“What is it?”
“There’s fog ahead.”
“It’s a bit of mist. Don’t worry, Snyde. Go back to your position.”
“All right, fine.”
The general shook his head. “Amateurs,” he grumbled.
The town was quiet. But of course it’s calm, thought Neo. Everyone is asleep.
The attackers moved down the road in silence. The moon faded into darkness. The general turned into the center square and peered at the path ahead. The mist was getting heavier. It’s temporary, he reassured himself, and slowed his horse to navigate through the thick cloud cover.
By the time he approached the gates, the haze had become unmanageable. I can’t turn back now, he thought. If we’re navigating this fog, so is the palace.
As he paused mere yards from the compound, he thought he heard footsteps. “That’s the sound of horses’ hooves on dirt,” he muttered. Still, he hesitated. All at once, he was snatched from his horse and flung to the ground. Something hit the back of his head and everything turned to black. The other men in line halted, waiting for instructions. They had been ordered not to advance until General Neo gave the signal.
Aside from the stomping of horses’s hooves and the jingle of bridles, there was no noise.
Snyde waited for the attack to begin. He hadn’t been in a battle for years, but the situation seemed unusual. “What is the problem?” he muttered. He sensed movement near him, and listened for signals. “It’s the wind,” he reassured himself.
His horse became skittish. Snyde catapulted backward and hit the ground. He groaned right before everything faded from view.
Prince Quell waited for the order. He could see nothing in front of him. The fog permeated the whole village, as if they were suspended in a cloud. He was just chiding himself for being fanciful, when it felt as though someone had mounted his horse.
He gasped at the weight of a body behind him. He whirled around, eyes bulging, and ran into a force that knocked him out of the saddle. He looked up and still saw nothing, before becoming unconscious.
The troops waited in the dense fog, growing restless. Since they had been ordered not to speak, they were afraid to communicate. After what seemed like hours, they heard noises coming from above.
The men shifted in their saddles, craning to see into the night sky.
It sounded like crows. To those in the formation, that noise was a sign of bad luck.
Some of the fog cleared. It appeared as though there were hundreds of evil spirits on the roofs. With grotesque faces, they pointed and waved at the line. A cacophony of harsh voices burst out of the mist. “Retreat or face death. Retreat now. Retreat.”
Men started to shriek and force their way out of the narrow path. Horses collided and reared as the panicking soldiers tried to exit through the small space. The noises and shouts from the monsters on the roofs continued, until all the men had either galloped off or abandoned their horses for a hasty escape.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
PROVOKED
Aisling stood in the sentry tower of the palace, looking out over the grounds. It was dark, but she could see movement through the trees. General Neo’s forces were near. A flurry of silent activity was going on outside of the compound walls. The Fifth Prince was mobilizing the villagers. It was for a cause, he said, that would determine their fate. As she scanned the rooftops, she received the signal that all was ready.
Now she needed to do her part.
She inhaled deep breaths and focused on protecting the villagers and those in the palace. As she extended her arms and raised her dagger to the sky, she intoned, “With all my might, I command that there be fog, from mist to the impenetrable.” She concentrated with all her being.
A moment later, Aisling observed the filmy haze drift outward through the center of town to the outskirts beyond. The advancing soldiers halted, except for one man who rode to the front.
She held her breath.
She could see the column start to move again, navigating the periphery. They marched to the narrow road that would lead them through town, to the palace gates. She waited until General Neo was entrenched in the byway before she extended the dagger again.
“With all my might, I command that the fog expand and become opaque.”
The ring of cloud cover blanketed the village and rimmed the palace walls.
She held her breath again as the prince and his men carried out their stealth operation.
After several minutes, there was still no signal.
She peered at the palace walls. At last, a flag jutted out over the stone boundary. “It must mean that the first part of the mission was successful,” she muttered. One more step to complete, she thought.
Aisling grasped her dagger for the third time, raising it up to the sky.
“With all my might, I command that some of the fog lift, for a clear view of the roofs.”
As the haze dissipated, she heard high-pitched shouting, and the sound of horses stampeding down the main path. She watched as the men fled in confusion, escaping into the dark confines of the forest.
She breathed again.
When Drayaen first heard about Aisling’s plan, he was skeptical. She had many abilities, that he knew, but the approach she suggested would require talents he didn’t yet understand. As she explained the details, however, he became convinced. When he outlined the tactics to his soldiers, they accepted his direction. Now, he needed to convince the locals. He was surprised by their rapid and eager support.
At the heart of her strategy, there were two assumptions. The first was that the removal of the leaders would create a power vacuum in the ranks. The second was that the enemy troops were superstitious. She had been right on both counts. In hindsight, it seemed obvious. If they were able to remove the queen’s brother and his conspirators, then the rest of their army would falter.
He thought back to the massive fog cover. Without that, none of it would have been possible. He recalled other recent events and realized that Aisling’s remarkable actions had created successful outcomes each time. He couldn’t explain it. But somehow, he knew. It defied logic, and yet made perfect sense.
