“That makes little sense. Why would Aaron tell you to do that?” She asked.
Owen looked into Phoebe’s eyes, searching for the words. They had promised no secrets, but he wondered if she was ready.
“Look who I found!” They turned to see Braian shove a man towards them.
“What was that for?” Phoebe cried. When she looked down at the man, it was the prince lying in the sand, trying to get up.
“He’s following us. I want to know why.” his eyes narrowed as he spoke.
Owen stalked over to the prince, kneeling to his eye level. “Is it true? Are you following us?”
He turned his head and spat to his side, blood. “You have weird customs on how to welcome me back.” He mumbled.
“I can always knock out another tooth if you’d like.” Braian growled.
Corbin glared at him, “You hit like a nursemaid. Don’t flatter yourself.”
“Knock it off you two,” Owen said. “Why are you here?”
“Adriana broke our little deal. She promised me a way home personally. I need her to make due.” He stretched the truth. She had promised him a way home, but not personally. That was unlike her.
“Do you have another reason?” He asked, continuing to press.
“No.” His voice was flat.
“Maybe I should hit him harder.” Braian said.
“Hit me all you want, but it won’t change the answer. I just want the deal that she made to be honored.” He said.
“No one is hitting anyone.” Owen said.
“You are sand burnt. Maybe we should take him back to our room so he can clean up.” She said. The pads of her fingers gently dusted off the coarse sand on his shoulders.
“A warm bath would be kindly.” he smiled.
A metallic clink sounded as the prince stood up. He didn’t pay it attention as he followed the group towards the inn. The sound, however small, caught Braian’s attention. His gaze traveled to where it had come from. Shining in the daylight was a small silver key. It must have slipped from the prince’s pocket. It must belong to the vehicle he saw with him. If this was something he wanted, then the best revenge was to take it and not give it back. Once his nimble fingers plucked the key from the sand, all other noise seem to dissipate. Expect for the soft whisper of a woman’s voice, calling out to him.
* * *
Burling’s market filled with the morning’s hustle and bustle of life. Children ran off to the local schoolhouse, stopping and begging local shopkeepers for a sweet or two for the road. Adriana could never imagine doing that. The merchants in Belleza never gave away anything for free.
After everyone had left that morning she found herself unable to fall back to sleep. It was not as if she slept well, anyway. Aimlessly she wandered through the market, hoping to find something that looked delicious, but found nothing that made her hungry.
Her mind drifted to the disturbed woman who had stopped her in Keyla. How she looked at her with such rage, disgust, and fear.
“I wonder who she was. Maybe she knew my parents.” She wondered. “It’s so beautiful here. But I want to go home. It shouldn’t be too difficult to steal an airship; we could even commandeer a boat.” Taking the corner, she spotted Braian walking in her direction. His attention was not on her, but on an object in his hand.
“What are you doing?” She asked touching his shoulder.
He jumped back when he saw her, “I was looking for you!”
“Hard to do that when you are gazing longingly at your best friend.” She remarked. He jerked his head up, scowling at her. “What are you looking at?”
Closing his hand, he shoved them deep in his pant pocket, “What are you talking about? I wasn’t looking at anything.”
“Right. I’m going to head back to the room.” She spoke as she walked past him. It was unlike Braian to be secretive. He never lied to her, about anything. She turned to look at him again, his face was blank, and he appeared dazed.
“You sure you’re okay?” She asked.
He looked up at her, his eyes felt empty to her, “Yeah. Head back. I’ll catch up.”
When she reached the inn, she pulled opened the door to the room only to find a startled Phoebe. “You’re back.” she cried.
“Is Braian with you? We assumed he was out looking for you.” Owen asked.
“I saw him; he was acting a little strange. Do either of you know why?” She said, pointing towards the road.
“We need to talk.” Phoebe said.
“Can I clean myself up first? I haven’t had a chance to yet.” She asked.
“No, that’s not a good idea. We need to talk now.” her voice was demanding.
Ignoring her friend, she made her way to the bathroom door. Steam fell from the doorway of the washroom when the door opened. She did not hear them calling out for her to come get out of there, and she closed the door behind her before Phoebe could question her more.
“Owen? Is that you? I’ll be out in a second.” She recognized that sweet voice. His silhouette broke across the shower curtain as the man pulled it back to find wide blue eyes staring at him. The color draining from her face, “I’m sorry; I didn’t know it was you.”
Her fingers shook as she pointed at him. “You have a-” before she could finish, the room went dark.
* * *
“Wake up.” Phoebe said, her voice echoing. “I think she’s coming too.”
“What is-” She whispered, her body urging her forward.
“Lay your head back down. Now, speak slowly. Does your head hurt?”
“No.” Adriana grunted.
Phoebe rolled her eyes and continued to question, “Do you know why you passed out?”
“I saw Corbin in the shower.” She stated.
“That would scare anyone.” Owen laughed.
“Rude.” Corbin muttered. “She didn’t see me naked. It’s not like I pulled the curtain all the way back.”
