by M. A. Roth
Then Kia meets my eye. “He was ordered to kill you.” He holds my gaze; a hardness shows on his face. He turns to Morrick to explain his case. “King Paulus threatened his family’s life if he didn’t kill the princess.”
Morrick stands and approaches Kia. “Are you positive he said King Paulus?”
Kia sinks farther back into the chair. “Yes, sir.”
“How did he get into Aquaterra?” Tristan asks. He doesn’t look like he’s buying this story. I don’t blame him. Aquaterra is very well guarded, and Morrick had said that no one had ever been allowed behind the gates, that we were the first.
“When we were on a routine trade with Hummus, we passed through the mountains and it was Ziar’s shift to gather water.”
Kia smiles at the memory. “He was so angry; he hated chores. When he returned with no water and looking pale, he wouldn’t tell me what happened. The men laughed, saying he was trying to get out of it, and Ziar laughed along with their jokes, but I could see he was afraid. The whole journey he was looking over his shoulder and at night he never slept. When we got home two days ago, just before you arrived, I questioned him.”
Morrick’s body is rigid in front of Kia. “You knew this for the last two days?”
Kia’s eyes shoot to the door nervously. “Yes.”
Musa pats him on the shoulder. “You can leave now, Kia” Morrick blocks his way. “He knew my daughter was being targeted and you pat him on the shoulder?” I’m beginning to hate how Morrick is throwing around the term daughter. Like he knows me.
Musa isn’t intimidated; he rises too. “Morrick, this is my land. I will deal with Kia as I see fit, not you.” His last words rise slightly. Morrick stands aside, but he watches Kia until the door closes. “How did he know my daughter was here?” Morrick looked at us all. “Someone has betrayed me.”
“Yes, it does seem that way, but accusing your men will not get answers. You must test them.” Mirium says-wise words from a wise man. I don’t see the need for me to sit here; I need air. They might be used to this life, but I most certainly wasn’t. I get up and head for the door.
“Where are you going?” Morrick demands.
I turn back around. “To get some fresh air.”
Morrick looks at me as if I’m dumb. “You want to walk around alone and defenceless after someone tried to kill you? Remarkable.”
“Alana will stay with me.”
“Tristan, go get Alana and then come back here. We are not finished”. Morrick gives him a warning look.
Mirium is watching me. “Are you all right, Sarajane? You must have gotten a fright.” The understatement of the year.
“A little one, Mirium.” I say as I linger at the door. Behind his beard I swear I see a smile.
“You need to stop putting yourself in these situations.” Morrick’s words have me pushing off the wall. My throat burns now as I face him.
“That man attacked me.” I say while jabbing a finger at my chest. " I was here where Musa put me. What the hell have I done so wrong?” My voice is rising and tinged with hysteria. I can’t breathe.
“Morrick.” Mirium throws the warning as I turn away from Morrick just as Tristan returns with Alana. He pauses, his eyes searching the room. My gaze moves to Alana. She must have been close by. She is dressed in another beautiful dress, not her fighting clothes. At Morrick’s tut I flicker a glance at him and he’s shaking his head at the sight of Alana and me standing together. “Maybe if someone attacks, you can smile your way out of it.” Then he turns his back to us, visually giving up. Tristan pulls a dagger from his boot and places it in my hand.
“Take this.” I go to object, but he tightens his hand around mine. “Please.” Is he trying to push Morrick?
“Fine.” I wrap my fingers around it and leave with Alana.
We walk a while. Alana doesn’t ask anything. She lets me be and I appreciate that. “Alana, what did Tristan do to you?” She freezes. “I’m sorry. Never mind.”
Her body relaxes. “No, it’s fine. What did you hear?”
“Just Morrick said something about him using his powers on you.”
“Come on.” I follow her back to her hut. It’s the same as mine, only hers looks like nobody has even sat in it. I sit down, glad for a rest without Morrick watching me disapprovingly.
