Thread Skein (Golden Threads Trilogy Book 3)

by Leeland Artra

  “Yes, sir!”

  “Unless my family decrees it, you are to never reveal who we truly are. Outside of Hisuru Amajoo and Lumendaria, we’re to be treated as ordinary Duianna citizens. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, sir!”

  “I declare Hisuru Amajoo to be part of Hopu Rinyaru, and I name Maru-Ashua Grand Warlord of all of Hopu Rinyaru.”

  She stepped aside and motioned for Maru-Ashua to come forward. He looked frozen in place, but then approached the throne.

  The room cried out, “I am yours to command! Command me!”

  She smiled as she detected a lot more enthusiasm behind that cry than when she stood there.

  Grand Warlord Maru-Ashua stood rock still for a time and then drew his blades. “Stand.” The room snapped to attention.

  He turned to Ticca. “Long Live Empress Ticca Ethulin. Long stand the Empire. Vivant et imperii decus est famuli tui Duianna Hopu Rinyaru.” He dropped to one knee.

  The room followed to one knee.

  Ticca motioned for Maru-Ashua to stand, and he obeyed. Turning to those in the room, he said, “Continue your duties until new orders and assignments come. Dismissed.”

  The room reverberated as everyone stood as one, snapping to attention. The room then began to empty.

  Ticca and Maru-Ashua descended from the dais to stand with the others.

  “Now, what?” Nigan asked.

  Ticca said, “Just the impossible. Find Duke and convince him to stop the Alliance troops. Get the Alliance Assembly to agree to the end of war treaty. Then we have to get those orders to all the divisions coming in before any more battles start.”

  “I can stop Lord Dohma,” said the red-haired lady.

  “Who are you?” Ticca asked.

  She blushed, and Lord Bayion coughed. “Very sorry, Your Majesty. Allow me to introduce the Right Honorable Lady Electra Neyon, Countess of Waylisia, Deputy Secretary of the Duianna Alliance, and Lord Dohma’s unofficial intended.”

  Lord Dohma’s intended! Shar-Lumen really planned on forcing this issue on Lord Dohma.

  Electra reached behind her and pulled the short woman forward. “And this, Your Majesty, is Mandy, captain of my personal Dagger guard. She has served with great distinction.”

  Ticca nodded to Mandy, who stood proudly by Electra. Not assigned to the regent, but to Electra. I wonder if Duke had something to do with that assignment.

  “Your Majesty,” Mandy said as she attempted a curtsy.

  Ticca nodded and held out her hands. “Your service honors Duianna, and yourself.”

  Mandy took her arms. “You have done more than any of us. I’d be proud to serve with you, but I’m under life coin to Countess Electra Neyon.”

  Electra gave a quick smile to that pronouncement, but didn’t protest.

  Maru-Ashua said, “Your Majesty, I think I know how to deal with this. Please, everyone, gather your gear and follow me. General Hiri-Rula with me.”

  “One moment, Grand Warlord,” Ticca said. She turned to Lady Sula. “I’ll take that healing now, please.”

  Sula smiled and stepped up to her, touching her shoulders and closed her eyes. A feeling similar to a gentle hot shower ran over her body, and with its passing, the aches, pains, and wounds healed. The feeling reminded her of one other thing. As she worked Sula’s face tightened and her brows moved down.

  “I’m glad I spotted your signal,” Ticca whispered to Sula once Sula’s eyes opened.

  “What signal?” Sula asked as her brows furrowed.

  “The Duianna coat of arms in the glasses to tell me which glass was safe.”

  Sula grimaced slightly and stared into Ticca’s eyes for a split-second before smiling. “Oh...yes.... I’m just glad you won and are safe now.”

  She lied. Why would she lie? Sula stepped back, and Ticca decided to look into it later. There were more important things to deal with first. Ticca looked at Lebuin. “Can you do that magic you did in the desert?”

  Lebuin looked at her and then laughed, stepping up and touching her shoulders. The blood and gore fell from her, turning to dust, and she felt clean again.

