Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 121924 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121924 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
I glanced up at the tower that loomed over us, tall and intimidating. Ropes of vines twisted and looped around the gigantic structure haphazardly. Windows were set here and there, all large with stained glass.
Reaching the entrance, Ajax pulled open the wooden door, making the hinges creak. Talon entered first, but Ajax didn’t follow; he waved the offerings ahead of him. Maybe he intended to take up the rear to be sure that none of us made a run for it. Though where would we even go?
Grudgingly stepping into the tower, I drank in my surroundings. The bright white walls were accented with gold trim. The floor was a beige polished stone that was as smooth as the antique wall-mounted mirrors. Upholstered chaises were perched near the windows, their burgundy shade matching the pretty rugs. Had it not been for the circumstances, if fear hadn’t knotted my belly, I might have appreciated the view.
A few people stood around, and all were sure to bow their heads at Talon. But they paid the rest of us little attention as we fell into step behind him, the sounds of our footsteps bouncing off the stone walls of the passageway.
Soon, we reached a spiral staircase … and I silently prayed that we wouldn’t need to climb all the way up there. Letting one hand lightly skim over the limestone wall, I followed the others, hating every single step I took. Each time we reached a particular level, I hoped that we’d be done. But Talon would just keep ascending.
My knees began to ache. My thighs started to feel a little numb. My breathing became slightly labored.
Some people ahead of me stopped, striving to catch their breath or rubbing at their legs. But a loud whistle from Talon or a barked “Keep up” from Ajax had them moving again.
Just when I thought that my knees would give out on me, Talon pulled open a door and gestured for us to follow. My legs didn’t get any steadier as I walked along the arched hallway, passing pretty ceramics and sculptures, but that was due to the nervousness that rattled my bones.
As we reached the neared end of the passageway, which seemed to branch out into a wider space, Talon came to a halt.
We all did the same, some accidentally colliding into others and apologizing in whispers.
“What you’re telling me is that you still have no answers to report?” asked a deep, rich voice coming from up-ahead.
“Minos,” another male voice began, “I have done all that I can—”
“If that were true, you would be able to explain to us just how they escaped,” clipped Minos. “Two-hundred beings do not simply disappear. Especially not from Tartarus.”
I frowned. Tartarus was a prison where the Sovereigns were said to send those they wished to punish. Few knew exactly sure where it was located.
“There is no evidence of them escaping, Minos—their cell doors were locked.”
A scoff. “Nobody could break out of Tartarus, especially without going unnoticed. Two hundred roaming prisoners would not go unnoticed. One of the wardens obviously freed the Watchers. It is your job to find out who. Do it. Fast.”
I blinked, surprised to hear that the Watchers were alive. The army of godkin had once fought under the banner of the half-blood Theseus during the Uprising. I would have thought they’d all been executed when caught.
“And don’t disappoint us again,” added Minos, a deadly note to his voice. “I’m sure you’ve heard what I do to the tongues of those who have nothing useful to report.”
My gaze immediately flitted to Talon. A rumor circulated that Minos had taken his tongue, hence why he didn’t speak. But … I’d heard Talon whistle a few times. You couldn’t whistle if you didn’t have a tongue.
Or could you?
A rangy male who was presumably Minos’ conversationalist nodded curtly at Talon as he hurried past us. Talon was then once more on the move.
We mirrored him, albeit with extreme reluctance, and entered a half-moon space that was clearly some sort of royal audience chamber. The three Sovereigns were lounging on thrones that were set on a platform flanked by columns. The light shining through the glass windows behind them formed a sort of halo around the thrones, giving the brothers a celestial look.
Despite their too-pale skin and eerily black eyes, the dark-haired brothers were striking. Perfectly pleasing in appearance. Almost entrancing, even.
A curvy raven-haired woman who vaguely resembled Minos stood off to the side, her back ruler straight, her pretty pale face a study in serenity. Probably his daughter, Ariadne. When word of my birth was sent to the Sovereigns due to my being a Sayer, she had come to investigate and made it clear that they should be notified if I exhibited any displays of power.
“Ah, you have returned,” said the broad male on the middle throne. Thanks to the conversation we’d just overheard, I recognized his voice as belonging to Minos.