I need a plan, and quick!
“Rose!” She could hear Theo call out from behind her, but Rose knew she didn’t dare take her attention off Marsor for more than a second.
“I see your friends are all around,” Marsor sniveled. “Good. They can see you die.”
“You don’t seem to know me or my friends very well,” Rose said, backing away from him.
“I see you are retreating. That can’t be a very good sign for you.”
“If you’re that worried about me, just come and get me. I’m just a silly girl, after all.”
“You’ve been nothing but a pain since the day I almost ran you over,” Marsor agreed. “Normally, I wouldn’t have even paid you the slightest bit of mind. But you humiliated me, had me cast out from my tourney. You will pay.”
“You’re the one who was cheating, with Magdust, of all things. You might want to consider this a lesson for the future. If you’re ever allowed back here again, considering what you’ve done.”
Almost there.
Marsor reached out with a small punch. Rose let it hit lightly in her side, before she retreated once more.
She grimaced slightly; the hit landed harder than she’d wanted. “I guess finding out I was a princess was what convinced you that I needed to pay the most.”
“Princess or not, you’re still a pain,” Marsor insisted, lashing out a kick. “But it did explain the disgusting amount of moral superiority. It’s bred into you royals, isn’t it?”
Rose felt her feet hit the edge of the dock. It was time to wait.
“Rose!” Theo’s call came once more, and she allowed herself to look for him, knowing Marsor wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to strike.
“Augh!” he cried, rushing at her.
Rose darted to the side and stuck out her leg. His body slammed into her as he tumbled over.
A second later, she heard a distinctive splash! It told her, without looking, Marsor had fallen into the water. The smaller, successive sloshes told her he didn’t know how to swim.
She stood up and brushed herself off as Theo made his way over to her.
“Are you okay?” He took her arms and held her steady.
“I’m better than Marsor is,” she mumbled, not wanting to look behind her. The splashes were slowing and softening.
Theo glared at the figure behind him. “I’ll get a rope,” he offered. “The Abbess would want us to show him mercy. Though I am even tempted to disagree.”
“The Abbess is all right?”
“She is recovering,” Theo said. “It will be a while before she is completely out of danger. But her color was back when we passed through.”
“I’m glad.” Rose gave Theo a smile.
He smiled back, just as Marsor’s hand reached up and grabbed Rose’s ankle.
Rose felt the dock rush into her as she landed face-first. She squirmed and kicked, but Marsor had a firm grip.
“Rose!” Theo’s hands gripped her arms as he held her.
“Don’t let go,” Rose called back.
“I won’t,” he promised.
“I’ve got you now!” Marsor cried, coughing on the salty water.
“Hold her still.” Rose and Theo glanced to the side as Roderick came up with Rose’s sword in hand.
Rose felt Theo’s grip tighten as his feet dug into the wooden dock. “Got it,” he said to Roderick.
Roderick held the sword high and sliced it downward.
Marsor’s cry of revenge became one of pain. Rose nearly collapsed into Theo as Marsor’s grip suddenly disappeared. She glanced back to see blood streaming out of Marsor’s hand and into the water.
“That was repayment,” Roderick informed Marsor, “for what you did to my hand.”
Marsor’s eyes glared with an angry fire as his grip on the dock wavered. “Once I get out of here, you’ll wish I’d killed you ...” He broke off into a string of obscenities and threats interrupted frequently as he struggled to stay above the surface of the water.
“I doubt he’ll even manage to get out of there,” Theo assured Rose, as he steadied her and began leading her away. “His armor looks pretty sturdy. The extra weight will work against him.”
“I’m just glad his followers didn’t join him,” Rose said, glancing around to make sure there were no other surprises. “That would have been bad.”
“It seems a lot of them have met their match in the Maltian City guards. The city’s council sent out several warriors to break up the fights. Hopefully, with Marsor ... preoccupied, that’ll be the last he’ll cause trouble for Maltia.”
