Heavily armed guards took their swords. Not a surprise, Jack reflected. More guards lined the room watching expressionlessly. Two guards flanked the king and the young man who sat next to him.
Prince Yonden, Jack assumed from the young man’s uncanny similarity to the king. Both had wavy brown hair and light brown eyes that watched the approach of the small group with undisguised interest. Both were slim, though they did not appear overly tall and were dressed in luxurious silk robes.
Prince Yonden flicked a look of disdain at Syhira as one of the escorting guards made her kneel.
Jack gritted his teeth as the guard then placed the sharp edge of his sword against Syhira’s neck. She closed her eyes and kept completely still.
Councillor Anuri introduced Jack.
“Ah, the beggar prince,” said the king with amusement. “Pray tell, what brings you to my wonderful city?” he asked with raised eyebrows, smiling broadly. “Did you just want to remind yourself how a real king should live?”
Jack took a steadying breath and returned his own feigned smile, choosing to ignore the sugar coated barb.
“Honoured king, I am thankful for your audience. I would not be alive to warn you of impending danger if your daughter had not recently fought alongside me. I thank you for sending her to aid me. It was truly a benevolent act, and I am most grateful,” he finished.
“How grateful?” asked the king with an annoyingly amused smile.
“Begging your pardon, majesty, but what do you mean?”
“If you are grateful, what gift do you bring for me?” asked the king, spitting a grape seed out of the side of his mouth.
Prince Yonden tensed at the slight change in the king’s tone.
Jack realised the older prince was scared of his father. Even the arrogant Fetu had sidled off to one side and was silent.
Jack felt rather than saw Arades change his stance.
“Why, information that could save your people from the same fate as mine, of course. You like your comforts, majesty, and your palace and city are truly amazing. The trade I have seen coming through this port alone is far in excess of anything I have ever seen before. It must earn you a fortune in taxes,” Jack mused, narrowing his eyes on the king. “And I presume you would like to keep that fortune and all these riches you put such store in,” he said, sweeping his hand around the room.
“Do you threaten me, prince?” asked the king, his eyes suddenly narrowed.
“No, I do not threaten you. I come here hoping to gain an ally—and save thousands of innocent souls, if I can. Despite wounding him badly, Syhira was unable to kill the vassal of Erebos. The Queen has allied with Erebos, and together they will destroy your lands.” Jack’s eyes flicked to Syhira. Almost imperceptibly she shook her head, clearly believing he would get nowhere with the king.
Seeing her look, the king did not allow Jack to continue. “I thank you for your information, Prince Oden. But a woman—any woman, even that bitch from across the ocean—is not capable of taking my kingdom. Neither is she capable of invading these shores. My captains, my ships, my army are more than a match for an army of rotten souls led by a female,” he sneered, looking down his pointed nose at Jack. “I will send another assassin, a man who has never failed, to kill Erebos.”
“But he is a god. You alone cannot kill him; there is only one person alive who can, and she is far from here,” retorted Jack, deep frown lines etching his brow.
“You think I will leave the safety of my lands and people to a female? One I don’t even know. How dare you show yourself here and deign to insult me? You are nothing but a disgrace. Just because you lost your hold on your own kingdom and are almost destitute does not mean I am as weak as you or as easily beaten.”
Jack clenched his jaw, remaining silent, but he took a step towards Syhira whilst Roin stepped towards their rear guards and Tom headed away from Arades. Jack knew Arades did not need a weapon of his own; he would simply take one by force if or when it became necessary.
Then the king laughed, an overly bright sound almost verging on the insane.
Jack tensed.
“However, the thought you believe me responsible for saving your life amuses me terribly. So Syhira? Prince Oden is indebted to me for sending you to save his life. It seems you have represented me well. I will reserve judgement on your actions for now. Stand up,” he ordered.
The king wrinkled his nose as he looked Syhira up and down; although his voice was steady, his eyes betrayed his anger and lust. “You have certainly let your looks slip, my dear. I wish for a full recounting of the story from you tonight. Clean yourself up and wear something…ladylike. You will visit me in my chambers tonight with your sister, and you will not leave until you have shared your adventures with me. Councillor Anuri, I will expect them in my chambers when I return from dinner with our esteemed guest and his men.”
