Conquest

by C B Samet

  “I could use the physical activity as well,” he said.

  He could, but I’d also noticed he’d seldom left my side since we’d escaped captivity. Mal walked on the other side of me.

  I turned by head back and forth between them. “Aren’t you two being a little overprotective?”

  “Mal is here?”

  “Mal has barely left my side since the shipwreck. Much like you.”

  Baird smiled. “Grant us a little peace of mind, won’t you? We saw your mortality—witnessed that the Avant Champion isn’t invincible. We almost lost you. For days I didn’t even know if you were still alive.”

  He’d hesitated before saying the word mortality, and I thought he might say fragility. I wasn’t fragile. Not once had I ever been some delicate egg on the verge of breaking. Well, maybe once.

  “I had the advantage of Mal telling me you were still alive,” I conceded.

  “Since you are here somewhere, Malakai,” Baird craned his neck around to the other side of me, “thank you for what you did.”

  “What did he do?” I asked.

  We stopped outside of Jacob’s bungalow.

  “I believe Mal healed me during my incarceration. I didn’t know what it was at the time, but when I saw him heal you, I realized it must’ve been him.”

  I glanced at Mal who shrugged and looked away. “I didn’t do much. Some internal repairs.”

  I turned back to Baird. “He said ‘you’re welcome’.”

  I knocked at the door.

  Sweat dripped off my brow as I swung the ax. I didn’t use my stone. The work I was doing held no urgency, but I needed to do it. I needed the cathartic act of chopping wood—a simple feat of accomplishment. Physical labor for the sake of physical labor. It worked to disconnect the mind and body. My arms, my axe, and the thwack, thwack, thwack of successive blows were my only reality in this moment. Crithos, and whatever violent future awaited me when I arrived there, were someone else’s concern. The knowledge and worry that once I left this island I didn’t know when or how I would return had no space to fit between my huffing breaths and perspiring body.

  Me and the tree. Me and the Unideit—a source connecting all living and inorganic things. It was an energy of wholesome love and renewable strength.

  Sometimes, I wondered what life would feel like if I could shrug off my worries into the ebb and flow of the energy of the Unideit, but I didn’t know how accomplish such a feat.

  I’d gotten better over the years at meditation, but my longest concentration bout was still only about twenty minutes. After a short time, I’d start thinking about the last meeting at the castle, or the next task to tackle, or the need to plan family meals for the week.

  Baird had chopped wood with me for an hour and then left to take a break and eat lunch.

  “Letting off steam?”

  I glanced behind me to see Trad approaching with an apple in one hand.

  “Yes, I am. How’ve you been?”

  He selected the stump of the last tree I’d chopped and sat down on it. “Life is good. I started building my own place.”

  I resumed chopping. “Oh? Are you inhabiting it alone or with someone?” My mother had told me of Trad’s plans to build a home, but I wanted to hear his side of the story.

  “I hope with someone.”

  “Really? Who?”

  “Selina.”

  “Oh. I like Selina.”

  “So do I.”

  I came and went often on the island and interacted with the villagers enough that I knew most of them. They knew if they asked me for something from the mainland, I’d bring it back with me the next time I returned. Selina, I recalled, had me bring back a blue, silk scarf to give her mother as a birthday gift one year.

  “You… you really are just going to chop down this area the entire time you’re here?” He swept bangs out of his eyes as he appraised the wooded area.

  “No. I’ll spend time with Rebekah—and you and the family.” I’d chopped halfway through the trunk of my next woody victim. “But I grew weak in the belly of a ship for two weeks. I can’t face the forces of Bellos weak.” I also couldn’t be idle while we waited for two, long weeks for our boat to be built.

  Trad peered at the stack of tree trunks I’d piled off to one side of the clearing. “You’ve amassed quite the pile.”

  I wiped sweat from my brow. “You’re welcome.”

  “Beg pardon?”

  “I’m contributing to your future home.”

