Inside were a few chairs and a small table, a deck of cards spread out across the top arranged for a game of Volatile, which she’d learned was a northern kingdom variation of Solitaire that only required you to complete one column of each color regardless of the suit, but eliminated every third card from the playable pool.
The man she’d killed must have really been bored. She supposed it to be a dreadfully dull job—watching slaves work in the hottest spot in Aralith with naught but a stone box to rest in.
Aside from a shelf of non-perishable foods, there was nothing else in the guardhouse. Khate exited the way she’d come in and went to see if Bryn had had any better luck.
He was just finishing up his search when she arrived.
“Well?” she asked.
“The place is barer than a baby’s bottom,” he said. “The poor sops didn’t even have a single change of clothes.”
Khate stepped back out into the heart of the volcano and looked around. There had to be a cave or hidden vault of some kind, but, as her eyes scanned the walls all around her, she didn’t see anything. There was nothing except dirt and lava in every direction.
The stone wasn’t here. A whole month, her life savings, and hundreds of miles of travel, and she couldn’t find the stone. The map clearly pointed to the northern end of the island. Maybe it wasn’t in the volcano. But then where? This was the only logical place to hide it: in a place where no one would dare go.
“Where no sane person would go,” Khate muttered to herself.
Spinning around, her gaze settled on the statue of the dragon, fire and smoke coming from its nostrils. She was immediately drawn once more to the eyes—those bright, teal-colored eyes. Could it be that simple?
There were two of them, though. Only one of them could be the stone. Khate approached cautiously, careful to avoid the flames. Stepping onto its left wing, she climbed up onto the dragon’s back and sat down on its neck as if there was a saddle.
“Hey, what are you doing?” Bryn asked.
“I don’t know yet,” Khate replied without losing her focus.
She leaned forward and, looking from side to side, examined the stones. Both were intricately cut, both teal, both reflecting the light of the fire and the lava all around. Which one?
A shimmer caught Khate’s attention, and she crawled as close to the leftmost eye as she could. Something writhed beneath the surface of the stone, like a swirling tornado.
That’s got to be it. I’ve found it, she thought.
Khate reached down to her waist and pulled out a knife. Sticking the tip of the blade behind the gem, she began to pry it from its home. After a few moments of struggling, it popped free into her waiting palm.
She lifted it into the air and stared at it. The faint outline of a shield was etched on the surface. Xyrth. Khate had found the stone of Xyrth, God of War.
“I’ve got it!” she proclaimed triumphantly.
“Great,” Bryn said. “Now can we leave? I’ve had enough of this place.”
Before Khate could move, the stone that made up the right eye came loose and fell to the ground. She stared down at it from her perch.
The fire coming out of the dragon’s nostrils stopped, and then the volcano shook. Khate wrapped her arms around the statute’s neck to prevent from falling. She looked over at Bryn, but he was still on his feet, staring at her, eyes wide and mouth agape.
A crumbling sound caused her to look down at the statue. Beginning at the dragon’s head, a small crack was snaking its way toward her.
“Get off of there, now!” Bryn shouted.
Khate scrambled along its back and jumped to the ground. Running up next to Bryn, she turned around.
Fissures in the clay were spreading like a spider web across the dragon’s body. A chunk of clay fell off the statue, revealing bright red scales beneath.
“That can’t be good,” Khate said.
“Run!” Bryn yelled.
17
The setting sun cast long shadows on the water as the Wave Wraith sailed into Berxley. Two additional ships from Havan accompanied them, one flying Havan’s colors at Maya’s request. Using the Soul Shade, Maya turned the flag of the third ship into that of Kent.
As they’d decided earlier, Berxley needed to see a show of force and unity if they were to respect Maya as their queen. But Maya hadn’t come solely to exact Berxley’s allegiance—she came to quash their rebellion.
