Daughter of Retribution (Crescent Queen Book 1)

by Wren Cartwright

  I flicked through my past, then smiled as I found the perfect one. “I was eleven. I hadn’t yet started running, and I lived with the moon goddess’s priestesses outside the capital city of Solaris.” I smiled at the irony.

  He interrupted like a child hanging on every word. “How old are you now?”

  “I’m twenty-one now. I liked the taboo of staying with one of the last moon priestesses in the sun kingdom after the acquisition.” A chuckle escaped me at my rebellious nature. “Now, let me tell my story,” I gently chastised.

  He made a sound at the back of his throat, and my smile widened, but no further questions arose. “I was young and forgetful.” I ran my fingers soothingly through the cool grass at my sides. “They sent me to the market to collect fresh fruit, and I spent so long picking the perfect wares that I forgot to pay the vendor before I left.” My tone turned wry. “He followed me back to the temple and insisted that I had stolen the fruit. He called me a thief and demanded that I come with him to be sentenced. I was so terrified that the high priestess wouldn’t believe it was an accident that I was sobbing.”

  “This does not sound very happy.”

  “Just wait,” I could hear the smile in my voice, and I was sure he could as well. “She pulled her robed hood back from her face, and she was red with anger. I had never heard her speak an unkind word before that day, but she stepped into his space and told him that I was the kindest and most cautious girl she had the pleasure of knowing and that he would take the money for his fruit and be on his way. She called him an overripe plum. That night she wiped away my tears and told me that she cared for me, that I would always be taken care of with her.”

  “Where were your parents during all of this?”

  “I have never known my parents; I was taken to an orphanage as a baby. I stayed with many different host families, but the priestesses were my favorite.” I had a flashback of blood, of screaming and crying and running. Before my breathing could pick up and he could pry any further, I turned the prompt onto him. “What’s yours?”

  He was silent for a long moment, and I was unsure if he thought I wouldn’t ask in reciprocation or if he'd simply fallen asleep.

  Finally, he spoke. “I was still young, around one hundred years old. My brother often argued with my sister over small things. He was overly protective of her, even more so after our parents passed. She’s a gentle soul, caring and kind.” He sounded wistful, and nostalgic. “She did not like being coddled, though,” he gave a small laugh. “She was very much an independent soul. He forbade her to go alone to the winter solstice celebration in town, as both he and I would be busy that night and unable to attend.”

  It was hard to remember his actual age when faced with his youthful body and cocky attitude. His story riveted me; I didn’t know that he had siblings. “Were you blood relations? And she’s marked as well, correct? Yet you both still treated her like a sheltered maiden?”

  “Yes, Sinaia blessed the newborns at the same time as not to show favor throughout the years. We were the only set of triplets brought to her temple that day, or siblings in general; therefore, the only set of blood relations that were marked. I’m grateful she chose all of us rather than one or two.” His laugh was low. “Yes, she is a skillful warrior. Perhaps it was her predisposition for healing and peace, but we had always felt overly protective towards her. As though she would not quickly dispose of any threat to herself.”

  A small giggle escaped me, and he hummed in response. “She was so frustrated that he would dare to forbid her from attending, that she mixed elderberries into his charcoal washing products. He told her before he went to clean up that he was sorry, and he would attend with her as a peace offering and keep her company. She wanted to teach him a lesson so bad that she bit her tongue to keep from confessing out of guilt, and when he emerged, his skin was stained violet. He scolded her so loud the floors beneath us could hear.”

  My laugh echoed through the clearing, and he gave an answering chuckle. “They sound wonderful; you must love them very much. I’ve always wished I had siblings.”

  He was silent for a long time. When he spoke, his voice was a rasp. “I didn’t start out intending to tell a story with my brother, but it would seem that all my happiest moments are tied to him.” My heart sunk at the desolation in his voice. “My brother passed during the attack from the sun goddess, and sometimes I cannot decide if I’m grateful that he did not have to spend a thousand years in adamanteis or selfish because I wish he had been with me through it anyway.”

