by Todd, E. L.
He stood there for a moment, digesting her words in silence. He knew Laura was right. The relationship he had with Accacia was perfect, beautiful in its purity, and strong in its iron-clad commitment, but he was picking at the base, giving it a reason to topple. The quiet moment of reflection gave wings to his paranoia and fear, and the doubt and pain left his body. His mind cleared and his lungs released the tension he was holding. Zyle finally felt like he inhabited his own body, that he was himself again. He looked at Laura and examined the features of her face. The thin lips were stretched into a line of disapproval, just like the way Accacia’s did, and her eyes were guarded, assuming Zyle hadn’t taken her message to heart. Zyle released a deep sigh before he spoke. “Thank you, Laura. I needed that.”
Her lips stretched into a smile and her eyes became brighter. Laura was happy that Zyle finally found his bearings. He had returned to the calm and collected man he used to be. “You are more than welcome. We all lose our way sometimes. You just need someone to pull your head out of your backside and return it to your shoulders.”
Zyle laughed at her vulgar comment. “I’m glad I have someone to do that.”
“It was my pleasure.”
Canu
8
Zyle and Accacia were directing the Asquithians to their delegated ships for the voyage. All the sailboats were identical so there were no quarrels about who had the newer or better built ship. Zyle had clumped families and friends together rather than selecting people at random so everyone would feel comfortable. It took almost the entire day for everyone to get on board—and stay on board. Some Asquithians got cold feet and decided to stay behind, wanting to ensure the survival of their race if they failed.
Accacia walked to the Tower one last time before they set sail. She wanted to speak to Roxian. “We are leaving.” She said as she walked into the room. Roxian didn’t look up at her. Accacia walked farther into the prison alone. She had no guards and Zyle wasn’t present. He would be furious with her when he found out. “This is your last chance. If you want to accompany us, now is the time to speak up.”
Roxian eyed her. “If I fight, you will grant me my freedom?”
“Yes.”
“Can I trust your word?”
“I have no reason to lie—I’m not like you, Roxian.” Accacia didn’t sit down. She was in a hurry. “I’m not here to convince you. I just want an answer—yes or no. Now what is it?”
Roxian smiled. “I’m glad you grew a backbone.”
Accacia walked away from her toward the door. It was obvious Roxian wasn’t coming.
Roxian rose to her feet. “Wait—I’ll come.”
Accacia turned around. “Are you certain?”
“Yes. I can’t stand to be in here a moment longer. I would rather die trying to save my husband than spend an eternity here—alone. What are your conditions?”
“If you give me any reason to kill you—I will.”
“Anything specific?” she asked.
“I’ll let you decide.” Accacia handed Roxian her sword and her eyes lit up in surprise. Accacia patted the hilt of her blade. “I do not fear you, Roxian. I have no problem killing you.”
Accacia turned her back on Roxian and advanced out the room. The former Queen of the Asquithians followed behind her. “Gather your belongings and meet us down at the harbor. Zyle will appoint your accommodations—and you won’t be sharing our vessel.”
Accacia turned her back again and left the Tower. She walked through Canu Forest one more time and the tears flooded her eyes. She feared she would never see this beautiful place again. Zyle was standing at the harbor with the thirty ships along the bay. They were tall and majestic, and they had more sails than an ordinary sailboat—she wondered if this increased their speed. She reached Zyle. “We have one more coming.”
Zyle eyed her. “Who?” he asked. He saw Roxian over Accacia’s shoulder and his eyes widened in anger. “You went to see her without me? She could have attacked you.”
“And what if she did? You said yourself that even you couldn’t defeat me in battle—why should I fear her?”
Zyle breathed through his fury. “That doesn’t matter, Accacia. You still shouldn’t risk your life needlessly even if you’re confident in your abilities. Don’t be arrogant, Accacia.”
Accacia didn’t react to his words. She told him she wouldn’t go alone and she had lied to him—not on purpose, at least. “I wasn’t planning on seeing her—I just did it on my way. I’m sorry that I betrayed my word to you, but there wasn’t time. Please forgive me, Zyle.”
