In all the twenty years of my life, I had never seen anything that made my heart stop beating just like this did.
Quickly, I stuffed the page in my pocket.
“Your Highness, what are you doing up in the middle of the night?”
The princess of Trella stood before us, a small girl no older than seven, expressionless. She was still dressed, a lilac bow—which matched her soft purple dress—in her dark curls. The princess’s lips were set in a taut line.
“Go back to bed,” Jax ushered, he too affected by the eeriness of the child. “Can you hear me?” Jax’s eyes widened as he looked at me. “Do you think she’s deaf?”
“Or dumb,” Xavier offered.
“Let’s just slowly walk away,” Isabel whispered under her breath. “Maybe she won’t say anything.”
Carefully, Isabel took a step towards the girl. When she had no reaction, Jax followed. Xavier’s eyes met mine. Just before he took a step, the girl moved.
Her face contorted, no longer expressionless. Her mouth fell open, and she let out a bloodcurdling scream.
Horrified, Isabel turned to me, pressing her hands over her ears. “What do we do?” she cried.
“Run!” I shouted. That scream would’ve woken up the entire castle. As I grabbed onto Isabel, a wave of déjà vu hit me. I let out a groan.
Somehow, I always found myself in these types of situations.
We ran past her and skid into the hallway where the guards still sat, slumped over and knocked out. I heard a door open as the princess continued screaming.
“Estelle, what the hell are you on about?” I heard a groggy voice ask. I looked over my shoulder to see Casimir with his head sticking out of the door.
We did not stop running.
“There’s a stitch in my side,” Jax gasped, but we still didn’t pause to rest.
It wasn’t until we were halfway down the stairs to the cas-
tle entrance when servants and noblemen and women started to wake, leaving their chambers to see what the commotion was on about.
“The door,” Xavier pointed as he clutched his side. “Get to the door.” We fled down the steps. We were almost there.
And then the knights—Drakans—appeared, blocking the doorway with their swords. We halted, our chests rising and falling. I held my arms out to keep the three of them back. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Xavier reach down to his boot. Isabel lowered her fingers into her belt.
Kitchen knives.
She tossed her brother one.
“Let us leave in peace. We mean no harm,” I demanded, keeping my voice steady.
“Innocent persons do not run as if being chased by a bear.”
“They stole,” a feminine voice said. We turned to see Princess Estelle standing at the top of the steps, her finger pointed at us. “They stole from my father’s study. Check the girl with the gray eyes. She hid something in her pocket.”
The Drakans’ heads turned to us. They were fully covered in black metal armor. Our little blades would do nothing.
As a Drakan reached forward to grab me, I fell to the ground, sliding between their legs. With all the force I could muster, I pushed the huge round doors open.
“Stop!”
Behind me, Isabel ducked, lodging her knife between the sliver of an opening between his pauldrons and rerebrace.
The guard grunted as blood was drawn, his shoulder injured. I jumped him from the back, yanking out my knife and pulling back his forehead. I slid the knife across and he fell to the floor, dead.
The other knight fought against Jax and Xavier.
“Isabel, get to the ship!” I ordered.
“I can’t leave you here,” she protested, but I cut her off.
“Isabel, we won’t make it if they’re not prepared. I promise you we’ll meet again. But if we don’t . . .” I pulled out the piece of paper, handing it to her, “If we don’t, you need to return to Trella and give this to Zinovia and Lorelle. Tell them they need to go to Amghadon and retrieve this.”
“But—” she looked at me, her soft blue eyes glassy.
“Go!” I gave her a push. More Drakans were appearing. I picked up the sword from the dead knight’s armored hand, and held it up, feeling a surge of power flow through my arm. Four Drakans clad in black armor stood in front of us as Xavier slit one’s throat, claiming his sword.
The three of us faced four of them.
“Fight or fly?” Xavier asked me, stepping back.
“Fight. Who do you take me for?” I smirked. The Drakans charged, holding up their black blades. I parried a blow, taking on two at once. Their swords clanged against mine as my shoes slid back across the polished floor from the force. One of them raised their sword, giving me an opening for the belly. I blocked the blow, whipping around to pierce the blade through his stomach. Blood gurgled from his mouth as he fell backwards with a clang.
