“We will secure them,” Elaina replied, “but only with the help of the divine spirit. And to have that, we must show mercy.”
“I shall have General Valeriy provide for the supervision of prisoners,” Alethea said.
“Very well,” said General Yern. “We will be merciful where we can.”
Elaina smiled. “That’s all I’m asking. I appreciate the sacrifice your nation is making for us.”
“And Princess Alessa, how does this plan agree with you?” Alethea asked her sister.
“I like it.” she said. “But General, your men have never fought alongside Celmareans. Your troops will need to trust us, and allow us to fight in our own way. Where your men follow reasoned strategies, we follow our instinct, and it won’t always be clear to you what we are doing.”
“I’ve studied your tactics at Celmarea,” Yern said. “You were remarkably effective, despite the numbers and the technology not being in your favor. My men will not get in your way.”
“Thank you, General,” Alessa said.
“Your Highness.”
General Yern switched on the communications apparatus. Alethea discussed the plan in the Celmarean language with Nikoleta, who translated for General Valeriy. Elaina knew Jaimin was on the other end listening, and she wished she could hear his voice.
Finally, Alethea signaled for the apparatus to be turned off. “They are in full agreement,” she said. And to Elaina and Alessa she said: “Go now, my sisters. Prepare for the journey.”
“Oh, my dear, where are you?” asked Masha Ferrell, the dressmaker. She had made a special trip out to Alessa’s house to deliver another gown Alessa had commissioned for Elaina but had failed to pick up. She’d had to explain her business to three Destaurian patrols on the way. Masha wasn’t intimidated by soldiers—even enemy ones.
She found Alessa’s spare key and used it on the back door. On entering, she noticed that Alessa’s houseplants were desperately thirsty, and she smelled some staples languishing in the cooler, as its dry ice had completely sublimated.
Masha hung up the gown in the coat closet, packed the reeking perishables in a sack for off-site disposal, and satisfied the needs of the foliage before locking the place back up and saying a prayer for the well-being of one of her best customers.
CHAPTER TEN
I n the early afternoon, soldiers pulled open the main gates of Audicia’s palace, and Elaina, Makias, Alessa and their guards and escorts set out on horseback. Their horses, Silver Ustar—a strong Skarjian breed—snorted excitedly and puffed out white blasts of breath as they were driven hard down the main avenue. Copious snow was already blowing in on the west wind. Most of the townspeople were sheltering indoors, but there were plenty of troops around, a sign this nation was readying itself for war.
Although she had a high tolerance for cold, Elaina had taken no chances, and had dressed for a fierce blizzard. She and Alessa had packed on layers of thermal underclothes, light body armor, heavyweight military uniforms splotched with winter camouflage, scarves, waterproof caps and gloves, and fur-lined earmuffs.
Just like in Arra, the capital city was surrounded by farms, and where the flat, snow-covered fields ended, the dense forest began. Here in Audicia, though, the brown forest edge seemed much taller, and more foreboding, especially against the white-gray of the stormy sky. And knowing an enemy army many thousands strong patrolled this forest made it even less appealing to disappear into.
The Audician soldiers led the group through the forest as far as the border, where Jaimin had directed a band of Arra’s finest warriors to meet up with them. As soon as they identified the approaching group, Arra’s soldiers emerged from their hiding spots and raised their hands high, to show that they were no threat.
Everyone shared a quick, congenial meal in the trees near the border marker. Heavy snow spiraled down on them in dizzying swirls and waves. After the meal, the Audicians turned back to the city with the horses, and the well-trained Arran soldiers took over the escort responsibilities.
Xander handed Elaina and Makias crossbows and swords, just in case there was trouble. Elaina noticed that the dark leather hilt and scabbard of her sword were carved with intricate lace-like designs—Jaimin’s handiwork, no doubt. Alessa still had her favorite crossbow—an elegant one that had been a gift from her first archery instructor—and her long sword, which Jaimin had honed and returned to her.
