Life on the ship even in those first hours was like a whole new world to Drusilla, everything coming and going like the tide. The past was forgotten and the future uncertain, and a cutting silence hung in the air, harmonized by the sounds of nature. By the time Drusilla had cleaned up and gone up deck, the sun was setting as beautifully as it had risen. The salt air nipped at her tongue, welcoming Drusilla to this strange new sensation. The sun finally dipped beneath the horizon, sleeping until a new day had come. The moon, silvery white and full, took up the vacant sky, billions of bright stars following just behind. The world Drusilla had just met said goodbye as another said hello.
Night brought on a whole new life on the ship in a way that Drusilla could not describe. It was as though they were sailing not on water but a piece of velvet that had been sown with pearls. Nathan once more was at the wheel, staring out at the sea with the saddest of eyes. It was a glance that Drusilla knew well, seeing how often she used it once she left her village. Sighing, Drusilla slipped her dagger out from its sheath. Blood still lingered near the hilt, never going away despite how hard Drusilla scrubbed it. The blade was in good condition, Drusilla spending much time working with it. However, the blade was clearly ancient. The dark metal was something that had not been seen in hundreds of years, perhaps not since Galdirr was founded after the Yulgarra War in the neighboring kingdom of Tayanta.
More than anything, Drusilla wanted to use this blade that had taken the life of a pure and hardworking woman against Malcolm. Perhaps she was as sick as he was for being willing to reach down to his level, but what could she do? The man deserved it. He deserved worse, having ruined not one but two lives. She could barely pronounce Melody any longer. Drusilla glared up at the star riddled sky. She would find her vengeance. Malcolm the Dark had betrayed her, abusing her trust. He’d killed and left in cold blood. He’d taken every last shred of innocence Drusilla had, and for that she swore that one day the dagger in her hands would meet his black cold heart.
Chapter 4:
Lu slammed her fist against the wall, fighting back her anger. She couldn’t believe it. She’d heard rumors of the dirty blonde Free Strider. She’d been taken in by the best and trained in their arts. But could it be? Could it truly be? Lu shook her head. “You seem irritated,” Adam remarked. Lu glared at him.
“Since when the hell do you care?” Lu hissed. Adam frowned.
“I’ve always cared about you,” Adam sighed. “Something is going on with you. Don’t think I haven’t noticed you sending out letters when you have a chance.”
“I know that you are just trying to look out for me, Adam, but please leave me be,” Lu argued. Adam stepped forward, placing a hand gently on her arm. Lu flinched back.
“I am just trying to look out for you. It’s also my job as your husband to know what all you have hidden. Please just tell me what’s wrong. If you can’t, then I will let you sleep a night to decide and take your shift,” Adam whispered. There was hurt in his voice, but Lu didn’t care. She let him leave and went to working on what she needed to do next. Neither of the two knew that Drusilla had picked up on just enough of the conversation to notice that their picturesque marriage wasn’t so joyful as they tried to portray it.
“You are a cursed breed, girl. It is just my duty to dispose of you firebloods,” Malcolm hissed in a breaking voice. Even as he forced a laugh he was shaking, the dagger firm in his grasp, so firm his knuckles were white. There was every intention of a blood spill in his stone cold eyes. His well kept black hair was soaked with rain as was his black cloak that hung on his muscular yet lithe frame. His thin lips were curved into a forced smile as he lunged forward, Breena Kloy thrusting herself between him and her daughter with a shrill scream.
Malcolm looked up with wide eyes as the body of the mother fell to the ground. The dagger slipped from his hand, clattering against the ground as he stumbled back, retreating to the shadows. Drusilla fell to her knees, hands over the wound, trying to save her mother’s life. But it was too late. Death had already kissed those pale lips, and all that was left was Breena’s eyes staring up blankly at the sky as the rain began to stop.
