Akillia's Reign (Puatera Online Book 4)

by Dawn Chapman

  I didn’t know how dangerous this thing was, but seeing my face, I was suddenly worried about the person on the screen.

  I could see where people would be on the edge of their seat, watching to see what I did, and thinking about what would happen if I died.

  And I saw a different side of things. The fact was I’d saved that little creature, and then I’d curled up with it and gone to sleep.

  “I’m appealing to everyone who isn’t a gamer, aren’t I?”

  “Nail on the head, sweetheart. People who never thought they could play a game are now watching, and that may mean they eventually buy in. That’s golden for us and, hopefully, for them.”

  Things started to form in my mind, ways I could get other people on my side, ways I could and would be able to entertain and win over the public betting and votes.

  I grinned as I shovelled more food into my mouth. “Jane, I’ve got a plan, but I’m not going to tell you anything.”

  I saw the wicked twinkle in her eyes. “That’s my girl.”

  “Now eat up, and we’ll get you back in. I’m not going to let you log out again until your scheduled reset, all right.”

  I finished the plate of food, wiping my mouth with gravy dripping all down the side of my mouth, and then I nodded. “I’m good with that. Ten days inside the system. I think we’ll be almost to the coast by then, maybe even on the ship.”

  “Sounds like a great plan. I hope you get there safe and sound.”

  “So do I.” I moved back to the edge of the room. The main chamber door slid open, and I could see the system wanted me to enter already. It was so enticing.

  “The pain I feel,” I said to her as I took a step inside the door, “it hurts like hell, but you know what?”

  “What?” She cocked her head to one side.

  “It’s already making me stronger.” I truly believed that. I moved back to the centre of the room, placing my feet in the dips and waited for the system to take me back to Puatera, I wondered what it would be like to have been out of my body but asleep. Doing two things at once—healing and seeing Jane.

  I thought my plan would be wonderful. I had so much I wanted to do now. It was going to take some organisation, but I would turn to the audience, play them up, and I’d be the one thing they needed—broken but healing.

  For that, I needed someone to open up to, someone I could talk to about things, work through them, past them, and be the hero that most women thought they could never become.

  I would rise above Andy. I would rise above my sister. This world and its occupants meant everything to me. I would defend them with my heart, my soul. I would win the villagers over as much as I would the real world.

  I hoped Andy would lose everything he’d ever hoped for because he deserved everything he got, that cheating son of a—

  The world went black around me as I floated back into the body in bed in the wagon. I curled up next to the warm furry body around me, and I dreamed of many things I wanted to do to prove to that asshole that I was more than a notch on his bedpost.

  Chapter 14

  I really hadn’t wanted to watch the little horse trot off, but there she went on the back of one of her older yet unrelated friends.

  As a group, we were down to ten members, but that didn’t make me feel bad. It just meant more food for us and more room when it came time to sleep.

  Myleen helped me first thing by getting me some decent pain relief, something that wouldn’t make me want to sleep. My arm felt much better, and I could rotate it and move without pain. I didn’t feel like I was a burden this morning. Like I could do things myself once more. I could go out and scout the trail ahead for us.

  Myleen pointed me ahead, and I urged Bracer forward. I really wasn’t planning on falling off today, and that meant it was the horse and me. I didn’t want anyone else getting in the way of us becoming real friends now. We had to trust each other if we were to do our job correctly.

  Once I was far enough ahead of the group, we picked our way carefully, cutting through any overhanging branches or clearing things like roots that the wagon might find. After a while, I thought we were doing pretty well. I reached over and patted the side of his neck. He whinnied back at me as if he knew it was for appreciation for a job well done. I was rewarded by finally learning that riding action, too. The morning sun had managed to break through, and it beat on my back, warming not just me, I was sure of it. I managed to pull Bracer to one side and reached inside my pack for the water skin for him. While he guzzled down a well-deserved drink, I observed the treeline ahead of us. So far, there’d been a lot of creatures around and many things I was just noticing like the flowers on each side of the trail. Some almost like the elder brush that made the herbal drink I’d enjoyed. Yet, when I approached it, it wasn’t anything like it at all. I tugged off a small branch and placed some in my saddlebag. I’d ask about it later. Maybe it would also have something to offer. Then I mounted up once more and headed back towards the wagons. I knew Myleen said she’d be off hunting with the others, and I knew they would catch something nice. At least I hoped so—the more found on the road, the better it would be for all of us.

  That was when Bracer stopped walking and lowered his head. I tried to nudge him on at first, but nothing I did would convince him to step forward. I guess this was his way of telling me again, that something was up. I didn’t push him hard. This time I dismounted, sliding my bow off my back. I’d still not had much practice in actually hitting anything, but if push came to shove, I could try to dive for the sword.

  Easing forward, I spoke softly to Bracer. “Stay there, boy. I’ll be back soon.”

  As I continued, I saw and heard nothing. Then I thought I saw a hood. Was someone out here? I tried my best to follow where this hood had been as I entered the forest. It might well have been a trap, but I didn’t feel like it was. Those enjoying as they watched me stick my head into things that no ‘non-gamer’ probably would probably felt differently. I mean all the warning signs were here, right? So, what does stupid Emma do? Ignore them, trying to fall prey to some weird evil?

