Page 113 of A Flame of the Phoenix

Zaiana

They made it to Lakelaria’s castle the evening after they woke up in the cellar. Zaiana had rested far better than she had on the ship, but part of her was dealing with turmoil over why that was.

Kyleer hadn’t talked much during their long hours walking. She was grateful for it. When they came to the center of Alandra, the castle was a magnificent spectacle. Sharp fangs of glass that appeared like ice made up many tall peaks of the architecture. Surrounding the castle was a wide lake—a good measure of defense considering the Waterweilders no doubt posted in the guard surrounding it.

At the bridge to take them over, she was surprised to find Reylan Arrowood waiting, standing cross-armed, with a pissed-off look of loathing.

“What took you this long?” he snapped.

She gave no reaction to that. “We took our much needed rest bite after your volatile mate nearly killed us all.”

Reylan led them over the bridge as if he were the general of this kingdom, not Rhyenelle. It was tragic really, and if he ever broke free of Marvellas’s influence, he was sure to despise himself for all he’d betrayed.

Kyleer’s expression remained torn with anger and pain when he stared at his friend, but he stayed obedient, having not fought in the slightest.

The interior of the glass palace gave a conflicting warmth she enjoyed. They could watch the snowstorms rage and ice form around them through the many clear walls while held in the confines of their protection. Zaiana marveled over the white stone that complemented the halls, and the gold filigree that decorated pillars and stone walls. Everything was so pure and delicate she couldn’t help but feel like a dark stain on its crystal elegance.

They were led into a hall lined with pillars, with a heightened dais at the far end. The throne appeared as if the heavens had rained tears that had speared into the ground to form a chair of icicles, pointing in many directions but still forming an oval back and short sides. Upon it sat the depiction of an angel, if she were ever to imagine the mythical creature, though without wings. The Queen of Lakelaria, Zaiana deduced.

Her hair was as white as snow, as were her eyebrows and lashes, Zaiana saw the closer they got. Her dress was white and silver, making her blend in with her surroundings, and there was a certain haunting aura about that. As if she were a ghost bound to this hall.

Though nothing stunned her as much as seeing Faythe Ashfyre at the bottom of the dais.

“Welcome.” The queen’s voice was like a breath of frozen wind: gentle but not kind. The monarch stood. The flowing fabric of her white gown moved like the sea as she descended the wide white stone steps. “I was just inviting my first guests to dinewith me this evening. Now I’m glad there will be more to share the spoils.”

Zaiana hoped that wouldn’t include her. She would stand by and guard if requested, but she hadn’t expected the Queen of Lakelaria. She’d hoped Marvellas would be here, but the Spirit was absent.

“You’re kind to host us,” Faythe said tightly.

Reylan had been the one to lead them all here, and Zaiana had followed, under the impression it was to deliver Faythe and Kyleer to the Spirit Marvellas. She slipped Reylan an accusatory look he met with vacancy, once again a shell of the great general of Rhyenelle.

“Where’s Marvellas?” Zaiana blurted.

The tension in the room thickened at the mention.

“You come into my castle and request to see someone else?”

The question froze like a sheet of ice beneath her feet: one wrong step, and she would fall right through.

“Forgive me.” Zaiana forced the words with no sincerity. “It’s just that she sent for us to retrieve these two and bring them here, it seems.”

“As I hear, you were never part of that request.”

“If I hadn’t interfered, she wouldn’t have two prizes instead of one.”

The queen’s hazel eyes flicked over Kyleer, but her expression didn’t shift in the slightest. “I suppose not. The Spirit is out of sight for now. It’s hard to know who you can truly trust.”

She bit her tongue against speaking out of line, but this was ridiculous.

“All this time, Lakelaria has pretended to be peaceful and uninvolved in this war. The truth is, you’ve been harboring Marvellas all along, I assume?”

“You would be wise to keep assumptions to yourself.”

Zaiana decided she didn’t like this queen in the slightest. Something wasn’t right.

“What do you want us to do with the prisoners?” she asked reluctantly.

“Don’t let them escape. I will see you all at supper.”

---