The Stolen Princess

by Kristen Gupton

  Corina got up and passed the baby to Kanan, before going closer to look at the younger woman’s injuries. “They have a long head start. Keiran and Kayla will be fine. Let me get you cleaned up.”

  Thana nodded and slouched back into the chair. “Please don’t think me a child for this request, but I want to stay with the two of you at night until Keiran comes home.”

  * * *

  Keiran stood on the deck of the ship against the rail. His hands were clamped onto it, his upper body leaning out over the water. His head pounded, his most recent bout of vomiting brought on by the rocking of the ship not helping matters. He’d made it through the first day fine, but once they’d moved away from land the waves had increased, bringing on his sickness.

  The cabin below deck his group shared was far from luxurious. Little more than a wooden box, it was dark and stank of stale seawater and mildew. As his headache had worsened over previous hours, that reek had intensified for him, until the initial turns of his stomach had driven him on deck and into the cold.

  Dassion wandered over after passing the wheel to Ari for the night watch. “You waited until we were well-past the point of no return before starting this business, then. Not used to sailing? Landlocked type, are you?”

  The vampire’s eyes closed, and he straightened up. “How do you live like this?”

  Dassion laughed. “Eh, you get used to it. Though, I suppose I don’t remember it ever really making me ill. I was born for this! That’s what my father always said, anyway. Were you sick on that little river boat, too?”

  Keiran started to shake his head, but it sent his world spinning again. “No, I was completely fine the whole trip downstream.”

  “Well, you picked a fine time to try crossing the sea, then.” Dassion looked out at the moonlight reflecting off the choppy water. “It’s not fun this time of year, is it? As long as we make the turn back before the ice locks us into the harbor in Marin, or worse, we’ll be fine, though.”

  The sailor’s propensity for using far too many words to express himself grated on Keiran’s nerves in his condition. He glanced at Dassion, quirking a brow. “What do you mean, or worse?”

  “Well, you don’t think it would be a good idea to hit ice out here, do you?” Dassion frowned. “No! I’d hate to lose my new ship to something like that. Those sheets of ice would shred this ship to ribbons. Though, we’d be dead, wouldn’t we? I guess I wouldn’t care about the ship anymore. By the way, thank you for the gold.”

  Keiran’s head split with each of Dassion’s rapid-fire words, but it gave him something to focus on besides the flipping of his stomach. “No thanks needed. I had to get Kayla north. You’ve helped us immensely.”

  “You certainly don’t seem to be enjoying yourself much for what you paid. Just so you know, I ran down and gave the money to my brother before we left. No offense, but you can’t be too careful out here, you know?” He reached over and slapped Keiran on the back. “You should eat, then. It would actually help you out, honestly. I’ve got fermented cheese in my cabin. I’d share with you! What do you say to that?”

  Though fermented cheese was a supposed delicacy enjoyed by plenty of Tordanians, Keiran’s senses had always been repulsed by the stink and gooey texture of it. Besides, with only blood seeming like it would help him, the thought sent him into a round of dry heaves.

  “Ah, you poor bastard.” Dassion winced at his own words. “Eh, sorry, I meant that in a friendly way, not in any regards to you and your sister’s questionable lineage, right?”

  “Aye, it’s fine, Dassion,” Keiran replied, fighting his stomach for control. “How long until we get to Marin?”

  The captain turned his back to the wind, looking up at the sails above them. “Depends. Up to nature, I suppose. The wind isn’t exactly in our favor. We’re going to keep tacking all the way there. Sea’s not as big as you think, though. Maybe another three days? Maybe two?”

  “I don’t think I can bear this that long.” He wiped his eyes and pulled his cloak in around his shoulders. He’d started to sweat during his vomiting, now the cold was digging into him.

  “No, now, you’ll be fine! You’ll get used to it. It’s going to be a rough night, though. God willing, you can get to sleep and miss most of it,” Dassion said. “So, your sister down there. She’s a pretty one. A little older than me, I suppose, but that’s not something to fret over, is it?”

