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How long had the waters here been like this?
I groaned, getting it. If I didn't give my life, this would just get worse. These waters wouldn't ever heal. I could plainly see all the reasons I had to fulfill the Azizien Rite, but it didn't make the decision any easier.
"Surface ahead!" Wheel Ryder Tunde shouted. The sumaren bustled into life. "Etheriscs on!"
Kianga came to my side to help me put my etherisc on. She opened her palm. At its center, a star-shaped clip floated. The instrument was small, seemingly insignificant, but I was not so naïve. Without it I wouldn't be able to breathe above the Surface, or walk like the sky angels, and my body would die leaving my spirit in a hellish limbo.
"Here goes," I mumbled to myself. "The beginning of the end."
Kianga laughed softly beside me. "Stop it. Nothing is ending. I don't know how yet, but I have a gut feeling. Things won't go as you think. Besides," she shrugged. "I'm too stubborn. I'm not losing my best friend that easily. We have a millethium of world and life to see. Together."
I smiled and gave her a hug. We held each other a moment, bracing ourselves for the unexpected, before letting go.
"I'll attach the etherisc to the top of your spinal column between your wings. The ethereal substance should emit throughout your wings and body. Everything else should take care of itself after that."
I nodded in understanding. Kianga turned me around, clipping the etherisc to the spinal column of my wings. A strange sensation, like warm water melting ice, washed me from my tiara to my sandaled feet. As the sensation passed, I craved something I'd never had before. I breathed in, desperate for...
"Air," Kianga whispered. "I hope Tunde didn't have us put them on too soon. We need air or else..." she trailed off.
I tried not to fidget. Not to breathe too much.
My chest burned, the sensation only growing. I fought to be still, but I could feel myself twitching. Feel myself about to combust. My chest tightened. I felt like I was caving inward. Felt like I was dying when?—
The sumaren bursted through the Surface of the Mistwind Seas.
Wheel Ryder Tunde began pushing buttons on his dashboard. In a blink, the vessel morphed from a sumaren to a king-sized chariot with wings. The moment I felt a light breeze on my neck, I tilted my head back, and... breathed. I drank in the thin, cool air, satisfying my lungs.
"Aziziens," Tunde called. "We've reached the Surface. And right above, a little ways away, there lies the kingdom of Avari."
Chapter 11
Planting Seeds
YAKOBBA
When rays of sôlight reflected in my chambers through closed blinds, I threw off my duvet and rolled out of my bedcloud. Incessant chatter flittered into my bedchamber as maydins dashed back and forth preparing for the sea princess. I ignored it, heading for my bathing rooms. The bath was glorious, and I indulged myself staying longer than I needed to. While the castle was busy welcoming the princess of Azizi, I planned to be long gone.
Payè was adamant during supprèst. Every Rhòdhaire had to be present for her arrival. This Azizi invitation was a big deal. One payè planned to drain of all its benefits. When I asked questions, he dodged them while Ishaèli was showered with his attention and pride. Mamè and Alessayi were the ones to remind me I still belonged inside the castle. As always.
Looking at myself in a long mirror, I appraised my attire. I dressed in head to toe black, covered in my floor length leather cloak. I smiled. Payè had another thing coming. Every Rhòdhaire would be present.
Every Rhòdhaire but me.
I hadn't fully decided on where to go just yet, but I was well accustomed to getting lost.
I floated over to my scrollshelf, pulled a scrollbook forward, and watched a doorway form. I floated through and let the secret doorway fall shut with a click.
The stones of the secret passage were freshly polished. The floors were paved smooth. Ishaèli and I had stumbled on these passages accidentally when we were younglings while running from our Electors. From then on, we used them to pull pranks on the king and queen, but especially Alessayi. When we got older, we'd sneak in and out of the castle, bringing inappropriate company, as mamè labeled it.
I recalled those dawns with profound sadness. Those dawns were long gone. Ishaèli outgrew those cycles, and me. He became the favorite of payè while I was mamè's. I always wondered why I was chosen as heir and not Ishaèli, but refused to learn the truth.
I floated along through the corridors without aim until I found myself balanced behind a protruding stone. Pushing it down, I floated into the chamber it led to. I looked around for two beats before I cursed and rushed back into the secret corridor.
"Soè."
Mamè's cool voice called to me from deep inside her chambers. I silently cursed myself for not being able to piece together where I was sooner.
"Izayi, come."