She focused her eyes on the prince. Her eyebrows creased together, “He has a tail, like me.”
Phoebe and Owen looked at him. He nodded slowly, “It’s true. I have a tail.” He said, sitting on the edge of the bed. It creaked under his weight.
“How can that be?” Owen said. “We’ve seen no one like her. Does your father have a tail?”
“No. He doesn’t. It was a trait I received from my mother.” He said. “My father was the one that told me to hide it for so many years. He said it was dangerous if seen by the wrong people.”
“So you lied to us earlier.” Phoebe said. “There was another reason you followed us.”
“Yes, I wanted to know that I wasn’t the only one.” He whispered.
“That brings up a great question.” Adriana sat up on the bed, crossing her legs. “How did you get here? And why?”
“That’s two questions,” He said. “I got transport from an old man in Keyla. It was strange. Like he was at the right place at the right time.”
“But why?” She pressed him.
“Do you remember where you are from?” He asked. “I don’t. I want to know who I am.” They watched each other, his eyes searching for the answers she was unwilling to part with.
“You’re lucky.” She whispered.
They heard the latch on the door open, Braian sliding himself into the room. Closing the door, pressing his back into the wood, the lock latched again. His face looked empty of color, and even his eyes seemed to pale. Little beads of sweat collected at the hair around his temple.
“This place is crawling with soldiers. All looking for a girl that with cat ears and a tail.” He said, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
“So was that guard in Keyla, but I took care of him. I’m not worried about it.” She muttered.
“These men were not wearing the same colors as him. Someone else is looking for you. They don’t look like they are looking to talk if you catch my drift.” He explained.
“Did t
hey saying what they wanted?” Owen asked.
“No.” he said. “But some people in the market were pointing them in this direction. They are heading this way. What do you want to do?”
Corbin stood from his seat and grabbed his sword from the small wooden table in the back of the room.
“How many are there?” He asked.
“I was more concerned about warning everyone; I didn’t have time to count them.” Braian said.
“As someone who is accustomed to fighting, you should be able to make a good approximate guess.” Corbin spoke in hushed tones. Afraid that the enemy was just outside their door.
“Why? You can’t be seriously thinking about taking them on?” He asked. “You wouldn’t survive.”
“You don’t really care if I survive.” Corbin spat
Phoebe stood between them, her hands outstretched, her delicate fingers ghosting over their shirts, “Stop this now! They are after you. What do you want to do?”
“You can’t expect me to make that decision.” Adriana said.
“Are you not capable of making a decision?” She hissed at her friend
“Not one you have ever agreed with.”
There came a rapid knock on their door. Heavy footsteps marched on the other side.
“Open now or we will break down this door!” the voice sounded rough, “We believe a member of the Iglesian tribe is in this room!”
Owen stretched his arms behind his back, unlatching his two large swords from their sheaths. Phoebe grabbed her daggers from her belt and from her left boot.
“Once they break down the door, we attack.” Adriana pulled out her two daggers from the sheaths attached to her hips.
“Open up now!” The man yelled from the other side.
Phoebe looked over at her friend, “Why do they want you?”
“They think she is the only one left.” Corbin walked in front of her. “I guess we have a surprise for them. If they want you, they will have to go through me.”
Lightning struck with the final blow of the soldier’s fist. He pushed the door to the side as if it were a feather. His eyes were cold; they made icicles in her heart.
“Come with us and we won’t hurt your friends.” When he spoke, the words reverberated in her chest.
“Somehow I don’t believe you.” She whispered before she dove between the prince’s legs. Sliding across the floor, she slammed into his armored legs, sending him toppling over her. As he fell to the ground, she tore off the back of his greaves, sending her dagger through his calf.
“You stupid little girl.” the man said, grabbing at his legs. The tang of a sword came down onto his head, severing it from the shoulders.
“You shouldn’t call a woman stupid. It’s rude.” Corbin said.
“Here comes the cavalry.” Owen said. Swords strike together as five more soldiers walked into the room.
A hulking man in ironclad armor stomped up to Phoebe.
“Oh you are tall. What has your mother been feeding you?” She said, swinging her dagger at him. He jumped back as the blade scratched his chest plate. Grabbing his sword, he stared her down. “I guess you don’t want to pick on someone your own size.”
A blade came hurtling at Braian. Lifting his arm, he tried to block the blow, but the edge cut through his shirt and carved through the flesh of his forearm. Using his legs, he kicked the man’s feet from underneath him, taking his sword by the handle in the process.
“Dammit, if that scars, I’m going to kill someone.” He said through gritted teeth. The guard grunted as he got onto his feet, “Do you people ever learn?” He threw the sword at the man, spiraling in mid-flight, the blade halted at impact with the enemy’s skull.
“Stop showing off.” Owen said.
“It’s not showing off if it saves my life.” He replied tugging on the pommel until the blade came loose from the enemy’s skull.