The fat councillor bowed clumsily. Before he could straighten, there was an ear-piercing screech, an eagle’s screech. A warning.
A dark-winged creature flew by the high windows. Glass shattered and screaming began.
Chapter 27
Arades leapt back as a hideous beast landed in front of him. Its armoured body gleamed with black bone. Its four clawed hands clutched a weapon in each. The king only had time to bellow, “Run!” and shove his son off the dais before the creature was upon the father, ripping and tearing into his flesh.
“Out! Now!” Jack yelled, running through the door Syhira had been shoved through.
Arades turned in a blur and hit the guard behind him in the throat. Gurgling, the guard fell to his knees. Arades grabbed two swords.
More winged creatures burst through the windows. Tom was the last through the doors. He shoved Prince Fetu through in front of him then slammed them shut, ramming a sword through the handles. “That isn’t going to hold them,” he panted, wide-eyed as the king’s screaming stopped. “Did you see the size of that thing?” he breathed to Zane.
Pushing Tom away from the doors, Zane bit out, “Yes. Highness, let’s go.”
“Yes, let’s,” agreed Syhira, who stood over an unconscious guard. “I want to get my sister.”
“Where is she?”
“At this time of day, the kitchens,” she said, already turning to run.
“Come on. Let’s go,” urged Arades, gently pushing Jack’s shoulder. The doors rattled. “Now!” he bellowed.
The metallic stench of blood filled the air as they ran out of the corridor and across a shadowed courtyard. Above them, screaming creatures crowded the skies.
Jack’s gut tightened. Whatever they are, they are not of this world.
Syhira dived in through a door, and they sprinted down a maze of corridors, Prince Fetu stumbling along behind.
They burst into the large, bustling kitchens. Everyone bustled about their business, completely unaware of the danger surrounding them. Jack’s gut tightened at the thought of leaving these people to their fate.
“Run!” he bellowed before he could second guess himself. “Take a weapon and run! Hide from what awaits out there!”
With the doors open, the screaming and noise from the rest of the palace entered the kitchen. Those nearest the doors looked to each other, then the group of warriors. One or two grabbed large knives and ran, others just stood and stared. There were shouts and grumbles of uncertainty as Jack’s warriors shoved staff out of their way.
Built along one wall was a bank of iron ovens. A girl, who looked to be no more than sixteen, stared at them wide-eyed. Her hair was caught behind a head scarf and her brown robes and apron were covered in flour.
“Syhira!” she squealed and dropped the lump of dough she held, running into her sister’s open arms.
Lyana was the same height as Syhira and of delicate build. Her face was small and elfin-like and her eyes were a light grey blue. Her nose and jaw were the only features they shared.
Syhira hugged her but then pushed her away. “We need to leave. Now, Lyana,” she s
aid, grabbing her sister’s dough-covered hand.
Near the door there was an almighty crash.
Lyana paled as the creatures attacked those nearest.
“Is there another way out?” Jack barked, thankful Lyana didn’t panic and start screaming. The creatures were occupied near the door, and Jack did not want to become the focus of their attention.
Lyana grabbed a knife off the nearest workbench. She swallowed and nodded at Jack. “The delivery entrance is down through the underground tunnel. I doubt these things have found it yet.”
“Lead the way, sister,” Syhira said, pride in her voice.
Jack left Lyana resting on her sister’s shoulder. He leaned on the rails of the ship, his face tight, his gut churning. How many times will I be forced to run; to leave innocent people to die?
The captain had waited out in the harbour, cloaking his ship from the hoard of Ashmea that now decimated the shores of Orai. Thanking the goddess for giving him a loyal Hourian captain, Jack watched the captain push wind into the sails, urging them through the huge swell of dark waves.
Every now and then a massive wall of water would slam into the captain’s shield and the vessel would list and shudder.
