“Don’t look at me like that,” Gytha chided him. “You’ve been unwell for a couple of weeks. I doubt your strength has returned. Maybe you should see before you find yourself in a fight for your life.”
“I concur,” Idina said, leaving no room for discussion.
Since these two insufferable women would persist until he complied, he dropped his bag on the ground, withdrew his dagger, and bowed with a flourish. Idina simply blinked, clearly not amused. He sighed. The target was eighteen feet away and slightly to the right, the two-inch circular peg at a downward angle. A simple throw. The familiar feel of the hilt in his palm calmed his mind and forced it to focus. He threw the dagger. It sailed through the air, landing with a satisfying thump.
Ackley stood there, staring at the dagger embedded in the ground just below the peg. He blinked. If that were a person, being off by that much could mean the difference between life and death.
“You’ll get your steady arm back in another day or two,” Gytha said, her voice low so no one would overhear.
Ackley ran his hands through his hair, unable to remember the last time he’d missed a target like that. His hands only shook slightly. However, his stomach felt queasy and the ground seemed to be swaying again, though not nearly as bad as before. He should have taken those things into account. Walking over, he withdrew his dagger. Not wanting to practice there in front of everyone, he slid the weapon back in his boot. Alone in the forest, he would get his aim back—even if it killed him.
After slinging his bag over his shoulder, he turned to face Gytha. “Protect Idina.”
“King Owen has assigned a dozen men for her protection. She doesn’t need me. You do. I’m coming with you.”
Stubborn was another word he’d use to describe Gytha. And right. Not wanting his pride or foolishness to guide him to a bad decision, he simply nodded and started walking toward the path cut into the mountain. A few minutes later, he heard the crunch of boots on dirt as Gytha caught up with him. Considering that it only took her a handful of minutes, she must have still had her belongings packed and ready to go. He half wondered if this had been her plan all along. No matter. Even though he wanted to travel alone, having a skilled fighter with him was a good idea. Especially if he had to break Owen’s cousin out of prison.
At least the world seemed still again. It was only when he turned quickly or bent over that his sense of the ground beneath him swayed. By the time he reached the other side of the mountain, his legs ached from the lack of activity over the past couple of weeks. He welcomed the pain.
Ackley
Ackley and Gytha traveled all day with little conversation. While Ackley itched to practice after being sick on the ship for two weeks, he decided traveling as far as he could was a better use of his time. Besides, the idea of embarrassing himself in front of Gytha wasn’t something he cared to do.
“Are you going to stop and make camp?” Gytha snapped, her steely voice cutting through the darkening sky. “Or do you plan on walking all night?”
“If you can’t keep up, you can head back to Owen and the others.” He didn’t need a nursemaid.
“I can keep up just fine,” she huffed. “It’s you I’m worried about.”
He was finally able to walk in a straight line, the ground only occasionally seemed to sway, everything he’d eaten today had stayed down, and his strength was gradually returning. Instead of saying any of that, he glanced over his shoulder and smirked. “There’s a town not far from here. I plan on stopping just before we reach it.” Close, but not too close.
They’d been traveling on a dirt road lined with knee-high brown weeds on both sides. The ocean remained to Ackley’s right, though not in sight. He could smell it taunting him of what he’d been through and would have to go through again in order to return home. A few trees shone in the distance. “Let’s head over there.” They would provide some cover for the night.
As they wove between the thick weeds, Gytha cursed. “The ones with the orange stuff on them are sharp.” Blood trickled from her palm.
Ackley’s focus wasn’t on the shrubs but on the surrounding area, searching for any signs of life. While he hadn’t spotted any movement, that didn’t mean someone wasn’t hiding nearby.
They reached the handful of trees.
“At least it’s clear of weeds here,” Gytha commented, tossing her bag on the ground and stretching.
Ackley placed his bag beside hers. “Do you want to hunt or set up camp?”
Gytha raised her eyebrows. “You think there’s anything living around here that’s suitable for consumption?”
