Lex tore open the missive and exhaled.
“What is it?” asked the prince.
“There’s been an incident at the quay. A group of armed men tried to board one of our ships.”
“Is anyone hurt?” asked Aisling, as she made eye contact with the prince.
“No, but shots were fired. One of the trespassers may have been hit.”
“How many men are guarding the fleet?”
“Right now, about thirty.”
The prince turned to the colonel. “Do they know who it was?”
“There’s a message.”
“What does it say?”
The colonel read the note and glanced around the table. “Our payments are overdue.”
The prince turned to Aisling. “Perhaps it’s time to visit Lord Thrain.”
“Not yet,” she said. “I need to do some research.”
The men departed for the quay. As the horses rode out of the courtyard, Aisling thought about her adversary, and left in search of answers.
After dinner, the servants retreated and the house was still. Aisling headed to the study and locked the door behind her. She walked to the bookcase and removed the Annals of the Four Masters, revealing the concealed lock. After twisting the key, she entered the secret room.
A few minutes later, her three scepters were laid out on the desk. Their jeweled handles sparkled, despite the dim lighting in the chamber.
Holding the first sword, she intoned: “Which enemy is behind the recent events?” Mist swirled around the pommel and a faint image appeared. It was a man in uniform, from Insula. He was instructing others to damage her ships.
She watched, straining to understand the context as scenes unfolded in rapid order. When the haze disappeared, she repeated the process with the second wand. There was nothing.
Aisling clutched the third sword. “With all my power, I command that my enemies be revealed.” As the fog cleared, a bright light burst from the dagger, creating an image of her ships sailing on rough seas. In the next instant, she was in a palace, speaking to someone in royal robes. The surroundings weren’t familiar. The illumination faded, and Aisling sat at her desk, in the dark, wondering what it all meant.
It was past midnight when the prince arrived home. It had been an eventful night. He and the colonel had refined their plans for security. Sean and Ryen had offered to help, and the team agreed to regroup in the morning.
The prince trudged up the stairs and into the bedroom. He cast his sword aside and within minutes, retreated next to Aisling. He wrapped his arms around her and drifted off to sleep.
It was still dark when he awoke. He opened his eyes and was surprised to see her gazing at him. The prince smiled as he reached for her.
“How was your night?” she murmured.
“It was long. I missed you,” he said, breathing in the floral scent of her tousled hair.
He ran his hands over her silky curves and covered her with his powerful frame. His lips moved over hers, building in intensity. Aisling felt her worries dissipate. She was swept up in a mighty tide that carried her troubles out to sea.
When Aisling woke the next morning, she reached across the bed, but the prince was already gone.
She joined him in the dining room and ran her hand over his shoulder as she situated herself at the table.
They chatted about the events of the previous day. Aisling described the images in the scepters.
He shook his head as he listened to her story. “It sounds like the pictures in the first and third swords were different. What does that mean?”
“It highlighted an immediate threat, and one in the future.”
“So multiple enemies, then?”
“I believe so,” she said.
“What do you propose?”
“It’s time to confront Lord Thrain. He has others do his bidding for him. I’d like to see how he reacts in person.”
“Where is he located?”
“From the images, it looks like he’s working on Insula. Instead of traveling there, I’ll summon him.”
“Why?”
“I’d like to catch him off guard.”
“Isn’t that dangerous? He’ll know you have special abilities.”
“I have the power to make him forget,” said Aisling.
“I suppose that makes sense. We’re better equipped to fight a battle on our own land, if needed.”
“There’s something I think you should know.”
“What is it?”
“Lord Thrain is a pawn. The ruler of Insula is King Gardari. He’s a member of the secret society. If Thrain is working against us, it might mean that the king is behind the attacks.”
“So King Gardari has defected to the dark side?”
She nodded. “It’s possible.”
“This puts a different light on things. He may be more than just a local threat.”
“I’m wondering if that’s what my father meant, when he said the enemy is close to home. If he was worried, our foe must be formidable.”
“All the more reason why we need to prepare for any kind of action. As we’ve learned, it might be an event that’s least expected.”
“I agree,” she said. “Can you be ready to receive Lord Thrain tomorrow?”
“I’ll be ready,” said the prince. With some luck, he thought, we’ll be rid of him, once and for all.
The next day, the prince and a small band of soldiers lay hidden in the forest. Aisling rode out to the edge of the clearing and issued a decree. “I command the presence of Lord Thrain, who has issued threats against us.”
The power surged out of her hands and into the sky. A faint visage appeared in front of her but then disappeared. Aisling stopped and surveyed the terrain. She added her second wand and repeated her command. This time, the image shimmered and morphed into a real person.
He stood before her, puzzled by his surroundings. “Who are you?” he snapped.
She eyed him from a distance. “I’m Princess Aisling, daughter of Lord Bailey.”
“What do you want?”
“You’ve issued threats against me. That’s unacceptable.”
“You have no idea who you’re dealing with,” he said.