Drusilla woke sweating and with a start. Her heart was racing and she struggled to catch her breath. With shaking legs, Drusilla forced herself to stand, looking in the mirror. Dirty blonde hair and scared blue eyes stared back at her. Quickly her fingers worked through her hair, braiding it back as she fought down the tears. Even after four years it all hurt so much. She’d tried to fight it all, live a happy life, but now here she was fighting a phantom as scared as a child. Drusilla’s mother would be disappointed, urging her to move on, but she couldn’t. The wound was too deep, and sometimes time was never enough. Swallowing hard, Drusilla decided to go up for some air.
Up deck, a purple horizon threatened dawn. Adam was at the wheel in place of Nathan. His shirt billowed around him, a soldier with heart and soul. There was something different about the joking man now all alone, like pieces of glass threatening to break the surface. He was noble, like Nathan but not so. He had the aura of duty, honor, and humble leadership, not quite so bold as his captain. No, Adam was different. He pulled strings in the shadows, not orchestrated in the light. His ocean eyes flicked over to Drusilla. «Well you look pale, lass,» Adam remarked, walking towards her. Drusilla stared at him with blank eyes, burying all emotion. That had been the hardest skill to learn, hiding the pain from those who didn’t need to know. There was already a subtle bond between the Free Strider and the sailor, the two now inches apart as Drusilla quietly thought of how to respond.
“I had a harsh dream,” Drusilla muttered, being as truthful as she could afford, yanking her jacket tighter around her. She avoided Adam’s eyes, feigning innocence. Adam made to reach out towards her arm in a reassuring manner, but Nathan had just walked up. The serene feel of just Drusilla and Adam faded, a feeling Drusilla was barely aware existed until it was gone.
“Hello Drusilla,” Nathan called. His lips curved into a smile. Adam quickly nodded, returning to the wheel as Nathan walked up to Drusilla. It seemed he was reading her, and Drusilla couldn’t help but wonder how much Nathan had already guessed about her. That was a chilling thought in its own right.
“Captain Rodrick,” Drusilla coughed. Nathan chuckled.
“Please just call me Nathan, Drusilla. We aren’t very formal here. How about you come eat some breakfast?” Nathan urged. Drusilla looked up at him. The captain was continuing to prove himself to a genuinely kind man, a true leader. It was unlike anything Drusilla had ever encountered. Nathan Rodrick was showing himself to be everything that Galdirr so desperately needed.
“I suppose I will, Nathan,” Drusilla replied. She hated forcing herself to be so casual. She wasn’t here to make friends. She was here to do whatever the hell it was that Nathan wanted, take her money, and go back to finding Malcolm. The last she heard, the killer had been knighted in court. She’d need money in Anikarra. That was part of why she took Nathan’s offer.
Nathan smiled, letting Drusilla walk down first. She could feel Adam’s warm gaze on her back as she descended the stairs once more. A part of her yearned to stay on the ship, but the other part knew she would have to keep going. She was a Free Strider. She wasn’t supposed to have any of this. She’d given all of that up already. Rather, Malcolm had chased any of those dreams far away from her. Lu was already awake and sitting at the table with her cold eyes.
In truth, Lu had barely slept. Now she glared at Drusilla, Nathan once again leaving the room. Lu was quick to her feet, causing Drusilla to instinctively slide out her dagger. Lu froze and paled at the sight. “Where the hell did you get that?” Lu breathed, stepping forward. Drusilla glared, putting the dagger back.
“I’d rather not answer that, Lu. Nathan made an agreement saying that I could avoid any talk of my past. I plan to keep to that,” Drusilla answered just as Adam walked down. The two women relaxed, sitting at the table. It wasn’t too long before Nathan came down as well,
merry as could be.
“Now we can eat,” Nathan smiled as he took his seat. As they ate, both Adam and Lu glanced at Drusilla, though one was warm and the other cold as ice. “I hope you slept well, Drusilla,” Nathan remarked, trying to make conversation. Drusilla sighed.
“I have slept and dreamt better before, but I’ve also had worse nights,” she responded, looking up and meeting Nathan’s deep grey eyes. She saw a spark of light that was trying to penetrate her, a man that is trying to figure out what his heart wants to tell him. Drusilla saw a king, a prince, a captain, and a human being fighting for something more.
