Aliye had never felt like more of an outcast in her own city.

At least half of the other Ejderha had perished in the Second Shell’s wall collapse and the few who remained vanished into the sands, likely seeking asylum from other islands.

Sheila and Pari had fled from their northern stations seeking the queen’s kindness once news of Magni’s death had reached them. Aliye had caught sight of them pleading with the city guard while she assisted in the restoration of the Third Shell. Despite not knowing either of them well, Aliye gave her word that they would conduct themselves with honor.

A concerning number of citizens all across Ichi Island had turned to hunting any Ejderha that still lived, trapping them in Magni’s cages until death. Part of the game, of course, was identifying their number through friends or family who had been wronged.

Unfortunately, the King’s Tax and the subsequent punishments had wronged a lot of people. For Aliye, Pari, and Sheila, their only chance to exist peacefully was a pardon from the queen.

“You lot had my family in cages,” the guard at the citadel gate spat. Aliye didn’t recognize her or the second in command. “You think the queen wants to see you? Ha! You’d be lucky to leave with your heads still attached.”

“Queen Naeemah is the reason I’m not in a cage anymore, soldier,” Aliye replied, trying to maintain her calm. “We’re here to make amends for our actions.”

“Amends?” the guard spat, her face incredulous. Her maroon ears flattened to her head, and her hand rested on the hilt of her sword. “Do you know how many lives you ruined?”

“Steady, Ezhil,” the second guard warned.

Sheila stepped forward and placed a hand on Ezhil’s shoulder. Her yellow eyes glowed against her ebony skin and hair, and the golden bracelets around her wrist jingled as she moved. She wasn’t like the battle-scarred soldiers beneath Sanrai’s immediate command. Her inquisitive nature and careful words displayed a strength of mind uncharacteristic of her comrades.

“Lady Ezhil, we understand the pain the late king and Sanrai wrought upon Rājadhānī—” Sheila began.

“How could you possibly—” Ezhil sputtered.

“My own city, Vehara, was laid low beneath their rule,” Sheila continued. “This is our opportunity to make things right.”

Ezhil knocked Sheila’s hand away and drew her sword. “You don’t deserve such an opportunity.”

“Ezhil—” the second guard stepped forward.

Pari was faster. She was a master of her Class, a necessity in the port city of Dehri. A well-aimed kunai caught Ezhil’s sleeve and pinned it against the citadel’s door. Ezhil dropped her sword and shrieked.

“You could have chopped my arm off!” Ezhil snatched the kunai’s handle and yanked it free.

“I could have,” Pari agreed, her voice dangerously soft. She looked out of place among the group, having been born and raised on San Island. Her deep tan was won by years of living on Ichi Island and contrasted well with her white hair. A constant storm awaited any who dared meet her violet eyes. “But I didn’t.”

“Ezhil, we should let the queen decide what to do with them.” Taking the kunai from Ezhil, the other guard handed it back to Pari.

“Yes. Let the queen kill us,” Pari added, tucking the weapon away in her pack. “I don’t believe I could stand dying on a staircase at the hands of a common guard.”

Aliye sighed. While Sheila was an intuitive, easy-going woman who had taken steps behind Magni’s back to improve life in Vehara, Pari was here to get paid. The hand that distributed her coin meant little to her; her loyalty rested on the highest bidder.

Ezhil’s eyes narrowed to slits, and the hairs on her tail raised. Behind her, the doors to the citadel opened.

“Let them through.” A new voice cut through the commotion, silencing Ezhil before she could speak.

“Lady Svarga,” Aliye bowed to Magni’s head scribe. At last, a face she recognized. “It is an honor.”

“We shall see,” Svarga replied, her mouth pulling into a thin line. She looked pointedly at Pari. “Try not to throw anything sharp at the palace attendants, hm?”

“As you wish.” Pari bowed deeply, her long white braid falling over one shoulder.

Ezhil gawked as they followed her inside, and Aliye kept her eyes on the ground. The hums and whispers of the servants inside quieted as they passed, then turned to sharper, pointed comments. Aliye had once been revered in these halls, fourth in command to Sanrai herself. If not for that day at the oasis, for those men, she would still—

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

No. Those in the past are dead. Like Callie and Zutto.

Svarga snapped her fingers above her shoulder as they walked. “Names.”

“Aliye, Sheila, and Pari,” Aliye replied, gesturing to each one.

Svarga stopped, turning to face them. “You were a First Shell guard, and you,” she looked pensive as she looked at Sheila and Pari, “you two were part of Magni’s trading ring.”

“Yes,” Sheila said. Pari nodded.

“There were three of you. Hibo is not here?” Svarga looked between them.

Sheila shivered. “Hibo was captured and caged on her return home to Sibongile, my lady. Her soul rests with the sands.”