Maya knew this would be the most difficult trial she had yet faced as queen. The very thought of using force to push an entire kingdom into doing her will seemed too much like something her father would do—the very opposite of what she was trying to convey in her rule.
At the same time, to ignore the multiple assassination attempts on her life would only invite more. She needed to make a statement, and she could think of none better than putting down the most vocal of the kingdoms.
Ships that lingered in the bay sailed out of the way of the incoming mini-fleet, though in truth there was plenty of room to sail around. Berxley’s harbor was the largest in all of Aralith—two thick walls built into the ocean floor wrapped around the harbor on either side like a claw.
Farrow walked up beside her at the rail of the quarterdeck.
“It reminds me of Shadowhold,” Maya said.
“Hmm?” Farrow said.
“The walls around the harbor,” she answered. “They remind me of the Crystal Cove back home.”
“It was built that way on purpose,” the captain said from the helm. “The Crystal Cove naturally affords Shadowhold a measure of protection from attacking forces, in that it only allows a few ships to come in at a time. The king wanted the same measure of protection for our country’s largest port, but on a bigger, grander scale.”
“It serves a second purpose though,” Maya added. “It increases anchoring space, allowing for more affordable docking and thus increasing the number of citizens who have boats. A great majority of those are fishing boats. A higher supply of fish means lower prices, which encourages people to spend and keeps the economy going.”
“Look at you,” Farrow said. “Someone was paying attention to her tutor.”
“My tutor didn’t teach me anything beyond how to curtsey. My Uncle Khal taught me everything else,” Maya said, frowning.
“Are you okay?” Farrow asked.
“I don’t like it that we split up,” Maya answered.
“You know it’s for the best,” Farrow said. “We needed at least two of your people on Havan’s ships. They have the authority to make split-second decisions that may prove necessary if things go sour.”
“So the grand marshal and his second—Jade I think her name was?—went aboard the Godspear,” Farrow said, “and that other woman…”
“Ev—” Maya almost said her mother’s name, but then realized no one else besides their friends were aware that the dead queen lived. “Riley,” she said instead.
“Right,” Farrow said, nodding. “Riley commands the Alexander.”
“That ship is named after my father?” Maya asked.
Farrow shook his head. “I don’t know, but it would seem so. Perhaps it was honorary for the benefits he brought Havan, like he did here in bolstering the trade market.”
“Normally a strong economy is a good thing,” Maya mused. “But I’m beginning to see a downside my father hadn’t thought through: with their increased wealth and health, Berxley—above all the other kingdoms—has the capacity to stand on its own two feet.”
They don’t need us, Merva said.
Of course. Why hadn’t she seen it?
“They don’t want us,” Maya said in realization. “We created this. They must have been looking for an opportunity to leave for years, fear of my father likely the only thing keeping them from following through. But now that he’s gone…”
They’ll do anything to hold on to their autonomy, Merva finished for her.
Ahead, a welcoming committee of nearly fifty soldiers was walki
ng out onto the main dock. They were forty feet away when Maya blurted out, “Turn around! Turn around now!”
The captain didn’t hesitate and spun the helm all the way to the right. The ship steadily began turning.
“What’s wrong?” Farrow asked.
“It’s a trap,” Maya said. Even as she said the words, the great iron gate between the harbor’s two walls began to close.
“How could it be a trap?” Farrow replied. “They didn’t even know we were coming.”
“Of course they did,” Maya said, snorting. “They baited us.”
Farrow wrinkled his brow in confusion.
“The assassins,” Maya said. “They were never meant to kill me, or rather they probably were, just weren’t expected to succeed. That’s why they were wearing Berxlian colors. It didn’t make any sense to me at the time, because if you were trying to kill someone, you’d try to conceal your identity, not reveal it. But they wanted us to know it was them. They knew we couldn’t ignore such a blatant attack on the crown without creating further unrest.”
Farrow crossed his arms. “How do you know this is all some plot to lure you here? For all you know they could close those gates every day at sunset to keep the rabble out.”
