Island Shifters: Book 02 - An Oath of the Mage (20 page)

He turned from her, unable to look at the truth in her eyes. “It seems you know me better than I know myself. How is it that a woman can know me this well, and I do not know her at all?”

“If you were looking, you would have seen me. I have been by your side for years, Airron Falewir.”

He did not know what to say. He did not think that even Beck, Kiernan or Rogan knew him as well as this stranger sitting across from him seemed to.

“And, just so you know, contrary to popular belief, not
all
Elves can communicate with animals. Most can, but not all. You are not deficient in any way so do not believe that to be true.”

Airron was relieved to hear that piece of news. For years, it gnawed at him that he was unable to command what he thought was an innate Elven ability.

“Where do we go from here?” he finally asked.

“I would like to be your wife, Airron, in every way. But, I will not do so until you can tell me that you also wish to be my husband. I want you to choose me as I have already chosen you.”

An uncomfortable silence followed while she extracted the bandages from the boiling pot and finished her work. Still, he did not respond.

Finally, she rolled into her bedroll, turned her back on him and went to sleep.

Sleep did not come as easy for him, and he laid awake most of the night. In the morning, they said their prayers separately and struck camp without saying a word to each other.

The morning’s trek continued as all the days before with their two unyielding companions—the heat and the hypnotically repetitive landscape. Leagues would pass by with no discernable change in their environment, and it was the loneliest feeling Airron had ever experienced. In his mind-numbed state, he could almost believe that there were no other people left in the world. It was just him and Melania and the stone. When the Koda River and a small village finally came into view, he breathed a sigh of relief just to have something new to look at.

He risked a glance over at Melania and noticed her sun chafed lips and skin. Hopefully, they would be able to take shelter from the heat and eat a decent meal before crossing the river. To his frustration, Beck’s scent had gone cold, so his first order of business would be to seek confirmation that he was at least on the right trail. Surely, either Beck or Avalon would stand out in such a small place, and he hoped to obtain confirmation that they had indeed passed through. If not, they would find a suitable place to board the horses and take ferries over the tributaries of the Koda to the destination on the map.

Melania asked for water, and he handed her one of the bags. “Why don’t you finish it? I will have it filled in town.”

She took the bag with a grateful smile. “
Sinsai
.”

The sound of horses approaching caused Airron to look up. He expected the inhabitants of the settlement to be made up of all Dwarves, but the riders bearing down on them were men.

“Hold there,” one shouted as soon as he was in speaking range.

Airron held out his hand to stop Melania, and then put the Haventi slightly ahead in front of her Pinto.

“
Asha
, good folk,” greeted Airron. “We have come seeking a stable and passage across the Koda.”

One of the men with dark hair and a short beard spoke up. “You have picked a bad time to visit, Elf. One of the young girls at our camp has gone missing. As you can imagine, strangers are not a welcome sight at the moment. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about it, would you?”

Airron quickly shook his head. “No, of course not. When did she go missing?” He knew that Avalon, if he was still on her trail, was a day ahead of him.

“Yesterday. She is the daughter of one of the miners here with our expedition, and the family was sleeping in tents on the periphery of the settlement. The father heard a scream in the middle of night and went to investigate. He found a large tear in the tent holding his daughter and she was gone.”

“And, you have seen no sign of any strangers in the vicinity?” asked Airron.

The man shook his head. “No one.” He hesitated. “But, one of the ferries is missing. We just assumed it came loose, but now I am not so sure.”

Airron was torn. He had to find Beck. Nothing was more important than saving the life of the man who had been like a brother to him his entire life. Yet, now, there was a missing girl. As a shifter of the island, he had a duty to serve and protect. It was what defined him. It was the essence of the magic that flowed through his veins.

Melania addressed the men. “My husband is an incomparable bodyshifter as well as a Gladewatcher and
Savitar.
He will find the missing girl.”

Airron looked at her with raised eyebrows. This woman really did know him. She understood that he would be unable to turn away from the duty before him.

The men dismounted and approached Airron to shake his hand.
“Savitar?
Thank the Highworld you are here! Do you really think you can find her?”

Airron nodded. “I can find her.” But, his instincts were already screaming at him that it would be too late. When a body disappears in the path of an evil bodyshifter, there is only one conclusion that can be made.

Hang on, Beck. I am coming for you. On that you can depend, my friend.

The carriage bounced roughly along the uneven terrain of the marketplace outside of Nysa’s front gates. Normally, the small metropolis that operated outside of the city would be bustling with activity even at this late hour, but now it was vacant. There was little money to be made from a city besieged by civil war.

Kiernan gritted her teeth as every turn of the wheels rattled her bones. Across the seat from her Kirby Nash sat utterly composed. She did not know how the Saber could be so calm.

“What do you think our chances are of pulling this off, Captain?” she asked him.

“Twenty percent.”

“That’s it? Only a twenty percent chance that we will be able to free my father?”

He shook his head. “Only a twenty percent chance that we will make it through the front gates.”

She raised her eyebrows at him. “Did you not think this was an opinion you should have shared with me before now?”

“I did, Your Grace, but you did not wish to listen.”