Drayaen and his men rode into the palace courtyard, the army cheering as they celebrated their victory. Before dismounting, he scanned the surroundings for a glimpse of Aisling. Much of their success was because of her efforts.
The kingdom is safe now, he concluded. They no longer need me. He thought about his life in the palace. “I want to be with her, and I won’t take no for an answer,” he muttered. He scoured the immediate area, and spied a courier headed his way.
“Your Highness, the king would like to see you.”
“Thank you. Have you seen the Crown Prince?”
“I believe he’s looking for you as well.”
This meeting will be brief, and then I’ll find Aisling, he vowed.
The Fifth Prince stood at the bottom of the dais with his brother, the Heir Apparent. His father, King Yi, descended his throne and approached them both. He turned to his eldest son.
“I’m proud of your efforts.”
“Thank you, Father.”
The king faced the Fifth Prince. “You’ve done a masterful job. I understand this strategy was your idea.”
“It was the commander’s. She proposed it and we all mobilized.”
“You were responsible for getting local support. That contributed to our success.”
“Thank you.”
“I’d like to reward you both. Let me know how I can show my appreciation.”
The Crown Prince expressed his gratitude and backed out of the room.
The Fifth Prince faced his father. “Your Majesty, I know what I want.”
“Tell me.”
“I’d like to marry Aisling.”
The king sighed. “The Sixth Prince has already asked for her hand. I understand he is planning to speak with her when he recovers.”
“That’s a misunderstanding.”
<
br /> “They need to resolve it between them.” He paused and clasped his hands together. “You’re needed here. If you were to marry her, would you stay?”
“No, her livelihood is elsewhere. She must honor commitments made by her father.”
“What about your responsibilities? Who would fill your role?”
“The Sixth Prince is coming of age.You also have capable ministers and military advisors.”
“What about the throne?”
“I will never be king.” I knew this would be difficult, he thought, but my father seems dispassionate. “Your Majesty, I could help you by encouraging global trade. There are markets for our goods elsewhere.”
“I’ll think about it. I won’t make any decision until your brother has a chance to speak with Aisling. He asked me first and I must grant him that much.”
“Thank you, Father.”
As the Fifth Prince retreated, he thought about the objections he would need to overcome. I’ll have to fight for what I want, he thought.
He left the Throne Room in search of answers.
From the sentry tower, Aisling watched as the prince and his soldiers moved through the palace gates. She smiled at the men cheering and reveling in their victory. By the time she reached the courtyard, however, both the prince and the colonel had gone. She walked over to the cloistered buildings and saw Sean coming out to greet her.
“Commander, it’s great to see you. We were worried when you didn’t come back.”
“Everything’s fine. The confrontation is over.”
“That’s good news. How long will we be staying here?”
“A few days. Enjoy your visit. It’s not often we are guests at a palace.”
“Aye, commander. We’re going to take a tour of the grounds now,” he said, pointing to Hanu, Maehwa, and the crew.
As they talked about their plans, a courier approached Aisling with a message. She opened the envelope and smiled. “I’m going to meet the Fifth Prince, near our guest quarters.”
“We’ll see you later, then.”
She walked down the path, thinking about the recent triumph. They’d made it through another crisis and she hoped there would be calm waters ahead.
In the barracks, Drayaen pulled his soldiers together.
“Thank you for your efforts,” he said, scanning the faces in the room. “This was a big win.We were outnumbered, but you defeated the enemy. It’s a testament to your courage and loyalty. The King and the Crown Prince also pass along their appreciation. We’ll have a celebration this week, to mark our victory.”
As the men cheered, he thought about Aisling. He would spare her the conversation he had with his father. I don’t want her to get discouraged, he thought. He bid farewell to his supporters, and headed toward the door. One of his soldiers motioned to him. “Your Highness, there are some local men who would like to talk with you.”
For the next two hours, he was inundated with compliments and greetings from the stakeholders involved in the battle. Palace guards, officers, soldiers, warrior monks, and locals had all sought his updates and counsel.There were even court ministers lining up to hear an interpretation of events.
At last, the activity subsided. He glanced around and realized he needed food. That could wait, though. More than anything, he thought, I want to see Aisling.
He moved through the courtyard. There were no signs of her there. As he passed the cloistered buildings, he spied Colonel Lex.
“Have you seen the commander?”
“No, Your Highness, not since our discussion in the barracks.”
“Thank you, I’ll try elsewhere.”
He crossed the grounds and navigated the pathways behind the palace. Sean and crew were on the other side of the pond. As he approached, they congratulated him on his victory.
“Your commander helped as well. I’m looking for her now.”
Sean frowned. “Weren’t you just with her?”
At once, Drayaen felt a chill.
“When?”
“A few hours ago. She received a message from you.”
“What did it say?”
“That she was to meet you near the guest quarters.”
Drayaen nodded, his mind reeling as he made a mental note of his remaining enemies. He didn’t want to alarm the group. “There must have been some miscommunication.”
