by David Ekrut
“Fine,” she said at last. “I tire of your nagging. See what he had to say in his last missive first.”
For a few heartbeats, Feffer only stared. It did not take him long to recover. He activated the sigil to receive Zaak’s message. His voice spoke more as though he was thinking aloud than speaking to anyone.
“Feffer, please disregard my last missive. I assure you, I will not have your head. I am certain Zarah has ordered you to ignore my numerous messages. I pray to the Lifebringer that is the reason you are not replying, rather than that your ship was taken by a storm and my only heir is dead at the bottom of the Tranquil Sea.” Zaak took a long breath. “I hope your journey has been pleasant. I know how your last voyage along the river upset your stomach. Have you gained your sea legs as I promised you would? I can’t imagine you’ve been sick all this time.”
The sigil became dull once more.
“Are all of his messages like that?” Zarah asked, trying to ignore the guilt creeping in.
“No. Some promise a swift death if I don’t reply. What should I say?”
“Confirm that I am with you and that we will arrive at our destination within the hour. Tell him I am safe.”
Feffer touched the symbol to send a message and held the rod to his lips. “Sire. I cannot express the depths of my regret at not being able to return word until now. As you suspected, the princess ordered my silence.” He glowered at Zarah.
She motioned for him to get on with it.
“Right,” he continued. “We have reached the coast of Alcoa and will soon dock safely at the capital. We’ve stopped at a few of the smaller port-villages and one city along the coast. The guardians appear to be ruling many of the townships. Our soldiers dissuaded the guardians from boarding our ship in Trammel, but just. Wildwood, at least, is controlled by Alcoan guards. I fear what we might find in Alcoa.”
Zarah struck Feffer’s arm and said in a harsh whisper, “I told you to confirm our safety, not to worry him further.”
“Uh,” Feffer cleared his throat. “What I mean to say is that I am certain we will be safe. Zarah is safe. And we are all just safe. Except for Hundril, who had a terrible case of the squats, but he is good now. And we are all good. The soldiers are strong and skilled. All is well, I assure you. And if it is any consolation, I did gain my sea legs. I’ll send word again, soon. Just whenever Zarah lets me.” He deactivated the sigil and stuffed the rod back into his cloak pocket, face a deep crimson.
Zarah could not help but smile. “You really are an imbecile sometimes. Maybe next time, try not to ramble.”
He scowled at her. “Well, maybe I wouldn’t have rambled if you weren’t standing over me like some controlling madwoman. Did you have to hit me?”
“Yes. I did. You took far too many liberties.”
“Next time, you should just talk to him. I don’t even want this thing.” He made as if to dig it out of his pocket, but she placed a hand on his arm. His biceps had thickened while working with his blade. They’d continued practicing. Being on a vessel, there had been little else to do.
He looked at her hand on his arm, and she let go very quickly.
“Keep it,” she said. “I was mostly teasing. You did fine. He knows we are safe. That is what matters for now.”
“You’d be safer if you’d stayed at the thumping castle.”
She raised an eyebrow at him. “Need I remind you that it was my visions that saved us from those guardians and not actually the ‘persuasive’ soldiers? Had I not seen their intentions, we would likely be dead or imprisoned.”
“If they hadn’t realized you are Zarah Lifesong, elementalist and Seeker-kissed, they never would have taken interest in us in the first place.”
He was right, of course, but how could she have known the guardians would be so bold as to revolt against Alcoa?
“Let us not argue,” she said in a soft voice. “We can only focus on what is to come.”
“Is that an order, princess?”
“Yes. And for the last time, it is daughter-heir. Princesses are useless little prats in children’s tales who fuss and worry over trivialities, too timid and weak to save themselves. Is that how you see me?”
She could see the answer on his lips. He swallowed hard and said, “Fine. I’ll let it go.” He turned his attention back to the shore, grumbling just loud enough to be heard. “But I’m right.”
She felt a smile make its way to her mouth but turned away so Feffer could not see. When her mirth subsided, she said, “Perhaps it would be wise to hide my identity altogether until we reach the king.”
His shoulders sagged with relief, and he spoke with forced humility. “As you command.”
“Our berth is ahead,” a sailor shouted from the crow’s nest.
Miles up the coast, she could see buildings rise from the shores. Structures, white like the sands, covered the land. Most of the homes were domed on top. Those few with traditional roofs were covered with tiles of dark blues, purples, or reds. A mountainous castle stood at the city’s center. Spires, so numerous she could not count them, disappeared into the thick clouds overhead. She could not see where the palace ended and the city began. Further out from the castle, buildings on all sides did not stretch as high. Those lining the beach were a single story tall.
She could make out the river bending around Alcoa City and vanishing into the mountains beyond. The few homes on the lowest peaks had been built wide, angled to fit on the protruding ridges. A road of orange stone made its way into the mountains beyond sight.
“Wow,” Feffer said. “Look at the size of it.”
“It is magnificent,” she agreed. “Can you believe the city is over three thousand years old?”
