Princess of Wind and Sea

by Cassandra Finnerty

  *

  Aisling stumbled through the brush. She was last in line, surrounded by armed criminals. The men laughed and joked as they pushed the crew down the trail, but she was unable to decipher their words. For some reason, her hands were not bound like the rest of the captives, sparking hope that she might summon her dagger and create an escape plan.

  She ran over the sequence of events that had led to their capture. After leaving the Cara, they rowed in the dark toward the coast but somehow took a wrong turn and ended up in a cove. Her team ran headlong into a small sailing vessel with the dreaded black flag. They raced to get away, but it was clear that the pirates were gaining ground.

  Aisling needed to make a decision. If she used her magic, it would be visible for all to see. It would put the crew in a more dangerous position, and they would be forever hunted. As much as she feared for their safety, her instincts were to wait until they were all together on shore.

  But the longer they marched through the forest, the more her resolve began to fade. When Sean was shoved down a hill and lay injured, she stifled her protest, realizing that action was needed soon. She began looking for opportunities.

  After walking for what seemed like hours, they approached the camp. One of the men dragged her to a lone cabin and shoved her inside. She ran to the window and peered through the bars. From her vantage point, it looked like Sean and his men were being forced into a nearby building.

  Aisling retrieved her dagger and took a deep breath. Her mind raced as she scanned the room and thought about possible exit strategies. She paced over the wooden planks, then paused and looked down. There was an uneven floorboard. She knelt down to inspect it and discovered a crawl space below the floor.

  Her eyes adjusted to the darkness. In the back of the burrow was a locked trunk. She pried it open, using her dagger. Inside the trunk lay a glittering wand, much like the one she inherited. The blade looked new, and the jewels in the hilt cast rays of light that illuminated the enclosure.

  She tucked the new item in her magic pocket and inspected the walls. The dirt was moist but pliable. Removing her instrument, she held it up to the ceiling.

  “With all my power, I command the earth to create a tunnel between our two cabins.”

  At once, power surged from her hands. There was a rumbling as the ground parted to reveal an opening several feet high. She secured the floorboard, making it difficult to access from the cabin.

  There was one more thing she needed to do.

  “With all my power,” she intoned, “I command a passage from the crew’s hut to a remote area of the forest.”

  There was a muted vibration as the second underground burrow was formed.

  Aisling proceeded through the tunnel, using her dagger as a torch. She could hear voices overhead. It sounded like they were guards stationed outside.

  She moved farther through the enclave and recognized the muffled tones of her crew. She knocked on the underside of their floorboard. All conversation stopped.

  “Sean, are you there?”

  “Aisling?”

  “Is it safe?”

  “Aye, it’s just us. Where are you?”

  “I’m right below you.”

  “Where?”

  “I’ll push my knife through. Can you see it?”

  “Yes, we’ll pull up the floorboard.”

  A few minutes later, she wrangled through the opening and looked at the wide-eyed gazes of Sean, Owen, and Fionn. They took a step back as she hoisted herself into the room. None of the men spoke.

  “Quick. We need to move now. There’s a tunnel below us.”

  “What?”

  “An escape route. It’s a better option than staying here.”

  “All right, we’re with you.”

  “Once we go underground, there can be no talking or noise of any kind. There are guards stationed between the cabins. We will be passing right below them.”

  Sean glanced at the crew and pointed to the floor. One by one, the men entered the opening and found themselves in a subterranean burrow.

  Aisling pulled the board back into place and guided them through the secret passage.

  A half hour later, the trail ended.

  She pushed her dagger into the dirt ceiling where it struck something hard. After several tries, the blade sliced through the ground. Aisling pushed up with both hands and dislodged a mound of grass. Peering out of the hole, she scanned the terrain on all sides.

  They were in a dense wooded area. The crew helped push her out of the tunnel and then followed in rapid succession. They filled the opening with wood and branches to slow the enemy’s chase.

  Aisling turned to the men. “Is everyone all right?”

  “We are now,” said Sean, brushing off the dirt. “How did you ever discover the tunnels?”

  “I stepped on a noisy floorboard and suspected there was something beneath it.” She glanced at her cousin’s pained expression. “Can you walk?”

  “Yes, but I think my ankle is sprained. You’re better off without me.”

  “Then we’ll carry you, if need be. Our best chance is to stay together. Do you know where we are?”

  “I have an idea. We should head southeast.”

  “Is that where you landed?”

  “Aye, we hid the boats near shore. If they’re still there, it means the prince is nearby.”

  Aisling’s heart pounded as she realized how much she missed him.

  First, they needed to find their way back to safety.

  *

  Drayaen surveyed the area. After the shock of seeing Aisling and the crew in captivity, he had raced ahead of the pirates with his soldiers. They staked out their positions on the periphery of the camp. As Aisling was shoved into the cabin, his breathing became more rapid. Overheated and anxious, he loosened his collar.

  Never again will I leave her unprotected, he vowed.

  He turned to the colonel. “I’m surprised that no one has ventured in to see the hostages.”

  “It does seem strange. It’s almost as if they’re waiting for something.”

