by A D Lombardo
“Very well, Mekael, but I should not risk my dragon form with so many outsiders in the woods. We will run up the mountain to the winter caves until the battle ends.
Gail nodded. “Wise choice, Kai. Make haste; we will report after the battle.”
“You are—with me, Rayna.” He let his tone fall between a question and a statement.
“Always,” she winked at him with understanding.
Mekael and Gail darted off toward the action without another word while Kai, Rayna, and Smoke ran in the opposite direction. Deeper into the woods, Kai stopped. “You know I mean to help, right?”
“I meant what I said,” Rayna replied. “I am always with you, I may not be able to use magic to fight, but my skills with a sword have improved. I only wish I had my bow since it is my weapon of choice. You mean to travel as your snow wolf, do you not?”
Kai nodded in agreement. “They do not know I can become anything but a dragon. I can only hope my slow collection of power went unnoticed. If we can slip through the wintery forest to the battle before anyone detects us, the Guardians will have no choice but to let us fight.”
Pleased with their plan, Kai took hold of his white crystal and transformed.
♦ ♦ ♦
Hidden on the edge of chaos, Kai shifted back to his natural form. Flames and smoke licked at the sky as Katori men and women battled against an enemy set on their destruction. The scene unfolded, and he suddenly realized there was a new decision to make. The enemy was a mix of Diu and Milnos men fighting together—coordinated, seasoned soldiers. Half of them were his own people.
The battle made him sick. How could Diu attack innocent women and children? He watched a Milnos warrior scoop up a young child as her mother pounded his back, and the man ran her through with his sword. How could his men, Diu men, allow such atrocities?
Kai momentarily froze, torn by his loyalty to both sides. Rayna said something, but the devastation stole his focus, and her words faded into the background. Along the ground, something brushed his ankles. Deep green vines scurried up the trees concealing their location. He turned to look at her.
“It is hard to watch, but we cannot hide. I cannot fight against Diu, but I cannot stand by while my Katori family gets slaughtered. I know what I need to do.” He motioned to the green curtain of ivy.
Rayna moved the vines to create an opening. Before they got far, Kempery-man Dresnor and Captain Drew came into view. Their swords lashed at their assailants with fury and determination. His men were fighting with the Katori villagers. “Look, Dresnor and Drew fight for Katori. Why?” Kai asked, more to himself than Rayna. “See if you can find a bow to fight with, but be careful.”
Kai darted into the fray and scooped up the first sword he could find. The fallen Milnos weapon was well-balanced but heavy, and the steal was brightly polished with nary a nick to its edge. Angry embers danced, spreading the flames to three mounds of hay. Women ran for cover with small children wrapped in their arms, while other women battled alongside the men. Arrows flew overhead dropping two Milnosian soldiers and Kai looked back to see Rayna nod as she notched another arrow.
A Milnos man twice his size charged at Kai with sword drawn. Flames reflected off the warrior’s silver-and-black raven armor. Sweat and blood dripped from the man’s bristly face. With speed and experience, Kai pivoted clear of the sword swipe. A smile curled the corner of the Milnos man’s lip. “You have skill, little Katori trash. No matter, I will beat you into submission. Join the others in chains, or I will kill you here and now.” The man spat in the mud. “And I do you hope you chose the latter.”
Unmoved, Kai let the man take the lead. The first strike came swiftly, but Kai deflected, studying the man’s stance and recovery. Each powerful blow came heavy and fierce; anger grew in the man’s eyes as Kai bested him. The Milnos warrior’s frustration began to show, and he pressed harder, a move Kai knew would be the man’s undoing. Within moments, the larger man overstepped, giving Kai his opening to dispatch him with his dagger.
More Milnos soldiers charged from the left, and Kai ran in their direction, avoiding the Diu men on the right. Moving from man to man, Kai outsmarted men twice his age with ease. His Katori speed and years of training left these men helpless to defend themselves.
