by Cheree Alsop
At my look, he set a hand on my shoulder. “It's not your place to worry about me, Nexa,” he said gently but firmly. “Take care of your own and all will go as it should.”
“I don't have any of my own,” I said, my voice hollow.
He shook his head. “You're wrong.” He looked back at the piers. “A great Duskie Commander said that we were one people, fighting for one city and one love. If that's the case, then you have plenty of your own.”
A smile touched my lips despite the weight that pressed against my chest. “You're right,” I admitted. The horizon had lightened slightly and the Commander didn't stand as straight and proud as he had at the beginning of the night. I spoke gently, “You should probably turn in, Commander.”
He nodded and took one last look at the remains of the pier below, the water lapping gently at its base and the last red glow of embers burning in the heart of the wood; then he turned and walked slowly beside me back to the palace.
Chapter 26
The first ship parts floated to shore the next day. We rode to the beach on the other side of the gulf to look over the wreckage. I picked up a piece of wood splintered and torn jaggedly along one edge.
“Pirates?” Commander Jashen asked.
My heart slowed at the remembered sound of teeth and claws tearing chunks out of the side of our boat. “Sathen.”
Everyone looked at me with a mixture of incredulity and shock.
“You can’t be serious,” Commander Tiben replied.
I met his light green eyes. “I’m very serious.” He looked away with a barely concealed curl of disgust to his lips.
“Then they’re dead?” King Adexo asked.
“Or in serious trouble. We need to send a fleet,” Axon replied. He squeezed my free hand.
Commander Tiben shook his head. “Why in the world would we go help Lysus? They just tried to kill us, if anyone would care to remember.”
Axon’s eyes narrowed. “They’re Luminos, Nathos, and Duskies. We share races and a similar enemy. Until the Sathen are destroyed, we need to work together.”
“So you’ll send a ship?” King Adexo asked, his glance shrewd as though he already knew what his son’s answer would be.
“At least six if we anticipate a battle with the Sathen at Lysus.” Axon met my eyes with a lifted eyebrow and I nodded. He turned back to his father. “We’ll be on the first ship.”
Commander Jashen shook his head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, my Prince. If the Sathen attack again-“
“Then we’ll be ready,” Axon finished. “We’ll be taking Nathos and Duskies with us and won’t have any reason to put in at anchor until we reach Lysus. They shouldn’t be able to catch us.”
King Adexo pursed his lips, his eyes concerned. “Your mother is going to hate this. You just got back, and with the war, she’s barely seen you.”
Axon smiled. “I’ll give you the pleasure of breaking it to her.”
The King turned back to his horse grumbling something about children and their adventures.
Axon took my hand. “You sure about this?”
I nodded. “We’ve got to make sure they’re safe. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to go to the Caves, also.” My stomach clenched at the thought, but I wouldn’t be able to relax until I knew they were safe. As much as I hated Firen Caves, there were Duskies there who deserved to know there was a better life beyond the red rock walls, and as far as I knew, my parents were still there somewhere.
We mounted the horses and galloped back toward the palace, but it was high noon and the marketplace was in full swing with everyone restocking after the war. We had to ride slow despite the King's guard clearing the way.
Several Duskies called to me as we passed. I spoke to the few I knew from battle and was surprised when a lady handed up several apples; another gave me a shawl made of beautifully dyed blue yarn. I glanced at Axon, embarrassed, but he nodded in understanding and recommended that I stay for a bit.
I slid off the horse, unsure of what to expect. Duskies surrounded me with smiles on their faces and gifts in their hands.
“I don’t deserve this,” I protested.
One young woman with beautiful pale skin and gray swirls around her eyes smiled. “You let them see how important we could be, how we could work together.”
An older man in yellow robes nodded as he pressed an orange into my hand. “You opened a gateway, Commander Nexa. This will go far toward smoothing relations between the Duskies and the Luminos and Nathos.”
I accepted the gifts while fumbling over words. “I didn’t do much, I just-“
“Do you love the Prince?” the first young woman asked.
I stared into at least twenty expectant faces and felt the color rise to my cheeks. It was a moment before I could nod. “I do love him.”
A rush of exclamations and grins went through the crowd and whispers passed to the people in the rear. My heart pounded strangely at the confession, and I wanted to be alone to sort out the myriad of thoughts that rushed through my mind, but too many smiling faces blocked my way. I was given more gifts of food and handmade wares which were packed for me in a soft cloth bag.
Gentle, aged fingers set a beautiful necklace of gray and white polished marble stones into my hand. I stared at it in surprise and looked up to meet the eyes of the old woman from the pastry shop a few days before.
“I can’t accept this,” I said. “It’s too much.”
She closed my fingers around it with a knowing smile. “It was made for you in gratitude for what you’ve done. Wear it proudly as a symbol of your Duskie heritage.”
I stuttered a thank you, and was grateful when a familiar hand touched my arm and I turned to find Pyth dressed in armor at my side. “The Prince requested that I rescue you, Commander,” he said softly enough that only I could hear him.
I breathed a sigh of relief and followed the Duskie to my horse. He took the bag of gifts and carried it even though I offered to tie it to the saddle horn.
