Page 148 of The Stolen Throne
As soon as I shut it off, I turn my power right back on. “Ready?”
“Hurry,” Omma says, adjusting her hold on Tabra, who looks to be on the verge of passing out.
I do it all over again, this time picturing the portal room in Pantrea, the capital city of Tropikis. The glass becomes opaque, then clear, and I have to stop myself from taking a hasty step back as four soldiers dressed in Tropikan armor about-face and cross their spears, barring the way through.
“You may not pass,” one says, looking over the three of us in our Wanderer clothing with a sneer. “Especially not with this.”
The ignorant man actually pokes at the Devourer on my shoulder. Bene flaps his wings, making a sandy scratching sound right in my ear.
“You are asking for a terrible death,” he tells the guard, who, of course, can’t hear him. I can because I’m wearing my amulet again.
“Why can’t we pass?” Omma demands.
“No one may enter Tropikis during the Rites of Xathena.” He’s very stern and semi-condescending, like this should have been obvious.
The Rites of…
I would love to throw myself on the ground and pitch a fit like a toddler. Because damn it all, can we get just one break? Those highly secretive rites only happen once every seven years. Of course they would be right now.
Maybe the others couldn’t get into Tropikis, either? Where would they have gone instead? Or maybe they made it in before the portal was closed? Do I have Tabra pull the sovereign card? Except she’s not dressed like a queen at the moment and doesn’t exactly look royal in the state she’s in. Maybe I play the queen card? Except I’m not dressed regally, either. “Um… I’m looking for my friends who are probably already—”
“Let them pass,” a familiar voice calls out from behind the guards.
I almost wilt in relief, but I can’t because the guards will see. Beyond them, Cain appears. Or, rather, a masked man who sounds like Cain appears. I squint, trying to make out his clothes. It’s definitely Cain—I’d know that voice and the way he stalks toward me anywhere—but he’s dressed in black pants paired with a vest decorated in metal studs and swirling silver stitching on the lapels. The vest leaves his arms bare, the cut of his muscles under sun-darkened skin quite something.
What in Nova is he wearing?
“These are the ones you were waiting for?” the guard asks like they’re friends.
I do my best not to show all my questions in my face.
Cain moves closer and pushes the intricate mask back, his face coming into the light of the fire in the room. He clasps the soldier on the shoulder. “They’re the ones.”
“She doesn’t look too good.” The soldier nods at Tabra.
Cain doesn’t bat an eye. “I know. She’s coming for the Rites.”
I try not to startle, because what would that have to do with Tabra being sick? Or is he making this up to set the soldier’s frowning concerns at rest?
“And the raven?” Meaning Bene.
“Are you frightened of birds?” I ask sweetly, only to button my lips when Cain shoots me a warning look tinged in exasperation.
“He’s a gift for King Panqui.” Cain is being overly cheerful for some reason. “From Aryd, in exchange for allowing us to be here during the Rites. It’s what took them so long.”
Um…sure. Cain clearly has a plan here. I paste a smile on my face and nod along.
After a pause and what feels like some unseen signal, the four guards raise their spears. “Enter,” one says.
Still trying not to look as surprised as I’m feeling, we all pass through. Cain has to cross over to help Omma with Tabra, who can’t lift her knees high enough. Then I shut off my power. Cain gives a jerk of his head, and Omma and I follow him and Tabra out.
“That mouth is going to get you in trouble someday,” Cain grumbles as we go.
“So you keep telling me.”
The second we walk outside, I stop so hard Omma plows into me.
The portal room is up high in the triangular temple, putting us well above the city roofline, with large steps leading down into the streets. What I’m staring at, though, is the view. I’ve known about the cliffs of Tropikis for as long as I can remember, but knowing and seeing are two different things. The cliffs tower above us.
