The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Two: Beyond the Veil Page 15

  Regardless of the Syet nature, the plains and grasslands of Vaeduec were more desirable for a traveler than that of Palinon to the southeast. Palinon was a death trap from the dangers of the desert alone, without even considering the creatures who lived there. The Feh Noq. Desert dwellers. More primitive than the cultured people. In Vaeduec, the land might not kill an innocent traveler, but the Syet would. In Palinon – even if the Feh Noq let you live – the desert would claim you without mercy.

  “Some of the pirates in Luquarr claim to have trade agreements with the Feh Noq which would make passage through their lands easier, yet more difficult for anyone who tried to follow,” Callum cast a glance over to his father, seemingly uncertain. “I have no doubt that this is the route they will take. Not only does it add security, but the coastline of Palinon is the closest port between this landmass and Luquarr. It is convenient for them.”

  “How can we be so certain that you are not simply leading our men to their deaths in the desert?” Aiva scoffed, unable to hold back the acidity of her tone, her gaze accusing. Callum’s eyes shifted to her, pained at the sight of her hate-filled stare.

  “Callum knows the enemy better than anyone,” Edric stated, coming to Callum’s defense. Aiva wanted to laugh. Oh yes. Callum certainly knew their enemy better than anyone. Somehow she managed to bite her tongue.

  Determination could be seen in Thade’s eyes. He wanted to chase down those responsible for kidnapping his daughter. He was an intelligent man. A skilled tactician. Any route they planned would send their men into a battle that might claim the lives of many for the sake of one woman. Dangerous or not, Aiva knew he would go to the ends of Myatheira for his children. “We have little time for discussion then,” he nodded. “Callum, take your men and follow the trail. I regret to say you will have to lessen your numbers if the pirates are foolish enough to pass through the Palinoen desert. A large regiment would make the Feh Noq think we intend to invade, and we cannot risk a war with them over a misunderstanding.”

  Edric stepped forward. “If they track the pirates to the southern borders, we must have a ship waiting in Palinon. Land travel may take too long and even if they manage to catch up with the pirates, Callum would have no way to take chase once they embark for Luquarr. I must insist that I be allowed to accompany a naval unit along the western border from Tanispa. The waters there are more peaceful. We can cut through the waters between Mialan and Carpaen, bypassing Vaeduec entirely, and coming to port at the shores of Palinon to meet with Callum there. That would also increase numbers in case fighting has already broken out.”

  Thade nodded to Edric in agreement. “General,” he turned to face Cadell, his gaze almost sympathetic for what he was about to say. “You and I will take a second fleet from Siscal through the Nahpoa Sea down to Luquarr. Regardless of whether or not Shaelyn’s captors are intercepted, we will dock in Luquarr and see to it that this nonsense is ended once and for all.”

  Cadell showed no sign of faltering at the thought of going to war. He’d been through this before. During Queen Vorsila’s reign, he had witnessed the fates of Thade’s siblings at the hands of the Ven’shal. He was aware of the importance this mission carried if they had any hope of returning Shaelyn to safety. The last thing anyone wanted was to see history repeat itself within the Levadis line. “I agree completely with your plan, Your Majesty, however, I must inquire on one matter,” he stated calmly. “The waters around Mialan are tame enough, but Luquarr and Palinon are separated by far more treacherous water. If the naval unit makes contact with the pirates before Callum’s men reach port, I should be with the ship to direct it through the Vai’ld Sea.”

  “It is likely the Namirens will make themselves a nuisance while we pass through their waters. You and I are familiar with their tactics. I need you at my side.”

  “I am familiar with the Namirens as well. I should accompany you – ” Leyna’s voice was cut off by a sharp look from Thade. Everyone in the room was silent. They knew it would come to this. Leyna was not the type of woman to sit idly by and let anyone harm her family. The only trouble was that she was the Queen. They couldn’t allow her to leave Tanispa.

  Hugging her tightly, Thade kissed the top of her head. He grimaced. Not wanting to deny her; knowing he had no choice. “Leyna, you cannot accompany us.”