The hike to Black Tube Caves from the border would take many hours, and it would be a true test of everyone’s fitness. Elaina found her legs painful after stepping through the snow for just twenty minutes. As she pressed on, though, her muscles seemed to get used to the idea they would be on a longer journey, and they stopped complaining.
The group crunched upslope and southward. The snow came down furiously now, and was starting to bury many of the forest’s features. Sometimes they had to revise their route when the leaders’ boots sank into mud or thorns, or broke the crisp ice coating a hidden stream. Elaina found herself brushing the snow from her clothes and cap every few minutes. She was sure her nose and cheeks were bright red from the cold.
“Does my nose look like a cherry?” Elaina asked Alessa.
Alessa just giggled and tightened Elaina’s scarf.
The plan was that every hour or so they would stop for a few minutes’ rest. During the first break, Makias swept the snow from a rock, making a seat for Alessa and Elaina, and he sat down beside them. He withdrew two mugs from his pack, and filled them both with fresh snow. He then topped the snow in each cup with a dash of green Skarjian tea powder, and two drops of jasmine oil from a crystal dropper bottle. He handed the first cup to Alessa.
“Look at that!” Alessa said. When she took the cup, the snow in it had turned to steaming water, infused with the fragrant oil and the swirling tea powder. Makias handed the second cup to Elaina, and her drink had also been transformed. A full cup of snow made only a few sips of tea—but that’s all they had time for.
“Not too hot, I hope,” Makias said.
Alessa tasted it. “It’s perfect!” She turned to Elaina, who was cautiously sipping her own. “Elaina, not many people can master this skill.”
“I’ll teach you both,” Makias said. “Alessa learns quickly. When I taught her how to breathe underwater she had it down in two days.”
“You can breathe underwater?” Elaina asked Alessa.
“Just for a few minutes at a time,” she said. “I would never claim that I had it down. Makias gives me too much credit.”
“You don’t give yourself enough,” Elaina said. She took a sip, then a gulp of her tea. The soldiers were already showing signs of restlessness and were eager to move on.
The snowstorm was indeed a blessing. Visibility was so poor among the bare trees that enemies wouldn’t be able to see the Arrans unless they were right up on them. Makias had been walking in the back, trying as best he could to manipulate the snow to muddle the tracks made by the group.
Midway between the second and the third rest stop, darkness was falling already, and Elaina’s thoughts turned to Jaimin. Soon she would see him again. Her trip had been—and still was—incredibly dangerous, but the fact that she was in love had made it easier to handle. Elaina formed the thought: Love makes it easier. And then she called out with her soul: Jaimin!
Elaina! came Jaimin’s quick response. He was at dinner with the troops. Are you all right?
Fine, she thought. I’m almost there. I love you.
Be safe, he thought. Don’t be afraid to use the sword.
Elaina put her gloved fingers on the hilt of the weapon on her side. Oh, no! she thought. Was she carrying one of Jaimin’s custom swords? Had he modified the blade so that it could slice a man in half? She couldn’t bring herself to lift the blade out to see if it had the characteristic glow.
Whup, flump! came a sudden noise from the back of the group.
The three royal guards pounced on Alessa and Elaina, pressing them face-first into the deep snow.
Elaina suddenly could neither see nor breathe.
She squeezed her eyes shut to keep the icy powder out. The guards on top of her eased their weight off slightly, which allowed her to lift her face and take a breath. She twitched her nose to get rid of some snow that had wedged in there. There were shouts above—the crunching of snow as warriors jumped to reposition themselves, and the clang of swords. Elaina couldn’t make out what was going on, but she did sense how perturbed Alessa was at being held down, prevented from joining the melee. According to guard policy, foreign dignitaries and the royal family could refuse protection on a case-by-case basis. Alessa just couldn’t get her mouth out of the snow to object.
More action above, and still Alessa couldn’t wriggle free of her bodyguards. Elaina was content being shielded. Although her heart raced, she tried to let go of the fear and trust her protectors.
