He exchanged one last look and a subtle nod with Bree, who quickly turned around and made herself scarce. The woman had never been too fond of Teaq, whose gruff and direct nature was indeed something of an acquired taste.
“This is hardly the time, brother,” Teaq remarked while nodding sideways at Kelly’s door.
“Oh, no, I was on the way to the Watch Point,” Broc explained.
“In your night clothes?” Teaq argued.
“I had a feeling. An instinct. We cannot afford complacency.”
“Finally something we both can agree on.”
The two brothers exchanged a long look. Teaq had immediately steered the conversation to Broc’s presence in the corridor. But what was he up to so early in the morning? More conspiring and scheming, perhaps?
“Perhaps we could inspect the fortifications on the Eastern Isle today. The weather seems good for it.” Teaq folded his arms in front of his chest.
“Very well. It has been a while since I’ve visited those parts.”
Was Teaq actively trying to get Broc off the main island today? Refusing would only raise suspicions though. With Bree firmly on his and Kelly’s side, Broc felt it safe to play along.
“We can join the morning patrol,” Teaq said.
Broc nodded. “I’ll be there.”
Rather than go back to his room, he turned in the opposite direction and soon found his way to the Watch Point, just as he’d told Teaq. It was where he liked to come and think.
With everything that had been happening, he had a lot to mull over.
But as the cold sea winds hit his face, forcing him to close his eyes for a moment, there was only one thing on his mind: Kelly.
“This part of the island has always been more vulnerable. It’s too remote. We need more guards here.” Broc gestured at the wall surrounding the barren wilderness of the island before them. Then he turned to face Teaq, who had folded his arms.
“More guards. When the invasion comes, a few extra guards aren’t going to help us.” Teaq had to speak up to make himself heard over the strong sea winds. The boat they had sailed on from the main island was being thrown around vigorously on the waves surrounding the island.
“What would you advise, then?” Broc asked. His elder brother could be quite the know-it-all, but he did have a keen instinct when it came to military strategy.
“We need a better method for the guards already stationed here to signal in case of enemy sightings.”
“Another lighthouse?” Broc asked, glancing over at the lone tower toward the westernmost point of the island.
“Perhaps.” Teaq was acting unlike his usual self. His expression was thoughtful, and he was even more tight-lipped than normal. Had the prospect of war spooked him? Or was it something else?
Broc would have to find out.
“We should convene regular meetings with the Elders. Perhaps they have ideas that might help,” Broc suggested.
Teaq nodded in silence.
For a moment, the two brothers stood quietly by the railing of the ship, still staring at the island. This was the land their father had left them. Now it was up to them to defend it from the enemies that surrounded them.
It wasn’t a light burden to bear, the responsibility to keep all the islanders safe. But who else was there to carry it?
Broc sighed and closed his eyes. The salty air had a way of cleansing one’s thoughts, just like he had attempted to do earlier on the Watch Point at the castle.
His thoughts were far from clean, though. They kept on returning to the illicit activities of the previous night, no matter how hard he tried to focus.
He glanced over at Teaq. Luckily Broc’s thoughts were his own.
Even so, these emotions, they weren’t a sign of weakness, were they? They felt like a powerful force, one that would enable him to move mountains if he had to.
He’d conquer worlds for her.
And when the time came, he would find a way to defeat Black Isle’s enemies to keep her safe. If it was the last thing he did.
“We should go on land. Speak with the guards. See what we can learn that may help.”
Broc turned to look at his brother again, but Teaq seemed distracted again. What on earth was going on with him? Was he jealous of Broc’s newfound happiness, perhaps? If Broc didn’t know any better, he might have thought it was time for him to find a bride of his own. Was that why he was trying to meddle in Broc’s relationship with Kelly? Had jealousy inspired him to attempt to undermine her?
“Brother, did you hear me?” Broc asked.
