“I’ve come to see my brother and the commander,” said Prince Drayaen.
“Your Highness, they’ve gone.”
Drayaen blanched. “Where?”
“I’m afraid I don’t know. Your brother remembered who tried to kill him. He thought you might be in danger. He left earlier today.”
The prince muttered under his breath. “Well then, I’d like to speak with the commander.”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible.”
He could feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins, but worked to keep his temper in check.
“Why not?”
“He took her with him.”
“What?”
“Prince Zo insisted on leaving the ship. He was adamant. The commander didn’t think he was ready to go alone. She refused to let him disembark without her and the crew.”
Drayaen ran his hand through his hair. What a disaster, he thought. He always barges into situations without considering all the consequences. Now I’ve put them all in danger. I should have left someone here to ensure that he stayed.
“Your Highness, is there a problem?”
“No, I’m relieved he has his memory back. Did they say anything at all about where they were going?”
“I wonder if we may have a private word.”
He and Ryen moved farther down the deck. “The commander saw more than twenty soldiers on the shoreline, near the place where you were both attacked. Prince Zo insisted they investigate.”
“All right. When they return later today, please send word to me at the temple.”
“Your Highness, they won’t be back until tomorrow. Prince Zo said it was to be a night mission.”
This was getting worse by the minute, he thought. “Fine, if they return, please notify me, no matter the hour.”
“Of course. If they come back, is there a message you want me to convey?”
“Yes, tell them to stay here,” he barked.
The crew rowed in silence. Drayaen fumed as he looked at the distant shoreline. He considered himself a superior planner, skilled at predicting behavior and mapping out future scenarios. But in his pursuit of the thieves, he had left out a big variable. He berated himself for his lack of foresight. “I should have known he might wake up and want to confront the person who harmed him,” he muttered. “If his attacker sees him again, my brother won’t get a second chance. I’ll never forgive myself if anything happens to him. Or her.”
His thoughts flew to Aisling. Since their first encounter, she had been on his mind. His heart pounded as he thought about her walking into a trap with the protection of a recovering patient and a crew unfamiliar with local terrain. And there was something else that plagued him.
To his surprise, he missed her.
For the past few years, he had lived life on the road. He was the king’s pawn, leading armies around the territory to block adversaries and prevent potential uprisings. He served the common good, providing stability to the region. That higher purpose had kept him engaged. Now he was tiring of that game.
During the last few days, he had caught a glimpse of something else. Since meeting Aisling, he was beginning to think beyond the geographical and political spheres that had been his focus. After he and Aisling supported each other through the attack, he started to think about the kind of life he wanted. And each time he envisioned his options, he was startled to find that she was a constant presence.
But we have no future together, he told himself. He was expected to marry a chosen bride and hold a political position. She would be returning to Ireland. It was impossible.
There was another issue. When his father remarried, Drayaen had no longer been welcome in the palace. By accepting the king’s command to work with Aisling, he was now reunited with the royal family. It would bring him closer to unlocking the answers about the deaths of his mother and older brother. Although he was young at the time, he still blamed himself for not being able to protect them.
Moving forward, he vowed, he would never be powerless again.
He looked out over the expanse of water. The rays of sun were fading on the horizon, casting a glow against the temple rocks. He shook his head and concentrated on his most urgent priority. Both Aisling and his brother were missing. Where would they go, he wondered. He considered his brother’s past behavior. He’d avoid the compound because he wouldn’t want anyone to interfere with his mission.
“Row north,” said the prince.
He needed to find them, before someone else did.
A short while later, the Fifth Prince signaled his men.
“Pull into the cove. We’ll leave the boat.”
They couldn’t have gone farther north than this, he reasoned. His soldiers crawled over the rocks and entered the black forest.
They followed the shoreline, within the cover of the trees, and after a time Drayaen heard distant voices. He held up his arm and motioned for his men to hide. As the sounds grew closer, he saw that it was General Neo and his band of thieves. This is perfect, he thought. I can watch and see who is involved.
He strained to see in the dark. Then a loud voice reverberated through the woods. “General Neo. I command you to stop. This is Prince Zo. You are all under arrest.”
Drayaen flinched and took a step back as Zo emerged from a clearing, brandishing his sword. A confrontation was the last thing Drayaen wanted, but his brother left him no choice. He gave a low whistle and the warrior monks surrounded the group.
He scanned the area and frowned. Although he had brought dozens of reinforcements, they were still outnumbered.
General Neo turned his horse in the direction of the voice. “Your Highness, I don’t know what you mean. We’re on a mission from the palace.”
The Sixth Prince walked closer to the military officer. “We can sort that out later. I’m taking you all in.”
The general surveyed the woods and gave a small smile. “Come and get us. But you won’t live to see tomorrow.”
“That’s a chance I’ll have to take.”
“Fine, if you want a war, I’ll give you one,” he declared.
