Page 35 of Of Stars and Lightning
SAND AND STONE WALLS DON’T MIX
BY THE TIMEthey crossed the Dunes of San’ann, Sol wished the sun would disappear. The beige sands reflected the rays so intensely she was sure to be cherry red by the time they crossed the basin. The horses were hot. Everyone was hot. Just when she was about to ask to ride with Alix and his icy mists, she saw it.
At first it was a dark splotch on the horizon, then slowly progressed to a bigger, taller speck, until it finally consumed the entire plane of her vision. A wall erupted from the sands and rose to the skies, clouds covering where it finished to make it seem endless. It was made of dark sandstone, a sharp contrast to the tawny sand surrounding it, and Sol couldn't help but stare.
Nina seemed to have a knack for deciphering Sol’s questions, or the confusion was too clearly strung across her face. The Earth Caller said, “The wall is relatively new, I heard. It is guarded and meant to keep Jinn out, but I argue it actually keeps the stragglers in.”
Sol tightened her hands around Kahaida’s reigns. “Who guards it?”
A screeching sounded from behind the wall, a part of it booming open to allow a group of eight soldiers through.
Beside Sol, Sawyer rolled her eyes, her horse seeming to mirror the gesture. “They do.” She trotted ahead slightly and added, “Or at least they claim to.”
Nina pulled Kahaida to a swift stop and dismounted, holding out her elbow for Sol. “Sawyer has a particularly strained relationship with the Kingsmen. They’re perpetually disagreeable.”
Alix dismounted his horse, followed by Cas, who Sol was sure almost landed on the heel of her boots on purpose. She pursed her lips at him in warning, to which he responded with a wink.
Well, at least it seemed he was over the previous day’s disagreement.
“Aside from the wall being enchanted to confuse, it also requires brands from the soldiers to cross. The only bloodline that doesn’t require their brand??—”
Nina was interrupted by Sawyer sauntering by, Fey trotting beside her. She didn’t bother greeting the soldiers who watched her pass, but she did peer over her shoulder and give them a fiery wave before disappearing across the open wall.
Literally disappeared. Sol supposed nothing else could surprise her at this point, but she still shook her head and blinked at the spot where her cousin was—then wasn’t.
Nina sighed. “Only Yarrows can enter without a brand.”
“Sawyer loves to remind them of that,” said Alix with a smirk. He flanked Sol’s other side. “Pisses them off.”
“Looks like all those years of travel didn’t teach that bitch any manners,” a soldier clad in full armor and a scruffy beard remarked, prompting a laugh from the other men behind him.
Any fear Sol might have felt was quickly replaced with annoyance as she cut her eyes to him. Sure, Sawyer had a temper, but a rather unwelcome sense of protectiveness struck her at the disrespect.
The comment affected the others similarly, it seemed, as Cas stepped behind Sol, the motion only decipherable by the warmth he radiated. She tried not to shiver as he said, “She’s your General.”
The man shrugged, amusement flickering in his eyes. “That role has been vacant for years as you four partied and fucked around all the corners of Erriadin while we actually did something useful.”
“I’d be careful what you say, Finigan,” Alix warned. “Especially after the journey we’ve had.”
A warm breeze shifted through their group, blowing the sand in wisps around them. Sol covered her eyes with her forearm, unfortunately calling the soldier’s attention to her.
His beady eyes narrowed beneath ginger brows. “And what have you all brought back? A whore?”
Another soldier stepped forward, leaning against Finigan’s shoulders. “Xanthos’s whore, if I had to guess.”
It was Nina who snapped first. With a swift wave of her arm, sand compacted into a limb and slammed into the men, thrusting them aside. Her eyes shone as she stomped over to them, and all Sol could do was watch, astonished at the rare display of anger from the Earth Caller.
Sol didn’t ever want to have that anger directed at her.
“You will respect Prince Xanthos and the rest of the Royal court. I don’t know what’s happened while we have been gone, but it's best you all resolve the attitude quickly and let us through.”
“We don’t let whores through the wall, Amana.” Finigan stood, shaking off the sand. “And your ‘Royal court’ status means nothing without a Royal to rule.”
“Luckily, we have her with us, don’t you think?” Alix strode to join Nina’s side, leaving Sol and Cas alone.
Sol glanced over her shoulder at him.
He was uncharacteristically silent, his eyes focused on the open wall ahead. He met her gaze briefly and shrugged.
