by A D Lombardo
The very thought that Fenia trusted anyone in her line of business made Kai roll his eyes. “Rayna was not delivered to Katori,” he announced. “She was dumped in Port Anahita with little more than a blanket, her name stitched on the corner. Luckily good people raised her before the worst happened, and when the time came, I took her to Katori.”
Doubt narrowed her gaze. “Don’t judge me, boy. You know nothing. Nothing about me, my life, or the man we follow. Your father is a monster, but much of what he preaches, we still believe. He charmed us at the start. We only wanted to be free. Free to live and travel and not hide our true selves. Keegan wanted power, and we did not care about the cost of our choices. Our rebellion felt satisfying at first, but over time that changed.”
Kai could see the history of fear in the woman but questioned her anyway. “Why didn’t you leave? Go back to Katori?”
A single tear spilled down Fenia’s cheeks. “You can only watch so many fellow Katori die at his hand before you surrender to your fate. Live and fight at his side or die at his touch. This life has not been all bad. I don’t mind most of it; besides, I wanted to live. Still do,” she insisted.
The hope that Fenia might help him gave him courage. “You must help me escape,” Kai pleaded. “I need my crystal. Keegan took it from me.”
She frowned. “You have no idea what you ask. And in any case, we are too far out to sea—you would not make it. A young Beastmaster, dragon or not, has no hope of flying to shore. You have flown how far—a few hours, at most?” She questioned with her tone and eyes.
“I have crossed Baden Lake, twice in one night,” he declared, confident that it mattered.
Fenia cocked her head. “Should I be impressed?” She turned to face the windows. “Let me guess, you changed back and rested before your return flight? Boy, we travel with Weathervanes at the helm. They drove us south half the day into the open sea well before we turned east. Even I cannot glean the shore at our distance, and I am one of the best. We must avoid the trade routes running between Port Anahita and Fort Pohaku. It has hardly been a day, but our distance traveled is equal to nearly two days with average winds.”
Hearing they had not sailed beyond Fort Pohaku was good news. Knowing his geography well, he knew he needed to get off this ship before the final point of land below Fort Pohaku. It was true, in his dragon form, he had no idea if he could traverse an ocean, but the ability to become a manta ray meant he had choices. “How long?” Kai searched Fenia’s eyes. “How long until we pass the Point of Diu?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know, another day, day-and-a-half. But you are not getting off his ship. Resign your fate, as we all have. Without your crystal, you cannot transform. You belong to Keegan. He will not give it back until he knows he can trust you.”
“Fenia, please. I must warn Katori. Diu means to send ships around the coast. For your daughter’s sake, help me.”
“Do not use my daughter against me. It will not change my mind.” Fenia stormed out.
Frustrated that he had pushed Fenia too hard, Kai leaned against the wooden cabinet filled with wine. There had to be another way off this ship. If she did not help him, he would make his own way. But how? He could not swim to a shore he could not see—not in his human form, anyway. And without his crystal, there was no transforming into any creature.
The setting sun dipped into the sea, scattering orange and red across the sky. Thoughts of his mother and the time she spent hiding in her dragon form without her crystal stirred an idea in Kai’s mind. All those years ago in the garden, she had transformed on her own. No crystal aided her. Maybe he did not need his crystal, either. His next thought was the memory of her screams—he thought they were because she fought the change, but now he wondered if the transformation was painful without the stone. Either way, he had to try.
Imbued with new courage, Kai resolved himself to escape; with or without his crystal, he could not waste any more time waiting for Keegan to whisk him around the world. No, he needed to act now if he hoped to stop a war.
Kai jostled the cabin door’s handle. It was still locked. No matter, he searched the desk for anything to pick the lock. A knife or letter opener would be ideal, but he would settle for a pin—no such luck. He tapped his fingers on the desk. There had to be something he could use.
Maps cluttered the surface. Kai slid the individual sheets into a stack, sorting the disorganization. Before him, a black feathered quill stood proudly. The find brought a curl to the corner of Kia’s mouth. He snatched the pen from its holder and inspected the tip. The metal shaft and flat tip were ideal for his needs.
