XXXIII. IN THE JAWS OF THE KERXA

  The Knowledge of Swift Winds’ sails swayed gently in the summer breeze as their barges floated down the Kerxa. Admrilia inhaled, her body one with the bundles of tightly packed reeds beneath her feet. The day was simply blissful, the easy breeze a welcome relief from the fierce temperatures of the Dunelands. The Argenti’s eyes traced the aquamarine water as it swirled and bent towards the massive tombs on the distant horizon. Admrilia exhaled, wishing she could savor this moment like honey down her throat.

  From her seat under the shaded canopy, The Knowledge, did not seem quite as crowded, although it certainly was. Her neptori, advisors, the Kai’s and the Uro siblings occupied the modest barge. Behind them, vessels under the command of centori Tygris bore the rest of Admrilia’s neptori and supplies. At the front of The Knowledge Governor Wyn-Kai’s head was propped up on his palm as his sons sat cross legged. A boardgame laid between them. From the looks of it, her uncles were losing.

  The Uro siblings looked ill. Clearly, from the way their feet stumbled every time The Knowledge shifted to match the current, it was their first time on a boat. The soldier, Lero, was dressed in his legionnaire armor while Nia-Uro was dressed modestly in a light linen dress. Her hair had been braided out of the way of her amber eyes. Nia’s head was ducked in close to her brother and she was whispering urgently.

  “You can check later.” Lero’s voice carried up the breeze.

  “Check on what?” Admrilia asked.

  The siblings turned, their faces draining of color. Admrilia watched in amusement as Nia-Uro’s amber eyes immediately darted to her sandals. She was so timid, that one.

  “My horse, your majesty. I don’t like the idea of being separated from him.” The woman spoke.

  “Oh?” In truth, Admrilia shared no love for the temperamental beasts. She hated that horses were hellbent on refusing her will. She waved a dismissive hand. “Rest assured, my neptori are taking good care of your steed—”

  “Ajaxi.” Nia-Uro interrupted.

  “Yes.” Admrilia’s mouth thinned at the interruption. “Very well, I suppose when we stop for the evening you can check on him.”

  Nia nodded, seeming visibly relieved. They lapsed into uncomfortable silence and Admrilia searched for an appropriate bridge to further conversation. She frowned, and conversation had always been one of Asho’s strengths. The Argenti’s eyes darted up as advisor Clavo approached. One moment, Nia-Uro was standing at the edge of the barge and the next, she was gone.

  “What have you done?” Lero screamed. “She can’t swim!”

  “Alex!” Admrilia ordered. Her neptori was already there, diving into the river.

  “What have you done?” Admrilia seethed as she stood. Clavo held up his hands in subjugation. Admrilia peered over the barge, expecting Alexandros to already be heaving the small woman overhead. Precious moments passed and a knot formed in her stomach as Alexandros’ head broke the surface.

  “Argenti! I cannot find her.”

  “If the Stormlord is so gracious he will have drowned the mutt quickly.” Clavo said.

  Stormlord’s Tits. Admrilia dove into the river. The water rushed to greet her as she swam down to the riverbed. She knew that off to her side, Alexandros would be doing the same. Admrilia’s arms dug through the thick silt, mud clouds blocking her vision, for an arm, a leg. Nothing. Admrilia kicked down the current further where the riverbed gave way to thick reeds. Her hands fumbled through silt and fish and vegetation. And then, smooth skin. A leg.

  Admrilia’s hands raked over Nia-Uro’s torso and arms, finding her armpits. Her muscles ached as she stood, kicking off for the surface. Yet, the riverbed held them down as if the Stormlord himself demanded it.

  Release her! Admrilia fought. She attempted to kick off again, Nia’s body firmly lodged in the sediment. The river squeezed her windpipe. Black dots appeared in her vision. Release her! Admrilia willed.

  The kerxa gave. Admrilia kicked for the surface of the shallow river. The Knowledge of Swift Winds erupted into cheers when they broke the surface. Alexandros paddled towards her, taking Nia’s heavy load off her. Admrilia’s muscles ached in relief. She took Flavius’ extended arm as he heaved her onboard. Flavius then helped Alexandros.

  Flavius rolled Nia over. Lero broke from where Jax-Kai and Tho-Kai were holding him back. He collapsed onto his knees and shook his sister. “Wake up! Wake up!” Lero screamed. “Skytops Nia, wake up!”