In the distance, more ships set sail, doing their best to run from the airborne monsters. Some shimmered into nothingness, becoming invisible to the naked eye.
Arades leaned his hands on the rail, his back ramrod straight.
Jack sighed; he knew this tough warrior had not fully forgiven him for betraying his daughter. He didn’t blame Arades, and Jack knew he needed Arades’ experience and counsel. Since losing his father, trustworthy male role models had been sorely missing. Trajan, the leader of the Water Leopard clans, had been the only one. Jack huffed ruefully, but Trajan was neither fae nor human. The big cat, who he communicated with by mind melding, had often had to leave him for long periods of time to tend to his own lands.
Jack sighed and rubbed his face, dirt and grit making his skin sore. He had let Diamond down when she had needed him most.
Arades turned his penetrating gaze upon Jack. His heavy brows drew closer together. “You cannot save them all, prince,” he stated, his voice dark.
Jack tried his damnedest not to let the understanding in those words affect him.
“So, now we have the only living heirs to the throne of Houria upon this ship.” Arades stated. He turned to watch Lyana and Syhira before contemplating Fetu, who stood off to one side gazing at the receding city as if he couldn’t believe what had just happened.
Jack couldn’t help but feel sorry for the young prince. He knew what it was like to lose everything. It was true; Yonden was unlikely to have escaped the creatures.
“What do you propose to do next?” asked Arades.
Jack sighed and looked down into the dark ocean. The ship’s hull cut through the waters leaving a trail of white foam in its wake. Cold wind lifted locks of Jack’s unbound curly hair, whipping it in front of his eyes. Pushing away the horror of seeing another kingdom fall, Jack twisted his head and eyed Diamond’s father. “I was hoping you might be able to help me with that decision,” he said, his gut tightening at the general’s grim face. Jack cleared his throat, his heart squeezing, not wanting to mention her name but knowing he had to. “Elexon said that I should find Diamond and that he would find us. So that is what we will do.” He stood up straight and though he was over six feet tall, his eyes were only level with the general’s chin. “I made a mistake with Diamond, and I am more sorry than you could know. I was angry when I handed her over to Griana. I should have listened to Diamond—and Elexon when they tried to explain.” He sighed his shoulders slumping a little. “Finding out Hugo killed my father floored me. I-I didn’t know what to do. I was so angry, and I lashed out at Diamond.”
“Why?” asked Arades.
Jack took a deep breath. Cold air rushed into his lungs, the salt coating his lips and tongue. “I thought if I gave Griana what she wanted, I would have time to get my people out of her kingdom and take them back to their home.”
Arades remained quiet, his gaze weighing, assessing. “No, that is not the only reason,” he stated.
Jack swallowed. He had told himself that was why he’d done it, but hiding from the truth of his own emotions was not possible under this male’s scrutiny. “You are right. Hugo was Diamond’s mate; she chose to love and bind herself to a murderer. In that moment, I hated her for it. I hated everyone and everything that led me to be what I am.” He gulped and looked at the towering waves kept at bay by the captain’s shield. “A failure,” he stated, feeling sick at that admission. “I failed my father and I let his kingdom burn. I failed my people by sending them into Griana’s clutches—and I failed my friends.”
Arades stared at him darkly. “I swore to serve your father and that pledge transfers to you, prince. But know, despite my allegiance, I will tell you when you are wrong,” he growled. “And you are wrong.”
Jack gritted his teeth, blinking his burning eyes. “About what? I am nothing. I have nothing. Shit. I’m not even a prince. I have no kingdom, my people—what’s left of them—were saved by your daughter and my father’s murderer, not by me. And this is the extent of my army,” he laughed bitterly, gesturing to his faithful bodyguard.
“Rubbish!” barked Arades. “You are a young man with good intentions who has been manipulated by evil all his life. And you are not alone. I heard what my old friend, General Edo, did to my daughter—and I know now he tried to kill me too. I was manipulated and betrayed by someone I had trusted all my life. Diamond was used by him, and I don’t know the one she has given her heart to, but it sounds as though Griana manipulated, abused and used him in far worse ways than you have ever suffered. You know him. Do you truly think he would have killed your father out of pure malice?”