Of all the tricks Riome had taught him, this was the first time he felt thankful for this intrusive skill. He knelt on one knee and examined the lock. The flat point of quill fit perfectly, and with a jiggle and twist, he heard the lock click open. Free from his latest prison, Kai opened the door and peered into the passageway. It was dark but empty.
Venturing into an alcove, he saw his freedom through a bank of windows. Moonlight kissed the deck a few feet away. He took one step, then another. A glimmer of hope lifted his spirits as he stood at the forward hatch. Men worked the rigging and moved about the ship, but none noticed him. Not wanting to reveal his location, Kai twisted the handle and opened the door. Salty air assaulted his senses, and the sounds of the ocean gave him pause. He had not thought beyond his cage. Without his crystal, he was unsure about transforming, but his mother proved it was possible.
Careful not to pull too much magic from any one source too quickly, fearing it would alert the other Katori, he felt the evening breeze on his face. He extended his hand and let the moonlight absorb into his skin. Even the sea and her bounty within offered him power.
Deep within the recesses of his mind, he called upon the golden thread of creation. Multiple coils spun in his mind; all the creatures he knew floated within reach. Without his crystal, they all felt overwhelming, each pulsing with power, begging to be set free. The dragon, his first beast form, roared with life, demanding his attention. Kai embraced the cord and merged with the design of his dragon. His insides ripped and tore apart, and pain shot down his spine as the shift reconstructed his body. His head’s expansion caused severe throbbing, yet the fear of discovery kept the desire to scream locked tight.
As his throat morphed and extended, the transformation felt like swallowing gravel. Each shift was like a million pinpricks rippled repeatedly over his body. The cracking of bone and growth of new mass sucked every ounce of power he had. The intense change hurt beyond belief and twisted his mind. He never imagined how much the crystal amplified his magic and softened his shift. The pain his mother suffered all those years ago finally became real.
The transformation complete, his emotions roared with anger and desire to fly free. The dragon’s mind was strong, maybe stronger than his own, and it wanted control. Focused on the memory of Rayna, he held thoughts of his life close. The first beat of his wings lifted him from the ship. Men shouted. He pressed his wings down for another lift, but something—or rather, someone—landed on his back.
“Not so fast, boy.” Keegan touched his scaly neck. “Easy now, Kai, let’s not do anything rash, like fly away.”
Kai heard a voice inside his head. It sounded like his own voice, ordering him to land on the deck. Bewildered by the instructions, he tried to flap his wings, but the voice pressed harder, and he landed on the deck with a thud. He had no control over his own body or mind.
Keegan’s voice spoke to him, and he stroked Kai’s dragon neck. “I must say, no Beastmaster has ever transformed without their crystal. It looked painful, but I am impressed. If I had not taken to the crow’s nest, I would have been forced to shoot you from the sky.”
Familiar magic whispered to Kai; his crystal was being pressed against his scales. He wondered why Keegan would offer him any kindness. “Transform back, my boy. I can’t lose you yet, and there is no room on my ship for you in dragon form.”
The mag
ic within the white crystal sang to Kai. He felt the call and serenity of its power hidden within his stone. Combined with the magic from Keegan, he transformed back into his proper form. His father jumped to the deck behind him. Pride beamed on the man’s face, and Kai seized the opportunity to snatch his crystal from his father’s hands.
“By all means,” Keegan relented, “take it. The crystal does not work for me; believe me, I tried, but you do not need it. Again, impressive. I know of no Beastmaster in our history who could transform without their stone. Sure, Weathervanes can still manipulate the climate and Stonekings can move stone, and some Kodama can heal minor cuts and wounds, but we are each limited without our crystals. You should not be able to shift.”
The warm crystal dangled once more around Kai’s neck. A peace emanated from the stone. “I will not stop,” Kai seethed. “Every chance I get to flee, I will take it.”
Keegan motioned to a massive crossbow mounted on the front of the ship. Kai remembered the weapon and how it felt getting shot with the large bolt through his wing.
