by CK Dawn
“You wish,” he murmured weakly.
She leaned over him, smoothing the sweat-soaked hair back from his forehead. “Don’t think me taking care of you means I’m not still mad. I am. I’m so mad at you, Davi.”
“I know.” He coughed and wheezed.
“You didn’t stand up for me.” Her voice grew quieter. “You left me behind.”
She stopped speaking when the first drops of rain landed on the deck around them. Davion would do anything to hear her voice again, but a chill raced through him. Water crashed over the side of the boat, drenching both him and the Princess as more rain came.
He pushed himself away from Rissa who was scrambling to her feet. Her fiery hair hung limp about her face and her dress was not in much better shape. When he noticed the blue tinge to her lips, he forced himself to his feet.
“We need to get below deck,” he called over the now thunderous rain.
Before she could respond, the boat rocked as it rose on the crest of a wave. Water crashed over the side and Rissa was thrown forward. Her shoulder collided with the wooden rail and her scream was cut off as her mouth filled with water from another crashing wave.
The boat rocked again and she was thrown to her knees.
Fear surged through him as he watched her knock about, giving him the strength to stand and dart towards her. He wrapped strong arms around her waist and hauled her to her feet.
She let out a scared whimper, her feet frozen to the spot.
“I got you,” Davi said, his voice rumbling right by her ear.
He didn’t know where he got the moment of strength after being so sick, but he kept a firm hold on her as they stumbled their way toward the cabin.
He yanked the door open and pushed her in before shutting it behind him.
With the rain shut away from them and the storm raging out on the sea, her words came back to him. She was right. He hadn’t stood up for her.
“How was I supposed to disobey my king? Your father? Not to mention your brother? Even if I had stood up for you, it would’ve made no difference.”
Someone coughed to his right and for the first time, he noticed the others in the room. Trystan, Alixa, and Avery huddled nearby, wrapped in blankets. All eyes were on Rissa and Davi.
Rissa didn’t seem to notice their gazes. Her only focus was the man in front of her. She stepped closer. Close enough to touch. Close enough to kiss. And also, close enough to attack him.
She only looked like she wanted to do one of those things. Rissa had a way of staring straight through him, searing her disappointment into his skin. She could hurt him, torture him, using only her eyes.
Her lip quivered and she clamped her teeth down on it to force it to stop. “It would have mattered to me.”
She looked around at the others in the room and scowled when she stopped on her brother. She flicked her eyes between him and Davi. “You two are unbelievable.”
Trystan hated that his sister was with them on such a dangerous mission, but a part of him had also been relieved to see her. Ever since Alixa brought them the information about Isenore, guilt had been building up inside of him. He should have tried to convince his father Royce Eisner was not good enough for the Princess. Because he’d known. Maybe not the complete truth. But something had always been off about Eisner. Rissa had seen it. There was such fear in her when she found out the news.
As disappointed as he’d been about his impending marriage to Willow, he couldn’t imagine what Rissa had been feeling. Willow might not have been his first choice, but she was sweet and her family was loyal.
None of that could be said for Royce and his family. They’d betrayed the realm once twenty years before in the war and it seemed like they were doing it again.
Nearby, Davi dry-heaved into a bucket. Rissa didn’t move to help him. She sat in the corner of the room with her back up against the wall. She’d stripped off her soaking dress and replaced it with a pair of simple trousers and tunic from her pack – not clothes suitable for a princess, but good for what they would have to do. A blanket was spread across her legs, but she didn’t huddle beneath it as the rest of them did.
Her arm sat across her chest as her fingers clasped the simple gold pendant their father had given her. He didn’t think she’d taken it from around her neck since it was first placed there. Rissa looked up as if she too had been thinking about him. Her lips pressed together in a thin line and she dropped the pendant against her skin.
Trystan rose and walked towards her. It was their second day at sea and they were all ready to be done with this part of the journey. He glanced at Davi with a smirk.
“We won’t be able to get him on another ship.” He forced out a laugh.
“That’s fine,” she said, loud enough for him to hear. “He can stay in Sona. Oh wait, it’s only your sister you forbid to accompany you.”
“Ri.” He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?” She narrowed her eyes.
“Leaving you out of this.”
“You think that’s why I’m mad? Because I was left out?” She rose to face him. “Trystan, you didn’t believe in me. You still don’t. Admit it, you don’t think I’m capable of helping you.”
He was silent.
“Admit it,” she growled. “To you, I’m just a princess, nothing more. I’m meant to just marry that ass in Isenore and start popping out heirs.”
Alixa let out a chuckle. “Not happening now.”
“What?” Rissa glared at her then turned to her brother. “What does she mean? And for that matter, you still haven’t told me what the hell she’s even doing with you.”
“You should be thankful, Princess,” Alixa said. “My father has betrayed the realm and your marriage will never take place. Royce is a lout, anyways. My father’s treachery has saved you quite a fate.”
Rissa stumbled back as the boat lurched and clapped a hand across her lips. “You waited two days to tell me this?”
“If it makes you feel any better, they don’t want me here either.”
