by Apryl Baker
***
She was asleep when the knocking on her door woke her. Ryder yawned and turned in her bed. It was pointless to wonder what time it was. Ever since their entrance into the next test, the sun had refused to depart from the sky.
The knock came again, much harder and fervent this time. Ryder stood from her bed, rubbing the sleep from her eyes then ran slender fingers through her hair. Years of training in the court had deeply instilled the importance of always presenting yourself as best you could.
“Come in.” Ryder straightened her back and smoothed down her dress. “It’s not locked.”
To her surprise, not a single person but three stood before her. Valeria, Lukas, and Stephen. A hard look from Stephen was nothing new, but Ryder could tell something was wrong when she looked into the eyes of the other two.
“I’m guessing I’m in some kind of trouble.” Ryder didn’t even attempt to mask the confusion she felt. “What’s wrong? What’s happened?”
“Why don’t you tell us?” There was an uncharacteristic edge in Lukas’ voice. “No lies.”
“Easy,” Valeria said, raising a hand to add strength to her words. On command, Lukas quieted, but his stare spoke volumes. Valeria turned her stone cold green eyes on Ryder. “Ryder, where have you been over the last few hours?”
“Where have I been?” Ryder felt a wash of dread cascade over her body as she realized something horrible had happened recently, and she was apparently a prime suspect. “I’ve been right here, sleeping. What’s wrong? What’s happened?”
Stephen muttered something under his breath, but even he didn’t dare speak outright once Valeria had ordered silence. Ryder looked into their eyes, trying to read something, anything that could tell her what was wrong.
Stephen and Lukas stood directly behind the pirate queen, the former’s ice blue eyes as hard as the captain’s. The latter’s cold expression told her things were far from well.
“There were three bodies found in the supply room,” Valeria stated. Ryder could tell the woman was searching her for any tell that she was already aware of these facts. There was no need for Ryder to do anything but act out of instinct. She had no idea what was happening. “They were torn limb from limb. One of the dead sailors managed to grab her attacker’s clothing before she died. We found this in her hand.”
Valeria produced a scrap of purple cloth from a pocket in her cloak. Although the coloring looked exactly like the dress Ryder was currently wearing, there was no chance the two could be a match. Ryder had been asleep for the past few hours. Before that, she had enjoyed a meal and a stroll on the ship’s deck.
“I understand now the seriousness of the situation,” Ryder made sure she looked each of them in the eyes as she continued, “and I will do everything in my power to aid in finding the guilty party, but it wasn’t me.”
“Can anyone vouch for you?” Stephen asked over the captain’s shoulder. “Were you with anyone else?”
“Vouch for me sleeping?” Ryder asked before reining in her temper and shaking her head. “No, I was in the mess hall earlier, and the ship’s deck before that. I’m sure people saw me there. For the last few hours I’ve been in my room sleeping.”
An awkward pause filled the silence. Ryder could hear her own heartbeat pick up in tempo as she realized she was going to have to come up with something more for her fellow crewmembers to believe her.
“Here, look.” Ryder ran her hand over her dress’s front and sides, showing them there were no missing pieces. “If that did come from my dress, there would be a missing section. It’s whole. It wasn’t me.”
“Can you turn around?” The coldness in his tone unnerved her more than a little. Did he truly believe her capable of murder? Lukas, who defended her at every turn?
“Yes, of course,” Ryder said awkwardly, aware of the eyes examining her clothing. She turned one hundred and eighty degrees, offering them a view of the rear of her dress.
Valeria’s heavy sigh was enough to send Ryder’s hands groping behind her, her heart plummeting to her stomach. Frantically, she ran her hands over the smooth material of her dress until she came to a section at the hem where her palm found a missing patch of fabric.
Confusion dominated Ryder’s thoughts as she turned to face her accusers, one hand still holding onto the bottom rear of her dress. The piece of clothing twisted uncomfortably around her.
