“Are you all right? Talk to me.”
“I’m fine,” she said, mumbling and slurring her speech. He shifted position and crouched in front of her. She must be in shock from the wound, he thought. He felt her hand. It was ice cold. I need to do something, now.
He felt his way along the wall of storage and opened a few boxes, searching for anything warm. In the back of the room was a crate of heavy scarves. He grabbed a few and made his way back to Aisling, where he draped her head and neck with the material and surveyed the jagged wound. If they don’t show up soon, we’ll need another plan, he thought, as he pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her. She turned and looked at him.
“I might be able to make it warm.”
He thought she was hallucinating. “I’m going to pick you up and carry you out of here now,” he said.
She held onto his arm. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. If nothing happens, we can try and find our way out of here.”
He watched, perplexed, as she began to stand. Perhaps she wanted some time alone. “All right. I’ll stay here.”
Aisling nodded. She tried hard to concentrate. When they had entered the room, it was dark, but she had noticed a fireplace. It must have been designed to keep the guards warm on cold winter nights. Activating my powers here will be risky, she thought. All her practice during the initial voyage had led her to one conclusion.When she used her magic, there was a big consequence.
After each event, her energy was depleted, making her vulnerable to outside forces. To save herself and the prince from the harsh elements, she needed to trust that he would protect her during moments of weakness. For her, it was a discomforting feeling to depend on someone else, even if it was temporary. It’s one of my many flaws, she admitted to herself. Somehow, she had to put aside her need for control and think about survival.
She retraced her steps and hovered near the hearthside. Removing the scarves, she flung them into the fireplace. “With all my being, I command a fire.” Nothing. “Perhaps my injury is weakening my powers,” she muttered, feeling defeated. At that instant, she heard an impatient voice that sounded a great deal like the wizard, Chindor. “Put your might into it. Act as if your life depends on it. Say it with conviction, for you and those who rely on you.”
Aisling mustered the courage to try again. She closed her eyes and concentrated, blocking out her injury, the frigid weather, her fear. “With all my might, I command that it be warm.”
The fireplace exploded with light as she slid to the ground, unconscious.
Drayaen paced up and down between the sacks and crates, muttering. “I don’t understand what’s taking so long. What can she be doing?” Then he heard her talking in low tones, and a flash of light shot across the room, illuminating the boxes and bags of grain.
He rushed to Aisling’s side. She was not moving. He shook his head in confusion at the roaring fire in the chimney. He carried her closer to the warmth and held her in his arms. As he looked down at her face, he felt an overwhelming need to keep her safe.
To his relief, after several moments, she woke up and found herself staring into the luminous dark eyes of the prince. She attempted a smile.
“I think we’re all right now.”
Drayaen glanced down at Aisling. She had stopped shivering but her face was still ashen. He wrapped his hands around hers to keep them warm.
She turned to face him. “Thank you for helping us. I’m grateful that you’re here.”
I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, he thought.
“Will I see you again?”
“Of course. First, you must get some rest. Let’s meet on the ship in a few days. I can see my brother and we can talk about your generous offer to help with the food supply.”
Aisling nodded. “That sounds like a good plan.”
He began to speak, but hesitated.
“What is it?”
“Please watch over the Sixth Prince until I return. He’s stubborn. It may be a difficult task.”
She looked at his earnest expression. “I promise.”
His concerns were allayed. At least my brother will be safe, he thought. As he glanced out the window, he could see a number of men with torches in the distance.
“I think our rescue party is here.” He scooped her up and was carrying her to the door as the monks rushed in.
“Your Royal Highness, are you all right?”
“I’m fine, but the commander needs help.”
“We’ll take her back up to the temple compound now.”
“How is my crew?” she asked.
“They’re being tended to, and are in good hands.”
“Thank you. You’re very kind.”
Drayaen passed Aisling to one of the warrior monks, but was reluctant to let her go. He was just pondering this when he was interrupted.
“Your Highness, there’s a note for you.”
He ripped it open and scanned the contents. At last, some new information, he thought. He watched as the rescue party escorted Aisling to safety, hoping with an unexpected pang of longing that he would see her again.
It was past midnight. Drayaen paced in his chamber, waiting for the private courier to pick up a message. He thought back to the events of the last few hours. The crew had astounded him with new information, and he now had definitive proof that General Neo was involved in the corruption scandal.
While fleeing from the hostile soldiers, the crew had also learned of another impending attack on the food stores. It didn’t give him much time. “I don’t understand where Colonel Lex and my men have gone. They received instructions to watch the ships and wait for my arrival,” he muttered. It never occurred to him that General Neo had corrupted the colonel as well. There must be some other explanation.
After talking with Sean and Fionn, he had dashed off a note to his father. He was blunt in his assessment. The king always preferred to hear bad news head-on, without fancy explanations or innuendo.
As the prince considered his options for stemming the attack, there was a knock at the door.
“Come in.”
The private courier swept into the room, along with a blast of frigid air. “Your Highness, I understand you have a message for me.”
