle from one hand to the other.

  Amarah kept her eyes on Sapora, who was transfixed. He looked almost hungry as he stared at the blade in the hands of the old Varkain.

  ‘Well?’ Sapora asked, but the other Varkain ignored him. He continued to test the balance of the blade, and even ran a claw along its tip. ‘Valendrin! Answer me!’ Sapora thundered.

  Amarah couldn’t ignore the raw anger and desperation in his voice.

  At Sapora’s roar, the old Varkain—the Valendrin—seemed to remember he was not alone in the room. He dropped his head. ‘Forgive me, my liege. I have not...it has been so long that…’

  Sapora half rose from his chair. ‘It is real, then?’

  In response, the Valendrin turned the blade on himself, deftly slicing into his forearm with it. Thick, black blood oozed from his flesh and onto the blade. It remained there for a few seconds before the stone appeared to absorb it, leaving not the smallest trace. ‘My liege. This is truly one of Veynothi’s blades.’

  Sapora stood, then. He’d thrown formality away and rounded on Amarah and the others. ‘Tell me where you got this. Now.’

  Amarah had known Sapora was desperate. She hadn’t realised how desperate. ‘Our gold?’

  ‘It’s yours. Tell me Veynothi’s location!’

  She smiled. ‘Southern tip of Ranski. Past a tiny village called Shay. There are some stony islands out to sea a short way past that. It was in among those.’

  ‘Sapora…’ the Varkain to Sapora’s side breathed.

  ‘Hush, Tacio. Do you think I’m so blind that I’d trust a thief’s word?’ Sapora approached the gathered pirates. Ignoring Amarah, he said to Antar, ‘You agree with her location?’

  Antar met his gaze levelly. ‘Place is a fucking desert. But that’s where we got it from. So where’s my two-hundred and fifty crowns? It’s a dangerous flight, you know. You got Arillians right outside.’

  Amarah could tell that Sapora wasn’t entirely convinced, but he’d had the sword authenticated. He knew he was only one step away from bringing back the Arks he so desired. She desperately wished for him to go. If they were lucky, he’d give them the gold just to be rid of them.

  ‘My liege, might I be of assistance?’ The Valendrin asked. He still clutched Veynothi’s blade tightly as he shuffled forward.

  Amarah blinked. She didn’t like the way he spoke, looked, or breathed.

  ‘What do you propose?’

  ‘A simple test. A little blood, that’s all I need to verify the words.’

  Sapora took a step back and folded his arms. ‘Do what you need to.’

  The Valendrin smiled wickedly, and then with speed unbefitting of a creature as old as he was, he grabbed hold of Amarah’s upper arm.

  She yelped in surprise more than pain, but with her wrists bound, she couldn’t do anything in response.

  ‘Get off her!’ Judd yelled, but the soldiers in the room held him and the others back.

  The Valendrin lifted the sword and pressed it against the soft flesh just below her shoulder.

  ‘What the fuck? Stop it!’ She screamed, but there was nothing she could do.

  The tip of the blade pierced her skin and blood poured from the wound faster than she would have thought. It was as though the blade sucked it from her skin. A terrible cold crept into her arm, numbing it as the Varkain venom had done all those years ago when she’d been bitten. She twisted and writhed as she pulled back from the disgusting creature.

  After a moment, he let go of her arm, and Amarah almost tumbled into Antar. ‘I need a bandage!’ She shouted, but neither Sapora, the Valendrin, or Tacio had any interest in seeing to her needs.

  The Valendrin touched a claw to the blood on the blade and closed his eyes. ‘She’s lying. But I cannot get the truth from her. Perhaps this one?’ He opened his eyes and stared at Antar.

  Tremors coursed through her. Numbness spread down her arm and into her hand, but there was no pain. She glanced down and saw the wound was already closing. ‘Antar…?’

  Again the Valendrin lunged, and this time, Antar knew what to expect. He leaped back, hurtling into Judd and sending him flying. Three of the Cerastes charged forward, their spear-points keeping Antar where he was. If he tried to move again, he’d slice himself open on one of their weapons. ‘You stay away from me you damned maggot!’

  ‘Hush,’ the Valendrin said, as though trying to soothe a crying baby. With Antar right where he wanted him, the Valendrin sliced into Antar’s arm and drew fresh blood. The blade hissed this time, a thin line of smoke rising from where the blood touched the stone.

  The Valendrin touched a claw to it and smiled. ‘Ahh. Yes. He is the one who took Veynothi’s blade.’

  ‘Well?’ Sapora asked. ‘Is it in Ranski or not?’

  Amarah watched as Antar’s wound, like her own, healed itself. She had no idea what kind of dark magic this was, but she wanted absolutely no part in it. And if the Valendrin could obtain the truth through it, then it wouldn’t bode well for them.