I rode only because I couldn’t trust my knees to hold me with the flood of emotions that battled between my heart and mind. I looked back once and the throng of Duskies smiled and waved at me from the edge of the market square. I turned around with a sigh.
“Trouble, Commander?” Pyth asked, walking beside my horse.
I shook my head. “No, just an unexpected turn of events. I didn’t realize how much this would mean to people.” I rubbed my eyes in a vain attempt to keep them from filling with tears.
Pyth glanced up with a smile. “You started a change. This needed to happen, but no one knew where to start.”
I studied the movement of the horse’s shoulder muscles as we walked unchallenged through the gates. “I just hope everyone handles it well.” I thought of Axon’s mother. “There are those who don’t like change.” I dismounted and let a stable hand lead the horse away.
Pyth nodded. “But this change was necessary. It means a better life for our people and perhaps less animosity between all the races in time to come.”
His words smoothed away the last shreds of doubt that I had made the right decision. “Pyth, you fought hard and showed great bravery and foresight on the battlefield. The Lysus have been attacked by Sathen, and we’re leaving to see how we can help. I was wondering if you would accept the position of my Lieutenant.”
Pyth stared at me. “Lieutenant?”
I nodded. “It would mean gathering two hundred of our best soldiers and appointing your own captains. We’ll be spread out on different ships, so be sure to choose people you trust.”
Pyth’s mouthed opened and then closed. He merely nodded as though he didn't trust himself to speak. I smiled at the amazement in his eyes. “See you at the docks, Lieutenant.”
I turned away, but his voice stopped me. “Commander?”
I looked back and he snapped a smart salute. I waved a hand. “That’s really not necessary. In fact, I’d appreciate it if you never did that again.”
He laughed and nodded. “Yes, Commander. And Commander?”
“Yes?”
Delight and amazement shone on his face. “Thank you very much.”
I knew what an impact my actions would have on his life and the life of his family in Lumini and smiled. “You’re welcome, Lieutenant.”
Chapter 27
We rode on the first ship, the other five trailing close behind. I couldn’t fight the sadness that rose in my chest when I stepped into the captain’s cabin and saw shadow memories where our party had sat on the other ship teaching me the dice and trinket game. I settled on a chair in the flickering lamp light and let my body remember the gentle rise and fall of the ocean.
The hinges creaked as someone pushed open the door. “Thinking sad thoughts?” Axon asked.
I opened my eyes and sighed. “I miss them.”
He didn’t need to ask who I referred to. He sat on the bed and matching sorrow showed on his face. The light caught in his eyes and mirrored the depth of sadness he felt. “I hand chose them years ago. Though we lost several men in battle, at sea, and to Sathen, I never added anyone to our group until I met you.”
I looked at him in surprise. “You counted me as one of your group?”
He nodded. “They all did by the end. It was impossible to ignore how selfless you were, and how brave.”
A lump formed in my throat and a tear traced its way down my cheek.
Axon gestured at the memories on the floor as though he saw them too. “We bled for each other, and several of their fathers had fought alongside my father. I've never been completely alone since they joined me.”
I went and sat next to him on the wool blankets. He put an arm around my shoulders and I leaned against his chest. “I’ve never been a part of anything until I met you,” I said quietly. Admitting it made my heart ache, but Axon’s arm tightened around my shoulders and he rested his chin on my head.
“We make a strange couple,” he said softly into my hair.
I fought back a smile. “We really do.”
He fell silent a moment, then said quietly as though testing the waters, “I heard something you told the Duskies at the market square.”
My heart slowed. “You did?”
He nodded and I could feel him smile. “I did.”
“And?” I asked, barely trusting myself to speak.
“And I think you look very good in blue.” I hit his shoulder and he laughed. His eyes were bright and overwhelmingly deep. I felt like I could fall into them, never find my way out again, and never care to. He smiled gently. “And I love you, too.”
My throat tightened and I tried to speak, then he kissed me so sweetly and tenderly that it stole my breath. I closed my eyes and let myself live in the brief moment of his kiss, the touch of his lips, the feel of his hand in my hair, the way he brushed my cheek with his free hand as if he couldn’t touch me enough.
When he lifted his head, I couldn’t help the sigh that escaped my lips.
“What?” he asked, suddenly anxious.
“What about your mother?” I replied. I dreaded the answer, but knew it was a bridge we would have to cross soon if anything was to truly happen.
His eyes crinkled at the corners. “What about her?”
I stared at him. “She obviously hates me. I'm guessing she had a conversation with you very similar to our conversation, and ours was not pleasant.”
He laughed. “I got my independence from her. She knows that in the end I will do what I want. How do you think she won Father’s heart?”
I frowned, uncertain. “You mean her parents didn’t want her to marry a king?”
He shook his head. “On the contrary. She was a duchess with some of the biggest lands in Lysus. They wanted her to marry King Raden, who was also a prince at the time.”
“The King of Lysus?” I said in surprise.
He nodded with a laugh. “Leave it to my mother to do the exact opposite and marry the prince of Lumini instead. She knows better than to think she can control who I marry.”
