Page 27 of Of Skulls Of Shackles

My first timetrulyoutside Vitale. Even as a monster queen, the moment struck me. The dust limited visibility in each direction, but I recalled the pictures and books that described endless sand and poisonous water deposits, and winds that would rip you apart with all the sand they flung. Of course, there were those who traveled between the pulses—Hotel Vitale had existed for a reason—but only the very rich and important could do so. When they did, they usually traveled in armored sand rails, a buggie contraption that navigated the sand with ease.

“’Tis strange to see the city from the outside,” I murmured.

Princess Bring said, “I found the sight of the city from theinsidestrange for a time. I had only ever seen the outside world while I died on and off.”

I studied the air filters around the top of Vitale’s walls that gleamed in the moonlight. The misters did their best to stick dust to the ground, and then the filters provided another defense. Regardless of these measures, a layer of dust and sand always coated buildings and streets within the walls. I imagined the same could be said of the other seven hundred and thirteen walled cities, especially because Vitale was the largest and best equipped of all of them.

All of these protections, though, and there were still several sandstorms each year that towered several miles high and necessitated everyone remaining indoors for the duration. What dust and sand and dirt must agitate the lungs and bodies of humans.

Was this living?

I had dreamed of a more vibrant existence as a human, and this view of Vitale only summoned the likeness of a cage to mind. There must be more to the world for all creatures than this.

“Lead the way, kindly,” I said to the princesses.

Princess Raise led the way, and Princess Bring followed me. I did wonder what happened to the sand that must stick to her slime, but asking felt rude.

“I had forgotten the exfoliation,” she moaned.

My brows lifted. Goodness, how unexpected the answer to my curiosity.

Bring continued moaning and gasping as we walked down and then up any number of great dunes.

Vitale was a speck in the distance when Princess Raise stopped on a rocky outcrop in a flat expanse of sand. The surrounding dunes gave the impression of a great, barren valley.

The feeling was ancient indeed.

I moved past Princess Raise. “Therein lies the cave that five soldiers entered, drawn toward a green light.”

I could not fathom that time when kings had been human and monsters had not existed, and The End had not transpired.

But here was the cave. Not as grand as I had imagined. King See would need to bend in half to enter.

No green light shone, but nevertheless, the importance of this place was palpable in the air and in the rockiness underfoot.

“Will you enter, my queen?” asked Princess Bring.

Foreboding, dreadful and thick. “Yes, I suppose I shall. Wait here.”

I was not as tall as King See, nor any king, and so I had only to tilt my head to enter under the flat slab of rock that formed the ceiling.

Darkness thicker than that outside, a darkness bereft of moonlight.

My chest tightened at the cloying confines, but my eyes adjusted quickly enough. I worked to even my breaths again, reminding myself that ancients had driven my obsession and reason for coming.

Just as they drove five human men here.

I held up my palm, then drew my power in tight before jolting heat into the center. Light erupted.Too much.I blinked against the glare, and drew the light closer, stealing heat away until my magic glowed and did not blare.

I had never entered a cave, but I imagined this was like many others. A tunnel extended deeper into the rock, and I could see that the ceiling was higher there, high enough for me and for kings.

With a last glance outside to where princesses waited, I took hold of my shredded bravery and walked in my floating way down the tunnel. The tunnel was not wide enough for more than one person, and the hairs at the base of my neck rose as if ancients themselves walked at my back. I glowed my magic brighter to inspect the walls. The rock here was darker than the exposed rock outside, and there was a smoothness through the middle of the wall that spoke of the kings that had gone to and fro, brushing the rock with their clothing and bodies.

Ahead the tunnel widened, and my feet slowed.

I had expected olden rock. A green light. I hardly knew what, really.

Not this.

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