He’d spotted a few quails. However, he didn’t have his bow with him. “I’m sure there’s a rabbit or squirrel.” While he hadn’t seen any movement that indicated a person was nearby, he’d heard plenty of smaller creatures scuttling about.
“I’ll find something,” Gytha mumbled. She withdrew a dagger. “Can’t have you getting dizzy and lost on me.” The corners of her lips curled into a sly smile, baiting him.
In no mood to spar with Gytha—verbally or physically—he ignored her and started gathering wood to make a fire.
Ackley awoke with a start. Rubbing his eyes, he sat up. Darkness blanketed the land, and thousands of stars dotted the sky. After making the fire, he must have fallen asleep.
Gytha was sitting against a tree trunk, a knife in hand. “I was just about to wake you for your watch,” she said. “Your food is over there.” She pointed to his right, then sheathed her weapon. After lying on the ground, she turned, setting her head on her bag with her back to him.
Ackley picked up his food and took a bite, finding the rabbit meat cooked but cold. While eating, he scanned the area. Everything remained quiet. No wind blew, making the air oddly still. He guessed it to be just after midnight.
Sitting there, he watched time pass as the stars slowly disappeared and dawn approached. When he stood, the ground beneath him remained solid and unrelenting. Ackley stretched his arms and neck, pleased the world seemed static once again. He focused on the nearest tree trunk, picking two targets. Then he withdrew a dagger, the weight of it in his palm reassuring. Quick as lightning, he raised his arm and threw the weapon. Before it even hit its mark, he withdrew another dagger, launching it at the second target. Both struck true. Relief filled him. His hands were steady, the daggers exactly where he’d intended. He went over and reclaimed his weapons.
“Do you want to spar?” Gytha asked around a yawn.
“We need to get going.” Grabbing his bag, he slung it over his shoulder. “I want to pass by the town before it gets too light out.” As far as sparring, they could practice tonight, once he was certain she wouldn’t knock him on his arse. Gytha never held back. Another meal or two would do him good before he fought the warrior woman.
Once they made their way back to the dirt road, they continued south.
“When do you plan on telling me what we’re doing?” Gytha asked, walking two feet behind him.
He waved her forward. Once they were side by side, he lowered his voice and said, “Owen asked me to find his cousin.”
“Now?” she asked incredulously.
“She could be his only living family member.”
“She?” They walked in silence for a moment. “Are you sure she’s a cousin and not a lover?”
Ackley chuckled. “Yes.” He saw the way Owen looked at Idina. From the moment they’d met, Owen had been smitten with her.
“Why didn’t he send one of his soldiers?”
“There’s a treaty that states Melenia soldiers are not permitted to enter the city of Kreng.”
Gytha’s eyes widened. “I assume we’re going to Kreng?”
“We are.”
Another reason he liked Gytha, she didn’t have to overanalyze everything like his sister did.
A pungent odor hung in the air. “Do you smell that?” he asked.
“What is it?” Gytha wrinkled her nose.
“Ash.” He knew the ste
nch well. After Reid’s castle had burned to the ground, he’d had the smell stuck in his head for weeks.
Gytha withdrew her short sword as they crested the small rise, coming to a stop at the sight before them. The skeleton of a village was all that remained.
“I guess it’s safe to say Russek passed through here.” Ackley folded his arms, not wanting to go any closer. The stone well in the center was the only thing left untouched. All of the structures were charred rubble.
“This looks like a simple farming village,” Gytha muttered, nodding to the crops on the eastern side. “Not a military outpost.”
Along the southern perimeter, spikes had been placed in the ground. On top of each spike were the remains of a human skull. Owen had warned Ackley that the Russek warriors were vicious. But this…murdering innocent people. He shook his head. “No one’s here. Let’s continue on.” He hoped Kreng wasn’t decimated as well. For Russek to have come this far west, well, the chances of any town remaining were slim.
