The prince studied her; she looked out the window, her eyes watching the clouds pass by the window. Now she did not look like the woman that had tried to kill him a few hours ago, but a child lost in a place in time.
“Why didn’t you kill me when you had the chance?” He asked. Looking back at him with her shimmering pools of blue; just one blink they turned to ice.
“I had orders to retrieve the staff without harming anyone.” She said.
“And my guards?” He asked raising an eyebrow.
“Your guards got in my way. I am normally quite gentle until I am not given any other choice.” She sighed.
“Why did you want the staff?” he pushed.
“Why are you asking so many questions? I got it because those were my orders.” She stood up from her chair, moving inches from his face as she grabbed his face with her fingers, pulling his tawny cheeks together. “He’s the one that is keeping me from tearing your face apart.”
“Adriana,” Aaron’s voice came from the other side of the door. “Bring the prince up to the bridge.” She closed her eyes and pushed his face out of her hands.
“Aaron’s loyalty to you must be very strong if he wants to spare your life.” She looked down at her right index finger; her nail grew out from her finger. “You won’t be hurt. I promise.”
“How can I count on a promise of a thief?” He said wincing at the sight of her long nail as it came closer to his arm.
“A promise may not mean much to you, but I have never broken a promise to anyone,” She said. “My promises can save your life.” She sawed through the leather belt.
Once his wrists were free, he rubbed the cramped muscles, “Thank you.” he whispered. She took his right hand and started to roll her thumbs on either side of his wrists.
“Phoebe doesn’t know to tie a proper knot. It always causes some discomfort.” She said, “Don’t be alarmed if they feel numb for a while; the feeling will return soon enough. Ready to meet the rest of the crew?”
“Did not realize I was being given a choice?” He said walking towards the open door.
“You first, down the hall and then swing a left to the stairs.” She said. Together they made their way through the cabin of the ship, her small hands on her back until they reached the stairs. Tapping his right side, she whispered, “Up the stairs.”
Walking out into the sunlight the prince spotted a new face from the crowd walking towards them.
“Don’t you just look like a lost puppy?” Braian said, laughing at his own joke. Pushing a stray strand of hair off his face, he showed his violet eyes off to the prince.
Adriana felt the prince shutter, “Shut up.” She growled, pushing the prince towards the bridge.
“Quite a pair of eyes on him.” he said. “Seems protective of you.”
“Jealous?” She asked. “Up the stairs, your majesty.” On the bridge, she walked over to Owen who was leaning against the railing.
“What’s wrong with you? Besides getting your ass handed to you, how many times today?” She smirked.
“Don’t start.” His scaly skin was peeling in the hot afternoon sun.
“I wasn’t starting anything. Were you starting something?” She said, crossing her arms.
“Are you two really going to do this right now?” Aaron demanded. They both mumbled their apologies, digging their feet into an interesting spot on the floorboards.
“Are they always like this?” the prince asked.
“Believe me your majesty, this is very tame.” He looked back at the prince. “I asked Adriana to bring you up here to start negotiations.
“What are we negotiating?” The prince asked.
“Your safe return. I know what has transpired over the last few hours is enough to get myself and my crew hung in the castle courtyard, and I would like to avoid that if all possible.” He said raising his thick eyebrows.
“What are your terms?” the prince leaned in closer to the larger man.
“You are returned, mostly unharmed, minus the few cuts and bruises you have now, and we,” he circled his arms out, “go free.” Aaron said.
“And my kingdom’s treasure?” he asked.
“That is where this gets a little dicey. We keep it.” Aaron said with a smile spreading across his face.
“And if I don’t agree?” he asked.
“Then we’ll still be keeping it, and you’ll get to tag along until we can drop you off somewhere safe. I’m sure we can make room for you. For a while. As I have always said, the more the merrier. In fact, that might not be a bad idea. Have you ever been to Burling? The river glows in the sun li-”
The ship turned violently slammed port side, interrupting Aaron as he spoke.
“What in the Gods’ names?” Owen said, grabbing onto Adriana by her shoulder, pressing her to his chest, anchoring her to him. Her fingers gripped onto his shirt.
Leaping into action, Aaron grabbed the young man, pulling him by his arm over to a wooden pole that was keeping the roof of the bridge up.
“Hold on to this your majesty; hold on for your life and for your future.” He whispered to him. Corbin nodded. The roof of the bridge cracked as the ship turned upside down.
Struggling in Owen’s grasp, Adriana reached out for the railing of the ship, “Let go.” She hissed.
“Your wish is my command.” He said letting go once her hands wrapped securely around the wooden structure. “Don’t be stupid,” he yelled. “I could have at least kept you from falling.”
“I’ll take my chances with the ground.” She said. Her nails biting into the wood searching for purchase to keep her stable.
“Everyone grab a hold of something!” Braian called, carefully making his way to the helm. “The engine is failing and we’re losing altitude fast boss!” He slammed his feet through the floorboard, shoving his feet into the holes it gave him the reassurance he would not fall out of the swiftly descending dirigible.
