by A D Lombardo
Once they reached the docks, the smell of the sea hit him in two waves—first the salty air, which smelled clean, and then the harbor’s fish trade, which made Kai want to gag. Attracted to the smell, seagulls hovered everywhere, swooping to steal scraps and squawking incessantly.
Kai was amazed by the ship masts cluttering the harbor as their crews loaded and unloaded cargo. In the distance, he noticed a large man-o-war ship drifting in the wind; its name, Discovery, was painted on the stern. It pushed out to sea with confidence, breaking the waves on its bow. He wondered if that was the ship Haygan had boarded.
As they watched all the smaller fishing boats, the bakery girl kept drifting into the back of Kai’s mind. “Shane, we should ask the bakery girl if she wants to go to the beach with us. I would love to watch the waves crash on the sand, and maybe wade into the water.” Without really waiting for a reply, Kai addressed Dresnor. “We’re going back to the bakery and then to the beach.” His men nodded and followed.
As they approached the bakery, Kai saw a man on a ladder removing the sign that read “Kendrick Bakery.”
That’s odd, Kai thought as he stepped into the shop. He instantly spotted the young girl packing spice bottles into a large crate. “Um, hello, miss. We were wondering if you’d like to go to the beach with us.”
Excitedly, she looked to her mother. “Can I go?” she asked pleadingly as she looked at the crates and the long shelf. “I promise to finish this when I get back.”
Dori placed her hands on her hips. “If they want to go, have them help you finish. Chores first, young lady.” Smiling, her mother walked through a door at the back of the bakery.
The girl hung her head and glanced over her shoulder. “I have to empty this entire shelf first.” She motioned at the expansive shelf of tools, spices, and baking supplies. She slumped her shoulders and reached for two more bottles on the shelf.
Kai looked at Shane. “What do you say? Together we can empty this in, what, ten minutes?” As he walked around the counter, he saw a smile bloom on her face.
“Leave the glass bottles for me. Everything else needs to fit in those five crates on the floor.” She pointed.
Kai and Shane both took a crate and quickly began placing the contents of the shelf neatly inside. “We saw a man outside pulling down your sign, and now it looks like you are packing up the shop. Are you moving?” Kai asked.
Dumbfound, Shane looked at Kai. “Did you miss that conversation earlier? They are moving to the palace—they will be in the new bakehouse. You will be neighbors.”
Without stopping, she added. “That was my father, Levi, taking down our sign.”
Finished with all the glass bottles, she took a new crate and continued packing. “My parents have been hired as bakers for Diu palace. I will miss the beach, but it is a great opportunity for them.”
The three of them made quick work of the shelves, and she darted through the back door to speak with her mother. As the door opened, she came through all smiles. “Mom said I can go, but only for an hour.”
Still reeling from the idea she’d be at the palace, Kai walked behind her all the way to the beach. With his hands in his pockets, he hopped down the short grass embankment and landed in the loose sand. The sounds of crashing waves caught his attention. He stood near the surf’s edge, watching the blue-green tinge of the water fold over before crashing onto itself and soaking into the white sand.
In the distance, the sun sparkled and tossed its reflection across the water as the distant waves crashed against the rocks around the lighthouse and leaped back to punch the sky. Mesmerized, Kai stared off into the blue. He’d always enjoyed his visits to Port Anahita.
As they stood by the sea, he’d noticed the increasing breeze rushing in to whip through his hair. Drawn forward, he felt something in the sea. It pulled him as if it called him into the deep. Without noticing, he took a few steps more into the sand and heard a small crunching sound beneath his boot.
Under his foot, he found a seashell, now broken. The beach was littered with shells of all sizes and colors. Glancing around, he took note of Dresnor and the other Kempery-men and guards holding their positions.
Smoke’s bark brought him back to the present, and he ran to catch up with the others running along the shore. “What do you think about kicking off our boots and run through the water?” Shane asked.
Without waiting for a reply, Shane removed his boots and rolled his pants up above his knees. Kai and the young girl followed his lead, and they all ran up and down the water’s edge, splashing each other. Before they knew it, the bottoms of their clothes were soaked through.