He was right, of course. She did not listen to any of her advisors, including some pretty irate sorceresses who insisted that this gambit was foolhardy and dangerous. But, they did not understand her duties as a Princess or her blood oath. Danger and percentages of success did not factor into her decision making.

She guessed she was just hoping that Kirby had a little more confidence that their plan would succeed. Certainly, the fact that seven of the Sabers were able to enter the city under various pretexts without difficulty should account for something. There seemed to be a substantial lapse in security from Etin’s allied legionnaires.

“Halt!”

The cry came from outside, and the carriage rumbled to a stop. Kiernan tried to control her nerves as she pulled the hood of her cloak closer around her head. This was the riskiest part of their plans. Once admitted into the city, they could disappear within the mass of people and soldiers, but if found out now, it would be over.

Kirby’s blonde curls, dyed black, bounced around his face as he shifted to peer out of the window of the carriage. He was wearing a well-tailored, plain black tunic and leggings, a complement to her stylish, lightweight linen cloak. Her distinctive, long blonde hair was pulled back into a severe chignon. The ruse was to appear prosperous enough to afford a carriage, yet not among the noble born which would precipitate a discussion regarding House affiliation.

“Are you an idiot?” the soldier at the gate questioned harshly. “The city is under siege!”

The Saber disguised as their driver answered. “Yes, sir, I am aware, but the Lady Downey of York is with child and is seeking permission to enter the city to visit her midwife.”

Kiernan let out a wail. “Ahh!”

Angry footsteps strode to the door of the carriage and it was yanked open. “What is the matter with you, woman?”

Kiernan gasped and kept her head averted as she held her belly. “It is time! Please, sir! I must be allowed into the city!”

Kirby held her hand and played the concerned husband perfectly.

“You will have to come back. We have a wedding tomorrow and no one…”

“Ahh!”

“What is going on, Fasso?” It was one of the archers who lined the top of the outer wall.

Fasso poked his head back out of the carriage. “A woman with child who wishes to see her midwife,” he shouted up to the wall. Then, a little softer, “She is pretty big, Lieutenant.”

There was a pause as the soldiers discussed what to do.

“All right, send her through, Fasso.”

The heavy iron gates of Nysa groaned as they slowly began to open.

The soldier called Fasso leaned in once more. “You may enter.” He put his hand on the carriage door to close it and then hesitated.

“Wait.”

Kiernan cursed under her breath. Looking over at Kirby, she saw him reach down and remove a dagger from his leather boot, slipping it into his palm.

“Let me see your face,” Fasso ordered.

Kiernan held the cloak tight around her face and glanced at the soldier with her eyes lowered, hoping he had never seen her close up.

“Let me see your eyes.”

Kiernan let out a breath and brought her gaze up to the soldier.

Kirby’s left fist drove into the temple of the soldier like a hammer. Kiernan immediately reached out and grabbed the man before he fell, and Kirby dragged him into the carriage, the open door blocking the view of the legionnaires on the wall. “Quickly!” he said. “Help me take off his cloak! That is all we have time for, so it will have to do.”

Kiernan unlaced the cord at the man’s neck and Kirby swung the cloak around his shoulders and placed the helm with the Wolf sigil blazoned on the front on his own head. Agile as a cat, he jumped from the carriage and closed the door, pounding the side with his open hand. “Get moving!” he shouted up to the Saber driving.

The carriage lurched and the unconscious soldier rolled onto Kiernan’s feet on the floor. He was too heavy for her to lift by herself but she was able to squeeze her feet from underneath him and curl them under her body on the cushioned seat. While Kiernan held her breath, the carriage rumbled through the gates and onto Dannery Row.

She leaned her head back with a sigh of relief, but knew that she could not let her guard down for one moment. Not all of the legionnaires would be as easy to fool as the sentries at the gates. Darkness was their ally now, but tomorrow it would be more difficult to hide her identity.

Prestigious noble estates lined the boulevard on both sides of the road and then gave way to the commercial district where the more prosperous merchants plied their wares. She hoped Kirby was able to slip away from the guards. She comforted herself with the fact that an alarm had not been raised and would have by now if Kirby had been discovered.

The carriage took several turns and finally turned down Penny Place, a neighborhood of modest homes and businesses, and pulled up in front of an inn called the Draca Den. Anxious to leave the confines of the carriage, Kiernan waited impatiently for the Saber to open the door, indicating that all was clear.

It swung open a moment later and she quickly alighted, instructing her Saber driver to dispose of the soldier in the carriage in whatever way he deemed reasonable—short of killing him—that ensured he did not cause trouble for them before tomorrow night.

The streets and walkways were crowded with boisterous legionnaires, and terrified citizens hurried along their way with heads hung low as they tried to avoid notice.

“Hear ye! Hear ye!”

Kiernan turned to the town crier dressed in a bright red coat, white breeches and tricorne hat as he rang his hand bell to get the attention of an audience.

“Hear ye! Let it be known by one and all! The King has fled Nysa! The monarch of this great land has abandoned the people in their bleakest hour! Hear ye! Hear ye! King Maximus is gone!”

Another crier further down the block touted the fact that Lord Davad Etin had assumed administrative control of the city and would not forsake the people, as had their King.