  ‘It is not in Ranski.’ The Valendrin opened his eyes as Veynothi’s blade absorbed Antar’s blood, too. ‘Veynothi is in Corhaven. In the distant north-west. Our griffins still watch over her resting place as they have done since she was sealed. I see them, now. They keep travellers away. They protect her as Brahm’s monster protects the seas from invaders.’

  Sapora didn’t seem interested in the lecture. ‘Koraki. Ready the largest, fastest ship we have on our fleet.’

  ‘My liege, our fleet is still in disrepair after the attack, we have only a few that—’

  ‘Get whatever you can spare together! Tacio,’ Sapora rounded on the only Varkain still seated. ‘Clear the dungeons. I want your best Cerastes, too. Have them escorted onto the ship. We sail for Corhaven now.’

  ‘Sapora...Empty the dungeons? But what about—’

  Sapora snarled in exasperation. ‘They’ve been my prisoners for months. It’s time they were put to good use. I’ll need plenty of blood. Valendrin. Keep Veynothi’s blade safe. You’re coming as well.’

  Too much happened for Amarah to take note of it. Her arm throbbed as the numbness faded, and the urge to vomit was almost overwhelming.

  ‘And my liege. What about them?’ Koraki asked, pointing to the chained prisoners.

  Sapora narrowed his eyes. ‘Amarah. I was in a good mood, earlier. I might have paid you your gold and let you go free. A token of my generosity. But now you’ve lied to me? I’m not so sure. Tacio. Before you round up your Cerastes, I want Amarah and her accomplices imprisoned. I’ll deal with her when I return with Veynothi.’

  Even if Amarah had wanted to say something back to him, any little jibe, to get the last laugh, she wasn’t able to. Breathing was tricky for her after her brush with Varkain blood magic, and she shivered.

  ‘Oh. Right. They’re sky pirates,’ Sapora said, as though he’d only just realised. ‘Have them stripped and lock up their weapons.’

  ‘Do it yourself. It’ll be ages before the ship is ready to fly to Corhaven,’ Tacio said. He’d clearly regained some of his composure after learning the truth about the blade.

  Sapora smiled. ‘Oh don’t be silly. I’m not flying on the ship.’

  Two Cerastes took Amarah by the arms and began to frog-march her across the hall. Others grabbed hold of Antar and dragged him forward—he’d clearly been more badly affected by the Valendrin’s magic. But Amarah still listened to Sapora, and his next words chilled her.

  ‘I’m going to have my Sevastos fly me there.’

  Ten Cerastes half-marched, half-dragged Amarah and her companions along—two to each of them. It was clear neither Sapora nor Tacio were taking any chances with their new prisoners.

  They crossed a bridge linking one palace tower to the main building. Floor to ceiling windows gave Amarah an incredible view of Taban Yul in the late afternoon sun. She’d almost reached the other side when a dragon’s roar split the air. It was a sound she’d never forget.

  She didn’t need to see the Sevastos to know it had been the one to make that deafening noise.

  ‘King Sapora is flying that, you know.’ One of the guards sneered. ‘Even your “hero” Moroda couldn’t do that. Her Sevastos killed her.’

  Amarah bit back a rebuke. Reacting to his taunts wouldn’t help her situation. She had to remain stoic.

  She wouldn’t show them her fear.

  When Sapora’s guards made good on the king’s command, and Amarah was stripped to her underclothes, she didn’t react. They unlocked a cell and threw both her and Solvi in it. It was cold and filthy, but Amarah wouldn’t let that break her spirit.

  She watched Antar, Judd, and Oris as they were shoved down the dark passageway and led further into the dungeon. A few minutes later, the Cerastes returned, carrying their bundled clothes, before disappearing up a flight of stairs. The door at the top slammed shut, cutting off most of the light and leaving Amarah and Solvi in semi-darkness.

  The cell didn’t have a window, and she shouldn't have been surprised at that. Kylos had said they were underground, which made sense.

  ‘Amarah,’ Solvi said. Her voice trembled a little, but she didn’t whimper.

  ‘I know. Bit of a set back,’ Amarah said. She tried to hide her growing anxiety.

  Solvi shivered. ‘But you’re a sky pirate. You break out of this type of thing all the time, right?’

  ‘All the time,’ Amarah said. She decided to change the subject and keep her mind focussed. ‘Sapora’s taken more than half the people from the palace with him. Aren’t places like this normally full of people? Goldstones? Servants? Maids? That kind of thing?’

  Solvi nodded.

  ‘And how many people did you see from the throne room to here?’

  Solvi thought about it for a moment. ‘Not many.’

  Amarah grinned, as though that explained everything. ‘Sapora ain’t best loved here, anyway. Wonder if he had to clear out the palace of...what he call us again?’

  ‘Conspirators?’ Solvi suggested.

