After weighing the options, she decided to proceed with the plan. It was possible that the three ships involved in the theft of the king’s treasure were already on their way back to Penge.
Based on feedback from the captured officer, the enemy planned to fabricate a story and spread it across the kingdom. It would discredit the king and pave the way for distractions that would enable corrupt forces to wreak more havoc. This financed operation was intended to undermine the throne.
It was only a matter of time before there were other attempts to discredit the sovereign. Aisling frowned as she realized the extent of the nefarious activities.
It was an unabashed grab for power.
She stood near the window and aimed her scepter at the sky. It would take all her remaining energy to summon the king. I’ll have one chance, she thought. There can be no mistakes.
“With all my might, I command the presence of King Chauncey.”
As the energy hurled into the atmosphere, his visage began to appear. It was grainy at first, forming particles that floated in the air, suspended in a state of animation. After a few minutes, his physical form materialized.
He looked around, confused by his surroundings.
“Don’t be alarmed, King Chauncey. I’m Princess Aisling. It’s nice to meet you. I transported you here to tell you about our recovery efforts.”
“Thank you for coming to my aid. Am I really in a different place now?” he asked, raising his hands in the air.
“You’re on our ship, the Saoirse. I’ll get straight to the point. We have limited time.”
Aisling related to him the plot of the mutiny, and the identity of the known perpetrators.
“I suspected it,” he said. “I’m worried I won’t have the energy to fight much longer.”
“How can I help?” she asked.
“You already have, my dear. Finding those twelve chests of silver will enable me to retain my credibility and launch a counterattack.”
She shook her head, as her brows furrowed. “King Chauncey, did you say twelve chests? We’ve recovered more than that.”
“Whatever is left over will be your reward then.”
“Thank you. We’ll put it to good use.”
“I’m now in your debt.”
“There’s no need, Your Majesty. Where can you take possession of your cargo?”
“One of my ships has anchored on the Isle of Barra, in the town of Castlebay. Meet them there and transfer the goods.”
“What if we run into a problem?”
“If an emergency arises, there’s another ship on the Isle of Skye.”
“All right. That’s a good choice. The enemy won’t expect us to veer north. Thank you, King Chauncey.”
As he faded from view, Aisling waved her wand.
“I decree that King Chauncey remember the details of our transaction, but have no recollection of his visit to the Saoirse.”
She thought about their conversation and hoped the sovereign would find the strength to fight back.
A few days later, Aisling sat in her chamber, scanning the pile of nautical charts. She glanced up as Ryen appeared in the doorway.
“We’re approaching our destination,” he said.
She nodded. “Let’s dock in the harbor until our business is completed.”
“I’ll let you know when we’ve arrived.”
“Please tell Fionn and Owen that we’ll be making a trip to Castlebay. The prince will be going too, along with some of his men.”
“Aye, Commander, right away.”
“Tell Captain Vanker that we’d like him to come along.”
“Very good. I’ll let him know.”
As the crew prepared for arrival, Aisling and the prince stood on the deck, surveying the lofty cliffs. In the distance, unrestrained sheep grazed in the verdant pastures, as cerulean waters swept onto the rock-hewn shores. Farther downstream, the castle jutted out from the water, standing stalwart against the gray skies.
They hurried to the ramp.
Aisling retrieved her spyglass. There was no sign of activity. She examined the shoreline. It was almost too quiet. She turned to the prince and Captain Vanker.
“Where is the king’s ship? I don’t see it in the harbor.”
“Perhaps they’re being discreet,” said the captain.
“If that’s the case,” said Drayaen, “their rowboats should be near.”
Aisling turned to the prince. “Something isn’t right.”
“What do you want to do?”
“Leave, now,” she said.
He nodded, and the teams shuttled the cargo back onto the ship. Ryen signaled the fleet, and they headed out of the harbor.
There was a shout from the lookout team.
“What is it?” asked the prince.
“Soldiers, hidden in the cliffs. They don’t look sociable.”
The prince handed Captain Vanker his spyglass. “Who are they?” he demanded.
The officer scoured the terrain and let out a heavy sigh.
“Traitors from Penge,” he replied.
CHAPTER TWELVE
MISSING
The prince paced across the chamber.
“What do you think happened?” he asked, as he ran his hands through his untamed hair.
“The king assumed that he had loyal soldiers to protect his interests. It seems he was mistaken,” said Aisling.
“That could have been a disaster,” he fumed. “If we had proceeded to the castle, our ship would have been ambushed.”
“I understand your anger, but we identified the problem in time.”
“I thought your scepter would have warned you.”
“I did too, but it’s clear that we’re not infallible.”
“I need some air,” he said. He barreled through the door and headed for the deck. He stood near the lookout tower and breathed in the salty mist. I’m angry with myself, he thought. Aisling was carrying out a mission for the king. I shouldn’t have relied on his direction. How could I have been so cavalier? Walking farther down the deck, he fumed. “I’m a soldier. I should be anticipating the worst,” he murmured. I won’t let this happen again, he vowed. There is too much at stake.
