by A D Lombardo
Kai awoke with a gasp.
As he lay there dripping with sweat, his heart raced. He grabbed some paper on his side table to write down all the details of his dream. He’d taken to writing down his dreams; it was the only bit of advice from Sigry he’d followed. Not that he shared any during their sessions, but it was quite useful when trying to piece things together.
Finished jotting his notes, Kai looked around his room and realized he’d slept all day and into the night. On his way to his balcony, he took a deep breath and gleaned. His mind searched through the palace and the surrounding grounds. In the orchard, he found Rayna. What could she be doing at this hour in the orchard?
Concerned why she was awake, he dressed and sneaked out through the hidden passage, exiting in the kitchen. In the orchard, he found her on her knees, hugging a tree. “Are you alright, Rayna?” Kai knelt at her side.
“I don’t think I am,” she sobbed. “The dreams are getting more intense, and the fever is becoming unbearable. Again tonight, I saw the stone wall, and there was more. In the end, I was in the forest, holding a green heart-shaped crystal, surrounded by three girls. They spoke in rounds of broken sentences. Kai, I am frightened, but I still want to go.” She was dripping with sweat and brought to tears.
“I think this is what Haygan meant about the gift burning itself out. We need to go, and we need to go now. Or suffer through this. Kendra says it could take weeks.” Kai placed a hand on her shoulder. Heat emanated through her shirt. “Have you truly made your decision?” he asked, hoping she had come to the same conclusion. It was time to leave. He wanted this, but he would not force her to go.
She let go of the tree. Craggy bark indentions marked the side of her face. “Have you?” Tears ran down her face, and she looked away. “I want to go, but how can I leave them? They need me. I love them too much to leave them. It would break their hearts.”
Kai sat beside her and pulled her close. “Dori and Levi chose to be your parents. They want what is best for you. If you stay, you will resent them. At the very least you will spend your life wondering what might have been. Like me, they want you to be happy. Either way, I will respect your choice. And they will respect your choice.”
She sat with her head on his shoulder and wiped the tears from her face. With a deep breath, she sat up. “You’re right. If I don’t follow my heart, I will resent them. Charlotte is here to help them. She is a great woman. They have always pushed me to follow my dreams. They told me to go. I told them I wanted to look for my birth parents and that I loved them. They will always be my parents, but I need to know why they left me.” She shifted to her knees. “I’m ready. Ready to leave. I want to see this through.”
“Here, let me help you.” He stood and pulled Rayna to her feet. “I will speak with Dresnor. He can arrange for a boat to cross Baden Lake. We’ll land north of Albey. You should tell your parents I am taking you to Albey because you’ve discovered a plant that can help us in your books. Then we will search for your parents. I have no idea when we will return. Make sure they understand we may travel to Katori before we return. This will be our cover story to everyone.” He squeezed her hand.
◆◆◆
It was only a few hours before dawn when Dresnor came to Kai’s room. He had already told Kendra his plan, and she’d sent word to Sabastian and Yulia. They would do whatever they could to see he at least had the chance to try.
“Good, Philip, you’re here,” Kai said as Dresnor entered. “I need you to arrange passage across Baden Lake. Rayna has discovered an herb in her research that may cure our fever. She believes it is imperative that we leave straight away. Can you get us on a ship?” Kai paused to catch his breath and wipe the sweat from his brow.
Dresnor stepped forward. “Kai, are you sure you should be traveling? Perhaps I could go and retrieve the herb if you could provide a sketch and some idea of where to look.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I don’t believe we have that kind of time. We cannot risk you bringing back the wrong plant. And I believe freshness plays a part. By ship, we can be there mid-afternoon. I wish Rayna and I could travel alone, but we both know you would never let that happen.”
Dresnor nodded in agreement. “You’re right. I would not allow that, Your Highness.”
The use of his rank told Kai a lot. “Let me be honest with you Dresnor, as it will help you explain it to the others. When we reach Albey, I will need to leave your care. According to Yulia, who will be coming with us, the Katori people may help us, but only if we come into the Zabranen Forest alone. After we are well, Rayna hopes to inquire about her birth parents. I have no idea when we will return. My current plan is to spend the summer in the mountains.”
“Are we meant to sit idle while you travel without protection? I think not.” Dresnor insisted.
“Dresnor, you cannot keep me from going. And if you think returning to Diu without me is wise, by all means, do so, but we are going. We have no choice—they have a cure, and we must go alone. Now, we both know you are going, and you will not return without me, as that might appear to some that you abandoned your post. So, I only want Kempery-man Albey and Captain Drew to go with us. They are the only ones without wives and children.
Kai hated asking Dresnor to leave Marabella. She meant the world to him, but he was honor-and-duty-bound to his service as a Kempery-man. “I will not waste my breath trying to convince you to stay.” Kai pressed the side of his head, hoping to ease the pain. “I know you will not listen. Take the time, speak with Marabella. I am sorry there is no time to get your affairs in order. Thank you for your service, your friendship, and your loyalty.”