“Hopefully.” She smiled up at him. “That was good timing, playing along with my distraction.”
“It was too much like that time in Greece, near the northern cove of the Aegean,” Theo told her. “I remember that one.”
“I wondered if you had.”
“I did. Still not used to seeing you in danger, though.”
Rose sniffed. “I got out of it, same as last time.”
Theo nudged her shoulder. “This time was a little more of a surprise. Let’s get onboard before another war breaks out.”
“No arguments there,” Rose said. “Here’s the ship now.”
Philip waved down at them from the bow. “Good work, Rose,” he called out. “I see you’ve once more been declared the winner.”
“I wasn’t the one who cheated,” Rose called back, nodding back toward Marsor as he continued floundering in the marina waters. “It was a win from the start.”
She turned back to Theo. “I am glad to be leaving, and that our plan in back on track. But I’m not looking forward to another month on the sea.”
“It shouldn’t be that long.” Theo waved his hand toward the city. “Besides, it should give us a break from all the adventure we’ve been having lately.”
“Well, that’s true,” Rose admitted with a reluctant smile.
Theo reached into his tunic and pulled out several squashed rolls of vellum. “Don’t worry. I have some reading for you to catch up on, courtesy of the Abbess.” When she slumped over, he smiled. “It’ll help with the next part of our planning.”
Rose sighed.
*20*
҉
THE NEXT MONTH WAS marked with the cadence of routine, both in the winds of the sea and the repetitive nature of the day. While there was plenty of good weather aiding them this time, Theo knew Rose was happy once more to see land. He watched her as she leaned out into the surf and the wind.
“Don’t fall out of the ship, Rose,” Theo said, as he came up behind her.
“I’m being careful,” she assured him, though he still had to wonder if she recognized her own recklessness.
“It’s getting late. We will still likely spend the night aboard.”
“Ugh, don’t tell me that. Not now. Not when we’re this close.”
“You’ve been able to cope well enough,” Theo reminded her.
“Getting off Maltia was preferable to dealing with a vengeful villain,” Rose reminded him. “But just over a month back on the sea is enough rest. I think I have a right to be excited to be here.”
“Yes, because the awaiting dragon’s lair is definitely more welcoming.”
“At least we’re back on track, after all the detours.” Rose shrugged. “And with all the reading and studying we did, we’re more prepared for this next step. You know, the original one we were planning for.”
Theo grinned. “It wasn’t all bad, to stop off at Maltia.”
“Yes, yes. Meeting new people, helping them fight off a villain, I know.”
“I meant more that we were able to get the information about the Thorneback, and know where more specifically to go and how to get there.”
Rose glared at him. “Sophia’s gotten some good information from the men here, after she charmed them. She has a name of a guide who’s supposed to be close to the Poiyana port, a man named Nikolai. And as you said, there was information on the dragons from those scrolls.” She
turned back toward the small strip of land. “I’m feeling pretty good about everything.”
“Exactly how does this make you feel good? Enlighten me.”
“I feel better knowing about the enemy beforehand, for one,” Rose told him.
“I’ll give you that,” Theo complied, smiling.
He watched her carefully. Her blue eyes had darkened with gloom in the past month, and while they were no less beautiful, he was glad to see she was much happier. Her hair was longer, too, once more, and it seemed as buoyant as her spirit as it bounced in the breeze.
“Second,” she continued, “I’m more than sure a dragon won’t smell quite as foul as Marsor did.”
“Again, I’ll concede.” Theo laughed. “I suppose that was the worst thing about Marsor for you, was it?”
“No. The worst part of him was that he went after innocent parties. At least I am sure the dragon will only worry about me. There’s no need for it to attack anyone else.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure of that.”
“I’ll make sure of it. I’ll face it alone.”
“That’s definitely not going to happen.”
“Why?” Rose turned to him with a narrowed gaze. “You think I need the protection?”