Aisling sat at her desk and poured herself some tea. This is my fault, she thought. I need to let the prince know about the struggles I’m having with my power. She retrieved her silk robe and sat in front of the stove, watching the sparking embers.
After awhile, Drayaen returned. He crossed the room and tossed his sword on the table. A pair of large hands gripped Aisling’s shoulders.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I should have anticipated an ambush. It stands to reason that if some of the king’s army defected, there would be others as well. I’ve seen this many times before. When there is a weak leader, it’s easy for the opposing forces to establish momentum.”
Aisling stood and wrapped her arms around him. “You’re not clairvoyant,” she murmured. “If anything, I’m to blame. Something happened that affected my powers.”
“What is it?” he asked, his face alight with concern.
“Remember when I told you that I had to repeat a command twice, because I wasn’t sure it was successful?”
He nodded. “I do.”
She sighed. “The order was to transfer the treasure to the ship.”
“And so you did.”
“The king told me that his cache included twelve crates.”
“But we have twenty-four.”
“I know. I can’t tell if my magic created twelve new boxes, or if it’s stolen wealth.”
“Does it matter?”
“If I conjured up more treasure, could that be why it took so much of my power? Perhaps because it goes against nature?”
“It was an honest transaction. You thought we were recovering a stolen shipment. We’re in the process of returning it to the rightful owner.”
“What if the other containers belong to someone else?”
“If it was o
n an enemy ship, then it’s fair game.”
He glanced at her worried expression. “Both of us are getting used to our circumstances. It will take time to understand the nuances of your magic. For now, we’ll have to do the best we can.”
“I agree with you on that score,” she said.
“Have you thought about our next stop?” he asked.
She nodded. “King Chauncey and I agreed that in the event of an emergency, we’d meet his retainers on the Isle of Skye. We’ll transfer the officers, and his property.”
“Good, we’re almost done.”
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her, grateful that the end of the mission was in sight.
The next day, they navigated up the Scottish coast and anchored near the Inner Hebrides. There were no signs of the enemy. As dawn broke on the second day, Aisling received a message from Ryen and met him near the lookout tower.
“Commander, we’re approaching the Isle of Skye.”
Through her spyglass, she surveyed the rugged mountains and unspoiled landscape. As they moved closer, a vessel came into sight. It was the Kristiana.
“That must be our intended rendezvous,” she said. “If anything goes awry, the prince has his teams in place.” She tapped her fingers on the railing.
They watched as several rowboats made their way to the Saoirse. As the visitors drew closer, the messenger held up a communication. “I have a confidential note for the princess,” he said.
Drayaen dispatched one of his soldiers to retrieve it.
Aisling broke the seal and scanned the contents. It was from King Chauncey, written in a code used by the secret society members. She nodded to the prince, and the cargo was loaded. They bid farewell to the rescued officers, and watched as the men made their way back to the Kristiana.
Aisling breathed a sigh of relief and retreated to the Captain’s Quarters.
It was time to go home.
Several days later, they approached Cathair na Mart. The mountains loomed in the distance, their peaks disappearing into clouds of mist. Overhead, the skies were a dark grey, the rain falling in a steady stream. As they passed Clare Island, there was a haunting emptiness. Aisling turned as the prince approached.
“Drayaen, where are your men?” she asked, scanning the isle for signs of building activity.
“I don’t know,” he said. “It looks like they’ve made some progress, but I don’t see anyone.”
“Perhaps they got a late start today.”Her excuse sounded feeble, even to her own ears.
They navigated through the mounds of sunken drumlins, scattered across the bay. As they approached the wharf, Aisling could see a flurry of activity. It looked like one of her crews was readying for departure.
As she and the prince scanned the shore, Ryen sprinted down the deck.
“What is it?” asked Aisling, her brows furrowed.
“It’s the Cara. They’re pulling anchor.”
She strained for a closer look through the spyglass, then turned to the prince. “Sean would never commandeer one of our ships, unless it was an emergency.”
“Whatever it is,” he said, “let’s hope we’ve made it back in time.”
As they drew near, Aisling wondered where they were going, and why. One thing was clear.
The news wasn’t good.
When the Saoirse arrived at the quay, Sean and the colonel were waiting for them.
Aisling scanned their expressions and noted the circles under her cousin’s eyes.
“What is it?” she asked.
“Some of our men have been detained in Cork,” said Sean.
“For what reason?” asked Aisling.
“We don’t know. They went with Toby to pick up supplies, and never came back. One of our local fishermen heard they were being held somewhere near town. He came back to tell us, as soon as he learned of it.”
The prince turned to the colonel. “How long have they been missing?”
“It’s been over a week.”
“We’ll need to leave right away,” said Aisling.
As she glanced at the prince, he signaled for a private conversation.
