Leaning against the cool stone of the palace wall, she let her head fall backward, tears warming her lashes, spilling out over her cheeks. She wasn’t sure exactly when she’d lost control of everything, though it was apparent that she no longer knew what was going on. She didn’t know what to do. Her prying had dug a hole deeper than she was capable of climbing out of. And while it was tempting to remain hidden behind those hedges forever, she knew she couldn’t. Her family would need to know the truth. The marriage would be annulled. Better to sever her ties with Callum before he was dishonored.
A soft rustling came from somewhere nearby. Faint. Too quiet to be any of her frantic friends and family scurrying about the yard. Through her tears she peered out from her hiding place, startled to see a dim shadow cross the grass only a few feet away. Frozen in place, she watched another cloaked figure move in the direction where Shaelyn and Herryk had gone. A glint of light reflected off something in the darkness, chilling Aiva to realize what it was. Metal. A blade. No one at the celebration would have been allowed to bear a weapon other than General Cadell – and the figure she saw was too slight to be the General.
Her heart raced. Something wasn’t right. Whatever she’d seen, it was heading toward the other side of the house. Creeping along the shadows. Overcome with worry for her sister, she forgot about her own troubles. A failed marital arrangement could be dealt with later.
Slowly she turned onto her hands and knees, edging along the palace wall toward the front entrance doors. Behind the hedges she was concealed from view, though once she reached the steps there would be no such protection. If no one was around, she could cut across to the other side of the flowerbed without giving away her location. The pounding in her chest increased with every inch forward she took, placing one hand in front of the other, knees dragged along the dirt behind her. Another dress lost to her skulking in the darkness.
She paused at the edge of the walkway, peeking through a small opening to make sure no one was around. The doors to the palace were closed. With the search party having already disappeared around to the back of the property and outer perimeter, she had a brief window to get to the other side. Clutching her skirts she gathered her strength, launching herself quickly across the open porch into the opposite row of hedges. Somewhere in the distance she could still hear Callum shouting her name. Echoing through the area. Judging by the sound, she figured him to be on the other side of the palace, further away from her original hiding place.
A piercing scream cut through the air not far away, rocking Aiva’s senses. She’d never heard anything so dreadful before. Shrill. High-pitched. Feminine. “Shaelyn,” she breathed, hastening her crawl along the side of the palace. The sound came again and again. Each one filled with more fear and distress than the one before. The feeling of dread was building in the pit of Aiva’s stomach.
Giving up her cover, she burst forth from the shrubbery, rushing forward blindly into the darkness. All around she could hear footsteps. Someone was fighting. The shrieks were muffled. Further away now than they were before. Harsh grunts were coming from somewhere to the left. She followed the sound until she was able to make out the faint outline of three figures entangled on the ground. By strength of adrenaline alone Aiva reached out to one of the shadowy forms, pulling it off the others. She met with incredible resistance, a fist swinging toward her face, narrowly missing her nose.
She had no weapon with which to defend herself. The only advantage she held against her unknown opponent was the same thing which also worked against her. Darkness. Her movements were veiled by the shadows, but in return it was difficult to make out what her assailant was doing. Something struck her hard in the side of the head, knocking her to the ground in a heap. The impact only added to her growing fear and anger. Shaelyn’s cries were getting fainter. She needed to get to her. Whoever her opponent was didn’t matter. They were nothing but an obstacle preventing her from getting to her sister.
“Shae!” she called out, praying she would be met by another muffled cry to direct her where her sister was. Unsteady from the blow to her head, Aiva struggled to her feet, feeling another impact against her shoulder blades, forcing her down to the ground onto her stomach, face pressed into the grass. With a sharp pain the veil was torn from her head, discarded as her attacker wove their fingers into her hair, gripping it tightly. She tried to scream, every attempt only yielding a mouthful of sod and grass.