Once Owen reclaimed his kingdom from Russek, would anything be left? Or would Owen have a ravaged land with no farmers to work it? Ackley didn’t know if he could leave his sister here to such a bleak future.
“Why would they bother with a small village?” Gytha asked. “It makes no sense.”
The day he learned Eldon, his half brother, had murdered his father, he’d stopped trying to make sense of things. Sometimes people did terrible deeds. Trying to figure out why only led to more problems. “We have a mission,” he reminded her. “Let’s focus on that.”
The dirt road turned decidedly inland. The city Ackley needed to reach was along the coast, due south. Assuming he’d read the map correctly. Trusting he had, he headed that way, thankful Gytha didn’t question him.
After another three or so miles, they came to a river. Not having any time to waste locating an alternate path, Ackley removed his shirt and pants, rolled them up, and tucked them in his bag.
“What are you doing?” Gytha demanded.
“I thought I’d wash my clothes,” he said sarcastically. “Maybe sunbathe.” He tied the top of his bag closed. Satisfied nothing would fall out, he took a few steps back from the edge of the river. Then he ran and hurled his bag to the other side. It just made it. Now he had to cross. Even though he could swim, the strength of the current concerned him since the water appeared to be rushing by fairly quickly. The bottom of the river looked rocky, and he’d have to be careful not to lose his footing.
Without waiting for Gytha, he stepped into the brisk water. The pull of the current caused his right foot to slip, so he widened his stance. Swimming would be safer than trying to traverse the rocky river. He angled his body toward the shore on the opposite side and took another step. The water reached his knees. Another careful step and the water went up to his waist. Deep enough to swim. He pushed off, keeping his body angled toward the other side as he swam with the current. Three feet from the shore, he dug his heels in, slowing his speed until he regained his footing. A few rocks sliced his skin, but not badly. After climbing out of the water and onto the shore, he headed to where he’d thrown his bag.
Gytha crossed the river the same way Ackley had, joining him a few minutes later. Her wet body shook from the crisp air.
They quickly dressed, then continued south. About a mile later, Ackley stopped, observing the area around them. On the horizon, the sun touched the water, about to set, casting an orange glow over the land.
“What is it?” Gytha whispered, her hand on her sword.
Up until this point, they’d been traveling alongside brown knee-high grass. Here, the grass only went to his ankles. And it smelled different, too. The tang of salt from the sea and the aroma of dry vegetation had been replaced with a mixture of spices and smoke.
“Ackley?”
“The city,” he murmured. “It’s here.”
Gytha scanned the area. “Here where?” she asked, turning in a slow circle.
Given the late hour, Ackley contemplated the pros and cons of locating the city before dark. They could sleep out here in the open, under the stars, and find the city in the morning. Or they could try and find it now, not knowing where they’d sleep once they found it. He tilted his head to the side, cracking his neck. With the city nearby, he had to be concerned with sentries patrolling the area.
“Hide your hair,” he instructed Gytha. “This kingdom is more closely aligned to northern Marsden than the Axian you grew up in. Here, women wear dresses and are subservient to men.”
Gytha snorted but didn’t argue. She wound her braid around her head, then covered it with a cap. “Now what?”
“Kreng trades with Marsden,” he thought out loud. “Which means they have a port.” He headed to the edge of the land, facing the ocean. The ground dropped straight down to the unrelenting water, fifty feet below. Even though he couldn’t see the waves crashing against the cliffside, he could hear them. Which meant the land he was standing on jutted out slightly more than the lower portion. Kneeling, he laid on his stomach, then scooted toward the edge of the cliff.
“What are you doing?” Gytha hissed, grabbing his ankles to prevent him from falling over the side.
He tried not to bristle at her touch—she was just being helpful. But he didn’t need help. He never needed help. He was fully capable of doing this on his own. Swallowing the retort on the edge of his tongue, he said, “There’s something down there.” He was certain of it.
