Chapter 19
Lis stood on the deck of the ship, looking back at the pale lights of Third, drenched and shivering. Remi had tried to ensure she stayed as dry as possible, but she was already halfway to the boat from the shore before he could stop her. If it hadn’t been for her skirts filling with water and threatening to pull her under, he was sure she might have tried to swim.
‘You know I could dry you,’ he said, wrapping his arms around her and feeling the heat just beneath his skin.
‘You might burn me too,’ she murmured, leaning into him.
‘Did you have a nice visit?’
‘Yes. There are more amongst the islands with magic than I expected. I suppose I wasn’t the only one to hide. But will they be willing to come forward? What if they think we are trying to trick them, or that your father is using us?’
He shook his head and pulled her closer.
‘He isn’t, is he?’
‘I know he has doubts about us and the power we hold, but he needs the Empire to succeed. He wants the Empire to be as strong as it can.’
‘He was very determined to stamp out all magic not very long ago.’
‘You are safe,’ Remi whispered, kissing the side of her neck.
‘Are you?’
‘Do you mean in my father’s eyes, or for you? Because I don’t think you should feel very safe at all right now.’
‘There is enough heat radiating from you to set the boat alight.’ She pushed him back. ‘You best take a breath, or maybe you need a swim.’
‘You are wet,’ he said, the seriousness back in his voice.
‘And my feet are sore. It is easy enough for me to change, but perhaps it best I retire for the night before we walk across any more of the Empire.’
He laughed, then took her hand and looped it round his arm. Holding her securely in place, he headed for their cabin. Lis had changed her clothes with the ease only she had, and he was pulling at his own ties when there was a knock at the door.
He opened the door to Wei-Song and stepped back to allow her entry.
‘I wanted to ensure you were well after the day,’ she said to Lis.
‘Tired but well enough. Are we sailing tonight, or in the morning?’
‘We are closer to the Sacred Isle than our next destination. But I think it best we travel during the day. There may be magics out there who aren’t as keen to see us.’ Remi said.
‘Do you think they have selected another high priestess?’ Wei-Song asked.
‘We will find out when we get there,’ Remi said. ‘But Fourth needs to be our first priority.’
Lis nodded and stifled a yawn.
‘I just wanted to ensure you were safe,’ Wei-Song said. ‘I will take my leave so that you can rest.’
Lis nodded, and by the time Remi had seen Wei-Song from the cabin and bolted the door after her, Lis was already lying down and breathing slowly.
Remi pulled the last of his clothes off quickly and slipped in beside her. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight, and she sighed softly.
He was disappointed she had fallen asleep so quickly, but then she rolled against him. ‘Do you think the phoenix will continue to work?’ she asked.
‘In bringing the people to their knees?’
‘In a way. But I hoped it would unite them.’
‘I only wanted to control the fire burning inside,’ Remi admitted.
‘What if it is your phoenix, and it has nothing to do with us?’
‘I can’t find it without you.’
Lis sighed again. ‘My feet hurt.’
‘Do you want me to rub them?’
‘I don’t want you anywhere near them. Just hold me and tell me we are doing the right thing.’
‘As long as we are together, there can never be a wrong thing,’ he said, kissing her neck again.
‘I was tired,’ she murmured.
‘Now?’
‘Not so much.’
The next morning, as the light pushed into the cabin through the small windows, Remi was cold. He had no covers at all. But when he reached for them, Lis was cocooned in not just the covers, but her barrier as well.
He sat up slowly and reached for her, but the barrier held, and he couldn’t get close enough to shake her. ‘Lis,’ he called softly.
She murmured in her sleep but didn’t move.
The boat rocked back and forth, and Remi wondered how long until they would sail back towards the Palace Isle. They should be on deck, looking back over the people and waving. He wondered how many would come to the shore to see them. Then he stood slowly with the knock on the door.
Yang stood there, looking a little worse for wear.
‘Are you sick?’ Remi asked.
‘I don’t like the water,’ Yang admitted.
Remi went to ask why he had come when he realised Yang was watching Lis.
‘I wanted to be sure she hadn’t caught a chill,’ Yang said.
‘She changed quickly. I kept her warm,’ Remi added, then bit his lip as the other man blushed. ‘No different from what I did before, Yang.’
‘I am sure some things have changed,’ the other man admitted, pushing into the room.
‘She has her barrier up,’ Remi said as Yang sat on the edge of the bed and reached for her.
‘Why?’ he asked, running his hand over the invisible wall between them.
Remi shook his head. ‘Maybe a dream,’ he offered. But she had been quiet during the night, and she tended to call out when she had bad dreams. Not that she had recently. Not since they had wed.
Yang looked from her to him. ‘What did you do?’ he asked, his voice loud. Lis moaned in her sleep, rolling towards them. She appeared contented enough.
‘She was worried last night that we might not be able to do what we hoped with this tour.’
‘The people need to see that you are alive and working together. I’m not sure about the phoenix, but it makes a difference.’
Remi nodded. ‘Lis,’ he called louder. ‘Yang is here.’
‘I’m too tired,’ she murmured.
