Torrents (DROPLETS Trilogy Book 3)

by Rauscher, Meaghan

  Like two jet streams across a blue sky, we shot off through the water toward whatever awaited us on Lathmor.

  20. Lured

  “Nervous?”

  “Not even a little bit.” He gave me a side grin, but I noticed the way his hands twitched. He was more on edge than he cared to admit and had been quiet ever since leaving the island. I had done little to encourage him to speak—our thoughts consumed with what lay ahead.

  The dim light from the chartreuse orb descending in the sky cast the hill leading to the palace in tinted darkness. Although I could make out the insides of some of the homes, I saw no one milling about. There was a sense of urgency in the air; something akin to how it had felt when the Hyven attacked. Only this time it would be the other way around.

  Our feet brushed against the tips of the grass, sometimes padding against soft patches of dirt, until we reached the smooth marble steps. Climbing side by side, we moved as though of one mind and I took solace in the thought of how comfortable I was beside him.

  The throne room was nearly empty, aside from various groups of Lathmorians huddled together. Their faces were haggard, and they glanced our way as we passed. Some sat near the statues, facing the throne, while others stood in circles, their arms crossed over their chests. Every single mermaid and merman I could see was garbed in black, their waists decorated with sturdy belts holding sheathed daggers. Simply seeing their worry confirmed my own, and my heart slowed as though I was seeing everything from a distance. Beside me, Patrick ducked his head, not looking any of them in the eye.

  He led the way toward Tunder and Shaylee’s chamber without asking for guidance. When we reached the top of the spiral stairs, his hand moved to push it open before I could warn him to knock.

  Elik and Tunder stood with some of the Lathmorian leaders around the table of maps. Kryssa was among them, and when she glanced my way, I noticed her arms were filled with other documents. Her brow furrowed as she took in my expression. I wanted to shout out loud Patrick remembered, but there was nothing I could do to take this moment away from him, or them.

  “Right here, we will flank inside the surf and…” Tunder’s words seemed to run together as he leaned over the table, the soldiers surrounding him in agreement. He continued to point and direct his hand over the map until all other sound in the room slowly drifted away because of our entrance.

  They turned to look in our direction, and I stared at Kryssa, waiting for her to notice. A sharp gasp issued through the room, but it wasn’t Kryssa who made the sound.

  Instead, Shaylee’s awkward form ambled forward. Her eyes were filled with tears and when she looked between the two of us, I nodded. Kryssa dropped the stack of papers in her arms, and they cascaded to the floor while her sister tried to wrap her thin arms around Patrick; her large belly preventing her from getting too close.

  As though my acknowledgement had broken some sort of curse hanging over the room, everyone began to talk at once. Some shouted out greetings, others talked to one another. The cacophony was tremendous in comparison to the overwhelming silence.

  All the while, he remained by my side. He hugged those who offered their arms and when Nixie ran forward he scooped her up as though she was a child. Her laughter was magical, and the joy I felt inside threatened to break loose. I wasn’t the only one struggling. Kryssa continued to stare at him, her mouth frozen in a smile, and Shaylee was forced to sit down so she wouldn’t stumble through her tears. It was only when Elik came forward and offered him a handshake that I had to pull my eyes away.

  From behind the table, Tunder remained in place. There was something in his eyes which I hadn’t seen in a long time. His mouth was still turned down at the corners, but the lightness in his gaze let me know he was truly smiling in some part of him. I bit my lip and when he caught me staring, I glanced away again.

  Patrick was unfolding himself from a bone crushing hug when he looked up to the new king. He nodded in his direction and Tunder nodded back. I wanted to make them shake hands or something, but knew better than to be rash in Tunder’s presence.

  “So, you’re back?” the king asked, having to clear his throat. I nearly laughed at how casual the words sounded. Shaylee rolled her eyes.

  “Yes, sir,” Patrick replied, the term of respect sounding awkward.

  “And you remember everything?”