“Try to get her right side son.” Aaron pushed himself down in the side of the control panel behind Braian. His large body swayed with the ship as it rocked back and forth.
Adriana’s grip loosened on the railing. Her nails failing to give her the stability that was she desperately hoping for. Corbin noticed her struggling. Moving down the center pole, he made his way closer to where she dangled, reaching his hand out to her.
“Take it,” He yelled. Adriana looked up at his hand. “You will fall if you don’t.” She shook her head vigorously at him. “We have no time for this. You promised not to hurt me and you can’t fulfill that promise if you die.”
Throwing her hesitation aside she reached for his shaking hand, her fingers fanning in-between his. Pulling her to his chest, she wrapped her arms around the prince’s neck; he wrapped his free arm around her waist. Adriana could feel his heartbeat crashing against his rib cage.
They were holding onto each other as the ship came down.
Like a shooting star.
Chapter Four
Spells Against Death
Muting giggling slipped from behind the door. As it opened, the laughter roared to life as three children ran rampant up and down the stairs of the loft. Their feet hitting the floorboards, each step causing the settled dust on the steps to fly up in their faces. The room burned from the sunset pushing its way through the harbor facing window.
“Owen, Braian, Phoebe. Gather round. I want to introduce you to someone!” The children climbed down from the loft into the main room. A room with not much to it but the essentials. Chairs, tables, sink, and stove. The three took a few steps forward, curious about their guest hiding their face in Aaron’s parka. His smile was broad as he ran his fingers over his thinning grey tresses.
“This is Adriana. She will be staying with us from now on.” He pushed her from his side. “Come on, say hello.”
Adriana was a small girl, wearing a long black dress that almost covered her bare feet. The lace netting tickled t
he top of her feet as she waddled away from Aaron’s side. Her eyes were bloodshot, as if she had been crying and had not slept in a spell.
Braian caught a glimpse of the bloody fabric around her hand and wrist. Without hesitation, he advanced to her and took her bandaged hand.
“You’re hurt,” He said to her. “Does it sting?”
“A little.” She whispered. “It stopped bleeding a while ago.”
Braian gently squeezed her fingers, “Don’t worry, Phoebe is good at taking care of our hurts.”
“Yeah, let’s make sure it is not getting infected.” Owen said walking forward. He was just a sprout, so close to hitting his first major growth spurt. He snagged her other hand as they walked her over to the other little girl who had her hands out, ready to take her hand.
Phoebe unraveled the dressing to investigate the hidden injuries. “You’ll be fine,” she smiled at Adriana. “Just have to make sure we clean it every day.” She clasped her arms around the new child in a tight hug. “Welcome to the family.”
Adriana pulled away to look over the faces of the other children before settling her gaze on Aaron.
“Go ahead. Make yourself at home.” He urged her.
Letting go of Phoebe’s hands, she wandered deeper into the room. Her eyes scanned over the sparse furniture and walls filled with drawings and paintings made by tiny hands. The aroma of something delicious filled the air from the kitchen, mouth-watering. She turned around to face watchful eyes.
“I’m home.”
* * *
A thick pillow of black smoke filled the lush treetops of the Marw Forest. Blood soaked the green meadow and broken bodies were taking their final sleep below. Atop the tree, top canopy the dirigible released the dark coal-like smog from its body.
Inside the ship boxes, tables and chairs laid broken. The wood thrown about the room at impact was more suitable for firewood than the furniture they were supposed to be.
Lying in the middle of the pile of broken chairs was Phoebe; her hair sprawled and tangled around her, weaving into her clothes. Lifting her head, she opened her eyes to greet the new world around her.
“Oh Gods,” she whispered as she struggled to pull herself up. “I don’t have to wait until the morning to feel that one.” Looking over the interior of the airship, her eyes widened in shock.
“When I see Braian, I will warn him against the dangers of crashing. Again.” She said. Suddenly, a deep yell came from the outside. “Owen.”
Phoebe’s heart tightened as she scrambled to get herself to the door to the cabin. The voice yelled her name louder, closer to her.
“I’m down here!” She cried out trying to pull open the door. “The door is jammed.”
“Get back from the door,” She could hear his voice through the door. Owen forced his body into the door, heaving the frame forward three times before the wood groaned, the hinges snapped away. He threw the door to his side as Phoebe threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his torso.
“Thank the Gods you are okay.” He whispered into the top of her knotted hair.
“But look at you,” She said. She placed her small hand onto the right side of his face, pushing a piece of hair out of his forehead revealing a large gash from his temple down to his chin. His blood had formed tiny purple droplets around the wound. “We should get you cleaned up.”
“I can wait, I’m fine.” He placed his hand on top of hers, running his rough fingers across the back of her hand. “Braian is okay, he is gathering all the wounded onto the main deck. We haven’t been able to find Adriana or that prince. They may have been tossed from the ship on impact. Once all have been tended to here we’ll put together a search party to find them.”
“How many are injured?” Phoebe asked.
“A few have bumps and bruises; only about ten are badly injured. But there are so many dead; just so many members of our crew are dead.” He said looking down at the ground. “It was our responsibility to protect them, and now they’re gone.” Phoebe ran her fingers through Owen’s hair, trying to comfort him. “I don’t think it is possible to bury them all.”
