She started to protest but realized the effort would be futile. He clasped her hand and moved them both out of the building. Retrieving his horse, he helped her into the saddle, then sat behind her as they traveled back to the estate. The sun was setting as they meandered down the path.
“Oh, look, Colonel, the sun is a fiery orange color. It reminds me of the East Kingdom.”
“Let’s watch it together, but on one condition.”
“What is that?”
“In private, you must call me by my first name.”
“All right, Lex.” She smiled. “There should be a good view near the river.”
He maneuvered the horse to the water’s edge.
She found herself leaning against him as the light faded into the horizon.
He slid his arm around her waist and tightened his grip. After awhile, they reversed course and headed for home.
Aisling and the prince sat in the library and chatted about the events of the day. The flames crackled in the hearth, casting a warm glow across the paneled room.
“We’ve made some real progress,” said the prince, as he stood and poured himself a drink. “Building has started on Clare Island, and our sail-making business already has a few local customers.”
“That’s excellent news,” said Aisling. She tucked her feet beneath her and leaned against the pillows. “How is Lex working out?”
“He’s doing a good job. I’m pleased with the results so far.”
“I knew he was a capable military man, but I didn’t realize the breadth of his skills.”
Their conversation was interrupted by a loud knock at the door. The butler entered, carrying a white envelope.
“Princess, this arrived by messenger,” he said, as he passed her the missive.
“Thank you, Galen.” She tore open the communication and her brows furrowed.
“What is it?” asked the prince.
“A request for help. I recognize the name from my Book of Magic.”
“Who is it from?”
“King Chauncey, from the Land of Penge.”
“What’s happened?”
“It seems that one of their ships is lost. It contains a sizeable shipment of silver. He’s asked us to help locate his missing men, and the cargo. The last sighting was near the Faroe Islands.”
“Is there anything you can do from here?” asked the prince, as he paced in front of the fire.
Aisling sighed. “I’m afraid not,” she said, casting him a woeful glance. “I know the timing is less than ideal, but I feel I should go.”
“I’m not convinced.”
“What do you mean?” She sat up and locked eyes with him.
“I thought we agreed that we’d stay close to home for awhile,” he said, frowning.
“I know this is unexpected. But if I refuse, how can I stay in my chosen position, in good conscience?”
“What about your health?”
“I’ll be fine. The good news is that I can provide assistance and return in a few weeks.”
“I?”
“Well, Ryen can come with me. We’ll take a full crew. You can choose to stay here if you’d like.”
“And let you go alone?” he asked, incredulous. “No, if you insist on leaving, then I’ll come too.”
“I’m pleased that you want to travel with me, but what about your projects?”
“The colonel can oversee activities while we’re gone. Your safety and well-being are more important than anything.”
“All right, we’ll both go, then.”
“Promise me one thing.”
“What is it?”
“When this issue is resolved, do everything in your power to stay close to home,” he insisted. “I don’t have a good feeling about this.”
“Why?”
“It’s a remote place, which means there’s a downside.”
“How so?”
“We’ll be in the middle of nowhere. If we run into trouble, there’ll be no one to help us.”
She nodded. “I understand your point, but we have a well-equipped army,” she said, as she stood and grasped his arm. “We’ll be back before you know it.”
He nodded and blew out the candles. Somehow, the chill that swept over him wasn’t going away.
The house was silent, as Aisling made her way to the secret room. She accessed her key and opened the lock. The light flickered as she closed the door and walked up the stairs to the loft.
It had been over a week since she last visited the hideaway. She studied the maps on the wall and pored through her Book of Magic. Unlike the detailed descriptions of some secret society members, there were few references to King Chauncey. It wasn’t even clear if her father had ever met him.
Based on her research, the King of Penge ruled a country in the Upper Regions. In the past few decades, there had been no major conflicts with external powers. Perhaps that was why he never summoned my father, she thought. He had no need.
Still, she recalled the prince’s unease and summoned her sword. “Tell me about the dangers within the Land of Penge,” she commanded.
Mist swirled around the instrument. Images flew by: crowds of angry men, people being forced into serfdom, rodents running wild in the cities. The pictures were hard to interpret, and yet, after watching them for less than a minute, Aisling felt drained. The king himself might be well intentioned, she thought, but in a place with so much misery, there are bound to be emerging forces to challenge his power. Aisling couldn’t shake the feeling that this mission was going to be more complicated than she envisioned.
A week later, the Saoirse prepared for departure. Ryen signaled the navigators as they pulled anchor. Although several vessels remained, a large crowd congregated on the wharf to bid their farewells. The men lined the railings to catch the last glimpses of their loved ones as the ship pulled away from the quay.
Aisling peered through her spyglass as they approached Clare Island. She could see building activity on the east end, near the harbor, and more construction farther west.
Sea birds circled overhead, their echoes ringing across the water.
The ship reached the ocean and headed north, through turbulent waters.
