Eden Forest (Part one of the Saskia Trilogy) (24 page)

came here as my guest. You didn’t feel this was important

enough to tell me?” Musa is angry now.

“Musa, I swore I would never use these powers again, so

therefore, Morrick had nothing to tell.”

Musa approached Tristan. “Yet you used them. Stay right

here until I decide what to do.” He turns and leaves the hut.

“And you, fix your dress.” Morrick’s face is red with rage.

A blush rises in my cheeks as I retie my dress at my shoulder

with shaky hands. “This might be acceptable behaviour in the

mortal world, to fling yourself at a man…” Morrick stops as

Tristan stands beside me. A muscle twitches in his jaw with his

temper.

“This is my doing. Leave her out of it.”

Morrick’s eyes become wide with anger, but his voice is no

more than a whisper. “Be careful, Tristan, you’re not the king

yet. I am still your king and don’t you forget it.” Morrick turns

his back on us, his shoulders heaving with anger.

Tristan’s hand squeezes mine gently. I look up at him and

he gestures for me to leave the room. I squeeze his hand back

before I go to my room.

I inhale deeply, willing myself not to cry. That’s all I seem to

do in this place. At moments like this, home seems so far away.

A life I lived a long time ago.

It feels like forever I pace my bedroom floor before the door

opens. Morrick looks over my shoulder, not meeting my eyes as

he speaks. “Musa thinks it’s best if you come out to hear what

he has to say.”

My legs begin to shake with each step I take towards the door.

My stomach turns with nerves. What will happen to Tristan?

Everyone is seated. Musa and another tribe member sit on

the couch while Mirium and Tristan sit on armchairs across

from them. A third armchair is vacant beside Mirium.

Musa gestures towards the chair. “Princess, please sit.”

Mirium gives me an encouraging look as I sit down stiffly.

Morrick sits at the table where I had dinner, all signs of my

earlier meal gone. This feels like court.

“This is Kia.” Musa introduces the man beside him. He

looks nervous; a sheen of sweat coats his bald head. His eyes

are focused on his feet. “Ziar was the man that tried to kill you.

This is his cousin,” Musa explains to me.

“I am sorry.”

Musa acknowledges my sympathy with a nod of his head,

but Kia just keeps his head down.

“Tell them what you told me, Kia.”

Kia looks at Musa, startled “But…”

“No buts. Kia, tell them.”

Then Kia meets my eye. “He was ordered to kill you.” He

holds my gaze; a hardness shows on his face. He turns to Morrick

to explain his case. “King Paulus threatened his family’s life if

he didn’t kill the princess.”

Morrick stands and approaches Kia. “Are you positive he

said King Paulus?”

Kia sinks farther back into the chair. “Yes, sir.”

“How did he get into Aquaterra?” Tristan asks. He doesn’t

look like he’s buying this story. I don’t blame him. Aquaterra is

very well guarded.

“When we were on a routine trade with Hummus, we passed

through the mountains and it was Ziar’s shift to gather water.”

Kia smiles at the memory. “He was so angry; he hated chores.

When he returned with no water and looking pale, he wouldn’t

tell me what happened. The men laughed, saying he was trying

to get out of it, and Ziar laughed along with their jokes, but I

could see he was afraid. The whole journey he was looking over

his shoulder and at night he never slept. When we got home two

days ago, just before you arrived, I questioned him.”

Morrick’s body is rigid in front of Kia. “You knew this for

the last two days?”

Kia’s eyes shoot to the door nervously. “Yes.”

Musa pats him on the shoulder. “You can leave now, Kia”

Morrick blocks his way. “He knew my daughter was being

targeted and you pat him on the shoulder?”

Musa isn’t intimated; he rises too. “Morrick, this is my land. I

will deal with Kia as I see fit, not you.” His last words rise slightly.

Morrick stands aside, but he watches Kia until the door

closes. “How did he know my daughter was here?” Morrick

looked at us all. “Someone has betrayed me.”

