Curse of the Sea: Book One of The Admiralty Archives

by Joni Parker

  “I don’t know.” Her hand flew to her face. She was shocked. “What have they done?”

  “Who are they, Alex?”

  “They’re from the Seaward Isle. The Rock Elves must have forced the rest of the mortals to leave. No!” She waved her clenched fists.

  Chapter 50

  LAST CHANCE

  The Admiral turned to Captain Jonas. “We must do something quick, Jonas.”

  The Captain went over to the Security officer and arranged to get some facilities opened as the field soon reached capacity.

  Alex ran up to the soldiers from the Nyla Army Garrison and into the burly arms of her old friend, Captain Hamlin. Like always, he had a broad smile.

  “Ham, it’s good to see you!” Alex squealed as he picked her up off her feet.

  He had his girl, Ebony, next to him. “Hey, kid! You did it. You brought us home.” He held her tight. “Ebony and I are going to get married. Since you’re staying here, you’d better show up.”

  “Sure, I’d love to.” She wiped away her tears and kissed Ebony on the cheek. She’d known Ham since she was four years old when he and Tyrone, now Governor Tyrone, helped her escape from an attack on her father’s fortress. He’d saved her life that day.

  Each man from the Garrison greeted her warmly and she wiped her tears away. Colonel Penser and his family came out last. He looked exhausted, his face drawn, and his gray hair unkempt. She ran into his open arms and stayed in his embrace. The Colonel held her tight, his weary eyes tearing.

  “Did they hurt anyone?” she asked.

  “A few. Nothing serious.”

  “What happened? How’d they do it? You always had patrols out.”

  “We woke up one morning and found their ships in the harbor and my sentries captured.” He grimaced. “Never heard them coming.”

  “What happened to my brother? What about Governor Tyrone?”

  “They’re safe. Lord Odin got the Rock Elves to agree to let anyone with Scinthian blood in their family stay behind. The Governor and your brother are being sent to the enclave in Eledon. Do you know where that is?”

  Alex sighed with relief. “I’ve heard about it, but I never had time to go. I will if I ever get back. What about Colonel Jeffrey?”

  “He and his family went there as well. Unfortunately, the rest of us didn’t qualify. I would’ve stayed if I could.” Colonel Penser loosened his embrace. “Who’s here with you?”

  Alex pulled him over to the Admiral. “This is Vice Admiral Sir Malcolm Teller. He brought me to Portsmouth.” She turned to the Admiral. “Admiral, this is my foster father, Colonel Penser and his wife, Marie. He’s the Commander of the Nyla Army Garrison--”

  “Was the Commander.” Colonel Penser corrected her and saluted.

  The Admiral returned his salute. “How do you do, Colonel?” He extended his hand and smiled. “Welcome to Portsmouth.”

  “Thank you kindly, Admiral. It’s good to be here.” He shot a glance at Alex. “How did you get her in a dress?”

  The Admiral smiled broadly. “We had a cocktail party while we waited for you. She’s been very helpful. She even caught an assassin who was after me.”

  Colonel Penser slapped her on the shoulder and grinned. “Good job, Black Elf.”

  Captain Jonas stepped up. “Colonel, my name is Captain Jonas. We’re opening up a building to have everyone check in.” He waved across the meadow. “Could you help us get everyone inside so we can figure out what to do? We weren’t prepared for families.”

  “Of course. I hope they’ve streamlined paperwork by now.” Colonel Penser winked at Alex and placed his hands on her shoulders. “What are you going to do, young lady?”

  “I have to find a way back before those Rock Elves hurt my grandparents.” She stared at the arch, still glowing in the meadow as more families emerged.

  He cuffed her affectionately on the side of the head and laughed. “Give ‘em hell! They deserve it.”

  Alex embraced Mistress Penser and the rest of the family. Edgar, her brother-in-law, swept her off her feet.

  “Little sis, you did it! You brought us home.”

  Alex laughed and kissed him on the cheek. “I did.” She pushed his curly black hair out of his dark brown eyes. “You need a haircut, Chief.”

  “Haven’t had a chance. They forced us out of Nyla and we had to march all the way to Jade Crossing. Women and children, too.”

  “That’s over thirty miles from Nyla. Those bastards!”

  “You said it. Hey, did I hear you introduce this man as Vice Admiral Sir Malcolm Teller?” He turned to face him. “Sir, I remember you when you were just a Leftenant. Name’s Chief Edgar Winters, SEAL Team Two.”

  “SEAL Team? Was this in Afghanistan?”

