Page 197 of A Kingdom of Wild and Power
‘I always suspected there was something… unusual about those two,’ Saren continued, her voice smooth with amusement. ‘Something not quite of this world.’ The gleam in her pale eyes made it clear she was enjoying herself far too much. ‘Have you ever heard of the two messengers of the Sun God? Razia and Gabriela?’
Alina let out a short, disbelieving snort. ‘And what? You think they have something to do with them?’
‘Not exactly,’ Saren replied calmly. ‘I believe the Sun God sent two of his messengers here. That Razia and Gabriela walk among us.’
‘That’s ridiculous.’
‘Is it?’ Saren tilted her head thoughtfully. ‘Then tell me, how did you survive the fall?’
‘So what?’ Alina’s eyes narrowed. ‘You think they somehow intervened?’
‘I’m certain of it.’
‘And they’re messengers of the Sun God?’ Alina scoffedagain. ‘Even if they were… why me? Why bother saving me? I’m nothing but a lost princess from a kingdom that no longer exists.’
Saren watched her carefully.
‘Have you never wondered why your mother suffered such terrible headaches?’ she asked. ‘Why other Seers receive their visions without pain, yet your mother endured such torment?’
Alina’s grip tightened around the staff.
Around them the restless crowd began to murmur with impatience. They had come to witness bloodshed, not conversation. Yet the two women continued circling one another across the sand.
‘Your mother’s visions were never natural,’ Saren said quietly. ‘She was not born a Seer. She was made one when she was still a young girl. The Sun God visited her… and gave her his blood.’ Her eyes gleamed. ‘He gave her that blood when she was already carrying you.’
Alina froze.
Her entire body went rigid as the words struck her.
‘How… how do you even know any of this?’ she asked, her voice cracking.
But Saren only laughed.
And something inside Alina finally snapped.
With a furious cry she lunged forward, her patience shattered. She was done with the lies, with the half-truths, with the endless questions and no answers. Surely Saren was trying to break her concentration, to twist her thoughts before the fight even began.
Because none of it made sense.
Alina forced the flood of questions from her mind. She would deal with all of that later. Right now, there was only one thing that mattered.
Killing Saren.
She swerved sharply to the right, lifting the staff and wielding it like a longsword. The weapon cut through the air with swift precision as she launched a series of strikes.
Yet Saren evaded them all.
Every single one.
The Dunayan moved with effortless grace, slipping past the blows as though they were little more than passing breezes. She did not strike back. She simply defended.
Alina ground her teeth, frustration simmering beneath her skin.
Saren wasn’t even trying to fight her.
The two continued like that for what felt like an age; a deadly dance where one moved forward and the other retreated. Strike and slash. Dodge and step away.
Again and again.