Sitting on the rocks to dry off in the afternoon sun, the young girl asked, “Now that we are all friends, what are your names?”
She had caught him by surprise, and Kai raised his eyebrows and nodded to Shane. “Uh, give us a minute.” He held up his finger to her and stepped a few feet away with Shane.
Shane stepped off the rocks and joined Kai near water’s edge. “Should we tell her who you are?” Shane asked.
Not sure what to do, Kai listened to his gut. “I say we can trust her. I mean, Smoke likes her.”
Shane nodded in agreement. “True, but we are kids, what do we know?”
Kai turned back and faced her. She placed her hands on her hips, and her chin jutted out at them. “Stop whispering, you know I can hear you anyway—I’m right here. Name’s Rayna Kendrick, and I’m thirteen years old, almost fourteen.” She pointed to Shane. “I’ve seen you around town with your dad. He’s the Huntsman, Micha Marduk, right. I’ve seen him selling pelts and smoked meats to my dad.”
Caught by surprise, Kai blurted out, “I’m Kai Galloway from Diu. Nice to meet you.”
Astonished he said it, Shane interjected. “I’m Shane Marduk. I live on the south ridge of Thade Mountain, and we’re both thirteen.”
Rayna crossed her arms and looked at Kai. “No, you’re not. Really?”
He had expected her to be totally surprised and (he hoped) a little impressed; he raised his arm to slide back his coat sleeve revealing the arm ring with the Galloway wolf. With a funny bow, she laughed, and both boys laughed too.
Hands back on her hips, she scoffed. “So, if you don’t mind me asking, why are you out of the Diu palace—alone? Shouldn’t you have guards or something?”
To match her stance, Kai placed his hands on his hips. “Who says we’re alone. There are six guards around us right now, no more than twenty paces from us.”
As Rayna tilted her head, she looked behind Kai to the tree line just above them in the grass to see two men standing in the shade. Following the tree line farther to the right where it met the rocks, she spotted three others, and then another leaning against an upside-down stack of boats. Each had a sword fastened to their waist, a shield on their backs, and a Galloway crest on their coats—a silver wolf and three silver spears in its jaws.
Back on the rocks, they pulled on their boots. Rayna looked toward the docks as she climbed up the sandy embankment onto the grass. “How long do you think we’ve been out here?” She offered a hand to Kai and pulled him up, who in turn pulled up Shane.
With that thought, two boys look at each other with sheer panic. “How long have we been gone? If we don’t make it back to the stables, we are both in trouble.”
Dread consumed Shane’s face. “You’re right, my dad will have my hide if we’re even a minute late. We’ve been gone too long, and we still have a long ride home.”
Kai motioned to Dresnor and called for Smoke as he stepped up to the tree line. “We need to leave, which way to the stables?” Then he glanced at Rayna, and he reprised his comment. “Take us by way of the bakery, please. We should escort Miss Rayna home.”
As they ran to the bakery, the wind blew, and the sky filled with fat dark clouds. Kai held the door for Rayna. She ducked inside and waved. “Goodbye, Prince Kai, Shane.”
“It was a pleasure meeting you Rayna. I am sorry we cannot stay.”
For the first time in his life, Kai felt moved by the presence of another person. Even now, his heart tugged at his feet to turn around. His mind replayed the afternoon. The memory of her smile warmed his soul in a way he never thought possible.
Chapter 18
Winter Storm
The boys set a fast pace towards the outskirts of town. Kempery-man Dresnor directed them back at the stables. Marduk busily adjusted the cart harness. “You’re late, boys. We should have left already. There’s a storm coming. If we don’t hurry, we will be caught in it.”
With a stern look at Dresnor, Marduk motioned to the other guards. “They’ve started on your mounts; please help them finish, we need to be underway.” Frustration ebbed in Marduk’s tone. “Given the impending storm, I am tempted to leave the cart, so we can make haste, but I fear we will be unable to come back any time soon.”
Embarrassed, Kai looked around to see if there was something he could do. “Marduk, is there anything we can do to help?”