  “They have my daughter, Thade,” she said angrily. Aiva flinched at the rage in her mother’s voice. She’d never heard her sound that way before. Harsh and unyielding. “If you are going, then I will be with you. I will not allow you to go without me by your side.”

  “Darling, I know you are angry and frightened; as am I. But you are the Queen.”

  “And you are the King!”

  “Yes, and in that regard, I am more expendable than you.” His face fell to hear the words come from his own lips. “Our people will be in an uproar over the loss of their Princess. You are the one they look to for guidance and support. If you leave, I fear what that would do to our country. You need to stay here to make sure Aiva and the twins are safe.”

  “But what if you and Edric do not make it back?”

  “Then you will still have three children to carry on our family and remember us by. Do not risk putting our children in danger by leaving them without their mother.”

  Aiva watched the scene before her in shocked silence. It was all happening so fast. She hated how helpless she felt and she could only imagine how much worse it was for her mother, knowing that she’d been a soldier for so long and now left unable to fight for her own daughter.

  In the back of Aiva’s mind she couldn’t help feeling that this was somehow her fault. That Shaelyn would still be safe if she hadn’t insisted on confronting Callum when she did. He’d given the confession she wanted. It would have been easy enough to expose him there in front of everyone without giving him a chance to get his revenge. And to think they were sending him to chase after the pirates! Her entire family was in peril if she didn’t stop Callum before he was allowed to lead them to their deaths.

  Clearing his throat, Edric’s voice cut through the silence which had settled over the room, bringing the focus back to the task at hand. “Commander Varik can accompany me. He has sufficient experience in naval operations. I have no doubt that he is skilled enough to command the ship to Luquarr, though it will not be necessary. Callum will be with us when we leave Palinon,” Edric nodded, patting Callum’s shoulder confidently. “General Cadell can remain with the King. We will be fine.”

  “Very well,” Cadell nodded, facing the center of the room to announce his final decision. “Callum will choose his men and leave tonight. We can’t risk giving the pirates much of a head-start when they will already gain ground in Palinon, if that is their intended path.” He shifted his attention to the King with a respectful nod. “You and I will take our leave to Siscal first thing in the morning. It will take less time to traverse the Nahpoa Sea. We can take this evening to gather a unit for Edric and also provide transportation back to Sivaeria for the rest of your family. The palace walls there are more secure. We cannot risk anyone else being taken.”

  Her head reeled. She didn’t know what to do. Nothing of this nature had ever befallen her family before. It was frightening. Exciting, in a horrifying way. Everything around her felt surreal. Like something out of a book she’d read as a child. She couldn’t stand by and do nothing. Her mother had no choice but to remain in Tanispa, however, there was nothing keeping Aiva there. Her marriage was a joke. Worthless to her family. There was no chance of her providing an heir. The Queen could remain in Tanispa and raise little Sidonie and Ehren to take over the throne if anything happened to Aiva. This was her one chance to do something with her life. Something to help her family instead of hinder them.

  At the sight of Edric moving out into the hall she hurried after him, grabbing his arm to get his attention, pulling him off to one side, out of the way. “Edric,” she hissed. He was her only hope. If he would let her come with him…

&nbs
p; “What is it, Aiva?” There was concern in his eyes.

  Shaking her head, she tried to focus. “Edric, take me with you.”

  “What?”

  “Please. I have to come.”

  “I will do no such thing, Aiva,” he stated in disbelief. “You need to stay here with Mother. Someone has to look out for her while Father and I are gone. Besides, you would get yourself killed.”

  “But I know what is going on. I can help get Shaelyn back. If you leave me here, Callum will…” her voice faltered. Edric’s gaze hardened at the mention of Callum’s name, narrowing his eyes at Aiva, irritated.

  “Callum will what?” he demanded loudly. Aiva’s back straightened, nervous at the volume he used to speak. The others would hear him. Frantic, she waved her hands at him to be quiet. “No,” he argued. “Tell me, Aiva. Callum will what? Betray us? Is that what you are going to tell me? That he is working with the pirates? Have you not moved beyond that yet?”