“Yes… Yes, of course. I have some errands to run on the island as it is. I’ll join you in the main watch tower once I am done.”
Broc shrugged, but scrutinized Teaq’s face for a moment longer. “Very well then.”
Errands… It wasn’t in his nature to make excuses, and yet Teaq was being uncharacteristically vague. So many secrets all of a sudden.
What on earth was Teaq up to on this remote and barren island in the sea?
Chapter Eleven
Another morning, another day of training with Rhea. Kelly followed Rhea along the now somewhat familiar path across the drawbridge and up the hillside until they were once more on the plateau where they had trained the day before.
She was no weakling, but she was no giant either. Her body was still recovering from all the unfamiliar movements Rhea had taught her.
The stiffness she’d felt after waking this morning hadn’t worn off yet. The walk had only made her muscles protest even more.
And her right arm. It felt like lead.
“Here, take it,” Rhea ordered while handing Kelly the real sword.
“What? No, I’m not ready,” she protested.
Rhea just glared at her. Clearly the female giant was in no mood to argue.
Kelly’s palm burned when she closed her fingers around the handle of sword. Small blisters had started to form at the base of each of her digits. Her wrist still burned from the repeated impacts she had received each time Rhea had disarmed her.
She looked down at her weapon; crude and not very sharp. The blade had developed a bit of rust on one side.
It wasn’t in the best shape, much like Kelly herself.
“Can’t we train with the wooden ones again? It’s only been a day.”
“And tomorrow, we might all be dead. You’d better learn more quickly,” Rea grumbled.
It wasn’t that Kelly didn’t want to learn. She did. She wanted to make Broc proud, after all.
But she wasn’t as strong, and certainly not as experienced.
Oh, Mother. What do I do?
“Well? Are you just going to stand there? You’re not going to cry, are you?” Rhea said.
Kelly bit her bottom lip. No, she was not. She wouldn’t give her the pleasure of breaking down now.
Give me strength.
Kelly closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.
“So, attack me, then!” Rhea demanded.
Kelly raised her weapon high into the air just as Rhea had shown her previously, and charged as fast as her aching legs could carry her.
Rhea dodged her attack, prompting Kelly to turn on her heel and swing the sword downward. Yet another move they had practiced the previous day. She almost grazed Rhea’s arm, but the latter stepped aside and raised her own weapon, bringing it down hard. Sparks flew as the two blades connected.
The impact was much harsher than what Kelly had expected from their previous session. She dropped the sword and grabbed her wrist.
“Bloody hell!” Kelly shouted.
Rhea chuckled. “Best get used to the pain. The enemy won’t wait for your recovery; he’ll just strike you down when he has the chance.”
Kelly glared at the female giant. There was no need for this. The woman had one whole foot on her. And years of training.
Mother, give me strength!
Rhea raised her blade and held its tip to Kelly’s throat. “The enemy would just kill you right here
.”
“Are you?” Kelly asked.
“Am I what?” Rhea’s tone was still full of ridicule.
“Are you my enemy?” Kelly demanded.
Rhea smirked. “I’m just supposed to train you. Whether you like the lessons or not.”
“There’s a difference between training and taunting. Watch yourself,” Kelly hissed.
She wasn’t sure if it was the pain, or a lingering effect from last night’s wine-fuelled festivities that had given her ill-advised courage.
“Or what, my dear? You’ll tell our dear king that I’ve been mean to you?”
Kelly closed her eyes and tried to focus. For whatever reason, Rhea had hated her from the start. Getting into a confrontation out here alone with her wasn’t just stupid, it would serve no purpose. The only choice she had was to play Rhea’s game.
She pushed the weapon away from her throat and picked up her own sword again while trying to ignore the sting the blade’s edge had left on her palm.
“I’m not going to let this happen again,” Kelly grumbled under her breath. “I swear it on the graves of my forefathers. On my mother’s grave.”
“What’s that?” Rhea asked.
