The Bridge Kingdom (The Bridge Kingdom, #1)(73)

There was a flood of greetings and well wishes, proud introductions of new babies to their rulers, and children trailing in their wake, desperate for a moment of attention. Aren’s tactic was obvious. Trying to pull on her heartstrings by pushing chubby babies into her arms or by giving her sweets to hand out to the children.

And it was effective. She wanted to drop to the ground and weep, because their world was going to be torn asunder. But it was between them and the Maridrinians. Maridrina’s starving people needed the bridge, needed the revenues, needed the goods that came through it. So she would sacrifice these people for her own and then pray that guilt and grief didn’t kill her.

Lara would have given anything to have her sisters here to share the burden, because they would understand. They were the only people who would understand. But she was alone, and every minute that passed felt like she was closer to the breaking point of what she could endure.

Only when they returned to the boats did she feel like she could breathe again, sitting with her face in her hands as they sailed back to Midwatch.

“Looks like the guardians have had some visitors,” Jor said, breaking the silence.

Lara lifted her head, eyes landing on a small island with gentle white beaches that faded into rock and greenery. Looming above it was the bridge, its length resting on a pier centered on the island. It wasn’t that the island itself was unique, only that it appeared remarkably easy to access relative to the others the builders had used as piers.

Because they’d had no choice, she determined, eyeing the distance. The largest bridge span she’d seen was a hundred yards between piers, and to bypass this island would’ve required a longer stretch than was possible. Her eyes then landed on the three human-shaped forms lying halfway up the beach, bloated and rotting in the sun. “What is this place?”

“Snake Island.”

She thought of the countless serpents she’d seen since arriving. “A name that describes most of Ithicana.”

“This one in particular.” Aren motioned for Jor to lower the sails, allowing the boat to drift over the shallow bottom toward the beach. “Look.”

She stared, seeing shifting movement beneath the ledge of rock overhanging the beach, but unable to make out details.

Aren stood up in the boat next to her, a still moving fish that had been caught earlier in one hand, waiting as the waves washed them gently to shore. When they were about a dozen feet out, Jor stuck a paddle in the water, bracing the boat from moving farther. Aren threw the fish.

It landed about midway up the beach, and Lara watched in horror as dozens upon dozens of snakes shot out of the overhang, flying toward the fish with their jaws open. They were big, the average of them longer than Aren was tall, and some much larger than that.

The frontrunner snapped its jaws around the fish as the others piled on top of one another, struggling and snapping until the fish disappeared down a gullet, the snake’s neck distended to contain its prize.

“Good God.” Lara pressed her hand against her mouth.

“One of them gets its teeth into you, you’ll find yourself paralyzed within minutes. Then it’s a matter of time before one of the big ones comes along to finish the job.”

“Big ones . . .” The island became impossibly more forbidding as Lara searched for signs of said snakes. She caught sight of a stone path leading up to the base of the pier. It was overgrown, but compared to all the other piers, it seemed almost welcoming. “Please don’t tell me you use this as a route into the bridge?”

Aren shook his head. “Red herring. Does its job well, it’s so inviting.”

“Too inviting,” Jor added. “How many of ours have those blasted serpents fed upon?”

Lara looked askance at Aren.

“It’s a game our young people play, though it’s forbidden. Two people bait the snakes away from the path, and the runner must make it to the pier, climb up and out onto the bridge, then drop back into the water. A test of bravery.”

“More like a proof of idiocy,” Jor snapped.

“Certainly a good way to get oneself killed.” Lara chewed the inside of her cheeks, debating the usefulness of this particular place. It would be easy to anchor ships and ferry men in, if something could be done about the snakes.

Lara was so caught up in her thoughts she didn’t notice Aren had stripped down to his trousers until he hopped over the edge of the boat, standing in the hip-deep water. “Hold this for me.” He handed her his bow. “Don’t let it get wet.”

“What do you think you’re doing?”

He cracked his knuckles. “It’s been a long time, but I’m sure I can still do it.”

“Get back into the boat, Aren,” Jor said. “You’re not a fourteen-year-old boy anymore.”

“No, I’m not. Which should only be to my advantage. Lia and Taryn, you bait. Do a good job of it unless you want to spend your days watching Ahnna’s ass.”

“You’ll do no such thing,” Jor ordered the two women. “Stay put.”

Aren twisted round in the water, resting his hands on the boat. “Do I need to remind you who is king here, Jor?”

Lara felt her jaw drop. Never in her time in Ithicana had she seen him pull rank. Give orders, yes, but this was different.

The two men glared at each other, but Jor threw up his free hand in defeat. “Do as His Majesty orders.”