‘Lis,’ Yang said, ‘why is your barrier up?’
She sat up slowly, wiping the sleep from her eyes. She had slept soundly enough, but Remi wondered if she was indeed sick.
‘No, it’s not,’ she said, moving across the bed to sit beside him. She rested her head on his shoulder as he had seen her do so many times before, only something prevented her from reaching him.
‘Do you feel well?’ Remi asked.
She nodded slowly. He reached forward, but he couldn’t touch her again.
She shook her head and stood, then reached out and took his hand.
‘What happened?’
‘I don’t know,’ she said softly, yawning and stretching her hands above her head. Without turning, she made her clothes change. ‘Do we need to be on deck?’
He nodded, unsure what he had done.
‘Get dressed then,’ she said a little more brightly, standing on her toes and kissing his cheek. ‘Yang can walk me up. I’m ready for some fresh air.’
Many more than Remi had expected came out to watch them pass. But not all of those who lined the shores waved as enthusiastically as Lis did.
‘What do you feel?’ he asked, joining her at the railing.
‘Confusion, uncertainty, joy,’ she said, still smiling and waving. ‘I’m not sure if this has been enough. If the magics attack again, we may never see these people again.’
‘Look,’ Yang said, pointing behind them. Several smaller vessels followed along in their wake.
‘Are they coming with us?’ Lis asked.
‘Or making sure we are gone?’ Remi said, unsure where the negative thought came from. He wasn’t sure he had learnt as much as he had hoped on this journey so far. Some people had been friendly, but others wondered at the real reason they were there. He hadn’t sensed any magic, but then he might have been somewhat distracted. Lis was still waving, although they couldn’t see a
nyone on Third for the trees.
‘Did you sense magic?’ he asked, standing behind her. He threaded his arms around her, but he didn’t feel quite right.
She shook her head. ‘Sometimes, but it wasn’t clear.’
‘Are there more Hidden?’
‘I think there are many kinds of magics all in hiding, hoping for a normal life.’
‘Is something wrong?’ he asked quickly. ‘Is something worrying you?’
She shook her head.
‘You are pushing me away,’ he whispered, and she looked down at his hands, cupped close to hers but not touching.
‘I’m not,’ she whispered, but he couldn’t get any closer.
He turned to Yang, who was also watching her.
‘What is it?’ she asked, but her voice was light, where Remi felt only concern.
‘Yang?’ he asked.
The healer shook his head. ‘I can’t feel anything. I can’t get close enough.’
‘Will you two stop?’ she asked, moving along the railing to Wei-Song, who also watched the coastline.
‘Can you see anything beyond the trees?’ she asked.
Lis shook her head. ‘It is beautiful. I forgot how much I missed the water,’ she said softly.
‘Too long trapped in a little palace,’ Wei-Song said.
‘I quite liked our little palace,’ Lis said.
Remi couldn’t tell if she was serious or sad, and he looked at the man beside him. Yang watched her too closely as well. He took the man by the elbow and dragged him across the boat, as far away from Lis as he could get.
‘Tell me what you do sense,’ he demanded of the healer.
He shook his head and looked back at the women on the other side. ‘It is almost like she is protecting herself, but without knowing she is.’
‘Is she more concerned about the state of the Empire than she said? Can she sense more magic than I can?’
‘I don’t feel anything,’ Yang said.
The two women laughed, and Remi waited for Lis to turn and smile at him, but she continued to watch the coastline. As they came along towards the dock where they had been dropped on Third, several people stood and waved, and she waved heartily back. Amongst them was the young woman who had lined up to be chosen. She appeared even younger now, waving from the dock, than she did had day in the line. He looked back to Lis—he had made the right choice.
They remained on the deck watching the world go by. Despite Yang’s dislike for the water, he maintained his watch over Lis, and Remi was pleased he had come along. As they passed Second, there were far more people smiling and waving.
‘Could it be a side effect of our fight?’ he asked Yang quietly.
‘She didn’t show any signs of it before. And you haven’t noticed anything since she returned to the Palace Isle. You have touched her?’ he asked softly, the colour again rising to his cheeks.
She had wrapped her arms around him, shielding him from the soldiers. She had even pressed her lips against his before his father. And he had shared some more intimate moments with her, which had started with his running his hand over her bare skin. He felt the heat in his cheeks at the idea.
‘Last night,’ he murmured.
Yang looked at him expectantly.
‘I touched her last night,’ he said. Then he looked away, noticing that the smaller boats no longer followed behind them. ‘Maybe she is right,’ he said as the docks of the Palace Isle came into view. ‘Should we check on the Palace Isle?’
‘The people of Fourth will wonder why we didn’t travel directly to them,’ the general commented.
‘Are you looking for a detour?’ the hunter asked.
Remi shook his head. ‘I just want to be sure things are how we left them.’
‘Let us worry about getting the rest of the Empire on our side first,’ the general said. ‘We visit, you talk, you share the phoenix and the people will follow you.’
‘I hope it is that easy,’ Remi said, looking across at Lis.