“Yes, it does seem that way, but accusing your men will not

get answers. You must test them.” Mirium says-wise words

from a wise man.

I don’t see the need for me to sit here; there’s too much

testosterone in the room. I get up and head for the door.

“Where are you going?” Morrick demands.

I turn back around. “To get some fresh air.”

Morrick looks at me as if I’m dumb. “You want to walk

around alone and defenceless after someone tried to kill you?

Remarkable.”

“Alana will stay with me.”

“Tristan, go get Alana and then come back here. We are not

finished”.

Morrick gives him a warning look.

Mirium is watching me. “Are you all right, Sarajane? You

must have gotten a fright.” The understatement of the year.

“A little one, Mirium.”

Tristan returns with Alana. She must have been close by. She

is dressed in another beautiful dress, not her fighting clothes.

Morrick shakes his head at the sight of Alana and me standing

together. “Maybe if someone attacks, you can smile your way

out of it.” Then he turns his back to us, visually giving up.

Tristan pulls a dagger from his boot and places it in my hand.

“Take this.” I go to object, but he tightens his hand around

mine. “Please.” Is he trying to push Morrick?

“Fine.” I wrap my fingers around it and leave with Alana.

We walk a while. Alana doesn’t ask anything. She lets me be

and I appreciate that. “Alana, what did Tristan do to you?” She

freezes. “I’m sorry. Never mind.”

Her body relaxes. “No, it’s fine. What did you hear?”

“Just Morrick said something about him using his powers

on you.”

“Come on.” I follow her back to her hut. It’s the same as

mine, only hers looks like nobody has even sat in it. I sit down,

glad for a rest without Morrick watching me disapprovingly.

“I am not from Saskia.” She sits down and takes a deep

breath. This isn’t going to be good. “I come from the Enola

Tribe, near Saskia, but we have our own ways. I had a sister,

Noria, and parents and friends.” Her face takes on a faraway

look. “We never gave any trouble to anyone and we kept to

ourselves. At the time, we didn’t even know who the king or

queen of Saskia was. We lived off the land completely.”

“You were happy?” I ask, but I can see by her smile that she

was.

“Yes, but then we were invaded by King Paulus and his men.

They slaughtered us.” Tears run down her face. “I tried so

hard to stop them, but they wouldn’t. She was only twelve.”

She looks at me as the tears pour down her cheeks. “My sister

didn’t deserve such a death. And then it was my turn. Nearly

our whole tribe was dead so I was faced with a large group of

men.” My stomach turns. “They took turns beating and raping

me.” The tears stop and Alana’s face becomes stone. “But they

let me live. I don’t know why. Maybe it was because I could live

in my own torment for the rest of my life.” I could feel my own

cheeks wet. “I stayed in our home with my family and just sat

there for seven days.”

The smell must have been unbelievable from the dead

after that long and she must have been terrified. “At the time,

Morrick had overthrown King Paulus and he sent out his own

army to find survivors in the smaller settlements. There weren’t

many left. When they came for me, I was disorientated, still

protecting my family’s bodies from any vultures. That’s when

Tristan arrived. He was a man so I thought he would hurt me.”

She paused to take a breath.

“I attacked him with fire and he took my gift away by

accident. He never knew he could do it. He tried to calm me

down, but in the end the only thing he could do was knock me

out. They kept me in that state for three days until I arrived at

Saskia, where I was treated by the maidens.” She looked up at

me then. “I took loyalty to King Morrick, and Tristan taught

me how to fight so I would be able to defend myself if anyone

ever attacked me again.”

“Alana, I’m so sorry.” I know my words can’t come close to

what she went through.

“Thank you. I am lucky to be alive.” Then she gives a

bittersweet laugh. “But sometimes I wish I died with my family.”

I wipe at my own tears, feeling weak for crying in front such a

strong person. Alana looks at me and gives me a genuine smile.