“I’m glad to hear that it wasn’t the worst. How are enjoying the ship?” Nathan inquired.
“I’m enjoying it well. How you obtained such a beauty is a mystery to me though. Would you pray tell?” Drusilla replied, using what skill in conversation she had from her mother.
“It was originally my father’s ship. He was a trade ship captain, and this was what he used to go short distances or for other purposes. His father was the one that built it. He died in a fire when I was about 18. I’ve it now for about seven years, hard to believe,” Nathan explained with a pensive gaze at the woodwork around them.
“Sefton Rodrick was as good as captain as can ever be expected,” Adam muttered almost mournfully.
“It is because of that fire that we’re after what we’re after. I won’t bother telling you about that this morning though. I’ll wait until tonight,” Nathan added.
“I’ll wait until then,” Drusilla mused, returning back to her meal. The rest of breakfast was enjoyed in silence, Drusilla keeping Adam and Lu’s gazes. Cleaning was much easier this time, and Drusilla soon found herself walking back to the top deck. She had just reached the stairs when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning, she was it was Adam, as joyful as always.
“I’ll be showing you how to work on a ship,” Adam explained. Drusilla forced herself to smile as she nodded. Adam continued to study her for a moment before finally letting go of her shoulder and leading her up the stairs. There was something about him that stuck with Drusilla, as strange as it was. He was as much a mystery to her as she was to him.
Over the years, Roark Brightheart had thought nothing but of his son, Adam. It’d been years since he last saw him. He’d be what, 24 now? It’d been close to two decades since Roark had last seen that rascal. It didn’t seem that long. He closed his eyes and sighed. What did it matter now? Certainly Adam never thought of him, or did he? A small rustle met Roark’s ear from the right. His heart quickened in pace. He had barely been back in Nacotari but a day. No one could have found him by now. Then the eyes met him, piercing and calculating. The crow cawed, but it was the creature behind it that worried Roark. About six feet tall, the lean shadow moved forward, inching closer. No impure heart could step foot on this island, but this shadow was no ordinary shadow. It was one of the ones left behind by the evil spirit who was killed too soon as considered by fate.
The phantom moved forward with breathless strides, like ripples on a clear surface of a pond. It made no noise as it appeared out from the bushes. Roark already had his sword halfway out of his hilt, but it was too late. The shadow was quicker, much quicker than Roark. In that single split second it was all over. Darkness consumed Roark, and though he tried to scream his throat made no noise as he felt himself sinking, sinking into the void that is death’s cold hand.
Malcolm had time enough to think as he settled onto the well manned ship. “Sir, the Eknar has sent word,” a servant announced. Malcolm’s eyes flicked up to the man.
“Go on,” Malcolm muttered.
“The Eknar is not pleased. There is someone in the way, a woman. The Eknar wants us to call forth the evil,” the servant explained. Malcolm winced.
“Get the damn wizard then,” Malcolm hissed. The servant quickly nodded. “Who is this woman?”
“A Free Strider, Sir Malcolm,” the servant confessed. “She is young, and is believed to be Melody Kloy, though they are calling her Drusilla now.” Malcolm couldn’t help but laugh.
“Damn her… Drusilla… Beings curse me,” Malcolm mused. “Leave me.” The servant quickly left as Malcolm stood. First he found Declan by chance, and now this. It was as though Fate was mocking him. He slammed his fist down on the desk. He could only hope this evil wasn’t enough to kill her. No, he understood now that he could never lose Melody Kloy. He’d already written a letter to the woman watching Declan, and to some people in court. He’d keep the child safe, and now he just had to protect Drusilla. Had she really chosen that name for herself? It actually made him smile. For the first time in four years Malcolm could think of her and not hate himself for all he’d done.
Chapter 5:
Drusilla spent the day learning how to clean and steer a ship. Her body ached in agony by the time evening fell. She was exhausted and hungry, not having eaten since breakfast. She had more respect for the crew though. The Free Strider was at a loss for understanding just how a ship could be run with just three people, let alone the minimum two, possibly one, that Adam insisted was needed. Adam had sent Drusilla off to make dinner about an hour before sunset, and Drusilla was more than happy to do something she actually knew how to do. Seeing what ingredients she had to work with, Drusilla decided on one of her mother’s recipes. It was one she hadn’t thought of in about five years.