  I kept my voice soft and soothing, “I think he would understand both, and I’m very sorry that you lost someone you loved.”

  “Yes. Well,” Azael cleared his throat, “unless you’d like to come over here and soothe me to sleep, hush so we can get an early start tomorrow.”

  Insufferable man! Of course, just when I felt something for the frustrating creature, he had to go and ruin it.

  Rather than engage him in a verbal sparring match, I grumbled under my breath and turned on my back to face the sky, letting the twinkling of the stars and the steady breaths of the man next to me lull me to sleep.

  “Do keep up,” he barked. His voice was exasperated and tinged with annoyance.

  “Oh, I’m sorry that the tiny human mortal can’t match your pace,” I huffed.

  I glared daggers at his back until I heard, “stop looking at me like that.” My mouth dropped.

  “Am not!” I protested, hoping I didn’t sound as guilty as I felt.

  His responding laugh warmed my skin. My mind wandered, thinking of the people I was going to be meeting. Would his sister be among them? Would she be open to helping me? After all, I’m the reason her brother has been missing for days. And the biggest question, what would happen after?

  My mood soured, and I found myself stroking the handle of my dagger. A source of comfort for me, knowing that I could protect myself if necessary but even more so, how it was gifted. The gold detailing was added into custom carvings by the metal worker in one of the towns I stayed in. The day after my host family was slaughtered and I was on the run for the first time in my life, I stumbled into his shop, the only one open before the sun had risen. Breathless and weeping, covered in dried blood and dirt, he took one look at me and ushered me inside for a warm meal and bath. His aged face, grey beard and hair, solemn expression, and large stature should have frightened me. But I had just faced the monsters of my nightmares, and I found solace in that small metal shop. He trained me to use a basic dagger in case of an emergency, basic moves that I struggled to replicate. Taught me to take any cheap shots, and to run if necessary. I never did tell him what had me in that state the day I met him, and he never asked. But he became like a father to me either way. The day before I left, he handed me the custom dagger and told me to run far and never look back.

  Lines formed between my eyebrows, and I rubbed my temples while picking over the roots gathered on the forest floor. The sun had disappeared, and rain had taken its place. The smell of the damp earth was soothing, and I preferred the feel of the icy rain against my skin to the heat of the beating sun.

  “Are we almost there?”

  He squinted at the trees towering over our heads. The rain obscured my vision, and I couldn’t have placed a landmark anyway, but he sounded happier than I had heard him the past few days. “Yes. They should be not too far ahead.”

  My excitement started to fade to nerves, and I fidgeted with my dagger even more. What was I walking into, a den of wolves? Could I trust these people? It had been so long since I have had to rely on others’ charity; the feeling was foreign and unwelcome.

  Azael must have sensed my growing unease because he dropped back to walk beside me, bumping his arm against mine. “Are you always so serious?”

  My response was a glower.

  “Azael!”

  A woman’s voice muffled by the rain rings out seconds before she exploded from the trees and crashed into his arms.

  S
he was stunning. Beautiful long pale hair framed an elfin face, a pointed chin, and clear azure eyes. Her features resembled Azael’s, as did her joy at being reunited.

  He held her tightly, squeezing her until she laughed and gave him a playful tap on the arm.

  His grin was wide as he released her, and she took her first look at me. Her voice was high and clear. “Your aura...” She turned to look at Azael, eyes wide. “Where have you been? Who is this?”

  “It’s a long story Callisa. Let’s go behind the wards, and I’ll tell you once we’re with the others.”

  I swallowed my nerves and waved my hand halfheartedly. “Hi, I’m Aeryn.”

  She eyed me, and for a moment, I was terrified that my first time meeting his sister was going poorly until she grinned widely and pulled me into a firm hug. For her small skinny frame, her hold was deceptively strong. Of course, Aeryn, she’s a warrior. Good gods, do keep up.

  I offered up a smile in return, and she clasped my cheeks in a motherly fashion, “come, we have food back at camp. I was patrolling the area hoping to see some sign of Azael.”

  She seemed… warm. Safe. Maybe this won’t be as bad as I thought.