  “He admitted it, Edric!” she gasped, trying to pull Edric further away from the door to avoid being overheard. “You told me to get Callum’s side of the story, so tonight at the reception I asked him – and he confessed to having been involved with the Esai spy.”

  The expression on Edric’s face faltered slightly. He tensed, glancing over to the door before settling his gaze on Aiva once again. “You are unbelievable, Aiva,” he frowned. “I am not going to let you anywhere near Callum until you cease these ridiculous games. You are not going to stop until he is destroyed and beheaded for these fictitious deeds you have concocted in your mind. Use some sense! Learn to be a Queen. Impartial. Just. Right now, if you rule over our people in the judgmental fashion which you look upon your husband then we are all doomed.”

  In a flurry of motion he moved away from Aiva, leaving her to stare after him. She cursed to herself. Angry with her family for not trusting her. They were walking into a trap and she was the only one who could stop them. The only one who could save Shaelyn. If no one would willingly let her come along, she would have to find some other way, and quickly, before Callum was able to get out of Tanispa again. He would be brought to justice for what he’d done. She would see to that.

  Chapter Six

  Clutching a small bag against her chest, Aiva sat, hugging her knees tightly to her body at the back of a supply wagon. All around her she could hear the shouts of the men in preparation to set off on their journey. She’d traded her wedding gown for a pair of pants stolen from Edric’s room and an oversized doublet. Suitable enough for what she needed. Dresses would be out of the question on a trip like this. She would need the freedom to move when it came to fighting. Right now, her biggest obstacle would be getting away from the palace without anyone learning of her absence.

  Outside she heard Callum’s voice, passing orders to his unit. She was surprised by the small number he chose. Aiva had counted only about ten men. Fifteen at most. Among them she recognized Kaemin. The other voices were harder to place. Nameless soldiers who took orders from a traitor.

  At the thought, she felt her anger start to rise again. If she ever got her hands on him – but no. It would be a difficult task if she tried to take Callum toe-to-toe. He was a far better fighter than she was. She would have to be more clever to defeat him. More deceptive. Something he wouldn’t expect. And from her hiding place, she would get a better idea of what kind of leader he was. For a man caught in a torrid affair with the enemy, the other soldiers seemed to love him. They respected him. Whatever he told them to do, they did without hesitation.

  “The trail shows them to be heading southeast,” Callum’s voice sounded through the fabric over the wagon. “They will try to find water to cover their tracks. The humans operate under the impression that we will lose them that way. We have the advantage of knowing otherwise. In the direction they travel now, the first major river they will cross is the Sovehu between Tanispa and Carpaen. They will need to stop for supplies by the time they reach it, which leaves Kaipoi the most likely city for them to rest. We will start southeasterly on the roads and check their trail again at morning. By then we should have a clearer idea of their intended course.”

  “Just be cautious.” She recognized Cadell’s voice. He was nearby, the sound of his words quiet, directed solely to his son. “I know you want to get her back, but don’t push the men too hard. If you wear them out, they will be useless in a battle.”

  “I know, Father.”

  Callum’s voice was muffled. Leaning forward, she struggled to hear more of what was being said. “We’ll meet up with you in Luquarr,” Cadell stated, the clarity of his words lost once again. Straining, Aiva was able to regain the sound. “The safest port is in Dackdyn. Rally there if the King and I have not yet arrived.”

  Despite her fear of the situation, Aiva was excited by the thought of getting out of Tanispa. She was going to see lands to which even her mother had never before traveled. It would be an adventure. And when she came back, everything would be made right again. Shaelyn would be safe and enough evidence would have been collected to revoke the marriage between herself and Callum. Edric would see that she’d been right all along and have no choice but to admit that he was wrong.

