“Control… I’m learning. I can create it if I focus really hard. I was hoping you’d be able to help me hone my gift,” she said shyly.
“Of course. This means there are other elementals out there too. Sreda was right! Oh, Sreda. She was locked in the tower when I left. Is she—”
“She’s still in the tower as far as we know,” Percifal answered.
“At least she’s still alive.”
“King Zaeden is using her magic for his own dark needs. He’s working with Vesirus.” Phyra shivered.
I felt ice in my veins at her words. “Truly? How are we supposed to defeat him now? If King Zaeden is getting aid from Vesirus, we’re doomed. All of us.” I didn’t believe we’d stand a chance against the dark lord of Mnyama. Not even with all the elemental powers.
“We have to try,” she said. “Celestia’s given us these powers for a reason. Otherwise… this world is lost to darkness.”
I had less faith in Celestia than she did, but she was right. If anyone had a chance of defeating King Zaeden, it was us. We had to try. I knew it in my heart. I didn’t like it. I had been silently hoping there were no other elementals, to be honest. Phyra’s very existence had shattered those hopes. I was scared to death, but I nodded. “Alright, but let me say goodbye to Sia.”
“Good. I’ll go collect wood so Phyra can start us a fire,” Percifal said.
“At least I can actually do that now.” Phyra grimaced.
“You’ve done more than that. Phyra saved my life,” Percifal told me, pride evident on his face.
“And he saved mine.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek.
I inclined my forehead. “So you two are—together?”
Phyra nodded. “I love your brother. I couldn’t have asked for a better man.”
I raised an eyebrow. “I agree with that.”
“Make your goodbye swift,” Percifal said as I made to leave.
“I’m sorry. I don’t want to leave, but my people need me,” I told Sia on the shore.
Dusk had cast a violet ambience over the sea. It was almost time for the mermaids to slumber. I, myself, let out a big yawn.
“We are your people now,” she argued. “Wars are fought, people die. The sea remains the same. You’ll be safe here.”
“That’s not the point. I love you, but I love my family too. If you truly care about me, you’ll let me go.” How ironic it was that I’d asked her to do the very thing Thaimis had done for me… the thing I hated him for.
Her face fell, and she turned away. “Go then. If they mean so much to you.”
I put my hand on her arm. “I will miss you. I may not be immortal like you, but my love for you shall remain forever.”
She looked back at me. Tears shone in her silver eyes. “I will miss you too. I’ll never forget you, my two legged elemental.” She pulled me toward her and kissed me softly. “Take this with you. I’m sure you can make good use of it.” She reached down into the water and pulled an arm full of gold and jewels up. That she’s brought these with her… she already guessed I’d be leaving.
I raised both brows. “Oh my Celestia. Are you sure?”
“Yes. We have no need for it. It’s been collected from centuries of shipwrecks. There’s still a lot left. It won’t be missed.”
“Thank you,” I said seriously. “This will definitely help.”
“Good. You better be off before the sky grows dark.” She passed me the treasure.
“I love you, Sia.”
“I love you too, water elemental.” She gave me one last glance and disappeared into the sea.
There was a lump in my throat as I walked back to the camp. I would have happily stayed with Sia until the end of my days, but I had to try to help stop King Zaeden. If he was really working with Vesirus, I couldn’t even imagine what would become of the world if he were successful.
I smelled smoke as I neared the camp and knew they’d gotten the fire burning. I shivered as the breeze touched my damp skin and quickened my pace.
“Ah, you’ve returned.” Percifal said, wrapping a blanket around me.
“Of course, and I’ve brought a gift from Sia.” I lifted the gold and jewels I held in my arms. I was sure I’d dropped some along the way, but with nothing to carry them in, it was unavoidable.
Percifal’s eyes widened. “This solves a lot of our problems. Thank Celestia for your mermaids.”
I chuckled and asked, “What problems?”
“We’ll need to bribe someone to take us back to Ambedar.”
