Page 4 of The Stolen Kingdom

Lasmeer shook his head. “It is not pretty, my friend.”

“What else, Lasmeer?” Maris pushed, fighting the need to step forward and demanding him to tell her everything.

Lasmeer ran the palm of his hand through his thick beard before answering, “They found the heiress of the Sea Kingdom. Her name is Nerea Thalassa. She and Arwin—King Arwin,” Lasmeer groaned in disgust. “I guess they will marry soon. I’ve been informed they will turn New Agenor into an official Skylian City, instead of just a settlement.”

Maris’s jaw dropped. She shook her head, trying to make sense of it all, while her temples throbbed with a mounting headache. Finally, she sat on the floor, her world crumbling around her.

“That woman... she’s not the heiress,” Maris uttered, her voice laced with a mix of frustration and desperation. “She’s not even a mortal.”

Lasmeer, taken aback by Maris’s outburst, ventured cautiously, “And how can you be so sure?”

“BecauseIam the heiress of the Sea Kingdom,” Maris confessed, her words tinged with regret andself-recrimination.

How could she speak those words so freely now when hours ago she couldn’t find the strength to utter them? Anger had stopped her, and now, because of that, Valda lay unconscious.

Silence consumed the room, except for Isen’s surprised gasp. A wide grin spread across his face as he turned to Melvian. “I told you! She is my queen.” The tall man dropped to one knee, bowing low to Maris.

“Isen, don’t—”

“Queen Maris, I swear my eternal loyalty to you and the Sealian crown—”

“Stop. I—”

“You have my word and my sword. I will go to the end of the world for—”

“I said stop!” Maris yelled, tears rolling down her face.

Melvian grabbed Isen’s arm and pulled him up, and his face contorted with hurt.

Maris shook her head, raking her fingers through her hair. “I am no queen. I had my chance to proclaim the truth, and I didn’t.”

“Wha—” Melvian frowned. “Maris—”

“How can we be sure you are the real—” Lasmeer’s voice died out as Maris raised her hand, and gathered water from dirty and bloody pails. The red water floated in front of Lasmeer before splashing across the floor. Eyes wide, Lasmeer bowed his head low before begging for forgiveness.

“That woman is not the heiress, and she is not human. She is the goddess Eris.” Maris stood up. “And she can fucking shapeshift.”

Lasmeer’s mouth formed into a perfect circle before he nodded. “That explains why she looks like a Sealian.”

“Arwin wants the Sealians to swear loyalty toNerea, and subsequently to Eris. If they don’t, they will be killed for treason,” Isen said.

“Why is she here, though? Wasn’t she supposed to be gone along with the others after The Great Disappearance?” Melvian asked.

“Not all of them left,” Isen answered before turning to Maris. “What worries me is that a goddess as herself, hiding out waiting for her chance to take in whoever would have her, is dangerous.”

“Arwin is the only one that knows she is Eris.”

“True, but as king, I am sure he will make everyone bend their knees and worship Eris if it means a better life. That’s what he is promising.‘Queen Valda is not a fit ruler; I am the one that should be in charge. Swear your loyalty to me and worship her.’” Isen shook his head and rubbed his tattooed forearm. “Imagine if he turns Oberon Castle into her temple.”

“So, what if he does?” Melvian asked, shrugging. “Why does it matter?”

“She will have more power. A place to call her own after centuries of not having so. If she has a place for worship, she can be stronger,” Lasmeer said.

Maris ran her fingers through her hair. “What worries me is that he wants to commit genocide. He won’t say it out loud, but he knows Sealians will not bow to thisNerea, knowing I am here,” Maris released the breath she was holding before turning to Melvian, eyes wide as if she figured out what was about to happen to her people. “I have to warn them!”

“And leave Valda?” Melvian asked, eyebrows arching in surprise.

“I am not done with the news,” Lasmeer interrupted, clearing his throat to get everyone’s attention.

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