The Traitor

by A D Lombardo

  “Milnos steel,” she answered, pointing to the blade on the table.

  Inspecting the blade, Cazier thumbed the pommel and traced the curve of the blade before passing it to her. “So, the knife came from Milnos?” he questioned. “And you suspect that Maxwell is behind this?”

  She nodded. “The stamp on the blade and pommel is the iron skull, a blacksmith’s symbol in Milnos. Plus, the curve of the blade is most definitely Milnos. I took the weapon off an assassin spy. His tattoo—the Milnos raven and an iron skull. Foolish tradition. Gang tattoos. The Iron Skulls run a shipping trade between Milnos and Bangloo. Thieves and murderers, mostly.”

  “What was this man doing on my father’s ship?” Kai interrupted.

  “My guess, he was hired to kill Iver—on the ship or after they arrived in Bangloo. We were less than a mile out from Bangloo when I discovered the assassin onboard. We fought below deck. The man was good; I was better. I killed him, and as I tossed him overboard, a crewman called out. My only choice was to fall into the sea and swim for shore. I could not risk discovery with blood on my hands, plus I was not the cabin boy I pretended to be.” A fit of coughing overtook her, and she pointed to the water pitcher.

  Kai offered her a glass but did not interrupt.

  Riome took a sip and continued. “The ship I boarded to return with my proof was less-than-friendly—a slave ship from Bangloo to Milnos. The next two ships were not much nicer, smugglers and thieves. I spent most of the trip fighting for my position on the ship or defending my winning streak. I tried to find out who hired the man willing to kill a king, but let’s just say I pressed the wrong people without proper support. But at least I know where to look now.”

  She rubbed her neck, her eyes lost in a memory. The fading yellow bruises formed a large handprint around her throat. Kai contemplated her suffering. He knew firsthand at least one fight she had fought to defend herself, and he could not imagine everything she went through to get home with this blade and her story.

  It started to sink in that he needed time to think. First, Rayna was not safe in Diu. He needed to take her home before he dealt with what was coming. His vision was coming—the death of his father at Kai’s own hands—but he still did not know how to change how his destiny intersected with his father’s.

  Kai stood up. “I must leave. I will take Rayna back to Katori. She will be safe there, and Riome can get a message to me through her mother’s network. Yulia and Kendra are searching for a healer to help you recover. I would bring Rayna to you, but I am not sure I can risk her getting caught inside the tower. Nola’s spies are everywhere.”

  “Agreed.” Cazier leaned forward. “I will consult my other spies to discover what I can about this hired assassin and see if my network can get inside Milnos. You need to leave at first light. I want you safe away from any other would-be killers, until I can trace this conspiracy to Nola or Maxwell. Do you need a ship?”

  “I do not.” He paused to think. Now was no time to sleep. “I will leave now.” Kai stood and went to the door. “I will be back. Before my father dies.”

  “Is that wise? To come back, I mean.” Cazier glanced at Riome for confirmation.

  Kai turned to face his friends. His family. “Do you trust me?”

  “What kind of question is that?” Riome scoffed. “Of course we trust you.”

  “Remember that. Remember the man you believe me to be right here and now. Please do not doubt my loyalty. Many people doubt me, but I could not bear to lose either of you. I may need my friends more than ever in the coming days.”

  Cazier rose from his chair. “Kai. You’re speaking nonsense.”

  Riome’s expression, however, remained calm. “I do not understand, but we will be ever faithful to you. Despite what we hear.”

  Confused, Cazier looked back and forth. He threw his hands up. “Clearly, you know something I do not and refuse to share. I will do what I can.” He took Kai's arm. “Take care of yourself.”

  “You too, cousin. Take care of Riome. She needs you now.”

  “I am right here, and I am no cripple. I could still beat you both,” she mocked.

  “Take care, little sister.” Kai knelt next to her and kissed her on the forehead.

  Before he could escape, Riome pulled him close. Her eyes locked on his, and she placed her hand to his ear. A ticking sound filled his mind. The metal pocket watch felt cool against his skin. Riome’s stare locked him in place.