After a week of travel, they neared the Faroe Islands. One more night, thought Aisling, and we’ll be on dry ground.
As the prince went off in search of Ryen, she summoned her swords, and made another attempt to glean some answers to her current problem.
“What can you tell me about the lost shipments?” she asked. “Who is responsible?”
A bluish mist surrounded the scepter. The crew appeared to be taking over a ship called the Serpen. Men in uniform were forced off the boat. In the scenes that followed, sailors carried large crates to a deserted area. She strained to see other clues, but the flow of energy ceased and the light was extinguished.
Aisling sighed. The prince opened the door and sensed her frustration.
“What is it?” he asked. “Are you feeling all right?”
“I’m fine. I was just consulting my swords about our current mission.”
“Did you learn anything?”
“I believe so. There is no lost shipment.”
“What do you mean?” he asked, as he crossed the room.
“In my vision, there was a mutiny, perpetrated by the crew. The officers were abandoned.”
“What about the silver?”
“The men hid it. I suspect they’re coordinating with another vessel to arrange the transfer.”
“What do you want to do?”
“If there’s another ship coming, they’ll never make it to the island.”
“How can you be sure?”
“A violent storm is on its way—one that will leave a wake of destruction.”
“What then?”
“We find what we came here to get.”
It sounds simple, thought Aisling, but there are many risks.
More so, when a treasure is at stake.
Aisling headed to the deck and looked out at the island. As the temperatures dropped, she worried about the officers in the middle of an unforgiving wilderness. In this part of the world, during winter months, daylight was fleeting.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Ryen’s approach.
“We’ll need to drop anchor soon,” he said. “The area is riddled with rock formations. It would be treacherous to navigate now.”
“All right. At first light, we’ll start a search, beginning with the most remote islands.”
“What are we looking for?” he asked.
“Signs of life,” she said, as the sun sank into the horizon.
CHAPTER NINE
LOST AND FOUND
Aisling awoke and peered into the dark. It should be dawn, and yet the sun was elusive. She pulled back her blanket and covered the prince. A few minutes later, she was dressed and on deck.
Moonlight illuminated the jagged cliffs and distant shores, but not enough to shine a spotlight on the treacherous formations that littered the rocky coast. I’m in a race against time, she thought, but nature isn’t cooperating.
She made her way back to the cabin and sat at the desk, studying her Book of Magic. Without warning, the tome began to turn its own pages. Puzzled, she scanned the text with growing excitement. She inhaled a deep breath and reread the passage.
The prince watched her from afar, and noticed her animated expression. “What is it?” he asked, trying to focus his gaze.
“I’ve found a passage here about locating lost people. It seems so simple, I wonder why I didn’t think of it before.”
“What does it say?”
“The sword can identify nearby landmarks,” she said. “This will save us a great deal of time. I was worried that we’d have to spend days combing the outlying islands.”
“It might work. If you can narrow the hunt, it could change the game in our favor.”
“I think so too,” she said, as she lined up her magic wands, and hoped there was still time.
A few hours later, dawn appeared. Aisling scanned the breathtaking surroundings. Majestic cliffs rose into the sky, framing a treeless landscape that formed over rocky hills and vales. Despite the inhospitable climate, the white-foam peaks hid patches of green, a complement to the gray-blue waves and misty seas.
Farther inland were valleys filled with waterfalls. The cascades of liquid crystal settled into the deep, clear streams, which meandered to the ocean.
Symmetrical stone-and-wood houses with red window frames and grass-turf roofs blended into the landscape. Nearby, hordes of black sheep, shaggy cows, and wild ponies roamed the fjords.
It reminds me of Ireland, she thought. It’s a spectacular place, where the untainted beauty of the land meets the fury of the seas.
Her thoughts were hindered by approaching footsteps. She turned and smiled. “Hello, Ryen.”
“Hello, Commander,” he said, as he hurried to her side. “I’ve found a map of the area, and there are several uninhabited islands nearby.”
“Excellent. How many hours of daylight do we have?”
“About eight.”
She studied the chart. “Proceed to these outlying territories first. We can work our way back.”
“What should I tell the lookout crew?”
“We’re searching for a stranded group of officers. Since they’re seamen, they may gravitate to shore, as opposed to trekking inland.”
“I’ll let them know.”
The ship sliced through the waves, and headed for the desolate sections of the island.
Aisling hurried to a remote corner of the ship. With her wand extended, she decreed, “I command calm seas within a ten-mile radius.” The energy surged from her hand, into the sky. After a few minutes, the undulating motion of the boat began to subside.
She inhaled a deep breath and began again. “I direct that a powerful storm impede the progress of any other vessels moving toward this location,” she intoned, as the blue aura hovered over the scepter.
Aisling steadied herself against the railing and secured her scepters. She made her way back to her quarters, and sank into the chair, depleted from her efforts.
A short while later, she and the prince stood on the deck and canvassed the landscape.
