Emerald Mountains (The Dream Traveler Series Book 2)

by Nicole Knight

  I know how in love she is with the room that I designed for Clarissa. I know how much Clarissa touched her life in her short stay here. So I want to redecorate Violets room into something similar, but different. It needs to still feel like Violet.

  I debated what the second fabric in the new quilt would be when I felt a hand reach out and grab me around the waist and pull me off my feet. Another hand covered my mouth as I began to scream.

  “Quiet!” My captor demanded in a harsh whisper.

  I tried to answer back, but the hand muffled my protests.

  “Where is the Queen?” the voice asked.

  We were now in a dark alley behind a shop.

  I shook my head in response.

  “You know where she is. It is your job to know. It’s my job to find out,” he said.

  “I’m not telling,” I said against his hand.

  “That’s a shame. You like having all ten little fingers, don’t you?” he threatened.

  My eyes grew wide as I saw the knife moving toward my thumb.

  Then the hands let go of me as I heard my captor grunt. I quickly turned around and watched as the man fell to the ground. Standing behind him was a knight holding a bloody blade.

  “Are you okay?” he asked me.

  “I’m not sure,” I answered honestly, trying to catch my breath.

  “Do you know what he wanted?” he asked me.

  I took a moment to stare at him. He was the attractive night in the grand dining room with Axel when I was planning the feast for King Thanian and Queen Clarissa.

  Looking at him now, he is still just as attractive. Now my heart was beating rapidly for a different reason. All of his attention was on me.

  “Yeah, he wanted to know where the Queen is,” I told him.

  “That’s right. You are her highness’ advisor,” he said.

  “Indeed.”

  “You shouldn’t be in the village by yourself, especially this part,” he said, looking around us.

  “I just needed to get some things,” I told him like that completely explained my situation.

  “Well then, allow me to escort you,” he offered.

  “It isn’t necessary,” I tried to tell him.

  He was so handsome it was distracting. I couldn’t let myself be distracted.

  “I insist. Sir Axel would have my head if I just left you alone after you were attacked,” he said, stepping beside me.

  He started to lead me in the direction I had previously been walking.

  “I suppose he would,” I answered. “What is your name?” I asked him.

  “Thomas,” he answered with a smile.

  “I’m Trinity, but most people call me Trin,” I told him.

  “I know who you are,” he said.

  “Right,” I answered.

  Why am I so awkward?

  “What are you here to get?” he asked me.

  How could I explain my mission without spilling too much information to this man? It is none of his business.

  “Let’s just say the Queen is dealing with a lot. I came here to get some things to make something nice for her,” I told him. That felt like a fair amount to share for both of us.

  “What are you trying to get her? I can help you pick it out,” he offered.

  “Some nice fabrics, I’m redecorating her room,” I told him.

  “Ah, that I know nothing of. I can carry them for you, though.”

  “Thank you, that’s very kind,” I told him.

  “It’s my pleasure,” he replied with another distracting smile.

  When I finished gathering what I needed, Thomas escorted me back to the castle, before wishing me a good day. He flashed a flirty smile, and I felt my heart flutter.

  I haven’t had any interest in guys since I broke it off with my overprotective courter. However, Thomas had changed that. He was tall, handsome, and a gentleman.

  Maybe I will run into him again soon?

  I was stitching together two different color squares of blue when Axel came bursting into the library.

  “Why didn’t you tell me you were attacked?” he almost shouted at me.

  “Because you aren’t my personal protector Axel. You struggle with trying to keep it together just protecting Violet; I don’t want to be thrown into that mess,” I answered.

  “Hmm, personal protector. You are right; I am not your protector. But from now on, you will have one,” he said.

  “What?” I asked nearly as loudly as he had previously been.

  “You are going to have your own knight in charge of your protection,” Axel said.

  “This isn’t necessary,” I told him. “I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

  “It is necessary. How many important things do we know about the Queen and the kingdom?” he asked me.

  “A lot,” I answered after a moment. I see where he was leading this conversation. It was going to end with me giving in.

  “Imagine someone torturing you. I promise you it is not fun, and it breaks even the strongest will. I want to make sure this doesn’t happen to you. We are friends, Trinity. Even more importantly, Violet would never forgive me if I didn’t do everything in my power to keep you safe. So you will have one of my best men by your side.”

  “Fine,” I gave in.

  “Can I finish my work now? I felt Violet needed a nice surprise to come home to,” I said while holding up my work so far.

  “It looks nice,” he said, nodding at the half-finished blanket. “One more thing, meet your bodyguard. Actually, I don’t think this is your first meeting,” he said with one of those charming Axel smiles.

  “Come on in Thomas,” he said.

  Then I lost my will for concentrating on anything ever again.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Violet

  The services were beautiful. So many people came to say farewell to their beloved King and Queen. I was sworn in as the Queen, and ceremonies were completed. The week went by in an emotional blur.

  Most of the week, I had a hard time telling up from down. I was guided step by step through everything like I was a child. In a sense, it was needed. I felt just as vulnerable as a child. I had to trust Adam and Wisdom to get me through.