Fear was beginning to seep in as Ryder tried to piece together what could have happened. One thing was certain; a scrap of her dress was missing. She ran her fingers over the empty spot over and over again, trying to think of an explanation.
“Ryder is not to be harmed until we can figure all of this out.” Valeria’s voice was unrelenting in her command. “She’s under my protection. An attack on her is an attack on me. Spread the word to the rest of the ship.”
Ryder heard and was grateful for those words. However, her mind was still trying to unlock the mystery of the missing section of her dress. She looked again to the cloth in Valeria’s hand. It appeared to be a perfect match.
“Ryder,” Val said in a tone that told the Dragon it wasn’t the first time she had called her name.
“Yes?” Ryder looked up and did her best not to panic. Only her years of training as the heir to her throne kept her in check. “Yes, Captain?”
“Will you surrender yourself to the brig until we can figure all of this out? I promise you will have a fair trial.”
“Yes, of course,” Ryder said finally, dropping the hem of her dress. Her hands were sweaty as she laced them together in front of her. “I trust the truth will come out, and you will see that I am innocent.”
Valeria nodded as Lukas walked forward with a set of reinforced iron chains. Ryder bit her tongue so hard she thought she might make herself bleed. If she wanted, she could snap the chains using only a small portion of her strength. Clearly, this was not the time to dwell on such things. The rest of the crew needed to feel safe, and if this helped them, then so be it.
“I didn’t do it, Lukas,” Ryder whispered as the steel was secured around her wrists. The cold metal sent a shiver racing up her arms and down her spine. The Dragon inside her gathered and raged to be free. It was taking all she had to keep her beast within at bay. “You have to believe me. I didn’t do it.”
With a final snap, her chains were in place.
The ice in his eyes was his only response.
***
Tobias moved swiftly through the mass of people on his way to the brig. Rumors spread like wildfire about the murders. They all seemed to be convinced the Dragon had done the deed, but he wasn’t so sure. It wasn’t in their nature to kill recklessly. Dragons only killed to protect themselves or their territory. After the DeCadians’ last encounter with the species, he could understand their wariness, but to outright accuse the girl of this crime spoke volumes.
Two guards stood outside the entrance into the brig. They let him in, warning him to stay out of her reach. He wanted to roll his eyes at their precautions. The girl could destroy this entire ship in a heartbeat if she desired. The fact that she hadn’t so far played to her favor.
He saw her and let out a small curse. They’d chained her, one of a Dragon’s worst fears. The fear of confinement was one of their few weaknesses. Already, the strain of trying to stay calm while bound marked her features. Her eyes were panicked, their luminescence brighter than he’d ever seen. She was scared, alone, and trying to keep her composure.
“Ryderroux.” He walked into the room and strode over to the jail cell and offered her the flask of water he’d brought. She didn’t move to take it. “It’s just water.”
Still she did not move. Fear. She was standing still out of fear. Afraid to move, afraid of being boxed in. To leave her here for long would be more detrimental than helpful. Valeria must be made to understand that. She harmed this girl for no reason.
“I know you did not do this.” He kept his voice steady and even.
“You believe me?
” Her voice was small, the terror making her shrink in on herself.
He nodded. “Yes, I do. I know the great and mighty Dragons. You would never kill for the pleasure of it.”
“That is not our way.” She took a few steps closer. “But there is evidence, evidence I cannot explain.”
“What evidence?”
“A piece of cloth from my skirt was found upon the dead bodies.” She turned, motioning to the back of her dress. “I do not understand it, and I cannot explain how it got there.”
In the dim lighting, Tobias barely made out the small tear in her skirt. He frowned, looking closer. “Ryder, is the skirt torn or does it appear to have been cut with something like a knife or scissors?”
She bent down to examine the back of the skirt. “It is smooth, not ragged.”
“Someone cut the piece of cloth from your skirt, but how?”
“While she slept.” Lukas stood in the doorway, his face grim.
