The next morning, Drayaen and his men rode into the next valley to survey the grain warehouse there. As they traveled over the parched terrain, he thought about General Neo’s impulsive behavior with the bandits the previous day. It felt as if Neo had intended to drive them off the cliff. He shook his head. No, he thought, the general is a loyal servant of the kingdom.
The storage facility looked deserted. Drayaen slowed his horse, holding up a hand to signal the others. “I don’t like the look of this,” he said. “It might be a trap. I have a strategy, but we need everyone to participate if it is going to work.”
He dismounted and delivered orders to Colonel Lex. “There are supplies in the wagon. Find some spare uniforms. Have the men gather leaves and materials from the woods. Stuff the clothing to make it look like they are real soldiers.”
The colonel nodded. “How many decoys should we make?”
“Three or four will do. That way, it will appear as though there’s limited security.There’ll be a greater chance of a strike.”
“I’ll have the men get ready. We’ll position them around the building after dark.”
“Leave one side unguarded. Tonight we’ll retreat into the woods and watch for visitors.”
“How many teams do you want?”
“Four units. Each group can watch one side of the building. When our façade is breached, attack.”
He paced as the men scrambled into action, hoping he would soon get some answers.
It was a moonless night. Drayaen watched the warehouse from a distance, straining to detect any semblance of motion. “This would be the perfect time to make their move,” he muttered. The gloominess of the forest was ample cover for a well-calculated theft. But as he scanned the perimeter, all was silent. Perhaps too quiet. Why aren’t they here yet? he fumed.
Leaves rustled, and he spun around to see the colonel crouching behind him.
“Your Highness, one of our soldiers is missing. We’ve traced his path and it looks like he left alone.”
“Well, we have our answer. Whoever is organizing the thefts has infiltrated our forces.” He scowled. At least now we’re getting somewhere, he thought. He turned to his men. “Half of you will protect this place, in case the raiders come back. The rest will follow me. We’re going to track the traitor. He has a head start but hasn’t been gone long. Prepare to mount up.”
As he saddled his horse, he muttered. “There’s no escape for you now.”
He turned and signaled the men, who followed him down the dusty trail.
Aisling and Ryen huddled in the Captain’s Quarters, poring over maps of Asia. “Commander, we’re here,” Ryen said, pointing to the South China Sea. “We’re turning westward and should be there soon.”
Their destination was Canton, on the Pearl River, with its crystal waters and border of lush forests. Amber houses with red roofs dotted the landscape. Sculpted rows of pink, yellow, and purple flowers wavered in the breeze that drifted down from the mountains.
As they navigated the canal, the ships sailed past small, tree-covered islands. The place reminded Aisling of home, where the mystical fog melded a patchwork of greens and blues with the distant, jagged cliffs. She sighed. It had been an arduous eight-month journey that had taken them to ports in France, Spain, and Africa, then across the Indian Ocean and into Asia.
After they arrived in Canton, Aisling and Maológ met with a guild of merchants in the Hong buildings on the west side of the port. There, they exchanged gold, silver, Connemara marble, and wool for a wide array of goods. A portion of the cargo included Chinese tea, popular in many parts of the world due to its exquisite taste. Additional merchandise included rice, spices, silk, porcelain, jade, lacquered objects, art, and furniture. Sparkling cobalt dishware complemented the multitude of purchases.
It had been a most productive visit. Aisling and Maológ stayed on Shamian Island for two weeks during the trade negotiations, in a large, pale yellow and white colonial structure with ornate archways, columns, and gates.
One night, as they sat outside drinking tea on the veranda, they received visitors. The Chief Merchant paid a call, along with the Commissioner of Revenue, who was a member of the Imperial Household. Aisling was delighted to see them both.
On their last night in port, the four of them ate dinner and wandered through the nearby parklands, pausing to admire the banyan trees and sculpted bushes that lined the avenue to the channel. Before leaving port, Aisling sent notes to both men, expressing her gratitude for their support during her stay.
Standing on the quarterdeck the following day, she took one last look at the resplendent scenery. The fleet sailed down the Pearl River to the South China Seas, and headed north, into unchartered waters.
Prince Drayaen and his men followed the wayward soldier to the edge of the woods. He turned to Colonel Lex.
“We’ll not pursue him into the forest. It will be difficult to find our way back. Wait until they come out.”
“They?”
The prince waved his hand at the surrounding landscape. “No one would go there alone. He is meeting someone, and they chose a place that’s difficult to access. Whoever is behind this has gone to great lengths to hide his identity.”
Lex glanced at the long and dense line of trees. “Your Highness, where should we position the men?”
“Along the rim. Make sure you cover the areas above and below the initial point of entry. Our soldier may choose a different exit.”
The colonel issued the instructions to the troops. “Guard the perimeter. Don’t make a move until you hear the order.”
The prince maneuvered his horse alongside Lex. “I’m going about a half mile up the road to see if anyone comes out on that end. There’s a temple beyond those trees. Wait at least an hour. If you don’t see anyone, go to the monastery. They’ll put us up for a few days. If our culprit does show up, make sure he’s close enough to catch. I want him alive.” I’m sure he has some compelling information, he thought, and I need it now.