Kai saw the depth of dedication and continued with a heavy heart. “I don’t want to draw a lot of attention to our departure. I will inform Cazier, and he can tell Dante in the morning. Do not tell the boatman who they will be transporting until we depart. We leave at dawn.”
“That is not enough men. What of Redmon? Scouts? Guards? I don’t like this, Kai.”
“Trust me. If I could leave all of you, I would, but you would only hunt me down. We need to go and go quickly. John will understand, he has a wife and child. I cannot ask him to choose. We need a fast ship. There will be little room for men and supplies. As I said, Yulia will also be traveling with us. We need to board a cutter. We need Dante’s ship, the Dragaron. I leave it with you but get us on that ship,” Kai said in a firm tone.
“Understood. I will give each of your men the choice.”
Kendra knocked and entered his room. “Prince Kai, Kempery-man Dresnor. Please excuse my interruption. I have brought you some water. The food supplies you requested await your departure in the kitchen. Is there anything else I may prepare?” Kendra gracefully asked, with a curtsy to Kai for Dresnor’s benefit.
Dresnor nodded slightly. “Prince Kai, I will see to your arrangements straight away. I will find you when we are ready to depart.”
“Thank you, Kendra,” Kai said before gulping down the water she’d brought him. “I have no idea how long we will be gone.”
“I wish you well, Kai. I hope you make it. In all my years, I have never seen anyone wait this long, or the fever become this intense. You must hurry. Only take Dresnor with you into the woods. The less men with you, the better. When you reach the first waterfall, send him away. Do not let him go any further.”
Her tone seemed sad, but her eyes were serious. “The Guardians will not let him enter the Zabranen Forest. Tell me you understand?” she asked with a frightened look in her eyes.
“I understand,” he insisted. “I must speak with Cazier before I leave and inform him of Rayna’s cure.” Kai pushed out with his senses to search the palace for Cazier. Sure enough, he was in his office within the tower.
“Goodbye, Kendra.” He wrapped her in a hug. “Please do me a favor. I’ve no time to check my room. Please clear my desk and burn whatever you deem necessary.” He tossed his dream journals into the fire. He took the journal Rayna had given him and s
hoved it into his pack. “You and I both know if we make it, there is no telling when I will be allowed to come back.”
The thought of leaving made his heart well with emotion. He only hoped he would return before his father so he would be able to explain why he left.
Kendra’s eyes also filled with tears. “I will take good care of your family. You will make it, and we will see one another again, I promise you. Sabastian and Yulia await your departure on the docks. Yulia will sail with you and assist if she can.” She wrapped him up in another tight hug and kissed his forehead. “Be well, little man.”
◆◆◆
Pack in hand, Kai stood outside Cazier’s door and knocked. When the door opened, the look on his cousin’s face told him it was painfully obvious to everyone he did not look well. “Kai, please come in, sit. My word, you look like you’re burning up. Why do you call on me at this early hour? You should be in bed, or better still with a physician.”
“Adrian, I need to tell you something. I leave within the hour by boat across Baden Lake for Albey. Dresnor is making my arrangements as we speak. It would seem Rayna has found a cure,” Kai said, taking the offered seat. “The only catch is the plant we need means traveling into the Zabranen Forest. It may also mean dealing with the Katori. Yulia will travel with us. If the Katori people accept helping us, I do not know how long it will take. Also, we plan to search for Rayna’s birth parents. It is my desire to spend the next six months in the Katori Mountains. Take care of my family until I can return.” Kai looked out the window behind Cazier’s desk to control his emotions. “Tell my father I love him, and I will return.”
Cazier leaned forward in his chair and placed a hand on Kai’s arm. “Sounds like you’ve made up your mind. Good luck. I will take care of your family. Riome will get to the bottom of Nola’s duality, and my other spies will find out her true identity. Be well, cousin. I will miss our late-night talks. Send word when you can.”
Cazier’s words surprised him. He felt sure Riome would have told him by now that Nola was a Penier, Landon’s older sister. Why had she kept that a secret? She was playing a dangerous game. Kai only hoped it would not get her killed. For now, he would trust in her methods and hope she found what she needed.
“I will send word when I can.” Kai stepped back quietly and left the way he’d come.
Before leaving, he stopped by his room for one last look. There were so many things he wanted to take. Rayna’s chess set sat neatly on the sofa table next to a stack of books he meant to read. Most of all he would miss the memories. Little moments he would cherish. His little sister Cordelia playing with Smoke, or Seth and Aaron’s snowball fights on his balcony. Pulled from his reverie, Kai felt Seth enter.
Seth tugged at Kai’s pack. “Are you going somewhere? Were you leaving without saying goodbye?” Seth asked in a sad, confused tone.
“Yes, Seth. I am leaving for Albey. I am sorry, I didn’t want to wake you. Why are you up?”
Seth ignored the question. “Why Albey? You’ve already been there. I thought you would be home this summer. Especially now that you are not traveling to Milnos.”