  As Edgar talked to the Admiral, Alex turned away after hearing of the forced march. No wonder the Colonel and the others looked so tired. It was thirty miles from Nyla and fifty from Agana. She stared at the arch and the Rock Elf soldiers as more people drifted through, looking lost.

  Captain O’Leary tapped her on the shoulder. “Is there anything we can do to help, Leftenant?”

  Alex stared at her and then at her rifle. If she took the weapon and some ammunition, she could kill at least a hundred Rock Elves before they knew what hit them, but how could she get her grandfather to safety? How many Rock Elves were on the other side? She glanced over to it once more.

  Edgar came up from behind and saw Alex checking out the Marine’s weapon. He grabbed hold of her arm. “Wait a goddamned minute! You’d better not be thinking about doing something stupid, little sis.”

  Alex focused her eyes on the arch, calculating, thinking, planning as the first Rock Elves withdrew. She could fall in behind them.

  Edgar grabbed Alex’s chin to get her attention. “Hey in there, look at me.” He turned her head, forcing her to look at him, but she pulled away.

  Edgar glanced at the Marine Captain. “Captain, did you show her how to use your weapon?”

  Captain O’Leary nodded. “She’s a quick learner.”

  “Damn it!” He pulled Alex closer. “Look at me, little sis. You weren’t supposed to learn how to use these weapons.”

  But her attention remained fixed on the arch as the last of the Rock Elves stepped through. Edgar forced her head around.

  “Don’t even think about it!” he said.

  “Edgar, stop it!” Alex wriggled out of his grasp.

  “Then stop looking at them.”

  Captain O’Leary took a step forward and Edgar held up his hand. “Hold on, Captain. I’m just trying to stop her from doing something stupid like grabbing your weapon and running through the arch. You weren’t going to help her, were you?”

  “She didn’t ask.” O’Leary shook her head.

  “Christ! What did you do to these Marines?” He grabbed Alex’s arm.

  “They’re friends. Leave me alone!” Alex pulled away.

  “Listen to me, little sis. Hey, look at me.” He pulled her around again. “Lord Odin will be safe so long as you stay here. There are more than five thousand Rock Elves on the other side of that arch, waiting for you to do something stupid.”

  “Five thousand?” Her jaw dropped open.

  “Uh-huh, you were thinking about it, weren’t you? Well, forget about it. You’d need at least a company of Marines, if not more.” Then he looked at the squad of Marines, standing by, ready and eager. Edgar shook his head and put his arms around Alex, holding her until the arch disappeared.

  As he released her, Alex pushed him away. “Edgar, how am I supposed to get back?”

  “You’ll find a way.” Edgar embraced her until Captain Jonas tapped him on the shoulder.

  “Chief Winters, please join the rest of your family.” Captain Jonas pointed away to the buildings.

  “Okay, Captain. Little sis, I got to go, but you need to stay out of trouble, okay? Listen, watch your back. I think the Rock Elves may come after you.”

  Alex straightened. “How
do you know?”

  “We heard some of them talking. They didn’t know you taught us how to speak Elf.” He pushed her back. “Hey, you look nice in a dress.” He backed away and blew her a kiss.

  Tyler came over and put his arms around her. “Alex, it’ll be all right.”

  She shook her head. “No, it won’t. I never should have come here. Now, I’m stuck here.”

  He cleared his throat and felt his face flush. “Well…you’ll have to testify against Nathan Jones.”

  She buried her face into his shoulder and cried. He held her tightly and closed his eyes, rubbing her back. “And I’d like to get to know you better.”

  Alex blinked back tears. “Really?”

  The Admiral patted her gently on the shoulder. “Alex, I’m so sorry, but you’ll be fine here. We’ll take care of you. There’s a generous reward for the capture of that man, Jones, and the government still owes you money.”

  Tyler nodded. “There, you see? Everything will be fine.”

  Captain Jonas touched her arm. “Alex, I must apologize. I didn’t believe you would do this, but I must thank you for what you did.”

  “I appreciate that, Captain.” Alex grimaced. This was the most painful experience she’d ever had. She couldn’t manage a smile.

  A few moments later, Olivia Richards, the journalist and an old friend, stepped up to Alex, holding her baby in her arms. She appeared tired with bags under her eyes and her hair was a frizzy mess, but at the same time, she looked relieved, calm. “Alex?”

  “Olivia, it’s you. Are you all right?” Alex kissed her lightly on the cheek and shook hands with John, carrying the older child. He smiled, his dark brown hair falling into his eyes.

