Legends of Marithia: Book 3 - Talonsphere (18 page)

I was right, but how is this even possible? These two shouldn’t be anywhere near each other.

Something had already changed and this was a vision he had not anticipated. They stood beside a large metallic box with glass sides. A mermaid struggled against her bonds and banged against its surface with her white fists.

“He said he’d be ‘ere!” Silvertongue said.

“The sun will rise, and you told me he always meets you far beforehand. I see nobody here. We can ill afford a setback of sitting around and waiting. Dragons now patrol these parts around Mount Wayrin, and if we are discovered, then we can be ambushed.”

Silvertongue spat in the sand and combed his fingers through his hair. “I s’pose yer right, and we best be leaving, but we will be one Bloodship down for our battle and that will cost us all.”

By the gods! I needed his coin to get me through this war and he always pays well. Kassina would see right through my disguise. She likely thinks I died at the Jade Inn. Best to keep it that way.

He sat quietly, safe in the knowledge that he couldn’t be seen in the thick foliage, and rolled out a woollen sleeping bag. He slipped off his coat and lay down inside the bag, wrapped it around his body, and covering the bag and himself with the coat. He took care to cover himself with fallen leaves. The rest of the bag fit over his head, and he closed his eyes.

His nerves were calmed by the pirates and vampires yelling commands and ships setting sail.

Nothing sinister will find me here, and once the coat regains its power, then I can find my way back home.

Things were already changing too much, and it makes me nervous, but what can I do?

There was only so much one could see of the hands of fate. The waves of the ocean helped him slip into a deep sleep.

Helenia stood on the same balcony where her father was murdered, its cool surface alien to her senses. She had hoped that her father would somehow connect with her here. It was a childish hope. She knew that, but she hoped none-the-less. Her face lit up with the soft colour of sunrise. She uncrossed her arms as her cooled skin warmed. She hated being alone, and Vartan wasn’t there to comfort her. She breathed out in acceptance of what she couldn’t change.

Messenger dragons uncloaked as they arrived at Greenhaven, their shining scales majestic on the morning’s canvas. The beauty of the morning removed the dark shadows from her heart, at least for a while. She looked to the floor, where Derian’s vampiric blood had eaten into its surface, and shed a tear. Not for her dead brother, for she hated his memory and wished she had killed him herself.

Nobody knew, but none ever stopped to ask. Sibling rivalry was the acceptable explanation for her bruises. They wouldn’t have believed her if she had told them the truth about Derian. He was her brother, and he was supposed to protect her, not touch her.

Her life had few regrets, but she wished she had told her mother and father what had happened. Her pain would be unresolved, as his death left all the things he had done unpunished. Just thinking back to those memories made her sick to her stomach, and she rid her mind of his filth.

Wiping the tears off her cheeks with the back of her wrist, she clenched her jaw and formed fists. Walking to the spot, she looked up to the stars and whispered, “I miss you, father.”

She stepped inside the royal bedroom, where her mother was already awake and preparing herself for another day. Andrielle’s hand servant was busy helping her get dressed as she watched her daughter through her mirror. Helenia managed an awkward grin.

“Happy morning to you. I didn’t know you were out there,” Andrielle said.

I should be completely happy, and I know it, but why can’t I shake the darkness?

Helenia sat on the edge of the bed and looked to the floor. Her voice sounded weak as she answered, “Morning.”

Andrielle raised her hand to the servant and walked over to Helenia’s side, taking her wrist, and led her to her seat. The servant stepped over to a chair and awaited her queen’s commands.

“Look at you. You must have near frozen out there in your sleeping clothes,” Andrielle said, running her warm hands down Helenia’s arms.

She picked up a brush from the dresser table, and began to comb Helenia’s hair. “We’ve been so busy with the war, that we’ve forgotten what it’s like to be a family. I know you miss Vartan, but I am sure he will be all right. After all, it is written, isn’t it?”

She laid a soft kiss on Helenia’s head and continued brushing. Her mother’s affections made her close her eyes to hold back her sadness. The queen had enough to worry about, and she didn’t want to add to it all, even if she wanted to burst.

She knew she had to say something to relieve some of it, and there were some burdens that were safe to share. “I don’t just miss Vartan, although my heart yearns for his return, but I also miss father. This place holds too many painful memories.”

“Yes, my dear, it does. But this is also our place to make new memories.”

Helenia sighed and relaxed her shoulders. “I know you are right, but it’s hard to forget everything that’s happened.”

Andrielle reached down to gently pick up Helenia’s chin and stare into her eyes through the mirror. “Never forget what has happened. We draw strength from that pain, and forgetting them would make us weak. But know that things will get better.”

She has no idea of how true that is, and how much pain I endured
, she thought.

Helenia nodded slowly and Andrielle continued to brush her hair, beginning to slide pins in with shiny jewels at their tips.

“Look at you, my sweet daughter. You truly are the fairest of all the women in Marithia, elven and human alike. Vartan is truly a lucky man to have your heart.”