Svarga’s eyebrows raised. “By whom?”

“By its civilians,” Pari said in a flat reply. “You haven’t heard?”

Sheila explained the bounties laid upon Ejderha in other cities. Aliye herself hadn’t heard of them until their arrival, as the women of the Third Shell had grown to at least acknowledge her existence and stop envisioning her as a threat. She’d dedicated herself to helping feed, clothe, and rebuild the very people it had been her job to break.

“I see.” Svarga’s gaze drifted between them. “And your sailor?”

“Alive and well. She was never designated as an Ejderha,” Pari replied, crossing her arms. “Her name is unnecessary.”

“Hm.” The scribe turned and continued walking, leading them into the main hall. “You are here for pardons, then?”

“Yes, my lady,” Aliye replied, shooting a pointed look at Pari. “Whatever that may require.”

Two long tables flanked by padded seats were placed in the main hall immediately before the throne. Aliye tried to recall if those were a newer addition to the citadel. The sun’s unrelenting heat had twisted her memory during her time in that cage.

Svarga gestured to the tables. “Sit. I will speak with Queen Naeemah. You may be here a while, but have patience.”

Without saying another word, Svarga disappeared into one of the extravagant hallways. Aliye, Sheila, and Pari took the closest seats to the throne with uneasy postures and glances shared between them.

“I would suggest you watch your… reflexes around the queen,” Sheila murmured to Pari.

“My ‘reflexes’ are what have kept me alive and out of a cage, Sheila,” Pari growled. “We can’t say the same for Hibo, can we?”

“Violence is not always the answer.”

Pari studied Sheila, her lips curving into a sardonic smile. “How are you an Ejderha?”

The tension between them was thick, and Aliye didn’t like the look on either of their faces. She cleared her throat. “You told me a little about your trade, but what was Hibo’s job in all of this?”

“I thought we explained that already,” Pari countered, still staring at Sheila.

“Explain it again,” Aliye said.

Sheila pulled her eyes away from Pari’s and looked at Aliye. The anger in her features vanished in an instant as if it had never been there at all. It was unnerving. “Hibo’s home was in Sibongile, but she waited here in Rājadhānī’s citadel for orders. Then, she would transport goods or requests to me in Vehara, and I would bring them to Pari in Dehri.”

“Then, I—” Pari paused and licked her lips. “My contact brings them to other islands. There are a lot of merchants looking to buy and trade in a variety of goods.”

Aliye’s brow furrowed, and she lowered her voice. “Why do you want them to believe there’s another sailor?”

Pari chuckled. “I use many names on other islands. It’s difficult to capture someone who doesn’t exist.”

“Capture?” Aliye asked.

“Magni isn’t my only client.” Pari stretched her arms over her head and flashed a sharp grin. “Just the best-paying one.”

“Why don’t I take Hibo’s place?” Aliye suggested. “If this trade would benefit the queen, then let me join you.”

“Have you experience in traveling through the sands at great speeds?” Sheila asked. “Particularly when carrying heavy goods?”

“No. But I’m sure I could learn—”

“What about combat experience? The Encroachers are dangerous, and the Defiled may soon return in greater numbers,” Pari added.

“I can fight. Wait, returning—?”

“Ladies, I present to you, Queen Naeemah,” Svarga announced.

Aliye stood and dropped to one knee, and Sheila was quick to follow. Pari sighed but finally fell into the same reverent pose.

Naeemah strode onto the dais and ignored the throne. Instead, she stepped down onto the main hall’s elegant carpets, her resplendent dress swaying around her ankles. “Rise.”

They did as commanded, but Aliye couldn’t bring herself to look into her queen’s eyes.

“I understand you wish to be pardoned?” Naeemah asked, her confident voice steady.

“Yes, your highness,” Aliye murmured.

“As I understand it, the Ejderha were unkind to both this island and its inhabitants.” The queen’s serpentine eyes rested on each of them in turn. “A pardon will require you to convince me that your truths have changed.”

“Our truths?” Pari asked, sounding bemused.

“To better Ichi Island and its people. The days of the King’s Tax and locked cages are over, and your stations of power removed. Are these truths you can accept?” Naeemah demanded.

“Yes,” they replied in unison.

“Prove it.”

Sheila raised one hand and met Naeemah’s gaze. “Without the tax or the Ejderha, I believe you find yourself in a monetary predicament,” she said carefully.

Naeemah’s lips pulled into a thin line. “Go on.”

“We have a proposition for you.” Sheila looked at Aliye and smiled. “The three of us can help you restore a quicker route of trade.”

Aliye returned the smile and sent a silent prayer to Saoirse.

Please let Naeemah forgive us.

[https://i.imgur.com/Axqzosn.png]