Zyle sighed and kissed her. “Of course I forgive you, Accacia. Pease don’t let it happen again.”
“I won’t.”
Roxian approached them and stopped a few feet away. Zyle glared at her with hate. He looked down at the parchment in his hand. “Roxian, your ship is the Escape. She is the first one on the left. Roxian nodded and walked passed them. She had her pack over her shoulder and her blade along her hip. Zyle called out to her retreating form. “Roxian, if you do anything to Accacia I will kill you myself—I have no tolerance for you.”
Roxian turned around and nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty.” She walked closer to the deck.
Zyle turned back to Accacia. “Are you ready?”
Accacia shook her head and the tears descended. “No,” she said. “I’m scared.”
Zyle hugged her. “I’m scared too, Accacia.” Zyle released Accacia when he heard the familiar hum in his ears. Accacia looked up to the sky. She had heard it too.
Koku and Pia landed on their shoulders. They nibbled their earlobes then clicked their beaks. Accacia wiped her tears away. She knew she was going to miss these two birds more than anything. “I love you so much, Koku.” Accacia kissed him on the head. She turned to Pia and kissed her as well. “I love you as well, my friend.”
Koku flew from Zyle’s shoulder and flipped in the air then pointed at the ships in the water. Zyle understood his meaning. “I’m sorry, Koku, but this is one adventure I can’t take you on. We’ll be back in a few months—I promise I’ll return to you.” Koku rubbed his head against his cheek and cooed. “Yes, I love you too, my companion.” He felt his own tears fall and they mirrored Accacia’s.
Pia rubbed her head against Accacia’s cheek and cooed. Accacia felt like her heart would explode. “I’ll miss you, too, Pia.” Both birds clicked their beaks and flew from their shoulders, landing in the branches above them. “Goodbye,” Accacia called as she waved. They chirped loudly at her words.
Zyle took her by the hands. “Come on,” he said. “Before we change our mind and never leave.”
Accacia and Zyle boarded their ship, The Canu, and the Asquithians untied the ropes and pushed away from the dock. Zyle wrapped his arms around Accacia’s waist and she dropped her head onto his shoulder. Laura came up alongside Accacia, and Accacia wrapped her arm around her mentor’s waist. They stood there together as they sailed away from Suaden, all thirty ships, and headed further away from the island. They stood in silence until Suaden was indistinguishable from the horizon, just a dark spot on the waves. Accacia turned to Zyle. “Thank you for doing this for me,” she whispered.
Zyle kissed her head. “Thank you for telling me to.”
The Canu
9
They had been out to sea for weeks. Zyle expected the voyage to take less than a month. The unique construction of their sailboats allowed their ships to travel twice as fast as the sailboats made on the Continent. Accacia grew more anxious the closer they arrived to shore.
Accacia and Zyle pretended their earlier fight was forgotten, but it truly wasn’t. She knew how worried he was for her to be around Aleco again. She felt horrible that her last words had troubled him. She wanted to assuage his doubt and strengthen his resolve in her commitment, but since she couldn’t do that verbally, she had to prove it physically.
She made love to him whenever the time would permit, which was essentially all the hours of the day, since
there was little to do on the sailboat. Zyle woke up every morning to her riding him vigorously and she would take him again soon afterwards. Most of the time, they never left their quarters. She was so forward in their sexual relationship that Zyle never got to initiate intercourse. He didn’t mind; he loved her desire for him.
After a session of intense love making, Accacia lied down beside him and kissed his neck and chest. She wrapped her arms around him and cuddled next to him.
Zyle looked at her. “Accacia, you don’t need to prove your commitment to me. I already know I have your affection and undying devotion.” Accacia raised herself up and looked at him. “As much as I enjoy your overwhelming desire for me, it isn’t necessary. You already convinced me a long time ago.”