  “She’s married, Dassion.”

  He frowned, but it was quickly shrugged off. “So, member of the royal family and all, can I ask you a question?”

  “Aye,” Keiran said, knowing Dassion would ask no matter what.

  The sailor turned toward him, his expression growing serious. “What they say about the king, is it actually true? Is he really a vampire, or is he floating that rumor, hoping to intimidate people?”

  Keiran ran his hands down his face. This wasn’t the first time he’d had to answer that question while incognito. “Is he a vampire? Aye, he is. He’s terribly boring, though. It’s not all magic and power, I assure you. Nothing like Athan Vercilla.”

  “Huh… I see.” Dassion took it in stride, his mind already racing forward. “If that man who killed my crew last summer was a vampire, I wouldn’t say that was boring. Horrible. My friends all dead but Ari over there and Greggor. Tore three men to shreds!”

  “Do you think he stowed away on your ship from Lodain?” Keiran asked. “That’s what the courier said, if I’m not mistaken.”

  “Get all kinds of access to the king’s information, don’t you?” Dassion brought his attention back to Keiran. “But, aye. Woman there was torn up just like my men the day before we set sail. I guess it was the same person. Hell of a coincidence, if not. I was terrified! Thought I’d end up in a Sadori prison, accused of it. My man over there, Ari, is Sadori. If it hadn’t been for him explaining to them what had happened in their own language, who knows how it might have gone for what was left of us.”

  Keiran glanced toward the man at the helm of the ship. “You were wise to hire a translator. Tell me, Dassion, what did this supposed vampire look like?”

  He shook his head. “Couldn’t tell you. From where I stood, I couldn’t see him before he jumped off the ship. Ari stood a little further down the dock at the time, so he caught at least a glimpse of him. Got as good a look as anyone, I suppose. I’ll let you ask him, one moment!”

  Keiran watched as Dassion took the wheel and sent Ari over.

  The Sadori sailor approached, studying Keiran as he neared. “Captain said you had a question?”

  The man’s accent was unmistakably Sadori and Keiran smiled. “Aye. Dassion said you saw the man who killed the rest of your crew last summer?”

  The man’s nose wrinkled, and he wobbled his head from left to right. It wasn’t something he cared to dwell on. “Only briefly as he ran to the rail and then jumped.”

  “Anything you could remember about him at all would be helpful,” Keiran said.

  Ari tipped his head back and looked at the sky. “Not much to say, it was fast. He didn’t look Tordanian, though. To me? Sadori. Dark hair, long, tall.”

  “You’re fairly certain, then?” Keiran asked.

  “I know another of my people when I see them. As for him being a vampire? I don’t know. He was covered in blood, though. Could have simply been a maniac. Besides, what vampire would run into the Sador Empire?” Ari shook his head and grinned, patting his own chest. “My people, we know how to protect ourselves from such things.”

  Keiran’s stomach knotted again, but it wasn’t from the ship’s rolling. “I hope to God you are right.”

  * * *

  Thana sat in the middle of her large bed, the baby cradled in her arms. She was flanked on the left by Kanan, snoring away, and Corina to the right. After her incident with Athan, they’d remained together. However, Kanan’s room wasn’t big enough to accommodate all of them comfortably, so they’d return to the king’s quarters and the oversized bed within. Perhaps
it was far from proper, but Thana didn’t care. She needed the security the older couple offered.

  Corina grunted and got out of bed, stretching the stiffness from her back. She gave Thana a tired smile. “Feeling better?”

  “Aye.” She moved to place the baby into the spot Corina had vacated, but the old woman outstretched her arms to take him instead.

  “I’ll get him cleaned up for the morning. It will give you a chance to do the same. Those legs of yours are going to be sore,” Corina said, already turning and heading for the door.

  Thana scooted to the edge of the bed, hissing as she let her legs down over the side. Aside from her injuries, all the muscles in her body felt strained. Whatever Athan had done to her last night was going to make movement painful for the next several days.

