Daughter of Retribution (Crescent Queen Book 1)

by Wren Cartwright

  “Oh, Aeryn,” Callisa said softly. She patted the space on the log next to her. I sat reluctantly and allowed her to throw her arm over my shoulders and nestle me into her body. “Sinaia is a dreamwalker; I’m sure that having her essence made it easier to connect with you. I’m not sure if we haven’t heard from her because the wards were too strong, and our connections were strained or because of our weakened essence. I’m just glad to know that she’s okay.” I felt a small kernel of guilt at Callisa’s soft words. They had been locked away for so long, after the deaths of their friends and the imprisonment of their patron goddess, and I was complaining that I’d been blessed?

  “But why me?” I said forlornly. “She’s never asked me to do anything from her, never indicated that I was different, I just don’t understand.”

  “I don’t either,” said Azael. “I’m not even sure how she can communicate with you, let alone imbue you with essence.” He rubbed his forehead soothingly. “We hadn’t spoken to her since before the solstice a millennia ago; as Callisa said, we were hoping it was because of the wards.”

  I took a moment to examine the faces around me. Everyone looked suitably confused. Even Elias looked perplexed.

  “You haven’t experienced a gift?” Carwyn said. The flames crackled and popped as she pokes the logs with a long stick. “Ours surfaced when we reached our twenties. I could create flame.” My eyes widened, and I looked to Azael.

  “I could transmit and receive information telepathically.” He said quietly.

  One by one, the rest begin chiming in with their gifts.

  “I have an affinity for nature,” Eleste said. “I could grow plants and vegetation from seedlings, encouraging their expedited growth. Not overly exciting,” she shrugged, “but I liked it.”

  “I could turn invisible,” Bastien said with a reassuring smile.

  Callisa cackled, “I could heal, for all the good that did.” My mouth pulled down, not understanding her implication.

  Elias went last, gruff and begrudging after a nudge from Nerys. “Strength.”

  “Why are you all speaking in the past tense?”

  “We don’t have the use of our gifts right now,” Eleste said sadly.

  “I don’t understand.”

  Nerys crossed her legs. “They used parts of our essence to keep the wards of adamanteis intact. After so many years of being constantly drawn from, we noticed upon leaving that we were unable to use our gifts.”

  “We’re hoping they’ll come back soon,” Bastien chirped. But I could see the undercurrent of desolation in his eyes.

  “I haven’t noticed anything,” I said. Then a realization hit me with all the force of a natural disaster. “Is that why I’ve been chased all these years? I thought that was a mistake!”

  Azael nodded, “that’s how they must have found us by the rapids. With your aura unshielded, you’re a magnet to otherworldly beings. Theia’s guards have been following you for a while?” He asked.

  “Since I turned fourteen.”

  “Why then?” Prompted Carwyn. “What changed?”

  “Oh…” I whispered. “That was when I first saw Sinaia in my dreams.”

  “Okay,” said Eleste. “So something about the moon goddess’s visit changed something in your aura, made you more distinct.”

  “We still don’t know how you hold her essence.” Callisa pondered thoughtfully.

  “How can you see that my essence and I can’t see yours?”

  “We were blessed as babies; we’ve spent hundreds of years under Sinaia’s care, training, and growing stronger. I’m not sure why you can’t see ours, but we also don’t know how or why you came to be imbued. Many things differ between our circumstances. I’m sure it’s something we’ll find out with time.”

  “It’s different now, though,” Carwyn said sadly. Her short chestnut-colored hair shone. “Sinaia is growing weaker, and by extension, so are we. It took a lot of energy to break the wards down from their already compromised state.”

  “So you’re not at full power.”

  Elias scowled, “no.” Wow, he’s irritable.

  Bastien set a warm hand on my shoulder, his green eyes solemn. “Would you like to help? We would have to work on your training, get your aura under control, so you’re no longer an easy target.”