“I am not from Saskia.” She sits down and takes a deep breath. This isn’t going to be good. “I come from the Enola Tribe, near Saskia, but we have our own ways. I had a sister, Noria, and parents and friends.” Her face takes on a faraway look. “We never gave any trouble to anyone, and we kept to ourselves. At the time, we didn’t even know who the king or queen of Saskia was. We lived off the land completely.”
“You were happy?” I ask, but I can see by her smile that she was.
“Yes, but then we were invaded by King Paulus and his men. They slaughtered us.” Tears run down her face. “I tried so hard to stop them, but they wouldn’t. She was only twelve.” She looks at me as the tears pour down her cheeks. “My sister didn’t deserve such a death. And then it was my turn. Nearly our whole tribe was dead, so I was faced with a large group of men.”
My stomach drops.
“They took turns.”
My heart stalls at her words.
The tears stop and Alana’s face becomes stone. “But they let me live. I don’t know why. Maybe it was because I could live in my own torment for the rest of my life.”
I could feel my own cheeks wet.
“I stayed in our home with my family and just sat there for seven days.” The smell must have been unbelievable from the dead after that long and she must have been terrified. “At the time, Morrick had overthrown King Paulus, and he sent out his own army to find survivors in the smaller settlements. There weren’t many left. When they came for me, I was disorientated, still protecting my family’s bodies from any vultures. That’s when Tristan arrived. He was a man, so I thought he would hurt me.” She paused to take a breath. “I attacked him with fire and he took my gift away by accident. He never knew he could do it. He tried to calm me down, but in the end the only thing he could do was knock me out. They kept me in that state for three days until I arrived at Saskia where I was treated by the maidens.” She looked up at me then. “I took loyalty to King Morrick, and Tristan taught me how to fight so I would be able to defend myself if anyone ever attacked me again.”
“Alana, I’m so sorry.” I know my words can’t come close to what she went through.
“Thank you. I am lucky to be alive.” Then she gives a bittersweet laugh. “But sometimes I wish I died with my family.”
I wipe at my own tears, feeling weak for crying in front of such a strong person. Alana looks at me and gives me a genuine smile.
“Your tears for me are not a weakness, Sarajane. It just shows you have a kind heart.” I go to her and hug her so tight, feeling so angry at this world to let such horrible things happen, yet they happen every day in the mortal world, but just never to anyone I know.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
SARAJANE
I stay with Alana that night. I just can’t bear to leave her. She doesn’t mention her past again, but we seem to find comfort in each other’s silence. Now that I am left alone with my thoughts I’m surprised when they go to Tristan. His unexpected kindness today still confuses me. Did he really just want to get to know me? I wasn’t always so suspicious. This place was making me into a different type of person, one I wasn’t so sure I liked.
***
The next day we spend helping out in the kilns. I have to check on my bowl anyway, and Mei and I paint our pottery together. Spending time with a five-year-old, is a balm to my soul. She makes me smile and laugh. Her view of the world is one I’m jealous of. I want that innocence back. When bad things happened to people a million miles away, you felt bad for them, but that was it. It was a fleeting thought for those people.
I meet my mother once I leave the kilns. We both pause and after so much happening and Alana’s story, something i
n me just gives. I want to forgive her but I don’t think I can. So I speak the truth.
“I want to forgive you so much, but I know I will never forget.” I look up at my mother. “Does that make sense?”
It’s a brief moment that she pauses before she pulls me into her arms. “Perfect sense. I’m not sure I will ever forgive myself, either.” She kisses my forehead. “But I love you no matter what and will never stop. You are my daughter,” she says this with such fierce pride. I know she is trying to make amends but I already feel like if she thought that much of me she would never have been okay with Morrick putting his hands on me. I push down that thought and hug her back. “I love you too, Mum.” Some villagers have stopped and are watching us. We both laugh a little and wipe our tears away.
“I need to help out in the kitchen so…” I feel a bit awkward. Hugging her feels familiar but lately when I look in her eyes, I don’t recognize my mother. Now I wonder would it have been better if we never found her. I banish the horrible thought and look away with guilt at my thoughts.
