by Wendy Wang
Birgit looked Cilla up and down.
“What?” Cilla said. “Just because I’m small doesn’t mean I’m not strong.”
“I didn’t say anything.” Birgit held her hands up in surrender.
“No,” Cilla snapped. “But your eyes did.”
“Come on you two don’t fight.” Trygg chuckled. “While I appreciate you wanting to take care of me, I can actually walk fine. I’m not quite the invalid you’re making me out to be.”
“No,” Cilla said. “You’re not. Now let’s get this done.”
“Yes ma’am,” Trygg quipped. He brought his hand to his brow, feigning a salute only to wince upon execution of it.
“Serves you right,” Cilla said. She bit the inside of her cheek to suppress a grin.
Birgit walked with them as far as the front porch. A look of worry etched her forehead. “You call me if you need me.”
“Don’t you worry I will,” Cilla said, throwing the words over her shoulder. They took each step one at a time and Trygg had to stop at the bottom to catch his breath.
He leaned against the railing, “I don’t know why I’m so tired.”
“Because your body has been through quite a traumatic event and is trying to heal itself.” She slipped her arm around his waist. “You know it is okay to lean on me. I promise you I won’t let you fall.”
He draped his arm over her shoulders, his hand squeezing her upper arm. “I know cousin. I’m counting on it.”
******
Cilla walked him to the edge of the icy water. The small waves rolled over their feet soaking them up to their ankles. Being a Water Kael, the temperature of the water didn’t affect him, but her teeth began to chatter.
“I can take it from here,” he said softly, wading deeper. The sea was calm this morning and the waves small.
“Be careful,” she said. He waved his hand but didn’t look back. He stopped when the water washed over his knees. His shoulders heaved a little, from breathing heavy. If he fell over, she’d never get him to shore by herself. He was too big.
Holding the neck of the bottle in one hand, and his right side with the other, he swayed and she waded in a little deeper. If he didn’t fall over, the exertion of this escapade would wear him out. She would give him some good sleeping tea when they got back to the house, whether he wanted it or not.
Trygg raised his face to the sky and lifted both arms to his side, as if he was beseeching the gods. He reared back his arm and threw the bottle. It landed with a splash, bobbing in the moving water for a few seconds before disappearing beneath the surface, as if a hand had reached up and yanked it down. Every type of Kael had their different modes of communication. Earth Kaels could send messages by burying them in the dirt and with the right intention it would find the recipients. Earth Kaels and Wood Kaels could both use trees for communicating over vast distances and Fire Kaels could send their messages on paper that only appeared as burned script once the recipient received it. She knew of this method — had even received messages from Birgit in a bottle — but she had never seen it done, even though she had visited her aunt’s house many times.
He turned and waded back towards her, almost falling into her arms when he reached her. She grabbed him around the waist and supported him, walking him back to the beach.
“Let’s rest for a minute.” He tried to catch his breath.
“Trygg it’s freezing out here. And we’re in bare feet.”
“Sit down, Cousin, I’ll take the cold away.” His legs gave out and he was on his knees before she could stop him. She helped him sit and took a place right next to him. He held his side, for a few more seconds, until his breathing became more normal. Then he clasped his ankle and wiped his hand down the front of one foot then the other. The icy prickles needling her skin faded, replaced by a warmth that traveled up her legs and through her body.
“Better?” he asked, giving her a weak smile.
She nodded. “Yes. But I don’t like your color. Maybe I should go get Birgit,” she glanced over her shoulder towards the path leading to the house.
“No,” he said, grabbing for her hand. “Not yet. I need to talk to you about something.” The heat of his palm felt good but it also worried her. Maybe his fever was returning.
“All right, but let’s make it quick,” she said, touching a hand to his red, sweaty cheek. The fever had definitely returned. “What is it?”
He took a deep breath and began to speak, “As soon as I’m well enough I’m going to leave.”
“Leave?” She laughed but there was no humor in it. His solemn gaze locked onto her and she knew he wasn’t joking. “Where exactly are you going?” She had not seen him look so serious in a while. Not since before he joined the wardens.
“There’s something I left behind in Ethavia. I have to go back and get it,” he said.
“Ethavia?” All the good warmth he’d sent through her dissipated and she shivered. “Are you insane? You told us they thought you were dead. Going back there would be suicidal. What in the world could you have left in Ethavia that is so important?”
“My heart,” he said softly.
“Your heart?” She scoffed.
“Yes.” He nodded but didn’t break his stare. “Her name is Eryn and I left her there because she asked me to. But I know now that was a mistake. It’s too dangerous for her there and I need to get back to her before something happens. If the Emperor ever discovered what she was really doing, he would kill her on the spot. And I can’t let that happen.”
“And if they catch you sneaking into Ethavia. What’s to keep them from killing you?”
“Nothing,” he said. “That’s why I need your help.”
“I can’t heal you faster so don’t ask. And even if I could, I wouldn’t. Not so you can just go kill yourself.”
“I’m not asking you to do anything of the sort. I need you to do something more important than heal me.”
“What?”
“I need you to take care of Y'Ana.”
“Now I know for sure your fever’s back. You’re delirious.”