  “Yes,” Patrick said again. Tunder flicked his gaze to mine in confirmation. I nodded back.

  “Good,” he said and returned to the papers on the desk. “We will need your knowledge of Hyvar.” He beckoned Patrick forward with a wave of his hand.

  “Tunder,” Shaylee admonished as though astounded by his lack of warmth.

  The king pinched the bridge of his nose and took another rather large breath. Ignoring his wife, he gestured to the papers as Patrick approached. “Are these accurate?”

  Patrick took his time in answering, but in the end he nodded. “They are, except for this,” he pointed, “we won’t be able to gain entrance from the back of the island.”

  “We thought Lathmor was protected by a cliff, why can’t we send a unit to climb up the back?” Elik had approached the table, seeming to breach the distance between the new king and once-turned warrior.

  “Because the wall is riddled with fake rocks. They are impossible to decipher, and if any weight is placed on them, they shatter, revealing daggers beneath. You would never make it to the top, or even off the wall.” He painted a grotesque image and I wasn’t the only one to see the logic in it.

  Tunder nodded again, refusing to look up at Patrick. “Then the rest is accurate?”

  “Yes, and this is the best place to initiate an attack.” He pointed to a different spot on the map, drawing a line which was invisible to me from where I stood. “They will expect you to launch an attack here, or here. Instead, you should attack in the center. It’s the strongest place on the island.” He left his finger on the map as though holding the position.

  “Then why attack there?”

  “You’ll be able to get in before they can thwart you.” Patrick’s thoughts seemed to be working faster than every other mind in the room. “How many are you taking with you?”

  Tunder murmured some number to him and I found myself straining forward, as the other soldiers watched the conversation flowing between the two men. They were in a world of their own.

  “Then you’ll have enough to send a first wave in here, and here. Then launch a second one immediately after, but directly at the center. It will hit them where they are most confident, and if we’re lucky, some of the Hyven will be drawn out to help with the first attack. If we get the second unit in where they least expect it, then we will close them in, cutting off any escape.”

  “That’s the idea,” Tunder said as though thinking out loud, and the corner of Patrick’s mouth lifted.

  “Sir,” Voon spoke from across the room. I hadn’t realized his presence at first, but it made sense he would be here. “Are you certain we should take so many?”

  Tunder heaved a sigh and his shoulders seemed to slump. “We’ve been over this already.”

  “Yes,” Gendra agreed, but she shook her head in opposition. “Are you certain it is safe to only leave fifty behind?” My mouth hung open. Kryssa was serious yesterday when she said Tunder was planning to take all of Lathmor with him. With only fifty merfolk left behind, Lathmor would seemingly be abandoned. I could hardly think of what the palace would look like with so few. Thinking of the many merfolk who would be attacking the shores of Hyvar made my heart rate accelerate.

  Tunder’s eyes flashed at Gendra, and he straightened to his full height. “I understand the risk.”

  I couldn’t help looking toward Shaylee, I was certain he understood what he was risking more than anyone else. If he was wrong and the Hyven decided to attack Lathmor while we were gone, Shaylee and her unborn child would be forfeit. Even thinking of the danger made me shiver.

  “This will be a battle for the end. I’ve h
ad enough waiting, the time is now.” As Tunder spoke, he looked pointedly at each of his leaders. I counted seven of them standing in the room. Part of me felt a little ashamed, not knowing all of their names or which units they were in charge of. “If the Hyven come here, so be it. Nothing has pointed in that direction, but we can never be sure.”

  Patrick shook his head before he spoke. “He’s waiting.” All eyes turned to him. “Morven won’t attack. Not now.”

  “What makes you so sure?” Kryssa asked. Somehow she had managed to load a tray with drinks while the conversation was taking place. She offered one to Patrick now, but he dismissed it with a wave of his hand.

  “I know him.” It was the only explanation he seemed warrant to give.

  “And you think that’s enough,” Gendra asked, her arms crossed over her chest.

  “Yes,” Patrick glared at her. “He won’t attack because he knows her voice is ready.”