Jack swallowed hard, hating that this warrior was making him think about his anger, his resentment towards the person who had ruined his life. Or did Hugo ruin my life? Hugo had been a boy when Griana had bid him kill the king of Rhodainia. What was it Hugo had said? That he had ended my father’s life to stop his suffering.
Jack glanced over at Roin and Tom, who stood close enough to guard him. They could hear. Their bodies were stiff enough to tell him they were waiting for his answer.
He sighed. “It doesn’t matter. Hugo still killed him.”
“Of course it matters!” barked Arades. “Nothing in this world is black and white. He made a decision based on his circumstances and his compassion; just as the decisions you have made are based on yours.”
“He. Killed. My. Father! I did not kill anyone!” Jack roared, banging his fists on the railings and earning himself a frown from the captain. In the corner of his eye, he saw Roin and Tom step closer and Lyana’s head whip toward him.
Arades remained silent, but he raised his brows.
Jack swallowed at the message in that look. I have killed people, he admitted. His shoulders slumped. Hundreds of thousands of his own people had died. He hadn’t protected them because he had been too young and inexperienced, because he had been powerless to stop Griana’s plans and fight back against her manipulation. How many fathers, brothers, sons, daughters have died because of my impotence? He swallowed the wave of nausea that hit him. Dropping his body, he leaned his forehead on his hands.
Like Hugo, he had been manipulated since he had been a boy. Griana had wanted the souls of his people to feed her lord. She had instigated all the ambushes of his generals in those early years and incited poor confidence in him as a ruler. She had successfully frayed the solidarity of the Combined Army, seeing its demise. The exodus of deserters back to their own countries had left his kingdom weak.
Jack growled in frustration. He had been such a fool.
He twisted to look at his warriors.
Gunnald stood next to Unis, Zane, Somal and Vico. They all looked back at him, their faces grave. Roin, Tom and now Karl observed quietly from nearby. Reese and his men stood guard across th
e decks. And there, in the sky was Master Dervin, his eagle soaring way above the ship. A lookout for any of those winged demons giving chase.
Straightening up, Jack looked the hard-faced general in the eyes. He had lost his kingdom because he had been a boy. Even with the intermittent presence of Trajan, he had lacked the consistency of support and guidance that he had needed. But he was no longer a boy. And he would retake his kingdom.
First, he had a mistake to rectify.
“I am more sorry than I can say that I allowed my anger and my misguided attempts to save my people to hurt Diamond and Hugo. I hate Hugo for what he did, but I also understand why he did it—that he had no choice.”
Arades smiled a little, his brown eyes softening. “See? You are your father’s son. He was a compassionate man, Jack. It’s why he let me leave. He knew I had fallen in love; he could have made me stay in servitude to him, but he didn’t. He let me go—to be with Diamond’s mother.” He came to stand alongside Jack and leaned his forearms upon the rail. “When I met Tanelle, she was under attack by Ragor’s monsters.” He sighed as sadness flickered across his face, followed by a hint of wistfulness. “I had never seen a more beautiful sight than her fighting like she did. The way she moved, her determination and fearlessness. She was the most stunning woman I had ever seen. Although I never told him, I think your father guessed who she was.” Arades paused, then looked back at Jack. “I know why she came to these shores. She was searching for a young child—one who had been taken from his home. That child was a dark-haired prince—and he had blue wings.”
Jack hissed and swore under his breath.
Arades glanced up at the wall of water that crashed against the captain’s shield. “We can take back Rhodainia, my prince,” Arades stated quietly. “But just as Diamond needs allies, so do you.”
Jack swallowed and nodded. This powerful and experienced general wasn’t going to desert him or hold onto any resentment for Jack’s mistakes. Jack swallowed his shame. He should not so readily have condemned Hugo for his part in his father’s death. Hugo had been his friend. Jack knew Hugo’s life had been a dark one, full of pain, yet he had still managed to fight that darkness for Diamond, to change who he was.
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