As I approached I could see the smoke of a campfire. I saw them dozing softly under the shade of a tree. They both had their backs against the trunks of separate trees, and were facing each other. They were probably watching each other’s backs and fell asleep. Well nap time is over, we have a boat to catch.
“Wake up, we have to get going,” I said, as I approached them.
I was far enough away to be safe from any self defense moves they might make while they were still waking up. Thomas’ eyes popped open and he sat upright. His face lit up in a smile when he saw me, and then the smile faded when he saw Proctor approaching on my left.
“Thomas, Ari, this is Proctor. He’s a necromancer like me, and he will be joining us,” I said, to get the introductions out of the way.
“It’s good to meet you,” Proctor said, looking at both Ari and Thomas.
“Likewise,” Ari said with a sexy grin.
Good, hopefully this siren would latch onto Proctor and leave Thomas alone.
While Proctor was nice to look at, I wasn’t interested in him. Although, I didn’t think he had the same mindset as me. Something told me he and Thomas would feel the same way about each other that I feel about Ari.
“Well, let's pack all this up and get going. I am not going to miss this boat,” I said to everyone.
“Do you honestly think that Violet would leave without her second in command?” Thomas asked me.
“Wait, you are second in command to Queen Violet?” Proctor asked?
Thomas seemed to smile smugly, liking that he knew something Proctor hadn’t.
“Yes, it wasn’t worth mentioning,” I said nonchalantly.
“Sure…” Proctor said, looking at me like I was crazy.
A few minutes later Thomas and Ari’s camp was packed up, and I had my full gear bag back, and we were off.
After a while Proctor and Ari struck up a conversation discussing their homes and their excitement for battle. Spoken like two people who have never seen war. If this was all over and they still spoke about war the same way, they weren’t the people I had them pegged as. War had a way of wearing one down. It beat down the jagged edges of ambition into smooth river rock of fear and sadness.
Thomas hung back, and walked a little slower with his hands in his pockets. He looked deep in thought. A fire could have been lit right in front of him and he would have been none the wiser. If Proctor stopped walking, Thomas would surely run into him.
“A pearl for your thoughts?” I said to him.
“Just thinking about what’s to come. Now that we have a moment alone, you thought it was wise to bring the pretty boy?” he asked.
Oh Goddess, Thomas is jealous. It made me feel good and annoyed all at the same time. Now he knows how I felt after Ari seemed to take an interest in him.
“I don’t get to control his looks. He’s a necromancer like me, and he will help us to bring back twice as many people, and he knows some additional skills I don’t. He will be more valuable in this fight than I.”
“You underestimate your worth, Trin.”
“What is my worth?” I asked, defiantly.
“A whole lot more than pretty boy. I wouldn’t follow him into battle, but aside from Violet and Axel, you are the only other person I’d follow.”
“I don’t know a whole lot about warfare and swordplay, only what you taught me.”
“That may be true, but I taught you well. You, like Violet, have this strong willpower to not only survive, but thrive no matter the circumstances. That’s worth a whole lot,” he said.
I could see the conviction in his words through his eyes. He had stared at me as he had spoken and I could feel a blush creep along my cheeks.
“Well it’s a good thing that he has to listen to me then. I promised the Crones I would keep him safe. One day when he’s old, he will help lead the coven with the Crones. This will be a worldly experience for him. Will you help me make sure he remains safe?” I asked.
He sighed at my request.
“Trin, you know I’d do whatever you ask me to do. I don’t like it, but yes, I will keep an eye on him.”
“Thank you,” I said with a smile. I reached out and grabbed his hand, giving it a small squeeze. I went to pull my hand back after a moment, but he held onto it, not letting go.
Chapter Twenty One
Kennan
It is unfortunate and too good to be true, all at the same time. Father had an older brother, who was technically the rightful heir to the throne. That pushed me further back in the line of succession. It was certainly too good to be true that he found himself caught by my father’s spies. It looked like he was spying on our movements, but the question was why? Why spy at all, when he could waltz right into the place like he owned it? Because technically he could.
“You idiot,” my father snarled at me. The golden crown on his head sparked in the harsh light.
“He was spying because he’s working for that foolish Violet girl,” he spat, pacing his office.
He refused to call Violet by her title, Queen. That might be the one thing I admired about my father. He didn’t respect anyone but himself.
“Why would he be working for Violet?” I asked.
“Well I suspect she is his daughter. Look at him and tell me you don’t see some of her features. That fool left Tate permanently for a woman and child. You said that the Violet girl lives in Arlington, it’s too much of a coincidence.”
I thought about what he said for a moment. I glanced at my uncle who was passed out on the floor in his cell. If this man was Violet's father then… No. No. No. It would mean… she’s my cousin. I ran to the trashcan in the corner of the room and heaved my guts out, stinking up the room.
“What’s got you messed up?” my father asked.
“Back in Arlington, I kissed her. I thought about doing sexual things to her, but you are telling me she’s likely my cousin. I’m disgusted!” I said, now shouting my frustration.
