Page 91 of Joy Guardian

“There it is.” Kurai suddenly pointed up ahead.

Like most of this journey, I traveled on horseback, and Kurai walked, leading my horse by its reins.

I peered into the desert but saw nothing except for a wide hill that rose in our path like a mountain.

“Where is it?” I leaned down to the horse’s mane, straining my eyes.

“That big hill over there is the City of Teneris,” Kurai explained.

“The hill is the city?” I squinted at him skeptically.

“You said you don’t remember your arrival to Kalmena the night you were brought to Alveari Kingdom.”

“No, I don’t. I was very much in shock, curled in the cage or the seat in which they transported me. I think the frame around the seat was also covered with fabric or something, and I never bothered to look out.”

“So, you’ve never seen one of our cities from the outside?”

“No.” When Kurai and I escaped Kalmena, we were transported by his magical cloak too far from the city to see it.

“Well, that’s how most of our cities look. The dome-like shape makes it easier for the structure to withstand the storms. Most of the city is also usually located underground. The queen’ssaraiis positioned on the surface because we know that humans need at least some sunlight occasionally.”

“Hey, Joy Guardian.” Malis caught up with us. “How do you want to do this? Just walk up to the city guards and tell them to let us in? Because I’ve gotta tell you, the guards don’t particularly welcome us to any city. Or do you have another trick in your bag for this one too?”

“No tricks,” Kurai disappointed Malis in her expectations for another magical devastation. “We’re bringing the Joy Vessels as per Prince Rha’s order. That should be enough for the guards to let us in.”

Malis nodded, nervously tugging at a braid that had made its way out of her giant bun speared with long needles. I noticed the male of our entourage also looked increasingly more uneasy the closer to the city we got.

As we approached Teneris, it became clear this was not an ordinary hill. The bottom of it remained dark, but the top glistened with gold from the open balconies, glowing vines, and shimmering insects flying around the night flowers.

Kurai walked toward the city guards by the gate.

“Greetings,” he said.

The guards crossed their long spears in front of him. Their leader poked his head out of the narrow window of the gatehouse at the foot of the giant city hill.

“What do you want?” he barked.

“As per Prince Rha’s order, we found his Joy Vessels in the desert and are returning them to Teneris.”

“For the reward the prince promised,” Malis chimed in from behind Kurai’s back.

“Joy Vessels?” The leader’s eyebrows shot up to the edge of the shroud over his head. “Are you sure?”

He hurried from the gatehouse to us.

“Yes.” Kurai nodded.

“Prince Rha will pay the reward for them, will he not?” Malis clarified.

“Yes, His Highness promised a reward for his Joy Vessels. Only no one has actually turned any in yet. How many do you have?”

“Four,” Malis said before Kurai had a chance to answer.

More guards exited the gatehouse, forming a semi-circle around our group. The leader gave me and the other humans a closer look.

“What do you know, these really are Joy Vessels. Go get General Oskura,” he ordered one of his people. “And grab a couple of Joy Vessel Keepers on the way, too. These Joy Vessels are in a sorry state and will need some care.”

“Finally, some decent food and a bath,” Shyanne murmured, climbing down from her horse.

---