  “Now we can go.”

  Maru-Ashua nodded and started walking out of the room. They took their gear back from the guards and followed him to a gigantic building on the same scale as the rest of Hisuru Amajoo.

  He pulled out a key and unlocked the door. They all followed him inside and stopped, gaping at the white ship.

  Ticca’s mind spun out of control. Lords and Ladies, the Emerald Heart! She’s real!

  One joyful bell rang out from the ship.

  Ticca stepped forward and placed her hand on the glossy hull. A steady, welcoming beat thrummed on her palm. A series of chimes filled the air in wondrous song.

  Nigan coughed. “Um, maybe we should leave them alone.”

  Ticca came back to her senses, and realized she’d spread her arms wide and pressed herself against the hull. Reluctantly, she pushed herself away.

  Smiling, Lothia said, “It has been too long since she graced our skies. We thought she’d been destroyed.”

  Maru-Ashua explained, “She was almost destroyed when the orcs tried to take control and attack Hisuru Amajoo. Damega ordered her to crash. I think we repaired her.”

  Lebuin called out, “What is this?” He was looking at a display case.

  “Most of these items are Damega’s personal property,” Maru-Ashua said.

  As she eyed another case, Electra said, “This belongs to Llino!”

  “You may take anything you desire. I give all this to you,” Maru-Ashua said.

  Electra pushed open a case and pulled a large golden-bound leather book from it. “I’m returning this to my Lord.”

  Lebuin opened another case and took out a silver key. “Ticca, look at this.”

  “That looks like the key Vestul left for you.”

  Lebuin nodded. “It’s an exact match.”

  Maru-Ashua pointed to the set of stairs that led up to the deck. “I’m hoping you don’t get thrown off like I was. I think the ship likes you, Ticca.”

  “How are we going to fly it? We don’t know how,” she said.

  “It has a helm, which I presume has some control. But according to the records, it flies itself just fine and accepts commands from its captain.”

  “And who is its captain?”

  He smiled. “I believe you can command her. Want to try?”

  Her heart raced, and she didn’t even bother to answer. She ran up the stairs two and three at a time. At the top, she looked out onto the shining oak deck. Everything was so neat and tidy, so perfect. It was as it had looked in her dreams when she was growing up, listening to the tales of Damega and his flying ship.

  “May I?” she asked.

  The others followed her up the stairs, but stopped as a series of chimes floated through the air. It was a welcoming sound, so Ticca stepped out onto the deck. As her foot hit, a whistle was blown. It went up and back down an octave, and then a single bell rang out.

  Maru-Ashua stood on the platform behind her. “According to the naval book I read, that piping was announcing the captain had come on board, and the bell signaled the beginning of the watch.”

  Ticca moved around the deck, touching the ropes and railings. It was magnificent.

  Maru-Ashua stood firm in front of everyone else, holding his arm up, preventing them from coming onto the ship. Ticca roamed to the quarterdeck and found a chair before a series of controls with a rudder wheel. She walked back and looked down at the warlord.

  “Why aren’t you coming aboard?”

  Smiling, he said, “Just want to be sure we’re safe. Even chained, this ship is very potent. Permission to board?”

  Ticca laughed. �
�Permission granted.”

  Maru-Ashua cautiously put his foot on the deck. Ticca felt a thrum through the deck under her feet, as well as in the railing. It almost felt like a chuckle.

  Guess they encountered each other differently last time.

  The rest of the group came aboard and walked around, marveling at everything about the ship. Lebuin and Lothia joined Ticca at the helm.

  “Now what?” she asked.

  Maru-Ashua moved to the first chain. “Now we find out if she can fly for you.” He pulled his blade, and a gong rang out. He moved from the front to back. As his blade touched a chain, a light flared through both, and the chains fell away.

  He then pointed to some levers. “Hiri-Rula, pull the locks and push the roof open.”