Things soon calmed down, and the guards’ bodies relaxed. The men lifted the princesses to their knees.
Makias ran up to Alessa and knelt beside her. “They were following us,” he explained. “I think we got them all.”
“Thank you,” Alessa told Makias and the guards as she shook the snow from her hair. “But next time let me fight.” She and Elaina would later learn that the “whup” they had heard was Makias ripping the snow from beneath a pursuer’s feet, and the “flump” was the man landing hard on his backside.
The soldiers wanted to move on, but Elaina insisted on surveying the bloody scene. A half-dozen enemy fighters had fallen. Four bodies were severed completely in half at the middle, and their steaming entrails had slithered out and were melting the snow beneath them. One of our men has a modified sword, Elaina thought, although it wasn’t clear just which of them had done the butchering. Several halves of strong steel swords were strewn about the snow, their blades severed cleanly.
Elaina noticed that one enemy soldier, his body punctured but intact, looked to be barely clinging onto life. An Arran soldier noticed this too, and he ran up and held his sword at the man’s neck. “Wait,” Elaina shouted.
The soldier gave Elaina a scowl of disapproval, which would have earned him suspension if one of his superiors had seen it. He stepped back at the princess’s command. Elaina trudged up to the fallen Destaurian’s body and knelt beside him.
The man was half conscious, dizzily reviewing his life history, preparing for his soul’s crossing. Balls of light grew in Elaina’s palms and were reflected in her dark eyes. She placed one hand on the man’s wounded chest, and the other on his head, and his body flared with a brilliant glow. His wounds closed. His flesh and his blood rushed back to where they were meant to be. The lucky man went from being on the edge of death to feeling better than he ever had before.
Elaina leaned in and spoke in his ear. “What’s your name, soldier?” she asked.
“Dusan,” he said.
“The divine spirit has spared you today.”
“Your Royal Highness?” he whispered. Dusan was confused. He mistook Elaina for his princess, Princess Eleonora, whom he assumed was done up in a clever disguise.
“Shhh,” Elaina said to him. “While you are with me you’ll do as I say.”
Dusan nodded.
“Bind him,” Elaina told the nearest Arran soldier. “We’re taking him along.”
Elaina gripped her sword and braved pulling it slightly out of its scabbard. Sure enough, the blade shone blue against the dimness of the evening. Jaimin must have sent it north with Xander, she thought, to give to her when the time was right. He had certainly spent more time than was necessary decorating it, but she was touched that he wanted to make it beautiful for her.
She marveled at how in the same hand she held the power to restore life, and the power to take it away. She pleaded with the divine spirit to give her the wisdom to know when to use one power over the other.
Even though the recipe didn’t change from rest stop to rest stop, the ladies didn’t tire of Makias’s hot tea. During their fourth tea break, Makias asked Elaina, “What has Alessa told you about Celmarea?”
This was the first time Makias had addressed Elaina directly since she’d asked him not to. She was annoyed that he hadn’t respected her wishes, but she also realized it was awfully childish of her to block out a person, especially someone who meant so much to Alessa.
“Almost nothing,” Elaina answered.
“It’s a fantastic place,” said Makias. “When we get there—with your permission, of course—I’d like the honor of showing you around.”
“When we get there?” Elaina asked.
Alessa was quick to explain: “Makias is confident we can recapture Celmarea. He’s been planning for the return of our people to the island.”
“Wow! Would that be possible?”
“Sure. And I’d love to go back,” Alessa replied. “Things would be tough at first. There aren’t enough of us left to occupy one floor of the palace, let alone the areas of the island that were previously settled.”
“Well, it would be a start,” Elaina said.
“So you approve!” Makias said. He seemed thrilled.
“Actually,” Elaina said, “I remember asking you not to speak to me,” she said. “Alessa, is it possible I allowed him to speak and it slipped my mind?”
“No,” she said, chuckling. “You would have remembered. And I’m surprised by Makias’s forwardness. I warned him if he crossed you, you might do something awful to him.”