Malcolm had fallen asleep curled up by the fire, leaving Melody to join her mother in the kitchen. “We’ll have to make do with a stew,” Breena sighed.
“I always loved your stews,” Melody argued. Breena smiled.
“Well let’s just hope Malcolm Mace thinks the same,” Breena remarked. Melody looked over at the man.
“I wonder who he is,” Melody mused. “He seems so nice.” Breena chuckled.
“Don’t you go falling in love on me, Melody Kloy,” Breena warned. “I was your age when I married your father.”
“Will you ever talk about him?” Melody inquired, helping her mother prepare the herbs. Breena frowned.
“All you need to know is that you’re better off with him not in your life,” Breena replied, busying herself with preparing a hot meal for her guest.
The only other time Drusilla made this soup was the last time she had a meal with Luther. They’d had so much fun that night. With a pang in her chest, Drusilla carried the pot and bowls upstairs so that they wouldn’t have to stop to eat. The sunset was so beautiful, full of reds and oranges dying the sky, and the clouds rimmed with gold. Adam and Lu were the only two on deck. “Where’s Nathan?” Drusilla asked, handing the two their bowls.
“He’s in his office,” Adam replied, going to fill his bowl. “He’ll get some food when he wants some. Just leave him be. There’s never any good when you bother him, at least when he’s working.” Sure enough, just as Drusilla was cleaning up, Nathan walked up and stopped her. His eyes locked on hers, telling her to just leave it and go downstairs without a single word passing his lips. Drusilla saw the pain in his eyes, a pain of remembering that Drusilla knew all too well. She stiffly nodded, walking down to her room and throwing herself on the bed hoping to just hear silence. Her neighbors, however, obviously had other plans.
“What the hell do you mean? I married you, didn’t I?” Adam growled. He was clearly speaking with Lu, and angst filled his voice.
“That doesn’t mean anything. Do you love me or not?” Lu demanded. It was all ironic, coming from her. It was clear to see she had no fond emotions for Adam, though she must have felt something at some point to have married him.
“I would not have married you did I not love you, Lucinda,” Adam mused, trying to keep calm in hopes of calming his wife. She only got more agitated.
“That was then, Adam. That was five years ago. What about now?” Lu hissed.
“The real question is what do you feel? I barely remember the last time you told me that you loved me. We were young then, Lu. For all we feel now, do we even know what we were feeling then to be tru
th?” Adam countered, the hurt obvious in how his voice broke. Drusilla felt for him. It led her all back to Malcolm, as it seemed everything always would. She didn’t think she could ever marry a person who would not at least vocalize their love, let alone not love her at all. That was a bitter thought. All those times Malcolm swore his love… Did he ever mean it or was that a lie as well?
“Since when did you ever say something like that? What happen to the Adam that never doubted what he felt or did?” Lu argued. It was a well planned attack, almost staged. Drusilla had to agree though. Adam did not seem like the type of man to doubt or question himself.
“I’ve grown older. I’m less headstrong and naive. If I have any regrets of five years ago, it is because I barely knew you then. In fact sometimes I still feel like I barely know you. I had met you just about a year before we were wed,” Adam explained. Silence fell, and Drusilla was met with the sound of her own breathing. She hesitantly reached into her pocket for the ring. She’d been as foolish as Adam once. She understood that pain more than anyone. That night she cried herself to sleep.
“It’s a promise that I love you,” Malcolm explained.
“How can you promise me when you’re leaving?” Melody growled. Malcolm looked at her with the saddest eyes.
“Melody, I have to. I have people that are depending on me to do things. I become a knight after this, and I swear I’ll use that to take care of your family,” Malcolm insisted. “I want to marry you.”
“We’ve only known each other a few months,” Melody argued. Malcolm smiled, kissing her forehead.
The Flames of Arathia Page 3
