Milard patted Ledger’s shoulder. “No one blames you for what happened.”
Ledger nodded, shrugging him off. “Now that we’re far enough away from the castle, I want to find a safe place to sleep for a few hours. Then, when I can think clearly, we can figure out what to do.”
She nodded. They’d all lost friends and loved ones today.
Harley peeled her crusted eyelids open. Everything hurt. Her body, her heart. She sat up, surveying the scene before her. Milard and Ledger sat next to a fire, the smoke concealed by the low hanging branches above.
“Where’s Rayne?” she asked, yawning.
“He went to the nearby town to see the state of things,” Milard answered.
“We’ve decided to continue west,” Ledger added, poking the fire with a stick. “We’re trying to get as far away from the castle as possible. Once we have a better idea of what’s going on, we’ll come up with a plan.”
Milard snorted. “And by plan he means whether Melenia is truly lost to Russek or if we can raise an army to fight and take it back.”
“Who would rule? There aren’t any surviving royals,” Ledger pointed out.
Harley sat up straighter. “That’s not true.”
Ledger pursed his lips. “I thought you knew,” he said gently. “The entire royal family was executed.”
“Did you see it?” she asked, scooting closer to the fire.
He nodded.
“Didn’t you notice Prince Owen was not present?”
“I’d heard rumors he went on a secret mission to another kingdom,” Milard said. “I assumed he’d returned.” He scratched his head. “Four siblings were executed.”
Harley wiped the tears already flowing again, surprised she had any left. “My brother, Hollis, wasn’t on duty during the invasion.” If Owen had been home, would Hollis be alive?
“Hollis?” Ledger asked. “As in Lord Hollis of the king’s royal guard?”
She nodded. “We were at the party together, standing on the dais, when Prince Kerdan arrived. Hollis told me to hide in the secret passageways. No one noticed me slip away. That’s how I escaped.” She wiped her face with her sleeve, still unable to believe her brother had been brutally executed. The air became difficult to breathe. Her heart physically hurt.
“Put your head between your knees,” Milard said. “It’ll help.”
She did as he suggested. The wretched feeling in her stomach intensified, but her breathing steadied. “I can’t believe any of this is happening.” She kept expecting to wake up from this nightmare. Maybe she’d been thrown from her horse on the way to the castle and was suffering from an injury. Because this…this couldn’t be real.
“She’s not looking good,” Milard mumbled to Ledger.
“Please don’t leave me here,” she said. She didn’t think she could fend for herself. Especially since she was a woman. The way that man had almost violated her was still fresh in her mind. Looking at her wrists, she saw bruises had already formed where he’d held her. She’d been too weak to fight him off. Growing up, she’d begged her father to teach her to fight. He’d refused, saying a woman’s place was in the home, not wielding a sword. If he’d taught her, she could have saved herself.
“We’re not going to leave you,” Ledger assured her, tossing the stick in the fire. “You’re the only one who knows Prince Owen is alive. Where can we find him?”
Owen was now the king of Melenia—a position her cousin wouldn’t want. Not only would he be devastated to learn of his family’s death, but he wasn’t prepared to sit on the throne. Since he had three older siblings, he’d spent his days doing as he pleased. Oftentimes, he’d sneak and train with the soldiers, or hide in the king’s office where’d he’d eavesdrop on his father’s meetings. The king had indulged him instead of preparing him for a life embedded in politics. Harley cleared her throat. “Commander Beck and a large portion of our soldiers are with Owen,” she said, recalling what Lyle had told her. “Once they return, it might be enough to retake the kingdom.” Maybe. If there was anything left to salvage.
“Can you get a letter to Owen?”
She tried remembering where he’d gone. “He sailed to a kingdom across the sea.” That much she knew. And her aunt had said something about illicit trading going on. “We have to go to Kreng. If there’s a way to get a letter to my cousin, it’ll be from there.”