  Do I? Callisa looked oddly hopeful, and Azael seemed expressionless. I was so confident that I could clear everything up and spend the rest of my days in a small cottage overlooking the mountains. Was that to be my life? Immortals and revenge plots? My heart twinged as I saw the carefully veiled anticipation on Eleste’s face.

  “Whether you choose to stay or not, we’ll still help you get the answers you seek,” Nerys said softly.

  I sighed. Who was I fooling? Go back to being pursued or stay with those who can help me understand myself better? Train me to be safe and protected and answer my questions as they arose? The chance to see the one person who has been by my side for most of my life, who kept me safe and provided me with comfort. Who deserves to be freed and surrounded by loved ones.

  “Yes.”

  “Great!” Callisa exclaimed, jumping up and throwing her arms around me.

  Elias grimaced and turned towards the woods. Bastien smiled wide and clasped my shoulder in welcome.

  I carefully avoided looking at Azael for his reaction. I may have met him first, but he never extended an offer to stay; no, he only offered answers. Temporary. I probably wouldn’t have believed him anyway, so maybe it was for the best.

  “You should begin training tomorrow,” Nerys proposed, her face stately. “We’re all trained warriors, but Elias is the best; he can teach you everything you need to know.”

  I offered Elias a small smile, allowing my gaze to slide to his left, onto Azael. He was already looking at me, pale eyes boring into mine.

  “Come,” said Callisa, her long pale hair swinging with her movements. “I can set you up with a bedroll and get you supplies.”

  “Thank you,” I said gratefully. Callisa had a very friendly energy about her. I trusted her to help me settle in.

  “Don’t want to share with me, love?” Azael asked, eyebrow raised cockily. The first display of his insufferable attitude since arriving at their camp. “It gets cold at night.”

  I hissed, whirling on the ball of my foot to fully face him, and grabbed his deep green tunic in a large handful. "Vain, presumptuous, infuriating man." Okay, maybe I was still irritated that he never asked me to stay.

  His silver eyes widened, then narrowed suggestively, brimming with mischief and lust. "Oh, you like it rough? I can be naughty for you." He purred, leaning into my touch, and stepping forwards into my space.

  My lips turned down with disgust, and an unbecoming huff echoed as I released his now deeply wrinkled tunic and shoved him several steps back.

  He staggered with the motion, and sent a suggestive wink my way before making an exaggerated raunchy gesture with his hands.

  "You're such a child," I said, rolling my eyes.

  "You're the one rolling your eyes, love." My eyes narrowed in irritation, all the more incensed, because... Well, he was right. I had never let anyone get to me that way before. What was it about him that got me so worked up?

  “Ignore him,” Eleste said with a smile. Callisa gave him a light smack on the arm, and Bastien just laughed deeply.

  I wasn’t sure how to feel. I was still angry with him for withholding that information from me. But honestly, with just his word and no proof, would I have taken it well? Probably not, I thought. Probably would have run kicking and screaming from the crazy man. I gave him an exaggerated scowl and hid a smile at his low laugh.

  “Tomorrow,” said Nerys as she got up from her seat and sauntered off to what must have been her bedding by the trees.

  “She’ll warm up to you,” said Carwyn, stamping out an ember on the ground before joining the others at my side.

  I simply nodded. I didn’t sense malice in Nerys, just disinteres
t. She seemed like a sage individual.

  Elias spoke up. “She was a seer. She’s become withdrawn over the years, berating herself for not anticipating the ambush. It’s hard to have such a weight on your shoulders.”

  He sounded like he was speaking from experience.

  “Glad to have you back, Azael,” he said as he patted him once on the back then walked towards the boundary of the clearing.

  CHAPTER 5

  When I woke, the sun was shining. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and took a moment to listen to my surroundings. I heard a few voices, and something smelt amazing.

  I opened my aching eyes and pulled back the blanket on my bedroll, stretching my back and allowing the sun to warm my face. Callisa gave me a straw mattress, and it had been a vast improvement over sleeping on the hard cold ground.

  “Morning, sleepy,” Eleste chirped. Her round cheeks were flushed, and her hair was in a haphazard golden knot. “I just finished cooking, so go help yourself. Elias will be ready to help you train around noon.”