  “Or someone. We won’t have to wait long. They’re coming now.”

  A swarthy man with a large sword made his way up the path, followed by an entourage. The door to Aisling’s cabin was unlocked and he entered. There was a bellow of fury as he reappeared, shouting to the others. The door to the crew’s cabin was flung open, followed by more outbursts.

  “They must have escaped,” said the prince, shaking his head. His men had been watching the buildings since the crew’s arrival, and no one had exited. She went underground, he concluded, his mind reeling.

  “We’re leaving for the coast now,” he said. “Sean knows where the boats are hidden. We’ll meet them there.”

  After running for more than thirty minutes, the shoreline became visible. Drayaen sprinted through a cluster of trees, his alert gaze scanning for any signs of the crew. His eyes caught a flash of movement ahead. He recognized members of the crew. As he closed the gap between them, he caught a glimpse of long yellow and white hair.

  Aisling.

  He glanced behind him. The enemy wasn’t in sight, but he knew they were there.

  They’d have a few minutes to load everyone into the boats. As he continued to run, he noted that Sean was limping. At that speed, he thought, we’re in more danger.

  As Aisling ran through the woods, she could feel his presence. He’s near, I know it. She turned and froze. He was running toward her, along with the rest of his men. Behind them, the enemy flitted through the brush. Drayaen waved her forward.

  “Run,” he shouted.

  They rounded the corner and dragged the boats from the trees. The pirates were getting closer every moment. Aisling waited until all their men were on the shore, then ran into the forest and extended her dagger to the sky.

  “With all my might, I command the winds to blow back the enemy.”

  There was a sudden outpouring of energy so intense that it pus
hed her to the ground. The clouds darkened and the air turned an eerie yellow. Bolts of lightning lit up the sky. As the thunder cracked and rumbled through the woods, the tops of the trees swayed in a frenzied dance.

  There was a deafening roar as gusts of wind uprooted branches, creating an impassable barrier for man and beast.

  As the pirates battled the onslaught, Aisling turned and ran into the prince’s arms. He picked her up and launched them both into the boat.

  The men pushed off from shore at breakneck speed, in a desperate race back to the ship.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  NEW POWERS

  They rowed in a frenzied pace across the water. Pirates stormed the beach, like wasps swarming a nest.

  “We need to leave this place now,” said Drayaen, gripping his sword and staring at the shore.

  Aisling nodded. “It will be faster if we board the Saoirse. It’s closer,” she said.

  “Can we let Maológ know?”

  “Yes, we’ll be in range soon.”

  Drayaen ran his hands through his hair and drummed his fingers on the hilt of his sword, but he didn’t have to wait long. A short while later, they rounded the coastline and both of her ships came into view.

  “Sean, flash the emergency signal,” said Aisling.

  “Ryen sees it. It looks like they’re waiting for us.”

  “What about the Cara?”

  “Nothing yet.”

  Sean peered through his spyglass. There was a flurry of activity on deck. It looked like the officers were barking out orders.

  “Anything?” asked Aisling.

  “They’re pulling anchor.”

  “Good, let’s go.”

  The crew rushed to board the ship. They hoisted the sails and headed west, through the straits.

  With the pirates nowhere in sight, Aisling thanked all those who had gone ashore, and headed to the Captain’s Quarters.

  As she opened the door, the prince grasped her by the waist. He bent down and kissed her with such ferocity that she put her hand against the wall for balance. She reached out and wrapped her arms around him.

  His warm lips covered hers, melding into a sultry rhythm of burning heat. What started as a smoldering ember turned into a raging flame of total possession. As he moved her even closer, she reached out and locked the door.

  In the next moment, he was lying next to her, murmuring in low, hypnotic tones. He flung open her jacket, running his hands over her heated skin. His kisses became more intense, and his steely physique meshed with her soft curves. She closed her eyes and was swept away by a powerful tide of emotion.

  Sometime later, Aisling woke up next to him. She thought about their harrowing journey over the past few days and felt grateful they were together again. Still locked in his arms, she nestled against his muscular frame and drifted back to sleep.

  When he awoke, the prince stirred and leaned on one elbow to look at her. He ran the pad of his thumb across her cheek.

  “Don’t ever do that to me again,” he murmured.

  As a trained soldier, he’d killed enemies for survival. He jumped into the fray by instinct, without hesitation. It was always for the welfare of the people or the continuity of the crown. Never before had he feared the loss of a battle, until now.

  When she was a prisoner, all of his military training was challenged. His usual impartial outlook had been replaced by a ferocious determination to kill anyone who threatened her or stood in his way.

  Since their first encounter in the East Kingdom, she unnerved him. The king had insisted they work together to stabilize the region.

  For months, he and Aisling had battled dark forces. He recalled all the obstacles they had overcome: ambushes, sieges, attempted poisonings, and a kidnapping.

  Then, after defeating the queen and her minions, they had married earlier in the spring. There was a brief visit to the Island of Crystal Waters before traveling west, on their way to Europe. It was their first sea journey together, and one fraught with perils, he now realized.