Why couldn’t we have a radar that told us someone was blood related? I could have avoided this whole thing. I would have probably still been with Lacey, and none of this would have been personal for me. My quest to take over the throne would have probably just remained as plotting against my father, not a vendetta against a girl from home.
I felt so sick, and so angry. I wondered if she knew. She seemed so smug when I fought her in that purgatory dream where she almost killed me. She likely knew then, but why not gloat? Why not rub it in my face?
After tossing the questions back and forth in my head for a few minutes, it sunk in. Violet knew exactly who her father was, she knew he was a spy and that he watched us. She didn’t want us to know he was even alive. If we knew he was in Tate, then we wouldn’t have stopped hunting for him. She was very smart, and she was always five steps ahead of us. I admired that, as much as I hated her for it.
Who knows how long he’d been spying on us, and what he’d seen? Who knew if he shared any of it with Violet. I was so angry I kicked the trash can, and that startled my uncle awake.
“Hello, brother,” Father said.
“Hello, little brother. Nice digs. You’ve really taken Father for all he’s worth. I know he’s still alive, so why do you wear the crown?” he asked.
His smile was much too smug for someone sitting in chains behind bars, and that startled me.
“That’s none of your concern since you left your home for your woman and child,” my father almost spat.
“It is my concern. I never renounced my claim to the throne, brother. Father is alive and that crown should be on his head, and when he no longer breathes, it belongs to me, not you.”
“That’s only if you are still alive by then,” Father said.
My uncle said nothing, but sat there smuggly.
“Does he have any magic?” I asked Father.
“That’s a good question. I don’t ever remember him practicing in front of me, so I have no way of knowing,” he answered.
“Would
the old bat know?” I asked, referring to my grandfather.
“He doesn’t know his ass from his head anymore,” Father replied, sharply.
My uncle continued to sit there silent and smug as he listened to our exchange.
“I’d like to see Father. I’ll be the perfect prisoner, but I want to see him,” Violet’s father said.
“No chance in hell,” Father exploded.
My uncle’s face changed a moment into an unreadable expression. Then it shifted to neutral. He relaxed back against the wall and turned away from us, to ignore us. That seemed to infuriate Father further.
“Fine, ignore your King, I will leave you here to rot!”
My uncle continued to sit as still as a statue, not paying us any mind.
We walked back up the stairs of the dungeon. When we were out of my uncle’s hearing range I said, “Are you not worried that having your brother under your roof will pose a threat to you?” I asked.
“Of course not, he’s behind bars and a prisoner.” His tone implied that I was a fool for asking the question.
However, he is a fool if he thinks his brother won’t find sympathizers in this castle. My father could be a fool due to his arrogance, he thought everyone feared him too much not to cross him. He was where I got my short fuse and short sightedness from. I could clearly see his shortcomings in this situation.
Father stormed away from me, declaring he had to tend to rebuilding the naval ships. It would take years to regrow it to what it had been. He planned to double it in size and that would take a very large amount of resources, which we didn’t have. It put more pressure on me to capture the Morthlands, for some of their lumber. I will give Violet credit where it was due, burning our fleet was a very good way to get even. I’d spent so much time underestimating her, but I wouldn’t make that mistake again.
My sources at her castle told me she hadn’t been back and she hadn’t attempted to take it back in a siege, or sent anyone in on her behalf. She just allowed it to be taken. It took all the fun out of the victory, it wasn’t real unless it was hard earned.
She could be dead for all I knew. It took a lot of magic to get me back to new, maybe she was still recovering. Somehow I knew she was out there scheming, and putting together her own plans. She had become bold, and I knew she was planning a battle, that's what all of this was leading to anyways. My spies had seen a lot of activity at Morthsoul’s southern shore. She was likely planning a naval campaign, and we’d be ready.
I’ve had our engineers create catapults that would launch fiery projectiles at the ships as they approached. She wanted to wipe out my fleet, and I would do the same to hers when she brought the fight to me. It isn’t a matter of if, but when. I may not have known Violet was my cousin until now, but scheming was in our blood, and I had no doubt she was just as good at it as I am.
Samantha has been laying traps all on the shoreline near our castle. Any approaching army or seige would be in for a hell of a surprise once they stepped foot onto land, she had made sure of that. She had gotten very creative and I almost envied that sick mind of hers, almost. However, she too was arrogant. Having so many of us in the family created a power vacuum. One that would only get worse after I crushed Violet in this final battle of hers. She would no longer have a choice, she would marry me, and then I’d quickly kill her, her prior bonding ceremony be damned.
I’d heard about her ceremony. While I was no longer jealous that she had someone else, I was jealous that that prick Axel got two Kingdoms handed to him. Violet falls in love and he gets two Kingdoms, how lucky for him?
I exited the castle and walked to the fields on the other side of the building, away from the shoreline and all its boobytraps. I saw the massive dragon, laying on the ground. It had just recently joined me here, awaiting my orders. I had promised him peace with his clan if he came to join me. Would I go back on my word? Probably, but not until I had a way to control the dragons without being burnt to a crisp.