  “I just wanted to thank you,” Olivia said. “We know what happened…I mean about Lord Odin. The Rock Elves did something so we could see what was happening through the arch. Listen, I don’t have much time. We have to check in—they need to figure out what to do with us. They expected the sailors, but not the rest of us.”

  “I didn’t expect you, either.” Alex stroked the baby’s fine hair.

  Olivia checked over her shoulder and lowered her voice. “Alex, your grandfather did everything he could to make sure we were safe. He even convinced them to let the Scinthians stay. When he found out the Rock Elves were going to make you stay, he asked me to give you this. He didn’t want them to see it. I did look inside, I’m sorry, but it just looks like some keys and a jar of something.” From under the baby’s blanket, she handed her the leather pouch containing the Keys of Eledon. “He said for you to keep it safe and make sure to bring it back with you. Also, Colonel Jeffrey wanted you to have this letter.”

  Alex took the items and pressed her lips together, holding back tears. “Thanks, Olivia.”

  Olivia patted her baby’s back. “I’ll see you again, right?” She smiled and turned to leave, but stopped to speak to Admiral Teller. “Admiral, my name is Olivia Richards and I’m a journalist. Alex and I were friends on Seaward Isle. Would it be possible to arrange an interview with you?”

  “Here’s my card. Call my office and we can discuss it further.”

  “I will.”

  Alex stared at Olivia as she strolled away. She was the last person Alex had expected to bring the pouch. Over the years, Alex had repeatedly turned down her requests for an interview, but she had no regrets. The last thing she wanted was publicity, even on Seaward Isle.

  As the field cleared, klaxons blared from above. Moments later, five gray ships splashed into the water, running lights flashing and klaxons screaming.

  “The ships!” Alex stared and turned around. “Admiral, your ships!”

  The Admiral came up beside her. “Alex, how…?”

  “I don’t know. The Mentors did it somehow.”

  “You must thank them for me. They just saved my career.” The Admiral trotted to the harbor, leaving Alex behind.

  Marine Captain O’Leary gently placed her hand on her shoulder. “Sorry about what happened, Leftenant. If there’s anything I can do--”

  “Thanks, Captain. I appreciate it.”

  “We muster at zero-six-hundred hours in the morning for PT. Join us.”

  Alex chuckled through her tears. “I’d be honored.”

  “See you then.” The Captain gave Alex a fist-bump and ran to the harbor to look at the ships.

  Alone, Alex picked up her bag and returned to the Admiral’s quarters. As she sat in the parlor, her tears returned, but she swallowed hard and wiped them away. She opened the letter from Jeffrey, reading it aloud:

  My dearest Alex, I hope this letter finds you well. I wanted to apologize to you for not stopping to pick you up when you were injured. I should have and I sincerely regret that I didn’t. My brothers and I will be sent to the Scinthian enclave on the Easton continent soon. Governor Tyrone and your brother, as well as anyone who married a Scinthian woman, will be allowed to stay. No, I’m not married, but Lady Gena told the Rock Elves we were engaged (even though we’re not) and my brothers, Lawrence and David, were also fortuitously engaged to other Scinthian women. Fortunately, the Rock Elves believed her. This was the only way to keep our family together. When you return to Eledon, join us there. Once again, my deepest and sincerest apologies. It seems that I will always be in your debt.

  Sincerely, Jeffrey.

  Alex opened the pouch and pulled out the keys. Her necklace with the Dwarf key was tangled inside. She straightened the chain out and put it around her neck. Under the keys, she found a large bottle and pulled it out, reading the label, “Unicorn horn shavings.” It was stuffed full of the white shavings.

  She closed her eyes and clutched the bottle, knowing that the unicorn horn would keep her alive in the mortal world by absorbing toxins, especially lead. The large quantity meant her grandfather knew it would have to last a while...a long while.

  Until now, she never realized how much Eledon meant to her. It was home and the Elves were her family. Now, she was stranded here without any hope of returning. She held the pouch in her arms and sobbed. For a moment, she regretted every action she’d ever taken against the Rock Elves. But then she paused and shook her head. She could only recall one incident, when Lord Boulder was killed. The Mentors killed him, not her. How could I be a lethal threat?

  One way or another, she had to get home to Eledon. She didn’t trust those Rock Elves, especially Lord Fissure. He could still go after her grandparents.

  “Yeah, right. Easier said than done.” Alex rolled her eyes and frowned. Suddenly, she sat up and snapped her fingers. “Wait a minute…where’s Ecstasy?”