I sat beside Phyra, who was roasting some kind of bird they must have caught for supper.
“A fisherman?” I asked.
“Indeed.”
I was grateful I’d be trading treasure and not my body for passage home.
“Do you think it’ll be safe?” Phyra asked me, checking to see if the bird was cooked.
“Safer than the main harbour,” I told her. “Malyi had meant for me to find this smaller harbour so I could return home,” I explained. “I wonder how she knew to send you to Siren’s Cove.”
“She said she’d heard rumours you’d been spotted there.”
“Oh.” One of the survivors must have seen me during the shipwreck shortly after I’d ended up there.
Phyra shuddered. “It must have been horrible. What you went through.”
“It was, but I survived.”
“I too have been mistreated by men.” Phyra dropped her gaze to the ground.
“Oh? I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright. You’re brother saved me.” She handed the stick with the bird up to him.
He tore off pieces of the bird and passed some to each of us. “Phyra saved herself, actually—with her fire.” He changed the subject before she could argue. “Why are you wanted in Gwon?”
I chewed on a piece of meat, and then swallowed. “Because I killed my last client.”
Phyra gasped. “How?”
“I drowned him with his own wine,” I told them plainly. “He had tied me up and was whipping me. He deserved it.” I shrugged.
Percifal studied me for a moment. “I killed your dead husband’s brother,” he confessed.
I closed my eyes and let out a small laugh before smiling up at him. “Good.”
“I don’t understand how you both can be okay with murdering others.” Phyra turned even paler in the crackling firelight.
“When you’re pushed to your limit, you’ll understand. You better get used to it with this war that’s coming,” I said darkly.
“I guess I’m just used to burying my anger.”
“Don’t bury it. That’s why you’ve had troubles with your power.”
“I know. I’m trying to overcome that.”
“She’s come a long way.” Percifal rubbed her back.
I nodded.
Phyra fetched a water skin out of her bag and passed it around.
Afterward, I donned the dress she’d given me and fell asleep under one of the wool blankets.
Chapter 23
My feet were sore by the time we reached the harbour. It wasn’t too far from our camp, but I wasn’t used to walking anymore.
The harbour was bustling with fishermen. Shouts rang out in their native tongue as ships were loaded with supplies. We approached a couple of men with no luck. They didn’t understand our language.
Finally, we found a short, stocky man with braided black hair who understood enough to translate.
Percifal dug some treasure out of his sack and showed it to him. “For you and your—shipmaster. Take us to Sarantoa?”
“Sarantoa?” The man’s forehead wrinkled.
Percifal sighed and tried again. “Ambedar.”
“Oh, aye! Ambedar. Come.” He turned and stalked off toward one of the ships with red and white sails.
“Qwaht! Qwaht!” he called, and then spoke a string of words I didn’t understand.
A tall, skinny man stepped off the ship. He was dressed in a silky, white tunic and bro
wn trousers. I assumed he was the shipmaster.
The shipmaster came over to us. “Ambedar?” he asked Percifal with a sideways glance.
Percifal nodded. “Yes, sir.” He showed him some of the treasure.
The shipmaster reached out and ran his fingers over the gold and jewels, inspecting them closely. He grinned. “Come.”
We followed him up a ramp and onto the ship, which was much larger than Admiral Ruess’ Blue Angel.
Men were busy rolling barrels down into the hold and gathering nets into place.
Qwaht said something to the stocky man who’d translated for us. The man nodded then led us below deck to where the barrels were kept. “You stay in here,” he instructed the three of us.
It’s going to be a long sail home, I thought as I looked around the cramped, dim hold.
“Thank you,” Percifal said to him, and the man left without another word.
“That was rough,” I stated. “I guess we should be happy we’re going home.”
“I’ll be happy once we’re on dry land,” Phyra muttered.
Percifal put his arm around her shoulders. “Phyra tends to get seasick.”
“Oh no. Hopefully we have smooth waters.” I winked at her.