Adriana jumped in front of a man that had gone running after Phoebe. He hesitated. “What’s the matter?” She said, “Don’t hit girls?” When he laughed his helmet reverberated. “Come on, I’ll even give you a free shot. Five—four—three. Got to take it fast.” The soldier picked up his sword and swung it at her stomach. “One!” Her dagger she parried his attack.
“You forgot two.” He grunted.
“Yeah about that. I lied.” She grabbed the long sword from his other sheath, stabbing him in the chest.
Everything stopped when a blood-curdling scream escaped.
“Retreat!” A soldier cried out of the corner of the room. Only the few soldiers left fled the room. The children turned around, their eyes surveying the room, trying to find who had screamed.
In an ocean of red, laid Phoebe’s small body, crumpled on the floor. She was gasping for air and her tiny hands were grasping her cotton shirt, blood seeped out from between her fingers. Owen rushed over to her side, placing his hand on top of the wound.
“I’m okay.” She said, her air whistling out her lungs.
“We need to get you to a healer.” He said.
“We can’t take me to a healer here,” she said. “Once you walk in with me, they’ll arrest you, and while they are busy with you, I’ll die.”
“She’s right.” Corbin whispered.
“Then where do you suppose we take her?” He said, clutching her to his chest. “She will die in a few hours if we don’t get her help!” Everyone fell silent.
“Corbin, you can get us an airship, can’t you?” Adriana asked. “All you need to say is that you need a way home.”
“Yes, but they will give me one already with a crew.” He answered.
“Exactly.” Braian said, walking towards them. “That’s where we come in. We’ll take care of any leftover crew.” Stretching out his shoulders, the popping of his joints emphasized his meaning. “That still doesn’t answer the question of where will we should go? I cannot think of a place nearby that would welcome us. In addition, the villages that do not know us wouldn’t be able to help. Wait.” He snapped his fingers, “There is a place we could try. It’s not on any map, but it’s worth a shot.”
“No.” Owen groaned. “You can’t possibly believe that myth? We need real solutions, not a fairy tale.”
“What myth?” Corbin asked.
“The lost city of the mages.” Braian said, “They have mages whose main purpose are to heal the sick and wounded. The stories say they help any travelers who need it. And we need it.”
“Are you willing to place her life on a story?” The prince asked.
“She’s like a little sister. Yes.”
Chapter Thirteen
Getaway
Pacing back and forth along the carpet, an elderly man shuffled between two large bookcases. He touched a leather-bound book before his fingers danced to the next. Finally landing on the book he had been searching for. He noted he would need to ask his room keeper to organize his books by author, not by title.
“Your Highness?” a small woman entered the room, bowing her head. “Your son is outside. He wishes to speak to you.”
“Let him in.” He said. The woman disappeared behind the door.
“Good morning Father. I was hoping I could ask you a question?” Corbin asked upon entering the room.
“You can ask me anything my boy, what is it?” The king turned to his son, putting down the book onto his desk. His wrinkled fingers lingered on the binding.
The prince took a deep breath, “How come you never talk about my mother?” He asked.
Silence filled the room. He could feel the tension from his father radiate across the room. The king walked towards his son; his arms wide open until he reached him where he enveloped him in a hug.
“Son, your mother was the most beautiful women I had ever seen. I loved her from the very moment I saw her.” the king spoke.
“Then where is she?” he asked.
“Why do you wish to discuss such things that will only upse
t you more?” His father walked back to his desk and picked the book up once more. “You should read this book one day, it tells the tale of our city and its history.”
“I don’t want to read about Eskorgan’s history, I want to know about my history. Why am I so different from everyone? Why must I hide my tail from everyone?” He asked.
“Because it is for your safety!” The elderly man yelled. “You don’t realize it now, but your destiny was already decided the moment you came into this world. I can only protect you for so long. You are special Corbin, your mother loved you fiercely, and that’s why you are with me.”
“I’m sorry for the intrusion my Lords.” the woman came back into the room. “There is a ruckus going on outside and the guards are requesting his majesty’s help down in the treasury.”
“What kind of ruckus?” he asked.
“One guard outside the wall said it was a woman. She broke past them and heading towards the dungeons.” She explained.
“I’m on my way.” the prince said. Before he walked out the door, he turned to face his father again, “Enjoy your reading.”
The king sat down in his chair, wincing at the pain as it shot up from his legs, “I wish you would not worry of things that have yet happened. Your time will come soon enough, my son.” He shook his head as he opened the book to a chapter titled “Historic Gemstones”. His breathing labored.
* * *
Corbin marched his way through the airship terminal. His shirt riddled with cuts and blood stained in splotches across his chest. After trying to scrub the stains from his shirt Adriana halted his cleaning, it was more believable for his story and before he could protest, she was splattering the red substance on his clothes.
Braian had scouted the terminal and found what he believed to be the city’s flagship. They would borrow that one. It could travel the fastest and would be the easiest to fly with a minimal crew. All he had to do was convince the soldiers that guarded the entrance to her hold to let him on the dirigible.
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