  “Listen to the sound of my voice, my dear.” The lilt in her voice had changed.

  Kai tried to pull away, but she held him in place. “Remember what I told you that night. I asked you to listen and bend your will to mine.” Nola’s voice echoed in his head.

  Visions of Nola flickered through his mind. Their foreheads were nearly close enough to touch. The tick, tick, tick of the watch set a rhythmic spell where only her voice mattered. Thoughts of Nola washed over him as her voice twisted his memory. Brown eyes, green eyes. Riome’s face, Nola’s face. The two faces blurred behind the voice and the constant ticking trapped his mind with a hypnotic rhythm.

  “See the light dance in my eyes; I lead you by the hand.

  Unravel the string to break the ties; there is power in a grain of sand.

  Time does not wait for thee; remember, I am not your kind.

  Before the hands of time stop, unlock the key to free your mind.”

  Locked on her eyes, Kai listened. His eyes played tricks on him as Riome’s face became Nola’s and back again. The words in the rhyme and the tempo of the tick-tock transfixed his mind as she repeated it once more. The constant tick-tock of her watch lulled him into a deep haze of nothingness.

  “Close your eyes, Kai.” Nola’s voice echoed in Kai’s head. “Hear only my voice. Nothing else matters; I am your queen. Discover the seed I planted. Open the lock within your mind. Remember my truth.”

  Each breath was slow and easy. Riome’s words dug deep into his mind. He recalled his time with Nola. The taste of wine on his lips, the taste of her. Her words locked him in a promise. “I am yours to command, my queen. I promise to serve you with my dying breath.”

  “Do you remember the task I bid you perform?” Riome asked with Nola’s voice.

  Nola’s request rang in his head. He fought to form the words. “You want me to free us; you want me to kill the king.”

  “Excellent, my dear. Who is Iver to you? Is he your father?” she asked lightly.

  “Iver is my father,” Kai responded.

  “Yes, my dear. Remember my commands. You must obey your queen. When next we meet, I will free you from my commands, but you must heed my words. Tell me your name.”

  “I am Kai Galloway.”

  “Search your soul, and you can choose,” Riome added.

  Riome continued to plant new seeds. “Hold on this truth—truth has power. I need you to save Iver. I am your queen, and I order you to obey. Focus on the idea within your mind. Remember your own heart. Let go of my words and their control over you. Free yourself—SAVE IVER!”

  She lowered the watch and washed her hand over Kai’s face. His eyes closed, and he sat back on his heels. The fading tick-tock left him in silence. In the darkness, he searched for his inner truth. The love of his father, Iver, bloomed brightly. Nola’s conflicting statements now muddied his mind, and he shook his head as he opened his eyes.

  “What did you do to me?” he asked.

  “I pulled a weed and planted a seed.” She looked at Cazier. “Like Iver, Kai was hypnotized to follow Nola’s commands. You heard it here from his very lips. She means for Kai to kill Iver. Two kings with one blade. She will place Aaron on the throne and take Diu down from the inside.”

  “Am I cured—free?” Kai asked, hopeful destiny no longer held him within its grasp.

  She hummed. “I doubt you will ever be free of her. It is not my specialty—the mind. During my early studies, I discovered the rhyme in a teacher’s journal. He wrote how combined with the use of the tick-tock of
a watch it could be used to hypnotize someone. What I gave you was a choice. Two commands battle within you—mine and hers. Do not let fear control you. If she means to use you, be ready. Fate places you at a crossroads; given this foresight, be prepared and be swift before her words cloud any clarity you now have. But know this, Kai—you should not face her. If you are not here, she cannot use you.”

  “How did you know Kai was compromised?” Cazier questioned.

  “Kendra told me she feared Nola did something to him the day she found him dazed in his room. She told me that she found Kai, his lips stained with wine, staring at nothing.” Riome leaned back. “You had lost time. Unable to remember parts of your day. Haunted by a feeling, Kendra trusted me to help you. That was enough for me to realize what Nola had done.”