  He stood and looked more carefully at the pile of wood. “That’s for me?”

  I nodded between the chopping of my ax. “I already made arrangements with Jacob. I chop it down; I give it to you. I thought you could use if for the new house you’re planning with your future wife.”

  He sat back down and rubbed his neck. “Thank you.”

  After a moment, he added, “I’m glad it’s you.”

  “Are you now?” I turned to look at him and catch my breath.

  He shrugged. “I know you. I know what you’re capable of accomplishing even if I haven’t seen it with my own eyes. You won’t give up, won’t quit. I want to know my niece and nephew are safe. Even if you can’t return to deliver the news yourself, I know you’ll succeed—because it’s you. I wouldn’t feel that way about anyone else.”

  I swallowed and blinked back a tear. He’d made me sound so steadfast, I couldn’t very well cry in front of him.

  “Well, perhaps except Bellok,” Trad added. “I don’t think my dad has ever neglected a task or given up on something he’d set his mind to. Not that he’s faced something this big before... Anyway, you understand what I’m saying.”

  “I do. And thank you.” I took a step closer and placed a hand on his shoulder.

  He gave me a wry grin. “Champion or not, you’d better bathe before tonight’s meeting.”

  I punched him in the shoulder.

  He laughed. “I hope you hit harder than that on the battlefield.”

  “Let me tell you about the time I fought a giant in an arena …”

  After entertaining Trad, and him granting me the appropriate amount of awe, he left. Alone in the woods, I sat on a stump and drank water.

  Mal dissolved into view.

  “Hi, there.”

  He created a stump and sat, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees and looking deliciously handsome.

  I probably looked frightful—with sweat on my neck, blisters on my palms, and bits of wood in my hair. Well, he’d seen me looking worse. With the way he watched me now, one would think I was sparkling clean wearing a royal gown.

  I rubbed at the blisters on my hands. “I have no way to thank you for everything you’ve done for me. Words seem woefully insufficient.”

  Mal cocked his head to one side. “I hope you know one of my actions were in expectation of something in return.”

  I felt the intensity of his gaze.

  “I know.”

  “I hope by now you know why I helped you—why I’ll always help you.”

  “Yes.” My voice came out as a dry rasp.

  Mal knelt down in front of me. I stared up into his dark eyes and long lashes. His strong jaw was covered in fine stubble. His lips were full and slightly parted.

  He slipped his hand between mine, and the tingling sensation of him healing my blisters caused me to suck in a breath.

  When he finished, he rocked back on his heels and then sat back on his stump. “We need to talk about the magic between us.”

  I cleared my throat, but still felt breathless after his contact. “We do?”

  “Magic not chemistry,” he clarified with a wink. “Some other time we’ll talk about the chemistry.”

  I stared into his eyes—like rich, dark chocolate. “Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish the two.”

  He grinned. “Magic is what’s going to help us win the war.”

  “My stone?” I didn’t know what he referred to.

  “Do you remember the sensat
ion when our hands touched while simultaneously touching the scepter?”

  I leaned back. “Um. Yes. Again, it’s difficult to discern chemistry from magic.”

  “Orrick suggested you and I may be able to fully access the scepter stones with you wielding it. I can partially draw magic from the scepter when I’m merged with you—the way I healed you. But the healing was incomplete—evidenced by your star. Orrick thinks the connection may be complete if we’re merged and you’re holding the scepter.”

  “You’re saying we could have the power of seven Che stones—water, fire, air, light, land, health, and strength? We’d be unstoppable.”

  “If the theory is right.”

  “It’s a good theory. It’s worth finding out. We’ll need a way to steal the scepter.”

  Footsteps approached, and I looked up to see Baird.

  “We’re stealing Malos’ scepter?” he asked.

  I smiled and stood. “Yes, we are. Mal and Orrick think Mal and I together may be able to activate the combined stones in the scepter.”

  Baird scratched his beard. “And if it doesn’t work.”