As the rain started, Kai felt magic lift the hair on the back of his neck. It was an unnatural rain, but he was thankful it slowed the progress of the fire. Across the battlefield, he spotted five Katori Guardians, Mekael and Gail among them. Their skill unequaled, they left a trail of bodies in their wake; soldiers from Diu and Milnos alike were cut down. While they outwardly used no obvious magic, Kai sensed the occasional burst of energy from them.
With a clear opening, Kai joined his men. “Fancy meeting you here,” Kai shouted, taking on two Milnos soldiers trying to flank Dresnor. “What is happening?”
Dresnor swapped blows with his opponent. “I told you, Nola has men searching for you. When I tried to explain, they called me a liar and a traitor.” Another man charged Dresnor and pulled him into the heat of battle.
Drew continued. “Regent Maxwell ordered this forest cleared on behalf of Queen Nola. These men claimed you were dead since no one had seen you for months!”
Kai continued to fight but shuttered at the fact this was his fault. It was clear the battle was under Milnos leadership, but the Diu men fought with fury. And, why not? They thought their Prince was dead; they would most certainly fight without hesitation. Somehow, Kai needed to get their attention. It was the only way to stop the carnage.
After a quick scan of the periphery, Kai spotted the men in charge: Five riders set away from the battle, their uniforms spotless and decorated with metals. With them stood two flag bearers, one Diu and one Milnos—the man with a horn. “I am going to put a stop to this,” Kai shouted to Dresnor. At least until he heard Davi scream, “Naia, look out!”
Kai turned to see a brut of a man charging Naia, Davi’s wife. Her small stature was no match for this rugged soldier. She deflected the first two blows with her sword, but the man’s force knocked her to the ground. Kai did not hesitate; he sucked at the air and held it tight. The perception of time slowed to a crawl and the air thickened. Barely affected by the alteration, Kai raced across the village center, pushing against time.
The Milnosian’s sword swung slow and steady; the man was ready to strike Naia’s defenseless form. It did not matter to Kai who or what anyone saw; he used every ounce of speed he had to traverse the field and reach Naia. Her face was frozen in fear, hands raised to deflect the oncoming blow. Placing himself between Naia and the advancing sword, Kai blocked the strike and punched the unsuspecting man.
As time resumed, the man flew backward twenty feet, landing with a thud on the ground. The man did not get up. He laid cupping his jaw, wailing in pain.
Naia thanked Kai with a nod and darted to Davi. Dresnor and Drew stood in shock and awe at how Kai moved. More men charged, and the fight continued.
Kai darted past them to reach the commanders. The Milnos general, a well-decorated man, held his nose to the air.
Kai shouted. “Stop this battle at once!”
The man turned his head. “Who is this boy? Take him away, chain him with the others,” the general shouted.
Frustrated, Kai turned to address the Diu captain, a man he recognized, although the man’s name eluded him. “I order you to stand down! Call the men back!”
“Or what, runt?” the Milnos general shouted, kicking Kai with his boot.
The blow knocked Kai into the Diu Captain’s horse, but he did not fall. Determined to make the general listen, Kai yanked the man’s leg, pulling him from his saddle. “Or I will consider this an act of war against Diu! My father, King Iver, will put you in chains. Diu is my country, and you have no authority over these people.”
“Petulant child, how dare you touch me.” The general rose to his feet and dusted his uniform. “Do you know who I am?”
“Do you know who I am?”
Kai shouted back. “I am one you seek, Prince Kai Galloway. I am not dead. Call your men off, or I will toss you and your pretty uniform into the middle of the battle.”
The Diu captain hopped from his horse. “Sound the retreat!” he called to the bugler. “Your Highness, Prince Kai Galloway . . . Blessed be Alenga, is it you? My name is Beekman,” he bowed in respect. “I serve King Iver.”
Kai finally matched the name with the face. He gave a weary smile. “It is truly me.”
The sound of retreat sounded across the field, and the soldiers pulled back into formation, sorting into Milnos and Diu units. Dresnor and Drew joined Kai, their swords drawn in defense. The general grumbled and complained, but Kai ignored the man.
Kai looked from the Diu soldier to the angry general, “Captain Beekman, escort the general back to Diu. He will answer for his crimes against my people. These people may be Katori-born, but this is Diu soil, and I will not stand to have my people attacked. He had no right to kill innocent men, women, and children.”