“Thank you mother. He is worthy of it.”

“Yes, he certainly is,” Andrielle said, her voice trailing away.

The sound of horns blowing and battle drums frightened them both, and Andrielle dropped the brush to the ground, her hands shaking. Andrielle turned to her hand servant. “Fetch our armour, now!”

So much for peaceful moments.

Just when she began to drop her guard, the war stepped in to remind her otherwise.

The walls shook and Nymira’s head came into view from their balcony.

“Nymira. What’s going on? We’ve been patrolling the lands and have sighted no threats,” Andrielle said.

“The threat is not from land, but from the seas. Ships are approaching our direction from the south, and they don’t look friendly,” the dragon queen answered.

Could it be true? Ships attacking Greenhaven when they were at their weakest?

The thought sent chills up her spine. She wished Vartan was here to guide them, but didn’t dare voice it.

“What or who are we facing?” Andrielle said, retrieving her royal armour from the hastily gathered cart.

The dragon queen’s voice saddened as she answered. “We know naught of who we face, but there are many ships and nothing like I have seen before. They are far in the distance, but will reach us by nightfall.”

Shit.

Andrielle stopped dressing and turned to the dragon queen, her voice rising. “I thought the dragons had pirate ships under control and they could never pass Trahoterra. Can we not deter them?”

Helenia blurted, “Pirates? You never spoke of pirates!”

“It wasn’t for you to be concerned about, and this is not the time to discuss it. We must prepare for war. Pirates don’t show themselves unless they are ready for battle,” Andrielle said.

“With all due respect; we already tried deterring them and somehow, they can see our dragons, even when we are hidden. We have already lost a brother to the sea, as a result,” Nymira said, lowering her head.

“Wait. Pirates could never see dragons, which means that this must be the work of... no! Surely not. Kassina?” Helenia said, slipping into her armour.

“We fear the same. This could never be the work of pirates alone, as they would have never made it this far or had the gall to attack us. We only know of Kassina and the vampires having the ability to see us when we are hidden.”

This was much worse than she had imagined. The dread she had felt for days had been realised, and she wasn’t sure they would survive it.

“Nymira, keep everyone away from their ships. We should not needlessly endanger their lives. Please dispatch a dragon to Veldrenn and request reinforcements,” Andrielle said.

“Agreed, but I will take care of it myself and will be back before the ships can reach us.”

“Very well. Be careful.”

Nymira nodded and launched from Greenhaven’s walls, spreading her wings before rocketing toward Veldrenn.

“To think that we could experience peace for more than a short time. It was too much to hope for, wasn’t it?” Helenia said, admiring her sharpened sword, before sheathing it.

Andrielle smiled and put her hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “Such is the burden of our lives until this war is over. It is up to us to show strength to our people. Understood?”

Maybe after the war was over, she would have time to grieve and deal with her demons. For now, the pirates and the queen of the underworld robbed her of that, and they would regret it.

Helenia breathed deep and her face hardened. “Of course. Let’s go.”

Sliding on their helms, they headed out their door and marched toward the parapets. They exited the inner walls. Greenhaven was a hive of activity, as if a hornet’s nest had been stirred. Market stalls were being packed away and the streets were full of elven and human warriors making their way to their gathering points. Catapults were dragged into position; horses strained from pulling the weapons’ weight. Archers ran to the castle’s walls, and strained their bows over the parapets in succession.

Helenia kept pace behind her mother, staring at the shiny golden scales draping from her helm. They made it to the western parapets, and stepped down to the outer guard’s tower. Andrielle stood still as she stared into the Marithian Ocean, and she remained silent as she slowly removed her helm, holding it at her side.

Helenia followed her mother’s gaze and shared the view. At first, they appeared like a mirage on the horizon, as the sun’s heat distorted the images. The armada cleared in their vision.

“By the gods...” Andrielle said, her voice as soft as a whisper.

Helenia couldn’t believe what she was seeing. How could they have known that Vartan was not with them? She wondered if spies were in their midst, or if Kassina was just incredibly lucky. She stared at her mother. “Have you ever seen so many ships?”

The elven queen shook her head and closed her eyes as she drew a deep breath. Her eyes shone. “Marithians will panic, and we need to make sure that we remain a pillar of strength. We have a matter of hours before they will be in range of our walls.”

“What do we know about defending against ships?” Helenia said.

Andrielle grimaced before speaking. “Enough, but when were we ever prepared for this war?”

That was the answer she was expecting, but hoping not to hear. Her mother needed her daughter’s strength, and she knew that they couldn’t lose Greenhaven again, not after all that was sacrificed. “They come when Vartan isn’t here to protect us. Water is his element.”

“Vartan isn’t the only one who can protect us. Nymira will return long before the ships attack us, and we’ll be ready. Come with me to the war room, and we will talk strategy. You need to learn for when you become queen.”