Theo gave her an easy smile. “As much as I’d be lying if I said no, that’s not the main reason. I want to go with you. Remember? This is not just about Magdalina’s curse on you. I came for my own chance at revenge.”
Rose frowned, but she relented. “I suppose you’re right. About the revenge part, anyway.”
“Magdalina’s son is not a full-fledged fairy either. The dragon’s blood is my best bet in killing him.”
“I won’t argue with you on it.” Rose gave in. “As usual, you have convinced me.”
Theo was just about to ask her why it bothered her so much when he was right when he heard the approaching footsteps.
“It’s good to know you won’t be arguing with Theo over the matter of seeing the dragon, Rose,” Philip greeted. “It gives me hope you’ll relent and allow me to come along as well.”
“Why would you want to come along?” Rose asked.
Theo frowned as Rose voiced his own question. There was no reason Philip needed the dragon’s blood, he thought.
Philip raised his eyebrows. “For the adventure, of course,” he said. “You don’t travel halfway across the great seas of the world to sit back and wait around outside the Serpent’s Garden.”
“But it could be dangerous.”
“No more dangerous than you’ve faced before.”
“More dangerous than you’ve faced.”
“That’s all the more reason, isn’t it?”
“To go with us? No, it’s not.”
“I’m not your escort, Rose,” Philip argued. “I’m your friend, but I’m here of my own volition. If you do insist on going without me, I could just undergo the task on my own. Working together would prove to be both easier and safer for all parties.”
Rose frowned. “I’m not going to argue about this now,” she said.
Theo watched as Philip grinned.
“It is a great honor you would bestow upon me,” Philip said, “to allow me to accompany one as lovely as you in peril, Princess.”
Rose and Theo both turned and glared at him. A long moment passed as the three of them remained silent.
“I’m going to get everyone else ready. We’ll be there soon,” Rose finally said. She looked back toward the horizon. “Though not soon enough.”
Theo waited until the echo of her footsteps had dulled before he turned to Philip. “She doesn’t like that, you know.”
“What?” Philip asked. “Doesn’t like what?”
“She doesn’t like people telling her she’s beautiful or lovely or any of that.”
“It’s not the words so much as the person saying it,” Philip protested. “She knows I have great respect for her mind as much as her beauty.”
Theo felt his temper spike. “She still hates it.”
Philip softened. “If you want to tell her she’s pretty, you’d probably be safe in doing so. You’ve known her for many more years, and know her better than I do.”
“Which is how I know she finds it uncomfortable,” Theo insisted.
“Sometimes it’s okay to make people uncomfortable.” Philip gave him an enigmatic smile. “Like I said, if you want to tell her that yourself, you’re probably one of the few people that are able to do so without making her upset at you.”
“It’s not that,” Theo argued. “I just don’t want to see her hurt.”
“She’s already been hurt.”
“By those words.”
“Not by the words, or the truth of them,” Philip said, shaking his head. “But by the callous people who’ve used them.”
Theo said nothing, only glaring at him more openly.
Philip eased back. “It would help her much more,” he said, “if she were to hear it from the people who matter to her, rather than avoid it.”
“That’s not how she views it.”
“Are you sure?” Philip’s voice was soft, but still stung.
Theo felt his fists clenched. “I’m sure.”
“Am I making you uncomfortable?” Philip asked.
“No,” Theo lied.
Philip smiled, clearly amused at Theo’s expense. “We’ve had a similar conversation before,” he reminded Theo. “And I think it’s fair to say that Rose is the one who will determine what her feelings are in these matters, and how to deal with them.”
Theo scoffed. “You don’t know her like I do.”
“I know her pretty well,” Philip insisted.
“Rose doesn’t let her heart override her duty,” Theo said. “If you knew her at all, you would know that.”
Philip shrugged. “People change, all the time,” he said. “And sometimes, they do it while no one is watching.”
