The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Two: Beyond the Veil (97 page)

Wind made her task more difficult. With every gust she felt herself rocked, nearly losing her footing and crashing to the deck below. Gadiel and Callum had made the climb look so simple when on the ship from Palinon. She wanted to be frustrated. It was easy to forget the number of years the two men had spent at sea. The ship was a second home to them. In time she could only believe it would become less difficult for her as well, though she hoped they would reach the shore of Siscal before she had the chance to become so comfortable. Once there, she had no intention of ever setting foot on a ship again.

At the top, Aiva smiled to see Callum’s face more clearly in the afternoon sun. Much of the tan acquired in the heat of the Palinoen desert had begun to fade, his pale complexion once again creating a sharp contrast next to his dark hair which now sat, tousled by the wind, tangled atop his head. Seeing him there brought back memories of their childhood together. So many times she had seen him standing in a similar stance, prepared for whatever might come his way, courageous in his boyish charm. The years had done nothing to change that about him. She couldn’t be sure if it was her newly rediscovered feelings for him or the sheer thought of this being the last time she might look upon him which made her suddenly aware of how handsome he truly was. It was disheartening to think how often she had chance to appreciate the elegant curve of his sharp features and had taken them for granted.

She didn’t realize her progress to the top had halted until she saw Callum lean over the rail, arm outstretched toward her, beckoning her to make the final few steps to the small opening which allowed entrance into the box-like structure of the lookout. Once within reach he took her hand in his, effortlessly lifting her onto the platform. “Are you sure you want to be up here?” he asked with a soft laugh. “If you get sick easily from the motion of the ship, this is the worst place for you to be.”

“I do not get sick easily,” she stated calmly. A smirk played at the edges of Callum’s lips to hear her proclamation, the umber glow of his eyes almost teasing her with their gentle light. Her cheeks flushed with warmth to see him look at her the way he did. Memories flooded her head of all the times he had seen her in the worst states of health throughout their journey. She shuddered to think on their first night in Vailetta. The ale! It made her want to retch just to remember the awful taste of that disgusting drink. “You know what I mean,” she waved dismissively, hoping he wouldn’t press the matter. “A little rocking motion has never bothered me. Ah, Gadiel!” Her discomfort ebbed away to see him standing at the rail, spyglass raised to the distance, the scope turning with his body, smiling at her approach.

“Princess,” he nodded in greeting, lowering the spyglass from his eye to reveal his face. Aiva was concerned to notice the paleness of his complexion. He looked sick. Unsettled by something.

“Gadiel, what is the matter?” she asked, stepping toward him, worried. They were in a dire situation. It wouldn’t do them any good if one of their best fighters fell ill.

He laughed at the question, shifting his weight to continue his watchful gaze of the distance. “Nothing is the matter,” he shrugged. “This blasted basket of a lookout is the worst place for anyone to be, regardless of how easily they find themselves affected by the sway of the ship. I could use a few moments on the less tumultuous floor of the deck below. Perhaps if the Captain would permit me a brief leave? There is no need for three of us to stand here and suffer.”

There was no smile on Callum’s face despite the lightheartedness of Gadiel’s request. He didn’t have to speak for Aiva to sense the tension that arose at the reminder of their position. Taking the spyglass from Gadiel’s hand he nodded to him, motioning him toward the rope where Aiva had just come. “I don’t foresee you having need to return here,” Callum stated with an almost morbid sense of calm. Aiva shivered to hear his voice. It was serious. Dour. He made no attempt to hide the severity of his words. “Take only a moment to regain yourself and then see Princess Shaelyn escorted to a room somewhere deep within the barracks. Order a sufficient guard placed at her side and have the men start to prepare.”

“Yes, Captain,” Gadiel saluted him, the respect in his tone genuine. Aiva watched the two men in silent appreciation for their friendship. The bond between them went beyond a soldier and his superior officer yet when faced with impending danger, it did nothing to interfere with their duties. She wasn’t convinced that she would be capable of putting aside her personal feelings for Callum if placed in a position where he was required to give her commands.

Gadiel paused at the step leading to the rope, his hand reaching out for Aiva’s to clasp it gently in his own, bringing it to his lips in reverence. She stared at him, taken aback by his strange behavior. The possibility of attack was getting to everyone. It made her uneasy. “It has been an honor, Aiva,” he said quietly, the light of his green eyes flashing brightly, a hint of sadness detected in their depths. “Should this voyage take a turn for the worst, I want you to know that I will always be your most humble of servants. To fight by the side of my Princess, the promised Queen – I am proud to have served you.”

She grimaced to think of what he implied. He was saying goodbye. The final words of a soldier going off to war. Her stomach churned violently, affected more by the solemnity of Gadiel’s farewell than by the incessant lurch of the ship. Before she could say anything in response he swung his legs over the edge, finding his footing with practiced ease on the ladder to make his way down to the deck. She stared after him, shocked and dismayed at her inability to come up with any words that might have comforted his troubled mind. It saddened her to consider the possibility that she may not have another chance.

“He is acting odd,” she said softly, her eyes lifting to gaze upon Callum, aware of the lingering unease in his mannerisms as well. Something wasn’t right. Her father indicated the distant ship to be a threat. The look on Callum’s face told her it was more than that. They were on the threshold of a battle which crept upon them faster than anyone could have anticipated. Staring at the floor she took in a deep breath. She had to ask. Without confirmation of her fears, it was nothing more than speculation over the tension she felt. “I suspect the pirates are nearer than we thought. Is this the reason for Gadiel’s strange farewell?”

