“You both help me.” Tessen tossed the stick into the waves, then led Abandon toward another log further down the shore. Tiny crabs and sandpipers scurried ahead of him. “Sometimes I feel like I made a mistake. I can't even fully explain why. Maybe it's because she gets frustrated that I'm not as affectionate as she wants me to be, or maybe it's because I'm afraid one of her parents is going to hunt us down. I'm afraid she'll regret me.”
No. You're afraid because your life has changed faster than you expected and you're having trouble keeping up. Don't be afraid, Tessen. You both made the right decisions.
Movement in the fog caught Tessen's eye as he bent to pick up a piece of milky white sea glass. He put the glass next to the adder stone in his pocket and stood upright to greet Mordegan.
“I thought we all agreed I get to wander around by myself in the mornings,” Tessen said. He kicked aside a pile of seaweed and watched the crabs beneath scatter.
“You need to come back with me. Now.” Mordegan led the horse toward him. The orc-bred beast snorted and kicked at the sand.
“What happened? What's wrong?” Tessen asked, his heart thundering.
“Remember when I told you those gods-damned Fae were moving around the Azure? Well, they're just north of Auberline. Captain's making the last preparations and then we've gotta go before the battle hits the city.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah. Shit.” Mordegan swished his mouth, then spat upon the sand. “Come on back. We've got a couple hours, maybe a day if Cass takes her time with the pillaging, but I've a feeling she's coming straight down the waterfront to ransack here before she works her way back to the ducal manor. She never did like Berra.”
“What about the reefwalkers?” Tessen asked. His spine aching, he climbed onto Abandon and rode her next to Mordegan.
“Dunno. We'll have to take our chances. Berra's got experience, we'll be okay,” Mordegan said, but his tone was uncertain. “Maybe she'll sail us out a little from the coast. Will take longer, but she won't be reckless with the reefwalkers, not with our families on board.”
“At least Belda and your kids are here and ready to go. What about my family, though?”
Mordegan shrugged as he tugged on the horse's reins. “They weren't coming here. Berra sent Ragan on a different route. That note he sent me . . . sounds like he had some business to attend to before he could bring the Goldtrees to us. They'll make it to the cove on their own time.”
“I hope you're right,” Tessen murmured.
“Ragan won't let you down, kid. Neither will your mom. Never thought I'd see them working together again, but for both their sakes, I'm glad they are. Too bad she had to go and marry Goldtree first.”
“I like Daelis.”
“Yeah, so do I, but I like my son more. Don't dally about. We've got work to do.” Mordegan trotted ahead into the fog, leaving Tessen and Serida to return to the manor alone.
The wind shifted direction, throwing salt into Tessen's eyes. He wiped away the spray and leaned low over Abandon's neck.
You move slow for someone in danger. Serida thrashed her tail through the breakers as she zig-zagged ahead of him.
He tried to straighten his shoulders, but his muscles threatened spasm. “I know. I hurt. I'm trying to work out this kink in my back before I have to lift anything.”
Ignore it and ride.
“He said we have a while. We'll be okay.”
She swiveled her neck and bared her sharp teeth. No. I smell things in the wind. Do you hear the thunder in the distance? It's too regular. It's not thunder. Ride, Tessen. Now.
Tessen urged Abandon into a gallop. As he caught up with Mordegan, he shouted, “Serida hears something.”
“Hya.” Mordegan quickened his horse's pace to keep up with Abandon. “Probably that gods-damned coaxi.”
Tall masts rose from the fog. The pier was directly ahead of them, and sailors were hastily loading crates onto the ship.
Mordegan dismounted and jammed his horse's reins into Urzal's waiting hand. “Tessen, give her the horse and go grab your shit.”
“Where's Kemi?” Tessen asked. He gave Abandon's reigns to Urzal, then stepped out of the way of a loading dolly.
Urzal cocked her head toward the fog-obscured manor. “They're all getting what they can. Move your ass, kid. We're almost ready.”
The ground trembled beneath Tessen's feet. “What is that?”
Mordegan hopped over a roosting chicken as they jogged toward the manor. “Sarding coaxi. Thought we had more time. Go.”
He accelerated to a sprint, barely slowing to let himself into the manor.