  ‘That’s it. Conspirators. He had to clear ‘em all out. If he’s having trouble with his staff, that’s in our favour. There’s no guard in front of our cell, either. Just at the top of those stairs there.’ She pointed to the stairway where the Cerastes had entered and left from. She couldn’t know for certain, but with the skeleton staff in the palace, it was an educated guess. And she needed to keep Solvi’s spirits up.

  ‘Maybe.’ Solvi didn’t sound sure.

  ‘Traego’s gonna be here tonight. Or at least on the outskirts. He’s on my new ship and that’s much faster than Otella. Malot’s never let him down. Don’t worry.’

  Solvi sank to her knees and wrapped her arms around herself. ‘I don’t like this.’

  Amarah shrugged. ‘Won’t be for long.’

  ‘And now Sapora is on his way to get the Ark.’ Solvi almost welled up when she spoke. ‘He’ll release Veynothi, now. And then Malashash. That’s two out of four!’

  Amarah didn’t know what to say to that. Even if she managed to escape, find Isa and Lathri and free them, and get them all safely to Estoria, it wouldn’t change the fact that Sapora had his Arks. His super-weapons. With two of them and a Sevastos at his control, he’d be unstoppable.

  He’d probably get rid of the dragons and Arillians in one swoop.

  And then what?

  He could conquer all of Linaria, if he wanted to.

  But Amarah didn’t know what his goals were. What he actually wanted.

  She hoped Princess Isa would be able to shed some light on that, but she needed to get to her first—and then escape.

  ‘Hey. I dunno how fast a Sevastos can fly, but he still needs to get across Val Sharis and the Sea of Nami, and get to the most distant place in Corhaven. And get back. We’ve got time. We’ll get away.’

  ‘Maybe. But then Val Sharis will face the Arks again.’

  Amarah sighed. ‘I can’t whisk the whole country away on a handful of ships, Solvi. One step at a time. And two Arks isn’t as bad as all four of the Arks.’ She tried to find an angle that would help lift the young Ittallan’s spirits.

  ‘Actually, he will have three.’ An old woman’s voice reached them in the darkness.

  ‘What?’ Solvi gasped, on her feet.

  Amarah narrowed her eye. ‘Who’s there?’

  ‘Nobody, really. Just an old, foolish Ittallan.’

  Solvi pressed her ear to the solid wall at the side of the cell. ‘She’s beside us,’ she whispered to Amarah. Then she faced the wall and said loudly, ‘Don’t be silly. We’ll get you out!

  The old woman laughed, then coughed. ‘No, young one. I’ll stay here.’

  Amarah grinned at Solvi. ‘If you’re worried about Sapora or Tacio, don’t. I’m a professional. Everyone still in these dungeons is getting out tonight.’

  ‘No. I’ve made too many mistakes,’ the woman said. Amarah could tell she was crying. ‘Because of me, Sapora will have three Arks.’

  ‘What did you do?’ Amarah asked.

  ‘I told his brother, Prince Tacio, about one of them. It’s in Val Sharis, you know. Near Tum Metsa. In the vast ice plains.’

  Amarah gulped. ‘Ain’t nothing there but those damned snow wolves and trees. You give him a false location, too?’

  ‘Oh, you’re so naive. Those wolves are there to protect the Ark’s location. Karekis is there. He was a Varkain prince too, once. Before the Valendrin changed him. He was blind, considered weak. The Valendrin made him into something else. Something more powerful than Linaria had ever seen. And I told Tacio. I betrayed my people for a bit of gold.’ She was weeping now. The sound of her sobs carried through the stone and Amarah’s stomach tightened.

  She remembered those giant wolves. She and Kohl had rested on the edge of the forest on their way to Tum Metsa. She’d wondered why they’d been so keen to see them off, and now it made sense. And then she remembered what the Valendrin had said about griffins in Corhaven.

  Dragons above, had the Varkain protected the Arks’ locations with creatures? Predators that would stand guard and prevent any from discovering them? If that was true, then the monster from the sea, the one who had spoken Veynothi’s name, had it been guarding another Ark? The fourth one?

  Ideas and emotion churned in her stomach. She needed to talk to Isa about it.

  ‘Gold? You didn’t tell the Varkain about Karekis because of their bounty, did you?’ Solvi asked.

  ‘I am a foolish woman. I lost my two sons in Aciel’s war. My husband, too. He plucked them from my home when he came south with his Arillians. They were taken from me, then slaughtered by my own Imperial Guard. When I sent letters to the capital, begging for news, I received a template response. A blanket message saying I ought to be grateful to Palom for saving the world. That anyone who died had died bravely.’

  Amarah gasped at that. She supposed he had made the Valta Forinja, and the Ittallan would probably love him for that. She hadn’t realised how far they’d taken it. No wonder Palom had wanted to get away.

 

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