“Excuse us for a few minutes,” she said to Sean and the colonel. She and Drayaen walked farther down the dock. He leaned down and grasped her elbows.
“I’m worried about you. We’ve just completed a taxing trip. You need to rest.”
Aisling sighed. “You’re right, but how will we find our men?”
“I’ll do it,” he said.
“Are you sure?”
“I am. The crew has already been assembled.”
“What if you run into trouble? You’re in unfamiliar territory.”
“If our soldiers are being held outside of town, it tells me that they’re not being imprisoned by legitimate legal channels. We’re dealing with tyrants. I know how to fight these people.”
“I agree. I’ve seen your skills in action. When are you leaving?”
“Now,” he said, as he hugged her. He ran his thumb over her cheek. “Stay safe.”
“I will,” she said, reaching for his hand. “I’ll see you soon.”
She stood on the landing and watched as the prince and his soldiers boarded the Cara. A half hour later, the ship headed across the bay.
Aisling watched their progress until they became a speck on the restless and churning seas.
As the view of Cathair na Mart faded, the prince turned to his officer.
“I’m sorry,” said Colonel Lex. “I should have gone with them.”
The prince shook his head. “No, you did the right thing. When the princess and I were traveling, I felt reassured, knowing you were here.”
“I’m not sure what happened. It was supposed to be a quick trip.”
“Who arranged for the collection of supplies?”
“Toby.”
“Was there anything unusual about your interactions?”
“We get along well, but there was something odd, right before he left.”
“What was it?”
“He was in a rush to meet the supplier.”
“Why the hurry?”
“I don’t know. I thought it strange, because he said the person was local.”
“Who went with him?”
“A few soldiers from the East Kingdom. The rest were crew.”
“All right. We should be there tomorrow. We can start our search after dark. Before then, there’s a person I need to see.”
“Someone who can help us?”
“I hope so,” said the prince, as he thought about ways to conquer his elusive enemy.
Lightning illuminated the sky, and cast shadows across the muddy roads. The prince scoured the area, and headed down a dim alley, trying to recall Aisling’s description of the house. A few minutes later, he stopped in front of a green door, and pounded on the entrance.
“Can I help you?” asked a large man, peering out from the entry.
“It’s Prince Drayaen, Aisling’s husband,” he said.
The shadowy figure ushered him in and moved them both to the inner chamber.
The prince removed his hood. “Hello, Kyle,” he said. “It’s nice to see you again.”
The man nodded. “It’s good to see you.” He motioned to the chair next to the fire, as the prince took off his cloak. “I think I know why you’re here.”
“I came to you first, Kyle. Some of our men are missing. What can you tell me?”
“There’s a rumor going ’round about the Sons of Tarn, but I don’t believe it. This doesn’t fit their style. It sounds like something that Lord Thrain would do.”
“For what reason?”
“Money. My guess is that your people are the bait.”
“What can you tell me about his organization?”
“Not much. They’re an elusive group. It’s hard to separate fact from fiction. I know this: He has a growing network of scavengers and thieves.”
“What is their cause?”
“Extortio
n, bribery, kidnapping, corruption.”
“How large a force is it?”
“It’s hard to say. At the local level, enough to be a threat. If you look at his legions across countries, they probably number in the thousands.”
“Where would they have taken my men?”
“I can’t say for sure, but there’s an abandoned castle on the banks of the River Lee. It’s well fortified, if someone wanted to hide a group of men there. If you plan an attack, you’d have the element of surprise on your side.”
“Thank you, Kyle. I appreciate your help.”
“I’ll come with you.”
The prince shook his head. “I don’t want to put you in danger.”
“I know the local terrain. It could be useful,” he said, grabbing his raincoat. “Besides, Aisling is like my family. Now that extends to you.”
“That’s very generous,” said the prince. “Offer accepted.”
Kyle peered out the door and surveyed the alleyway. There was no one there.
He and the prince sprinted through the rain, into the recesses of the night.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
DILEMMA
The sound of thunder grew louder as the storm intensified. Drayaen and Kyle made their way through narrow lanes and unmarked fields, until they came to the cluster of rowboats that blended with the murky waters.
The colonel alerted his team, as the shadowy figures approached. The prince came into view and motioned to his soldiers.
“This is Kyle,” he said. “He’s a friend of the family.”
The men spoke in low tones as they discussed the situation, and devised a plan. A short while later, they headed out to find the missing crew.
They glided in silence through the water. Aside from an occasional bolt of lightning, the twilight obscured their movements. Even the vessels had been camouflaged, to blend with the rocks and mud that lined the shore.
The castle guarded the coast, its crenellations haunted by echoes in time, when the ramparts were filled with ancient warriors protecting their ground. Now, the battlements and towers were silent.
The prince and his men made their way to a copse of trees near the embankment. From their vantage point, they had a clear view of the arched door that provided access to the castle from the river. A ramp rose above the rocks, offering a gateway into the structure.
Princess of the Emerald Valleys Page 7