“Yes, I slept for a few hours after I returned to my quarters.” Ryder nodded her agreement. “But I still do not know how anyone could get near me. We are light sleepers. I wake at the slightest noise.”
“That is the question, isn’t it?” Tobias stroked his chin in thought while Lukas came further into the room, closing the door behind him.
“Are you well, little Dragon?” he asked.
“So you are concerned now, are you?” The hurt in her voice made Tobias ache for her. She must be feeling so alone and abandoned.
“Of course I’m concerned,” Lukas said. “I know how much confinement scares you, and I came to check on you as soon as I could.”
“You weren’t so concerned earlier when you hauled me down here and locked me up.” Accusation laced her words.
“What are you talking about?” He looked confused. “I only just heard you were here and came immediately.”
“No.” Ryder pointed a finger at him. “You and the captain and that horrid Stephen dragged me down here and locked me up!”
“And I’m telling you I did no such thing!” Lukas shifted, the first signs of anger crossing his face. “I was helping to repair the ropes binding the sails to the main mast. I only just heard.”
Tobias put his hand up, halting the conversation. “You are sure, Ryder? Lukas was with all of you when they brought you here?”
“Yes.”
“And, Lukas, you are just as sure you weren’t?”
“Yes.” Lukas nodded emphatically. “I would never have allowed them to lock her in here, knowing how much she fears it.”
“There are several possibilities.” Tobias sighed. This was not going to be pleasant for any of them, and more deaths may occur before they figured out which of the possibilities was the correct one.
“And?” Lukas prompted after a long moment.
“I think we have entered the second test.” That was his main theory, at least. “The problem is we don’t know which of us the new trial is designed to test. Valeria passed the first one. It was the one test we all must pass. It is always focused upon the one with Atlantian blood. The other two tests may target any member of this crew.”
“So do you think it’s targeting Ryder?” Lukas frowned.
“Perhaps.” Tobias began to pace. “It could be either the test of truth or bravery. Those two tests are different for us all, based on what the Crucible reads within our hearts. It may not be Ryder at all. She could just be the tool, and the Crucible is using her as a pawn. I am not sure at this point.”
“Is there anything you are sure of?” Lukas asked.
“Whatever the test, it involves you.”
“How so?”
“You were in two places at the same time.”
“That’s impossible,” Lukas scoffed.
“But it appears to be true all the same.” Tobias stopped pacing and looked at them. “The Crucible is a mastermind of manipulation. It could simply be an illusion of you everyone saw, or it could be something else, something more diabolical.”
“What other something?”
“A changeling. A creature able to take on another’s form and their characteristics.”
“They are vile creatures.” Ryder’s voice was still low and quiet, but a healthy dose of anger now emanated from it. “We have hunted them down for a millennium.”
“They stole the ability to shift from your species, did they not?” Tobias asked.
“Yes. When Dragons roamed freely through the skies, we shared many of our advancements and culture with different societies. We found them in a small settlement on the very edges of the Borrean Sea. A tiny island of simple people. We taught them many things, and like most humans, as they learned, they became greedy. They wanted everything. A man by the name of Dougal managed to gain the ear of our healer, and through him, he learned what in our biology allowed us to shift. He then took that knowledge and manipulated it in our own healing labs and then fled our kingdom. He chose a select few to share his serum with. After that, they bred like rabbits.”
“Do they share your own limitations in shifting?” The question earned Tobias a sharp look from both Lukas and Ryder. “I know of your need to shift frequently. I did spend some time with a Dragon who’d not shifted for so long, he no longer could.”
“It is unlike us to share our history with a human.”
“But I’m also Atlantian,” Tobias countered. “I share some of your own DNA. We’re family, in a manner of speaking.”
Some of the tension left Ryder’s expression. Perhaps it was the thought that even here amongst strangers, she had family. Granted, many times removed from her own bloodline, but family was family. He understood that better than most. Valeria was his granddaughter and also the key to his demise, but having her close gave him a satisfaction he hadn’t known since he and his family fled Atlantis all those years ago.