“From what I can tell, you’re an irritant, nothing more.”
“I can cause you great distress.”
She grasped both swords. “I decree that Lord Thrain from Insula be detached from much of his power.”
As the haze swirled around him, he sneered. “Your father thought I was a worthy adversary. What makes you think you can get rid of me?” he ranted.
She extended her sword to the sky. “I further declare that Lord Thrain forget this summons and all activities associated with this interaction.”
The fog grew heavier. Aisling turned to her enemy. “I’m more powerful than my father,” she intoned, waving her instrument.
There were muffled protests as Lord Thrain disappeared from sight.
Aisling and the prince sat in the library after dinner, conferring about the day’s events.
“There’s one thing that puzzles me about your meeting with Lord Thrain,” said Drayaen.
“What is it?
“Why not remove all of his powers at once? That’s how you vanquished the King of Floe.”
“Floe was different. I knew his strengths and weaknesses and was able to defeat him. I don’t yet know the extent of Lord Thrain’s capabilities. We have a better chance of eliminating him as a threat if his skills are diluted first. That’s how I defeated Queen Vila.”
The prince recalled his stepmother and shook his head. For years, she had wreaked havoc in the East Kingdom. She had also been responsible for the deaths of his mother and oldest brother. He gazed off into the distance, thinking about how much he missed them.
Aisling reached out and put her hand on his arm. “I’m sorry if I opened old wounds,” she murmured as she looked up at him.
“I’m pleased that we’ve had some success t
oday.”
“It’s not yet over. I’ll need to summon the swords when I regain my energy. Then we can deal the final blow.”
“Let’s hope he doesn’t hurt us first.”
She nodded. That’s the unpredictable part, she thought. You never know when evil will rear its ugly head.
Later that night, Lord Thrain paced in his room. The events of the day were fuzzy, but he was filled with rage toward the intractable Princess Aisling. He recalled that her father had the same imperious attitude.
He’d heard rumors that the merchant company completed a successful expedition. Some of their profits, he reasoned, belonged to him. Yet the retainers had returned empty-handed. He’d have to endure the wrath of the king. He seethed.
Lord Bailey never heeded his warnings. Both he and his wife paid a big price for that.
He wasn’t done yet.
Aisling awoke to the sound of rain battering the windows. It was early morning, but the sky was filled with dark, roiling clouds. As she peered into the gloom, she saw a man on horseback sprint across the bridge, heading for the entrance. He wore a hood, but his demeanor seemed familiar.
A few minutes later, there was a commotion at the door. She woke the prince.
“What is it?” he asked, looking at her disheveled hair and serious expression.
“I don’t know yet. Someone has arrived with an urgent message.”
He nodded and rose in an instant. A few minutes later, they ran into Galen on the staircase.
“It’s Ryen. He asked me to wake you.”
Aisling and the prince hurried to the sitting room.
“What is it, cousin?” she asked.
“It’s Sean. He’s been arrested.”
“For what?” asked the prince.
“Treason.”
CHAPTER FIVE
INNOCENT
Ryen paced in front of the hearth.
“I don’t understand,” said Aisling, turning to her cousin and the prince. “I’m the local magistrate. How can he be arrested without my knowledge or consent?”
“He’s been set up,” said Ryen.
“By whom?”
“Lord Thrain.”
“Where are they taking him?”
“Down to the wharf. They’re boarding a ship to Insula.”
She turned to the prince. “We have to intervene now. Once he leaves, it will be difficult to negotiate his return.”
“What do you suggest?” asked the prince.
“You and I have jurisdiction in this area. We’ll have to arrest him ourselves.”
“What?” Ryen interjected, taking a step back.
“I propose that we march in and take possession of his case. We can bring him back to the estate and say that he’s detained. Lord Thrain’s men will need to break past our armed guards to find him.”
“It sounds logical,” said the prince.
“It will give us time to prove his innocence,” said Aisling. “Once we do that, the case can be dismissed.” She turned to her cousin. “What do you think?”
He nodded. “It’s a good plan. How can I help?”
“Come with us to the boat,” said the prince. “We’ll meet out front in ten minutes.”
There was a flurry of activity as they mobilized for action. Aisling secured her scepters and joined the soldiers as they raced to save Sean.
The prince surveyed the dock through his spyglass. Sean and his jailers had not yet arrived. They must be en route, somewhere between Maológ’s estate and the quay, he reasoned. He motioned to his army, and they retreated into the dark woods.
Aisling scanned the terrain. Through the trees, she spotted the enemy, hiding in the brush.
“Drayaen,” she murmured, “I believe they are planning an ambush.”
“Two can play that game,” he vowed. “What do you suggest?”
“I’ll ask my scepter where Sean is,” she said, “and then we’ll create a diversion.”
She veered into a copse of trees and sought the answer in her jeweled scepter. Her cousin’s visage appeared. Through the filmy mist, Aisling could see his reflection in the dagger. He was being held prisoner at Uncle Maológ’s manor house, in the sitting room. Behind him was a portrait of her mother.