  Several minutes later, we stumbled onto a wide clearing. A fire pit sat in the center, and various bedrolls, logs, and blankets were scattered across the cloudy glade.

  Five people wandered around the camp, speaking amongst one another, but all chatter stopped once they saw us. The majority looked at me with suspicion; the rest embraced and greeted Azael, clearly relieved by his return.

  “Everyone, this is Aeryn.” Callisa threw her skinny arm over my shoulders.

  One of the men approached us, olive skin, developed muscles, and fierce features; he looked formidable. His expression was pinched, his shoulder-length brown hair brushed his shoulders as he turned from Azael to me and his hazel eyes were stern as they met mine.

  “Elias,” Azael said, “good to see you.”

  When Elias spoke to me, his voice was deep and rumbling. “Nice to meet you.” Azael communicated something with his eyes, something that I didn’t have the interest nor context to decipher.

  Elias gave a curt nod, ending our interaction before pulling Callisa from my side to his. Callisa just laughed, patting his chest complacently and smacking a kiss to his cheek. He grimaced, wiping his face and throwing her a disgruntled look before stepping aside and speaking quietly with Azael.

  “Since my rude brother can’t be bothered to introduce you, allow me.” She pulled me along into the rest of the group. A short woman with golden blonde hair approached me. Her face was cherubic. Her apple cheeks, curvy figure, rounded hips, and warm brown eyes all created the picture of a kind individual.

  “Eleste.” She extended her hand to clasp mine, then gestured to the tall, lanky man next to her. “This is Bastien.” He towered over everyone else, and his green eyes sparkled as he gave me a wink and a cheeky smile. The woman next to him stood on the tips of her toes to ruffle his midnight waves. He was devastatingly handsome with his easy-going countenance and sparkling grin, and he seemed very aware of it. I nodded to them both and turned to the third woman, admiring her lean frame, the defined muscles on her arms and thighs, and her ear-length brown hair.

  “I’m Carwyn.” She offered me a nod in greeting, and her tone was more succinct. Her stern visage reminded me of Elias. I was guessing they got along well.

  “This way,” Callisa said, tugging my arm towards the woman sitting near the fire. “This is Aeryn.” Callisa said, gesturing towards me. The woman at the fire pit got to her feet; I could immediately tell that she was the shortest of the group, just shorter than Eleste. Her skin was a deep tan, and her long black hair highlighted her severe features. Perhaps the most serious of the group, she took a moment to scan me up and down. Finally, her deep brown eyes met mine, and she nodded, just once, before offering me a small smile and sitting back down to the fire. “That was Nerys, and she’s not the friendliest as you can tell. That greeting was practically a hug to her standards.”

  Well, that was abrupt. I hope she won’t demand they get rid of me. After being bounced from home to home, I was wary of acceptance. My soul was aching to settle down.

  “Come sit!” Callisa said, giving my arm a light tug and leading me towards the log nearest to the boundary line. Bastien stood on my other side, giving me a wide, warm smile. I felt overwhelmed. Crowded. But there was something distinctly cozy about this small family sitting around the fire, with the dusky pink sky shining overhead and the smokey scent of the wood burning. I gave Bastien a tremulous smile back and turned towards the fire only to lock eyes with Azael. He winked, stretching his long legs out in front of him and continuing to speak with Nerys.

  I looked around the campfire, a small frown on my face. “I thought there were more of you?”

  “Ahh,” said Bastien. “Two of us left after we escaped.” He made furtive eye contact with Azael. “They wanted to settle down and have a relatively quiet immortal life.” My small frown had transformed into a larger one.

  “Is that not what you’re doing?”

  I looked up in time to see Callisa and Eleste sending Azael inquisitive looks. Nerys seemed expressionless, Carwyn’s mouth formed a firm line, and Elias was openly frowning at me, eyes narrowed in suspicion.

  “No.” It was the first time Azael had addressed me since we entered the camp. “You remember how I told you about we had plans?”

  I nodded mutely.