As he listened to the escalating threats, the Fifth Prince debated his next step.There was no option but to engage. He tried to signal his brother. As he scanned the trees, he saw a glimpse of white. His heart pounded as Aisling emerged from the shadows. It looked like she was carrying a dagger. He heard strains of her voice in the distance.
He gripped his weapon and thought about the next move. His brother was vulnerable. If a battle broke out, he would have a few seconds to ensure Zo’s safety. He needed to protect Aisling as well. He’d have to rush in and grab them both.
He waved his men forward, and they advanced upon the enemy. Aisling watched as the bloody attack began. The Fifth Prince and his men held their ground, despite the overwhelming odds. But they needed an advantage. “With all my might, I command the winds to rip through the trees and push back the enemy.”
As her voice died down, a blast of warm air rushed into the area, colliding with a frigid stream. At once, there was a violent clash of unstable currents. Branches creaked and swayed from the sheer force of the turbulent winds. As the velocity increased, it created an alleyway in the forest that transformed into a wind tunnel, defining an impenetrable border between the two forces.
Timber and shrubs were flung into the vortex, fueling a violent mass that obliterated everything in its path. The enemy fled as the threatening winds forced their retreat.
Aising secured her dagger and surveyed the battleground.
Staring back at her was General Neo.
His eyes never wavered. Even from that distance, she could feel his unspoken promise. She would pay for her interference.
The general signaled the few remaining men, and they ran for cover in the deep woods.
Aisling stumbled backward.
She had been seen.
The Fifth Prince sheathed his sword and forged through the men to find Aisling. He ran headlo
ng into his brother and pulled him aside.
“You were outnumbered.What were you thinking?” he asked, his jaw clenched.
“Aren’t you going to ask me how I feel?”
Drayaen pushed back his long hair. “Of course. I hope you’re better. Have you recovered your memory?”
“Not all of it, and I still have a monstrous headache, but I remember being attacked.”
“You’ll have to tell me more. Let’s go back to the temple.”
“No.”
“No? What do you mean?”
“I’m returning with the commander, to her ship.”
“I thought you said you felt better.”
“I do, but I want to stay there.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I like Aisling.”
“What?”
“I like her. She brought me onboard and cared for me when I was ill. I want us to spend more time together.”
Drayaen muttered something under his breath. “Was this confrontation for her benefit?”
“Yes. Well, she was one of the reasons. I wanted to show her that I’m able to defend myself and others.”
“Do you know what could have happened here if I hadn’t brought reinforcements?”
Zo scoffed. “You always have all the answers.You’re not the only one who’s entitled to protect our interests. I don’t want to hear any more. I’m going back to the ship now.”
“Fine, we’ll both go.” As Zo stormed off, Drayaen shook his head. This is far worse than I envisioned, he thought.
On the way back to the Saoirse, Aisling sat across from the two princes, thinking about the near incident with Neo. She told herself she should have insisted the Sixth Prince remain onboard. But he was so obstinate. It’s also difficult to tell a prince that he’s not free to leave. There could be serious consequences if she forced someone to remain on the ship without their consent.
Her heart pounded as she thought about the Fifth Prince engaging in combat when they were so outnumbered. I need to stop thinking about him, she thought. For some reason unknown to her, that was a bleak prospect. She sighed and looked out over the bay.
Drayaen rubbed his eyebrow as he thought about his brother. Of course he was relieved that some of Zo’s memory had returned, but his usual stubbornness had been replaced by recklessness. He didn’t understand the turn of events. How was it that the violent air passed through at the moment when Neo was ready to engage in a battle? It was a coincidence, to be sure. But he had looked at Aisling through the trees and thought she was carrying an object. What was she doing, putting herself in the middle of a violent conflict?
He shook his head and avoided her gaze.
His thoughts turned to her and the Sixth Prince. He hadn’t seen that coming. His brother had been unconscious for days and they’d not spent much time together. Did she feel the same way about him? They are closer in age, he considered. For some reason the thought of them together created a painful hollow in his chest.
As he recalled the confrontation with General Neo, he ran his hands through his hair. His brother could have been killed. He thought about what could have happened to her. If I hadn’t been there with back-up, her life would have been in danger too. It was a risk he was unwilling to take.
He saw his brother glance over at Aisling, who seemed preoccupied. Then Zo spoke.
“I know I’ve been a burden, but I’m not feeling well.”
Aisling turned and leaned closer to him, concern etched on her features. “What’s wrong?”
“Everything is spinning and my head hurts.”
She reached for his hand. His pulse was rapid and his shirt was soaked. “Crew, can you row faster? The Sixth Prince is ill.”
“Aye, Commander.”
Drayaen put his hand on his brother’s arm. “You need more time to recover.”
Aisling looked at the ship. Drayaen followed her glance and saw Ryen on deck, looking at them with his spyglass.
“Don’t worry, Your Highness,” she said. “By the time we reach the gangway, the doctor will be there, waiting for the return of his favorite patient.”