His hands were tied, and there were guards stationed at the exits.
A few minutes later, she caught up with the prince. “They’ve not yet moved him. This pageant is for our benefit.”
The prince nodded and motioned to the colonel. “Let’s split up. We’ll leave some men here, in case something goes awry. The rest will proceed to Maológ’s estate.”
“My team can guard the wharf area,” Lex volunteered.
“All right,” said the prince. “Aisling and I will take a few men and extract Sean.”
They headed down divergent paths.
Maológ’s manor was situated near the river. Aisling recalled her childhood visits, playing in the gardens, fighting pretend pirates, and planning imaginary trips to Le Havre and Gibraltar. A feeling of sadness crept over her as the house came into view. Her eyes became misty as she remembered her last conversation with Maológ. Things will never be the same again, she mourned.
Her thoughts were disrupted by the guards shouting to each other. She motioned to the prince, who eyed the scene in front of him.
“I have a way to get Sean out,” she said, in a low voice.
“How?’ he asked.
“On the side of the house, there’s a concealed entrance. It leads to the sitting room, under the portrait of my mother. Sean is seated right next to it.”
“Is it open?”
“I hope so.”
“I can send someone with you.”
“No. Thank you, but I’ll go alone. There’s less chance of detection with one person. Don’t worry. If there’s an issue, I’m familiar with the house.”
“Be careful.”
She nodded. “If I don’t come back in twenty minutes, come in and get me.”
Aisling urged her horse forward. As she neared the house, she summoned her scepter. “With all my power, I command a snowstorm so fierce that visibility is impaired.”
Cool air swept in and clouds began to roil. After a few minutes, snow crystals swirled around the landscape. By the time Aisling dismounted, visibility was nonexistent.
She raced across the garden and followed the familiar path to the side entrance. As the soldiers huddled under the veranda, she breached the covert entrance. It was a narrow space that looked like an empty closet. Aisling peered through the dark until she located the small lever.
She slid open the panel a few inches and scanned the sitting room. As the blast of cold air invaded the space, Sean turned and reared back in surprise. She covered her lips with her finger and motioned for him to move in her direction.
His eyes darted to the doorway. A moment later, they were both enclosed in the hidden foyer. Aisling strained to hear voices, but there was nothing.
As the snow continued its heavy descent, she and Sean dashed across the lawn to the forest. Aisling glanced behind her at the guards. They were still at the estate entrance, engaged in animated conversation.
A few minutes later, Aisling located her horse, and she and Sean raced back to safety.
As soon as they were reunited with the prince and his men, a message was dispatched to the colonel.
The soldiers lined up in formation and rode toward home.
Aisling and Drayaen sat in the dining room with their guest of honor.
“I’m grateful for the rescue,” Sean said. “I wasn’t expecting to see this place again for a long time.”
“What happened?” asked Aisling.
“Didn’t Ryen tell you? Lord Thrain’s men swarmed into Uncle’s house.”
“What did they say when you were arrested?”
“That I would hang for treason.”
“A death sentence, without a trial?” she asked, leaning back in the chair.
The prince stood up and paced.
“We’ll need to accelerate our plans.”
“What do you mean?” asked Aisling.
“This is a warning shot. We need more control over our environment. Who’s to say that someone won’t try and force their way into this place?” He fumed and brushed back his wild hair.
“I agree,” said Aisling, “but you’ve already engaged the colonel to start our new enclave on Clare Island.”
“We’ll have to put more men on it”—he glanced at the two of them—“now.”
The prince paced in the bedroom. The chamber felt confining, and he etched his fingers over the permanent ache that was forming in his brow.
A few minutes later, the door opened and Aisling watched as her husband traipsed across the carpet.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“We need to take action,” he insisted, turning in her direction.
“What do you mean?”
“Finish your dealings with Lord Thrain. I don’t have a good feeling. We have too many loose ends.”
“Such as?”
He looked at her with an incredulous stare. “Our list grows longer, it seems. Enemies in Melaka, India, Spain, France. Now here. We keep adding to the list but aren’t resolving anything.”
“I know it feels overwhelming at times. But we restored order in the East Kingdom, and battled our way across the globe. The King of Floe has been defeated,” she said, in a reassuring tone.
He reached out and grasped her arm. “I’m worried about protecting you,” he paused, “and our family. Your powers are strong now. But what if something happens and they weaken? The stakes keep getting higher, and so does the risk.”
“What are you saying?”
“We need to destroy our enemies before they band together and eliminate us.”
“But is that their intention? To form a coalition and fight us?”
He brushed back his long dark hair. “Why wait?” he demanded. “What’s stopping us from slaying the dragons?”
“I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“We can’t let fear sidetrack us from the mission.” Drayaen’s mind raced as he thought about all the ways they could be harmed.
“What are you suggesting?” she asked.
He looked into her vibrant emerald eyes. “The two of us need to destroy our enemies, one by one.”
Princess of the Emerald Valleys Page 3