“You’re not worried about Aleco?” Accacia couldn’t hide the surprise in her voice. She knew how delicate the subject of Aleco was, and she understood how much her former lover bothered him. Zyle never said it directly, but she had inferred it numerous times. She was happy that he finally believed her. He was no longer jealous.
“Why would I be?”
Accacia smiled. She felt elated at his calm attitude. He was the man she had met a year ago. “You’re right.”
“I’m your life partner, your soul mate, your king and fellow ruler, and your best friend and lover. I’m also the same race as you, meaning I have the same life-expectancy as you do. Aleco is human and will die a human’s death—you have no future with him. Your destiny is with me. I’m not worried in the least.”
Accacia hugged him. “I’m so glad you feel that way.”
“I still expect the same treatment,” he said with a smile. “Perhaps I should have waited until we docked before I told you this.”
“Your will is my bidding, Your Majesty.”
“Good.” Zyle rose from the sheets and dressed himself. Accacia watched him with a saddened expression. She didn’t know where he was going. “We have a meeting with the ambassadors in the dining room. They are anxious to know our plans for the Continent.”
“We don’t have a plan.”
Zyle smoothed out the folds of his clothes. “Now you understand why I’m not looking forward to this.” He grabbed her dress from the floor and laid it on the bed. “Come on, Accacia. Let’s not keep them waiting. We don’t have an excuse to be late.”
Accacia sat up and donned her dress. “Well, we could tell them exactly why we are late.” She smiled. She fixed her hair in the mirror, smoothing out the tangles and the wild locks. “I have a feeling they might be uncomfortable, however.”
“That would make two of us.” Zyle opened the door to their quarters and nodded to her. “Come.”
The king and queen walked down the hallway and turned down the stairs in the center of the ship. They entered the dining hall and saw the ambassadors seated along the table. Laura smiled when she saw them enter the room. Illanya rose from her seat and greeted her sovereigns. Mikah remained in his seat with a poorly hidden scowl on his face. He still didn’t approve of this trip.
Zyle pulled out Accacia’s seat and she sat in the chair. He sat next to her and leaned his elbows on the table, staring at the ambassadors across from him. Cups of steaming tea were on the table, along with fruits and a variety of bread. They also had chunks of the Anastille plant, an invasive species that was infused with large amounts of protein. Everyone was commanded to eat it in large portions to support healthy muscles during the voyage.
“Good afternoon,” the king said. “I hope you are well. We are here to discuss our plans for the Continent, which I understand you are all very concerned about. My queen and I are more than happy to converse with you.”
“So what is it?” Mikah stared at Zyle and didn’t try to hide his displeasure. Zyle understood his anger but was growing tired of the constant nuisance of his attitude. His fury wasn’t going to change the course of their future.
Accacia cleared her throat. “There’s something I need to tell you all before we begin.” Mikah changed his stare to her face. He refrained from speaking to the queen at all times because he had nothing positive to say to her. Her husband made it quite clear he would be punished for another transgression. “Roxian is among us. She is sailing on The Escape.”
Laura’s eyes widened. “What? Why is she sailing with us? I already told you that woman can’t be trusted.”
Accacia reached across the table and grabbed her hand. “I understand your hesitation, but if I am unafraid of her, you should be as well—all of you. Roxian is a fearsome warrior. Her presence will only help us.”
Laura turned her gaze to Zyle. “And you approved of this?” Accacia looked at Zyle, wondering how he would respond.
Zyle sighed. “Of course,” he said. “I respect my queen’s decision. If she can look past Roxian’s crimes then I can as well. However, I will kill her without hesitation if the situation should arise.”
Laura shook her head. “So be it.” She met the gaze of her niece, her queen. “I still feel that we will regret this. How do you know she won’t work against us?”
Accacia shook her head. “She doesn’t benefit from opposing us. I think Roxian deserves another chance to redeem her actions. What better way to do that than in battle? I know I feel safer with her in our ranks.”
Mikah shook his head. There were many things he wished to say; none of them were acceptable. “And how do you think the Asquithians will react?”
