Page 31 of The Divine Shallows
Elowyn closed her eyes and used the water’s steady cadence to regain her composure before she entered the Bloodweaver castle. Every ounce of her body was filled with detestation for the male sitting across from her. Elowyn knew she had the temperament of an unbroken boar, and it had gotten her in trouble more times than she could count. She breathed in through her nose and exhaled from her mouth, finally opening her eyes once more to find Theo staring at her with an indecipherable expression.
She looked at the prince and examined the aggravated mark on his chin, the maroon blemish already starting to fade and heal.
“I shouldn’t have done that.” She looked at his bruise, conscience-stricken.
“You didn’t take the first shot,” he answered apathetically. “Maiming can be done without fists.”
She nodded once in acknowledgment as they continued to float down the cavern’s tunneled river. For now, both of them seemed to offer neutrality with fluttering white flags. Elowyn had been too preoccupied with annoyance towards him to notice the floating feylightspheres bobbing gently on the water’s surface like lanterns, illuminating the tunnel in a soft glow. The feylight reflected off the tiny minerals embedded in the stone walls, twinkling at her with winking flickers, offering a sensation of wanderlust and awe.
Elowyn sat back in her cushioned seat and gazed at the walls, forgetting everything except this moment. There were times like these where she felt so attuned with the feylands of Neramyr—it felt so right, so idyllic, when she took in the world around her, appreciating the sheer marvel that Neramyr was.
She had always felt a strong connection to nature, suspecting it was the reason elemental magic came easier to her than other forms. Closing her eyes again, she focused her senses, drowning out the world. She listened to the rhythmic ripple of the river, inhaled the loamy scent of the natural cavern, and felt the aura of this magical place envelop her in a welcoming embrace. No longer burdened by the unpleasant heaviness of the cave’s magic, she found herself in a blissful solitude.
“You’re glowing.” Theo tilted his head in curiosity.
“What?” Elowyn said, confused.
“Your palms.” He pointed his chin towards her palms resting in her lap.
She looked down, and indeed, her palms were faintly glowing. She stared at them, puzzled.
“Isadora has acknowledged your presence,” he stated plainly, his eyebrows scrunching unexpectedly.
“Oh,” Elowyn said, turning her hands to inspect the illuminated crescent moons, her Mark, on her palms. “So that’s what I was feeling?”
“Interesting,” was all Theo said as he stared at her incredulously.
Before Elowyn could inquire further, a clearing appeared before them, and the vessel neared the shore’s edge, concluding their journey.
Theo skillfully stepped out of the vessel and extended a hand to help Elowyn out. She took his hand with skepticism, attempting to decipher his aura but finding nothing. Giving up quickly, she grabbedthe skirt of her dress and stepped onto the clearing. Once steady, Theo promptly dropped her hand and placed his in his pockets. He strode towards an arched entryway, similar to the entrance to the Heart of the Temple. Raising an open palm towards the archway, he extended a drop of his magic, placing his hand on the stone. The archway glowed faintly where his hand made contact, accepting his offering.
“Come,” Theo directed to Elowyn as he disappeared through the stone archway, his goldaureumfloating behind him until he was out of sight.
Elowyn took a deep breath to prepare herself and followed his footsteps to the Iron Kingdom.
For a moment,there was only darkness, then an incredible scene unfolded before her. The Bloodweaver castle loomed ahead, its exterior comprised of soaring columns of mighty stalagmites. It was a breathtaking vision of palatial formations that evoked feelings that Elowyn couldn’t quite place. The castle was fortified with a sleek iron skeleton that shaped the palace. Curved archways, doors, and windows were crafted from iron beams, a remarkable tribute to cast-iron architecture. Elowyn couldn’t help but feel that the Bloodweaver castle looked every bit as formidable as it was impregnable.
Elowyn spotted Theo marching to the top of the castle’s iron stairs without waiting for her. She rolled her eyes this time and made her way up the series of steps. Upon reaching the top, she followed Theo’s path through the castle’s entrance, guided by the bustling noise of hundreds of courtiers. Stepping into the iron castle, they were greeted by sentries lining both sides of the marbled foyer.
One of the sentries announced their arrival, prompting a few heads to turn, but it was Queen Irena who noticed them first. She approached with graceful poise, wearing a silkensmile.
“Welcome, Princess Elowyn. It’s a pleasure to host you within our castle walls for the first time.” The Iron Queen’s voice was smooth as velvet.
“It’s an honor, Your Majesty,” Elowyn replied with a small curtsy.
“I hope you’ve had a chance to become acquainted with my son during your journey here,” the Bloodweaver queen said, her eyes inquisitive as she glanced at Elowyn.
“Yes, Theo and I had an enlightening conversation,” Elowyn said with a smile, turning to Theo. “Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Enlightening, indeed,” Theo replied, his smile polished as he turned to his mother.
The Iron Queen’s posture stiffened, but regained her composure. Her narrowed gaze scrutinized her son’s face.
“Darling, you appear to have bruised your chin,” Queen Irena remarked, her tone concerned. “Are you all right?”
Elowyn’s heart sank as she turned to Theo, searching his face, but found no trace of the earlier blemish. His visage was flawless. She trembled inwardly at the Iron Queen’s uncanny ability to uncover what she thought was concealed.
“Ah, I feared we’d be late for the start of the Ceremony. In an attempt to rush here, I slipped as I stepped off the watercraft. A rather memorable experience for Princess Elowyn, I’m sure,” Theo explained, dismissing the concern.