A sickening crack came from somewhere behind Aiva’s head, the tug on her hair released to allow her freedom of movement once again. Rolling onto her back she gazed up to see who had come to her rescue, recognizing the familiar blue of Herryk’s eyes, glowing brightly through the shadows. “Herryk,” she gasped, shifting onto her knees as she watched Herryk’s legs buckle suddenly, dropping onto the grass in front of her. “What happened? Where is Shae?”
“Someone took her. I couldn’t see – ” his eyes looked glassy. Dazed. Swaying almost drunkenly he started to pitch forward, Aiva’s arms shooting out to catch him before he hit the ground.
In that instant she was able to see the severity of the wounds covering him. He was bleeding. Badly. Deep lacerations marred the skin over his brow, the blood appearing black in the darkness. Against her arms he felt wet. Sticky. He was barely clinging to consciousness, slumping forward against Aiva. “Herryk! Oh gods, wake up,” she pleaded.
Shock was setting in. She’d never seen so much blood before. There wasn’t anything she could do for him. He was too heavy to carry. Deadweight in his current condition. Through her confusion she could hear someone screaming. Shouting for help. It took her several moments to realize that the screams were coming from her. Footsteps were coming closer. With every thud they grew louder, fear seizing Aiva at the possibility of it being more assailants coming to finish what their fallen friend had failed to do.
Someone was lifting Herryk from her arms. Another pair of strong hands grasped at her, helping her to her feet. “Aiva.” It was her father. “Aiva, what happened?”
“They took Shae!” she gasped. Her entire body was trembling.
“What?” Thade’s eyes flashed brighter. “Aiva, who took Shae? Where is she?”
“I don’t know! I couldn’t get to her. She was screaming and I tried to help but someone was in my way. Is he dead? Father, is Herryk dead?”
“He is alive, but we need to get him inside.” Edric. Good. Herryk would be safe in his hands. She needed to find Shaelyn. They couldn’t let these people get away. In a frenzy of movement Aiva’s eyes swept the area. Edric was there. Her father was there. Where was Callum? Callum! It had to be him! She’d uncovered his secret and now he was retaliating against her. “Callum has her,” Aiva gasped, falling unsteadily against her father’s chest, grateful for the support of his arms, preventing her from toppling to the ground. “He’s working with the pirates. They took her!”
“Aiva, you’re in shock,” Thade whispered, guiding her in the direction of the palace doors.
She shook her head, adamant that she’d figured it out. “No, it’s true. He told me,” she breathed in exasperation. “He admitted it. You have to believe me.”
“Hush. Callum is with your brother, tending to Herryk as we speak. He does not have your sister. Did you see what direction they headed?”
“No, you can’t leave him with Edric. He’ll kill him too!”
Thade stopped their brisk pace toward the front doors, turning Aiva around to face him. The look she saw on his features struck her. Driving an invisible knife deep into her core. There was fear in his silver eyes. Something she’d never seen there before. “Aiva, I need you to listen to me,” he stated, his voice trembling slightly. “If someone has your sister, we need to focus on finding who it is and where they went. Can you walk? We need to get you inside and cleaned up. Your mother will be very distraught when she hears what has happened and she will need you to help console her while Edric and I arrange a search party.”
Nodding her head Aiva fought to
maintain her balance. Her father was right. She needed to get hold of herself. If she continued raving madly, her father would never believe what she was saying. Callum’s confession would be passed off as nothing more than the ranting of a frightened girl. Once they were inside, she could try to explain things to her mother. Edric and Callum were coming closer. There wasn’t time now to say anything more on the matter.
Aiva watched in stunned silence as the room filled with familiar faces, the sight of her mother’s tear-streaked cheeks hurting worse than the pressure of the cloth pressed against her forehead, wiping away blood from an injury she’d already forgotten. Only an hour ago this room had been a happy place for her mother. She’d dressed her eldest daughter for what was supposed to be the grandest wedding of their time, yet now they were mourning the loss of another child. Edric and Thade had gone with Callum outside in search of Shaelyn. Aiva was left in the quiet company of her mother and a few of their family’s closest friends.