  Hope—real hope, for the first time—washed away the impending doom. Fate no longer had him by the throat. “Thank you, Riome. Cazier, I must leave and take Rayna far from Diu. I will not risk her safety if something goes wrong. I beg you, do not do anything with this information. Nola is not yet within our grasp. I plan to return because I can stop her now.”

  “Wait, what?” Cazier took hold of Kai’s arm. “This is not right. I cannot sit back while Nola plans to murder my King—your father and use you in the process. I changed my mind, you will stay here under my protection within the tower until my spies can uncover the truth.” Cazier’s expression swelled with worry.

  There was no time to argue, Kai knew it, and he could see Riome knew it too. “Father,” Riome used their family bond to distract Cazier, extending a hand to draw him closer.

  Cazier sat beside his daughter, and Kai backed up to the door. With his cousin preoccupied, he slipped away without so much as a goodbye.

  Chapter 10

  Shattered Dreams

  Dark hazy clouds cast a heavy gloom over the palace grounds. Wanting to go unseen, Kai knocked on the back door to the Kendrick cottage. He waited. Levi answered. “Mister Kendrick, may we talk?” Kai stepped back and motioned to the dark shadows behind the baker’s home.

  Levi's discerning eyes left Kai’s and peered back into the house. Kai followed the man’s focus to see Rayna with her mother, holding hands. “You have a question to ask, son. Before you ask, I need to know you have my daughter’s safety in hand,” Levi said as he followed Kai outside.

  “You know Rayna means everything to me, and I would do anything to protect her. I apologize for my distance, but I did not feel it safe for her to be in the palace, especially since I spent the better part of my stay under armed guard.”

  “That may be so, but Rayna tried to see you, twice. She will not tell me what happened, but she was quite upset.”

  “Mister Kendrick, I only learned about this tonight. So much has changed since we left. I do not recognize any of the guards and most of the staff has changed. All the more reason we need to leave, and I need to ask you something.” Studying the baker's face, Kai hoped the man still trusted him with his daughter. “Before I ask, you should know I love your daughter; more than my own life, which is why I come to your house at such an hour. I believe we must leave. For her safety more than mine. I hope to return, as there is important business I must see to its end. Through it all, remember that I love your daughter.”

  “Ask your question, Prince Kai.” Levi gave him a reassuring smile. “I have heard the rumors around your disappearance, but I know why you left—for the cure. My daughter would not explain why you were gone so long or if you planned to stay, but I trust my daughter. You are most likely my future king, but you are much more to my family. I have never felt less than equal around you, and for that, I am grateful. Your kindness to my daughter, a girl below your status, tells me the kind of king you will become.”

  Kai took a deep breath. “Mister Kendrick, please trust me when I say that I will keep your daughter safe, but I cannot promise when she will come back.”

  “Ask your question,” Levi repeated.

  “Sir, I would like to ask for your blessing in marrying Rayna.”

  “Son, I know my daughter’s heart, and I believe I have seen enough to know yours. Never in all my days have I seen two people more right for one another. You have my blessing. Whatever trouble you are in, I know you love her, and she loves you. I just hope that is enough to hold you together.”

  “Thank you, sir.” Kai shook Levi’s hand. “I am afraid we need to leave right away.”

  Levi nodded and rejoined his wife and daughter inside. Rayna said her goodbyes. Dot kissed her daughter on the cheek. “I love you, my dear, remember what I told you, whatever troubles you face, they are best handled together. Please take care of my daughter, Prince Kai.” The baker’s wife touched his shoulder.

  Kai offered the best smile he could muster. “I promise.”

  “I love you too, mama.” Rayna wiped a tear from her cheek and hefted a leather bag over her shoulder. Smoke darted into the night. Rayna looped her fingers between Kai’s and followed him across the yard.

  Considering they had not spoken in days, he was thankful that she came without question, but he was surprised when she pulled her hand free of his. He tried to catch her eyes, but she kept them on the ground as they stuck to the shadows. “What is wrong? he asked.

  Rayna did not respond until they were father from her parent’s home. “Do you still love me?”

  “Of course, I love you! Why would you . . .” The kiss with Nola smacked him in the face. Rayna knew. She must have seen them together.