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  “Move.” Admrilia ordered. She pushed Lero roughly aside. Admrilia dropped to her knees and brought her weight down against Nia’s cold sternum. Clavo’s livid eyes bore into her as Admrilia tilted Nia’s chin back. She brought her ear close, listening for breath. Admrilia’s lips met Nia’s pale blue ones. She breathed life into her chest. Again. A third time. A fourth. A fifth. Admrilia feared that her rib cage would crack against the weight of her thrusts. Admrilia brought her lips to Nia’s again. Nia’s eyes flung open— irises shimmering gold. She gasped and lunged forward, arms grasping Admrilia’s throat. Admrilia fell onto her back as Nia’s fingernails tore into her windpipe.

  The woman was wrenched off of her. Lero held his sister in his arms. “Nia, stop. You are not in danger.” Nia glanced up at her brother, blinking comprehensively — before doubling over.

  “Oh gross.” Alexandros muttered as Nia puked riverwater all over his shoes.

  “Congratulations princess, the kerai bitch tried to kill you for saving her.” Clavo seethed.

  “Leave the poor woman alone, Clavo.” Khispen said sternly.

  “A woman? No, you are mistaken.” Clavo pointed straight at Nia-Uro. “That is a beast in flesh.”

  Later, after Admrilia had changed at the barge had calmed itself, Nia-Uro approached her. The other woman had changed out of the soiled dress and into a too-large tunic that was clearly her brothers. Her hair still lay damp against her bare shoulders. “I need to thank you.” Admrilia sighed and patted the reeds behind her. Nia approached, easing herself down. Nia refused to meet her gaze, instead her amber eyes were trained on the sun disk as it dipped beneath the dunes. “I almost died today. I never thought I could have died like that.”

  Admrilia had foreseen her death the day she took her oath to the Stormlord. The Argenti would drown under the power of the Semperimar as a thousand watery hands clamped around her throat. “How then?”

  Nia’s eyes flicked to hers for a moment and then away. “Buried alive in the Dunelands, I suppose. Alone on the earth as I have to acknowledge that there is no way out.”

  Admrilia grunted. “That sounds awful.”

  The woman shrugged. “Anything would be a mercy compared to drowning again.” She shivered, drawing her legs to her chest.

  Admrilia ground her jaw tightly. She hated just how vulnerable the other woman looked at the moment. How her hands itched to comfort her. She balled her fists in her lap. “Why does Advisor Clavo hate you so much?”

  “Oh? I, I’m not sure I can tell you that.”

  “I’m the heir to the Empire. I’m ordering you too.”

  Nia-Uro’s smile was humorless. She glanced back behind them before switching to kiyr. “Very well, Princess Admrilia. If we were in Aegtrys, his son would have been castrated for his crimes.”

  A torrent of anger made Admrilia’s ears ring. “You?”

  “No. Not me. My sister.”

  Admrilia’s jaw clenched. “If anyone ever did that to my sister, I would kill them.

  “We both received mercy that day.” There was venom underneath Nia-Uro’s soft words. Bitter hatred bubbling to the surface. A scar

  “So there is a beast under that flesh after all.” Admrilia regarded the taut-always alert form of the woman beside her. “Isn’t there. It seems I’ve underestimated you.”

  “To underestimate me would be a mistake, princess.” Nia rose lithely.

  “On the contrary, Nia-Uro.” Admrilia whispered as she walked away. “I feel as if I have finally begun to understand you.” Admrilia scowled as Advisor Clavo approached.

  “Quite an intriguing conversation you were having, princess.”

  “Indeed.” Admrilia frowned as Clavo sat down beside her. “She was just thanking me for saving her life today.”

  “Ah yes, such a very unfortunate accident.”

  Admrilia scowled. “Cut the shit, Advisor. We both know you pushed her. Your hatred of the Uro’s is no secret.”

  Clavo scowled. “It was not your place to interfere princess.”

  “In an assassination?”

  “An accident, merely.” Clavo held up his arms. “You took on great personal risk jumping in after her. You could have been hurt.”

  Admrilia huffed. “You act as if I am not descended from the Stormlord himself.”

  “But to put the life of some mutt before yourself.” Clavo tisked.

  “Well I could have hardly stood by and let the woman drown.”

  “She should already be dead by the laws of the Empire.” Clavo shot Nia-Uro a murderous glare.

  “I know our laws. Yet, I know of our mission. We must recover the star. The wrath of the Emperor outweighs whatever grievance you may have.”

  “You continue to defend their existence! How could I expect any less from a half-dog such as yourself. Stormlord below, for all I know you may be a kerai-lover yourself.”

  “That is a serious accusation, advisor.” Admrilia said cooly.

  Clavo’s lips wormed into a gross imitation of a smile. “I’ve seen the ways you look at her. The rumors. That the princess is not like the rest. She’s much to masculine. Too interested in the art of war to hear of suitors or bearing children. She is a vira in the flesh, lusting after a kerai whore.”

  Admrilia threw back her head and laughed viciously. “May you openly weep at your son’s grave, Crassus.”