“We’ve got company,” the captain said.
Six galleys left their ports and took up a defensive position in front of the gate.
“Still think they aren’t after us?” Maya asked.
“My argument is withdrawn,” Farrow said. “What do we do? Surrender?”
“We fight,” Maya said.
“What?” Farrow asked. “Three against six? And an impenetrable wall?”
“Maya Drygo!” a voice called out.
Maya ran to the starboard side of the ship and looked down over the railing. A man in a lieutenant’s uniform stood at the very edge.
“You are hereby charged with treason against the crown and will be punished to the fullest extent of the law,” the man shouted, reading from a scroll. “You and all your possessions are to be seized or destroyed in accordance with edict three-three-eight of the Berxlian criminal court. Surrender now, and we’ll see that you are granted a fair trial.”
“Right,” Maya said so only those nearest her could hear. “ ‘fair trial’ translates to ‘sword in the back.’ No thank you.” Then, more loudly, she yelled, “Battle stations, everyone!”
The lieutenant folded up his scrolls, turned, and walked down the pier coming to a stop in front of his men.
Raising his hand in the air, he said, “Ready!”
They all drew bows and nocked an arrow.
“Take cover!” Farrow called out to those on the deck.
“Aim!” the lieutenant shouted.
Maya gripped the rail of the ship and delved down within herself, reaching for her power. The water beside the dock began to stir. A few soldiers glanced toward the sound, but many kept their eyes ahead, waiting for the command.
“F—”
Water burst into the air beside the dock as a magnificent sea serpent emerged from the bay and roared.
“Fire!” the captain said, turning and pointing toward the serpent.
Fifty arrows soared through the air and passed through the illusion with no effect.
“Again!” the captain shouted, but before another volley could be loosed, the sea serpent roared once more and attacked the dock with its jaws wide open.
Soldiers screamed and jumped from the pier as it closed in, tearing up the planking in its wake.
“What is that thing?” Farrow asked in shock.
“Don’t worry about that,” Maya said. “Concentrate on escaping. We need to make it out before the gates close.”
The Wave Wraith continued forward as fast as she could go, the Godspear and the Alexander flanking her. Berxley’s blockade didn’t budge as their ships drew nearer. In the distance, a popping sound split the air. Something whooshed past them and slammed into the water ten feet away, sending a geyser into the sky.
“They shot at us!” Farrow cried out, incredulous. “They actually shot at us!”
“Full speed ahead!” Maya shouted. “And keep your heads down.”
The space between the blockade and the Wave Wraith continued to close. The ship on the far left fired another cannon, aimed straight for Maya’s ship, but it hit the Godspear instead. Wood cracked and splintered, and the smaller vessel immediately began taking on water.
“No!” Maya yelled. “Stop! Khal and Jade are down there. We have to help them.”
“If we alter our course or reduce our speed we’ll be next,” the captain said, shaking his head.
“I am ordering you to—”
You know he’s right, Merva quickly said.
The captain stood wide eyed, frozen, as if he was unsure what to do.
Maya closed her eyes and gritted her teeth. She didn’t have time to debate this. At last, she shook her head and said, “To the gate!”
“What are we going to do about that blockade?” the captain asked.
“The only thing you can do,” Farrow replied.
“You want me to ram them?” the captain asked. “Are you mad? It’ll damage the ship, and then we’ll be joining the Godspear at the bottom of the ocean.”
“Got any better ideas?” Farrow asked.
“I might,” Maya said.
Maya commanded the sea serpent to head for the center of the blockade. Diving into the water, it snaked its way toward the front-most ship—rising up from the water as it neared—and roared, then headed straight for them.
Berxley’s ships started to turn. The illusion of the pier being shredded to pieces might have worked when no one was on it, but her serpent couldn’t destroy the ships. It wasn’t real. She made the serpent dive beneath the water just as the Wave Wraith closed the gap, but it hadn’t been enough. Maya’s ship made contact on both sides and continued to push the other ships out of the way.