Theo said nothing, not trusting to respond as irritation fought to overcome his patience.
“I’ve seen Rose lead with her heart plenty of times,” Philip added.
“Only for others,” Theo muttered back, recalling how Rose would not dream of a future for herself, even though she had worked hard to give him one. She had worked for Sophia and Ethan as well, and even given her time and care to Philip and Mary.
But there was no future for her as long as there was Magdalina. There were no dreams, no joy, not even a song in her future, as long as the half-fairy sorceress was alive.
Philip shrugged and finally relented. He turned away and headed down toward the stern of the ship, leaving Theo all alone.
*21*
҉
“THAT’S THE GUY WE’RE looking for, right there,” Sophia said, pointing to the man with the large eyes, long hair, and scruffy beard. “His name is Nikolai Colombo, and he’s the one who knows the way to the Serpent’s Garden.”
“What else did you learn about him?” Rose asked, as she walked in full strides beside her squire.
“That he was a trader of furs, but exclusively works with taking people to see Amalia, the Celestial Dragonkeeper.”
“He probably charges a lot of money,” Theo remarked from behind them.
“You know it.” Sophia nodded, turning to smile back at Theo’s discernment.
Ethan sighed. “Do we have enough money for that?” he asked. “It doesn’t look like this place holds as many tournaments as Maltia City.”
Sophia nudged him. “Come on, my dear brother,” she said. “Cheer up. You’ll see Penelope again. She agreed to come to Rhone, anyway, right?”
“Not soon enough,” Ethan muttered under his breath.
“Ethan, come here,” Rose called. Ethan shuffled over toward Rose, the expression on his face grim and determined.
Theo smiled; he had a feeling Ethan knew what to expect from Rose.
“You’ll have plenty of time to compose a new song for her. She’ll be happy to know you’ve been practicing enough for that.”
<
br /> “Okay,” Ethan agreed. But he caught Theo’s eyes, and the two exchanged a knowing look. It wasn’t enough for Ethan, Theo observed.
He found himself looking at Rose, admitting he could more than sympathize with Ethan. Time and distance don’t always matter so much when it comes to the heart.
Philip came up beside them. “Captain Locke and the other guards are shopping through the market,” he said. “Keeping an eye out for news and goods, and possibly lodging if we need it.”
“And if we can afford it,” Sophia added.
“We should see if there is a church nearby,” Theo said.
“Always with the church,” Rose said with a sigh.
“It’s a good place to find reliable help more often than not,” Theo argued. “Those who seek, Rose.”
“Those who object, Theo.”
“You wouldn’t know quite so much about Magdalina or her origins, or even the Serpent’s Garden, if it weren’t for the church.”
“If God would have just removed this curse from me,” Rose bit back, “we wouldn’t even be here.”
Theo sighed and shook his head.
Didn’t Rose see it? Theo wondered. Didn’t she see how much more of the world she saw and how much better of a ruler she would be? Didn’t she see she could be free to be herself here?
“That’s enough bickering, you two,” Sophia interrupted. “Nikolai’s slowing down.”
“Good,” Ethan muttered. “We’ve been following him long enough.”
“We had to make sure it was actually him,” Mary spoke up from underneath Ethan’s hood.
“Mary’s got a point,” Rose agreed.
“We could have just asked the man himself two hours ago, when we first got off the ship,” Ethan insisted.
“Now, now. Time has not dulled your excitement for journeying, has it?” Philip teased.
“Maybe not my desire for adventure, but more like my leg muscles. It’s hard to walk after we’ve been on a ship for the last several weeks.”
Theo smiled as Ethan and Philip, and then Mary, began arguing. He turned back to Rose, only to see her watching Nikolai. The man was quite a sight, with a stocky build draped in furs, tethered with rope that doubled up as a utility belt. He carried a walking stick in his right hand with the sureness of a warrior going into battle with his sword. “Are you worried he’ll refuse?”
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