The prince planted himself in front of the man and made eye contact. “Deliver this to my father. Don’t stop until you get to the palace. You need to see the king open this letter himself. Take a few warrior monks with you.”
“Right away.”
The messenger backed out of the room, into the night.
Drayaen sat at his desk, reviewing his options. First he needed to locate his men and activate the new troops. He looked at the map. There’s so much territory to cover, he thought. I’ll need to dispatch team leaders to far-flung locations. And who can I trust? The more he thought about logistics, the greater his frustration became. He realized the reason for his lack of focus was… her. She had surprised him earlier, a number of times. He felt… off kilter.
Even after the savage attack, she had worried about her crew. Despite a painful injury, she had offered to help him solve the food crisis. Then there was the episode with the fire. He still didn’t understand what happened there, although he tried to convince himself there must be a logical explanation.
The administrator had come by earlier to say that the temple healer was looking after Aisling. He mentioned multiple stab wounds.
The prince continued his pacing. “Why didn’t she tell me,” he wondered aloud, folding his arms. “No wonder she passed out. Well, I’m not going to get any work done without seeing for myself that she is all right.”
He grabbed his cloak and walked through the courtyard to the guest house. “I must be out of my mind to be paying a visit in the middle of the night.”
He approached her quarters and tapped on the door. There was no answer. As he tried again, this time a little louder, the entry creaked open. He held the candle aloft and looked into the chamber. It was empty.
&nbs
p; Drayaen gripped his sword. If she’s injured, how could she have gone, and where? And why was her door not secured? Perhaps she was with the crew, he considered, but that was improbable at that time of night. He thought back to their previous encounter when he had seen Aisling on the ledge above the temple and decided to climb up the mountainside.
Nearing the top, he scanned the landscape. It appeared as though no one were there. He was about to give up and head back to the compound, but something caught his eye. Peering into the dark, he spied Aisling sitting on a rock, looking out over the water.
“Commander.”
She spun around, watching as the shadow moved closer.
“It’s me.What are you doing out here? Don’t you know it’s dangerous?” He tried to maintain a calm voice, but even to his own ears he could hear the imperious tone.
“How did you find me?”
“I checked on you but you weren’t in your room. I was worried.” Panicked would be more truthful, he thought. He crouched in front of her, grasping her waist with both hands. “You can’t be out here alone. The attackers could come back.”
“They wouldn’t take that risk. The compound is on alert.”
“Yes, but let’s not tempt fate. What’s happened?”
“The boat we took across the bay is floating somewhere on the water. The other captains will be alarmed. I thought I might see it from here, but it’s too dark. I don’t want the fleet to worry.”
Drayaen nodded. “I’ll send a few men to retrieve it.”
“You will? Thank you, that makes me feel better. I was concerned we’d have anxious sailors storming the beach at dawn.”
“Promise me that you’ll stay in your room and rest. Lock your door as well,” he insisted.
“All right, I will.” She gave him a small smile.
As he gazed at Aisling, he was reluctant to leave. He slid in behind her, and pulled her into his arms.
She was surprised to find herself wrapped in his ironclad embrace. Nestled against his chest, her tension eased as she listened to the sound of his beating heart. Neither of them spoke.
After awhile, he took her small hand in his, and together, they descended the rocky cliff.
The first rays of sun cast a soft glow against the glistening water. Drayaen was crossing the bridge when he caught sight of the rowboat carrying Aisling back to the fleet. She was seated between the crew, looking out at the compound.
He felt bereft, as though he had just lost an ally. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” he snapped. It had been another sleepless night. He was fighting for the survival of his people, and yet his thoughts kept turning to her.
It had been ages since he had worried about another person’s welfare. Beyond his immediate family, perhaps he never had. “I’ve been on the road too long,” he muttered. Last night, he had an overwhelming urge to hold her close. There were things he wanted to say, but somehow, he couldn’t find the words. It’s just as well, he reasoned with himself. She’ll be leaving soon and my role is here. There’s no room for a woman in my life. He crossed his arms and watched the vessel traverse the bay.
Later that morning, the warrior monks gathered in the courtyard as they prepared to leave. Drayaen eyed a messenger working his way through the crowd.
“Your Highness, I have an urgent communication from the palace.”
He grasped the sealed envelope, ripped it open, and read it twice. An ally of his father’s was coming to help them protect the crown. His instructions were to partner with this person. He didn’t like the sound of that at all. He was a loner, built for speed and independent action. Aside from his small group of trustworthy advisors, he had never collaborated with an outsider.
He read further. It said his contact had a fleet of ships.
They were to join forces and stabilize the region.
He felt his breathing constrict, and shook his head.
Her.
CHAPTER SIX
AN EXTRAORDINARY WIND
Aisling stood on the upper deck, spyglass in hand. As she scanned the coast, all seemed quiet. Then something caught her eye. Upstream, there were soldiers advancing south, toward the temple. Before reaching the compound, they turned and entered the forest, near the site of the attack on the rowboat.
