Chapter Eight

The kings and Lady Leea were already within when a servant showed us to the dining room. I lifted my skirts so I wouldn’t trip over them.

When I looked up, the kings were watching me. My breath caught at the power of their gazes. I glanced down at myself. It was a stupid design, sucking me in at the waist and tight across my stomach and ribs so my breasts were pushed to the top of the gown, threatening to spill over.

The kings didn’t appear to be complaining, though. I’d seen admiration in their eyes before, but that was admiration for their guardian, the certainty that I was the one who would help them defeat the Stalwart Emperor. This was different. Standing in front of them, it was very obvious that the four kings were men before they were royalty. The admiration on their faces now was entirely different.

Heat burned my skin. This was … strange.

Lady Leea scowled. I wondered if she wished she’d sent a sack for me to wear rather than a gown that I clearly wore better than she’d intended. “Finally!” she complained, swishing her own skirts as she made for the head of the table. “Let’s eat.”

Dinner was venison stew, of course; a feast made from the gift we’d accidentally brought to the Baloa family.

“I am sorry you didn’t find anything,” Lady Leea said, her mendacity obvious.

Rey gulped down his mouthful of venison and assured her, “Not to worry, Lady, we’ll find the gem eventually.”

Leea’s expression twisted with displeasure. “You are welcome to continue your search, of course, but I fear it will be fruitless.” She turned to me, her pinched face tightening further. “I understand you are the kings’ guardian. It is a role of great honour.” Her tone suggested that she couldn’t understand how such an honour had fallen to me. “Can’t you simply make another gem for the kings?”

I coughed into my stew.

Rey looked like he would have protested, but his mouth was full.

Essa spoke up. “As I’m sure you know, Lady Leea, the Gems of Giera are imbued with power from the goddess herself. They cannot simply be remade.”

Leea pouted. And turned to Rey, leaning forward across the table. The top of her gown gaped. I thought she had moved deliberately to make it do so. What a shame her dress wasn’t too small; her breasts didn’t threaten to spill out as mine would with the same manoeuvre. “King Nashrey, I have a little magic myself. I would be happy to try and help you.”

Rey glanced at her as though he didn’t even see the way she was half-sprawled across the table. He helped himself to another portion of stew. “That won’t be necessary. We will find the gem, and then we’ll leave you alone.” His attention shifted from the food to me, and the heat that had been entirely lacking a moment before flared to life in his eyes. I put my hand to my throat, so my arm covered the worst of my chest spillage. I swear I saw the light in Rey’s eyes dim. I looked away. Only to find Fon across the table was also watching me with a similar, burning intensity.

Short of alternatives, I raised my eyes to the ceiling, inspecting the carving on the beams.

“But what if you don’t find it?” Leea cried, her voice overloud to draw attention back to herself.

Rey folded his arms. “Oh, we will,” he promised.

She slumped back. I hid a smile. Leea might be wealthy and powerful, but I wouldn’t change places with her for anything, not even the Gems of Giera. She should hope Rey did find his gem soon.

We didn’t tarry long over dinner after that. Oddly, Leea didn’t protest when I announced my intention to retire. I waited until Essa was asleep, then got up and dressed in my own clothes, sighing with relief to be comfortable again.

Once I was ready, I waited.

The moon was high when a scratch sounded at my door. Rey stood outside. His gaze darted up and down me. “Shame, I thought you might still be wearing that dress.”

I pushed him out of the way with more force than was entirely necessary. “I’m sorry to disappoint, but it’s hardly practical for sneaking about.” I slipped out, closing the door softly behind me.

He caught my gaze, snagging my fingers and pressing a kiss to my knuckles. “You never disappoint, Kyann.”

“Huh.” I tugged my hand free. “Let’s hope I don’t disappoint in finding this gem. Can you find the spot closest to it?”

“I’ll try.” He turned, leading me confidently through the castle. He didn’t know the layout, but he could clearly sense the gem.

Grabbing a torch from a bracket in the wall to light our way, we continued down until we reached the cellars of the castle, where the air clouded our breath even though it was summer, and the walls shone with damp. This must be where the castle met the moat.

Rey paused, then tugged me through a doorway and along a dim passageway. “It’s close. I can feel it.” His tone vibrated with excitement. My breath hitched with anticipation.

We reached a corner, and Rey stopped.

“Which way?” I prompted.

He shook his head. “It’s here.”

I looked down, then up, peering through the shadows cast by the torch as though the gem might be sitting on the floor, or dangling from the ceiling. “Where?” I prompted.

“It’s inside the wall,” Rey said. He touched one of the stones. “I should have woken Axxon.”

“Then it’s a good job I followed you.” The king of earth’s voice rang in the darkness a moment before he stepped into the light of the torch. He smiled. “Why should you have all the fun, Rey? Where is it?”

“Here.” Rey tapped the stone he meant.

Axxon took his place, his fingers caressing the stone. A trickle of sand flowed to life, cascading to the floor. He was turning the stone to dust.

“Wait, wait!” I called.

Axxon paused, his fingers on the stone, the trickle of dust stilling. “What’s the matter?”

“If we destroy the wall, it will be obvious we’ve found the gem’s hiding place.”

“What does that matter?” Rey demanded. “As soon as we have the gem, we can leave.”

“I’m sure Leea hid the gem.” Axxon and Rey nodded agreement. “So why has she done so? Why not reveal it to us when we asked for it?” My gaze darted from one to the other. “What if she’s working with the Emperor? Wouldn’t it be better to find out what her intentions are?”

“Perhaps you’re right.” He shifted his hands and muttered a different spell.

I’d been poised to pry the stone with my nails, but there was no need for that. With a grinding sound that set my teeth on edge, the stone began to move, shifting out from between its fellows and dropping into Axxon’s waiting hands.

“There’s something in there.” Rey pushed forward, pressing his hand into the gap. “Argh!” He swore and pulled his hand back out, shaking it.

“What’s the matter? Are you hurt?”

“That must be the stone,” Rey said. “It’s magically protected. A shield spell.” Like the one that had hidden the Silent Castle – making the gem within unreachable.

Axxon frowned. “Let me.” He reached inside, extending his arm. “Ah!” He pulled out the same way Rey had done. He looked at Rey. Concern was etched on both their expressions. “We are the kings. How can it be protected against us?”

“The family must be more powerful than they appear,” Rey suggested.

I stepped forward. “Shall I try?” There was no chance I could break the enchantment if it held for the kings, but I stuck my hand inside the stone wall regardless. I expected some kind of shock or pain. I had no magic; if the kings couldn’t overcome the enchantment, I didn’t have a hope. And yet, nothing happened. I reached the back, where another stone filled the gap. I dropped my fingers, searching for … there. I snagged a piece of cloth, my fingers closing around a bag with something hard within.

“I’ve got it!” I cried, drawing my hand out of the wall.

I was grinning when I turned to the kings, the bag containing the jewel safe in my fist.

But they weren’t looking at the prize I’d just uncovered. Axxon and Rey were staring open-mouthed at me.