Chapter 168: Dreams and Stone
The chamber Thalren's people had given them was lavish compared to the Hollow's simple timber lodges. Walls of pale stone shimmered faintly in the lantern light, draped in tapestries of azure silk embroidered with scenes of waves and sea serpents. A wide bed sat near the center, piled with cushions far softer than Kael was used to.
Lyria sat at the edge of it, brushing her hair loose from its braids. The silence between them was comfortable, but it lingered long enough that Kael tilted his head.
"You've been quiet since dinner," he said softly, unlacing the straps of his armor.
Her hands stilled on her hair. "That question the queen asked…" she began, then trailed off. Her cheeks colored faintly, though she kept her eyes down.
Kael set his gauntlets aside and eased closer. "About children?"
"Yes." Lyria exhaled, her shoulders rising and falling. "I wasn't expecting it, and I… well, I panicked. I don't know why."
He reached out, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Because it's a heavy question. And because maybe it's one you've thought about."
Her lips parted as though to deny it, but then she gave a small, nervous laugh. "You see too much. I have thought about it. About… us. About what kind of family we'd be. And whether there would even be time for such a thing with all we've faced."
Kael's chest tightened at her words. He lowered himself beside her, letting the silence stretch before he answered. "When Druaka died, I thought I'd never want more bonds. Losing one nearly broke me. But…" His gaze softened as he looked at her. "With you, I think I could face that fear. I think I could build something that lasts."
Lyria's eyes glistened, and she leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder. "So if it ever comes to pass…" she whispered, "you'd welcome it?"
"Yes," he said firmly, pressing his lips to her hair. "If it's with you."
Her laugh was small but bright, cutting through the heaviness. "Then perhaps we'll just let fate decide when the Hollow is ready for little chaos-born."
Kael chuckled, wrapping his arm around her. "Let's get through kings and trade and daemon lords first."
"Agreed," she murmured, her hand slipping into his.
They lay together, speaking softly until sleep claimed them, the weight of the day easing in one another's presence.
Morning came with the cry of gulls and the faint tang of salt air drifting through the open windows. After a light breakfast, Thalren himself appeared to guide them.
"Come," he said warmly, his voice carrying the pride of a host eager to show his guests the heart of his realm. "You've seen the crown; now see the body that supports it."
The harbor was their first stop.
Ships lined the docks like great beasts at rest, sails furled and hulls gleaming with resin. Fishmongers called out their wares as crews unloaded nets heavy with silver-scaled catches. Children darted between barrels, laughing, while sailors sang bawdy songs to keep rhythm as they worked.
Kael inhaled deeply, struck by the raw vitality of the place. "Your city lives by the sea."
Thalren nodded. "It feeds us, clothes us, trades for us. Without it, we are nothing. Every stone in this kingdom rests on the tide."
Lyria walked close to Kael, her eyes scanning the bustling workers. "They seem happy."
"They are," Thalren said with pride. "Because they know their work matters."
From there, they wound through markets bursting with color. Stalls overflowed with exotic fruits, woven silks, polished shells, and smoked fish. The calls of merchants mingled with the scents of spice and brine.
Fenrik lingered by a stall selling knives with sea-glass hilts. He lifted one, testing the weight. "Not bad," he muttered, earning a laugh from the vendor.
Kael observed quietly. He saw the wealth in these markets, but also the cracks—merchants arguing over coin, guards watching for thieves, the occasional beggar lurking at the edges.
"You see both strength and weakness," Thalren murmured at his side.
Kael gave a slight nod. "As any leader must."
Their path next led them to the temples.
Great marble columns rose, etched with wave patterns, and inside, the air was thick with incense and quiet reverence. Priests in blue robes moved gracefully, chanting prayers to sea gods.
Lyria stepped softly beside Kael. "It feels… calm here. Different from the Hollow."
"Faith anchors them," Thalren explained. "Just as your Hollow has its own anchors, though they may not be gods."
Kael thought of Druaka's grave, of the quiet moments where his people gathered in remembrance. "Perhaps," he said quietly.
Finally, Thalren led them to the training yards.
Dozens of warriors clashed in drills, their spears and shields moving with disciplined rhythm. Instructors barked commands, and the clang of steel rang out like a harsh symphony.
Fenrik's eyes lit with approval. "These are no amateurs."
"They train every day," Thalren said. "Because the sea is not our only threat. Raiders, rival kingdoms, beasts from the deep—they come for us as they come for you."
Kael crossed his arms, studying the fighters. "Strength, tempered by discipline. You've forged a capable force."
Thalren gave him a knowing glance. "And yet, even the strongest walls can fall if a people within do not stand together. That, perhaps, is where our challenges mirror one another."
As the sun climbed high, they paused to rest in a shaded courtyard, water flowing from a stone fountain carved like a leaping dolphin.
The king leaned close to Kael, lowering his voice. "You've seen our heart today. What do you think?"
Kael looked across the courtyard—the harbor's distant masts, the laughter from the markets drifting faintly, the clang of training still echoing. "I think your city is alive. But I also think it teeters. Its wealth is strength, but also temptation to those who would take it."
Thalren smiled ruefully. "Then you see as I do. Perhaps we are more alike than I thought."
Kael's lips curved faintly. "Perhaps."
As the day waned, they were escorted back to the palace. Lyria walked beside Kael, her voice low enough for only him to hear.
"It feels strange," she admitted. "Seeing all of this. It's so different from the Hollow."
"It is," Kael agreed. "But not so different in its heart. They want the same things we do—safety, purpose, a future."
Her hand brushed against his briefly, the smallest spark of warmth between them.
By the time they returned to their chambers, the sun was sinking into the ocean, painting the horizon in fire.
Tomorrow would bring new questions, new negotiations. But tonight, they carried the weight of what they had seen—both the beauty and the fragility of Thalren's kingdom.