“Actually, yes. Shane, take this money and pay the stablemaster. Kai, grab those remaining supplies leaning against the cart and stack them tightly with the rest. Shane can help you finish when he gets back. Cover everything with our tarp, and I will tie it down.”
Satisfied that he could be of some use, Kai helped place the small bundles securely in the cart. It didn’t take long to get everything loaded. Once they were mounted, they headed out of town on the road north to Diu. As they crested the large hill above Port Anahita, Kai took one last look at the coastal city and the ocean as they entered the forest and descended the slope on the other side.
At their first and only planned stop, Kai noticed the temperature had dropped significantly. The wind had also increased, and the sky had darkened. How quickly the weather had turned. They were only at the halfway mark, and Kai felt chilled to the bone as he squatted against a tree near Smoke. On the other side, Shane sat holding himself, trying to keep warm.
Up near the road, Kai spotted Marduk untying the tarp over his supplies and sifting through everything. “What’s your dad doing? Should we go help?” Kai asked.
Anxious to be doing something, Shane hopped up. “We should, yes.”
Marduk worked free a few furs. “Here, take these. Higher up in the hills will be colder. This storm is moving fast, and the temperature is dropping. Your thin coats won’t be enough should it begin to snow, and I don’t want to stop again.” Marduk handed three furs to Kai, and he and Shane quickly began resetting the load. “I believe the horses have rested enough. We need to go.”
Underway, Kai felt warmer with the sizeable black fur wrapped around his back. It was so large that it even covered part of his legs. He rode between two Kempery-men, Dresnor and Albey. Neither man spoke, focused instead on the road and surrounding trees. Kai wished Haygan was still with them.
On his right, he saw Smoke sniff the ground and dart into the trees. Kai was glad Smoke knew what to do. When he returned, the wolf ran ahead of the group, sniffing the air. Finally, he circled the group and slowed to trail behind them, checking the other side of the woods.
It seemed like a lot of work for him without Shiva, but Kai kept silent. It wasn’t long before he spotted a few snow flurries fly by his face. Each little flake fell like a delicate flower petal. He opened his hand and let them fall on his open palm. They melted instantly.
The wind whipped the snow in the air. The few flakes that did land melted as if they’d never existed. As they rode, the flakes grew larger and larger. Then the snow began to collect on the ground, turning the grass and trees white.
Then it was as if the clouds opened and snow filled the sky. The muddy road quickly turned white. Worried Kai called to Shane. “We should be getting close, right?”
Before Shane could answer, huge flakes began to fall and whip around them. There was so much snow that the road and sky ahead had gone completely white. “We’re close, yes!” He yelled over the wind. “Once we break through this line of trees, the walls of the city should come into view. I’d say two or three miles left.”
Kai pulled the fur tight around his arms and then felt strangely anxious. He looked around for Smoke and noticed his guards riding on either side had closed in around him. As they continued, he could now barely see the two guards in front of Marduk’s horse.
Shane circled back after checking with his dad. “We should be really close. It is hard to tell with all this blinding snow. Are you alright, you look pale?”
“It’s Smoke. I don’t see him. I’m worried.” Kai craned his neck around to search for Smoke.
Marduk pulled his horse to a stop and turned in his saddle. He motioned for one of the guards to advance as he slid off his mount.
Before advancing, Kempery-man Redmon leaned over. “No matter what, stay on your mounts. If I give you a sign, ride for the palace. It’s just beyond the edge of this forest. If you come into view at an all-out run, guards will come out. Once they know who you are, they will surround you. Do not stop until you reach them and the gatehouse.” With that, Redmon slid from his mount to see what was wrong.
A lump came to Kai’s throat, but he tried to remain calm. What’s going on? Straining to see through the snow and wind, Kai watched his man approach Marduk on foot, pulling his horse with him. The rear guards pulled up close behind. They could just make out that Marduk was instructing the two guards to pull a fallen tree from the road, while the third paced back and forth facing the woods.
Kai sensed his guard's concern, and he looked over to see Dresnor’s stern face scanning the surrounding trees. With everyone around him, he could still not see Smoke. His wolf had been walking up front even with the cart, but in the commotion and the blinding snow, he could not see him.