“Alixa,” Trystan growled. “You’re not helping.”
Trystan reached out and gripped Rissa’s shoulder. She flinched and he gripped her harder. “You’re with us now. There’s no turning back. Can we put this behind us?” He extended his other hand to touch her necklace, but she pushed him away.
Davi mumbled something unintelligible and lunged for the bucket once again. Rissa rushed to kneel at his side. As desperate as Trystan was to make things right, he didn’t stop her. He shook his head, a small smile coming to his lips as he watched the two of them together. They cared about each other and he knew Davi would protect her if ever he could not.
A crack of thunder shook the cabin and Trystan turned when he heard Alixa yelp. She was shaking. He dropped down beside her. “You okay?”
The floor tilted and she didn’t speak until she could force the words past the lump in her throat.
“Fine.” Her voice faltered.
“Have you ever been to Sona?” he asked, trying to recall all of the council meetings that had taken place in Sona when he was a child. Most of the dukes and other nobles brought their children, but he couldn’t remember Alixa being at any of them.
“I’d never been out of Isenore until your ceremony,” she admitted.
“How is that possible?” He hadn’t meant for his question to be as offensive as it sounded.
“Do you think I lie?” she snapped. “Not all of us were royal princes who could travel the realm at a whim just for the pure pleasure of it.”
“You presume to know me, Lady Alixa, when in fact, your ignorance is plain.”
Red spread across her cheeks. “And you presume to know your people when you are nothing but a fool.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“My father’s treachery shouldn’t have come as such a great surprise to you. It didn’t to me. Did you know Isenore is closer to Dreach-Dhoun castle than it is t
o the palace of Dreach-Sciene by half? Did you know our mines have been failing for years just as your crops have? I’ve been down in those mines many times for inspections. How often do you visit your farmers?”
When he was quiet, she nodded. “That’s what I thought. Your people are starving, Trystan. While you throw balls and train an army that has no chance without magic, real people are struggling. And you know what happens when people hurt, when they hunger? They are vulnerable to treachery. Dreach-Dhoun has been supplying many of the nobles in Dreach-Sciene. So, this mission of yours – whatever it is – probably won’t even make a difference.”
He started to speak, but she wasn’t done yet.
“I don’t know exactly what it is you’re planning to do in Sona, but your sister deserves as much of a chance at helping her people as you do. You don’t have the only claim on caring or on bravery.”
“You’re right,” Trystan finally said. “I don’t know everything as well as I should. I only found the extent of the realms troubles weeks ago. I don’t even know if I believe in this magic stuff.”
“Oh, it’s real. I’ve seen it used across the border in Dreach-Dhoun.”
“Maybe you’re right about my sister, too. I just can’t see straight when it comes to her. It’s my job to protect her.”
“Someone who loves her would be able to recognize she can protect herself.”
“How do you know she can?”
“Haven’t you seen the fight in her eyes?” Alixa stared at him and he knew what she said was true. He sighed loudly, trying to push away the protective instincts he’d had since the day his sister was born. His mother had died that day and at three-years-old, Trystan had known he had to take care of that baby.
She wasn’t a baby anymore.
He went to where Rissa was still kneeling beside Davion and pulled her to her feet. The boat rocked and he wrapped her in his arms. “If anything happens to you … I’m so sorry.”
“Do you believe in me, Trystan?”
“Always.”
She squeezed him back. “Then we can do this.”
That night was one of the worst of Trystan’s young life. The storm grew until he was sure it would break apart the boat and their mission would fail right there in the raging waters between Aldorwood and Sona. It would serve as a tragic ending to something that never truly began.
Trystan, Alixa, Avery, Rissa, and Davi huddled together for warmth. None of them slept as they listened to the creaking of the ship, the cracking of the wooden planks. The single window in the cabin shattered as a plank broke free and slammed through it, spraying glass inward. After that, the howling wind tunneled through the now open window, sounding as if a cyclone had entered the space. It blew their belongings about and brought with it spraying rain.
They were drenched and freezing, convinced they were going to die.
Davi sat up and scooted back next to Rissa. They were both shaking as he gathered her into his arms. Trystan watched them. The scene was the only thing keeping his mind occupied.
“You have to forgive me,” Davi yelled over the wind. “I can’t die with you mad at me.”
“We aren’t going to die, you idiot.” She curled into him.
“Then I can’t live with you mad.”
“Fine. You’re forgiven. Happy?”
He rested his chin on her shoulder and nudged her face with his nose.
A smile curved her lips.
He pressed his lips to the side of her face and lingered. “At least if I die, I get to do it with a pretty girl in my arms.”
“We aren’t going to die.”
“If you say so.”
Trystan glanced at Alixa who was watching the scene in fascination as the only respite from their fear. She leaned close to his ear. “Are they allowed to be in love?”
He knew what she meant. The Princess and the King’s ward. “No,” Trystan said back quietly as if they were conspiring. “But I’m not sure they know they’re in love. At least, Davi doesn’t.”
“Hmmm. Interesting. You people might not be as boring as I expected.”
