The Four Kingdoms

by Maryam Durrani

  “Wait,” I protested, trying to find an excuse to stop him.

  Betrayal.

  Isabel was right. They all had been right. I’d put too much trust in pirates.

  I felt them grab onto me. I gave a cry of surprise as someone latched their hand onto my injured shoulder.

  “Adalia!” Isabel shouted as they carried her away from

  me. It was six against one.

  Seven.

  Eight.

  Xavier and Jax put up a fight, pulling out their stolen swords. The slashed and jabbed, killing a few of them right there. But too quickly, they were outnumbered.

  “Xavier!” I reached for him, he was too far. A bag was pulled over my face, and something hard hit me across the side of my head.

  TWENTY SEVEN

  I woke up in a musty place, the ground uneven under me. Sitting up, I examined my surroundings.

  This was a cave. I was alone. I squinted through the dark to see bars in front of me. We were caged like animals.

  “Isabel?” I whispered. “Jax? Xavier?”

  “Isabel and Jax are in the cells across from me,” Xavier said.

  I turned towards his voice. “Xavier, where are you?”

  “Next to your cell, don’t worry,” he said softly. “How’s your head? They hit you very hard.”

  I felt tears prick in the corner of my eyes, wondering how I’d gotten them in a situation like this. I wished it was me here, alone—although part of me was happy I wasn’t.

  “How long were you awake?”

  “A while,” he replied.

  “I don’t want to talk.” I cradled my arm.

  “Me either.”

  “I’m sorry I brought you here,” I said anyways. “I should’ve listened to Isabel.”

  “Yes, you should have.”

  I sighed.

  “But you did what you thought was right.”

  I hated crying, but I couldn’t help it this time. I sniffed. “I was wrong.”

  “I’m proud of how far you’ve come, Adalia,” he said, his back against the bars that connected our cells together. “So proud.”

  I sat in the corner of the cell, shivering, crying angry tears. I could feel a fever starting.

  Is this where I would die? Is this how my life ended, where no one ever knew what happened to me?

  This was my end. This, was my legacy. Adalia, the greatest assassin in all four kingdoms, drowned at sea.

  It couldn’t. It shouldn’t have been this way.

  “How did you do it?” I asked as we tried to fall asleep. It felt as if a full day had passed already.

  “What?” Xavier mumbled sleepily.

  “How did you come back?” I’d been wanting to know since the first day I’d seen him, back at the Ring Battles.

  Xavier was quiet. “Why do you want to know?” he asked softly.

  “I need to know. I’ve tried every possible explanation, ran through every procedure and poison in my head, but I still don’t understand,” I said, swallowing. My tongue was drying out. “How did you do it? I saw you with my eyes. You were dead.”

  “Blowfish,” Xavier said immediately, a small laugh escaping his lips. He let out a sigh, shaking his head. “It was the damn blowfish poison.”

  “Blowfish poison?” I repeated, frowning. I’d never heard of it, of all the poisons ever used in history.

  “It was a risky procedure,” Xavier explained, rubbing his eyes. “It was new. That’s why you haven’t heard of it before. I could really have died from it, but I used it anyway.”

  “So it—”

  “It paralyzes a person. Your . . . Your heartbeat is slowed

  down to the point where it’s not even there anymore. You can’t move or blink,” Xavier said, his eyes finding mine through the dark. “It was a horrible feeling, Adalia. I can’t even explain it.”

  “Then what happened? After they ‘buried’ you?”

  “I just . . . left.”

  “And the antidote?”

  “We had one. If one’s heart is not strong enough, there’s a large chance the person who takes the poison can seize up and die while recovering. It’s hard for the heart to come back from being almost barely beating. I was very dead when you saw me. I don’t even remember you being there.” He sighed. “I wanted to go out as a brave man, not kicked out of my own castle.”

  “You are a brave man, Xavier. You always will be to me.”

  Day Two.

  “I wonder which mountain they stuck us in,” Xavier said with a humorless laugh. “How far from civilization are we? Do you want to place a bet?”