“Ready yourselves!” Maya called out.
Soldiers from both ships jumped across the small gap between vessels and boarded the Wave Wraith.
Maya didn’t know what to do—they hadn’t planned on being boarded. She did the first thing that came to mind and created an imaginary army. The deck was suddenly filled with two dozen men wearing Shadowhold’s red and black. The illusion’s sudden appearance caused everyone, including Farrow, to hesitate.
That wouldn’t last for long, though. As soon as the first combatant engaged one of the illusions, their sword would pass right through. The best Maya could hope for was confusion, but she would take whatever she could get.
As she began descending the stairs of the quarterdeck to engage the enemy, a migraine washed over her, causing her to misstep, tumble, and hit her head on the main deck. Sitting up, Maya touched her forehead. She pulled her hand away and blood greeted her.
Maya winced as another headache took control.
The first enemy reached her illusion and took a swing. The imaginary soldier raised his weapon to defend and… successfully parried the blow.
If Maya wasn’t already sitting, she would have fallen down.
What? she wondered. Merva, how is that possible?
I… don’t know, the goddess replied.
Maya stood, steadying herself on a crate, and held on tightly as she tried to control each of the illusions. An army of shadow guards summarily cut down each boarder that landed on the Wave Wraith. All the while, Maya’s ship kept pressing forward, wood scraping against wood.
The gate continued to close.
If they didn’t break free and sail the distance in the next several minutes, the opening would be too small to fit. But what could she do? Her illusions wouldn’t help on that large of a scale.
Or would they? Maya wondered.
If the soldiers were solid, what’s to say a boat wouldn’t be, either. Another migraine pummeled her and she fell to her knees, hanging on to a crate for support.
You can’t do that; you’ve overextended yourself too m
uch as it is, Merva said.
And if I don’t we’ll all die, Maya replied. I have to try.
Maya ran back up onto the quarterdeck to get a better view of the situation. Farrow and the shadow guards endured against the Berxlians, while the Alexander was engaged in a similar fashion with another of Berxley’s ships, and the harbor’s gate continued to close with each passing second.
The sea serpent burst from the water once more, letting out a howl. Farrow turned at the sound, then ran for cover. Maya directed the monster to ram the ship on the right. Its head collided with a solid crack, and the ship broke free from the Wave Wraith’s starboard side.
“It worked,” Maya said to no one in particular. “It actually worked.”
The sea serpent rose up high and slammed its body down into the ship, severing it into two pieces. Sails and flotsam floated in the water in the serpent’s wake.
Without the other ship to pin her in, the Wave Wraith surged forward once more. The port-side vessel rotated, readying its cannons to fire. A swell in the water caused the ship to rise.
The concussive force of an explosion shook the Wave Wraith, but the cannonball soared above them, slamming into the west tower of the harbor wall. Chunks of stone broke free and tumbled into the water.
Berxley’s ship soared into the air atop the sea serpent’s head.
Farrow gasped on the main deck below.
The ship tumbled off the monster and smashed down on top of another Berxlian ship, destroying them both.
Still, the Wave Wraith raced forward. Maya gripped the rail and watched, counting down each second until the gap was no longer large enough for them to fit.
Ten, nine, eight.
We’re going to die, she thought.
Six, five, four.
The Wave Wraith entered the breach between the walls.
Three, two, one.
The ship shook as the great iron gate clipped the back end of the Wave Wraith. They veered to the right, but emerged safely from Berxley’s harbor.
Farrow collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily. The last of Berxley’s soldiers were either dead or dying.
Maya anxiously watched the ever-shrinking gap of the harbor gate, waiting for the smaller Alexander to slip through. But the gate closed, locking her friends on the other side.
Soul Shade (Soul Stones Book 2) Page 12