Tessen was slower. He tried to ignore the screams of his back, but the pain threatened to leave him breathless. His legs on the verge of buckling, he ran up the stairs and into his room.
“Kemi?” he gasped as the door slammed shut behind him. Serida yipped, then growled until he turned around to let her in. “Sorry. Forgot it swings like that.”
Run.
“Here.” Kemi rushed out of the washroom and tossed Serida's pouch harness on the bed. “Good thing you've been living directly out of your rucksack because you're too lazy to put things in drawers. Didn't have to do much but toss all those clothes Berra gave us into a sack.”
Tessen helped Serida fasten her harness belt, then slung his rucksack over his shoulders. He grabbed for the clothing sack, but Kemi knocked his hand away.
“I've got it,” she mumbled. She adjusted the position of the dagger on her belt before slinging the sack onto her shoulder.
“It's too heavy. Let me take it,” Tessen said, reaching.
She shook her head and stepped toward the door. “It's fine. You can barely stand upright today. Grab your sword and let's get on that boat.”
“Kemi...”
“I can handle it,” she snapped. She shook her fingers through her hair, then patted her dagger hilt. “Berra's physician said I'm fine to continue physical activity as the same level as before I was pregnant unless my body tells me otherwise. My body's fine and you're a mess.”
“She's a ship doctor. She's used to sailors, not elven–”
Kemi threw open the door. “Elven what? Highborn? Princesses? I'm a gods-damned dragonbound warrior. I can carry a sack of clothing from a house to a dock.”
“I didn't say you couldn't.” Tessen followed her down the stairs. “I was only trying to be helpful.”
“You missed your opportunity to be helpful an hour ago.” She sighed heavily, then spun on her heels to face him. “Not your fault. Shit's just about to crash down on Auberline.”
Three half-dwarven children with arms full of pastries dashed past them on the way to the pier. Their mother, red-haired Belda, was close behind them with an equally red-haired toddler bouncing in her arms. She ignored Tessen as she scolded the children for forgetting to grab a basket of muffins. The young Vales giggled as they disappeared into the fog.
Something's here. Serida's tail glowed through the mist.
Before Tessen could respond, a yelp sounded to his right. Boots shuffled against stone.
“Tessen...” Kemi hissed.
He turned toward her and gasped. A knife was at her throat, held by a towering Faeline woman.
Tessen's hand fell to his sword as his heart pounded against his ribs. “Let her go. We don't mean you any harm, just let her go.”
The Faeline flashed pointed teeth as she ran her thumb down Kemi's jawline. “Elves slaughter my people, so I slaughter elves. Pretty little thing . . . I'll make it quick for you.”
Tessen drew the sword. “I said let her go.”
“Ohh. I recognize you, human. You're Rin Sylleth's boy, aren't you?”
“Cass.” Tessen's heart caught in his throat as the Faeline's black hair and gold-green eyes resolved into something familiar. “Cass, don't hurt her. Please. She–”
“She's what?” Cass hissed. “Your lover? I can see in your eyes that she is. So much fear, little Sylleth, so much.”
&nbs
p; Kemi grabbed at Cass's arm. “Please...”
A drop of blood appeared on Kemi's neck as Cass snagged her wrist. She slid down her sleeve to reveal the tattooing on Kemi's skin. “Oh, and what is this, little girl?” She leaned low over Kemi's head and inhaled. “You smell of flowers. Dragonbound. And you bear the mark of a Lightborn. I've reconsidered. I won't kill you. Yet. You're coming with me.”
Silver wings flapped, clearing a small patch of fog as Lenna descended from the manor roof.
Cass laughed. “Oh, you called your little dragon down? It can't help you, tiny princess.” She clicked her tongue, then whistled. “Boys, tie up this vermin for me, will you?”
Four armor-clad Fae appeared from the fog, their tails whipping and their backs hunched in offensive tension.
Tessen took a step toward Cass. He breathed heavily as he tried to keep his voice calm. “Cass, please. Let her go.”
Cass ran her fingers along Kemi's. “See these markings, boy? Only a child of the High King can wear these symbols. I've got myself a little hostage here and I intend to use her until she's all used up. Maybe I'll send her to her father bit by bit.”