Herryk was laid out across the floor. Awake. Groaning while his father tended his wounds, diligent in his efforts, smears of blood staining the light grey of his tunic. “Leyna, did they say what happened?”
“Not in any detail.” The Queen stared in concern at Herryk’s dirt-covered form. “Is he alright, Zander? Should I send for a physician?”
“He will be fine, but it will take some time for him to heal.” Zander exhaled a long breath. “I don’t think he’ll be in any condition to ship out with the rest of the troops. His left arm is broken and the laceration to his right side is deep. He will need stitches.”
Aiva paid little attention to the man cleaning the marks on her face, forgetting his presence at her side until he spoke, the glow of his grey eyes revealing his concern. “I can begin stitching once the wound is clean,” he stated. “It has been a long time since I’ve had need of the skill, but I remember how to do it well enough.”
Leyna had begun a fearful pace, no longer attempting to hide her unease. Her hands clasped and unclasped in front of her with every step, maneuvering closer to watch the efforts of the grey-eyed man at Aiva’s side. “And my daughter?” she asked, a sense of urgency in her tone. “Feolan, I can tend to her injuries while you see to Herryk.”
“She will be alright, Leyna. Do not worry. Everything is going to be fine.” Gently, Feolan brought his hand up to motion the Queen toward a chair near the wall. “You need to try and relax.”
It was always strange for Aiva to hear her mother and father when in the private company of their friends. Formal titles were thrown away. Everyone was equal in that room, at that moment. The Queen and Lord Feolan Diah, her Consul from Siscal, had been friends since their time of service in the war against Namorea. Almost seventy years past. He was a levelheaded man. Aiva wondered if he might be the one to speak with in regards to Callum’s treachery. Her mother was too emotional. There would be no getting through to her until Thade and Edric returned. With a little faith, she hoped Shaelyn would be with them.
“Lord Diah,” Aiva started, unsure of how to begin her story. She couldn’t speak of it in front of the others. They would be skeptical.
“Yes, Aiva?”
“May I speak with you a moment?”
Feolan looked confused by her request. He glanced over to Leyna, as if for approval, met by nothing more than a brief nod from her mother’s direction. Rewetting the cloth in his hand he helped Aiva to her feet, keeping her steady as they made their way to a corner of the room. “Is something troubling you, Aiva? You should not be secretive while your mother is in her current state. She will think you are hiding something.”
“Depending on what you say, I will tell her everything I know. I have some questions to ask first.” Aiva drew in a breath, unsure of how to begin. Feolan spent most of his days in Siscal. If anyone knew about the pirate conflict in detail, it would be him. And he was impartial enough to all those involved to give an honest answer. “I need to know about the pirates in Siscal,” she said flatly. “What was Callum’s involvement?”
Feolan blinked in confusion, caught off by Aiva’s question. “Callum’s unit was responsible for bringing several of them into custody. They uncovered a spy among the Siscalian troops. Without Callum and his men, all of our troops might have been killed.”
“Do you know anything about a pirate woman by the name of Ireni?”
“Yes.” Feolan peered quizzically at her. “Her identity is not common knowledge, however. How do you know of her?”
Ignoring Feolan’s questioning gaze, Aiva pushed onward, insistent, anxious to make her discovery known. “One of the Captain’s men was nice enough to inform me of the relationship between her and Callum. His men witnessed the two of them together.”
“That cannot be possible. Whoever told you that must have been misinformed.”
“Lord Diah, the Captain admitted it to me this evening.” Aiva hung her head. “He told me all I needed to hear. That they let their emotions be known. I am sure you can piece together what that means. I think Callum is working with this Ireni and the other pirates.”
Feolan’s mouth hung agape, the confusion in his eyes growing. “That cannot be so, Aiva,” he shook his head. “I was witness to the troops’ return to the shores. Ireni Moura was at the tip of Callum’s blade when she was apprehended by the authorities in Siscal.”
“It could have been a ruse. A plan arranged between them. I heard several of the captive pirates escaped. Maybe it was their intention to feign her captivity so she could get closer to her enemy in Siscal.”