  “Thank you, Eleste; I’m starving.” I smiled at her, returning her exuberance, then approached the fire pit we sat at last night.

  “Sleep well?” Bastien said while smirking at my unkempt silver hair and my ruffled blouse.

  “Don’t tease her!” Callisa admonished. “She’s had a rough few days. Are you hungry? We have eggs and cured meats.”

  I gratefully took a seat and settled on the log next to Nerys.

  “Elias and Azael are catching up, talking strategy,” said Carwyn, as she sat next to me on the log.

  “So, Aeryn, tell us about yourself,” Bastien said.

  “I was born in the capital city of Solaris. I’ve never met my parents, many families raised me, but I enjoyed my stay with the priestesses the best.”

  “Priestesses?” Nerys raised her eyebrows in question. She looked severe, golden brown skin shining in the sun and her face’s angles sharpened by the shadows.

  “I stayed at Sinaia’s temple for a time.” I fully realized the irony and wondered how coincidental that was. “I also dry and sell herbs for coin.”

  “How old are you?” Callisa asked sympathetically.

  “Twenty-one.”

  Callisa exchanged a look with Nerys, and I turned my attention to the warm food in front of me.

  “Twenty-one years ago… That’s when the wards weakened for the first time,” Nerys said introspectively.

  “You think they’re connected?” I hurried to swallow my mouthful of food.

  She gave a succinct nod before turning her attention back towards the food in her hands.

  I heard distant voices and looked up to see Azael and Elias heading towards us. Azael’s hair glowed in the sunlight; dappled highlights covered his dark trousers and cream shirt. Elias looked stern, his hazel eyes slid to mine, and I saw a wealth of suspicion.

  “He doesn’t like me, does he?” I murmured to no one in particular.

  “He’s… had a difficult go of it,” Callisa mused. “It will take him time to get to know you; he’s not fond of outsiders.” Her tone was sympathetic, and not for the first time I wondered what his story was. Callisa stood, then tossed her napkin into the fire and sauntered over next to Nerys.

  “Morning darling,” Azael boomed from across the clearing. “You look…” he scanned my rumpled clothes up and down before flitting his gaze to my face, “stunning.”

  “Is he always like this?” I whispered.

  Bastien cackled. “He’s in rare form lately.”

  “Yes,” Callisa eyed him intently. “He has changed over the years.”

  “He’s having a great time having a girl around that he doesn’t view as a sibling,” Carwyn chimed in. “I think he knows we would castrate him for speaking that way to us.”

  “Stop,” Bastien groaned and cupped his hands towards his front. Having been close enough to hear the last remark, Elias barked out a rough laugh.

  Azael was close enough now that I could see the silver swirling in his eyes, the freckles lining his pale cheekbones. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Eleste aiming a small smirk my way. I narrowed my eyes on her and gave a short shake of my head. No way was I allowing anyone to get the wrong idea. He may have been attractive, but he was insufferable.

  “Let’s go,” Elias gestured at me. “Time to train.”

  “Have fun,” Callisa said kindly.

  Azael hid his snort with a cough, and Bastien gave her an indulgent smile.

  “Fun?” Elias laughed. “No. I’m going to train you hard. You’re going to wish for the days you were lounging in bed and writing in your diary, you’re going to ache in muscles you don’t even know you have, then the next day you're going to get up and do it all over again.”

  Carwyn rolled her eyes behind his back, and I stifled a smile.

  “Yes, sir,” I smirked, brushing my hands on my pants, and rising from the log I was sitting on.

  “That’s my girl,” Azael murmured under his breath. I ignored his comment, and gestured for Elias to lead the way.

  He pulled me across the campsite and through a copse of trees at the border. Pushing branches and shrubs out of his way, he carefully picked over obstacles before reaching a second smaller clearing with a packed dirt surface speckled with imprints from feet and weapons.

  This feels great, I thought wryly. Just me, a man who could not stand me, and a lone clearing. He stretched his arms over his head, and I watched his olive muscles ripple before giving myself a shake and switching from foot to foot.

