Page 93 of Hymn of Breath and Bone

From the water, Phyll snorted a spout of water in encouragement.

“Ready,” I agreed, as the gangplank lowered and we stepped into a foreign land.

“King Caspian. Queen Marina,” called a smooth, accented voice as we made our way down the docks toward the welcome party.

The male who had spoken was tall and broad-shouldered, built with a little less muscle than Caspian and garbed in elegant black. Two black horns curved from his head, where his hair was cut short on one side, and his eyes held both amusement and interest as he regarded us.

A burly, bearded male with antler-like horns stood behind him and bowed in greeting, alongside a short, dark-haired female who elbowed him in the ribs. I recognized the gesture as one of warning one’s mate to be polite, having used it myself many times in the last year.

Next to them, a tall, beautiful male with flowing auburn hair held the hand of a delicate, blonde female. Neither had horns, but both had an air of power and magic I couldn’t put my finger on.

But the female who spoke next was the one I knew we had come to see. She was dressed in glittering black as well, her red hair spilling down her back as her green eyes lit in welcome.

The black-horned male put his arm around the female, the queen, as she said. “My name is Elara. Welcome to the Darklands.”