Knight of Wands (A Steampunk Fantasy Adventure Novel) (Devices of War Book 2) by SM Blooding Page B

were on the far north side of the large, wild continent, waiting for a hunting party to return.
    I was excited to reunite with my friends.
    While we waited, Garrett showed me to my room. Sleeping pods were located around some of the many large caverns. The one I’d been shown to was just outside one of the orchards. Water fell from the many pockmarks in the ceiling, some large, some small. They all heaved water that pooled around the trees, and ran out in several streams.
    I couldn’t get over how perfect this place was.
    Sleeping to the sounds of the water falling and the wind blowing in gusts over the holes was comforting. Not quite as great as sleeping on an airship, but it was a lot better than sleeping on Sky City. That city felt so alien.
    I washed in the pool the next morning. The rain tapered off, but the thick clouds continued to block out the suns. This was the rainy season, and it wasn’t unheard of for a storm to set in for days, sometimes weeks. It looked like this place could hold up.
    Fresh clothes had been left for me. It felt so wonderful to be out of that uniform. I decided not to burn it. If the queens really were serious about me being a knight, which I doubted seriously, I might need it. I fisted the material in my hand. How had I gotten myself into this mess?
    I shook my head at myself, and cinched the red sash at my waist.
    Peacock Rock, as Garrett called his city, was more than just a city. It was large enough to house many more, though Garrett and I both agreed that we didn’t want to tax the ecosystem. It was fantastic just the way it was. There was no sense in overpopulating the area and decimating the natural treasures.
    Caverns peppered the entire island. In order to cross from one side to the other, you never had to go topside unless you wanted to. The rock was solid, too. It was unlikely to topple, crushing the people underneath. I hated being closed in, but this was phenomenal. Every time I thought I’d reached the peak of my awe, he’d show me something else.
    Like the cavern at the top of the mountain. It didn’t house an orchard. An entire jungle resided inside. The lake at its heart was the brightest pink I’d ever seen and birds with teeth lining their beaks roosted in the tall, skinny trees. Stepping into that cavern had been like walking into a different world.
    All the caverns and tunnels on this island had one thing in common. The phosphorescent walls. I touched the blue-green algae that sometimes glowed purple. When removed correctly, it could be applied to torches for fireless night travel. With the air heavy with so much rain, it was the perfect time to harvest, or so I’d been informed. Several people worked to transplant the algae to a growing pile of sticks, some large, some small, but they made sure never to take too much out of one area.
    They were working well with their environment.
    On the second day, Garrett found me in one of the many orchards, a grin on his face. “They arrived sooner than anticipated.”
    My body buzzed with excitement. “I thought everyone was at least a week away.”
    The other man shrugged, leading the way to paths that led down. “Follow me.”
    We dropped in elevation. We stepped into a cavern that was larger than the orchard caves, but smaller than the massive cavern at the top of the mountain with the pink lake. A large, clear pool dominated this round room, and the only light came from the water.
    A woman emerged, her black hair fanning behind her as she crested the water. Her single fin split into two legs. She beamed a grin at me as she slipped into a blue robe someone handed to her.
    I never thought I’d be so happy to see Yvette. I met her in a dozen long strides, and wrapped her in a hug. Dear Sky, I had missed her; her smart-assed wit, and her ability to find fault in every single thing I did. I took her head in my hands and pressed my forehead to hers.
    She resisted, unfamiliar with all the Family traditions, but she finally