“You have no authority over me, boy.” The general pulled his arm free from the captain. “Your own queen sent us here to fetch you and deal with the riffraff on Diu land.”
A second trumpet call sounded, and the Diu soldiers folded around Kai. Beekman drew his sword. “Take this man into custody,” the captain ordered, pointing at the general. “Your Highness, may we escort you home? There is a ship near the tip of Baden Lake, the Jadear. We can be back in Diu within a day.”
Kai shook his head. “Thank you for the offer, Captain Beekman, but I must decline. My Kempery-man Dresnor will see me home on a ship departing from Albey.”
Dresnor’s eyes gleamed. “Actually, I must insist, your Highness.” His Kempery-man motioned to Captain Beekman. “your safety is my primary concern. We should travel with these Diu men; I can send for Rayna in the coming days.”
Rayna darted through the crowd, Smoke at her side. “I am here, Kempery-man Dresnor, and ready to travel.” She took Kai’s hand and squeezed it.
“Ahh, yes,” Dresnor leaned in close. “I should have guessed she would not be far from your side,” he whispered, barely loud enough for Kai to hear.
Before Kai could protest, Beekman called for horses and returned to his mount.
Unable to protest, Kai climbed up onto the offered horse. Drew assisted Rayna before climbing onto his mount. The heavy rain matched Kai’s weary heart. Watching him depart, Davi stood with Gail and Mekael in the center of a smoldering village. Their somber expression twisted Kai’s stomach in knots. Getting forced to go back home was not what he had planned, but he knew that fighting to save Davi and his people was a just cause. He glanced up toward Thade Mountain and remembered Sabastian’s words—do not deviate.
Chapter 5
Winter Festival
The Jadear was not the Dragaron. The Grand Duke Dante’s cutter sailed swiftly, but this ship moved like a fat whale on sand. Captain Beekman was distant, as were his men. Not rude, but they did not extend Kai the respect a prince deserved, even by Diu standards. These men were in no hurry to return to Diu. In fact, Kai noticed they were using the wrong sails, and they were set at an incorrect angle to use the breeze efficiently.
Rayna leaned against the railing, her long hair blowing in the wasted wind. “We are not moving at a swift pace, even for this vessel,” she whispered. “First, the ship’s captain removed the general’s shackles, insisting it would be enough having the General confined to quarters. Looks to me like the crew fear the Milnos General, and now we are barely floating in a breeze that I am fairly certain could blow me across the lake without this ridiculous ship.”
Kai laughed. “Want me to toss you overboard in a basket?” he jested.
“You laugh, but you know I am right.” Rayna pulled her hair together and secured it with a leather tie.
He knew she was right. The crew had too much familiarity with the Milnos men. “There is little we can do but make the best of this and get to Diu.”
“I noticed Dresnor and Drew are keeping their distance. Who is ignoring who?” She nudged Kai toward them.
The gap between him and his men narrowed, and Kai felt a lump form in his throat. There were no words to explain where Rayna and Kai had been all this time. Dresnor either had to be angry or accept the lie that he’d worked to pay off his debt for the cure of their sickness, but he could not tell his friend the truth. Still, they could not remain at odds. “Dresnor, I meant to tell you earlier,” Kai addressed his Kempery-man, “thank you for helping my friends. It means a lot to me that you defended them.”
Stone cold eyes stared back at Kai. The silence between them lingered, but neither man spoke. Captain Drew broke their standoff. “Well, nobody calls Dresnor a liar or a traitor.” He chuckled halfhearted.
Dresnor remained stoic. “I could not stand by and let anyone attack innocent people, Diu-born citizens or not. They did not deserve to be killed, burned in their homes, or dragged away in chains.”
“Well, thank you again.” Kai nodded with respect and turned to walk away.
“Your Highness, are you returning to Diu for good?” Dresnor asked as if he already knew the answer but wanted to hear it from Kai himself.