“It wouldn’t be for long. Just until the queen responds. Then Y'Ana can go to the palace and be protected there.”
“Why me? Why not your mother or Birgit?”
He sighed. “I love my sister but I see the fear in her eyes when she looks at Y'Ana. And my mother is too old. But you are young and you’re a very good mother. It also doesn’t hurt that Y'Ana has forged a friendship with Tom.”
“Trygg, I know Tom cares about her and I do too. She’s a very sweet child but Tom and Danny are such a handful as it is and there are things you don’t know about. I don’t know how safe she’d be with me.”
“What does that mean? Why wouldn’t she be safe with you?”
Cilla blew out a heavy breath and shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. I just— I don’t know if I’m the best choice.”
“You are safe as long as you stay with my mother and I promise it won’t be long. Once the queen responds—”
“What if she doesn’t respond? Have you thought about that? They are fighting a war. What if she can’t take the child?”
“I promise you, she’ll definitely take Y'Ana.”
“How do you know?”
“Because Y'Ana is her niece. And since she’s lost most of her family — I don’t think she’ll turn her back on her.”
“Wait? How is that possible?”
Trygg swallowed hard before answering. “Well, she is married to Caius Declan. Which makes Peter Declan her brother-in-law.” He took a deep breath. “And Y'Ana is Peter’s daughter by a woman named Harbee Fein.”
Cilla’s gut wrenched as if she’d been punched. “You have the Emperor’s daughter?” she said, her voice sounding shrill in her ears.
“Yes,” he said softly. “That’s why she needs my protection. I figured she would be safest here because from everything I’ve heard the Emperor hasn’t been able to put a dent in Casilladin’s defenses.”
&nbs
p; “No he hasn’t. It’s one of the reasons why I’m here.”
His left brow quirked and his eyes narrowed. “Why are you hiding?”
Her face grew hot despite the cold breeze whipping around them. Her fingers fidgeted with a sun-bleached shell.
“I’ve had some trouble with Egan.”
“What kind of trouble?” His voice edged towards quiet ferocity. He had never liked her husband and he was not afraid to show it.
“Egan and I have separated. He’s not — an easy man to love.”
“What did he do to you?”
She sighed wishing she’d never brought it up. “Well you know he’s always had a temper. And for a long time I just did whatever it took to keep his hands from striking out. I was fine as long as he was only going after me. But I found him another woman and I told him he’d never see his children again. I thought he was going to kill us. Tom tried to intervene and Egan knocked him across the room. That’s when I knew I had to get away.”
“I will kill him” he said under his breath.
“There’s no need for that. It was getting better till a couple of months ago. Since then, Mama had to dis-invite him from the farm and she sent me here in case… well just in case.”
Trygg dug his hands into the sand gathering a fistful and letting it go. He shook his head. “I am so sorry, Cilla. I had no idea.”
“No one does. Not Aunt Merin or Birgit. And I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t say anything to them.”
“Of course. You can trust me.”
“Egan has done some terrible things to align himself with the Emperor. He kidnapped a girl — a seer — for the Emperor. I don’t want him around my children. And I don’t know what he would do if he found out that I was taking care of the Emperor’s daughter.”
“He will never find out. How could he? I don’t think it will take that long for the queen to respond. I really don’t.”
Cilla sighed and touched her chin to her chest. She squeezed her eyes shut. How could she reject the little girl? If they all stayed at her aunt’s house, they would be protected. Safe.
“I can’t believe I’m going to do this.” She raised her head and looked him in the eye. “All right. I will take care of her but — only after you have fully healed and have left to go get Eryn.”
A grin stretched across his face and he threw his arm around her shoulder.
“I knew I could count on you. I promise you it will all work out.”
“You’d better be right, Trygg Weller. That’s one promise I will hold you to.” She laughed. “We better be getting back.”
“How much do you want to bet Birgit is still standing on the porch?” He joked.
“That’s not a bet I’m willing to take,” she said, pushing to her feet. She wiped the sand off her backside and stuck out her hand for Trygg. “We’ve been out here a pretty long time. The real question is how curious she’s going to be when we get back.”
He laughed, shaking his head. He let her help him to his feet. “Don’t worry about Birgit. I can handle her.”
“Now that is something I would actually pay to see — you handling Birgit.” She laughed. “Because my guess is it will be the other way around.”
“We’ll see.” He gave her a warm smile and she wrapped her arm around his waist and steered him back towards the house, to undo any damage done by all this exertion.
Nine
Egan swayed on his feet standing in the center of his cell. Nearly three days had passed and there had been no word from Toby. He was supposed to have been in touch with a more complete plan by now and the number of reinforcements he could gather for infiltrating the palace.
Egan took a step backwards and his legs ran into the cot. His knees buckled and he sat down hard, the springs screeching in protest. He pushed his back against the cold stone wall. Maybe it would help keep him awake. Less light shone through the window in his cell and the night sky was darker than his first night.
The hammering had started this afternoon. They were adding onto the gallows to accommodate the large number of inmates sentenced to death. The constant pounding of hammer against nail had needled into his brain making it nearly impossible to concentrate.