As smooth as the sailing was, Phyra still ended up with a bout of nausea for the first few sunrises and spent most of her time with a bucket.
We only saw others when they came down to get food or water from one of the barrels. They mostly ignored our presence.
We were given fish and water. I was so sick of fish, I couldn’t wait to get home and have a real meal. Percifal and Phyra didn’t seem to mind, although they hadn’t been living at sea for the last few seasons.
What awaited us back in Sarantoa, we couldn’t guess. I hoped Sreda was wrong about King Zaeden summoning Vesirus for his aid. Perhaps the king had been unsuccessful in his attempts with the dark lord of Mnyama. That explained why it’d taken him so long to plan his war.
“You are going to have to go to Aquila alone to find out if anything has happened since our absence,” Percifal told to me after we’d finished eating one night. “Phyra and I won’t be welcome there. And hopefully Mother isn’t in too much trouble for helping us escape.”
“Mother’s always held her own. I’m sure she’s fine.” Our mother had a talent for talking her way out of difficult situations… her charm had a lot to do with it.
“Do you think it’ll be safe for Chel to go in alone?” Phyra chimed in.
“There’s no reason it wouldn’t. She’s done nothing wrong.” My brother’s words rang true.
I stretched my lips into a straight line and leaned against a barrel. “That’s right. As far as anyone knows, I’m still in Cansbroke… at least I think so.” I didn’t know if the news of Valron and Lanbert’s deaths had reached Aquila. Even if they had, Percifal was right. I’d done nothing wrong.
“Your mother was worried about you,” Phyra said. “We were supposed to send word that you were alright when we reached Cansbroke, but you weren’t—so we didn’t.”
I looked at each of them in turn. “She’s probably worried about the both of you by now too. Why wouldn’t you send word that you were sailing to Gwon?”
Percifal answered for the both of them. “We didn’t have time. Once we’d found out what had happened to you, we came as quickly as we could. Besides, you may be wanted in Gwon, but I am wanted in Aquila.”
“I understand. Where’s Father is sword, by the way?”
“I sold it to Malyi.” Regret filled his aqua eyes. He loved that sword.
“Why would you do that?” I smacked his arm. “What did she give you for it?”
“Your location.”
I forgot whatever else I was going to say. “Oh.”
By the time we reached the docks of Ambedar, we were all caked in dirt and probably smelled foul. Stepping off the ship felt like being born again. I had been away for so long I’d almost forgotten what my home land looked like. I took in the lush, green hillsides rolling in the distance… the cute little fishing village with its cheerful people and hardworking sailors. A smile appeared upon my lips.
I breathed in the fresh, salty air and sighed. “It’s good to be back.”
“You say that now…” Percifal adjusted the sack on his shoulder.
“Everything seems normal here so far. That’s a good sign, right?” Phyra came up beside him, squinting against the bright sunlight.
“We’ll see,” I answered, my feet making pitter-patter sounds on the boards as I followed them up the dock.
We’d agreed to spend the night at Admiral Ruess’s to rest before heading onward to Aquila. I was excited to see my old friend. When his wood cabin came into view, I ran the rest of the way, leaving the others trailing behind.
I pounded on his door impatiently with my fist.
“Aye, hold on! I’m coming, I’m coming!” I heard his gruff voice from within.
I jumped up and down as the handle clicked and the door swung open.
“What in the—Chel? My goodness, lass, is it really you? His eyes were as big as plates.
I laughed with glee, and we embraced just as the other two came up behind me. “And I’ve brought friends!” I exclaimed.
“So, you two finally found her, hey? Took you long enough. I’d begun to think I’d never see any of you again.”
“It’s great to see you, Admiral.” Phyra smiled at him and gave him a hug too.
“As pretty as always, my lady. Percifal’s lucky to have such good company.”
“Could we stay the night here? It’s been a long journey,” Percifal asked, clasping arms with the admiral.
“Of course! Anything for you three. As you know, there isn’t much space, but you’re always welcome at the admiral’s home.”