  Hiri-Rula concentrated, and moments later, the roof lifted, opening to the sky. The ship didn’t hesitate; with a loud crash of thunder, it launched into the sky. Everyone grabbed for a rail or rope, hanging on as it flew upwards.

  Ticca was pushed back into the braced seat. The ship vibrated under her feet. She could sense the power in the sails. She laughed with uncontrolled joy as they rushed into the blue sky.

  With a snap, some of the main sails unfurled, and the wind rushed by as the ship rocketed forward. Rainbows danced across the blue crystal sails.

  Maru-Ashua climbed up to the forecastle with a wide grin on his face. “This is everything I ever dreamed of! Isn’t she magnificent?”

  Ticca was too lost in the experience. She took hold of the rudder wheel and turned it, and the ship tilted and moved in that direction. She turned it the other way, and the craft responded. There were some levers next to the wheel that had shifted when the ship started flying. She grabbed one and pulled back, and it slowed. She pushed it forward, and the schooner sped up. More sails unfurled. Just as the wind became too much, it suddenly stopped, and an almost clear dome appeared over the decks. Occasionally, a rainbow danced across it.

  These are a lot like the controls of that jet that took me out of Elraci.

  Slowing the ship, she circled back over Hisuru Amajoo. The warlord appeared to be concerned.

  “What?”

  “You left Hisuru Amajoo and circled back without a problem. I see why Damega crashed it now.”

  “Why?”

  “Our shields allow the Emerald Heart to pass unhindered.”

  “So how do we find Duke?”

  He gestured to Hiri-Rula, standing on the forecastle, looking at the ground far below. He called out, “General, locate Duke and Dohma and give us a course.”

  Hiri-Rula went back to the quarterdeck and pulled a book out of her pouch. From that, she produced a mirror and began to concentrate on it. Moments later, she pointed. “That way.”

  Ticca laughed and spun the wheel. As the ship finished turning, she straightened the rudder and pushed the controls for more speed. It accelerated, deploying more sails.

  This is so much better than that jet!

  Dohma

  Lord Dohma rode on his horse next to Duke at the head of their division. The cavalry of a thousand warriors rode, arrayed to his left and right. Behind them marched the well-seasoned veteran soldiers who’d seen many battles with the Nhia-Samri. They were only a day and a half away from the city of Allornia. Duke intended to take it back before closing on Hisuru Amajoo.

  Behind him, Cundia, his privy councilor and Dagger guard, was speaking in low tones with Orahda, who nodded and said, “It could be the red rage.”

  Dohma pulled his horse short to let them come even. “What are you two talking about?”

  “Cundia was attempting to discount the twenty years of weapons training I gave you. She believes your exceptional fighting skills are because of the legendary red rage of the Duianna Royal Guards.”

  “Well, I do get pretty mad.”

  Orahda harrumphed. “I’ve never seen evidence the condition exists. Don’t discount your own abilities, my Lord. I’ve been training warriors for a lot longer than the forty years I’ve been Aelargo’s weapons master, and you’re the best student I have ever trained, except for a select few which have...well, an unfair advantage.”

  Laughing, Cundia asked, “Still keeping secrets?”

  Orahda said, “I keep my promises.”

  As they went over a rise, the expected resistance finally appeared. He stared at the thousands of Nhia-Samri waiting on the far end of the valley between hills.

  Duke’s ears picked up, and he laughed. “That can’t be all they brought to this fight. We’ll crush them.”

  Dohma scanned the horizon to the left and right. “This isn’t a bottleneck. They could have more forces out of sight, waiting to flank us.”

  Elades said, “If they do, we can have the divisions close ranks and squeeze them from both sides.”

  Duke called a halt and sat down, looking over the force before them.

  “They’re not stupid. And neither am I. Send out some fast scouts and order the other two divisions to close ranks.”

  The mages began relaying the orders.

  Elades pointed. A lone Nhia-Samri warrior in red armor was riding out.

  Duke said, “That’s the warlord you fought at the base they blew up. Shall we see what she has to say? Maybe they’re surrendering.”