I snatched up the sword, throwing it to Jax who was barely blocking the attacks with his knife. He thanked me, but I had no time to respond. Servants stood around us, watching from the shadows.
As the Drakan’s blade came crashing down onto mine, I met Estelle’s eye over his shoulder.
The smirk was back on her lips, but this time, her brother stood behind her with his hands on her shoulders, the same look reciprocated on his features.
I ducked, tearing my gaze away from Valentin and his sis-
ter. His sword grazed my shoulder as I smashed the butt of the hilt against the knight’s helmet, knocking it off. Xavier did the rest for me as I turned away, facing the doors. More would be coming soon. I heard that sound of two bodies hitting the ground.
Then, with the sword in my hand, I waited for Xavier and Jax to stand beside me. I heard the doors push shut, and then we faced the night sky.
By the time we were halfway to the docks, forty Drakans were behind us. Our chests heaved and legs ached as we ran past frightened passersby. I knocked over whoever came in my way, praying Isabel had gotten the ship ready.
Our ship stood in sight. I started waving my hands.
“Push off!” I shouted. “Go, go!”
Isabel leaned over the edge, distressed. My legs screamed as I pushed myself, nearly soaring through the air.
“Isabel, reel up the anchor!”
Isabel disappeared, giving instructions. Carac stood behind the wheel, prepared to leave. We reached the end. Isabel threw down the ladder. I moved back.
“Jax, you first.”
“Adalia—”
“All three of us are dead if you don’t go now!” I shouted. He started to climb and when he was halfway up, I pushed Xavier.
“Go on. Don’t argue with me,” I said, looking over my shoulder. They were frighteningly close.
“I won’t argue. Enjoy the view,” Xavier Cane said with a wink, grabbing onto the rope. He started to climb.
The ship jerked. It started to move forward, Xavier still hanging on. It moved too fast.
I was pushed back by the sudden movement, letting go of the rungs.
“Adalia!” Xavier shouted, holding out a hand.
“Keep climbing!” I ordered. Turning my back to him, I sprinted in the direction of the Drakans.
“What the hell are you doing?” Xavier called, making his way to the top. He looked over the edge. The ship was getting farther and farther away every second.
I took a deep breath, facing the ship from twenty feet away.
And then I started to run. I inhaled with every step, exhaling with every other. As I reached the edge of the dock, I pushed off, arms stretched out, reaching for the ladder.
I missed.
The rung slipped from my fingers as I slid down, but thankfully, my other hand gripped the last one. I swung, holding on with three fingers.
Hoisting myself up, I climbed with my arms. When my foot reached the bottom rung, the Drakans stood at the end of the dock, pulling back their bows.
I scaled it, but I was only three-fourth of my way there before
the arrows started to fly. Some bounced off the ship from the distance, others whizzed past my face.
Xavier leaned over, holding out his hand. With a grunt I reached up, my clammy palm grabbing onto his arm and his, mine. As he hoisted me up, I felt a sudden burst of pain below my right shoulder.
“Adalia,” Isabel gasped as they helped me onto the ship. I rolled over onto my left, clutching my arm. Through all the pain and panic, I didn’t understand what was happening. Xavier bent over me, his eyes wide with concern.
Beautiful eyes, like honey in the sun.
Isabel shouted something at her panicking brother, who
disappeared from my view.
“I’m okay,” I said, but my voice sounded like I had a cup of molasses stored in my mouth.
“She’s in shock,” Xavier said in slow motion. He pressed his hand to my shoulder. I reached up to touch his face. My hand brushed his skin, but he wrapped his fingers around mine, lowering my hand gently.
“That hurts.” The new pain caused my cloudy head to clear up. I tried to sit, but Isabel pushed me back down. “I’m fine, let me go,” I protested, but they shook their heads. Jax appeared in my line of sight, handing Isabel bandages.