“No.” Kemi yanked her hand away and flipped the dagger out of its scabbard. She jammed the blade into Cass's thigh, then ducked away from the Faeline's blade as she screamed. Tessen pulled her forward.
“Bitch!” Cass pulled out the dagger and threw it to the side.
Tessen gripped his sword tighter as he positioned himself between Cass and Kemi. Behind them, the four armored Fae tightened a net over struggling and squalling Lenna.
Furious, Cass drew her own sword. She spat at Tessen, then lurched toward him. He tried to jam his blade into her gut, but she easily parried.
Cass laughed as she knocked aside three new attempts. “And you're the one the Northern Fae called Champion of the Hadgar Steppes? You're the one who killed the great Morenno Loquar? You? And you survived the arena at Parandor? How? You're nothing but a tiny child, full of pain. You can't even hold your sword properly.”
A silver point exploded through Cass's shoulder. Then another. Blades clanged behind as Mordegan and Radamar swung through the Fae surrounding Lenna.
Cass looked down, then scrunched her nose in confusion. “Arrows?”
A third point pierced her neck and she fell to her knees.
“She's yours to finish, Tessen,” Iefyr said, nocking another arrow. The air screamed as he released it into the face of the nearest Fae.
“You threatened my wife, Cass.” Tessen growled as he drove his sword into the Faeline's heart. Her eyes grew wide and fearful as death rushed in to claim her. “No one who threatens my family gets to live.”
He ripped his sword away and shifted Kemi behind him again as a Fae soldier ran in for the attack.
The Fae swung his greatsword.
Tessen easily knocked it aside...
...and into Mordegan.
“Shit!” Mordegan bellowed as bent forward to clutch his bleeding belly. His pain ripped through Tessen, stealing the last of his breath.
An arrow zinged past Tessen's ear and plunged through the heart of the Fae.
Radamar's polearm blade whirred as he spun it through the fog and through the neck of the last Fae. The Fae's head landed with a plop and rolled into Mordegan's feet.
“Shit. Shit. Sarding shit.” Mordegan raised a bloodied hand and braced himself against Tessen.
Kemi grabbed the top garment out of the discarded clothing sack and pressed it against Mordegan's stomach. Her hair whipped into her eyes as her shoulders tensed. “Iefyr, Radamar, free Lenna. I can't take pressure off this until we've got him on the boat.”
Ropes fell to the ground as they sawed through the nets to free the impatient dragon.
“Mordegan...” Tessen could barely speak. So much panic, so much pain, and now confusion from the orcan commander running toward them. “I'm sorry. So sorry. I did this.”
“The hell you did.” Mordegan clapped his hand on Tessen's shoulder. “That was a Fae sword that cut me, not yours. All you did was parry, and all I did was get in the way.” He grimaced as he turned his eyes toward Iefyr. “You're gonna have to cauterize this, Sealash.”
Iefyr pulled the last rope off Lenna and nodded. “I know. Get on the boat.”
“Brezva's watery asshole,” Urzal muttered as she slipped Mordegan's arm over her shoulder to support his weight. “Sarding Fae.”
Mordegan leaned hard against her. “She's not their only commander. We need to go. Now.”
“Everyone else is already on board. We'll cast off soon as you are.”
Stabbing pain coursed through Tessen's spine as he helped Urzal drag Mordegan to the ship. He ignored it and kept moving, kept avoiding knocking Kemi's knee as she walked backward with her hands pressed against Mordegan.
And the thunder grew louder. Splintering wood and crumbling stone echoed in the distance, and the screams soon followed.
Smells like . . . smells like something. Serida dashed ahead of them and scrambled up the ramp onto the Grace.
«What happened?» Berra ran toward them, her green eyes wild.
“Fae ambush. We took care of them, they took care of me.” Mordegan groaned and winced as Tessen and Urzal half-carried him up the ramp.
Radamar intercepted Berra. «Go. Now. Coaxi is coming. And more Fae.»
«I'll take care of it. Get him to the infirmary.»
Urzal threw back her head and yelled, “Cast off, ladies. Monster's coming.”
The deck exploded in a flurry of activity as the sailors scrambled to free the ship.