I laughed, relieved. “And what of Princess Tiseria? She’ll be heartbroken.”
He grinned. “Oh, I’m sure she’s got a backup just waiting to better his position in life. Hopefully her mother won’t drive him away like her last several suitors.”
I remembered conversation between the Princess and her mother and shuddered; I couldn’t blame Axon in the least for not considering her marriage material.
Axon settled back on the bed and I rested my head on his shoulder. He bent his arm to trace patterns softly across my cheek. The ship rose and fell underneath us, and before long we both slept with the gentle lullaby of the lapping waves against the hull.
Living outside of the cage on a ship made traveling across the ocean much more pleasant. I spent part of the day sleeping and the rest learning how to climb the rigging, set a sail, and steer by the shadow compass. I slept half the night, then spent the other half learning how to navigate by the stars, read lantern signals from the other ships, and identify sea creatures by the sounds they made.
One night I awoke to sonar pulses against the hull. I put my hand against the wood and found that it practically hummed with the sound. I ran to the deck and found Captain Josto, a Nathos who wore his dark hair in long, looping braids and had silver bars woven through his ears that glowed with the moonlight. He smiled at the look on my face and leaned over the deck railing. I joined him and saw dark shapes spotting the ocean around all six ships for miles in every direction.
“What are they?” I breathed.
“Cora.” He said the word reverently, as one might whisper about the heavens.
“What are-“
He cut me off with the simple instruction, “Watch.”
I turned back to the sea creatures just as the humming from below rose to unite in one single, beautiful chord. I couldn’t count the octaves, but the notes ranged from both ends of my hearing spectrum and probably well beyond. The note hummed in my heart, through my body and bones until I felt like the ship, alive in every fiber with the one note song.
Then the humming stopped as if on cue. Every sound died away abruptly as though someone had put cotton in my ears. I missed it and longed to hear and feel it again, as if I suddenly realized I had not been quite alive until I felt every cell alight with the same chord.
But before I could miss it too deeply, the great beasts in the ocean began to glow. The light was soft at first, faint yellow, orange, and pink as though brushed with dawn from the edges of the horizon. Then the colors deepened, became rich in the middle and pulsing out to the edges of the creatures and outlining just how big they really were. The animals closest to us were far bigger than our ship, and by the pulsing I could tell that those further away were even larger.
They were perfectly round, like the bornons at dinner, but their backs were curved so that water pooled in the middle like a shallow cup. With every pulse of light, the water quivered and sparkled, catching the light of the moon and reflecting back the light of the sea creatures until it looked like a thousand colored moons floated around us.
Slight movement caught the corner of my eye and I looked down to see thin, fleshy material moving at the edge of the cora closest to us. It waved gently in the water like seaweed, propelling the animal along in a soft circle as though it danced to the note that had long since faded away. The cora pulsed with brilliant red light ebbing and flowing from its center. The lights were mesmerizing and soothing; just looking at them made me feel so much lighter as though the patterns took the worry from my soul.
The colors vanished as abruptly as the note had. Without another sound, the cora lowered gently in the water and disappeared beneath the ocean waves. I glanced over to see every Nathos and Duskie sailor on the ship staring out after them and wondered if they felt the same longing I did for the creatures to return.
“They were supposedly extinct,” Captain Josto said from beside me, breaking the silence with his deep voice. “Killed off lo
ng ago. I never thought I’d see one.”
“What would kill something that big?” I asked.
The Captain turned to me with a look of peace and relaxation in his usually wild eyes. “There’s fish in these waters that would make one of those cora look like a tadpole, and this ship a flea. Be grateful it’s the cora we saw and not their fiber-loving relatives.”
The thought sent a thrill of terror down my spine, but it couldn’t quite chase away the peace that still filled me from the humming and soothing colors of the giant sea creatures. I climbed a rigging and knew I wasn’t the only one who hoped that they would come back.
Chapter 28
Pyth shook me awake just before dawn on the third day. “Commander, we have a problem.”
I sat up in the tiny bunkhouse that roomed the Duskies between shifts. It was strangely empty. “What is it, Pyth?” I blinked groggily. We had finished our shift with the fifteen dusk Duskies not long ago and the dawn Duskies should be going on shortly, but shouldn’t have awoken yet.
Pyth’s voice fell to a whisper. “I think we might be facing a mutiny, Commander.”
My heart skipped a beat and I grabbed my sword from where it hung on a hook by my hammock. “What are you talking about?”
Pyth dropped his eyes. “I overheard the dawn Duskies planning to take over the ship and turn the other Duskies against us as well. Yaden is leading them.”
I shook my head. “That’ll destroy everything we’ve accomplished between the races.”
“I know,” he agreed, a spark of fire in his green eyes. “We’ve got to stop them.”
“But how?” I glanced at the sky outside the open cabin door. It blanketed the ocean in a velvet black touched with gray at the horizon. Dread filled my heart. “The Nathos will retire soon, and the Luminos won’t rise until the sun does.” I met Pyth’s eyes. “That’s when they’ll attack.”
He nodded, the same dread echoed on his face.
Steel filled my veins. “Then we have to talk to them. We have to convince them that they’re wrong.”