“I believe you,” Keegan motioned to a Caroco man who turned the weapon toward Kai and yanked it into firing position. His father continued, “Which is why, for now, you must be chained below decks. You will remain under constant supervision until we arrive in Caroco. And then, when the time is right, we will collect your mother. Maybe she can talk some sense into you. I know she is alive—well, mostly. The report I heard said that Mariana is an endless sleep.”
Kai rushed at Keegan. “Leave my mother alone!”
An iron-like grip latched onto Kai’s neck, and his body fell limp. “Careful, boy. Your willful nature is going to get you killed, and I have plans for you.” Keegan tossed him to the ground. “I am tired of this battle between us. You will learn your place, or I will find other methods to teach you respect.”
His father motioned to a nearby man who forced Kai below deck and shackled him inside a steel cage.
Chapter 13
Keegan's Darkness
Dawn poured through the porthole within Kai’s cage. His black steel box was barely large enough to stand in and not wide enough for him to lay flat. Using all his strength, he pushed and pulled at the bars. They did not bend, not even a little. The bolts held fast and showed no signs of breaking.
Disappointed by his failure, he tugged at his shackles. His chains were heavy, even for a Katori. He studied the texture and gleaned the metal. Like his cage, the restraints were made of steel. It was beyond anything he knew. Still, he yanked on his bonds. Surely the wood would give way, he thought, but it did not budge.
“You will not break your chains,” a man called from the shadows. “The powder mixed within the metal makes it harder and heavier than anything a Katori can break, even a Beastmaster like you. If you do manage to pull the bolts from the hull, you will sink the ship and drop to the ocean floor. Terrible way to die, if you ask me.”
A moment later, Denmir stepped into the light.
The man’s sunken eyes surprised Kai. “I know you. You are Rayna’s father.”
“I do not deserve that title. Twice my Fenia granted me the gift of fatherhood, and I tossed my girls away. My girls hate me, and my wife blames me for our lot in life. Sure, it was adventurous being rebels—but it did not stop at adventure, as you will soon see for yourself. Keegan has darkness I never thought possible from a Katori. Once you cross that line, you become like him, and we are all doomed.”
Part of Kai wanted to care, but this Denmir made his choice—twice, for that matter. “Do not look to me for pity. You made your choice. Blame this on youth if you wish, but we both know you had a choice. Even now, you continue to follow him. But I saw you both that day on the beach. You did not kill Rayna when you had the chance. In fact, you held back when you fought me, I know it. You are not heartless like Keegan, though I think part of you does enjoy the fight.”
It was clear that his words struck deep; Denmir did not hide his shame. “Fenia tells me our Rayna lives. Is this true?” He pressed his face into the bars to stare at Kai. “I must hear it for myself. I must see the truth in your eyes.”
Denmir’s pain ran deep, his eyes welled with tears, but none fell.
“Rayna lives,” Kai acknowledged. “She was lucky. Keegan nearly killed her—or do you, like Fenia, want to blame me?” He stared back, searching the man’s soul.
“I do not blame you. I blame myself. As you said, I made a choice, and it cost me dearly. It still costs me. Fenia is angry, but she knows Keegan is to blame. He ordered the lightning that struck Rayna’s tree and we did nothing to stop him.”
The weight of the world seemed to fall on Denmir’s shoulders, and he slumped in disgrace. Silence lingered, and Kai watched the man battle his internal demons before clearing his throat and continuing. “Fenia, my dear wife, is not ready to face the truth. She still blames everyone but us. Our choices put our daughter at risk, not Rayna’s love for you.”
“Set me free,” Kai interrupted. “If you care as much as you imply, let me go. I must warn Katori before Diu and Milnos retaliate. I have to stop this war before it starts. I must protect Rayna.”
Denmir shook his head and sat quietly in the corner. “I am not here to free you; this is my shift. I am to keep an eye on you. Keegan rules us—get used to it.”
Kai shook the bars, desperate to get free. “Please Denmir, I can stop what is coming if I can get free. With each passing hour, we near the point of Diu—Fort Pohaku is my last chance to escape.”
Denmir returned to shadows unwilling to respond. And Kai continued to rattle around in his cage.