“Kreng?” Ledger said. “We’re not supposed to step foot in that city. Even though it’s in Melenia, we don’t control it.”
She was well aware of the particulars. Her uncle had frequently complained about the prosperous city. “If we want to save Melenia, that’s where we need to go.” Illicit trade only took place from one port—Kreng. And if they were trading with the kingdom across the sea, surely someone in the city would be able to dispatch a letter to Owen.
“It’ll be in their best interest to cooperate with us,” Milard pointed out. “We’ll warn them of the invasion. Gain their trust. Maybe we can work together.”
“And pray they don’t run us through with a sword,” Ledger mumbled.
Rayne joined them, carrying two skinned rabbits. “We can’t stay here,” he whispered. “Two miles to the east, Russek troops are moving south.” Rayne skewered the rabbits on a stick, putting them over the fire to cook.
Rubbing her face, she wondered if her parents were alive. If Russek was pushing south toward Landania, her town had probably been overrun. Did her parents manage to make it out safely? Or had she lost everyone she loved?
Harley inched closer to the fire, wanting to warm her freezing hands. When she reached forward, she noticed the bruises on her wrists again. She shivered, remembering her first time with Lyle. After their wedding ceremony, he’d taken her to his house. Instead of entering through the front door, he’d led her in the back, which went to the kitchen. There, he explained that he expected her to prepare three hot meals a day for him. Then he shoved her onto the table where he pinned her wrists behind her back. He said he didn’t want to see her ugly face as he rammed himself inside of her. She remembered telling herself it was better to be on her stomach where she couldn’t see him, either. Once he’d finished, he’d ordered her to cook supper. Given her station in life, she’d never cooked anything before and had no idea what to do. She remembered sitting on the floor, crying, nasty bruises forming on her wrists.
“Are you okay?” Ledger asked, startling Harley.
Shoving the memories aside, she forced a smile on her face. “I want to thank you for killing that Russek soldier earlier today.” She’d been through enough with Lyle and didn’t need to be abused by another man.
He nodded. “We were running by. I heard you scream. I shot him before I even realized what he was doing.”
“He didn’t.” Not that she needed to explain anything to him; however, she wanted him to know that he’d not only saved her life, but he’d prevented her from being violated. “You stopped him in time,” she clarified.
The three men all focused on the fire, each probably lost in memories of what they saw and experienced at the castle.
“I wish we could have helped others,” Ledger muttered.
Milard peered over at Harley. “I’m sorry for your loss. My father was killed at the castle. It was a quick death. Nothing like what you witnessed with your brother and the royal family.”
She couldn’t think about them being tortured and executed. There were only so many horrific things she could handle. And the last twenty-four hours had provided her with more than enough to last a lifetime.
“Let’s just get to Kreng quickly,” she said. Having something to focus on gave her purpose and kept her mind from dwelling on the evilness she’d encountered. In order to make Hollis’s death, along with the deaths of her aunt, uncle, and cousins, mean something, she had to rid the kingdom of Russek. And she needed to find Owen so he could retake the throne.
Ledger withdrew his sword, placing it over the fire. Milard and Rayne did the same, lookin
g at her, expectation written across their faces.
Harley raised her eyebrows in question. “I’m sorry,” she said, “I don’t know what this means.”
“We’re making a vow,” Ledger explained. “Do you have a weapon?”
When she shook her head, Rayne reached into his boot, withdrawing a dagger and handing it to her.
She took the weapon, sticking it over the fire as the others had done. Hers wasn’t long enough to reach the tips of their swords, so she placed her tip against Rayne’s blade.
“We vow here and now,” Ledger said, “to seek vengeance for the murders and destruction committed by the hands of Russek soldiers. We will not rest until King Owen is on the throne and Melenia is once again under our control.”
Everyone grunted in agreement, then removed their swords from the licking flames. Harley went to give the weapon back to Rayne.
“Keep it,” he said, waving his hand at her. “You need something to defend yourself with.”