“Aiva, you have quite an imagination. I think you are more clever than the pirates. They would not have the means to plan something so involved. Not to mention that Callum would never betray his own people. He is the most loyal soldier our military has seen since your mother. Far more investigation is required before we start laying blame on him for the unfortunate current events.”
She brought her hands up to cover her face, wincing to feel the tips of her fingers brush over the gash on the side of her head. Callum had them all fooled. If she couldn’t convince a reasonable, impartial man like Feolan, there would be no convincing her mother. Or her father. They would defend him until the very end. “All I am asking is for someone to look into it. Can there not be an investigation? I am certain you will find the proof you require.”
“I will speak with your father on the matter,” Feolan frowned. “Normally an investigation of this sort would be in the hands of General Cadell, but in this case there would be a conflict of interest. Can you tell me who passed this information into your hands?”
Aiva nibbled her lip nervously. She couldn’t tell him. Dacian had asked her to keep it secret in fear of the repercussions he would face if Callum discovered who ruined him. Despite his actions, she had given her word. She couldn’t go back on it. “I cannot,” she replied quietly. “But it should not matter. Callum already gave his confession.”
A loud burst of noise came from the door as her father stepped in, disheveled from the wind, damp from a heavy rain that had begun to fall. Edric was not far behind, his head tilted toward Callum in deep conversation. The Queen was on her feet. In a rush, she ran into her husband’s arms, oblivious to the water from Thade’s doublet soaking into her gown. “Did you find her? Please tell me she is safe!”
“We were unable, however, there is a distinct trail left by her captors,” Thade explained. Aiva stepped forward, intrigued by what her father was saying. The Tanispan soldiers were well-trained in the arts of tracing an enemy, by mundane means and otherwise. If a unit was sent out quickly, they would be able to track the location of Shaelyn without issue.
“Do we know who it is?” Zander asked, rising to his feet, voice firm. “Ven’shal? I will hunt them down myself.”
“We could only be so lucky for it to be our familiar enemy,” Thade sighed. He wrapped his arms around Leyna where she clung tightly to him, weeping into the folds of his dampened shirt. “At least then we would know what to expect. Regretta
bly, Callum identified the bodies of the two men who attacked Herryk and Aiva to be wearing the emblem of a known group of pirates from Luquarr.”
Leyna gazed up at Thade, hopeful at the possibility of having their destination. “Then we know they will be heading to the ports of Siscal. They will need a ship to get back to Luquarr,”
Aiva wrinkled her nose in distaste to see Callum step forward. She hated that he was the one everyone was counting on. He was the only one there at that moment who had fought the pirates. He’d been around them. Closer than Aiva felt was acceptable. Regardless, he knew the enemy. They had no choice but to hear what he had to say. “A return through Siscal is unlikely,” he stated. Calm. Quiet. “I know the brigand who leads these men. Their ship was one of those taken down before we returned to Tanispa. They have nothing waiting for them in Siscal but a noose. They will travel south through Carpaen and seek a new ship on the southern coastlines, closer to their home.”
“Why would they take such a risk?” Feolan stepped forward. From behind Callum and Edric, General Cadell appeared in the doorway, receiving a brief nod from the Consul before he continued speaking. “The Carpaen ports are well defended by their armada. Not to mention the Mialan trading escorts. They at least stand a chance in Siscal.”
“They will not depart from Carpaen or Siscal. They will pass south through Vaeduec or Palinon and cross the Vai’ld Sea.”
The tension in the room was rising. Mere mention of Vaeduec and Palinon was enough to strike fear into the hearts of anyone who knew of the creatures that dwelled in those countries. Travel through such places was never considered an option when journeying south. It was why Carpaen was such a popular port central. To the southwest of Carpaen, the country of Vaeduec was inhabited by a vicious race known as the Syet. Aiva knew little about them, though what knowledge she had was enough to tell her that setting foot over their border would be suicide. They were territorial. Violently so. Those who saw them rarely lived to tell the tale.
The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Two: Beyond the Veil Page 14