“I’ll hold her down.” He kept me on my side, swinging his leg over my hip. “On the count of three, Jax is going to pull it out,” Xavier ordered. He looked at me. “Sorry, Adalia. You can hit me all you want for this later.” His eyes flicked back to Isabel. “One . . . two . . .” He was on his knees, setting a wad of cloth into my mouth.
They didn’t even wait for three as they ripped out the arrow. I screamed, the right side of my body on fire. My eyes went in and out of focus.
“Bandages,” Xavier said, his jaw set. His eyebrows were drawn together, dark hair falling into his eyes. This seemed to be hurting him more than it was me. He flinched as I kicked in anger from the burning sensation. Tears of pain slid down the corner of my eyes as I clenched my teeth.
I could see the blood from my wound on his hands as he pointed, giving the twins instructions.
I could smell the rum and blood. Isabel squeezed the bandages around my arm. At this point, I felt no pain. Just anger. I spit out the cloth, pushing them away.
I sat up, teeth clenched.
“It was an arrow?” I asked shakily. Xavier got off me.
He nodded.
“Half of it was sticking out of the other side.”
“Am I still bleeding?” I looked down. We were in the middle of the sea. If the bleeding didn’t stop, I would die. There were no doctors aboard, nothing.
“What happened?” Favian asked. His face paled at the sight of the blood.
“There’s one thing we can do to close the wound,” Xavier suggested. A dark look crossed his face.
“What?” I asked with a groan, my chest rising and falling heavily. Every small movement made it hurt worse.
Xavier lifted up his shirt, showing me a scar across his muscled abdomen. “See this?” He tapped a spot where his skin looked as if it had been melted off.
My heart sank.
He wanted to cauterize the hole shut.
“It’s the only option we have,” Xavier said, holding me up. I winced. He leaned down, kissing my forehead gently. “If we don’t do it, there’s no way we can save your arm by the time we get back. The infection will spread to your body.”
“Then do it,” I said bravely.
“Don’t do it,” Isabel stopped him. “If there’s one thing I know, it’s not to cauterize a puncture wound unless the person can bleed out. I’ve seen it happen, and the only results we got were . . . gangrene.” She shivered.
“It’s a broadhead arrow,” Xavier said between clenched teeth. “Of course she’ll bleed out.”
“Did it hit her bone?” Jax asked, distress all over his face.
“I don’t think so. I mean, I can’t see if it did. I’m not a doctor!”
“Calm down!” I shouted, trying to sit up. “I’m losing blood.” Sweat was dripping down my face. “Just wrap it up already!”
“Isabel, since you know everything, go find bandages.”
I knew she would’ve argued if this weren’t a life or death situation. She turned on her heel, sprinting across the wooden boards of the ship.
“It’s your lucky day,” Xavier raised his eyebrows, pressing his hands around my upper arm. Scarlet liquid was pouring through his fingers, onto the ground.
“You better pray this stops bleeding,” I said, my jaw set. “If I die, I will kill you.”
TWENTY SIX
When I woke up, Jax was the only person with me.
I groaned. I tried to sit up, but I felt as if my skin was going to split open. My arm was set in a makeshift sling, hanging in front of my chest.
“I wouldn’t move if I were you,” Jax said softly. “Xavier just cleaned it for an infection.”
I frowned, blinking to adjust my eyes. “How long was I under?” I asked, licking my dry lips.
“You were in and out. It’s been a day. You were exhausted—I wouldn’t blame you.”
With my good hand, I ripped off the covers. He helped me to my feet out of the cot. He pushed the door open, letting light flood in. Jax helped me out.
I stood at the top, letting the wind blow in my hair. The light blinded me for a few seconds, so I held up my left arm to protect my eyes.
“She’s awake!” Leonard called, waving. He adjusting the sails, pulling one end of the rope.
“Bring me Isabel,” I said to Jax, “and wherever Xavier is, I need him here. Now.”
We sat on the floor in a circle.
The piece of paper slay between us, a stone on the end as a paperweight.