“Your Highness, I saw the note. It was delivered by palace courier.”
This is getting more serious, he thought. “I’ll find her,” he said.
Sean wasn’t convinced. “If our commander is in danger, we should go, too.”
Drayaen studied their earnest expressions. “I know you’re concerned. But stay here and watch for her. There could be a simple explanation. I’ll search outside the palace. My soldiers know the terrain.”
“All right, we’ll wait for her return.”
His concern mounting, Drayaen hurried across the compound in search of his army. He found the colonel standing near the stone steps, conferring with some of his men. Drayaen beckoned him over.
“We have a problem.”
“What is it, Your Highness?”
“The commander’s been kidnapped.”
“What?”
“She received a note from me about a meeting. I never sent one.”
“How many troops do you need?”
“Let’s start with fifty. That way, we’ll be able to split up and cover more ground.”
“Any ideas?”
“A few. Before we go, I need to make a stop. Prepare to ride in twenty minutes.”
“I’ll mobilize the soldiers.”
“Keep this quiet. I don’t want the news to get out. It will make things more difficult.”
“I understand.”
Crossing the courtyard, Drayaen thought about his strategy. He considered the one person who might be able to help. He made his way down the hall and knocked on one of the chamber doors.
“Come in.”
“Tae.”
“Hello, brother. That was a good conversation with Father earlier.”
“I thought so, too. Listen, I’m here on a serious matter. I need your advice.”
“Yes?”
“The commander’s been kidnapped.”
“When?”
“A few hours ago.”
“What can I do?”
“You were involved with the corruption investigation. What enemies remain?”
The Crown Prince stood up and paced the room. “We’ve rounded up several court ministers. Most were involved in theft and collusion. But a kidnapping? That’s a whole new level.”
“What about Quell or General Neo? Could they have planned revenge in the event they lost?”
“It’s doubtful. From what I know of their personalities, both were convinced they’d win.”
“How about the queen?”
“She’s still missing.”
“Where could she be hiding?”
“Snyde has a compound in the next province. It’s quite a large estate. We’ve been so busy planning our defense that we haven’t sent anyone to retrieve her yet.”
“That seems like a logical place to start.”
“Good luck. Let me know if I can help.”
“You already have.”
The guards flung open the gates as Drayaen and his army fled the palace. The entourage included trackers, weapons experts, and supply coordinators, and they carried enough food to last a few weeks. He didn’t know how long they would be gone.
He berated himself that he had been distracted by post-combat celebrations. Instead, he thought, I should have been safeguarding what I care about most.
He vowed he wasn’t coming back without her.
CHAPTER TWELVE
RAGING INFERNO
At first, the prince was hopeful that Aisling would be well cared for by her captors. If Queen Vila was responsible for the kidnapping, she would perhaps negotiate with the king for some sort of reprieve. Aisling would be a ba
rgaining chip.
But now, as he galloped through the countryside, a chill crept over him. His own mother and brother met a premature death. It was possible his father’s current wife was involved. He thought back to the recent banquet and the attempt to poison Aisling. The queen appeared to have no qualms about eliminating opponents.
His biggest concern was that her co-conspirators had been defeated in battle. That meant the queen had nothing to lose.
Aisling went to meet the prince on the palace grounds. On the way, she was approached by a group of soldiers. At first, she intended to congratulate them on their recent win, but realized they were part of General Neo’s forces. She attempted to flee, but two mercenaries snatched her from the walkway. They tied a cloth around her face as she fought back, kicking and shouting. Bound and gagged, she tried to catch her breath but was overcome by noxious fumes. Aisling slumped forward, unconscious.
Some time later, she awoke. Behind her, in the saddle, was a soldier, who locked her in his iron grip. As the men talked about their plans for the Fifth Prince, she strained to hear. I must warn him of the danger, she thought. It’s clear there are still enemies who want us eliminated.
The criminals stopped and dismounted. Her captors shoved her off the horse. Unable to break her fall, she landed on the ground with a thud. The soldiers laughed as she struggled to sit up. After making eye contact with one of the kidnappers, he approached her and scowled as she choked on the gag. Through muffled tones, she implored him to remove it.
“All right, but if you scream, you won’t get a second chance.”
As he untied her, she gasped for air, shaky and nauseous.
The men sitting in front of the fire exchanged stories. They were being paid large sums, and their instructions had been clear. Remove Aisling from the palace so the Fifth Prince would follow.
They would get rid of her soon enough. She was a decoy. They had abducted her and were now congratulating themselves on a job well done. Dozens of their comrades were stationed elsewhere to chase down the larger prize.
She surveyed the area. They were in the deep woods. There was a mountain range in the distance, which reminded her of the recent trip with the prince. She examined the sun’s position and concluded they were moving east. She didn’t know where the soldiers were taking her, but she realized the farther they traveled, the harder it would be for the prince to find her. She clutched her hands and thought about Maológ. If her situation became known, he would organize a search party and leave the ship.
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