  “If we ever get out, I’d say ten miles.” My stomach rumbled. I was so, terribly hungry.

  “I’d say one,” Xavier said with a halfhearted sigh.

  “One mile?”

  “One hundred,” he grinned.

  “Cyprian once talked about a dormant volcano,” I said with a shaky laugh. “I wonder if they put us in there.”

  “Do you think they have an entrance?”

  “Probably. They’ve been living on this island for decades. I don’t think they’ve left one stone unturned.”

  It was as if something sparked in my brain at that point. I sat up, a shock running through my arm.

  Eureka.

  I figured it out.

  “It’s nested in the heart of the darkest mountain; undisturbed for as long as mankind can remember,” I recited by heart. “Xavier Cane,” I said, getting to my feet, excitement pumping through my body, “the weapon is in the volcano.”

  “How do you know?” Xavier asked, sitting up.

  “The stupid pirate legend,” I tried to explain, keeping my voice low, “The volcano erupted three times. Once to create the island, the second time when the first man was created, and the third; Augustus saw it himself.”

  “If Augustus saw it, how could it be dormant for as long as mankind can remember?”

  I laughed, feeling the laughter come from my heart. “It’s a joke about his age,” I laughed gleefully. “Xavier, it’s in the volcano.”

  It was a few hours after that before anyone showed up. My stomach rumbled for the millionth time, and I pressed a hand against my stomach to soothe the pain.

  “Adalia,” a voice whispered. “Wake up. Look at me.”

  I looked up.

  There was a look of betrayal on his face. “Adalia, I don’t know what happened. I never knew he was planning this. I’m—”

  “You stay away from her!” Xavier shouted, reaching through the bars. Cyprian moved back, even though there was no way Xavier could reach him. “She trusted you, you son of a—”

  “I have a way out,” Cyprian raised his hands. “I’m doing this for Adalia.” He turned to me. “Tell them where it is . . . I know you know.”

  Xavier lunged for him again, slamming his body against the bars.

  “Xavier, stop it. Cyprian, why would I ever tell them?”

  “I know Augustus; he’ll send you ahead to protect himself. Once you have the weapon, you can fight for it, you and your friends. I know you are excellent warriors. Or you give him the weapon and run back to Crea,” he said to me. “Don’t come back here.”

  “Pirates can’t be trusted,” I shook my head. “Why should I listen to you?”

  “Adalia, it’s your only way out,” he said, hurt. “I swear upon my life, this is not the Augustus I know.”

  “Perhaps, you never really knew him.”

  Cyprian nodded, swallowing. “Think it over.” He turned to leave.

  When his footsteps disappeared, Xavier reached his hand through the bars.

  “Come here,” he called. I crawled towards his voice, taking his hand. “Are you going to tell him?”

  “I don’t know,” I sighed softly, “but it may be our only chance. First, I need to find out a way to get to the volcano.”

  “And once we do get there? If we do, of course.”

  “We fight.”

  “And if we can’t?” He pulle
d me closer.

  “We die trying.” I pressed my forehead against his through the bars and closed my eyes. “I love you, you know that?”

  He smiled.

  “Where is it?” he growled, slamming his hand against the bars.

  “Let us out first.” I could see Isabel in the light of the fire.

  Cyprian raised the torch higher.

  “I will make them get an answer out of you,” Augustus said, scowling. He raised a hand, motioning for his men to unlock the doors. They stepped forward, twisting the key in its lock.

  “Stay away from her,” Xavier spat, standing behind the bars.

  “Stop it!” Isabel shouted.

  I watched as they walked in. I held my head high as one of the pirates approached me, grabbing my injured arm and twisting it behind my back. Tears of pain sprung into my eyes, my knees digging into the dirt floor from the pressure.

  I kept my lips pursed shut.

  The pirate wrenched my arms, locking both of them behind me. I looked up at the second one, recognizing him as Gat.

  “No!” Xavier spat out. “Don’t you dare—”

  Gat pulled back his fist, letting it connect with the side of my head. I could already feel the black eye sprouting.

  Stars danced in front of my eyes. I felt dizzy, bile rising in my throat.