Chapter 20
On reaching Fourth, Remi was surprised that there was no one to welcome them, not even a curious face to see why they had come. Gossip spread quickly through the Empire, and he wondered if it was good or bad news that had reached Fourth ahead of them. They tied up at the dock, and the gangplank was lowered. Advisor Gan was sent down first, although he wasn’t as keen this time.
Lis was next, her smile not quite as bright as before, but she was still confident the people would welcome them in some way. The arrow that sailed through the trees towards her was not what Remi was expecting. He wasn’t quick enough to throw his flames and consume it, and it bounced harmlessly from her barrier.
‘Lucky you had your armour on,’ the general said, coming down to stand beside her, his sword drawn.
‘I didn’t realise I did,’ she murmured.
Remi stood beside her, an angry heat trying to burn through his skin. Reaching towards her, he let it take control.
Lis not only didn’t react to the heat of his fire, she didn’t touch or hold or grab him. The fire burned hotter, and the phoenix remained hidden.
‘I think you should try something else now,’ the general murmured.
Lis stepped forward as though Remi wasn’t burning and stretched her hand out before her. The ground rumbled and the trees shook. Voices cried out in fear and pain behind the foliage.
As she stepped forward, the general followed her, and Remi’s flames died away. But as the general reached out to touch her, she stretched out her hand towards him and he fell back, landing heavily.
‘Lis!’ Remi called, but she continued towards the trees, as though protecting herself was her only focus. He moved quickly after her and threw his arms around her. But the barrier was still in place, and he too was thrown back.
‘She’ll kill us all!’ someone cried from amongst the trees.
Hui Te-Sze approached Lis from behind with his sword in hand, and Remi’s blood ran cold.
‘Wait,’ he called. But as he climbed to his feet, Yang somehow managed to find the space between them. The hunter, thankfully, pulled back at the last moment. Yang stood with his hands up and his eyes closed.
Lis stepped forward once more and then turned back, looking over the group as though she were lost. Remi scrambled to his feet and then stood still. There was a moment of doubt as to what Lis might do, and then she dropped, Yang only just stopping her from hitting the ground.
Wei-Song rushed forward, but Remi couldn’t move. The hunter sheathed his sword, and a soldier helped the general to his feet.
Yang managed to get Lis into his arms, and Wei-Song directed him back to the ship. Remi watched them go and then looked back to the trees.
‘That could have gone better,’ the general murmured, standing beside him and rubbing at his arm.
Remi could only nod as he followed him back onto the boat. As the last of the soldiers climbed aboard, he looked over the empty dock. ‘Take it out to sea,’ he said. ‘The gods only know what will happen now.’
Lis tried to lie still and listen to the water sloshing against the side of the hull. She felt unsettled, and not just because they were further out on the water than she had ever been from land before. She wasn’t sure what had happened when they landed on Fourth, and Remi had been nowhere near her since they had come back on board.
Yang had sat and talked with her for a while, then left only to be replaced by Wei-Song not long after. It appeared as though Lis couldn’t be trusted, like she was back in her little palace, sick and not knowing herself what she wanted.
Only she was very sure this time that she didn’t want to die.
She closed her eyes and stretched out her senses. They were all back on the boat. She vaguely remembered pushing out with her barrier, but she had no idea whom she had pushed. There had been an arrow. She could remember that. She felt unsettled, scared almost, and that worried her more than what she might have done at the dock.
They had left her alone to re
st, but she couldn’t, and she searched the ship for those she trusted. Remi had been outside their door for far too long. She could feel the fear ebb from him, and it only heightened her own.
She closed her eyes and tried to remember Remi on the dock, but she couldn’t remember where he had been or what he had done. She wondered now if he was scared of her, what she might do to him, and she was taken back to the day in the square when they had nearly killed each other.
The sob surprised her, and she felt even more confused and lost than she had before. Then the door burst open, and he was standing there. She could see other faces behind him, but then he pushed the door closed and had her in his arms.
‘You have to let us in,’ he murmured. She couldn’t quite feel his skin against hers. She wondered if she was dreaming. ‘Lis,’ he said. ‘Can you hear me?’ He held her back at arm’s length, and she nodded.
‘I don’t know what you mean,’ she said, wiping at her nose.
‘You have your barrier up. I can’t get at you. Yang can’t learn what is going on.’
She shook her head.
‘We won’t hurt you,’ he whispered.
‘I know that. I didn’t know I had it up.’
She breathed out slowly. She could still sense it, keeping her separated from him, from the world around her. ‘Why?’ she asked.
He shook his head. ‘Can you let it down?’
‘I’m trying.’
‘I’m worried that the phoenix has done this to you. Maybe you can’t take the heat of it. I burned beside you on the dock, and you couldn’t even see me or feel the heat. Like you had lost your ability to sense me.’
‘I sensed you outside the door. I could feel you on the ship.’
‘What do you think it is?’ he asked.
She shook her head again. ‘Maybe we should return to the emperor, although I don’t think he will be happy. I have made a bigger mess of this.’
‘What of your father? What of Fifth?’
The Magics of Rei-Een Box Set Page 67
