Page 89 of The King of Koraha
Ten or eleven sun jumps into the research, Little One learned that there had once been over eight thousand cities on the surface of Koraha. These cities slowly died over time and the residents perished due to huge sandstorms and epic droughts that drained aquafers. Survivors migrated to the last freshwater lake until it dried up. Then they had to dig deeper and deeper to reach water.
The twelve underground cities of Koraha were all roughly within a 2800-kilometer-wide circle with Qulsary located at the highest elevation and Catronia at the lowest.
But the most interesting and relevant fact to her current research was that the King had moved from Zirdai to Qulsarybecauseof the water. Of course the details were thin—they always were. She compared the water level of both cities. Zirdai’s was down around level ninety-seven and Qulsary’s was at forty-five. They didn’t have to dig as deep in Qulsary, but all the cities had roughly the same amount of water. She remembered someone…Big Brute?…had said that the water flowing out of Zirdai eventually went to another city. Could all the water for all the cities be connected? But what did that have to do with the King?
She mulled it over. Perhaps it was just easier for the King to access the water in Qulsary. He wouldn’t have to use as much energy to fill his vault and protect his throne and secret chambers. While interesting, it didn’t explain how the King’s magic worked or how to counter it so Little One continued her search.
Little One returned to her room well into darkness. Her back ached, her butt was numb, her shoulders were stiff, and pain pulsed in the spot right between her eyes, causing her vision to blur. They’d been working later and later as they only had ten sun jumps left. While she waited in the hallway, Kamila checked her small room for intruders, declared it safe, and headed to her sleeping cushion. Fareed remained outside to stand guard.
When Little One entered, she paused. A strangeness brushed against her, encouraging her to be calm and quiet. The inclination stopped just as two people appeared right in front of her.
She jumped in surprise as the woman pressed a finger to her lips. The young man beside her grinned before almost tackling Little One as he hugged her. Confusion swirled. Where had they come from? At least they hadn’t attacked. Not yet.
“Okay, rat, that’s enough,” the woman whispered.
“I want a turn.”
They exchanged places and now the woman squeezed Little One to her. She smelled familiar.
“We missed you!” the woman whispered and in the next breath said, “What in the seven hells are you doing here?” Then she released her and stepped back. “Wait, don’t answer that yet. Are you distracting the stiff outside, rat?”
“Of course. And the other one who’s in her room,” the young man said at a normal volume, seeming not at all upset to be called a rat.
“Good.” The woman focused on Little One. Her light green eyes narrowed. “Okay, now you can tell us what in the seven hells you’re doing here. Are you working undercover? Why didn’t you meet us at the rendezvous location? What’s going on?”
Little One didn’t have answers to any of those questions, but she did have one of her own. “Who are you?”
Twelve
The woman gaped at her. “Is this a joke?”
“If you’re not monks, you need to leave,” Little One said.
“I think she’s serious,” the young man said. “Shyla, it’sus. Gurice and Mojag.”
“Gurice as in yourbestfriend.” The woman…Gurice…crossed her arms and scowled at her.
“I know you?” Her unreliable memories once again failed to make a connection.
“Gurice, I think she’s been influenced,” Mojag said. “Something’s not right.”
“That’s impossible. She has The Eyes. No one is stronger than her.” Gurice stepped closer to Little One. “Look at me.Seemy memories.”
At first Little One averted her gaze, but then she noticed Mojag’s worried expression and it stirred a protective instinct inside her. Xerxes hadn’t told her what to do in this situation. And she wasn’t in danger. They were obviously brother and sister with their similar eyes and tall thin builds.
Determined, Little One met Gurice’s gaze. Her recent memories showed them traveling from Zirdai to Apanji. The sense of urgency. The worry when Shyla and Rendor failed to show up at the rendezvous location. Then, further back, the friendship and comradery as they built a new headquarters. The fierce loyalty of fighting together to unseat the maniacal Water Prince and corrupt Heliacal Priestess. They were more than best friends. They were both… The goddess’s love tugged at the emotions attached to the memories. It tried to wash them away, replace them with thoughts of Xerxes.
“Shyla, look.” Mojag had pulled up his sleeve, exposing his left arm up to his shoulder.
And on his bicep…Little…no…Shyla drew in a sharp breath as pain surged through her—the goddess’s punishment for thinking such thoughts. But Shyla stared at the symbol glowing on Mojag’s arm. An important symbol. Fire replaced her blood and she cried out and fell to her knees.
Gurice leaned over and grabbed her arms, supporting her. “Mojag, what did you do?”
“Nothing, I swear!”
“Gurice,” Shyla panted, clinging to her friend’s arms. If she let go, she’d be swept away.
Gurice crouched down. “Tell me how to help you.”
