— an archive excerpt —
The Waterfall
Two children crown themselves rulers of a kingdom that exists behind falling water and will not survive the decade.
Adathun knelt dramatically, holding up the box as if it were a priceless gift.
“Since we were talking about the royals, maybe I should present this to you, Your Majesty. A treasure fit for a queen.”
Sarah raised an eyebrow, adopting a regal tone. “Oh? And what exactly am I supposed to do with it?”
“Hold it for me, of course. A queen must protect her kingdom’s riches.”
The object wasn’t gold or jewels, but the dull, dark grey of iron that had seen too many seasons. A strongbox, its surface etched with faint, scrolling patterns — ancient, geometric Serk’ motifs that looked like the tilet on her mother’s dress, but older, almost architectural. The metal felt bitingly cold against her skin. A sharp, unnatural chill that seemed to defy the humid mist of the alcove.
Three distinct openings for keys. No keys.
It didn’t rattle. Whatever was inside was packed tight, or perhaps it was lined with velvet.
Sarah saw the importance he placed on the find and nodded, carefully taking the metallic weight into her hands. “Very well. I shall safeguard this treasure… for now.”
“Then our kingdom is safe,” Adathun beamed.
The light filtering through the waterfall began to dim as the sun set. A cool breeze drifted into the alcove. She sighed, tucking the cold box under her arm. “We should head back before Alice starts a search party.”
As they neared the compound, they spotted May gathering wash from the clothesline. They froze in unison, clutching their crowns. For a heartbeat, the order of the house hung in the balance.
May paused, a damp sheet draped over her arm, taking in their disheveled hair and the red dust on their shins. But then she offered a knowing, silent smile — the look of a fellow survivor who still remembered the grit of the road — and returned to her baskets.
She would not be the one to break their perimeter.
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