“Your tears for me are not a weakness, Sarajane. It just shows

you have a kind heart.” I go to her and hug her so tight, feeling

so angry at this world to let such horrible things happen, yet

they happen every day in the mortal world, but just never to anyone I know.

Chapter Fifteen

Saskia

(Sarajane)

I
stay with Alana that night. I just can’t bear to leave her.

The next day we spend helping out in the kilns. I have to

check on my bowl anyway, and Mei and I paint our pottery

together.

I meet my mother once. After Alana’s story, it makes me

want to forgive her.

We both pause before passing each other.

“I want to forgive you so much, but I know I will never

forget.” I look up at my mother. “Does that make sense?”

She embraces me. “Perfect sense. I’m not sure I will ever

forgive myself, either.” She kisses my forehead. “But I love you

no matter what and will never stop. You are my daughter.” She

says this with such fierce pride.

I give her a hug back. “I love you too, Mum.” Some of the

villagers have stopped and are watching us. We both laugh a

little and wipe our tears away. “I need to help out in the kitchen

so…” I feel a bit awkward.

“Okay, love.” She squeezes my hand before I leave.

That evening, we eat in one of the big indoor rooms. It’s like

a large canteen. It houses over three hundred people at once. I

sit with Alana. She’s quiet all day, even when Neve and Kiar

come to join us. I can see Liber and Legis sitting with Tristan

and the other guardians. Neve and Kiar keep the chat flowing

at our table as they always do with their light-hearted banter.

“What is wrong? You are awfully quiet.” I look up at Neve

and feel bad I wasn’t even listening to anything he was saying.

“Sorry, was just thinking.” Kiar gives me a look that says,

Continue. I wasn’t going to say anything about Alana so I

decided to tell them about me. “Someone tried to kill me last

night.”

Alana drops her fork. “And you are only telling me now,

Sarajane?”

I give her the best sorry look I can muster. “It was nothing

really. Tristan sorted it.”

Kiar smirks. “Oh he did? And where was this when you were

attacked?”

I can feel my cheeks burning as all eyes are on me now. “My

hut.”

Kiar continues. “Oh, so you and Tristan were in your hut?”

I throw a piece of lettuce at Kiar, but it doesn’t reach him.

Instead, it flops down halfway across the table. “Whatever,

Kiar.”

He looks confused. “What does that mean?”

I get up with my plate. “Since you’re so smart, you can figure

it out.” I leave then, leaving my plate beside the large tubs that

act as sinks.

I stay with Alana for the rest of the night, just wandering

around the settlement. It’s nearly dark, but there are lots of

people still around. Then I see Mirium, Morrick, Musa and

Tristan moving through the crowd. They’re heading for the

large barns that I met Musa in. I grab Alana’s hand and drag

her with me.

“Sarajane, what are you doing?”

I give her a mischievous smile. “Finding out what they’re up

to.”

Alana lets out a groan. “Sarajane, you cannot follow them

if they—”

But I keep moving, leaving Alana with no choice but to follow

me. I stand in the crowd until they have all entered the building

and then move towards it slowly. I can see a wooden shutter

open at the side of the building to let in air. I move around the

building slowly until we are out of sight and then turn to Alana.

“Stay low.” I crawl along the ground until I’m directly under

the window.

“Who else is involved?” That was Morrick’s voice

“Bellona?” Musa asks.

“No, she won’t. She hates her father.” Morrick seems

adamant on this point.

But Mirium seems to disagree. “Morrick, she is allied with

Lucian, and King Paulus could be also. We have to look at every

possibility.”

“What about Carew, then, since we have to look at every

possibility?” Morrick says smartly

“He has never been seen since.” Sadness fills Musa’s voice,

but it doesn’t sound genuine; it sounds forced.

Alana tugs on my arm and gestures back towards the huts,

but I shake my head and continue to listen.

“But he will be. I just cannot say if it is for good or bad.”