Then there were the nights. Twice he'd awakened with the sensation of a noose around his neck. He wasn't sure if it was real or not. It certainly felt real enough to make breathing difficult. He wasn't convinced that D'Raq wasn't responsible. He'd already shown how powerful he was in Ethavia and by projecting his thoughts, amplifier or no amplifier. The real question was could he choke Egan in his sleep simply by projecting his thoughts? He'd heard of others that could do some simplified mind control. The Emperor was one. As was his little cousin Eryn Hill although Egan was certain she had never really used that power.
Egan pinched the skin of his throat gently between his thumb and forefinger. His eyelids closed slowly and he forced them to open again. How long could he go without sleep?
A chuckle drifted from down the hall. He clenched his jaw, gritting his teeth.
You can hate me all you want. Kill Mozelle and you can sleep restfully. I'll even have them bring you food to your cell. D'Raq’s voice drifted through his consciousness.
His resolve was crumbling. If Toby didn't come through for him he would be left with nothing except the end of a noose. Or an alliance with D'Raq. He wasn’t sure which was worse.
That's right.
How am I supposed to kill him? He outweighs me buy at least 60 maybe even 70 pounds.
You’re resourceful, or so I've heard. Figure it out.
And if I agree to this, you’ll let me sleep?
Yes.
All right. I'll kill him.
Good.
I need your amplifier to do it though.
No. You can't manipulate the metal if that's what you're thinking, not with the harnesses on. It only has one purpose.
Now it has two. I'm not a Metal Kael and it doesn't have to be altered to my will to do the job. All it needs is to be sharpened into a blade. That will take water and a few different stones.
I like how you think.
A moment later the disk rolled into his cell and hopped into his lap.
Let's see what you can do.
Egan flipped it over into the palm of his hand closing his fingers around it. He lay down on his side, folded one arm beneath his head, and fell into a deep dreamless sleep.
******
Neala stood in front of the heavy double doors of Cai's office taking deep breaths. She pressed her hand against her fluttering belly. She wouldn't be able to hide the child growing inside her for much longer and as soon as it had a thought in its head Cai would be able to detect the baby on his own. She breathed out and placed a hand on the doorknob, knocking once before pushing open the door.
“Cai?” She said.
The office appeared empty. His large carved desk was at the far end of the large L-shaped room in front of large panes of glass overlooking the quad of the Warden base. They had lost so many of their soldiers they were promoting them earlier from the Warden Academy. She knew it worried him using such young soldiers. But what else could they do? She closed the door behind her and moved inside turning the corner into her favorite part of the room — the library. A wide fireplace flanked by floor to ceiling shelves filled with books made this part of the room warm and cozy. She ran her finger along the spines of many of the leather bound editions until she found one that interested her — a book about the history of Earth Kaels. She pulled it from the shelf and sat on the long leather sofa. Since she had to wait she might as well make herself comfortable. She curled her feet beneath her and began to read.
A while later, she wasn't sure how long, the office door opened and closed with a slam and the sound of her husband's heavy boots clattered across the floor.
“Cai?” She said to the room, not wanting him to be surprised.
“Neala?” He came around the corner and gave her a smile. “I wasn't expecting you. Is e
verything all right?”
“Yes of course,” she said closing the book on her lap and placing it beside her on the couch. “Can't I come spend some time with my husband without it being an emergency?”
His grin widened. “Yes, of course.”
“Come give me a kiss,” she said patting the seat next to her.
“Yes your Majesty,” he teased. “As you wish.”
He sat on the couch and she slung her legs across his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. He pressed his warm lips against hers, instantly making her feel safe and loved.
“We haven't seen much of each other lately have we?” He said.
“Not like this.” She pulled herself closer and rested her head on his shoulder. “I think we’ve both been preoccupied.”
“Yes.” He pressed his lips against her forehead. “But we do need to make time for each other. No matter what is happening.”
“Yes —” She swallowed hard, trying to find the courage to tell him he was going to be a father.
An icy prickle traveled up her spine jolting her and she glanced around the room for the source. “Did you feel that?”
“Yes,” he kissed her on the cheek and pushed her legs off of his lap. On the opposite end of the room near his desk was a long credenza decorated with a tiny little tree in a pot and a few stacks of papers. On either side of the console were two deep marble bowls with wooden lids atop carved marble pedestals. Cai crossed to the left one, lifted the lid, and looked inside.
“What is it?” She stood up on her knees, and leaned against the arm of the couch, stretching her neck to see better.
“It's a message from Casilladin.” He reached inside and pulled out a clear bottle with a long neck. Water dripped from it and a small scroll of paper was inside. Cai opened one of the drawers of the credenza and pulled out a linen hand towel to dry the bottle. He pulled out the cork and up-ended the bottle, giving it a shake to free the coiled paper. It slipped into his palm and he unfurled it.
“What does it say?” she asked.
Cai’s blue eyes darkened and his brow tugged low. The lines in his forehead deepened and his mouth pressed into a flat line. Since they had married, his usual stern demeanor had softened and it only reappeared when he was angry or the situation dire. They weren’t fighting so it had to be the later. The chill of anxiety wrapped icy fingers around her heart and squeezed.