  “But he will still want her,” Elik pointed out.

  “Of course, but it doesn’t mean they’ll come to Lathmor.”

  “Do you think it’s a trap?” Tunder butted in. His leaders were already beginning to doubt his plan, he needed every ally he could get.

  “No, but there’s no way around it. Sooner or later you’ll have to do this. He’ll wait as long as it takes.”

  “Then why can’t we stay here?” Gendra butted in again, and I wondered where this passionate dislike was coming from. She was obstinately against the plan.

  Patrick turned his full gaze on her. “If you want to spend years waiting in worry, then go ahead. He won’t launch a full scale attack after what just happened. But he’s patient. He knows all of you want this war to be over, but he can continue to pick Lathmorians off one by one until he gets what he wants.”

  Tunder took a glass off Kryssa’s tray as she passed by. “What would you suggest we do?’

  “Continue as planned,” he said it without faltering. “And we take her with us.” He pointed in my direction and a hush fell over the room, until one of the mermaids sighed. Others seemed to join her. Was I really such a burden?

  “No,” Tunder replied, setting the glass on the table. The red liquid sloshed for a moment before settling.

  Patrick’s back straightened, and he raised himself to his full height. Only one side of his face was visible to me, but I knew the look all too well. He had told me on the island he wasn’t the same anymore, and it was true. As much as he wanted to forget the warrior, it was still a part of him, hidden within his body. He was Patrick and Zale, all in one. His eyes flashed and the stony mask fell into place. I was expecting a harsh and straightforward statement from him and was surprised when he spoke logically.

  “You know as well as I do, she is what Morven wants. I will not leave her behind.”

  “Then why not hand her over to him on a silver platter?”

  “She is more capable than you think,” he pointed out, and I couldn’t help but feel my heart swell a little with pride. “With our combined abilities,” he emphasized the word, “we will be able to overtake them.”

  “They could be of use,” Gendra said, surprising everyone. Voon nodded beside her.

  “And what if you’re taken again?” The king cocked his head. “What if we do this and the next time I see you, you have no memory and become his puppet once more? Am I supposed to forget all the deaths you caused? Every battle, every scouting party came back with tales of your deeds. When I saw you on the island with Lissie, I couldn’t believe it was you, because I always trusted you were on our side. You were against Morven from the beginning, you hated him more than I did, and yet, look what he did to you. Are you really willing to place yourself within his reach again?”

  “That’s not—” I began, but Patrick held up a hand in my direction, cutting me off.

  “Say what you need to say.” He opened his arms wide, beckoning the king to chastise him further. “But you will have to come to terms with the fact I am on your side now. Ever since I first saw her, I have done everything for her. We are going, because we deserve it. ” Patrick heaved a large breath. “I know what I did, and I will have to live with that. It torments me, even now, when I think about it. If you believe I don’t hate him more than before all of this, then you’re wrong. I want him, and I will fight him. You can’t take that away from me.”

  Silence met his words. Tunder pursed his lips. He knew what had happened to Patrick, and though he didn’t realize the exact details which caused Zale to go into such a rage during the attack, he did know part of it was due to Morven’s commands.

  “Fine,” Tunder acquiesced, but I wasn’t sure if he was agreeing to my going or accepting Patrick’s help.

  “Then she goes?” Patrick seemed to need clarification as well. I bit my lip as Tunder debated.

  “Yes,” he said, his eyes snapping to me. “But you had better do as you’re told.” He pointed a finger in my direction and I nodded immediately.

  “When has she done otherwise?” Patrick asked, and I grimaced, preferring not to go down that road. The question was innocent enough, but even after Patrick finished speaking I could almost hear the nervous shuffling of feet. Tunder scoffed in response, but he said no more on the subject. Patrick’s gaze shifted between us.

  “If that’s settled,” Elik cleared his throat, “then you two had better report to the armory. We leave at dawn.”