Peering over the side, he saw buildings carved into the face of the rocky cliff, a port, and people milling about. He scooted back, amazed that an entire city could be hidden like that. “The question is, how do we get down there?” As far as he could see, he couldn’t tell if Russek occupied the city or not. If he had to guess, he didn’t think so, since nothing appeared burned and there was life. Most likely, Russek didn’t know about this city so they went right on by it.
“There must be a hidden path or entrance somewhere,” Gytha said, searching the area.
If they had a rope, Ackley could rappel down. He recalled Owen saying something about the only way in was by water.
“Do you think there are any sentries on duty?” Gytha asked. “Maybe you could wave until one of them sees you?”
“That’s an absurd suggestion.” The sentries would probably shoot first and ask questions later. Ackley would much rather enter the city without anyone knowing he was there. In order to do what needed to be done, stealth was key.
She shrugged. “It was just a thought. I don’t hear you coming up with any ideas.”
Doing as Gytha suggested put them at the mercy of their captors. It would be better to infiltrate the city, learn the state of things, and then proceed from there. “Can you climb?”
Gytha raised her eyebrows. “You want me to climb, using only my hands and feet, down the side of a cliff with the raging ocean below? Are you mad?”
Well, when she put it that way, the idea didn’t sound as good. “We passed a river about a mile back.”
“So?”
“Owen told me we could reach the city by water.” Maybe the river led to the city.
“He probably meant we had to charter a boat or something. This is why you should’ve brought someone from Melenia along.” Gytha walked to the edge, peering over it. “I’m sure they have some sort of patrol. We’ve probably already been spotted.”
Ackley had no intention of sitting there and waiting for someone to stumble upon them. “All the more reason to get moving.” Without waiting for a response, he headed north, back toward the river.
Gytha mumbled several curse words before trekking after Ackley. Thankfully, she didn’t argue with him.
At the river, he followed it to the edge of the land where it plummeted fifty feet into the ocean below. Peering over the side, Ackley examined the waterfall. Next to it, a rope had been nailed into the cliff about a foot below from where he stood. Squatting, he reached down, tugging on it. The rope held firm.
He removed hi
s bag, hiding it near a boulder about ten feet from the edge. It would be easier to climb without it. “I’ll go first.” Turning his back to the ocean, Ackley winked at Gytha, then climbed over the edge. With his hands firmly wrapped around the rope and his feet against the rocky cliff, he slowly lowered his body. The mist from the waterfall coated his hair and clothes. Thankfully, the rope felt rough instead of slick. About half way down the cliff, he came to a slight ledge, a cave next to it. The rope only had another yard or so to it, so Ackley planted both feet on the ledge before releasing the rope. He took a step into the cave and waited for Gytha to join him.
Leaning against the side, he folded his arms and stared out at the ocean, watching as the sun slipped behind the water. The sky turned a brilliant shade of reddish orange, reminding him of a painting his mother kept in her bedchamber.
Gytha landed on the ledge. Ackley clutched onto her arm, yanking her into the cave. Panting, she cursed.
“You’ve been spending too much time with soldiers.” He released her, then headed deeper into the cave.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Your language. Most women don’t swear.”
She shoved his back. “I’m not most women.”
“No, you most certainly are not.” The cave narrowed. “I think this is a tunnel.” It probably led straight to Kreng.
“A boat would have been easier.”
“Did you see a boat? Because I don’t recall seeing one.” Keeping his right hand on the rocky interior, he made his way along the tunnel and into complete darkness. The air remained fresh, indicating this led to an opening.
After about ten minutes, a pale light could be seen up ahead. Slowing his pace, Ackley listened for signs that sentries guarded the exit. Not hearing anything, he came to the end of the tunnel and stopped. Straight ahead, the ocean extended for miles. The sky had turned gray. Peering out of the tunnel, he noticed the rocky cliff to his left curved inward. That had to be where the city was located.
“It’s only ten feet from here to the water,” Gytha mused.
Sword of Rage: Reigning Kingdoms, Book 1 Page 6