“I’m sure it’s more comfortable than a goddess forsaken ship,” Phyra grumbled, stepping into the cabin.
Admiral Ruess chuckled. “You were once excited to sail.”
“That was before I learned I get seasick.”
“Feel free to wash up while I warm up the soup.” The admiral offered as he disappeared into the small kitchen to the side of the main room.
After we’d each had a chance to clean ourselves as best we could, we sat around a small table, eating soup and bread and drinking cold ale while sharing stories. It felt good to be in such pleasant company, and my stomach was content to be full of something other than fish.
My cheeks grew warm after a couple of mugs of ale. I hadn’t drunken anything but water—and one swig of whiskey since I’d left Malyi and her mistresses.
I found myself growing tired before the others and retired to the cot in Admiral Ruess’ small room. The group had decided I would take the cot. Percifal and Phyra had spent a lot of their time at Inns in Gwon, so it was only fair. I was glad for the offer. I fell asleep as soon as my head touched the pillow.
Shortly after the sun rose, we said our goodbyes and promised to visit as soon as possible.
We had enough treasure left to purchase two horses. I had my own, while Percifal and Phyra shared one. It felt strange to be upon the majestic beast’s back again, but I didn’t forget what it took to ride.
I smiled, admiring the beautiful scenery around me. Green leaves had begun to sprout on the branches of trees. When the terrain turned rough and rocky, I knew we were nearing Aquila. The sunlight bounced off the golden cliff sides and warmed our faces. The ground was a bit wet from the previous rain, causing the horses’ hooves to make squishy noises as we trod on.
When Aquila came into view, we halted our mounts.
Percifal dismounted and held my horse’s reins to keep him still. “Give me your horse. Learn what you can at the kingdom. We will meet you at Crown Peak at sunrise and figure out what to do from there. Take a horse for yourself from the stables.” I soaked up the directions he told me and gave up my horse. Crown Peak was a cliff just outside of the kingdom with four peaks resembling a pointed crown. It was a comm
on starting place for hunts. My father had taken me and Percifal there a few times to see the hunters off. I felt a twinge of sorrow at the memory.
I parted ways with the other two and strode toward the home I’d missed since my unwanted wedding.
A squire stood at the iron gates, arms crossed and a sword strapped to his hip. The sword looked too big for such a young lad. I wondered if he could even lift it enough to wield it.
I frowned at him. “Why did they put you on guard?”
The young lad shrugged, unoffended by my question. “Most of the other soldiers are gone.”
“Gone where?”
“Off to war,” he stated.
Goddess dammit! I took a deep breath and steadied myself. “I’m Chelela Lacrima. Madam Dulcina Lacrima’s daughter.”
The squire regarded me with a new sternness. “You’re brother’s a traitor, my lady.”
I cleared my throat, my gaze was unwavering. “I know, but I am still in the king’s good graces.” His answer would tell me if this was still true. “Now, are you going to let me pass, or have I come all this way for nothing?”
The squire hesitated. He then stretched his neck to look behind me. “Did you walk all the way here? I don’t see a carriage.”
I didn’t have the patience to deal with this boy. I rolled my eyes and answered him. “I asked to be dropped off so I could stretch my legs. It’s a nice day,” I told him, waving my hand toward the blue sky.
I tapped my foot, and the squire finally opened the gate. “Alright, Lady Lacrima. I believe you mean us no harm. Welcome back to Aquila.”
Chapter 24
Two guards past their prime stood in front of my apartment. Obviously, King Zaeden had left behind those too young and those too old to fight in the war.
I recognized one of them, Bolen Lethburg. He had been a friend of my father. He tilted his chin, acknowledging me. “Chelela, you’ve returned. We were beginning to think we’d never see you again.”
I adjusted the sack on my shoulder. “What’s the meaning of this? Why are you guarding my door?”
“Extra precaution.” He wiggled his thick, grey brows and opened the door for me.
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