She strained to see their uniforms. They were dressed in black, but it was not the traditional garb of the warrior monks or soldiers in the prince’s guard. She ran her hand through her hair, fretting over the prince’s safety.
Ever since the night of the raid, she couldn’t stop thinking about him. I’m alive because he risked his life to protect me, she thought. After her rescue, she had been agitated, thinking about her harrowing ordeal. When he had come looking for her on the cliff and wrapped his arms around her, she found herself drawn to him. Beneath his hardened exterior, she glimpsed a warrior haunted by old wounds.
She shook her head. We were both relieved about our escape, that’s all, she surmised. Nothing more. In a few weeks, this will all be forgotten.
Aisling watched the shoreline until she heard rapid footsteps on the deck. Patrick appeared, out of breath, his face pale and drawn.
“Commander, we have a problem.”
“What’s happened?”
“It’s the Sixth Prince. He’s awake. It seems some of his memory has returned. He’s leaving.”
“What, now?” she asked, inhaling a deep breath.
“Aye. Can you talk with him? He isn’t well but is rushing to disembark. He believes Prince Drayaen is in danger.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “Did he say why?”
“Not yet.”
“All right, let’s go.”
From what I’ve just seen, Aisling thought, the prince may very well be walking into a trap.
As they hurried toward the sick bay, a lone figure emerged at the end of the deck. Prince Zo had retrieved his clothes and was dressed in a long robe and boots, his sword and scabbard by his side. The doctor approached him, shaking his head.
“Your Highness, you must rest. You’ve not yet recovered.”
“Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. I appreciate it, more than you know, but I have to leave. My brother is in danger.”
Aisling could hear a pounding in her ears. “What do you mean?”
“I remember who did this to me.”
“Was it General Neo?”
“How do you know about him?”
“He tried to harm my crew earlier this week.”
“Your men?”
“Yes, I can tell you more about it, but let’s get you back to your room.”
He turned to face her. “It wasn’t the general, but I’m sure my attacker works for him. I must get to shore. Please arrange for a boat to take me there.”
Aisling sighed. He was as stubborn as his brother. There would be no point trying to dissuade him. “All right, on one condition. You must agree to this in advance. Otherwise we can’t take you.”
Zo gazed at her and waved his hand. “If I have no option, then I consent to your demands, whatever they are, as long as I can disembark now.”
“I’m going with you.”
The doctor balked. “Commander, you are in no fit state. Your arm is still in a sling. I can’t in good conscience recommend that you go.”
“I understand, but our patient is still recovering. I promised the Fifth Prince I would be responsible for him.” I need to keep them both out of danger, she thought. Perhaps this is what I was meant to do.
Aisling glanced up to see a ship’s assistant passing by with some crates. She motioned to him. “Please tell Ryen that I need to speak with him, now.”
“Aye, Commander, right away.”
She turned back to see the young prince staring at her. “I can’t allow that,” he said. “It’s too risky.”
“Fine, then.” As she glanced down the deck, her First Officer was walking in their direction. “You need to decide now. Leave the ship, but not alone. We go as a group or not a
t all.”
Zo sighed and rubbed his furrowed brow. “All right.I’m sorry to do this, but I have no choice.We all go.”
“We need a plan. Tell me what you last remember. I’ll tell you what’s happened since then. Follow me to the sick bay for a private conversation.”
He nodded and turned back toward his room. Aisling noticed that he gripped the railing for balance.
Ryen joined her and the doctor. “Commander?”
“The prince and I are planning to disembark. We’ll be gone overnight. Please designate a crew to travel with us.”
“Are you venturing into the interior a day early, or is this an additional voyage?”
“It’s an extra trip. Prepare for our departure in one hour. Raise the flag and inform the fleet. We should be back tomorrow.”
“Aye, I’ll arrange for your crew.”
I hope I’m making the right decision, she thought. One thing was certain. She had told Prince Drayaen that she’d watch over his brother, and she was going to keep that promise.
The soldiers galloped down the trail, their royal flags waving in the wind. As they approached the temple, Drayaen scanned the landscape and motioned for his men to stop. It was quiet. He signaled his advance team.
“Ensure that we’re all clear. Find the administrator and see if there’s been any activity.”
“Yes, right away.”
The men were gone for several minutes. He observed the warrior monks in the courtyard through his spyglass.They waved him forward.
He turned to his lead soldier. “We’ll stay here for awhile.Tell the men to go about business as usual. I’ll let you know when we need to take action.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“One more thing. Find a boat and crew. I need to board the ship in the bay within the hour.”
He had to make sure his brother was safe. He also wanted to break the news to Aisling about their new alliance. He wondered if she would find the prospect as unsettling as he did.
The Fifth Prince and crew rowed across the bay to the Saoirse. As they approached, Ryen ordered the gangway to be lowered. They boarded the ship and approached the First Officer.
Princess of Sky, Earth, Fire and Water Page 7