“Yes. I can,” he said, nodding. “I would guess they’ve added a hundred new buildings every year since they founded the place, but at least we won’t have any trouble finding the castle. That thing alone is larger than Justice and every city we have combined. Who would want to live there? Think about it, if you misplaced a tunic or boot, you’d never see it again.”
“There is a team of servants to keep up with such matters.”
“Still, they can’t keep up with every tiny detail. Mark my word. More than one person has gone mad trying to find a lost stocking. I’d wager a copper to horse on it.”
Zarah laughed. Feffer was so ridiculous sometimes.
“Highness!”
She turned to see Hundril rushing toward her, a look of deep concern in his eyes.
“What is it?”
He handed her a spyglass. “Look, just there.”
When she aimed the heavy lens toward Alcoa, the docks leapt into view. Several ships near the shore were marooned at odd angles, sails in tatters. Only three larger vessels looked at all serviceable. All three were setting out from the pier.
“What do you see?” Feffer asked.
“Much of King Alcoa’s fleet has been destroyed.”
“Dragons?”
“That would be my guess as well.”
She continued to watch the ships. After a few minutes, she could see visions of the vessels splinter off from one another. Two would go wide to flank her, and the remaining would come full on. And they would attack.
“Lifebringer save us,” she said.
“What’s going on?” Feffer asked.
“Hundril,” she said. “Prepare the soldiers for attack.”
As the lieutenant ran below deck, Feffer stood taller, gripping his sword hilt. “Are you certain?”
She peered through the spyglass again, trying to get a closer look at the figures manning the craft. Most did not look like any sailors she’d ever seen. Many wore burlap or mixed attire. Their weapons varied as much as their clothing.
“Would you please answer me?” Feffer asked.
She handed Feffer the spyglass. “You tell me.�
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After a heartbeat, he gave a sharp intake of breath. “What in the abyss? They look like common thugs. But that symbol on the hull. Don’t those ships belong to the king?”
“They did.”
“Dragons take me,” Feffer said with realization in his voice. “What should we do?”
“They will force us to port,” she said, sorting through the possible futures for the one most optimal for their survival.
“Wait,” Feffer said, still peering through the spyglass. “There are more men hiding at the docks.”
“Let me see.”
He returned the device to her. Countless men hid in several nooks along the wharf, over a hundred thugs lying in wait. Zarah’s only advantage would be the element of surprise. She could use the distance between the buildings and the docks against them. To reach the ship, their bandits would be forced to expose themselves. But now, she had more immediate concerns.
Behind her, soldiers boots stormed up to the deck with Hundril leading them.
“Hundril,” she ordered. “Prepare our bowmen. The moment those ships get within range, aim at the sailors on the closest ship on our starboard flank. Not the thugs, only those pulling on ropes.”
“Yes, Highness.”
Zarah felt her heart racing. She looked closely at the phantom images before her. Only a few dragons appeared, but they were faint. Likely they only came in those futures where she tamed, which she’d resolved not to do, even to the point of death. Better to die than to cost a single soldier for her follies.
The twangs of bows sounded around her. Those who fell cried out in surprise. Clearly these men had not expected resistance. At least not yet. Thanks to her visions, she had been better prepared than those other vessels. It had not been dragons to sink those ships, after all.
The surviving thugs scrambled for cover, leaving their sails to the mercy of whichever wind would take it. By the time they recovered and found bows, Zarah’s ship had moved beyond the range of arrow fire. But the other two ships turned, the one in lead setting full sails toward them.
She considered turning back out to sea, but the enemy ships were faster.
“Veer south twenty degrees,” she ordered. Captain Vesper repeated the command to his sailors. As they jumped to comply, she turned to her soldiers. “Keep shooting at the sailors.”
Arrows flew, but the thugs now provided cover for their sailors, using wooden shields and bucklers. Zarah’s vessel turned, forcing the enemy ships to correct their courses. The closest one turned too sharply and bound for the other direction. The remaining ship turned parallel to Zarah’s vessel. It gained speed. Threads of the future merged into one possibility.
“Ready to be boarded,” she called. “Archers to port. Swordsmen to me.”
Next to her, Feffer drew his blade. Seconds later, a dozen soldiers surrounded her with weapons drawn. The deck swayed as the enemy ship rocked into their side.
Thugs leapt across the rail onto the deck. Arrows zipped overhead, sending several of their attackers into the ocean. But there were dozens more.
Hundril called orders to the white hand, and they attacked. Another jolt nearly knocked the deck from beneath her feet. Zarah turned to see the second ship on her port side. Looking forward, she saw the archers would give the best fight they could, and they would all die. There were just too many of the enemy.
“Archers, to me!” she cried. “Hundril, prepare a rear guard.”
Hundril had his sword out, fighting alongside his men. He fell back, wide eyes assessing the second attack. He called for half the soldiers to intercept the thugs crossing on the port side.
Beside her, Feffer’s face looked grave. He gripped his hilt, looking around as if unsure of where to go.
“Stay with me,” she told him, drawing her own sword. “You are my guard.”