  Before he could explain, they spotted Yulia. “Why the rush?” Yulia questioned when they reached the bare trees of the apple orchard.

  “There is no time to explain, Riome discovered a plot to kill the King and I fear things may get worse before they get better.” Kai marched toward the center of the orchard. “I must get Rayna somewhere safe. If everything goes in my favor, I will save Iver, either way, I will not let Rayna suffer the Queen’s wrath. I have only tonight learned the queen’s new guards regard Rayna as a threat. They spoke of questioning Rayna. Yulia, can you give us a cover? Fog. Maybe even snow.”

  Yulia rolled her hands over and over. Washing one over the other, she pushed outward, and Kai saw fog flow into the orchard from beneath her feet. Stepping around the apple orchard, she intensified her movements while pushing and pulling at the sky. The temperature dropped with the developing moisture. The thick clouds overhead began to weep with fat snowflakes.

  Kai looked to Yulia. “I can only assume you wish to remain here to watch over Riome. Have you found a Katori healer who can help her?”

  “I know a woman I can trust who lives in Henley, and she plans to come tonight. Where are you two going?”

  The concern in Yulia’s voice resonated with his fears. He had no idea where he was going. Where would Rayna be safe? Returning to Katori was risky since Kai did not properly inform the Elders about his trip to Diu. Would they let him leave again to save his father? Not to mention he left Davi’s village in embers after the battle even though his one mission from Alenga instructed him to help bring the lost children home to Katori. He could only hope Davi and the others were safe. “Chenowith, maybe? Or Albey? Maybe we could find Shane?” Everything came out as a question.

  Yulia pulled Kai and Rayna in close. “Go to Benmar. Your grandfather will help you. He is probably the only man you can trust. No offense to Lucca, but as an Elder, he cannot act as a grandfather because he must remain neutral for the Katori nation.”

  Still keeping her gaze from Kai, Rayna nodded in agreement. “Yulia is right. Benmar will help you.”

  “You know the big island near the center of Baden Lake?” Yulia turned to the side. “Draw a straight line in your mind from here to home. See it in your mind, Kai.” She demonstrated the action with her arm. “You will cross over this island first. Let it be your guide that you are on target for Benmar’s cave. I will give you as much cloud cover as I can.”

  Yulia stepped back, pulling Rayna with her. Kai wanted to understand R
ayna’s coldness toward him, but there was no time, so he stepped into the shadows along the edge of the orchard. The newly formed clouds shrouded the area in gray gloom.

  The falling snow melted into Kai’s scalp. He took one last look at the towering palace and the balcony of his father’s chamber before closing his eyes. Hidden within his soul, he found the golden thread of his dragon. One hand clung to his crystal while his mind embraced the braid to spark his transformation. White light beamed within his fist. His shoulders curled inward, and he felt his bones twist and expand. His skin stretched and thickened.

  He embraced the change and fell into the magic swirling around him. The evolution felt natural and empowering. His spine rippled with new vertebrae, and his clothes dissolved into his change as he flexed outward. Wings unfurled from his back and his fingers grew into sharp talons. A long-spiked tail sprouted and slithered through the grass. His eyes expanded into amber orbs. His face changed to accommodate massive teeth. Kai became the silver dragon.

  He restrained the urge to screech and spray fire. With amber eyes, he saw the snow float around him. Anxious to depart while the snow and fog lasted, Kai lowered his massive wing to the ground. Rayna and Smoke climbed onto his back, their weight barely noticeable. Kai cut his amber eyes back to Rayna. A look of sadness swelled in her eyes. Her behavior made him question everything—how could he possibly explain what he feared she now knew. Would she ever forgive him?

  With one swift motion, he pushed off the ground and burst into the sky. His silver wings blended with the white and gray mist. With three beats of his wings, they were above the clouds. Midnight blue and purple expanded across the starlit sky, and Yulia’s cotton clouds stretched on as far as he could see.

  Behind them, he sensed the snow falling over Diu. Clear of the city, he dipped below the clouds, and Smoke barked with excitement. Rayna’s legs clamped against his back. Focused on her face, he held onto his dragon form and the life he loved.