When the next guard thundered down the stairs, Denmir left. A man with rust-colored skin and emerald eyes towered over Kai, a head taller than the steel cage. The blue crystal dangling around his neck marked him a Beastmaster. He unlocked the cage and pushed Kai toward the stairs. “Come, Keegan has something to show you,” the man insisted.
On deck, Kai was nearly blinded by the bright afternoon sunlight. Before him, the Katori Weathervanes, Kodama, and Beastmasters stood at attention. Their eyes were fixed behind him, and Kai turned to see Keegan standing by the railing.
“Time to embrace your new life, son.” Keegan eyed him with pleasure. “I believe it is time for you see the effects of our power and the decisiveness of our methods. For now, you watch, but soon you will join us in battle.” Keegan motioned to the Weathervanes, and he took possession of the helm.
Under their magical influence and Keegan’s direction, the ship came about and surged through the water. Waves broke against the ship’s prow. Worry swelled in Kai’s chest. A sense of dread consumed his heart. Something terrible was coming; he could almost taste it.
Around him, he saw the others flex their muscles in preparation. Kai studied the sun and their new direction. If his assumptions were correct, they were sailing toward land. Would they make landfall? He could not help but wonder what Keegan had planned. On land, Kai had a greater chance to escape; the possibilities rolled around his head. This could not be what his father hoped to show him. No, they were not going ashore—and he did not have to wait long to learn their purpose.
At breakneck speed, Keegan’s ship cut through the ocean waves. Along the horizon, a ship came into view. “Trade routes, my boy. You must learn them. Know when and where to strike. While we could take on an entire fleet, there is no use declaring war on ourselves. Instead, we need to create chaos and implicate the Katori if we hope to further incite war.” Keegan explained. “Our purpose today is to send a message and drive a wedge between their two nations.”
Listening to Keegan tell stories of conquest and death made Kai wonder if he would ever escape. This was not the life he wanted, but he saw no means of escape even with his crystal. For now, he would need to gain this man’s trust and possibly find the opportunity to run.
The Diu pennant, a silver wolf on a field of blue, flapped in the wind above the trade ship’s white billowing sails. The other vessel slowed, allowin
g Keegan’s superior craft alongside. Kai wondered why they would yield until he noticed their flag bore the Katori colors—three golden stars on a field of white. The other captain would feel no fear coming about, allowing the would-be friendly ship to get close.
The gangplank lowered, connecting the two ships. Keegan shoved Kai in line behind four Katori Beastmasters, and they crossed to the other ship.
Joined by eight Caroco men, Keegan addressed the captain. “Fair weather we are having.”
A white-bearded man with leathered skin stepped forward. “Name is Captain McCrory. We sail from Port Anahita to Fort Pohaku with supplies. May we be of service?” The captain’s eyes drifted up the Katori flag whipping in the breeze and back to the strange men on his deck. Kai could almost see the realization sweep through the man’s mind. Too late.
Keegan crossed the divide and latched onto the man’s throat. “Captain McCrory. What cargo do you carry, truly? Food, weapons . . . gold?”
The captain’s eyes revealed his precious bounty.
“Gold! How lucky are we.” Keegan glared back at his men. “See to her bounty, boys. We must relieve her of her burdens before she sinks beneath the sea.”
The Caroco men scattered about the ship, disappearing below deck. More men from Keegan’s ship poured over the gangplank to assist in removing anything of value.
Meanwhile, Keegan continued to grasp the helpless captain by the throat. Kai could see the fear in the older man, and he knew he would not see another sunset. Keegan’s grip around the captain’s neck did not tighten, yet the man gasped and contorted his face, the only part he could still control, while the rest of his body drooped as if no longer attached. Lines deepened on the man’s aged face as his bone structure became more pronounced and his muscles withered. Watching the lifeforce drain from this man horrified Kai.
There was no bond between Keegan and Kai, not like the one he shared with Rayna, yet he felt his father’s pleasure as he sucked the lifeforce from the captain. He could only imagine the shared blood between father and son provided the bridge. The thoughts and feelings emanating from his father made Kai sick to his stomach, but he swallowed the bile down.