I wasn’t here to see the dragons, I was here to make sure the banshees and vampires had arrived. I was assembling a paranormal army with the most frightening creatures I could find. Violet wasn’t from this world, and I was sure she’d be surprised to learn that vampires really do exist, along with werewolves and the other creatures that go bump in the night.
I had another stable constructed, just for this rag tag mythical nightmare gang, and they were pretty terrifying. I just had to keep them all from killing each other before I turned them loose on Violet and her armies.
A servant ran up to me in a hurry. “Prince Kennan, you have a visitor,” he said. He sounded out of breath and terrified all at once.
Interesting, I wasn’t expecting anyone.
Chapter Twenty Two
Trin
We made it to the fleet of ships before Violet and Axel, and that worried me. However, they did have a lot further to travel.
“Where is the Queen?” The femen asked, as they approached the ship. They had arrived only a few minutes behind us.
“She will be here shortly. She had a long journey,” I said.
“It’s just like a Queen to make sure she’s the last to arrive,” the agitated creature said, as it walked up the gangplank with its friends. There were about forty of them. While there weren't that many, femen could be ferocious in battle. Violet was wise in asking for their help, even knowing she’d have to negotiate with them.
A few people have been stupid enough to try to push through the bridge they protect without paying a fee. They had been opened from neck to stomach with just one claw. With all the claws out and the excitement of the battlefield, who knew what they would be able to do to our enemy. I was not confident I would be able to bring back those who fall at their paws.
“As a courtesy, you will have your own ship,” I told the leader of their pack. “We will supply you with a captain and small crew to operate the boat, but essentially the ship will be yours for the time being.”
The leader purred and his pack walked the topside of the boat to scope it out.
“The one condition is you can’t try to negotiate any deals with the crew. They serve the Queen and they are not yours to command or barter with,” I added.
He snarled once at the news and then relaxed, realizing he still had some power in the situation. I let them get settled in and moved back over to the ship that would be for our rag tag team. It was technically the Queen's personal vessel, and it was the grandest of them all. The one that sank and almost took Violet and Wisdom with it was a regular naval ship.
“You really are friends with the Queen?” Proctor asked, as I arrived back on the Queen's ship.
“Yes, I’m also her cousin,” I said. It felt good saying it outloud, now that it was no longer a secret.
“That’s amazing that one of our kind is related to the Queen,” he said in amazement.
“Even better than that, I’m pretty sure she is one of our kind as well. She has more magic than anyone I have ever known. I’m just not sure who is more powerful, Queen Victoria or Queen Violet.”
Just then I heard a loud windlike sound and looked up. There were three dragons approaching our naval fleet. If I didn’t know that Violet’s goal was to get the help of the dragons, I would be absolutely terrified to see them flying straight towards us. They descended to the shore slowly, and it was beautiful to watch their wings moving through the air.
As the dragons reached the ground I saw Violet on the back of a dragon, with Axel behind her.
Axel slid off the back of the dragon, and then caught Violet as she followed him down. She surveyed the fleet, and when she caught sight of us she smiled and waved. She looked like a sight for sore eyes. Mud was caked onto her leather armor, and her hair was matted in places here and there.
I bowed to her, a formality since we were in front of others.
“You look like you fell face first into a mud puddle,” I said, as I straightened up.
She broke out into another smile as she
walked up the gangplank.
“Well, I didn’t fall into it, I walked into it willingly. It was also a lot more than a puddle, it was a whole swamp.”
“Goddess…” I said.
“Tell me about it. Were you successful?” She asked me, looking down at the water below.
“Yes, the Siren Queen said you merely need to call out to her, and she will be here,” I said.
She took notice of the two additional people with us. When she made eye contact with them, both Proctor and Ari folded in half into a bow.
“I see you brought friends. My name is Violet, and you are?” she asked, sounding friendly enough.
“Ari, I am from the Siren Queen’s warriors, looking for an exciting adventure on land.”
“She also saved us from the Siren Queen. The Queen was feeling a bit cruel and planned on letting us drown after our negotiation, Ari helped us escape,” I said, giving her the credit where it was due.
“Thank you Ari, Trin is very dear to me,” Violet said.
Ari nodded her head accepting the gratitude from Violet. Then Violet’s gaze shifted to Proctor.
“Proctor, your highness,” he said.
“Proctor is from the Children of the Willows. He is a necromancer like me, and likely you as well. His Grandmother and Great Aunt taught me as much as they could before I had to leave,” I said.
Violet studied him for a moment.
“And you are here to help us save lives?” she asked him.
He looked like he might poop his pants at her question.
“Yes,” he said softly.
“Good. I want this battle over as quickly as possible with as little loss of life as possible. If you and Trin can keep those numbers low, then I am in your debt,” Violet said, giving him a nod as well.
“Thank you, Trin and I have a lot to share with you, but first and foremost we have something to share with you that can turn the tides of this war.”
“Really? More than three dragons?” she asked, surprised.
Emerald Wars (The Dream Traveler Book 3) Page 15