This was not a conversation Kai wanted to have. Fresh after any battle, emotions ran high. Nightmares plagued the noblest of men, and he knew Dresnor bared the weight of every choice he made in a fight. Those lives were on his hands, good or bad. Just looking at Dresnor, Kai could tell his Kempery-man had slept very little in recent weeks. Kai blamed himself for putting his man through such tribulations.
“Let me be as honest as I can, Dresnor.” Kai stepped in close to his friend. “I love my father and Diu, but there is a new part of my life now that calls me to know my mother’s people. Do I really need to choose? Can I not visit my grandfather in peace? Can I not explore the world without abandoning my people?”
“Unfortunately, you are a prince,” Dresnor responded with an emotional distance Kai had not felt in years. “Diu is a small kingdom, which allows many freedoms other countries do not have. Our traditions are lenient compared to Nebea and Milnos, but it is time you took on the responsibility of the eldest heir to the throne.”
“Are we no longer friends, Dresnor? There was a time you trusted me with your life. Do you mean to say my loyalty is in question?”
“Loyalty?” Dresnor glared. “You wish to discuss loyalty? I have spent months waiting with no visit from you, only letters delivered by Shane. Do you have so little regard to my service you could not come yourself?”
There was no denying Kai had put his own desires above Diu and his men, but he did not back down. “I ordered you home,” he reminded Dresnor.
Rage boiled in Dresnor’s eyes, and the warrior latched onto Kai’s shirt. “You have no idea what your order meant for us. Redmon and Albey finally went home to Diu; they’ve spent these past months in prison for abandoning their post.”
Drew’s hand clasped around Dresnor’s, and their three faces came together. “Let go, Dresnor. You are drawing attention to us. Your Highness, our apologies, we are here to serve, but you left us little choice. It was clear to me that you graced us with a visit earlier today, but you had no intentions of coming home. I sense even now that you will return to Katori the first chance you get.”
Dresnor released Kai’s shirt, and the three men took a step back. Kai brushed his shirt smooth. “I will not justify this insult.” He felt the heat well in his veins. “Remember your place, Dresnor. You will not address your Prince in this manner again.”
♦ ♦ ♦
Months of adventure made Kai’s return to Diu feel bittersweet. Captain Beekman led the march through the city. Kai rode between Dresnor and Drew, Rayna rode behind, and Smoke kept pace, running beside her horse. The citizens were a mix of sweet and sour. Some cheered while others booed his return. Their behavior made Kai wonder if returning was a mistake. How he wished he had consulted the Elders, or at least his grandfather Lucca, for advi
ce.
Diu had been his home for seventeen years, but Diu no longer felt like home after his time in Katori. The city was loud, and the people were brash. Kai saw the separation between the classes as he never had before. In Rimtown, the poorest of the poor offered him no welcome. Midtown greeted him with halfhearted cheers and scowls. One person shouted, “Go back to Katori! You are no prince of Diu.”
The words hurt. Entering Hightown did not improve things. More people cheered, but a few held their noses high and appeared displeased by his return. On nearly every street corner along their path, Milnos guards glared and whispered. The farther into the city they went, the more he noticed the Milnosian men outnumbering the Diu soldiers.
The stroll through the palace felt awkward. Many of the faces he expected to see had changed. The usual guards were replaced with strangers; even the Mryken guard dogs were different. Nobody was the same, not even the servants. Many glared at him and offered no sign of respect, making Kai feel like a stranger in a strange land. Eager to find some sense of normalcy, he used his Beastmaster magic to connect with the Mryken guard dogs. They held their posture but greeted him with the respect of a Beastmaster.
The guards escorted him to his room, but they remained outside his closed door. Kai leaned against the door and wished Smoke were with him, but then he figured Rayna would sleep better if the great black wolf stayed with her.
His once-stately room felt excessive and wasteful for one person. Walking around his desk to the shelves, he let his fingers traced the spine of an old book. Everything was just as he had left it. The only thing missing was the personal items he’d asked Kendra to burn.
“I did not think you were ever coming back.” Seth’s voice startled Kai, and he spun around to see his half-brother’s silhouette in the doorway, his arm in a sling.
Kai offered a kind smile. “You’ve grown, little brother.”