He rode down the path of thick underbrush, bending to evade the low-hanging branches, until he came to a grassy patch where he dismounted. The prince tied his horse where it could graze in silence. He wanted nothing to alert the criminals that they were being hunted. After waiting almost an hour, he rubbed the back of his neck in frustration. But just as he was about to give up and leave, a rider dressed in black emerged from a cluster of trees. The prince strained to identify the culprit. A sudden chill swept over him. There was something familiar about the horse’s gait.
For one instant, moonlight broke through the murky clouds and illuminated the traitor. The prince watched in mute fury as General Neo turned and headed to the mountain behind the temple, disappearing into the brush.
“So you’re the enemy,” Drayaen snarled. “How long have you been working against me?” He grabbed the reins and mounted his horse. After a short while, he came to a jagged ridge. Below, a lone figure was standing on the edge of the cliff.
“Well, General,” he said under his breath, “you’ll be sorry you betrayed me.”
He withdrew his knife from its sheath, tied up his horse, and descended to the ledge below.
Aisling paced in her small chamber. After being at sea for months, she couldn’t rest. There were no sounds of crashing waves or rolling seas to lull her to sleep. Tonight, she was on dry ground and the feeling was surreal.
“I wonder how the fleet is doing. I’m sure they are fine,” she tried to convince herself. Maológ and her cousins were proficient. She would have preferred to stay onboard, but her instructions were to stop here first. Based on her father’s notes, one of his key contacts, a man named Dragon, needed support. According to her instructions, she was to meet an emissary at the temple. So far, no one had arrived.
“I’m not very good at waiting,” she demurred, traipsing across the room. To pass the time, she thought about the test she would need to take—and pass—in order to keep her special powers. “I’ve practiced m
y magic but haven’t helped anyone yet,” she worried. There were a few months left to achieve her goal.
The more she paced, the greater her need for reassurance.
She remembered the winding tiled steps that led to the mountain behind the temple. “From there, I should be able to view the bay,” she said aloud. Resolved, Aisling opened the door to her chamber and stepped out into the night.
At the top of the cliff, she strained to see her ships. They glistened in the moonlight, but after a brief moment, the enveloping darkness returned. Perhaps I should make a visit to the Saoirse, to ensure all is well.
There was a sudden noise. As she turned, something heavy flew at her and slammed her into the ground. Dizzy from the impact, she was unable to reach for her knife. Is this a man or beast, she asked herself, trying to get a clear view of what was pinning her to the ground.
“I have you now, Neo,” the man hissed.
“I’m not Neo,” she said, in a breathless voice.
Her attacker reared up, still holding her arms. The moonlight appeared again for a brief moment. Aisling’s eyelashes fluttered as she looked up at him.
He felt his chest tighten.
Somehow, she seemed familiar.
From beneath her hood, he could see strands of gleaming yellow and white hair. Her skin was alabaster, reminding him of an ethereal creature. He started to say something, but was mystified.
He paled.
She was the young woman in his dream.
As the man stared, Aisling pressed her hands against his chest and attempted to shove him off.
Her efforts had not the slightest effect.
His muscular frame was overpowering. Beneath his black cape, his warrior outfit was made of scales. Her fingers brushed the rough surface. Upon closer inspection, the outer layer glistened in shades of red and grey, glinting as he shifted his weight.
He was warm to the touch, even though layers of armor.
Her mind raced. He seemed in no hurry to let her go. He still hadn’t said a word.
“I warn you, sir, I’ll shoot you if you don’t get off me.”
The man shook his head in disbelief. He straddled her body and ran his hands along the sides of her clothing.
The effrontery! Aisling was incensed.
“If your plan is to rob me, I don’t have any valuables.”
“What are you doing here?” he demanded.
She could see his furrowed brow and the curve of his full lips. His proximity was unnerving.
“I’m a guest in the temple. Who are you?”
He helped her up but kept an iron grip on her shoulders. She could feel his raw energy pulse through her system.The man exuded vitality, like a bonfire throwing off blasts of radiating heat. As he moved closer, her heart started to pound out a different rhythm.
He cast a wary glance around the perimeter. “Did you see anyone come out of the woods?”
“I’m alone. Do you always jump out at women?”Aisling asked, taking a deep breath and trying to focus.
He loosened his hold and took a step back. “I was following a criminal and thought it was you. Why are you out alone, in the middle of the night?” he barked.
“I needed some air.”
“It’s dangerous out here.”
“As I’ve just experienced.”
While they eyed each other, she decided to create more space between them. He was unsettling. She turned away and called for her dagger.
“I command a powerful wind,” she muttered in a low voice.
Storm clouds began to stir. Aisling’s eyes widened as nearby branches were flung in their direction.
Instead of pushing the soldier away, as she had intended, the force of the gale thrust them together, like an invincible magnetic force.