“It’s nested in the heart of the darkest mountain; undisturbed for as long as mankind can remember,” I read aloud for the fiftieth time. “Which mountain?” I grumbled, irked from all the pain I was feeling. “I understand that it’s undisturbed. No one knows where it is, right?”
Xavier sat back on his haunches. “Carac is leading us towards Amghadon. Should we change course?”
“No,” I shook my head, squinting, “We’ll have to go anyway or they’ll stop us. We made a deal. Maybe they can figure it out,” I said.
“I still don’t think we should give it to them,” Isabel mumbled, sticking her thumbnail into a groove in the wood. “I can’t trust them.”
“Cyprian won’t let them do anything to us,” I tried to assure them, but Xavier interjected, “it doesn’t look to me as if Cyprian is the actual captain.”
“Augustus runs the show behind the curtain,” Jax agreed. “Sorry, Adalia.”
“What other choice do we have? I just want us to return in one piece,” I sighed. Xavier scooted closer to me, rubbing my back.
“We’ll stop by Amghadon, tell them we don’t have what they’re looking for,” he settled. “Then, we go home.”
It took another day before Amghadon was sighted. The dark mountains rose out of the ground as we slowed our speed, avoiding the jagged, coal black rocks that protruded out of the murky water below.
“Land ho!” Vaughn shouted. I looked up to see the source of his voice, but the thick fog once again, blocked my view from seeing anything ten feet around me.
We neared the Black Island, prepared to dock. Pirates waited, pulling out their curved swords. Garret lowered the anchor and Favian and Leonard prepared the gangway. We weren’t going to stay; just deliver the news and return. For those reasons, Garret, Vaughn, Favian, Carac, and Leonard stayed behind.
The ship jerked as it stopped, Xavier reaching out to steady me.
“Thank you,” I said, squeezing his hand. We walked down the gangway. Xavier didn’t let go.
“We’d like to see Augustus,” I said to them. I recognized one as Blade Hand, or Gat, as Cyprian had called him. The other had a scar across his face.
“Follow me,” Scar rasped.
We walked behind him slowly. My shoulder ached, the cold air making the joint hurt with
every right step. I winced as I walked, and Jax noticed.
“You should’ve stayed behind with Carac,” he said, concerned.
“This was my deal. I talk to Augustus,” I said to them. “Whatever happens, I’ll take the fall.”
“Not on that shoulder, you won’t,” Xavier scowled. I smiled at him.
We walked up the side of the mountain, gravel crunching under our boots. There was mist in the air, making my hair hang in damp clumps around my face. We trudged, Isabel checking over her shoulder every few minutes to make sure we were all together.
Augustus stood in the mouth of the cave, waiting. Cyprian stood beside him, a welcoming smile on his face.
“You’re back!” he said cheerfully as his eyes met mine.
“I saw your ship,” Augustus interjected before I could say a word, motioning for us to come in. “So,” he said, “where is it?”
“You don’t waste time, do you?” Xavier scoffed.
“I believe that’s the reason you’re here?”
“Captain,” I said, addressing him slowly, “we found nothing.” His eyebrows knit together as he examined our faces.
“Why are you here, if you found nothing?” he asked, his eyebrow raised.
“We had a deal, but I couldn’t fulfill my end,” I said. “I apologize.”
The Captain smiled. He laughed.
“You’re lying.”
I made no movement. “Why would I lie?”
“Oh, you are an amazing liar,” he said, continuing to laugh, “and so is the honey eyed boy behind you. But this girl,” he pointed over my shoulder, “she just cannot look away from her shoes.” Suddenly, his smile disappeared. “Where is it?” he sneered, reaching for my arm. “Where did you hide it?”
Cyprian’s expression changed. He turned to his superior, frowning.
“Captain, what are you doing?”
“Don’t touch her,” Xavier jumped between us.
“Xavier, not now!” I hissed.
“Take them,” he said. “Throw them in the pits of the mountain. Search their ship and kill everyone you see. Don’t leave one barrel unturned!”
“Sir!” Cyprian exclaimed, confusion written all over his face.
The Four Kingdoms Page 21