Page 81 of Realms of Shadow and Sun

“Don't worry about it, Grayden. If I had a sister, I'm sure I would react the same way.”

His friend nodded, his gaze returning to Renya. Sion noticed Grayden's eyes rarely strayed from her for long, and he envied their certainty in their love. Sion had never considered love, never thought he'd live long enough to experience it. He was broken, irreparably damaged by the Shadow Realm, but for the first time, he felt a glimmer of hope. Perhaps there was a happily ever after for him as well.

Sion watched Grayden gallop ahead on his horse, eager to ride beside Renya as they approached the Sun Realm. They all gathered before the gate, waiting.

“How did you get in last time?” Cyrus asked.

“We crawled through a drain,” Phillippe said. “Not quite the warm welcome I was looking for.”

Cyrus laughed, then lifted his fingers. A golden gust of air rushed out, and the gate swung open.

“Once all the soldiers arrive from the other kingdoms, I'll cloak it again.”

“What do we do with him?” Charly asked, nodding towards Brandle, who was chained and bound on a horse tethered behind Charly.

“We have an inescapable dungeon,” Cyrus replied.

“Tell me about it,” Phillippe mumbled. “I got stuck in the passageway.”

They filed into the bustling city, citizens waving and gasping at the sight of Cyrus.

“I guess I should have let everyone know I was back,” he said absentmindedly.

They rode along the golden streets, people stopping to stare as their entourage passed. Phillippe waved and winked at everyone until Grayden smacked him on the back of the neck. Sion heard Selenia giggle behind him, amused by her brother's antics. He slowed down to ride beside her.

“A bit different than the last time you rode through here?”

“Yes,” she replied. “It's quite beautiful. I'm envious that Renya has a place where she belongs.”

“Selenia, you belong in the Snow Lands. Who knows, Cyrus might eventually want Renya to lead here, and I know Grayden will follow her anywhere. You could be in charge of the Snow Lands.”

“I don't have usable magic,” she said.

“If everything works out right, you might.”

“Do you have any magic left?”

He frowned, considering. “Perhaps a little. Cressida—” he cringed at saying the name aloud “—would grant me small amounts of power to do her errands. I haven't used magic since. It feels...tainted to me.”

Understanding shone in Selenia's eyes as she gave him a sympathetic smile. “I know the feeling.”

“Of course you do. I'm sorry, my dar—Selenia.”

She waved away his apology. “Maybe you're right. Maybe one day we'll have our full powers back—and I'll be able to control mine, and yours will be pure again.”

Before he could respond, Phillippe let out a loud whoop from behind them. Sion turned to see hundreds of soldiers marching towards the gates. The first group entering the city wore breastplates with shiny scales that caught the sunlight. They all carried large pewter tridents. Leading them was King Triston, Sion guessed. He wore similar armor, but his helmet bore the carved figure of an eel. Riding beside him was a woman in a flowing periwinkle gown, a pearl crown perched upon her long hair.

Sion watched as Phillippe flicked his horse's reins and raced towards the pair. As he approached, the woman's face lit up. Sion's jaw dropped slightly as Phillippe pulled a small trinket from his pocket and handed it to her. Though too far to see what it was, Sion noticed the woman's delight as she carefully tucked it into her woven bag.

“Wow. Phillippe has a crush,” Selenia said, her eyes on her brother. “Never thought I'd see him try to woo a woman.”

“Who is she exactly? I know she's obviously from the Tidal Kingdom...”

“Esmeralda, King Triston's sister. She's become good friends with Renya.”

The Tidal soldiers continued to march into the city, Triston riding ahead to speak with Grayden, and his sister moving to chat with Renya. The Tidal princess was clearly an inexperienced rider, and Phillippe trailed after her, watching her carefully.

Behind the Tidal soldiers came the Spring Land army. Dressed in dark green with daggers at their hips and bows slung over their shoulders, they moved quickly in cadence. Sion had never met Samatra or Thesand, but they rode ahead of their army, greeting Renya and Grayden like old friends. Sion felt a burst of pride, seeing how well his friend had assumed his role as leader. Grayden had come a long way from the scared teenage boy whose head Sion once had to dunk in a trough to sober up. Sion knew Grayden and Renya would make fine rulers, and he vowed to help them however he could.

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