  I shrugged. “We’re no worse off than when we started.”

  Baird’s brow furrowed. “By the time we reach Marrington, the castle will be under Bellosian control. You’re talking about breaching fortified walls and a sealed vault.”

  I glanced at Mal and winked at him. “I’ve got the Prince of Darkness and the world’s greatest thief. What can’t we steal?”

  I greeted friends and village members as everyone mulled about the gathering room before my mom began the meeting. Most people kindly asked about all of my children. They inquired to Baird about the monk sanctuary and if he had any new trainees.

  Bellok’s voice boomed through the room. “Attention everyone!”

  Silence blanketed the room. The hundred or so people in the room took their seats. I sat in the front row. Bellos sat beside me, and Nadine took the empty space, standing in the front of the room.

  She began her unscripted talk. “I want to thank everyone for coming this evening. We’re here to address concerns we’ve all had at Abigail’s unusual arrival.”

  Interesting. Everyone had grown so accustomed to my rapid, unannounced appearance through star travel that my arrival via Andi after a shipwreck (like normal arrivals) was considered unusual.

  “Queen Rebekah received concerning reports that Bellos had hostile intentions toward Crithos. She assembled a diplomatic entourage, including Abigail and Baird. The very night of their arrival they were ambushed by Bellosian forces within the Castle Victoria. The Queen was assassinated, and Abigail and Baird were captured.”

  Murmurs of surprise and concern undulated through the room.

  Nadine continued to breeze through the details of our imprisonment and ocean voyage up to our arrival here.

  “The surviving ships are en route to Crithos with the intention of conquering the continent. We’ve no reason to think we’re in any danger. However, Abigail must return and must defend Crithos.”

  Between my parents and Trad, I felt certain most of the people on the island knew my powers extended beyond star travel. The crowd here would understand the importance of my return.

  “Abigail and Baird have commissioned Fortus to build an ocean-faring canoe.”

  Hushed whispers spread again as Nadine silently watched the villagers.

  “However, as a newly shipwrecked victim, Abigail has no possessions with which to purchase or barter.”

  I frowned. This meeting wasn’t supposed to be about me.

  “She needs our help,” Nadine said. “She needs items to barter for the components of the canoe and for Fortus to make the boat.”

  All eyes fell on me, and a creeping flush spread from my neck and into my cheek. I squirmed slightly in my chair.

  Selina stood, her taupe cotton dress billowed and then settled. “Abigail has faithfully brought me material from the mainland to make clothing for my business. I will provide one new outfit for each person who helps her cause.”

  I started to open my mouth to protest when Mitok stood. He was one of the fishermen. “Abigail brought her late-husband to heal my wife when she fell ill. I’ll donate one of my canoes.”

  Mother Moon. I’d forgotten about Mitok’s wife. Joshua had healed her broken bones, but the cure had been temporary since she’d had advanced cancer. The healing had at least given her more quality time with her family.

  “Abigail brings me spices for the bakery I wouldn’t have had otherwise. She’s never charged me above market cost—never taxed me for the time and effort. I’ll bake a fresh loaf of bread for everyone contributing.”

  I gave Wynn, the baker, a grateful nod.

  Fortus stood and removed his straw hat. “Abigail has brought tar to pitch my boats. I’ll take on the labor at no cost, but I wouldn’t mind a pair of trousers and a loaf of Wynn’s fine rye.” He grinned at Selina and Wynn.

  One by one, the villagers stood and recounted what I or my late husband, or Baird, or my mother had done for them over the years. Some were grateful for requested supplies, others recalled when we’d saved them from the harbor wave and helped them rebuild, others were healed, and others were reunited with their families after being shipwrecked.

  By the end of the recounting, tears streamed down my face. I hadn’t considered how my actions over the years had positively impacted so many people. The gratitude enveloping me was positively overwhelming. As the meeting came to a close and it became clear the boat construction would cost me nothing, I stayed as everyone filed out of the meeting hall. I hugged them and thanked them one by one as they left.