  Laughing, Dohma spurred his horse. “Form ranks and hold.”

  Duke jogged along beside Dohma.

  The warlord stopped a short distance from them and held up a hand.

  Dohma stopped, and Duke stepped another pace closer.

  “Warlord,” Duke said.

  “Supreme Commander, I’m ordered to cease hostilities and hold.”

  “Oh, but we were so looking forward to a good fight,” Duke said, his tone dripping with anger. “I owe you one.”

  The warlord dismounted and took two steps towards Duke. “You may kill me. My warriors will not fight.” She stood with her hands spread apart and open.

  Duke growled. “This is a new tactic. Why shouldn’t I kill you? You killed almost a hundred thousand with that stunt.”

  The warlord didn’t move. “We were at war. You have killed almost as many.”

  Dohma felt his blood pressure rising. Dropping off his horse, he drew his sword. “You captured Lady Lothia. Release her and surrender, or I’ll kill you myself, unless you have a mage hiding someplace to yank you to safety again.”

  He advanced. Still, the warlord did not move.

  “I have been ordered to cease hostilities and hold here.”

  Rage boiled, and Dohma lunged at her as a primal scream ripped out of him. She didn’t move, and he barely stopped in time. He stood with his sword tip touching her chest armor.

  “My Lords, Duke, she isn’t lying.”

  The warlord stared into his eyes. She didn’t flinch or move. “I am ordered to hold.”

  Duke walked around her, growling. “Why? What do you hold for?”

  “The Grand Warlord is coming here to parlay with you.”

  Duke stepped back and sat down. “Well, that will certainly speed things up. Why isn’t he here already? You have that marvelous magic gate technology that was used to attack Llino.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “And how long do you propose we wait?” Duke’s ears swiveled. He turned and looked up. “I don’t believe it.”

  Dohma stepped back, keeping his sword ready, and then glanced upwards. A black spot was in the sky.

  “What is that?”

  “Something I thought I’d never see again. What do you know, warlord?” Duke asked, still staring at the flying object.

  “I know only that I am ordered to cease hostilities and hold.” She sounded resigned.

  The thing dropped below the horizon. “It’s attacking our other d
ivisions!” Dohma yelled and rushed back to his horse.

  Duke shook his head. “No, I think we should cease hostilities and hold.”

  Dohma stopped and looked at Duke.

  In the distance, a sound like an orchestra of wind chimes grew louder. Over the rise, fifty feet above the ground, an alabaster white schooner of impossible design, with outrigger sails on both sides horizontally and another set pointing down, with lateen sails that spread out and swooped back, came into view. Above the deck were four masts flying a set of mainsails.

  “LORDS, THAT IS THE EMERALD HEART!” Dohma shouted as his heart leapt into the sky to be on that magnificent ship of his boyhood dreams.

  “Yep, it is,” Duke said as it flew past so fast that Dohma was almost thrown to the ground by its jet stream.

  People were visible on the deck. Dohma didn’t get a clear look at them, but he heard their screams of joy and triumph.

  A jubilant cry went up from the army, and many swords and spears were shaking in the air.

  The ship hugged the ground, and it continued over the next hill.

  As he sat down, Duke said, “So, warlord. Uh, what is your name?”

  She slowly lowered her hands. “I’m First Warlord Eshra-Zunia.”

  “First Warlord? What happened to Warlord Maru-Ashua?”

  “The Grand Warlord will explain. I am only ordered....”

  Duke cut her off. “Yes, yes, urd. You sound a lot like a broken record. I get it. Fine, we’ll wait. Did you know about that?” Duke motioned with his head in the direction of the Emerald Heart’s passing.

  She looked at the crest of the hill. “No.”

  “Good. I hate being the last to know.”

  The Emerald Heart came back over the hill and slowed. Duke stood up. “Warlord Maru-Ashua is on that ship!” Its top sails all furled, and it dropped to float ten feet off the ground. But then it started to drift.

  A girl leaned over the quarter deck railing. “How do we get this thing to hold still?”