“This way. Watch your step, girl,” Urzal muttered as she guided Mordegan beneath the deck.
“Where's Benny?” Mordegan asked, his voice weak.
“She's fine, Vale,” Urzal said. She opened the infirmary door and helped Tessen and Kemi maneuver Mordegan onto a cot. Tessen thought she felt more irritated than worried, and he hoped that was a good sign for Mordegan. “She's getting Radella settled in her quarters. You'll be able to see her soon.”
“And the rest of my kids? Belda?”
“Same, Vale. Everyone's on board.”
“Good. Good.”
“Boy, you're in the way.” A heavy hand landed on Tessen's shoulder as the orcan physician pulled him away from Mordegan. She stepped in front of him, then set her hands over Kemi's. “Are you injured?”
“No,” Kemi replied, but it sounded more like a question than an answer.
“I'll take it from here. You go clean yourself up and have a little rest while we sail out of port, will you?” Doc nudged Urzal aside, then looked up at Iefyr. “Fire witch, right? See that scalpel over there? Heat it up for me. The rest of you, out of here. One of us will come tell you when we've got him stabilized.”
Mordegan grabbed for Tessen's hand but missed. “Lim, if I don't–”
“You'll be fine, you righteous pansy,” the physician said with a sigh. She flicked her hand toward the door. “You're all in the way. If you're not me, the patient, or a fire witch, get out of here. All of you.”
The floor rocked beneath Tessen's feet as the ship left the dock. A moment later, a deafening crash shook his senses.
Urzal ran onto the deck, sighed, then glanced back at Radamar. “Well, my house is gone and the mist is orange so I'm guessing my city is on fire. You assbiters didn't tell me the coaxi was that big. Can only see a foot, so its head must be up there above the fog. If it steps in the water we're gonna rock. All of you get to your quarters and stay there until we're out of the bay. Get in the way and I'll throw you in the brig until we get to where we're going. Those of us with useful skills have work to do.”
Kemi waited until Urzal was out of sight to whisper, “I'm covered in his blood and the Fae's. I don't know if it's all theirs.”
“Come over here,” Radamar said. He led her to a wash basin and opened the valve to the foot pump so he could pull water from the ship's reservoir.
Tessen took a towel from a shelf and stoo
d behind Kemi. He wet the corner and dabbed at the small cut on her neck while she washed Mordegan's blood from her hands.
“Does it need sutures?” she asked. Adrenaline still surged through her racing heart as fear flitted around her shoulders like a swarm of angry bats.
Tessen lifted the towel. A small trickle of blood reappeared. “No. It's not deep. Should stop bleeding with a little pressure.”
She pulled her hands out of the water and leaned against him. “I need to get out of these clothes before the blood dries.”
He picked up the clothing sack and two more towels—one to wet and one to dry off with—and led her down a ramp to their cabin. “I need to help you calm down.”
“Me? Do you hear how you're breathing?” She opened the door and stepped into the tiny cabin. There was barely enough room within for the two of them to stand next to each other. One would have to sit on the narrow bed to allow the other space to change. The little porthole window above the bed revealed only gray light and fog.
Tessen yelped as he dropped his rucksack on the floor. The pain in his back was only barely shrouded by the pain of his own panic mingled with Kemi's. “Of course I'm hyperventilating. Why wouldn't I be? Someone just tried to kill you. Or kidnap you. And I was useless.”
Kemi threw her bloody tunic on the ground, then stepped out of her pants and added them to the pile. “You were not. You defended me.”
“I couldn't–”
“Shut up.” She threw her arms around him and kissed him. Her panic transitioned into a desperate need to be touched. “You're covered in blood spray. Take off your clothes.” She sat on the bed and wiped blood from her skin as she watched him undress. Worry rose around her, then sank into the threadbare quilt. “You're having trouble raising your right arm.”
“I just need to work out this spasm.” He winced as he rolled his shoulders back.
“Come here.” She waited for him to sit next to her, then forcefully pressed her palm between his shoulder blades. “Here?”
“Yes.” Warmth radiated through his spine and the little knots audibly crackled before releasing. He smiled and slumped behind her on the bed. “Thank you.”
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