Kai hated to admit it, but Seth had always been his favorite brother. Seth was a clever boy, stirred by mischief. Curious about how the world flowed around him. Like Kai, Seth challenged the rules, questioned everything, and had become rather brave in recent years. Kai’s departure would be painful for Seth, and he knew it. They shared similar interests and fed off each other’s boldness.
It felt wrong to lie, but everyone needed to hear the same story. “You know I have not been well. I have learned there are herbs in the mountains near Albey that could help me get better. There are Katori people who know these plants and remedies. I am hopeful that if I can find them, they might be willing to help Rayna and me.
“How did Rayna get sick too?” asked Seth.
“Do you remember when your mother was sick, they kept her away from everyone?”
“Yes.”
“The physicians want to avoid exposing the illness to others. I am afraid I did not stay away from Rayna when I got sick. Now she is also sick. Does that make sense?”
“It does.”
“Come. Let me walk you back to your room.” Kai dropped his pack and followed Seth.
It would possibly be the last time he would walk these halls. He would miss his family, but he would miss Seth most of all. It was a long and somber walk, and it made him feel a little better to spend this quiet moment with Seth. Outside Seth’s door, he bent down. “Take care, Seth.”
He hugged his brother. Seth’s little arms locked around his neck. Although he wanted to say more, he dared not promise he would return. Sadly, his brother pushed open his door. Seth gave him one last look and closed his door. The moment clawed at Kai’s heart. He hated leaving like this. Still, he turned on his heels to collect his things and meet his group.
Covered by the cowls of their cloaks, Kai and Rayna boarded the boat that would take them to Albey. His Kempery-men stood strategically onboard, and he was not a bit surprised to find Kempery-man Redmon among them. Kai gave them each a nod. Yulia was the last to board, and the boatman set out to open water.
A cutter was the fastest way to travel—a light ship with large sails and a streamlined hull. The Dragaron was not a fishing vessel or a supply runner. She was meant to move swiftly and carry news across Baden Lake. Dresnor had done well. The Dragaron was the quickest ship to get them to Albey.
It almost made him wonder what favors Dresnor had to offer to take Dante’s ship for their use. The grand duke was a busy man, and his correspondence must flow through the land. Of course, there was the off chance Dresnor had not asked Dante; in which case they were all going to be in a heap of trouble. No matter, Kai thought, they would all settle their debt another day.
Happy to be out on the open water, Kai felt optimistic about their chances. The cold spring breeze felt good on his face. He removed his cloak and helped Rayna do the same. It felt good to have the weight off his shoulders and let the air dry his sweat-soaked shirt. The fresh spring air made him feel better than he had in days having been cooped up in the palace. The slight rocking motion of the ship gliding across the smooth morning water was nearly hypnotic.
Kai could almost feel the promise of uncertainty in the air. His future was wide open, and that thrilled him. For the first time in his life, he controlled his destiny. He could be anyone or anything he wanted. Caught in a wave of emotion, he felt torn by the life he was leaving behind and the future he wanted.
Was it wrong to choose his own path? His biggest fear was having Iver believe Kai had turned his back on everything his father had tried to create for him. Kai was not abandoning his family or the Diu people. He merely wanted to explore his Katori heritage. More importantly, he needed to find his mother. And his gifts and the Katori were his only option. He pressed his hand against her necklace hidden beneath his shirt. Ever since Iver had given it to him he’d worn it to keep it safe.
While his men stood clutching their cloaks for warmth against the spring breeze, Kai stood at the prow of the ship, Rayna at his side. His heart panged for the only home he’d ever known, and he glanced over his shoulder to watch the morning sun gleam off the white and gray stones of the palace high above Diu. He wondered if this would be the last time he ever saw his home.
Kai let his eyes linger on the Master General’s tower. The tall white tower stood proud and strong against the early morning sky. His thoughts went to Cazier and Riome, his mentors. Cazier had become more than family, if that were possible. He would miss his guidance and Riome’s intensity. He would miss so much about his life there. His city, with its layers of complexity and determination, those that thrived and those that worked diligently to scratch out a living.
Rayna shifted in his arms and offered him some water. Focused on their destination, he looked across the vast lake. The cold air returned his strength, and he felt hope for their success. This was the future he wanted, a life
with Rayna by his side. A life in the real world, no longer sheltered by the Galloway name.
Dresnor leaned against the railing watching, always watching. Kai could almost see the wheels turning in his Kempery-man’s mind. He could only guess at the questions that plagued him. Neither Dresnor nor Kai knew how this was going to end. They had no plan, no idea how they would explain Kai’s departure. His unexplained disappearance into the Zabranen Forest would cause considerable disruption throughout the city.
Kai’s men would be held accountable for his loss should he not return. They would be unable to return to Diu without him. He knew this, and so did they. Their loyalty to him was immeasurable. He could tell by the looks on their faces they knew this was a one-way trip, and the burden of his choice was now being carried by his men. Struck by the unyielding dedication, he approached them. Silently he shook the hand of each man. Uncertain was their future, yet they each chose to go with him.
He was blessed.
The End.