  Kanan snorted and then sat upright quickly. His eyes were wild as he scanned around, momentarily disoriented from waking up in a strange location.

  Thana looked back over her shoulder at him, laughing at his disheveled appearance. “And a good morning to you, too, Kanan.”

  “Where’s Corina and the baby?” he asked, his body cracking as he rose from the bed.

  “She took him to get ready for the day.” Thana placed her feet on the cold floor and slowly rose up, trying to keep the pain to a dull roar. “I hope you slept well enough. I’m sorry for all the activity last night.”

  “No, none of that was your fault,” he said, turning around and straightening the side of the bed he’d slept on. “Besides, you having to listen to my snoring will make up for any rest you cost me.”

  She laughed and shook her head. “Old Sorna snored with the best of them. After living with her all my life, I can sleep through anything. Other than strange vampires turning up in my bed.”

  “At least, those stranger than Keir,” he huffed, staring at the door, seeing no one in the corridor. He wanted to ask her if Athan had done more to her than she’d let on the night before, but he didn’t know how to do so. Athan’s brutality toward women was no secret.

  Thana watched him suddenly grow distant. “Kanan? What is it?”

  He snapped out of it, frowning. “Nothing, just trying to wake up. If you’re all right, I’m going to go get washed up and dressed.”

  She looked at the light pouring in from the balcony doors and nodded. “Aye, I can’t very well have you here while I do the same now, can I?”

  “No, I believe my wife would have something to say about that,” he replied with a laugh. “If you feel anything is amiss, though, you let me know immediately, all right?”

  Thana gave him her best version of the salute she’d seen his underlings give him after receiving orders. “Aye, Sir Steiner, so it shall be done!”

  He shook his head and exited the room, closing the door behind him so she could get dressed.

  Thana slouched once he was gone, her forced smile vanishing. She moved toward the balcony doors and pulled aside the curtains. At some point, the rain the night before had turned into snow, leaving a light dusting on the balcony outside.

  There were footprints of birds that had stopped by on the railing, as well as a few on the deck. It was the prints of a man’s boots out there that caught her attention, though.

  A sob escaped her, and she brought her single hand up to her mouth. Any hope it had been a night terror she’d dreamt up was obliterated. Athan could be anywhere he wanted, whenever he wanted. There wasn’t any place safe.

  * * *

  Kayla sat on the floor, out of Baden’s reach. She’d tried to talk to him several times, but he’d either ignore her or turn hostile. Still, she wasn’t willing to give up on her son. It was likely she’d never get another chance to get through to him after they arrived in Minar.

  Baden had his back to her, his eyes closed. Her mind was impossible to see into, and he didn’t like not knowing what her real intentions were. He gave occasional thought of giving in and playing up to her, supposing he could use it as a chance to escape or alleviate his boredom.

  She didn’t seem stupid, however. Though he didn’t think she could look into his mind in return, there was uneasiness within him about making such an assumption. Baden knew his limited experience with people within his father’s various homes hadn’t prepared him for more complicated people like Kayla. If Athan feared her, he knew there had to be something to it.

  Kayla’s legs were falling asleep beneath her and she shifted, trying to get feeling back into them.

  Hearing her move, he glanced over his shoulder. “Leaving, finally?”

  “No.”

  He let out a frustrated sigh and turned to face her. “What, then? What is it you are so desperate to hear me say? Years have passed. We do not know each other anymore.”

  “You are still my son. Despite everything Athan may have told you about me, I do have emotions, and I never wanted to lose you. I don’t know how else to put it to you.” Kayla stared down at her hands. “Had I known you were alive somewhere, instead of running away a few years later, I would have tried to find you.”

  “Regardless of where I was put or why, staying with Athan would have made you the most powerful woman in the world!” Baden outstretched his arms, his chains dragging along the floor. “How could you possibly give—”

  “Power is not the most important thing in this world!” She rose to her feet, looming over him. “If you truly believe power trumps all else, you are woefully ignorant! It means nothing! For all of Athan’s immense power and influence, he couldn’t make me love him, could he? For all he thinks he can control, you cannot control what happens within another person’s heart or mind! You brainwashed little idiot!”