  Something was being thrown into the wagon. A final load of supplies. She had to crouch to avoid being seen, surprised at the pain caused by the movement. The blow she’d sustained during the earlier attack was more severe than she liked to admit. A concussion was very possible, though the physicians had directed their attention more urgently toward Herryk, as well they should. He had been in rough shape. He deserved proper care for having rescued her from the hands of a pirate. Aiva shuddered to think how the battle would have ended if Herryk hadn’t been there to pull the man away. She could have been killed.

  Reality was a difficult thing for her to grasp. Death had never been a threat before. Her parents kept her safely inside the palace, the most freedom she’d ever experienced from their watchful eyes having been during her time at Lady Faustine’s, if the tight hold Faustine kept could be called freedom. This was the first time she’d seen the horrors that existed in the world around them. In the back of her mind she couldn’t rid herself of the image ingrained there of Herryk’s face when he collapsed into her arms, bloody and barely conscious. It was too easy for her to think herself invincible. The frightening truth was that she was extremely vulnerable. She knew nothing of what she was up against. Leaving with Callum’s men would have her in over her head with no way to back out if she changed her mind. Suddenly it didn’t seem like such a good idea after all.

  Before she could consider climbing to her feet and out of the wagon, she felt it shift into motion. Stricken with doubt, she straightened her back, searching for a way to get over the crates and to the opening. It wasn’t too late. She could still stop them.

  What are you thinking? She couldn’t get out now. It was possible. There was no concern in her mind that a single shout from her wouldn’t immediately halt their progress and allow her to get off. What stopped her was the thought of Shaelyn. Trapped with those disgusting men. She knew nothing of how to defend herself. They would torture her. Aiva didn’t want to consider all the horrible things that might befall her. And all because of Aiva’s foolishness in running away from Callum.

  Resigning herself to the journey, Aiva laid down as best she could amongst the crates, propped up on the uneven edges. If Callum didn’t intend to stop until they reached Kaipoi, it would be a long trip. At least two days. Maybe less if they traveled without pause. From where she was tucked away, there was little else for her to do but wait. Closing her eyes, she blocked out the drone of wheels along the gravel road, smiling to herself in spite of everything. She’d been successful. She was on her way to war. By the time morning came, she would be too far from home for anyone to stop her. And she had no intention of letting anyone turn her around if they tried.

  Aiva passed the next two days in a sleep-filled haze. Her stomach growled, hunger pangs shooting through her w
ith a ferocity she’d never experienced before. Food deprivation was something a princess didn’t have to concern herself with. Every miserable second that passed, she regretted not having eaten at the reception. It had been three days since her last meal. She was dehydrated. Starving. Tiny dots of color pulsed in front of her vision. Her arms and legs were weak. By the time she felt the wagon come to a stop, she was convinced it was a dream. Could they really be in Kaipoi? She could only hope.

  It took significant effort to lift her head, listening to the sounds beyond the wooden planks. There were other voices chattering, wheels crunching over the gravel, laughter coming from somewhere nearby. They were in a city. Someone outside was giving orders to tie the horses off. Food. They were stopping for food.

  Relieved by the notion, she forced herself to sit up. Once the men had left the horses unattended, she would be able to slip out. No one in Kaipoi would recognize her. Especially not while dressed in her brother’s clothes. With enough care, she could even pass for a young man. Less reason for anyone to be suspicious. If a young woman wandered into the streets looking the way she did, it was bound to draw attention.

  She passed her hands over the clips in her hair, making sure they were securely in place, pinning the long ebon waves tightly against her head. She positioned a wide front-brimmed hat atop the mass of hair to conceal most of her face from view. She could almost pass for a soldier. Her downfall was the tremble so noticeable throughout every part of her body, nerves mixed with hunger and illness. Clumsy in her motions, she started to climb over the crates, nearly falling from the top of them as she reached the front of the wagon. Peering through the opening of the fabric which enclosed the vehicle, she scanned the area for anyone who might notice her sneaking out from inside. A few stray soldiers remained amongst the horses, their attention diverted to the other side of the street. Seizing the opportunity, she slipped out and leapt to the ground, straightening her doublet to make sure there were no visible wrinkles. It was loose, but that was something she would have to deal with.