  Uggh. I let out a sigh and then turned around. No trap for me—not today.

  But then, there was someone—holding Bracers reigns. Oh, crap.

  I let the arrow line with the person’s head. At this distance, I couldn’t make out if they were young, old, or even human.

  “Let him go,” I said.

  I edged closer. “No,” they replied. “Finders keepers.”

  I almost laughed. This was a kid, nothing more. “Why do you want my horse?” I took another few steps.

  “Because I can sell him,” came the reply just as the youngster swung his foot up and was on Bracer... like a flash.

  I didn’t need to worry, though. When the kid tried to dig his heels in and get Bracer to move, the stubborn horse just stood there, refusing too. I started to laugh and unhooked the arrow from my bow. I wasn’t shooting this kid, and it looked like he wasn’t getting away with my horse, either.

  The more the kid kicked, the more Bracer seemed to dig his heels in and stand fast.

  “Good boy,” I said, finally getting near enough to grab Bracers reigns. I tugged them from the kid’s hands, and he tried to jump off. I caught his hood, not only pulling it from him but also managing to catch him so that he fell awkwardly onto the solid ground.

  I couldn’t help myself, but I continued to laugh as he tried to get up and failed.

  That was when I heard the horses from the rest of my party, Myleen in front. She approached with caution seeing me with some kid’s hood wrapped around my hand. “What is this?” she asked.

  “The little thief tried to steal Bracer.” I let out another laugh.

  When I looked at the kid, I could finally see that he was human and possibly around eight years of age. Feisty little one, I thought as I gave the hood a tug.

  “No, miss,” the kid started to say. “I saw the lady go off into the woods. I was going to safeguard hi
m for her, that’s all.”

  Myleen moved Daina in front of the struggling kid, and when he looked up into her eyes, all I could see was mirth. “No, Akillia’s got it right. You’re a little thief. The problem is, where there’s one, there’s usually a few more—or their master at the very least.”

  I frowned, so maybe there had been a person in the woods after all? I’d not been imagining things. It was to lead me away so they could steal Bracer.

  The young lad frowned, and I saw something else in his face. Sorrow? “Miss,” he said. “There is no master. It’s just me. Me and my sister.”

  I let his hood go, and finally, he was able to pull himself up and off the ground. Wiping at his trousers, I noticed now how full of holes they were, and in fact, how thin he was.

  “How old’s your sister?” I asked, concerned.

  “Akillia, don’t be falling for his tales of woe.”

  I held up a hand though. I’d trusted my instinct a lot in the last few days, and I wasn’t going to ignore it now. “How old?” I asked again.

  The young kid stared at me, and then wiped his face with the sleeve of his hoodie. “She’s eight.”

  “And you’re out here on your own?”

  He nodded, and then looked out towards the trees. “Ree,” he called. “Come on out.”

  The trees moved, and a tiny figure emerged. She was so young. “Why are you alone?” I couldn’t help but want to know all the answers.

  “And that makes you. . .?”

  “Thirteen,” he said. “I’m small for my age.”

  Yes, he really was, but I was also sure that was down to his upbringing, not so much genetics.

  I glanced at Myleen, who automatically started to shake her head. “We can’t take them with us.”

  I noticed the young boy had come to stand next to me, and he reached out and tugged my arm. “Miss, wherever you’re going, there might be a possibility you need us?”

  I noted his face, the hope there, but was this a journey for kids?

  “Can you fight?” I asked him.

  With a nod, he pulled the sword from Bracer, holding it out so I could see he at least knew how to stand with one. “What else can you do, the both of you?”

  “Anything you need, miss. I’ll make sure we can do it.”

  I wasn’t going to turn these kids away, no matter how dangerous this mission was. “Myleen,” I said, “they’ll be good for something. We can’t leave them here, and we can’t send anyone else back to the village now.”

  I knew I was right. Myleen wouldn’t let anyone else go at this stage,.“We’ll take them to the nearest city and leave them there,” she said, and then turned and trotted off.

  I was sure the nearest city was going to be a pain in the ass. There wouldn’t be anywhere safe, or anyone who I thought would be safe to leave them in their care. So, I’d have to prove, and so would the kids, that they could help us.

  “What’s your name?” I asked the young man, who was still holding the sword at me.

  “Sven,” he said, and twisted the sword over to me. I placed it back in the saddle.

  “Well, Sven, let’s get you back to the wagon, and then we can get you both some food. I’ll introduce you to the others and tell you where we’re heading.”

  “You can’t get near the city,” Sven replied as I hopped back onto Bracers back.

  I watched as he called his sister over, and then helped her onto Bracer. She clung to the saddle, and I swore I could feel her ribs poking through into my stomach. Yikes. This wasn’t good at all.

  Then I held a hand out for him. He quickly hopped up behind me and carried on with his conversation.

  “The monsters are starting to take over,” he said. “They’re invading more and more of the outer towns. People are running scared.”

  I could quite imagine that. “We need to locate a ship,” I said. “We’re heading over to the coast.”