  This wasn’t the sorrowful and regret-laden woman he’d seen since finding her in Tordania. Something had snapped within her, finally, and she was angry. It was an emotion he knew how to relate to, and it struck him like nothing she’d said prior had.

  He looked away from her, her tone bringing up a memory of a fight he’d witnessed between Kayla and Athan ages before. Athan had knocked her down to the floor in a fit of rage.

  She’d turned and glared up at the old vampire, blood dripping from her chin. “I will never love you, Athan! You are a hopeless idiot to think you can beat any emotions into me for you other than detest!”

  Athan had closed the distance between them, putting his boot to her neck and crushing her back down to the floor. “You will love me, Kayla. I have all the time in the world to wait until you realize what I can give you. I always get what I want. You will be no different.”

  There it was. His father had tried to control her emotions. His fascination with Kayla hadn’t been to study her because she posed a threat to him as he’d always claimed. Things were more complex than he’d come to believe over the years.

  Athan had demanded she love him, but, ultimately, it wasn’t something he could control.

  Kayla crossed her arms over her chest, watching as her son’s posture changed before her. She felt no remorse in snapping at him, he’d been goading her toward doing so since they’d been reunited.

  Baden’s gaze slowly panned toward her again, his mouth pulled down into a frown. “I haven’t forgotten everything I ever saw before I was taken away from you.”

  “Surely, you must understand on some level, Baden, why I could not go on living like that.” She knelt down, meeting his gaze. “Besides, even if I’d done as he’d asked, even if I’d stayed, it wouldn’t have made me powerful. I would have simply been a glorified slave. One thing you must surely know about your father is his unwillingness to share what he has. He tempts people with offers of power, but he never gives enough to them as to create someone who can honestly threaten his position.”

  “But he has shown me how to harness my abilities,” Baden said. “They will only grow with time. He has given me that power.”

  “Only so he can use you as a puppet, Baden, nothing more. Tell me this, if Athan is eight centuries old, why are all his living sons fifty years old or younger?” she as
ked. “He wasn’t celibate in all the years prior.”

  He blinked and gave a shrug. “Attrition. They’ve not lived up to their potential and have been killed off. The world is a hostile place for our kind.”

  “All of them?” Kayla shook her head and smirked. “There have been hundreds of them, Baden. Wouldn’t a few have made it?”

  He didn’t know what to say to that, his eyes averting.

  Kayla nodded. “That’s right, Baden. While he has regard to some degree for his children when they are younger, it fades over time. I’ve seen him kill his own children before. That’s why I so easily believed he’d done so to you. He claims he wants strong vampires in the world, but when one comes along, he finds some justification why they have failed, Baden. He kills them. Every last one.”

  Baden had seen his father’s treatment of some of his less fortunate children, like Vinson. His regard toward his offspring was conditional.

  “Baden, what do you think would happen if you were to stand up against him?” she asked. “What if you legitimately challenged him on something? I’d imagine he likes you for now, because you know just how far you can push things before he gets angry. You try to be like him, but when faced with Athan himself, I bet you are a compliant, cowering lapdog.”

  His frown deepened. There was something in her words that hurt. Living with Athan was like walking on broken glass constantly. Missteps were immediately and harshly punished. He’d become a master at appeasing his father, and that was honestly the only difference between how he was treated versus the others.

  Kayla knew something had gotten through to him. Not wanting to push her luck and send him into another tirade, she decided to leave him with his thoughts. “I shall return with something to eat in a while.”

  He gave a small nod and watched her leave. Perhaps she really had thought he’d died all those years ago. He needed to find a way to get home to ask his father about the real circumstances regarding their separation. It would need to be done diplomatically, however, or the older vampire would punish him for questioning his motivations.