He looked at her, eyes filled with purpose, and nodded. Turning her attention back to the fighting, she tried to be aware of her surroundings and trace out threads of the future. It was impossible with so many people in close combat. Just when she was about to give up on using her new gift, she saw two solid forms break free of the melee on the starboard side and lunge for Feffer, who was facing the other way.
Without thinking, Zarah leapt forward, sword lunging into the path of the one on the left. The tip took out his neck. Before he fell, she spun on the second who was just beginning his attack and took him in the gut. Three more came. Zarah shut out the sounds of fighting and dying around her and focused on the men in front of her.
One stabbed at her. She could have seen it coming without her gift and stepped aside without much effort. The other two men swung at Feffer. He quickly fell into his forms, knocking their blades aside with measured strokes. His two assailants coordinated their attacks. Feffer retreated but kept their swords at bay.
Zarah parried two wild swings and danced to the side, waiting for the backswing she had already seen would come. When he gave her the opening, Zarah stabbed out, taking the man in the eye.
She turned back to Feffer, who was backing into another melee. In five seconds, her soldiers at Feffer’s back would fall. Then they would turn and make short work of Feffer. She saw it all in an instant and leapt forward, not feeling an ounce of guilt killing the two men from behind.
Her sword tip severed one of Feffer’s attackers at the spine. As the second man half-turned, Feffer’s sword slashed across his throat. He tripped over his dying comrade and fell, clutching his ruined neck.
“Feffer, to me,” she said, running toward her soldiers behind him.
She sliced into the enemy, giving her soldiers a reprieve. As Feffer joined her, the battled turned. Now flanking the thugs, she and her soldiers finished them quickly. Spinning, she saw the rest of their enemies had been killed or were jumping overboard.
Breathing heavily, she looked around. Several of her soldiers were injured, and many had been slain. They couldn’t take another battle like that.
“Incoming!” a soldier called.
The two flanking ships were marooned without sailors to man them, but behind the empty vessels the third had righted itself and sailed toward them. Zarah’s soldiers had taken out most of their sailors, and the thugs struggled to keep it straight. Unless they dallied, the ship would not be a threat.
“Captain,” Zarah called, flicking blood from her blade. “Get us to the shore.”
Not seeing him, she called again. Seconds later, Vesper came up from below deck, his expression bleak. He hurried over to her and said, “We’re takin’ water. We’ve got at most ten minutes before we sink.”
She returned her sword to the sheath. “Can we make it to the pier?”
“Aye. Just. But we’ll still crash.”
“Make it so.”
The captain barked orders as she turned to find Hundril, who was seeing to the men who could be saved. Feffer stood nearby, looking at the body of a slain enemy as if in a daze. He held his sword, still dripping blood, as if he might yet need it.
“Put that away,” she told him, sheathing her own weapon. “Help me with these injured men. We are going to sink.”
Feffer sheathed his sword and moved off to help a man with a stab wound in his arm.
“Archers,” she called. “As we near, aim for the combatants on the docks. Loose at will.”
As their ship neared the pier, several eager thugs with crossbows revealed themselves and fell dead from arrows raining down on the streets.
Zarah surveyed the landscape, looking for an escape to the city. A stone road led through the city gate with guard towers to either side. The wall stretched too high to see far beyond. On this side, there were countless warehouses and shops between the docks and the gate, providing ample space for enemies to set an ambush in the alleys.
Worse, she could see no Alcoan guards anywhere. There was no guarantee help would be wait
ing for them inside the walls. Focusing on the futures set before her, she followed the thickest strand, which had her remaining men fighting their way to the gate. As she suspected, the moment they arrived to the city, more thugs leapt from hiding. They would need to find another way, but she had few options aboard a sinking vessel. Worse, each thread she followed led to the same end.
All of her men would die.
She closed her eyes to shut out the dead and dying apparitions before her and focused on alternatives. An idea came to her. When she opened her eyes, a new future began to reveal itself.
“Captain Vesper,” Zarah called.
The stubby man appeared. “Aye, Highness?”
“Prepare to ram the embankment. Over there.”
“I’m not sure we can make it. We’re—”
“There is no time to argue. Do it. Now!”
Vesper jumped into action, calling for his men on the sails to turn the vessel. Zarah gripped the rail as the ship lurched into the turn, at a slower rate than it should. The cutthroats along the wharf came out of hiding. After a few seconds, they began to run east, trying to keep pace with Zarah’s ship. Several of her bowmen turned starboard side with arrows notched. The ship pursuing them was gaining ground.
“Two hundred paces,” a sailor yelled from above.
She looked toward land to see the gap to the shore quickly disappearing. Someone behind her shouted in pain, followed by a fleshy thud. A sailor laid on the deck, his body at odd angles and an arrow through his neck. An arrow struck the mast next to her.
“A hundred paces.”
Zarah felt a grip on her arm. She looked down to see Feffer tugging her behind a crate. Zarah resisted at first. She needed to be able to see the futures to give orders, but as another arrow whizzed by, she let Feffer pull her out of harm’s way.
