The supplies they lost can only be one thing—the thing we all depend on to power our cities, to operate our machinery and robotics.
Mercury.
My blood runs cold as I think about the Otherworlders attacking citizens in search of our most precious commodity—the very thing that swims in my veins.
Empress Iana lifts her head and continues. “Many young women and men were taken from Perinya’s capital during the attack, and I fear the Otherworlders are abducting for their slave trade once again.”
The crowd talks quietly among themselves. Hushed rants echo around me. My hand clamps the hilt of my sword, and my teeth grind as my jaw tightens. Otherworlders conducted a slave trade before they disappeared underground. That’s how they negotiated mercury from other countries so they could fuel their realm.
I’ve never heard of anyone going down below in the Otherworld, but I can im
agine what it may be like: the captured slaves kept in dark, cold cells; made to eat and drink spoiled food and dirty water. What kind of people live underground? What kind of people take humans for slaves?
My thoughts are interrupted as Empress Iana’s voice grows fierce. “. . . We will take every precaution at our borders. Protectors will be posted at every entry into Cavan. We will not bow before their tyranny.”
Shouts and applause rumble through the court. The cheering grows louder, and Empress Iana’s features remain determined, hard. My hands limply close together, my mind distracted. We’re sending protectors to Perinya. A foreign land possibly swarming with the enemy. Even though I know it’s the right course of action, I fear for those chosen for this mission.
Empress Iana holds up her hand to quiet the crowd. “Let us move forward with the ceremony.” She looks to us, her protectors—her loyal pledges. Then she motions us forward. I follow suit behind the protectors as we approach the dais.
Councilor Herna unrolls a pale parchment and begins reading off names. One by one my sisters and brothers, who I’ve trained beside every day since I was twelve, step onto the platform. More than half are called. I glance around at our remaining numbers, and happiness swells in my chest. Lilly and Willa remain by my side. Which means they’ve either been factioned into the Milan Guard, who scout past our borders for resources and act as a liaison between the empress and neighboring kingdoms. Or they’re going to advance with me.
They both deserve to be in the Nactue Guard. They spent every moment in training prepping for it as it was our dream to become members of the most revered faction. We’ve worked hard, and we’ve made personal sacrifices to place ourselves at the highest level during training. I say a quick prayer to the goddesses to keep us together.
The empress looks to the new recruits of the Cavan Army on the platform. “You’re the backbone of our country. You will serve and protect Cavan, keeping our land safe, and commit your life to every citizen.” They kneel before her, and she takes a rapier sword from her advisor and waves it to one side, then the other. “Rise, daughters and sons of Farrah, and serve well in Her name.”
Applause quakes the court and I cheer along. The Cavan Army moves down from the platform to make room for the next faction. Councilor Herna calls fewer names this time, and only fifteen protectors stand before the dais. Empress Iana says, “The Milan Guard commits their life to ensuring our land is never in want of mercury, our greatest commodity.” I involuntarily wince and grip my hilt tighter, preventing my hand from going to my chest. “We also depend on you for communication between us and the leaders of this world. May you honor us and Farrah with your service.” She waves the sword. “Rise, daughters and sons of Farrah, and be strong in Her name.”
I attempt to clap, but my hands make little noise as they’re coated with sweat. Pulling back the sleeve of my uniform, I discretely inspect my skin. Silver swirls slightly beneath. I take a deep breath. I’m so nervous that my heart beats like a horse running the raceway. I try to think of something calming—a river; a bird’s song—anything to quell my excitement. I imagine I can hear the gears grinding in my chest, but I know that’s not possible.
Looking down the row of girls, I’m overjoyed that Lilly and Willa are still beside me. Lilly’s eyes meet mine and we share a smile. She lifts her hand, turns her palm out, and crosses her fingers. Our secret friendship sign from when were little. I mimic her gesture, my heart elated. We’re going to be in the Nactue Guard together.
Empress Iana takes the parchment from her advisor and proceeds to call the remaining five protectors herself. “Lilly Andrews,” she says, and Lilly steps onto the platform. Then Willa is called, followed by Missa and Van. And then, “Kaliope Rainym.”
I yank my sleeve farther down my wrist and walk up the three steps leading to the platform.
Councilor Herna bows her head in acknowledgment to us. The empress hands the scroll back to her adviser and picks up the sword. “As the Nactue Guard, you will be my most trusted, my most loyal, and my most feared protectors. You will dedicate your life to serving and protecting your empress before Farrah and all her divine sisters. And”—she smiles—“I’m honored to now call you my sisters as well.”
My chest flutters at her praise as we kneel before her. She moves the sword to the left and chants under her breath. The thin blade illuminates a celestial white. Heat blooms inside my chest, and I touch the ground with my fingertips to get my bearings as my limbs tremble. A powerful blast of energy rushes through me as the empress sweeps her glowing sword to the right. “Rise, daughters of Farrah, my Nactue, and protect in Her name.”
I peek over at Lilly as I get to my feet. She’s as shaken by the bond being formed with our empress as I am. We straighten and stand tall, and the cheers of the crowd rock the court. I scan the bodies, searching out my mother. My eyes settle on her, and the sheer joy and pride on her face makes my chest ache. I blink a few times, clearing away the moisture. I have to look away.
As we exit the platform, we’re ushered into the palace while Empress Iana and her council wrap up the ceremony. I’ve been inside the palace only once before, when my father first signed me up. I remember it well, and was awestruck then by its sheer grandeur. But today, the towering sandstone walls reach upward endlessly, the fountain in the center seems clearer, sparkling like crystal. And the sun seems to shine brighter, lighting the stained glass windows as they bathe the white marble floor in iridescent colors.
Lilly and Willa twirl, taking in the inner ward. I step forward to enjoy this moment with my friends, but my awe is interrupted as the former leader of the Nactue approaches. Her gray eyes scan me up and down, sizing me up.
I quickly bow my head to her in acknowledgment. Then I straighten my uniform and stand tall, my chin lifted. “Protector Carina, it’s an honor—“
“So,” she says, a slight smile hiking the side of her mouth. “You’re my replacement.”
My eyes nearly bulge from their sockets. “Excuse me?” It wasn’t made known who would take Carina’s place, but I never thought for a moment it could be me. For the first time all morning, real fear grips my chest.
Carina’s smile widens. “Congratulations, Kaliope Rainym. You’re the new leader of the Nactue.”
My fingers glide over the smooth stone of the deity Alyah. Her statue stands next to the tint-covered window in my chamber, and I can’t help but feel that her presence confirms that I was fated to be here.
My mother has loyally worshiped the goddess of healing her whole life. Alyah symbolizes strength in the path toward health and recovery. I spent countless nights praying to her, my faith tested when the mercury in my blood wasn’t miraculously stripped from my veins. It wasn’t until after I entered the protectors that my mother told me how she brought me to the Temple of Alyah. How she prayed over me, and the goddess spared my life. How I shouldn’t have survived to be alive today.
Unlacing the top of my sleeping shirt, I loosen the neck, then slide it over my head. I run my hand roughly along my arm to force the blood to circulate. In the mornings, after my body has been at rest all night, it takes a while to get my blood pumping, and for the inky swirls to disappear. Most a.m. training sessions take care of this issue, and the grueling exercise leaves my skin nearly stain free. But this morning, I have to depend on the long sleeves of my uniform to hide the silver rivers flowing beneath my skin.