“Speaking of defending myself,” she said, “can you teach me how to use this thing?” She didn’t even know how to hold it properly. Whenever she’d asked Lyle, he’d insisted a woman had no business touching a weapon.
The three men sitting alongside her all smiled. But it was Ledger who said, “We’ll protect you. I promise.”
That was when Harley realized her old life was truly gone, and nothing would be like it was before.
Ackley
Ackley leaned over the railing of the ship. The ocean water slammed against the side of it as they sailed closer to Melenia. It had been almost two weeks and his stomach still felt like a raging storm. The first day aboard, he’d understood it. Expected it. But the entire miserable trip?
“Your sister asked me to come and check on you,” Gytha said from behind him.
He peered over his shoulder, glaring at the warrior woman. From the moment she climbed on board, she’d had her sea legs, not sick at all. He resented her for it. As usual, Gytha’s thick black hair had been pulled back into her signature braid, accentuating the angles of her high cheekbones and tanned skin. The muscles in her arms were well defined—especially for a woman. If he had to choose one word to describe her, it would be formidable.
“Just so you know, we’re almost there.” She stood alongside him. There had always been an easy companionship between them. “Then you can stop heaving up your insides. Maybe regain your weight.” She chuckled. “This must kill you—being the weakest one on the ship.”
Ackley took a deep breath, trying not to let her comment sting. She was right, though. Being sick the entire two weeks across the Wendan Ocean proved him incompatible with the sea. And here he’d always thought he could overcome anything. The realization that there were some things he could not master only infuriated him all the more.
Maybe if the water didn’t move so much, he wouldn’t feel so awful. At least they were supposed to reach landfall tomorrow. He’d been diligently counting down the days until his head would stop being a bowl of mushed oatmeal and his stomach wouldn’t expel the food he attempted to consume.
“You missed the meeting,” Gytha said, gazing out at the bright sun gleaming over the water. “Owen is wondering if you should appoint someone else to be in charge of the Marsden soldiers.”
Even though she hadn’t asked it as a question, Ackley knew she was there seeking his decision. He rubbed his sunburnt face. He’d planned on leading the Marsden soldiers when they stepped foot on Melenia soil. However, in his current state, he didn’t know if he could. It may take him a day or two until he felt better. And then there was the part about him needing to regain his strength. He hadn’t been able to workout once since boarding this blasted vessel. Given that they had no idea what they’d face in Melenia, he hesitated, wondering if there be an immediate fight.
Ackley flexed his hand, his fingers shaking. He wouldn’t be useless in a scuffle, but he definitely wouldn’t be at his best. A full-blown battle was another matter entirely. “I’ll consider it.” There were several men who could do the job, but he didn’t want to cede control right away.
He glanced at Gytha’s face. Fierce determination shone in her eyes. It was one of the things he admired most about her. “Can I ask a favor of you?”
“Of course.”
Focusing on the ocean again, he said, “I want you to watch out for my sister.”
“It would be my honor.”
He’d come on this trip for two reasons—one being to protect his sister. Now, he didn’t trust his skills given his current state. Gytha was one of the most adept warriors he knew. When he’d first met her, he hadn’t expected her to wield a sword with such strength and precision. When he sparred with her, he didn’t have to rein himself in. It was one of the reasons she was a captain in the Marsden army and one of the king’s most trusted soldiers. The other reason Ackley had ventured on this journey, he hadn’t yet thought about. He’d deal with her later. For now, ignoring the woman he left back in Marsden was easier than facing the fact that she’d just married another man. He blinked, attempting to banish all thoughts of her from his mind.
“Speaking of your sister, here she is now.” Gytha straightened. “I will leave the two of you alone.”
Idina came alongside Ackley, her bright red hair flowing wildly in the wind. “How are you, of all people, still sick?” She wrinkled her nose in disgust.
He shrugged. He excelled in everything he did. Except sailing, apparently.