“So what do we do now?” Lukas asked. “Do we go to Emerald and explain the situation?”
“No.” Ryder moved as close as her shackles would allow. “If it is a changeling and it knows we have discovered it, there will be no hope of proving my innocence. It has taken your form, Lukas, and should it fear discovery, it will simply take on another’s form. It’s best to let it continue to think all is well so that we may capture it.”
“And how do you propose we do that?” Lukas spread his legs, his stance aggressive. Tobias wasn’t even sure he was aware of it. Instinctual. Lukas’ first instinct seemed to be to protect the girl. It was a way to tell the difference between the real Lukas and the changeling. He kept that knowledge to himself, though. If the changeling discovered this, it would nullify that option.
“Let me think on this.” Tobias held up a hand to prevent Lukas from speaking. “I know it is difficult to wait, but wait, we must. Right now, we have the advantage. If we act foolishly, we give the upper hand to the changeling. Keep your eyes open, pretend you know what crew members are speaking of if they refer to things you have no knowledge of. We must keep to our own confidence to resolve this. Until the test is made clear, everyone is in danger. Do you both agree to speak of this with no one but each other?”
Lukas looked none too pleased to keep this from his captain, but he finally agreed.
Now all Tobias had to do was figure out a way to trap a master of disguise. Wonderful.
Chapter Eleven
After her visit with Tobias and Lukas, Ryder knew she should feel grateful. At least two of the crew believed her and were at the very moment actively working to prove her innocence. It wasn’t that she didn’t think they could pull it off; it was the uncertainty of how long it might take them.
Two heavy chains linked her wrists to a solid oak timber at the center of her cell. The cell itself was not more than a ten by ten feet space fenced in with iron bars.
A voice inside Ryder spoke to her. A primal instinct that was as much a part of her as her own hands and feet begged her to free herself from the chains, the cell, the boat.
Nothing would be easier than for
Ryder to shed her human skin, transform into the wondrous beast she was, and free herself from the whole situation entirely.
Over and over again, the voice begged to be heard and its advice acted upon. Ryder fidgeted uncomfortably, twisting this way and that, her eyes wincing against a mental struggle she was losing.
Then, help came in the most unexpected form.
Voices from the cell door made Ryder aware of another visitor. A brief exchange with the guards, then the door swung open.
Stephen walked in. Earlier in the day, when he had accompanied Valeria to detain her, Ryder didn’t get a good look at him. Now she had nowhere else to direct her attention.
He was a shadow of the man he once was. His blond hair was pulled in a sloppy knot behind his head. The usual clean-shaven look that had plagued his face ever since Ryder knew him had disappeared, a forest of stubble taking its place. His eyes, above all, had changed.
Piercing blue eyes had been his trademark. If he hadn’t hated her so much, Ryder would almost call his eyes heroic, but not now. Now his blue eyes were a sea of trouble and doubt.
Ryder held his gaze, waiting for him to speak. He was the one, after all, who had come to her. Dragon and former Navy captain looked at one another for far too long.
“If you’ve come to gloat, get on with it,” Ryder said, quivering as she controlled her desire to shift. “I know this is what you must have wanted since we began this voyage.”
“A few days ago, you would have been correct to assume this.” Stephen crossed the small room to stand in front of Ryder’s cell. “Even now, I feel like I should have some sort of satisfaction to see you in this position, but—but for some reason, I don’t.”
Ryder raised an eyebrow, trying to make sense of Stephen’s words. The rogue thought that he might in fact be the changeling crossed her mind. But what could the changeling accomplish from a visit like this?
“I don’t know if I can forgive you.” Stephen seemed to be talking more to himself than to her. “I don’t know if there is anything to forgive. You were the reason my best friend died. A part of me knows it wasn’t intended, but another part of me still wants someone to pay.”