  For the most part, the people embraced me. Wisdom instructed me to be my usual generous self. I gave what I could to those in need, despite having nothing emotionally left to give. When it was time for me to leave, I was asked to return once every sixty days. My advisors would send messages every day based on what was going on.

  I would be a Queen by proxy and make sure my new Kingdom prospered the way it did with their beloved King and Queen. They were the last of a royal bloodline, and I was just a replacement. Still, I hoped I would be able to rise above everyone’s expectations, once given time to heal. Depending on what happens with Tate and the Smarts, I may not have time.

  They were becoming more and more aggressive. Axel told me with his communication charm that the Smart’s sent someone to attack Trin, and I was beside myself. Axel assured me she was ok, and that he assigned her a private bodyguard. I was relieved to hear that and then kicking myself for not thinking of that sooner. I had so much on my mind, but that’s no excuse. Trin is in a seat of power, and I should have thought about better protecting her.

  I owed her an apology when I got home.

  The return trip already felt long, and we still had half a day left. I would have loved to just put my necklace on for the duration of the journey and hang out in Arlington. Wisdom advised me not to. He had things to do on the ship and couldn’t always watch me.

  I watched from the deck as we approached a storm. Inside I felt warning bells. Something just didn’t feel right. Something in the air made me break out in goose flesh and sent a shiver up my spine.

  Were we being watched?

  I felt my eyes roll back, and my body hit the floor before I flashed to a vision.

  In the vision, I was in a male magic worker’s body. I could tell
that right away. I looked around, and my vision self had my arms up in the air. The storm was directly above me, and I was commanding the storm.

  My vision body looked out to the horizon and saw a ship. I took a long look, and I felt myself shutter. The boat I was looking at had the Morthlands flag with the two suns and the moon, and it also had the Urbem Glacies flag.

  This was my ship, the one I was really on.

  This magic worker was commanding the storm and was sending it in the direction of our ship. The waves rocked beneath his boat, and he had to grab the railing to hold on. He looked up at his own mast, to see how much wind was filling the sails, and that’s when I saw the Tate flag. A glance at the wheel showed me Kennan standing with a smug smile on his face. He was using a looking glass, and I’m sure he had a clear view of my ship.

  My vision body threw his hand back up in the air to strengthen the storm, and then I flashed back to my own body.

  Everyone had crowded around me, and Wisdom was leaning over me.

  “What did you see?” he asked.

  “We are about to be attacked by Tate,” I said while pointing the direction of their ship, way off in the distance.

  Everyone’s faces turned in the direction I pointed, and then it was total chaos.

  I let that go on for ten seconds before it occurred to me, I command this ship, even ranking above the Captain.

  “Enough!” I shouted at the top of my lungs.

  Everyone came to a dead stop and stared at me.

  “The immediate threat is the storm. Do you not feel the waves getting larger under your feet? We have half a day’s sail from here if we are lucky and make great time. We don’t need all of the supplies we currently carry. Start pushing off the non-essentials. Let’s make this ship lighter and take advantage of the wind while we can. Ready the ship for a storm, and Captain keep us charted to Morthsoul. We are going to race the storm, and that enemy ship back home. I will try to get immediate communication back to the castle and have a battalion of knights at the dock ready to meet us. If Tate can’t catch us before then, we have a fighting chance.”

  I stopped and challenged anyone to question my call. No one did, but they continued to stand in awe.

  “Get to it,” I commanded.

  Just like that, everyone was moving again. There was still urgency, but it was controlled and didn’t look like the madhouse it did moments ago.

  Immediately furniture was pushed overboard and about half of our food supplies. We could ration if we needed to, but I feel Tate will give us chase all the way home. The last thing we will be worried about is eating.

  I needed to do something else to help and thought back to the speech I just gave. We need to be faster than the enemy vessel, and I can help us do that. I looked up to the sails as I reached for my control of the wind.

  Nothing happened.

  I felt an absence of control.

  Why can’t I gather the wind?

  I had an issue using my magic right after I was poisoned, but I thought that was because my body was weak. I am physically much better now, but nothing. I tried to use my magic again and couldn’t even form a ball of light.

  What is going on?

  I looked over to Wisdom, who was directing others on what to do.

  “Wisdom,” I called to him.

  He cautiously approached me.

  “Why can’t I use my magic? I’m trying to call the wind to carry us faster, and it’s not following my commands,” I said.

  Then he looked like I kicked his puppy.

  “We may want to go somewhere more private,” he said.

  Why would I need to go somewhere more private? I need to be in action to give orders.

  I followed him anyways to the Captain’s private office and shut the door behind me.

  “Spill. What has you looking like I just killed your dog?” I asked.

  “The night of your poisoning, I had to think fast to save your life. I gave you a tonic to help counteract whatever poison had been given to you. However, it has side effects. It can cancel out one’s control of magic. Sometimes it’s only temporary and fades off with time, and for others, it is permanent. I was going to tell you during the trip. But this was rough for you, and I didn’t want to make it worse by adding any more bad news,” he said.