“It’s okay. We’ll do our best for them.” She said to him. “We can build one funeral pyre and send them to the Gods together.”
“You should know. Braian was able to land us in the treetops of the forest. We seem stable enough so I don’t believe we will run into any problems.” He said.
“You want to run that by me, one more time?” Phoebe asked, raising her eyebrows at him.
“Tree tops of the Marw Forest. That’s where we crashed.”
“Which part?” Phoebe stammered. “East or West?”
“We haven’t gotten our bearings yet.” He said.
Phoebe pulled her hand from underneath his. “Damn, just my luck. I stole these boots from the market in Keyla. If we’re in the forest, then we’re not too far away from the city.”
“They are nice boots.” He said as he tilted his head and smirked.
“Shut up.” She hissed.
Braian’s panic-stricken voice reached them, “I need help over here!” They ran from the cabin through the rubble of the deck, following the sound of their brother’s cries. Their heels hitting the stairs up to the bridge where they found him with Aaron’s head in his lap. Aaron’s face was ashen, his clothes damp with blood. His brown eyes pleading to be closed.
“What’s wrong with him?” Owen had not realize he was screaming.
Phoebe needed no one to tell her what had happened. She walked over to the man that had been a father to her, kneeling down beside him.
“He’s dead.” She whispered hanging her head down, bowing as she placed her hand lightly over his eyes, shutting them for the last time.
“There was nothing I could do.” Braian said, tears forming in his eyes. Owen fell to his knees, his face towards the floor. “Please tell me, is there anything, I mean anything you can do?” His voice cracked.
In the world of magic and spells there was not one spell to bring a loved one back to life, not without great personal loss. A life for a life. But what kind of life would be brought back? She heard stories of corpses that went through reanimation. All of them ended tragically. Phoebe knew better. She could not do what he asked of her.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “There are no spells against death.” Taking a deep breath, she placed a hand on Aaron’s side. “A piece of falling metal must have cut through his torso. He bled out. Death would have come for him quickly.” She hoped.
“We have to burn him. Send him home to the gods tonight.” Owen said lifting his head. He did not fight the tears as they cascaded from his eyes.
“Not until we find Adriana.” Phoebe said. “She deserves to be here just as much as us.”
“What if she’s dead?” Braian asked. The image of her body, fallen from the ship, crumbled, bloody and silent flashed through his mind.
“I doubt it,” Phoebe whispered. She knew the fighting spirit inside of their friend. Death would not take her until she was ready to meet him.
“Start searching the ship for her and the prince. Braian, find a way down to the ground, and look for them. I have to start Aaron’s burial rites.”
Braian laid Aaron’s head down on the blood-soaked floor, his hands stained red. Careful not to trip down the broken staircase he jumped the last few steps, making his way to the railing of the ship, cautiously leaning over the side hoping that one of the ladders they kept on the sides was still intact.
“Phoebe,” Owen said taking a seat next to her. He placed his hand on her head, caressing her hair, “Are you going to be okay?” She looked up at him with tears swimming in her eyes. In all the years he has known her, he had never seen her cry, at least not like this. It was one thing when she cried when he had pulled her hair, and another cry out of heartbreak. Owen held out his arms and watched as Phoebe collapsed into them. Her body shook as she sobbed over the man that had treated her like h
is daughter.
* * *
Braian had made his way to the cabin of the ship. Frustrated he walked into the dining room, a few members of the crew were cleaning up inside.
“Hey, any of you come across a ladder in this mess?” He asked.
“No sir,” said a short man then dusty hair. He picked up a chair that had not mangled and set it to the side. “But there is a large hole over here so while you be looking for one make sure you watch where you be steppin’.”
“A hole?” Braian asked walking over to the direction the man was pointing too. Peering over the edge, he could see to the forest floor. The hole not only went through the cabin’s floor, but straight through the hull of the airship, “I hope no one was standing here when it gave way.” He whispered.
Owen came down the stairs, his face blank. Braian waved his brother over to where he was standing.
“I’ve never seen her like his. She’s just devastated. Aaron was the only man who treated her like she was his daughter.” He said.
“What did she always say?” Braian mused. “After so many years, her real father hadn’t realized that she’d gone missing?”
“Yeah, he was more worried about the family’s business than what her and her siblings were getting into.” Owen said. “She told me once that she tried to tell him she was running away, and he told her to make sure she was back before supper.”
“Father if the year material there. Aaron treated us all as if we were his kids. That speaks more on him than anything. Considering, he didn’t have to.” He said peering down the hole. “Do you see that? Looks like something sparkling down there.”
“Probably just some pots and pans from the kitchen.” the fyssh said.
“No, I’m serious. Very shiny. Might be the staff. I mean, have you seen it at all in this mess.” He said, pointing to the disheveled room.
“Leave it to you to find something we weren’t even looking for,” he laughed peering down to the forest floor. “We’ve got to get down there.” Owen was about to take a step forward, but his brother put his arm out catching him before he could jump.
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