“What kind of landmarks are we looking for?” Drayaen asked.
“There’s a sea stack—a giant rock formation that juts out of the ocean. It looks as though there’s a doorway in the middle, wide enough for a small boat to pass through.”
“We may be getting close,” he said. “I see some similar rocks.” As they rounded the corner, the prince pointed. “Is that it?” he asked.
“That’s the one,” said Aisling.
There was a shout from the lookout tower. Ryen hurried back with the news.
The missing men had been found.
They drew closer to the island, where they could see the officers huddled on the cliff. A white flag rippled in the breeze, as the men waved and shouted.
Two boats were dispatched. Fionn and Owen made their way to shore, along with some of the prince’s soldiers. Aisling watched the events unfold through her spyglass. She could see Fionn introduce his crew to the abandoned officers, and the men began shaking hands. The crew loaded the boat, and they made their way back to the Saoirse.
Aisling and the prince welcomed their new passengers from the Serpen, who expressed gratitude. They were eager to share their story.
After everyone was situated, the men were served food and drink. Over dinner, they told their listeners the tale of a mutiny that had occurred in the middle of the night. Although there had been a few dissenters who were unwilling to participate, they feared the prospect of death on an uninhabited island. In the end, all of the sailors chose to go along with the scheme.
Aisling assured everyone safe passage, and after hours of exchanging information, the men retreated to their temporary cabins.
It was pre-dawn when Aisling opened her eyes and sat up in bed. The wind howled as it swept over the ship, rattling the windows and sending blasts of frigid air into the chamber. We’ll need to wait for daylight to resume our search, she thought.
Large hands pulled her back down into the blankets.
“What are you doing up at this hour?” he murmured.
“I don’t know. I’m still tired, but something woke me up.”
“Come,” he said, as he melded her to his steely frame. “You need some rest.”
She felt his radiating warmth as he held her close, and before long, she drifted off to sleep.
A few hours later, shards of light entered the chamber. She extended her arm across the bed, as her eyes fluttered open. The prince was already gone.
Aisling dressed, and consulted her scepters once again.
“Help me find the missing silver,” she decreed. As the energy surged into the atmosphere, she peered into the wand. This time, there was a waterfall, visible from the sea. The image faded. She was about to stow the instruments when another picture came into focus. It looked like the prince’s men. His soldiers were carrying the silver back to the boat, and they were being attacked.
Aisling strained to see the enemy, but the impression dimmed, until there was nothing left.
She rushed out of the cabin to find Drayaen. He was deep in conversation with Ryen. As she approached, they turned, their expressions rife with concern.
“What is it?” she asked.
“One of the officers we rescued insists that a ship is on its way to retrieve the silver. In fact, they may already be here.”
“We’ll have to find it first.”
“How?”
“There’s a waterfall that cascades into the ocean. I believe the treasure is there.”
“How can you tell?” asked Ryen.
Aisling paused, and glanced at the prince. She needed a plausible explanation without exposing her secret. “It’s probable the enemy coordinated activities before they left port. That means they had to pick a
landmark that would be easy to spot from the sea. Since they wouldn’t risk exposure by hiding it near populated areas, it has to be near here, in a remote location.”
“I see,” said her officer. He motioned to the lookout crew. “I’ll let the men know.”
As he walked away, the prince leaned closer to Aisling. “Was it information you gleaned from the sword?”
She nodded. “There’s something else I saw that’s worrisome.”
“What is it?”
“Your men were attacked.”
“Who was the enemy?”
“I’m not sure. I saw uniforms, perhaps military.”
“I think the captain of the Serpen might be able to help us. I’ll find him, and the three of us can talk.”
The prince hurried down the deck in search of his ally.
A half hour later, the small group huddled around the table.
The prince turned to Captain Vanker and spoke in a low voice. “Do you know who your crew is working for?”
“I can’t say for certain,” he said, “but I have my suspicions.”
“If you were to guess?”
“Someone named Lord Thrain.”
Aisling inhaled a deep breath. “Lord Thrain?”
“Do you know him?”
“We’ve encountered him before,” she said, making eye contact with the prince.
“What makes him dangerous is that he appears to be working alone. In reality, he schemes with others to get what he wants. Many times, I’ve seen him direct activities from afar, and then claim complete ignorance.”
“Who else is working with him?”
“It’s hard to say. In this case, King Chauncey has been ill. A number of high-ranking officials have taken advantage of the power vacuum. They’d like nothing better than to steal from the treasury.”
“Tell me about the men onboard your ship.”
“They were serfs who were conscripted into the army. There’s deep resentment there. Perhaps that’s why they were receptive to Lord Thrain. No doubt he promised them freedom, land, and riches.”
“What does their military uniform look like?” she asked.
“It’s black and white, with red accents.”
She cast a knowing glance at the prince.
“How many men are there?” she asked.
Princess of the Emerald Valleys Page 5