She looked sidelong at him. “When we arrive tomorrow, I’ll need my brother in top shape.”
“I’ll be fine.” He had no idea how he’d make the journey home. The likelihood of him ever stepping foot on a ship again wasn’t promising.
Idina lowered her voice and mumbled, “Owen is concerned.”
That made the two of them. Since his sister liked to overthink and overanalyze everything, he said, “Last time I checked, there were less than a dozen Marsdens sick. That means there will be more than enough healthy soldiers to march with Melenia’s and take control of the kingdom.” The letter Owen had received from Melenia stated that Russek invaded during a birthday celebration and took over, killing the entire royal family. With so little information, they had no idea if any Melenia soldiers, besides the ones onboard, were left to fight. Owen assumed the worst—that most soldiers had been killed during the invasion.
“We hope.” She gripped the rail, digging her fingers in. “We have no idea what we’re walking into.”
At least they had the element of surprise on their side. “I assume we’ll be one of the last ships entering port?” He hoped there wasn’t a battle right away. Since the royal residence was located in the northeastern portion of the kingdom, he didn’t see a reason for the Russeks to have soldiers stationed along the coast. Especially since no one knew where Owen had been.
Owen’s mother, the late queen of Melenia, had sent him along with Commander Beck and five hundred Melenia soldiers to Marsden. Ackley rubbed his face. The entire thing had been a whole mess he didn’t want to rehash. At least Owen had prevented Commander Beck from taking control of Marsden. Instead, Owen decided to trust Ackley, siding with him and striking a deal with King Dexter of Marsden. Part of that deal was Owen’s engagement to Princess Idina, Dexter’s cousin. The two kings hoped to have peace and trade between their kingdoms. Another part of the deal was Marsden soldiers coming with Owen to support him in his quest to take back his kingdom. Ackley had volunteered to go.
Owen had turned out to be a good guy. Too bad that while he was in Marsden, Russek invaded his kingdom, slaughtered the royal family, and took over.
“Owen wants to disembark in a cove where there’s no port. Which means we’ll be taking those smaller boats to shore.” She nodded at the tiny boats attached to the ship.
Ackley rolled his eyes. This kept getting better and better.
Idina rubbed his back. “I’ve never seen you like this. I’m worried.”
“I’ll be fine.”
> “You haven’t been to a single meeting.” She glanced at the soldiers on the top deck, not far away. “We need you.”
He couldn’t be below deck—not even to sleep. It only made him feel worse. So here he stayed, day and night. He hadn’t even changed his clothes. Every day for the past two weeks had been a struggle. The constant movement, the up and down…he leaned over the side, dry heaving.
“You’re utterly useless,” Idina muttered.
“Now’s not the time.” He couldn’t stand to hear her telling him how incompetent he was at the moment. He wasn’t used to this sort of feeling and didn’t care for it.
“At first I thought you were moping over Reid. Now I understand how sick you are.” She sighed. “Well, I hope you feel better. The last thing you need is to be run through with a sword when you step foot on land.” With that, she turned and strode away, her dress wrapping around her legs from the vicious wind.
Reid. Ackley pinched the bridge of his nose. He couldn’t think about her right now.
Soldiers ran around the deck in a flurry of activity. Sails were raised and lowered. The ship slowed. And finally, finally, the anchor was dropped.
Gytha approached Ackley. “The other ships report no one is in view of the shore.”
That was good. Hopefully there wouldn’t be a battle right away.
“A unit has been sent to investigate. We’re to wait here until they return.” She scanned him as he sat against a crate, the skin on his face peeling from his nasty sunburn. “You look awful.”
“Thanks,” he said, forcing a smile on his lips. “Just what every guy wants to hear.”
She squatted next to him, her right hand patting his knee. “I will stay at Idina’s side.” She nodded as if the idea were her own.
Sword of Rage: Reigning Kingdoms, Book 1 Page 4