Kelly shook her head. “I’m ready.”
Sure enough, Kelly’s body felt revitalized. It was amazing what a bit of anger could achieve.
“Better be,” Rhea said, before initiating the attack herself this time.
Kelly swung as hard as she could, landing a firm blow on Rhea’s sword this time. The pain in her wrist was almost blinding, but she didn’t flinch.
“Not bad, but not good enough!” Rhea turned and struck Kelly’s weapon in return; from the bottom this time.
Kelly wasn’t prepared for that. She could no longer hold on.
Mother, save me from this pain!
With her weapon once more on the ground, and Kelly holding her hurt arm tightly against her chest, a peculiar sensation came over her.
Suddenly, she found herself afloat, looking down on her own crouching form as well as Rhea, who stood by with her hand on her hip.
Kelly was no tattletale, but did Broc even know about this? He’d told her she wouldn’t be harmed. Her injured wrist. Was this not also harm?
Rhea raised her sword over Kelly’s defenseless form.
How easy it would be to strike this coward down where she stands. A training accident. That’s what I’ll say.
Kelly’s anger flared up again. She didn‘t know how she could see what she did, and hear what she had heard. It didn’t matter.
Rhea took another step forward. Soon, you’ll no longer stand in my way…
Oh no, you don’t, Kelly thought.
A vision appeared to her; red, wavy hair, a familiar face.
Darling, is this what you want? the apparition asked.
Kelly nodded. Yes, Mother. This is what is necessary.
The figure vanished as quickly as it had appeared. All of Kelly’s energy. All her focus was aimed at only one thing: survival.
Before Rhea’s sword even had the chance of coming down on top of Kelly’s back, a blinding flash of light surrounded the two women and Rhea was thrown backwards over the edge of the plateau.
Kelly gasped as she was sucked into her body again. She was completely unscathed. The powerful explosion she had just observed had not affected her at all.
Not so, Rhea, whose angry snarls could be heard some way down the hillside.
What had just happened? Had she imagined it?
Kelly scampered toward the edge of the plateau and peered down. A figure lay quite some distance away; Rhea must have fallen at least fifteen feet straight down, and then rolled the rest of the way. But the female giant was in no mood to stay on her back. She scrambled onto her feet and wiped a blood-stained lock of hair out of her face.
“I’ll get you for this, witch!” Rhea threatened.
Her face underwent an otherworldly change. A grimace momentarily covered in fur. Sharp teeth. A snout.
Kelly stumbled backwards in shock
First the bolt of blue light and now this.
It had to be a trick. Somehow Rhea had manipulated her; maybe she’d put poisoned mushrooms into her breakfast that had given her these strange visions. Maybe…
It took Rhea less than a minute to charge up the hillside. She grabbed Kelly firmly by the shoulders and glared at her. Her face was once again normal. Human-like.
Kelly couldn’t help but stare.
What on earth was going on here?
“You shouldn’t have shown your hand so quickly! It’s all over for you now!” Rhea hissed.
Kelly didn’t know how to respond. There was nothing to say. None of what had happened made any sense. And she felt so drained all of a sudden, her mind was fogging over.
“You’re under arrest for witchcraft. Good luck wooing Broc from down in the dungeons.”
Of course. All this time, Rhea had been jealous. Kelly couldn’t believe she hadn’t seen it before. She had wanted to be queen. And then Kelly had come along and messed up all her plans.
“He’ll see through this, you know. Tricking me like this,” Kelly whispered.
The fatigue threatened to overwhelm, but she couldn’t show weakness. Not now.
Rhea scoffed. “Tricking you? You’re the one who has been tricking all of us. Infiltrating our walls by pretending to be some helpless human, when in fact you’re a most dangerous enemy yourself. Sorceress!”
Kelly groggily shook her head. If she got a moment with Broc, she’d be able to explain it all. Rhea’s jealousy. Her crazy scheme accusing Kelly of witchcraft. There was no such thing, after all.