  Without another word, Patrick turned on his heel and grabbed my hand before we reached the door. I was surprised to feel his hand twitch in mine.

  “Oh and Patrick,” Tunder said, just before we reached the door. He stopped and turned back to look at the king. “She’s your responsibility, make sure Morven doesn’t get to her.”

  “Then there’s no reason to worry.” Patrick spoke easily and even as the doubt of my own abilities crept in my mind, I knew I would be safe if he was by my side. The past had proved him more than capable of being able to protect me.

  “Good.” Tunder said and returned to the maps on the table.

  Supposedly dismissed, we left the room quickly and stepped into the hall. For the first time since Tunder had begun speaking, I felt myself take a real breath.

  “To the armory?” he asked.

  “To the armory.”

  _______________

  Finding the armory was easy. Activity was buzzing just outside the room, as merfolk filtered through the doorway carrying heavy belts filled with daggers. Inside was a similar scene of soldiers, holding up weapons to what little light they could find in order to inspect the sharpness of each blade. Though the murmurings of the soldiers created a constant thrum, I felt I could cut the tension in the air with a knife.

  There was a vast variety of weapons, laden on the table. Some daggers were smaller, no bigger than my thumb, others as long as my forearm. I swallowed heavily, taking in their sight, and hung behind Patrick as he scoured the tables. Shifting around some Lathmorian soldiers, we passed one merman in the corner of the room. He sat with a dagger across his knee, sharpening it with a wetting stone. The long strips of grating made the hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention.

  Patrick moved toward a dark table loaded with unclaimed daggers. He hadn’t let go of my hand since leaving the king’s chamber, and I couldn’t help but notice how his fingers had stilled upon entering the armory. This place was familiar to him. Even when he had been human, weapons were part of his world.

  Some of the Lathmorians shifted, giving us a wide berth, as small groups left the room. Others stayed and kept their conversations to a meager volume. I picked up a few of their words, well aware of the things they were saying about us. It was clear Gendra and Voon weren’t the only ones afraid of our accompaniment to Hyvar. The fear lay more upon my shoulders than Patrick’s; these soldiers had seen what he could do while in action and they would want his presence in light of the ensuing battle. My presence was something they couldn’t understand.

  “Here,” Patrick broke into my thoughts, holdi
ng a heavy looking belt out to me.

  “I have one.” My hands patted the flat pack strapped beneath my shirt. I had grown so used to it, I often forgot it was even there.

  “You’ll need this.” Without waiting for my response, he stepped closer and reached around me to secure the belt around my hips. Yanking on the strap, I was jerked onto the balls of my feet as he worked with deft hands to cinch it tighter.

  His movements were stiffer than they had been this morning, his mouth dipping at the corners and his brow furrowed. Strands of his golden hair hung into his eyes, and he kept his face turned away from me. When I reached out to touch his arm, he didn’t look my way, but shook it off as he continued to search through the daggers. He selected a few, and when he sheathed them, I held out my hand to place them in the belt. Ignoring my proffered fingers, he carefully shoved each blade into a particular holster, sometimes readjusting them.

  With each additional dagger, I felt the weight of the belt tug on my hips. The added weight seemed to only confirm my worries for what we were heading into. More than anything, I knew Morven would come for me if he could. He wanted me and would do whatever was necessary to get to me. I could only hope my voice combined with Patrick’s abilities would be enough to get us through.

  He shifted beside me, fingers still twitching while he perused the daggers. It was only when he handled the blades, his hands calmed. Every now and again, he shot a frustrated glare over at the merman in the corner. The shrill scrape of the rock on metal ringing throughout the room.

  “Hey,” I said and reached out to touch his arm again. He was lifting the knives and balancing them on the tip of his finger. If they didn’t withstand the test, he let them clatter to the table in no particular order. He ignored my touch, but this time, he didn’t shake it off.

  Waiting patiently, he finally turned my way after he had selected eight blades. His mouth curved at the corner and when his eyes finally lifted to mine, I saw something I never would have expected.