Wrath of the Forgotten: Descendants of the Fall Book II by Hodges, Aaron (best romance books of all time txt) 📕

from Sophia like a sigh. The kingdom beyond the great sea. It amazes me, the distant lands humanity has reached in the short years since The Fall.

Lukys looked down at that. They say we were founded by those who sought to flee the wars that humans once fought amongst themselves.

Sophia’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. Your kind wage war amongst yourselves?

The Tangata do not? Lukys asked. When Sophia only shook her head, he sighed. They say the first century after The Fall was terrible. What little knowledge we had of the days before was lost to the darkness. I guess I can’t blame my ancestors, for fleeing that.

A smile touched Sophia’s lips. What are they like, your people? We know little of distant Perfugia.

We are a…practical people, he replied without thinking. Our children are taken from their families at eight, to be raised in an academy.

Shock registered on Sophia’s face as she reeled back. Why would they do such a thing?

Lukys shrugged, though he was surprised at the strength of her reaction. To ensure all are given an equal opportunity in life…though it doesn’t entirely work that way in practice. The noble born are still favoured by the professors, receive better accommodations. Only a handful were so unlucky as to be chosen in our cohort of recruits.

Is it not an honour to fight for your people? Sophia asked, her head tilted to the side.

Lukys snorted. That is what we thought, until we reached the frontier, he replied. He looked at her and let out a heavy breath. Myself and the others here with me were chosen because our leaders judged us failures. We served no purpose in their perfect society, so we were sent here, untrained, to fulfil their quota of soldiers on the frontline.

That is…terrible. Sophia seemed at a loss for words.

As I said, we are a practical people.

Sophia looked away. The Tangata are also practical. There was a time when we too sent away our weakest, to preserve the strength of our species. It did not work.

Lukys swallowed. Maybe my people could learn from the Tangata.

He was surprised by the smile that lit up Sophia’s face. Perhaps one day, was all she said, then: You are getting better at Speaking.

What? Lukys started as he suddenly realised they’d conducted the entire conversation in their minds. His cheeks warmed. I guess I am.

Silence fell for a while then, and Lukys found his mind turning to his friends once more. Had they truly abandoned their loyalty to humanity so easily? Or had they simply realised their loyalty had been misplaced? He wished he could speak with them. Maybe then he would understand.

Sophia, he said after a time. Is…possessing a slave truly so important to your people?

Sophia winced. I…wish you would not use that term. As I said, we do not force your people into assignments. Neither do we treat them poorly. Your friends are happy with their new lives.

I wish I could believe you, Lukys sighed.

He flinched as Sophia stood suddenly, lifting an arm to defend himself, but the Tangata only stood there, eyes shining in the light of the lantern.

Maybe I can show you.

Lukys frowned. I thought you said I could not leave…

I will tell the Matriarch you have sworn yourself to me.

You would…lie to your leader? Lukys asked, regarding Sophia with a frown.

Yes…Sophia hesitated. But…this would require you to trust me.

Lukys might have laughed. Trust one of the Tangata? And yet…the prospect of leaving his cage, of seeing daylight again, was tempting. Could he so easily dismiss a lifetime of mistrust for her kind?

His eyes were drawn again to his plate. He had almost finished the venison now, and the tubers had vanished as their conversation went on. There was a warm, satisfied feeling in his stomach. He had only felt such contentment once in Fogmore, when Romaine had insisted they eat with him in the main soldier’s mess hall. Every other night, the gruel they’d been given might as well have been river water for all the nutrition it had held.

“I trust you.” He spoke the words before he could change his mind.

And Sophia smiled.

16

The Fugitive

“I don’t understand why you’re doing this,” Cara hissed as Erika settled down alongside her.

The Archivist let out a sigh. The sun was just beginning to lift above the endless plateau to the east and the sailors were preparing the ship to sail. They had anchored for the night in a broader section of river where the currents were sluggish, but everyone was eager to depart, the memory of screaming soldiers and clashing of weapons still fresh in their minds.

Not that the queen could have taken the Illmoor Fortress so easily. Not once in centuries had its walls been breached. It was just…better to be prudent when Amina was involved. The warrior queen had a reputation for achieving the impossible.

Shivering, Erika focused her attention on the Goddess. She still wore her manacles, though this pair had apparently been permanently welded shut to ensure she did not pick the lock again.

“Humanity is desperate, Cara,” Erika said after a moment. “Surely you’ve seen that?”

They were sitting on the benches on either side of the raised bow, Erika’s customary position when setting sail. She enjoyed the feeling of journey it brought, of heading off to explore unknown lands, to discover fresh secrets of the ancient world. It was the elation of discovery that had led her to become an Archivist in the first place.

“And you think my people will help when you show up on their doorstep with their daughter in chains?” Cara asked pointedly.

Erika sighed. “What have we got left to lose?” she replied. “You won’t help us, won’t show us the way. So we have to use you as a bargaining chip.”

“You don’t have to do anything, Erika,” Cara said, turning away. “You chose to attack me, to kidnap me, to give me to the king. All of this is by your own choice.”

“The queen wanted me dead,” Erika rasped, though the words seemed