  “Do you have any experience with weapons?” He asked while tying his shoulder-length brown hair back with a leather band. I quickly braided my long hair back.

  “I have a dagger; I feel comfortable enough with it.”

  “Have you trained with it?”

  “Somewhat. The man who gave it to me gave me a few tips, but they weren’t detailed and I struggled with carrying them out.”

  “Okay, then come at me with it.” He settled back onto his heels, assuming a defensive stance.

  “No, what if I hurt you?”

  “You won’t hurt me,” he smirked. “Besides, look at you, how much damage could you do?”

  I scowled, then lunged forward and swiped at his right side with my dagger in my right hand. He bounced back, deflecting my lunge with a firm block to my forearm.

  “Again.”

  I propelled myself forwards on my right foot while aiming for his hip. He tripped my foot, sending me stumbling onto the dirt. It took me a moment to collect my breath, and I wheezed slightly.

  “You’d be dead.” He stated flatly. “We’re going to work on hand-to-hand combat then move up to weapons, because clearly you have learning to do.”

  I’d have loved nothing more than to scowl at him, but even I realized how hypocritical that would look, with me lying in the dirt clutching my ribs and him standing without a scratch on him.

  We spent the morning going through exercises. He taught me the proper form to deliver a punch, or a well-placed kick. We worked on my defensive moves, blocking all his well-timed aims. My forearms were aching, and I was sure bruises were going to litter my pale skin by the next morning. I was huffing and puffing, brushing my loose white hairs from my face, and wiping away my sweat with my dirt-covered hand when he told me to take the rest of the day to help around camp. I gazed up at the afternoon sky and did a double-take.

  “Time passes when you’re working hard, Aeryn.”

  I rolled my eyes and collected the lace band that had been securing my hair before loping back to camp. He acted like I had spent my life prancing around in dresses and not on the run, working hard to provide for myself.

  Bastien saw me first, and burst out laughing. Azael and Callisa at least attempted to hide their laughter behind their palms while the rest openly smirked.

  “Laugh it up,” I said sarcastically. “He pounded me into the dirt.”

  Azael’s eyes gleamed wickedly, “oh lov-” I sliced my hand upwar
ds and narrowed my eyes at him.

  “Absolutely not,” I growled, cutting off his lewd musings.

  Eleste, Carwyn, and Bastien laughed audibly now. Callisa sent me a sympathetic smile and nudged Bastien, who was laughing the loudest. He wiped a tear from under his vivid green eye and smirked.

  “Well, don’t count on me for continual entertainment; it won’t be like this for long.”

  Elias had finally joined us, looking as grumpy as ever. He gave a small grunt when his eyes met mine before drifting to the edge of the forest, where the firelight of the clearing reached the darkness of the trees.

  He looked so very lost. No one seemed to notice how his attention had drifted. I briefly considered heading over to sit with him, but I knew my company wouldn't be welcome.

  CHAPTER 6

  "Keep your fist firm," Elias commanded.

  "I thought it was firm."

  "No, hit me again."

  I punched at his chest using my right fist, putting power behind it, and recoiling when it smacked his hard muscles.

  "Better," he huffed. "Again."

  And so I hit him once more.

  "Overextending your arm, Aeryn. Keep it tight."

  I tried again, determined to get it right. He gave an approving nod, and I slumped in relief.

  "Did you often train in adamanteis?"

  His gaze shuttered, and I kicked myself for breaking the peace we had found.

  "I did," he finally answered. "I trained day and night. I needed to be ready for when my powers returned, and I needed to be ready if they never did."

  "What is it like to be without them?"

  "Like a piece of me is missing," he admitted, gesturing at me to get my hands up. "I mourn the part of me that I lost, just like I mourn my friends. But I hold out hope that one day it will come back."

  "I'm sure it will," I grunted as I hit his chest.

  “Are you excited to be getting your powers?”

  “If I ever do,” I sighed. “I’m not too confident that they will come. What if I never get any?”