She pats my back, then leaves me alone to stare at the stranger in the mirror. I look like a warrior princess in one of the old comics in the Mortal Realm. I tie my hair in a topknot and secure it.
The stark contrast between my alabaster skin and the leather's darkness makes me look like a ghost in the shadows. I’m badass.
The courtyard is still a buzz when I step out into the sunlight. Everyone is standing around, excitement in the air. I join Nox and Uriel by the nuckelavees, where they’re deep in conversation. Uriel doesn’t seem happy.
“I told you I don’t want her to go. You don’t listen to me. It’s been a millennium, yet you still haven’t gotten it through your head when your wrong,” Nox hisses.
“She’s an adult. She has the right to fight for this realm. Whatever your stupid deal with Caedis was, it doesn’t apply now. I won’t let it,” Uriel spits back.
“What are you two arguing about?” I ask.
They both look like they got their hands caught in the cookie jar. Two faces try to compose themselves with fake smiles.
“Nothing. Old argument. Let me get you settled on your nuckelavee. It won’t be long now.”
“That’s not an answer. But an outstanding job in trying to avoid it.”
“Nothing for you to worry about. Let’s concentrate on getting the bastard Death king to agree to our terms,” Uriel says, walking away.
Namir trots over to me and rubs on my back, placing his big head on my shoulder. When he purrs, it makes my whole body vibrate.
“Good morning to you, too.”
The small group of soldiers lines up, and I walk over to my nuckelavee with Namir behind me. Nox gives me a leg up. I adjust myself in the saddle, slipping my feet in the stirrups.
“Be safe. Don’t let him bully you. You’re stronger than you know.”
He seems like he wants to say more, but he only pats my knee and walks away. I look out at the sea of people, registering what this means. For the first time, I will be fighting under someone else’s banner.
Togmerin is giving a speech, but I tune him out, trotting my nuckelavee to the front of the procession. Umbra settles next to me with another demon at her side. I’ve never seen her before, but she looks fierce.
“Sata is going to open the portal for us. We’ll come out on the royal grounds border, and then two soldiers will make our presence known. After that, we march to the castle and hope he doesn’t kill us on sight.”
“That not reassuring at all.”
“All will be well,” Donaas says, coming up next to us.
“Let’s hope so,” I mutter under my breath.
Sata starts her magic, a roll of bright yellow expanding out of her. It takes shape and twirls into a circle wide enough to fit three nuckelavees astride. Umbra leads the charge, and I follow.
The land on the other side of the portal isn’t like the Darklands. Where Nox’s kingdom is twilight and the twinkling of stars, the Deathlands is death personified.
There are only scrubs and little trees, some weird-looking animals scampering away as we pass. The sun is harsh, beating on us, making me instantly sweat in my leathers. The ground is as black as the night, and the hooves of the nuckelavees spark as we walk.
“This is horrible.”
“It’s the worst part of the Demon Realm. We can’t travel at night because there isn’t any light; not even the moons touch here. And we’d never be able to travel without the nuckelavees. They are from this place, so they are immune to the black sands,” Umbra says, pulling closer to me. I don’t think it’s intentional.
“Is Caedis’ castle the same?”
“No, it’s built on a small oasis. A perfect protection circle from the harsh lands. They banished him here when he fell.”
This guy must have done something horrible to deserve punishment such as this. It’s a wasteland. A place where things go to die. Truly the Deathlands.
Two soldiers break from formation to canter ahead of us. They hold Nox’s banner, the flag flapping in the harsh wind.
Umbra hands me a scarf. I wrap it around my head and face, leaving only an opening for my eyes. A storm seems to be drifting off the horizon, and the sand is blowing all over.
“We can’t wait for them to come back. That storm won’t be pleasant,” Togmerin says.
He urges his nuckelavee on, and the rest of us follow. My mount snorts in excitement, giving me her head so she can race the other horses. I give her the lead, squeezing with my thighs to egg her on.
We take off like a shot. She’s gaining on the other horses. The sand blows in my face, and I’m grateful for the covering. When I let out a war cry, she moves even faster, breathing fire and splashing water from her hooves as she goes.
“What are you doing?” Umbra screams from beside me.
“Racing. Catch me if you can,” I yell back, a huge smile plastered on my face. I haven’t felt this free in a long time.
She smirks and kicks her nuckelavee, leaning back in the seat before she pulls ahead of me.
“You got this, girl. Show him that females always win,” I whisper in her ear.
She snorts in agreement and leans in. I crouch against her bristled mane. When she tucks herself in, I release most of the lead, leaving it very loose and giving her room to run.
She gallops, breathing heavily, fire spitting from her mouth. We’re almost on Umbra, the sound of the wind and the beating hooves the only thing I can make out. I close my eyes against the harsh sand, praying she knows where she’s going.
Her speed slows and I think we’ve lost, but when I crack my eyes open, I see we’re at a gate. I look around, but don’t spot anyone. As we turn in circles, the small image of the other horses comes into view.
“Yes!” I