The Sixth Prince nodded.
Once he was settled in the sick bay, Aisling and Prince Drayaen moved to the Captain’s Quarters. As they reached the chamber, he reached out and spun Aisling around by her arm.
“What were you thinking?” he snapped.
“What do you mean?” She wrenched away from him and took a step back, surprised by the intensity of his anger.
“You put yourself in the middle of a battle.”
“I had no choice. You asked me to watch over your brother.”
“I didn’t mean for you to risk your life.”
“I did what I thought was right. He insisted on leaving and I was worried he’d be killed.”
Drayaen paced the room. With adrenaline pumping through his veins, he wanted to vent his frustration. Behind his anger was a fear that something disastrous could have happened, and it would have been his fault. She’s right, he thought, his arms falling to his sides. I did ask her to keep Zo safe. It was a request he should never have made. He winced as he looked at her pale face. She was still recovering from the attack earlier in the week. He took a deep breath and exhaled.
“I’m sorry,” he said, in a muted tone.
She looked up to see his pained expression.
“For what?”
“I shouldn’t have left him here unattended. It was unreasonable of me to ask.”
“I apologize, too. I tried to keep him here, but he was so insistent. I didn’t want him to go alone.”
As the Fifth Prince looked at Aisling, he wanted to reach out and wrap his arms around her, but was still reeling from his brother’s disclosure. “I can’t complicate things,” he muttered.
“Did you say something?”
“Thank you for going with him.”
“Well, we’re safe now and the doctor has excellent skills. Be assured that he will do everything in his power to help your brother recover.”
Drayaen nodded, unsure about how to broach a delicate situation.
Aisling sensed something amiss. His usual forthright manner was subdued and distant. “Of course, if you’d rather have another surgeon examine him, they are welcome to come aboard.”
Drayaen waved his hand. “No, I trust Patrick.”
“What is it, then? Given everything that we’ve gone through, you seem remote. Are you still angry with me?”
“No, I need to tell you something.”
“What is it?”
“I understand you’ve been waiting for your contact at the temple.”
“I have.”
“I’m the person you’re supposed to meet.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I received a message from the king earlier today. He said you can help us protect the crown. I’ve been appointed to work with you.”
Aisling’s mind reeled. This is going to get complicated, she thought. All of her instincts told her to keep her distance from him, and yet circumstance kept throwing them together.
“And what is your opinion about that?” she asked.
“We have a job to do and time is short. I need to explain the situation, so you understand what we’re up against. If you can be ready, I’d like us to leave tomorrow for the interior.”
It’s just as I suspected, she thought. He needs the help and nothing more. “How long will we be gone?”
“A month, perhaps longer. It depends on how soon we can defeat the enemy.”
“All right. I’ll tell the captains.”
Drayaen nodded and grasped the hilt of his sword. This will be dangerous, he thought.
And he didn’t mean the mission.
CHAPTER SEVEN
PERILOUS PATH
They traveled east, across a dusty trail. The warrior monks formed a long line, interspersed between the wagons of cargo. From her vantage point, Aisling could see Prince Drayaen at the front, the royal
flag bearers to his side. She turned in the saddle and located Sean and crew toward the rear of the line.
As they navigated the dense forest, Aisling thought about the confrontation with General Neo. She knew they were protected here, but the number of wayward soldiers Neo had recruited was unnerving. She fretted about being away for such a length of time and tried to reassure herself that the ships were armed and the men well trained. The fleet was not an easy target for thieves and outliers.
Before she and the prince departed, she had gathered her captains and explained the mission. She installed Maológ as leader, in her absence. When she told the crew about the grain thefts, they were eager to help.
The food was loaded into the supply wagons, for distribution. So far, they had dispensed a portion of the donated inventory and were now headed to another remote inland location. Here, lack of rain made survival difficult. The crop had been poor and there were many without food. Those who had been hoping for assistance had their expectations dashed when some of the emergency supply was stolen.
As her mind wandered to the warehouse issues, she thought about the Sixth Prince. Patrick was concerned about Zo’s relapse, which he attributed to an interrupted recovery. He was confident that his patient would get better, but prescribed prolonged rest and elimination of all stress. There must be no repeats of the night mission any time soon, he cautioned. Before they left, Drayaen had extracted a promise from Zo that he would not leave the ship.
As the formation slowed, she saw Drayaen motion to the troops. They were breaking camp for the night at the monastery. The soldiers dismounted on the ridge that looked out over the village. To the south was a small pond, rimmed with white sand. As she brushed the dust from her clothing, Aisling eyed the lagoon and hoped there would be an opportunity to rejuvenate in the cool waters.
She made her way to Sean and the crew. “How are you faring?”
“Fine, Commander. It’s been a good journey.”
“Is there anything you need?”
“No, we’re all right. We’re looking forward to completing our mission and going back to the ship.”
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