Mirium’s words are gentle. This must have been someone Musa

cared about or pretended to. “Lucian wants Sarajane alive so

King Paulus must not be with him, since he wants her dead,

but the images are foggy and unclear.” I freeze at Mirium

mentioning my name.

“Have you heard any more on the girl?” Morrick asks, but he

sounds like he couldn’t care less.

“Yes, Bellona has her, but she is alive.” Mirium pauses. “You

need to tell Marta, Morrick. It is her daughter.”

My heart stops beating and my body becomes rigid. They

can’t be talking about Jessica. That isn’t possible. I calm myself

and listen. Alana grabs my wrist, her eyes pleading with me to

leave.

“She is not my daughter. She is from a mortal man and none

of my concern.” Morrick’s voice is cold and hard. He’s talking

about my sister. Oh God, this isn’t happening.

Alana pulls on my arm again and I crawl numbly behind

her. Their voices start to fade. When we stand, I can’t even

speak, and Alana veers me off towards the sea. The wind is a

lot stronger the closer we get.

“Oh God, Alana, they’re talking about my sister.”

Alana grabs both my shoulders. “Calm down. We will think

of something.”

I look at her, shocked. “Are you going to help me?”

“I can’t come with you, but I can find out where she is.”

I nod my head several times. “Oh God, I can’t believe they’re

going to let her die.” I can feel the rage towards Morrick rising

in me. How could he? But I need to stay calm. If they won’t help

save her, I’ll have to do this myself.

“They said Bellona has her, so she would be in Saskia.”

I look at Alana, bewildered, and then I start to feel hysterical.

“I don’t even know where that is, Alana.”

“I will draw you a map.”

“This is not happening.” I grab Alana’s shoulder and shake

her. “Tell me this is not real,” I scream.

Alana’s face becomes stern and a look of determination

crosses it. Her words make their way through my fear. “Calm

down and think of your sister.” She’s right; this isn’t helping.

“Tell me what I need to do”

“Okay. Go back to your hut and act normal. Change into

you’re travelling clothes and arm yourself. When the settlement

becomes quiet, sneak out to the back of your hut. I will meet

you there.”

“And then what?” I ask, seeing too many holes in this plan.

“Just trust me, Sarajane.”

I follow her about four feet under the water. A large section

of the fence is cut out enough to let a person fit through. We

swim through it and come out the other side, but it makes me

wary of Alana. Is she the traitor? Did she cut this out so she

could move freely from Aquaterra? It doesn’t matter. I just need

to get to Jessica so I have no choice but to trust her. She runs out

into the desert away from the fence and keeps moving at a fast

pace, but her footsteps make no noise. When we’re out of sight,

she stops and I try to catch my breath.

“I can’t stay much longer, but in the next five minutes you

will come to an old building that looks like it is not used. Inside

is a horse, saddled and carrying water and food.”

“How do you know all this, Alana?” I ask, praying she isn’t

the traitor. I really like her.

“I just do.” She hugs me. “I can’t keep them off long. They

will question me the minute they realise you are missing. So at

best, you have until morning.”

“Okay, thank you.” I give her one more quick hug and follow

her directions to the old building. Inside, I find a horse saddled

and equipped.

We leave the beach and go our separate ways. I meet no one

and make it to my hut. Once I’m changed and armed with my

own dagger and Tristan’s, I just sit in the main room, waiting

for the settlement to go quiet. It feels like days. I sneak out as

Alana said and stand behind my hut. Alana is there. I hug her.

I know she’s breaking a lot of rules and taking risks. But she’s

all business.

“Here is the map. It is easy to follow. I will get you out of

Aquaterra, but you have to do exactly as I tell you.”

I don’t get to answer. We move from hut to hut, using them

as cover until we’re back at the sea. The fence that surrounds

Aquaterra runs a good mile out to sea, but Alana keeps making

her way into the water.

“We can’t swim that far,” I call to her.

“We are not swimming; we are diving.” She disappears under

the water.