He knew it was meant to be offensive, but he laughed. It was cut short by a loud crack followed by the sounds of wood splitting in half. A large pole flashed by the window before crashing into the water.
Captain Andric started barking out orders to his men who ran out onto the treacherous deck. He then turned to his passengers. “No need to panic. That was just the mast.”
“The mast,” Trystan yelled. “Don’t we need that to sail?”
Captain Andric closed his eyes for a brief moment. “Yep.” Then he walked away without further explanation.
“Like I said,” Davion groaned. “We’re all going to die.”
The rest of the night passed in a state between panic and disbelief. Morning brought an end to the rain and with it came calmer waters.
Trystan was too exhausted to be happy. They’d been warned by the other captains what going out in such a storm could mean.
The deck was trashed. Water still stood in some places and other areas were cracked and broken. The mast had long since sunk, leaving behind a broken off pole.
As Trystan looked out on the water, he saw the best thing he’d ever seen in his life. Land. They’d made it to Sona intact and alive. It was cause for celebration and all he could feel was relief and a realization of how close they’d come to being fish food.
Their journey would only get tougher from here, but they were all in it together. He just had to trust. Trust that what they were doing was possible. Trust that it would make a difference. Trust that his companions could take care of themselves.
The captain’s men brought out long oars and began rowing them stroke by stroke towards shore.
Twelve
The arrival at this dock was worlds away from the one they’d left in Aldorwood since the sun was shining, and with the warmth came a promise of hope. Or maybe the hope was more relief they were still alive and standing on solid ground. Either way, four travelers stood on the docks soaking up the scenery in contentment while waiting for Avery to acquire them a wagon that would be willing to take them to the Duchess of Sona’s estate.
Sails of every color flapped in the wind against the brilliant canvas of blue sky. The ships that sat docked along the pier were in much better shape than the one they had made their crossing on. These ships were not all fishing vessels. Trading was also a huge part of the livelihood on Sona and every one of those ships were decorated to try and outdo the other.
A web of netting and ropes held sailors high up in the air like flies caught in a spider’s trap and they called out to one another in jest as they worked. Even though these people were suffering the hardships of every other realm in Dreach-Sciene, the air still vibrated with the promise of today being a better day.
The mid-morning sun was relentless and Rissa removed her cloak in response to the heat. It didn’t take long for the sailors to notice. Their good-natured comradery turned to wolf-whistling and cat-calling. Something they surely wouldn’t have done to any well-bred lady, but Rissa, dressed in the tight britches and silk shirt with her red mane of hair flowing freely down her back, looked nothing like a princess. Trystan glanced over at his sister in irritation. “Rissa, if you insist on wearing that ridiculous get-up, at least cover yourself with your cloak.”
“I think not, brother. It’s hot and I prefer not to sweat.”
“Good idea,” Alixa removed her cloak as well and the whistling increased two-fold since she was dressed similarly. Gone was the torn, soggy dress she’d worn for the past two days. Someone, most likely Rissa, had provided her with a white cotton tunic and britches, tied tight at the waist with a red sash. Mid-calf boots and her rapier hanging at her side, there should have been nothing ladylike or appealing about Alixa’s appearance, but Trystan found himself shocked at how the clothing hugged the curves he didn’t realize her thin frame possessed. Heat rushed to his cheeks as his appraising gaze met her mocking star
e, one brow raised high in question.
“For the love of God, both of you cover up right now before you cause those sailors to fall from their perches in shock.” He growled the order but to his dismay was totally ignored.
Alixa glanced at Rissa. “Is he always this uptight?”
Rissa nodded, her green eyes sparkling with laughter. “Unfortunately, yes. Most days that stick up his ass is shoved in sideways. But I’ll tell you a secret. Ignore him long enough and he’ll go away. Now, I don’t know about you, but I’m dying of thirst. Shall we see if we can find an open tavern?”
Trystan sighed as he watched the two women make their way down the dock, chatting and leaving the boys to carry their belongings. Rubbing the back of his neck in frustration, he threw a question Davi’s way. “When did I lose control?”
A deep chuckled emanated from his second in command. “Oh, Toha. I find it hilarious you thought you were ever in control of those two.” He bent down and hefted three bags over his broad shoulder. “The thought of a drink appeals very much right now. An ale may even settle my stomach.”
Trust Davi to think of ale as a cure for an ailment.
The tavern was easy enough to find. It was the second building on the pier, next to the trader’s guild and it was open for business despite the early day. The gloomy interior was quite the contrast from the sunshine outside and it took a moment for their eyes to adjust. Trystan wondered idly why it was so dark in here considering it was mid-morning outside, but then he realized every window had been painted black to keep out the day. Obviously, the owner preferred to keep his patrons losing track of time when drowning their sorrows.
The place was comparable to any other tavern he’d ever been in. Stained, wooden tables placed at random around the large room, back dropped by a hefty stone hearth, cold at the moment. A few fire-blackened lanterns shed dim light over the already few patrons that occupied a shadowed corner. Behind the bar stood a pot-bellied, surly man, the glower on his face directed at the four entering his domain. You think he’d be a bit happier to see paying customers.