  He felt a raw agony whenever she confronted danger. Even though she was now secure, he could still feel energy pumping through his veins after the pirate encounter. Aisling was more important to him than anything else in the world. His past life as a lone warrior seemed like a faded memory.

  He pulled her closer and locked his arms around her. From now on, he thought, I’ll have to find better ways of keeping her safe.

  Dawn broke over the horizon, and the first rays of sun streamed through the window. As the prince slept, Aisling covered him with a blanket, then retrieved her clothes and ventured onto the deck. The water glistened like tiny beads of light.

  As they approached Melaka, her ships came into view, anchored near the harbor. She breathed a sigh of relief that the fleet was reunited.

  She turned around as the first officer hurried toward her with an envelope in his hand.

  “What is it?”

  “Commander, you have an urgent message.”

  Aisling nodded and tore open the seal. She scanned the contents and recognized the code name. It was someone in her network, and they needed help now.

  “Signal the fleet. We need to make an unplanned stop.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “India.”

  *

  Aisling sat at the table with Drayaen, Colonel Lex, Maológ, and Ryen.

  “We’ll be docking soon at Cape Comorin. Our contact is in Kanniyakumari, a short distance from the port. After I meet with him, we’ll deliver the grain.”

  “Why here, of all places?” asked Maológ.

  “Bengal has been devastated by a poor rice crop, and a famine has decimated the population.”

  “I remember hearing about that a few years ago. Hasn’t the problem been fixed by now?”

  “Many areas are still suffering. There aren’t any food reserves.”

  “How long will you be gone?”

  “We’ll try to get in and out within a few days.”

  “What’s our emergency plan?”

  “Good question, Ryen. Keep the crew onboard and wait for our return. I’ll send a message if there’s a problem.”

  “All right. We’ll make sure the grain is ready.”

  Maológ turned to Prince Drayaen. “You’ll need an army to carry the load and ensure your safety.” He cast a glance at Aisling.

  The prince nodded and thought about the situation they were about to face. In his experience, there was nothing more devastating than seeing people suffer. In that environment, he thought, evil had a way of rearing its ugly head, sometimes in the most unexpected of places.

  A few days later, Aisling and Drayaen left the ship with their entourage and slogged their way across town through muddy streets and narrow passageways. Throngs of people were foraging for food. The weaker among them sat on the side of the road or lay on the ground, trying their best to avoid both human and animal predators.

  As the crew approached the governor’s compound, a number of guards stepped forward to greet their party. Aisling handed them her invitation from the Nawab of Bengal, and they were escorted through the iron gates. As they passed the sweeping gardens, an ornate colonial structure came into view. Stone steps led to a two-story rectangular portico with eight white columns. Sculptures of lions and tigers flanked the wide entrance.

  A senior clerk ushered them into the grand hall, first guiding the entourage into a salon before escorting Aisling and Drayaen up the marble stairs. The princess glanced at the cavernous ceiling, decorated with frescos in shades of red and blue. Imposing oil paintings in gilded frames were positioned along the gallery.

  The servant turned and faced them both. “The Nawab has been ill, so he has limited time to speak with you.”

  “I’m sorry,” said Aisling. “We’ll keep our visit short.”

  The door was flung open, and Aisling looked into the room. There was a large bed on the opposite side of the chamber, and in the middle of it sat the ruling governor, prop
ped up between piles of silk pillows.

  Why, he’s no more than a child, she thought, her eyes widening.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Nawab. I’ve read about you in my father’s journal.”

  “Thank you both for coming. Please come here. I have something to tell you.”

  Aisling sat next to him, while Drayaen stood near the window.

  “Those closest to me are trying to steal my powers.”

  “But how?” asked Aisling.

  “I have allowed myself to be manipulated by others. They have grown stronger while my authority has diminished.”

  “If you fight the evil around you, can you regain your magic?”

  He sighed and fidgeted with his hands. “The forces around me are too big to battle on my own.”

  “How can we help?”

  “Take my power.” He removed his dagger from a small case and presented it to Aisling.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’m giving you my wand and the magic that goes with it. When used in combination with the abilities you already have, it will provide you with new talents.”

  “Why me?”

  “One of my advisors heard about your work in the East Kingdom. I feel I can trust you.”

  Aisling reached out and accepted the instrument. “I’m honored, Nawab. What do you want us to do?”

  “Leave this place. Your lives are in danger.”

  The prince turned and moved closer to hear his words. “Who is a threat?” he asked, drumming his fingers against the pommel of his sword.

  “My enemies are all around me. External forces too.”

  “Someone from outside your kingdom?” asked Drayaen.

  “I believe it’s a member of our secret network.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “There have been too many inquiries about my powers.” He turned to Aisling. “You alone know our identities, and yet I feel that someone else has discovered my secret.”

  “Do you know who?”

  “I suspect the King of Floe.”

  “To what end?” asked Aisling.

  “He paid me a visit when the famine first started. I thought he was here to help, but he did nothing. That is, nothing positive. It’s my opinion that he saw my age and inexperience as a way to wrest more control.”