Page 44 of The King of Koraha
“Yes. Right in the very heart of the city,” Dasan had said. “Nintri is unique in that it has a gigantic cavern in its center. It’s twenty levels high and spans a kilometer.” Dasan had spread his hands wide to demonstrate its size. “The city also has dozens of other caverns almost as big. These spaces are linked together by tunnels like stones on a necklace. And the city is not like Qulsary where the levels go from one side of the city to the other in neat rows down to the bottom. In Nintri everything is grouped around the caverns and many levels are not connected.”
“How do you keep from getting lost?” Shyla had asked.
“Once you find the main tunnels that go between the caverns, that’s all you need to know. And those are always filled with people so they’re hard to miss.”
Shyla couldn’t wait to explore the city’s unusual layout. She had bought another head scarf before they left Qulsary. One with a pattern that would blend in with the locals. Not because she worried about being seen as a sun-kissed, but because she worried about being seen as Shyla Sun-Kissed.
It was close to darkness when they parted ways with Dasan. They avoided the main entrance into the city. Two guards stood near it, telling visitors to register. The last thing Shyla wanted to do was let the city’s guards know she’d arrived. The mercenaries had probably bribed a couple guards to pass along any pertinent information. And with that in mind, they also avoided asking the guards for accommodation recommendations. Instead, they followed the flow of people.
When they reached their first cavern, Shyla couldn’t help craning her neck. It was huge and well lit. Druk lanterns had been affixed to the walls from the bottom all the way to the top. Crystals glinted and streaks of color painted the surface.
“Yellow is sulfur, green is copper, and orange is iron,” a woman who’d been walking near Shyla said.
Shyla glanced at her. “Were all those substances mined from here? Is that why the cavern is so big?”
“No. Koraha’s molten core welled up into the space, then retreated, leaving a shell behind. All the caverns in Nintri were formed that way.”
“Ah, thank you.”
The woman smiled and continued on her way. It didn’t take them long to discover that most of the locals were friendly. Despite Shyla’s new scarf and Rendor’s plain clothes, they failed to blend in as well as they hoped. But as they walked through the city, welcoming strangers gave them recommendations on rooms to rent, places to visit, and which market stalls had the best quality goods.
In fact, the city practically hummed with contentment. Shyla spotted a few guards, but they interacted with the citizens, talking and laughing instead of standing on the fringes watching. The deacons also appeared to be too busy with their own chores to notice if anyone wasn’t being properly devout.
“This place is a little too…nice,” Rendor whispered to her. “It’s creepy.”
“No it isn’t. It’s refreshing.”
“It’s hiding something.”
There were no signs of the mercenaries, but she doubted they’d have a market stall advertising their services. Or that they would stand out like Rendor. Few people carried swords or knives. If anyone appeared to be a grunt for hire, it was Rendor.
After eating third meal, they rented a room near the main cavern. Or at least that was what the older woman who owned the rooms had told them. Her cluster of small apartments was located at a dead end, which Rendor hadn’t liked until he learned there was a back door in their suite to another tunnel.
“The heart cavern is just another kilometer or two down the main artery,” the woman said as she unlocked the door to their room. “You’ll want to be there right at the sun’s apex. It’s glorious.” She dropped the key into Rendor’s palm. “Let me know if you need any help. My granddaughter guides people through the lava tunnels, but she can also navigate Nintri blind.”
“I’ve read about those lava tunnels,” Shyla said. “Were they formed the same way as the caverns? By the molten core?”
“Yes, though they’re deep underneath the city. Some are still hot and others are filled with toxic gas so you have to be very careful. Which is why the Water Princess will only allow guided tours.”
Good to know. Shyla thanked the woman and closed the door behind her. Rendor was already exploring. It wasn’t a big place, but there was a sitting area with a desk and sand clock. One extra-large sleeping cushion occupied its own room—Rendor had requested it and the woman’s gaze had swept over him as she readily agreed. Another room had a big stone table with enough cushions that they could invite people over. Plenty of druk lanterns shone with a red-tinted light.
Rendor checked the back door, opening it and peering out as if he expected an ambush. Satisfied, he closed and locked it. They were on level twenty-nine and a half. She’d no idea why they’d bothered with the half. It was either a level or it wasn’t.
Shyla was about to ask Rendor his thoughts on the numbering when she met his heated gaze. His thoughts were obviously not on the strange quirks of Nintri but rather on the fact they hadn’t been alone in nineteen sun jumps.
“Come here,” he said, spreading his arms wide.
Just like that, her focus shrank to one person. And the rest of the world disappeared.
Much later, they discussed their plans for the upcoming sun jump.
“We’re not splitting up,” Rendor said in his I-must-be-obeyed voice. His arms tightened around her. They were curled together on the sleeping cushion.
“We can get more done. There won’t be an ambush on the way to the monastery.”
“How do you know?”
“The monks would never allow it.” She waited, but his muscles remained tense. “I grew up in a monastery; the monks are sworn to protect the King. Plus a portion of those taxes go to the monasteries. They wouldn’t steal from the King.”