Accacia met his gaze. “They will trust the decision I have—”
“—how did you convince her to aid you?” Mikah leaned over the table. “It is no secret she hates you with every fiber of her being.”
“I told her she would be free, vindicated from her crimes, and accepted back—”
“—thank you for including your advisors in this decision,” he said as he shook his head. “We know how much you value our opinion. I am delighted to know our queen has so much respect for the office by completely ignoring the electoral vote—good to know.”
Accacia caught Zyle by the arm and steadied him. He tried to rise from his seat but she held him firmly. “Step down,” she whispered. She hadn’t looked at him once but she knew how her life partner would react to Mikah’s words. She appreciated his protection over her, but he needed to stop. The ambassadors had the right to speak freely.
The queen released her hold on her soul mate and turned to Mikah. “I didn’t realize I needed your consent for every decision that I and Zyle make, and I apologize. I assumed the agreement of my fellow sovereign was enough. I haven’t lived among you for very long, nor have I grown accustomed to every law of the society.” Accacia immediately felt stupid for not realizing the obvious mistake. She thought Zyle’s support was all she needed. It wasn’t logical to have the voted opinions of the ambassadors for every decision. It was ludicrous.
Mikah rolled his eyes at her words. “Yes, I’ve noticed.”
Zyle squeezed the arm rest of his chair but didn’t react to his hurtful words. He knew Accacia didn’t want him to intervene. Accacia stumbled across her words before she continued forward. Her voice was calm, and contained no anger from his previous words. “If you would prefer to lock her up in the hull of the ship until the war is over we can vote on that. However, I think she should be utilized.”
Laura nodded. “It’s too late now,” she said. “We may as well use her. I just hope we don’t regret this.”
Mikah looked away from the queen. “So do I. I hope we don’t regret all of this.”
Accacia looked around at the ambassadors seated before her. She met the gaze of each advisor then looked away, meeting the face of the next one. “We won’t.”
Illanya pushed her tea cup away, finished with its contents. “So what do we do when we get there?”
Mikah nodded. “Yes, what are your plans? What do we do first?”
“We will dock in the harbor of Orgoom Forest,” Accacia said. “I am certain there will be enough accommodations for our ships on the shore. I know we will be s
afe in the borders of the trees.”
Zyle leaned forward. “If Orgoom Forest is already compromised, whether it’s burnt in flames or overrun by the king’s men, we will turn back immediately. If there is any threat to our people, we will abandon our kin to the Soul Binders. I will not risk out immortality; however, I find this unlikely. When we reach Orgoom Forest I will speak with the Nature Priest and begin the planning of the siege. I suspect he has more knowledge about the current events of the Continent than Accacia and I.”
“When will we move toward the king?” Illana asked. Accacia knew she was anxious to avenge the death of her family. Accacia smiled at her, pleased she was determined to succeed in the endeavor. “Will the others be waiting for us?”
“I’m not certain,” Accacia answered truthfully. “But we will meet them shortly. The Nature Priest of those woods is a powerful man. He will be a great ally. Together we will meet with the uprising and then we will decide—”
“—so we are playing this by ear?” Mikah didn’t control the annoyance in his voice. He despised his queen more than ever. She had no idea what she was doing.
Zyle felt his body snap under the interruption—the last one Mikah would make—and the anger flooded his veins. It didn’t matter that Accacia was his soul mate. His obvious disrespect was intolerable. Zyle couldn’t stand to hear the ambassador speak another word. He knew he would have been just as furious if he had addressed anyone this way, any of his ambassadors, or even himself. “No, we don’t know exactly what will transpire when we get there. Your expectations are ludicrous, Mikah.” Accacia closed her eyes at the sound of his voice. She knew he was too far gone. The power in his words reverberated through her mind and she could hear the silent threats slither from his words as he spoke. “How could she possibly know? You are so determined to see Accacia fail, to see this endeavor end in vain, and I am no longer tolerant of your disrespect and attitude. You are no longer the ambassador of education—get out.”