  27

  MALAKAI

  While Abigail spent her afternoon unleashing pent up aggression on Jacob’s lot of trees, I went to see Orrick. He sat in a small siting room across from Natalie, sipping black tea.

  Natalie cocked her head to one side when I dissolved into the room. “Mal?”

  “At your service, Natalie.” I smiled and bowed before turning to Orrick. “You’re enjoying tea while Abigail works tirelessly to make her way back to Crithos.”

  Orrick smiled but didn’t make eye contact with me or Snake Eyes who floated nearby. “Natalie, did I ever mention how I admire your patience? After everything I’ve explained to you, you understand that we must wait for the invasion.”

  Natalie sat perfectly straight in her blue satin dress. “My external display of patience doesn’t reflect that I’d like to warn everyone.” She turned toward me. “How is my mother?”

  “Safe and well. She’s having a boat built on Misty Isle so she can sail back here.”

  I crossed my arms at Orrick. “Why aren’t you busy warning everyone?”

  “I would like to do just that,” he continued to speak to Natalie and not me, “but the outcome would be disastrous.”

  “So you’ve mentioned.” Her tone remained courteous. “You said you peered into the future and Minister Tarik didn’t believe you. You’d be accused of dark magic and imprisoned.”

  “There you have it,” the wizard said, partly to Natalie and partly to me. “I can’t protect Natalie if I’m incarcerated.”

  He leaned closer to her and lowered his voice. “You know how younger brothers can be—second-guessing you, and impatient, and demanding explanations for everything.”

  Natalie cracked a smile.

  I discovered that I wasn’t averse to jokes at my expense if it made one of Abigail’s children smile.

  I gazed out the window as I asked Orrick, “You’ve a plan then to keep Natalie safe?”

  “Natalie is quite familiar with the layout of the castle, having befriended some of the waitstaff. We’ve identified a secret antechamber where we can hide. We’ve already begun stashing food and nonperishables—and water.”

  Natalie interjected. “What happened to you that you’re a spirit and can’t be physically present?” Her voice sounded mature, but the question still held a child’s curiosity.
<
br />   I exhaled with a chuckle. “Life,” I replied, before adding, “It was a curse.” There wasn’t any point in confusing her with the truth of the cyclical monster who possessed me, so a curse like one from the fairytale books her grandparents had given her seemed a plausible concept she could grasp.

  Natalie’s face blanched at the word curse. She opened her mouth, but hesitated. She asked, “Are you helping to make amends? Trying to break the curse?”

  “That’s a good idea!” Snake Eyes said.

  “If only it were so simple.”

  Orrick explained, “Mal isn’t cursed because he did anything wrong. He was caught in a series of unfortunate events. He is helping your mother because…”

  “Careful,” I warned. Orrick didn’t need to start spouting my feelings for Abigail to her daughter.

  “…because he’s a good person at heart.”

  “Can the curse be broken?”

  Orrick folded his hands in his lap. “It’s complex, my dear. But the honest answer is I don’t know.”

  Of course it can’t, I wanted to snap. Not for the price the world would have to pay.

  Natalie eyes filled with a compassion I didn’t feel worthy of. “Well, for your immeasurable aid with all you’re doing and giving now, perhaps when this is over, we can find a way to break the curse—or find someone who can.”

  “Thank you, Natalie.” I gave a bow.

  “Are you going to let her find a cure for the curse?” Snake Eyes hovered by one of the candlestick holders mounted on the wall as he poked his finger in and out of the shiny silver object.

  I didn’t answer him since Natalie would overhear, but I didn’t have to worry about anyone ‘breaking my curse.’ When the war with Bellos ended and I was stuffed back in my stone, Natalie would be busy running the kingdom as the new Queen.

  While Abigail spent her days between chopping wood, studying navigation, and learning how to sail, I performed reconnaissance.

  “Where are we?” Snake Eyes asked. “We’re back on a boat?”