  “That’s also not going to be easy,” he said. “There’s been no ships incoming for a few weeks. No one’s had the resources to take them out or bring in anything new. The city’s been starving, so people have been moving outwards, looking for food, and looking for other ways to get food. It’s been mayhem.”

  I really didn’t like the sound of that. We had a wagon full of supplies. What kind of resistance were we going up against, especially if they realised we had food and they didn’t.

  “Thank you,” I replied. “That’s valuable information.”

  “I know. And I believe we got lots of other things we can help you with,”

  I was sure. “Do you know the city well? Anyone you can think of that does have a ship for hire?”

  Sven went quiet, but I heard his sister speak instead. “We could go see Marris. He might be able to help.”

  Sven poked her from behind me, and I smiled. Their sisterly and brotherly affection seemed to shine through even if they were both starving.

  “I think we’ll come to some arrangement where the flow of information means you get food and new clothes.” I tugged lightly on the young girl’s sad state of outerwear.

  But Sven didn’t reply. I’d won that argument. “What kind of ship does Marris have? Do you think there’s room for our wagons and equipment and the twelve of us?”

  Sven whispered. “There’s another ship, bigger than his. That would be able to sail in the seas for you, but Marris’s is too small for that number of people. Where are you going?”

  I didn’t really want to tell him about the full mission, but I spoke out. “We’re heading to Maicreol to the cave systems.”

  “You’re going across for the Hismaw?”

  “Correct. This part of the world won’t survive without it.”

  “You don’t need to tell us that. Oakrim Wharf isn’t where you need to head for them. Where my other friend stays, he’s in a smaller village on the coast about twenty miles up.”

  “Won’t that put us off course when we get to the sea?”

  “No, it’s not that far off, just adds a few hours.”

  I started to like this plan. Although I wasn’t certain that Ferris and the others would. After all, we’d be putting the mission in the hands of two kids. Well, not really the kids, but we’d have to trust them and the people they knew on something so valuable.

  “Sven,” I said, “you do realise how much is at stake here, don’t you?”

  “I do, miss. I wouldn’t put my sister’s life in your hands if I didn’t think you had it in you.”

  “You don’t know me.”

  “No, but you don’t get the command of creatures like your horse or the people around you without having some stead in this world.” I liked that he thought I had command over Bracer. I patted the horse’s neck, and he whinnied.

  “You think your friend has what it takes to get us across the ocean?”

  “That’s how we got here, though his cargo usually comes the other way. It never leaves.”

  I started to understand. “You’re originally from...”

  “A village called Feolace, just outside Port Troli.”

  “What made you come to Shiroth?”

  “The thought of bettering ourselves, the hope we’d find someone to look after us, help us.”

  “You’d go back?”

  “For the right person, yes.”

  I smiled. It seemed I was the right person, even though I’d caught him as a thief, and so far, had only given him promises.

  “Let’s see what the others have to say. This is quite a change to the plans we’ve made.”

  I felt him nod, but he didn’t speak again. The wagons came into view, and as we approached them, Myleen trotted back over.

  “Ferris agrees with me. The kids get left at Oakrim.”

  I shook my head. “We’re not going to Oakrim. Pull up the wagons and get a fire started. We’ve some talking to do.”

  I didn’t listen as she tried to protest. There wasn’t any way I could explain my gut feelings to her or the need to
change plans so early in the game. We were heading to many places that I didn’t know, and I doubted any of the others did either.

  The fire roared in the background and the others cooked and got on with their jobs while I sat with the two kids.

  “Here you go,” I passed them both full plates of meat and veggies.

  Ferris sat next to me with Abel and Borroth.

  “Tell us as much as you can about your friend,” Ferris said while pouring both the kids something from a silver flask.

  Sven held out a hand to receive the cups. He handed one to Ree, who sniffed it and pulled a face. Sven raised an eyebrow to Ferris.

  “It’s rich in nutrients and more. Drink it. You’ll thank me tomorrow.”

  “Taffie’s from a long line of sea travellers. They’re very experienced and well known.”

  “You really believe we have a better chance with him than the main port?” Abel broke in.

  Sven shovelled in much more food than I ever thought someone that small could. He ate as much protein as he could, washed down with the liquid potion from Ferris. Then he asked for more.

  I stood to get more, and by the time I returned, the conversation seemed heated. I walked between them all and handed Sven the fresh plate.

  “Guys, no arguing. I actually think Sven’s right. I don’t see why he’d lie about the monsters in the city.”

  Abel glanced at the kid while he ate. “It’s not that we don’t believe him. The maths just don’t add up. The more we travel, the longer it will take at sea. I’m not sure we can afford the detour if it’s not going to work out.”

  That did make sense.

  “Why don’t you…” I looked at Ferris, “take Borroth and do some detailed plotting. We can’t guess this, so it needs to be the right decision.”

  Ferris nodded. “Okay, when we have some answers, we’ll make the decision together.”

  Ferris and Borroth stood to move away to plot a new route for us with all Sven’s details. Would things work out? I guess that was the joy of the game. I hoped so.

  I flexed my shoulder and injury. It now seemed to be healing up really well. There wasn’t much pain anymore, nor the popping as it struggled with its full rotation.