In his mind, he searched for Smoke. Kai closed his eyes and focused; he pushed with his mind out to reach Smoke. Smoke, what is it? Then he waited. Nothing. Relax, don’t force it. He chastised.
Again, he tried. What do you sense? Still, he felt nothing, so he tried again, this time pushing not just his mind but his soul toward Smoke. What’s in the trees, Smoke?
Smoke pushed back a sense of warning to Kai. Blinded by snow, he used his nose to smell their surroundings. Instinctively he stalked, closing in on a mass that neither could see.
Eyes closed, Kai opened his mind to the energy within his soul. Threads of light wove up through the tree trunks and out their branches. Even the snow floating through the air contained life. He pushed farther through the trees, beyond Smoke.
Then he saw them. A large group of people hiding in the thicket. Smoke, come back. He pulled on the connection. His wolf responded. Kai opened his eyes and turned to Dresnor and shouted. “There are people in the trees! They have weapons, and they are coming.”
Smoke bounded out of the forest and began to bark at the trees in front of them. As he pranced back and forth, he growled and backed toward the group. Dresnor pulled Kai out of his saddle and the other men slid from their horses. They drew their weapons and surrounded Kai.
Kai feared what was coming, so he called out. “Smoke, come.” Smoke ran to the cluster of horses surrounding Kai. Shane ran to his father and the guards who worked to move the felled tree. Over a dozen men rushed out from the woods onto the road. Weapons at the ready, the bandits yelled as they charged.
There was nothing in his life that had prepared him for this. The men clashed swords, their faces fierce and angry. Kai studied their attackers. Men dressed in black, their heads were shaved, and the black armor they wore was embossed with a black star. A symbol he had never seen before. Who are these men, and what do they want?
Metal angrily clanged over and over. Men dropped to the ground. Blood splashed across the snow. Kai had never held a sword against another man with intent. With his men protecting him, Kai gripped his weapon. Its clean blade shone bright; its hefty weight made his arms begin to shake. A man broke through and slashed at Kai. With both hands, Kai held his weapon against the blow. The meta
l vibrated with fury.
Dresnor punched his opponent in the throat. In a backhanded blow, he sliced down the man who had charged at Kai. Redmon filled the gap between him and Dresnor. Above Kai, on the cart, Shane launched arrows. One struck a man in the leg; another hit a man in the shoulder. Smoke attacked men from behind. His ferocious fangs ripped arms and legs. Another man lashed at Kai between his protectors. The force of the blow shocked him. Kai pushed against the man’s blade. A second blow aimed at his side; Kai turned his sword to block the strike. Dresnor and Redmon both stabbed the man.
These men were good, not your typical roaming bandits. They put up a good fight, but his Kempery-men were better. His men were turning the tide until a new group of men poured out of the woods. Outnumbered, Kempery-man Dresnor called to Redmon. “We need to get the prince out of here!”
Redmon charged through the horde. Dresnor grabbed Kai, and they ran to the horses. Kai’s blade fell in the snow. Unwilling to leave it behind, Kai stopped. Albey scooped up the sword and handed it to the prince. They mounted up, and Dresnor reached out, yelling at Kai. “Ride boy, ride hard.” Then he smacked Ember’s rump.
Ember lurched into a full gallop and Kai adjusted to the horse’s rhythm. His first thought was of Shane and the others. When he heard the clang of metal on metal behind him, he feared for his friends who were fighting for their lives against these savages.
Kai kicked at Ember’s sides. Knuckles white, he clutched the reins. Snow pelted his face. In his mind, he felt the warmth. Ember and Smoke were there. He was not alone. Ember could help him, he only needed to ask. Kai laid one hand on the side of Ember’s neck, accessing the bond. Ember. We need to ride, ride fast. Take us home.
Ember lunged forward—the extra speed ripped Kai’s fur wrap off his shoulders. Lost in the snow. Eyes focused on the road, he held on tight. Between Albey and Dresnor he raced. The snow melted down his head and shoulders.