“I just might,” said Elaina.
“Makias,” said Alessa, “just when and how our people will return to Celmarea is the council’s decision.”
“As you say, Panuse.”
The entrance to Black Tube Caves was obscured by a natural optical illusion. The cliff faces in that part of the range were striated with alternating darker and lighter bands of rock, such that, from even as close as two-trees’ distance into the forest, the cave entrance just looked like part of the hillside.
On their way up the final slope, Alessa and Elaina batted the snow from each other’s clothes.
“I bet I look dreadful,” Elaina said.
“Nastasha said you must look your best at all times, didn’t she?” Alessa asked.
“Yes. And?”
“Well, given that you’ve been trudging through deep snow half the day, I’d say you look your best,” said Alessa.
“I suppose that will have to do.”
Alessa turned to Makias. “Come on, darling,” she said. “Let’s make an entrance together.”
“You go on inside,” he replied. “I need to cover up more of these tracks.”
Sentries had run inside to announce the return of the royal delegates. By the time the princesses stepped into the light of the main chamber, everyone was standing at attention to welcome them. Elaina locked eyes with Prince Jaimin as soon as she spotted him. Nastasha stood on one side of him, and Nikoleta stood on the other, and all three of them looked fine and businesslike in their snow-camouflage uniforms. Nastasha had her blonde hair pulled back in a huge braid. Nikoleta, looking much older than ten, wore her long, curly hair loosely.
Elaina wanted desperately to run up and kiss Jaimin, but etiquette demanded that she bow. As soon as the formalities were through, though, she grabbed his hand, pulled him into a dark corner, pinned him to the cave wall with her body, and bestowed upon him an icy kiss.
“I missed you,” Jaimin said, weaving his fingers through Elaina’s nearly frozen hair.
“I know,” she said. “I felt every minute of it. I tried to calm you, but you’re not always easy to reach.” She could only look upon his handsome eyes for a brief moment before she gave in and engaged him in another kiss. Dizzy with pleasure, they did not care in the least that everyone else knew what they were up to.
Elaina took a break to breathe, and she assessed Jaimin’s face—what she could see of it in the shadows. “I can feel how tired you are. You’ve been working so hard.”
“Yes, but I’ve been getting less tired when I use
my mending. I can finish three swords and their scabbards before I need to rest. Do you think that’s because of Kalmise?”
“I guess,” she said. “But you’re still only one person. You can only do so much.”
Jaimin looked down at her weapon. “How do you like your sword?”
“It’s beautiful,” she said, “for what it is.”
“Have you used it?”
“No, but I know what it can do.”
“I’ve sharpened myself a new sword too,” he said, “and I’ve used it. I took a man’s arms off with one swipe. I felt like I was back on the island.”
“I’m sorry,” she said. “You did what you had to do.”
“I’m used to repairing breaches, not causing them.”
“I know.” She kissed him again. “Jem, that was way too long for us to be apart,” she said.
“You don’t have to tell me. And I almost lost you.”
“Yes, you almost did.”
“I’m not sure I would be able to go on if I had.”
“Hush, Jem. Please. Even if something happens to me, you must keep working for peace.”
He was silent.
“You do believe, don’t you?” she asked. “That bringing the nations together is more important than anything? It was my mother’s work. It’s our work now.”
“What I believe more than anything else is that I’m never going to lose you,” he said. “So let’s not speak of anything happening to either of us.”
“Fair enough.”
“Are we any closer to an end to this war?” he asked.
She knew he was talking about the Radovan agenda. “More people are going to die before this is over,” Elaina replied. “But…we have a specific plan now. I need to speak further with Nastasha and Eleonora.”
“Eleonora? Your sister? Have you contacted her? Does she know you exist?”
“She doesn’t know yet, but tonight I must try to contact her. She’s been taken captive, most likely by my father himself. It seems he’s using her. Trying to get her into Kalmise to lure me there. He even had her husband killed and had his body tossed into her cell.”
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