  I couldn’t keep up this superhero charade for long.

  Nonetheless, I raised my head again.

  “Is that the best you can do?”

  Xavier slammed his fist against the bars. “Idiot,” he hissed, almost painfully.

  The next blow, I felt my tooth cut into the inside of my cheek. I spit out a lob of blood and saliva at Gat’s feet.

  “Where is it?” Augustus repeated, malice in his eyes.

  Don’t say a word, I willed myself. I groaned as his fist targeted my stomach. With every punch, I felt myself growing more stubborn—and tired.

  “Just tell him!” Isabel cried from her cell, but I shook my head.

  “Don’t,” I gasped out. I could feel my face starting to swell. Slam. Punch.

  I felt my body slump, my head lolling backwards. Play dead, Adalia. He won’t kill you. He needs information. He has to stop at some point.

  The pirate let go of my arms, and I prayed a silent thanks to the lord above. But I’d spoken too soon, because Gat raised a boot, slamming it against my shoulder.

  I let out the first cry of pain. This time, I couldn’t help it. The sound left my lips before I could stop it, because for a moment, all I could see was white.

  Then, the white-hot pain.

  This couldn’t be good.

  Gat pressed the boot harder, and I dug my fingernails into the ground. My vision went blurry, my eyes focusing in and out.

  “That won’t do,” Augustus shook his head, a sneer creeping onto his face. “Harder.”

  “DON’T DO IT!” Jax yelled, but that wouldn’t stop Gat. He raised his boot, and with a slam nearly hard enough to shatter my bone, he brought it down. Rivulets of pain exploded across the right side of my body. My vision blurred.

  Augustus let out a sound of annoyance.

  “Try her legs. Break them if you have to.”

  Gat stepped away and I rolled onto my side, clutching my arm.

  This wasn’t me. I could fight back. I could push all my emotions aside and rip them apart, but then I couldn’t.

  Isabel. Jax. Xavier.

  I’d let him use me as a punching bag so he’d stay away from them.

  “Chuck, get more men. If she won’t talk, I’m sure the others will.”

  No.

  With a moan, I pushed myself up.

  Get off the floor, Adalia.

  Matted locks of hair hung around my face. I felt sick.

  Augustus motioned for Chuck, the first pirate, to open Jax’s cell. He scrambled back. I squinted, trying to clear my vision. My palms pressed against the dirt as I pushed myself onto all fours.

  Get up. Don’t show weakness.

  My knees shook as I pulled myself to my feet, gripping my arm. I was starting to lose feeling in my fingers.

  “Leave him alone.” To my surprise, my voice came out strong.

  Augustus smirked. “Are you ready to tell me where it is?”

  They grabbed Jax, slamming him against the wall.

  JUST TELL HIM!

  “It’s in the volcano!” I finally burst as they grabbed Isabel.

  “Volcano?” Augustus raised an eyebrow. “What volcano?”

  “The one . . . from the story.”

  “She’s talking about the one that’s only erupted three times—er, according to the legend,” a voice interrupted, standing in front of my cell.

  Cyprian’s eyes fell on me, and suddenly, his face turned white.

  I must’ve looked horrible.

  “He’s right,” I croaked, gripping the front of my tunic. I could barely breathe.

  If they could just leave Xavier and the twins alone, maybe I would survive this.

  “How could this make any sense?” Augustus bellowed, making his men jump back. His face turned bright red. “In my very own island?”

  “Right under your very nose,” I spat. “You’ve been so blind, just like your imbecile ancestors. You searched through all the kingdoms and didn’t think to check your very own home?”

  He stepped forward, his face contorting into a look of pure rage.

  “You stupid, moronic girl—”

  “I’ll lead you there. Take us,” I stopped him. “You can’t get there without our help.”

  He let out a mocking laugh. “Do you really think I would let you out of your cells?” he reached forward, rattling the bars. “I will never let you out!”

  I curled my fist at my side. “You son of a—”

  “Captain,” Cyprian said smoothly, butting in, “don’t you think they could lead us there? I mean, she could lie to us and we’d be sent on a wild goose chase.”