“Okay, love.” She squeezes my hand before I leave.
That evening, we eat in one of the big indoor rooms. It’s like a large canteen. It houses over three hundred people at once. I sit with Alana. She’s quiet all day, even when Neve and Kiar come to join us. I can see Liber and Legis sitting with Tristan and the other guardians. Neve and Kiar keep the chat flowing at our table as they always do with their light-hearted banter.
“What is wrong? You are awfully quiet.” I look up at Neve and feel bad I wasn’t even listening to anything he was saying.
“Sorry, was just thinking.”
Kiar gives me a look that says, continue. I wasn’t going to say anything about Alana so I decided to tell them about me. “Someone tried to kill me last night.”
Alana drops her fork. “And you are only telling me now, Sarajane?”
I give her the best sorry look I can muster. “It was nothing really. Tristan sorted it.”
Kiar smirks. “Oh he did? And where was this when you were attacked?”
I can feel my cheeks burning as all eyes are on me now. “My hut.”
Kiar continues. “Oh, so you and Tristan were in your hut?”
I throw a piece of lettuce at Kiar, but it doesn’t reach him. Instead, it flops down halfway across the table. “Whatever, Kiar.”
He looks confused. “What does that mean?”
I get up with my plate. “Since you’re so smart, you can figure it out.” I leave then, leaving my plate beside the large tubs that act as sinks.
I stay with Alana for the rest of the night, just wandering around the settlement. It’s nearly dark, but there are lots of people still around. Then I see Mirium, Morrick, Musa and Tristan moving through the crowd. They’re heading for the large barns that I met Musa in. I grab Alana’s hand and drag her with me.
“Sarajane, what are you doing?”
I give her a smile. “Finding out what they’re up to.”
Alana lets out a groan. “Sarajane, you cannot follow them if they—”
But I keep moving, leaving Alana with no choice but to follow me. I stand in the crowd until they have all entered the building and then move towards it slowly. I can see a wooden shutter open at the side of the building to let in air. I move around the building slowly until we are out of sight and then turn to Alana.
“Stay low.” I crawl along the ground until I’m directly under the window.
“Who else is involved?” That was Morrick’s voice
“Bellona?” Musa asks.
“No, she won’t. She hates her father.” Morrick seems adamant on this point.
But Mirium seems to disagree. “Morrick, she is allied with Lucian, and King Paulus could be as well. We have to look at every possibility.”
“What about Carew, then, since we have to look at every possibility?” Morrick says smartly
“He has never been seen since.” Sadness fill Musa’s voice, but it doesn’t sound genuine; it sounds forced. Alana tugs on my arm and gestures back towards the huts, but I shake my head and continue to listen.
“But he will be. I just cannot say if it is for good or bad.” Mirium’s words are gentle. This must have been someone Musa cared about. “Lucian wants Sarajane alive so King Paulus must not be with him, since he wants her dead, but the images are foggy and unclear.” I freeze at Mirium mentioning my name.
“Have you heard any more on the girl?” Morrick asks, but he sounds like he couldn’t care less.
“Yes, Bellona has her, but she is alive.” Mirium pauses. “You need to tell Marta, Morrick. It is her daughter.”
My heart stops beating and my body becomes rigid. They can’t be talking about Jessica. That isn’t possible. I calm myself and listen. Alana grabs my wrist, her eyes pleading with me to leave.
“She is not my daughter. She is from a mortal man and none of my concern.” Morrick’s voice is cold and hard. He’s talking about my sister. Oh God, this isn’t happening. Alana pulls on my arm again and I crawl numbly behind her. Their voices start to fade. When we stand, I can’t even speak, and Alana veers me off towards the sea. The wind is a lot stronger the closer we get.
“Oh God, Alana, they’re talking about my sister.” Alana grabs both my shoulders. “Calm down. We will think of something.”
I look at her, shocked. “Are you going to help me?”