The man looked up at the sky in confusion. He locked his arms around her, to keep her from being blown off the cliff. She felt his iron grip around her body. Aisling looked up to see him staring back at her. As their eyes met, she saw a powerful, undaunted warrior. And there was something else, which surprised her. As they were thrust together, his demeanor lightened. He almost looked… amused.
After several minutes of clinging to each other, the winds died down.
“Are you all right?” he murmured.
“I’m fine,” she said, straightening her clothing.
“I’ll take you to the guest quarters.”
Aisling pulled back her wild hair. She could feel the flush on her cheeks. “Thank you, but I can go on my own.”
He shook his head. “No. You can walk or I can carry you. It makes no difference to me.” He moved to pick her up.
She waved him back. “I can manage,” she said. But before she could protest further, he grabbed her hand and forged a path through the dark. At the guest quarters, she fumbled with the door lock, then turned to ask his name.
There was no one there.
A short while later, the prince climbed up the ledge and scanned the area. He ran his hand through his hair, feeling quite out of sorts. His encounter with the mysterious woman occupied his thoughts.
“Can I be blamed for thinking it was the general?” he asked himself. “They are about the same height and it was dark. I couldn’t see her face.” He had realized his mistake as soon as he tackled her. He had been expecting the rough physique of General Neo and was shocked to feel the soft curves of a woman.
He thought back to the look she gave him when he had her cornered. He was stunned that she was so young. He was more astounded by the fact that she was so self-assured. And to compound matters, there was that strange force that pushed them together. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t break away. An even more disconcerting thought crossed his mind. He was drawn to her in a way that he couldn’t explain.
He gripped the hilt of his sword and paced, struggling to regain his composure. She discomforted him, in a way that no one had before.
Aisling awoke to the hum of chanting, her eyes heavy from lack of sleep. After returning to her quarters, she had spent much time thinking about her encounter with the soldier. A nagging feeling kept her awake.
I shouldn’t have threatened the man, she thought. He was hunting a criminal and it was dark.
In her travels, she had often encountered life or death situations. She berated herself for responding as a lady of nobility rather than the commander of a fleet. To make matters worse, she intoned a decree that somehow went awry. She shook her head.
“I don’t know how that happened,” she muttered aloud. “It had the opposite effect of what I intended.”
She was unused to having a man in such close proximity. On the ship, the sailors were employees and kept a respectable distance. This soldier, on the other hand, seemed to have no qualms about ignoring physical boundaries.
Something about his presence unnerved her.
As she shifted her thoughts to the day ahead, there was a knock at the door. She opened it to find Sean and several crew members.
“Hello, commander. Maológ sent us. We’re here to make sure you’re all right.”
“I’m fine, Sean. It’s great to see you. The agent I was supposed to meet must be traveling elsewhere. Rather than wait for him in the temple, I’d like to return to the ship.”
“Aye, commander, we’ll escort you back.”
“There’s a path along the woods that will lead us to the docks. It’s faster.”
Sean and the team left the guest quarters and navigated down the back roads. As they neared the bottom of the hill, Aisling turned and looked into the forest. For an instant, she sensed that something was out of place. She peered into the copse of trees.
“Everyone, stop.”
“Commander, what is it?”
Aisling pointed to the nearby woods. “Is there a body lying next to that tree?”
The crew unsheathed their knives and crowded around her. She waved her hand toward the motionless figure on the ground.
“Sean, if you think it’s safe to enter th
e woods, let’s help that man.”
“We’re taking a risk here.Who knows what’s lurking nearby. It could be a trap.”
Aisling nodded. “I understand. I brought my spyglass with me. Here, take a look and see if there’s anyone there. If necessary, we can recruit the warrior monks for more support.”
“I don’t see anyone.”
“How do you want to proceed?”
He turned to his crew. “Half of you stay here with the commander. The rest, follow me.”
He waded into the dense thicket. The crew plowed through the underbrush until they reached the tree. Sean crouched next to the motionless body. The young man was unconscious and had a visible head wound. Moving him would require some skill and a concerted effort.
“We’ll need several of us to pick him up.” He beckoned to the ship’s assistants. “Be sure to distribute his weight. And try to keep his head still.”
Aisling and the men inched their way down the path to the water. As they rowed back to the ship, she applied pressure to the stranger’s injury. Her focus since she’d arrived had been to meet the emissary and receive instructions. Yet here was a chance to offer help. She realized she no longer needed to wait for someone else to guide her actions.
It was in her power to make a difference.
She hoped they could save him.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRINCES IN DISGUISE
Prince Drayaen glanced out the window and muttered under his breath. He meant to sleep for a few hours after surveying the perimeter of the grounds until dawn, but realized that it was already late.
The trail to General Neo would be cold. He would have to connect with the rest of his soldiers and develop a new plan. It was apparent the current one wasn’t working.
A memory of the young woman on the cliff came into his mind.
His thoughts shifted to his military leader. He paced the room and surmised that he had one advantage.
“Neo doesn’t know that we’re aware of his activities. He’ll make a careless mistake. Then he and his conspirators will be caught. For the time being, I’ll keep this information to myself,” he considered.
Princess of Sky, Earth, Fire and Water Page 4