  “As soon as we escaped prison, we began contacting allies, immortals like us who supported the moon kingdom. We heard stories of when Theia left the seat of her kingdom years ago without explanation, guards gossiping, new prisoners with rumors. Her disappearance was widely speculated over, but she never reappeared to deny or confirm; however, our allies have begun disappearing in the northern sect of the sun kingdom, near the boundary lines to the old moon kingdom territory.”

  The reigning monarch, Maritsa, was a just and kind ruler. In the sun goddess’s sudden departure, the people chose a new ruler by voting. Queen Maritsa ruled the territory from the old moon kingdom territory towards the north, to the south’s original sun kingdom territory.

  “We can feel that Sinaia remains imprisoned,” Callisa added, her eyes sad yet angered.

  Elias made a noise in his throat resembling a growl. Following a session of meaningful eye contact with Azael, he grimaced and stared into the fire.

  “We’re going to free her, and we’re going to kill Theia,” he finished.

  My jaw dropped, and my eyebrows raised into my hairline. “Kill a god?”

  “Yes.”

  “How is that possible? Even the sun goddess was unable to kill the moon goddess; how could you think to kill a god?”

  Nerys chimed in for the first time. “We believe that Theia sent Sinaia into a sleep because she wanted to draw from her power over decades, like an immortal leech.”

  “So she could have killed her, but she didn’t?”

  Azael nodded, leaning back onto his outstretched hands and stretching. “It’s not impossible; we will need supplies, and help. But we will be getting revenge, and we will be saving Sinaia. After all, she’s been imprisoned just as long as we have. After that, we’ll take the moon territory back, reclaim it and reinstate it to its former glory.”

  “We were hoping that as you’re imbued with Sinaia’s essence, you’d like to help,” Callisa said softly.

  My heart dropped; I could feel my entire body still and go tense as a bowstring. Azael paled, and the others started to pick up on the tension.

  “Excuse me?” My voice came out high pitched and squeaky.

  “Holy gods, he didn’t tell you? The whole reason he left was to find the source of the aura we were seeing. It was powerful, and we were worried it was a trap set up by Theia's guard.” Callisa said.

  My heart began pounding, and my breath was coming out in short bursts. “No, that’s not… No.” My voice got higher and higher, and Bastien wince
d. Azael was glaring daggers at Callisa, who was returning the look. “He kept talking about my aura, but I thought he was crazy, honestly. I’ve never even met Sinaia; she’s been imprisoned!” I was relieved to have poked a hole in their theory.

  “I’m sorry, darling, but you’re lit up with Sinaia’s divine essence,” Eleste said softly, her round face pursed with sympathy.

  “Aeryn... I meant to tell you, but you seemed so oblivious to the world of gods and goddesses, I wanted more time to feel you out. Time behind the wards of the camp.”

  I paused my pacing for a moment to turn and set the full weight of my glare onto Azael. “Bastard,” I hissed.

  I furrowed my brow and resumed my stride. Divine essence? I've never met a God. I worked through my logic factually. I'm not saying that it is impossible, I reasoned, for there were many things I could acknowledge that were outside of the scope of my understanding. I wouldn't refute it if I had proof, but I don't have proof. I have the word of a crazy group of strangers who have been imprisoned for a thousand years. He even said he was mad! How could you come out of that sane?

  "Careful," Azael drawled. "You'll burn something." He tapped his forehead with his long index finger.

  I huffed, turning on my heel and stopping in front of Callisa.

  "How did you know to find me?" He suddenly asked. "I'm sure you don't think it's a coincidence, me with knowledge of the divine, having been freed and in the same area you stumbled upon in a vast magical forest."

  Every single muscle in my body tensed, and my breath left me. "I've been seeing a woman in my dreams for years. I always thought it was my subconscious, or a spirit guide. She has dark hair, shining pale skin, and soulful violet eyes," I stated mechanically.

  His brows creased at that, and he lolled his head back to look up at the sky. His throat moved with his next words. "Goddess. A Goddess visited you."

  Several frustrated tears welled up behind my eyes, and I ground my teeth to keep from releasing them. Only one managed to escape the tight hold over my emotions, and it left a salty wet trail down my cheek.