  “There are certain markings on the entrance. I’ll have to look for it,” I lied, glancing at Cyprian.

  “What harm is it to take them out of their cells? It’s better to tire them out and make them walk across the island than leave them to rot in here, where they’ll eventually die of disease,” Cyprian said, his jaw twitching as he spoke. His eyes met mind. “She’s close to death, anyway.”

  “After we show it to you, let us go. Honor your word for once,” I said, disgusted.

  “We’re pirates,” Augustus sneered. “We don’t care for honor.”

  “Do you think you’ll be safe in the war?” Jax asked. “Dystalphi and Trella have allied. Their army is bigger than your island. There’s no way you can protect your people.”

  “We’ll ally with them,” Augustus shrugged. “The bigger an army, the better.”

  “Ours is larger,” Isabel said. “That’s our weapon. Do you think we care about your ‘secret weapon’? You can have it. It was on your island. We’ll take you there and return home.”

  When Xavier spoke, he sounded desperate. “You will be the one on the losing side.”

  The pirate fumed.

  “Or,” Xavier suggested, clearing his throat and avoiding my eyes, “how about an alliance with both sides? If you have us to speak for you, you’ll survive the war. But, if you leave us in here, we’ll die, and you’ve got a fifty-percent chance for survival.”

  I stood there, waiting for Augustus to reply.

  “Fine,” he gritted out. “You take us there, and then I decide what happens.”

  “Fine.”

  As soon as I knew they were gone, I collapsed onto the ground, curling up into a ball.

  “Adalia,” Xavier whispered, but when I didn’t reply, no one pressed any further. I let out an angry sob, slamming my good fist against the ground.

  Over, and over, and over.

  They rode on horses and we walked. Eventually, Augustus became angry with how slow we were going, and gave us two horses to double on. I sat behind Xavier only because of
my arm, and Xavier insisted he take the reins. As we got closer, I realized how flat it actually was . . . more of a dome-shape instead of a steep, pointed mountain. We could climb up the sides by horse, and near the top, hoist ourselves up with grappling hooks.

  The horses trotted through the wild bushes that scraped against our boots. The weather on the island was extremely bipolar; cold and misty one day, humid and foggy the other. I adjusted myself on the seat, leaning against Xavier.

  “Are you alright?”

  I nodded. “What do you think it’s going to be?” I asked

  him. “The weapon, I mean.”

  “Maybe a room full of actual weapons,” he said with a shrug. “Maybe . . .”

  “Maybe animals,” Jax offered, bringing his horse beside us.

  “Jax, animals couldn’t survive in a volcano for a million years.”

  “Maybe they’re hybrids,” he said with a smile. “Mutated.”

  “Birds?”

  “With razors for beaks,” Isabel laughed.

  “Wolves with teeth on their paws?” Xavier offered.

  “Bears with four heads, the fifth one on their rear end,” Jax said with a snicker.

  “Cockroaches bigger than man?” I proposed, and everyone shuddered.

  “That shows how dark your brain truly is,” Isabel said, almost disgusted.

  “It was the worst one,” Xavier agreed with a chuckle. I smiled wearily at their attempt to lighten the mood, only to have it destroyed a second later.

  “Stop talkin’!” Scar ordered. We fell silent. “Where to next?”

  “The volcano,” I said. “Just take us to the volcano.”

  It took us a few hours to travel there, and when we arrived, it was bigger than I expected, but not as large as some of the other mountains.

  We started climbing. It looked as if it would take us a day to get to the top. At least fifty men rode behind us. We took breaks, stopping to eat—or more like they did. We were tired, hungry, and in pain. My limbs tore apart with every stretch.

  Adrenaline helped.

  I fought against the weak feeling, knowing this would be

  over soon.

  Near the top, four of the pirates tossed their hooks over the edge. We stayed back, watching.

  Scar nudged me with his hand.

  “Well? What’re you waitin’ for?” he asked us, scowling. “Start climbin’.” He tossed Jax a bag. “Ropes n’ torches,” he said gruffly.