Darling, be strong, said that familiar voice in Kelly’s head.
No, she was just imagining it. Mushrooms, or some other poison. Those gave you visions that could drive grown men insane.
She couldn’t allow her mind to be corrupted like that. It was all a dream. A figment of her imagination. None of this was real.
Kelly’s legs threatened to buckle but Rhea had other ideas and held her upright. Once her hands were tied firmly behind her back, she was prodded and shoved into motion again.
Kelly had come full circle. A prisoner. Just like how she had started out on the shores of Hythe Bay only days ago.
She struggled to keep pace with Rhea, who began dragging her down the mountain path and back toward the castle.
Nobody would believe this crazy story, surely. There were no witches anymore. They had died out a long time ago, if they ever even existed at all.
There was no such thing as magic.
Was there?
“I don’t…” Kelly tried to speak. “I’m not…”
Rhea prodded her in the back.
One foot in front of the other.
Looking down at the ground, it all seemed so alien to Kelly. These leather strapped boots Bree had given her. They might as well have been made of lead, given how difficult each passing step had become.
In the distance, the castle came into view. But Kelly could give no more.
Her legs buckled and her mind sunk into a dense fog.
Rest, my child. You’ll need time to recharge and recover.
Kelly tried to respond, to argue and question this voice in her head. But she was unable to.
Far away, another voice.
Rhea, cursing.
“Coward. Witch! You’ll regret making me carry you!”
That was the last Kelly could remember.
Chapter Twelve
A warning horn sounded in the distance, which immediately urged the guards on the fortifications into action. Broc and Teaq also pulled their swords and ran towards the group of men converging on the lower sea wall.
“What is it?” Teaq called out.
One of the guards; his horn still in his right hand, pointed at the water’s edge. Two soldiers were in the process of hauling in a large net. Within it, a figure, flailing and writhing furiously.
Broc leaned across the wall t
o get a better look.
Greenish, shimmery skin, and long silver hair.
Well, I’ll be damned…
“It cannot be,” Teaq said. His voice was uncharacteristically thin, like for once in his life something had genuinely surprised him.
Broc inhaled sharply and straightened his back. If his brother wasn’t in a mood to show decorum, at least he should.
“Well, let’s see it,” he ordered in a firm voice.
The guards looked up briefly, then dragged the figure fully ashore. One kneeled down, restraining the sea creature in something of a strangle-hold, while the other quickly tied it up.
Then, they removed the remainder of the net and forced her up. She stopped struggling immediately as she became aware of her new surroundings.
A fully grown mermaid.
Her eyes shone golden in the subdued sunlight attempting to break through the clouds. She looked at the two men with about as much consideration as one would give a cockroach, or a fly.
“Well, you don’t see that every day,” Broc remarked.
He’d seen Sea Folk before, of course. They were stealthy, and preferred to attack mostly from underneath the water. Prisoners of war were a rare occurrence in their bloody conflict with Weiland, King of the Seas, but occasionally one had been caught.
Sea Folk soldiers were all male, though, so no one on Black Isle had ever seen a female before.
She was, in her own way, exceptionally beautiful. And the coldness in her eyes was terrifying.
A stranger, with immense power… Broc didn’t believe in prophecies and such, but it almost fit too beautifully.
“There’s your intruder,” Broc remarked, and gestured down at the mermaid. “Seems like the Elders might have been onto something will all their talk of prophecies.”
Teaq didn’t say a word.
The two of them watched as the guards tried to wrangle her up the slippery granite steps toward where the remaining soldiers were waiting. The Mermaid did not fight, but she did take a moment to spit on one of her captor’s faces.
The latter cursed as he wiped his affected eye, then grabbed her by the throat.
“Don’t lay a hand on me, wolf!” she hissed.
Broc raised an eyebrow. The guard hadn’t transformed. How did she know about his inner beast?
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