  I couldn’t breathe.

  My magic is gone? My friends were taken from me, my friends and family are no longer safe, and now my magic is gone?

  How could this be? Why was this happening to me?

  I don’t blame Wisdom for giving me the tonic. It probably saved my life. But how am I going to rule without my magic if it doesn’t come back? That’s my protection.

  Suddenly I felt like a ship again, being tossed around in a storm. And as I had that thought, I felt our boat rock from a massive wave.

  All of the cards are stacked against me, and the dealer won’t re-deal.

  I barged through the door I had closed. I would break apart again, but I can’t do that now. Not when my Kingdom and my crew need me. I can cry when I am locked behind my bedroom door in the castle.

  The storm was getting closer, and I made my commands louder. I kept my eye trained on the horizon and the enemy vessel. They were keeping their distance and making the storm more aggressive.

  Water was splashing across the floor of the ship, which was rocking like a rocking horse back and forth in the waves. People were sliding all over the deck.

  Wisdom begged me to come back inside, but I wasn’t having any of that. I am scared, but I am not a coward. My crew needs to know that I will not be giving up, and I expect the same from them.

  A massive wave came barreling at the ship and crossed over it, soaking everyone head to toe. A few people who hadn’t been holding onto anything had been thrown over the ship’s side.

  My heart sank for them. We would never be able to get them back on board without my magic. I threw some buoyant items their way, hoping to keep them afloat until the storm carried them into shore.

  Despite the storm, we were making record time, as we had gotten rid of everything that was not essential. Wisdom made a small life raft and pushed it over the side for those who got knocked overboard.

  I thought I could see land on the horizon in the opposite direction. We just needed to beat Tate and the storm there.

  One moment I was standing on my feet. The next, lighting struck the boat not once, but four times in quick succession. A fire broke out on the ship, where the lightning had struck, and the damage was done.

  The fires continued to burn as we searched for anything to help us put them out. There was now a large hole in the side of the ship that was going to have us sinking in moments.

  From nowhere, a rogue wave hit the ship, and it broke apart, much like my bridge I made when I first crossed into Morthshadow.

  I plunged into the water.

  The water was freezing, and it kept trying to suck me under the surface. Waves periodically crashed over my head while I tried to swim to shore. I could hear shouts and screams all around me.

  Where is Wisdom? I can’t lose him like this.

  “Wisdom, Wisdom! Where are you?”

  I looked behind me, and I could see a life raft in the far distance. It looked like there was someone with a familiar figure pulling people out of the water.

  I could breathe easily now, knowing he wouldn’t drown. Well, at least not yet.

  His raft was very far from me, almost out of my sight, so I knew he couldn’t hear me over the storms’ sound. It was quickly becoming dark out due to the storm, and I hoped that would give us the cover we need to escape the enemy’s notice.

  But I couldn’t just stay here and find out, or I would drown before anyone could get to me. I needed to keep moving towards the shore.

  I swam for what felt like hours. My entire body felt like lead, one breath away from going under permanently. I tried to float, but there were so many waves, they would just knock me under. I felt like a bobber getting pulle
d under by a massive fish, over and over.

  But eventually, my feet hit something hard. I continued to test my feet against it; it felt like sand. When my feet were flat on the floor of the ocean, I cried out in relief. I made it to shore.

  It was completely dark in front of me, and I couldn’t see a thing. The storm had completely blacked out the sky. I had no idea where anyone else from our ship was, and I was utterly alone.

  I had no energy left to give. I pulled myself up onto the shore with my arms, doing a disgusting army crawl. The sand burned against my skin as shells cut my arms, belly, and legs, but I couldn’t care less. I found shore, and I would be thankful.

  I was entirely out of the water when I couldn’t hold myself up any longer, and I closed my eyes in relief. I no longer had the strength to keep them open.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  Iwoke up and could feel sand everywhere.

  Where am I?

  I opened my eyes, and then it hit me. I was on my way home, our ship sank, and I somehow made it to shore.

  I lifted my head and looked around. I was still alone. In the not too far distance was the enemy ship, I’m sure looking for survivors. I needed to get out of here fast, and put as much distance between me and it as possible.

  I pulled myself off the ground with a lot of effort.

  My dress was still soaked and covered in sand. It weighed me down. My first focus would be getting out of sight of the ship, and then get out of this gown and hide it. After that, I will try to make it back to the castle before one of Kennan’s men finds me.

  I have no sword on me, and my magic is useless.

  I wanted to let out a sob, but I needed to be silent. I don’t want to draw any attention to myself.

  About two football fields away was a line of trees, and I made a mad dash for it. Once I was safely tucked inside of the trees, I started shedding the layers of the dress.

  Sand fell off of me in heaps, but when I got the main dress off, I felt fifty pounds lighter. I still had on a slip. That slip and my slippers were what covered me now.

  I hid the dress in a bush, and then I started running again. A glance up to the suns told me I was running in the right direction to the castle, but it is obvious that I would head there if I survived.