“I can’t come with you, but I can find out where she is.”
I nod my head several times. “Oh God, I can’t believe they’re going to let her die.” I can feel the rage towards Morrick rising in me. How could he? But I need to stay calm. If they won’t help save her, I’ll have to do this myself.
“They said Bellona has her, so she would be in Saskia.”
I look at Alana, bewildered, and then I start to feel hysterical.
“I don’t even know where that is, Alana.”
“I will draw you a map.”
“This is not happening.” I grab Alana’s shoulder and shake her. “Tell me this is not real,” I scream.
Alana’s face becomes stern and a look of determination crosses it. Her words make their way through my fear. “Calm down and think of your sister.” She’s right; this isn’t helping.
“Tell me what I need to do,"
“Okay. Go back to your hut and act normal. Change into your travelling clothes and arm yourself. When the settlement becomes quiet, sneak out to the back of your hut. I will meet you there.”
“And then what?” I ask, seeing too many holes in this plan.
“Just trust me, Sarajane.”
That was the thing with this place, who to trust. But I didn’t exactly have a choice. We leave the beach and go our separate ways. I meet no one and make it to my hut. Once I’m changed and armed with my own dagger and Tristan’s, I just sit in the main room, waiting for the settlement to go quiet. It feels like days. I sneak out as Alana said and stand behind my hut. She’s not here yet.
Each time I think of Jessica my heart leaps in my chest at seeing her, and then my stomach twists when I think of her hurt. Should I tell my mother? I know the answer before I even think it. She will stand with Morrick. She won’t help. Another part of me wonders would she really not do anything about Jessica? I don’t know. I don’t know her anymore. Alana appears and I hug her quickly. Relief that she arrived has me taking a deep breathe.
I know she’s breaking a lot of rules and taking risks.
“Here is the map. It is easy to follow. I will get you out of Aquaterra, but you have to do exactly as I tell you.”
I don’t get to answer. We move from hut to hut, using them as cover until we’re back at the sea. The fence that surrounds Aquaterra runs a good mile out to sea, but Alana keeps making her way into the water.
“We can’t swim that far,” I call to her.
“We are not swimming; we are diving.” She disappears under the water.
I take one final look over my shoulder before I follow her into the wate
r. We swim to about four feet under the water. A large section of the fence is cut out enough to let a person fit through. We swim through it and come out the other side, but it makes me wary of Alana. Is she the traitor? Did she cut this out so she could move freely from Aquaterra? It doesn’t matter. I just need to get to Jessica so I have no choice but to trust her. She runs out into the desert away from the fence and keeps moving at a fast pace, but her footsteps make no noise. When we’re out of sight, she stops and I try to catch my breath.
“I can’t stay much longer, but in the next five minutes you will come to an old building that looks like it is not used. Inside is a horse, saddled and carrying water and food.”
“How do you know all this, Alana?” I ask, praying she isn’t the traitor. I really like her.
“I just do.” She hugs me. “I can’t keep them off long. They will question me the minute they realise you are missing. So at best, you have until morning.”
“Okay, thank you.” I give her one more quick hug and follow her directions to the old building. Inside, I find a horse saddled and equipped.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
SARAJANE
Once I’m on the horse, I make my way towards the mountains. Alana’s map is easy to follow. When I hit the mountain, there’s a pass about three miles in that will take me straight to Saskia. I kick the horse, pushing its body faster and harder.
After a few hours of intense riding, the sun is starting to rise. I know I don’t have much longer before they notice I’m gone. I kick the horse again, willing it to reach the mountains in the distance. The temperature drops the closer we get to them.
I can’t think about what I’m doing; it just terrifies me too much. So I focus on my dad’s face. I think of his smile and kind words. A sense of safety and peace washes through me. “I miss you.” Thinking of him pushes me on and I finally reach the mountains.
We slow down, our pace almost at a crawl, as the ground is uneven and rocky. Goose bumps pop up all over my arms. I wrap my cloak tighter around me to shield myself from the cold.