Callum said nothing, offering her the spyglass he clutched in his hand. Her eyes shifted quickly from the floor to stare at the object presented to her, afraid to accept it but too curious not to. She had to see for herself.

Pressing the lens to her eye she focused on the ship Callum indicated with his index finger. It was smaller than their own. Better equipped for speed. The sails billowed in the wind, carried along at a remarkable pace, quickly gaining ground on them. At the rate it traveled, she estimated it would be in range of them within the hour.

Frantic, she turned to Callum, holding the scope nervously against her chest. “How did they move so fast?” she breathed. Her heart raced to take cognizance of their situation. They were in danger. Immediate danger. She assumed there would be another day to prepare herself for the battle she so insistently fought to partake in. Now it was upon her and she found her courage waning. She wasn’t ready. It was too fast.

“It’s a simple matter of wind and weight,” Callum frowned. “Our ship is heavy. It’s not designed for speed. We have on board enough soldiers to comfortably man two vessels which only adds to the weight that already hinders us. The wind may be to our benefit, but it is also with Ireni, and she has a ship more suited to take advantage of that fact. Within half an hour they will be in range to fire upon us. Another hour and they could well be at our broadside and in position to board. There will be no avoiding this confrontation. You should prepare yourself.”

“How does one prepare for war?”

“Everyone is different. I cannot say what will work best for you.”

“Then tell me how you prepare yourself?” Aiva asked, moving in closer to Callum, curious to hear what he had to say. He’d faced the pirates many times before. If anyone could give her advice on how to come to terms with the reality of their predicament, it would be him.

Instead he shook his head, a heart-wrenching look upon his face. “I do not know anymore,” he replied quietly. “It was different when we went up against the pirates before. Back then I believed myself to have nothing to lose. That is no longer the case. I stand to lose everything if I cannot win this battle. Which is why I must try to convince myself that victory is foreordained.”

Oh, how she longed for the naivety she’d possessed before embarking on this journey. That girl would have held no doubts about their ability to take down the enemy. It was a confidence she wished she could have back. To question their strength went against everything Cadell taught her. She knew this, though at the same time she feared the mere possibility of death at the hands of the pirates. In her heart she couldn’t help but believe that even Cadell suffered a similar fear. Of all the battles he’d seen in his days, never had he fought them with his son in direct line of fire and almost the entirety of the royal family among those soldiers who rushed into the fray. The stakes were high for everyone on board. That alone was enough to provide mild comfort in that moment. When those who fought had so much to live for, they would prove the most valiant of all armies.

No amount of confidence could chase away the fear. She’d seen too much death over the past few months to be convinced that everything would be alright. No war had ever been won without casualties. Victory through violence was always bittersweet. All they could do was pray the gods would see them through. Standing there on the swaying platform of the crow’s nest, staring into the beautiful glow of Callum’s umber eyes, Aiva found herself reminded of her conversations with Kaemin. She and Callum were blessed to have this moment now. A final calm before the storm to say the things they wished the other to know before life, and maybe death, tore them apart.

Gently she rested her hands against the side of Callum’s face, her touch soft and delicate, as if afraid he would crumble. He seemed to melt into her palms, savoring the sensation of her fingertips against his skin. “If anything happens to me, I want you to know that I love you, Callum. I always have, and that will never change.”

“I love you, too. But, Aiva,” he whispered, drawing her in tightly to him,” nothing is going to happen to you.”

“We can never be so sure…”

“I can be. You promised, remember?”

She scolded herself for the moisture she felt upon her lashes. Now was not the time to cry. She needed to be strong. Not only for herself, but for Callum. For the sake of all the soldiers aboard the ship who readied themselves for battle. They couldn’t be allowed to see their Princess falter. For the first time she was beginning to understand why Callum always hid his emotions from the men who served under him. How could they have faith in themselves when those who led them showed signs of weakness? Their leader had to be fearless. Almost god-like in their ability to withstand anything, regardless of the pain and suffering they might endure. Once she and Callum returned to the deck with the others, they could no longer allow their uncertainty to show. It was best she not give it a chance to surface at all.

“We both promised,” she nodded, guiding Callum’s lips to hers. Inside her heart was breaking to think that this might be the last time she felt their warmth. Her hands trembled where they clung to him, his fingers reaching gently to hers. A slight warmth, like that of a tear, brushed over Aiva’s hand before he drew it away from his face.

When they finally separated he avoided her gaze, staring off into the distance. They stood in agonized silence for what felt like hours, though Aiva knew it was no more than a moment, neither one wanting to leave the company of the other but knowing they had much they still needed to do. The time for goodbyes had come and gone. The men would be waiting for them below.

“We should get back to the others,” Callum stated quietly, finally managing to regain his courage to look Aiva in the eye. She could see the internal struggle he waged to maintain his calm exterior, knowing his pain for the similar feeling she endured as well.

He gave a final squeeze of her hand before brushing past to make his way over the ledge onto the ropes. Aiva let him pass, her eyes unfocused on the expanse of sea surrounding them, the beauty of the sight tainted by the foreboding presence of a single ship breaking along the water. To see it reminded her again of the hatred she felt for the woman who commanded the vessel. With the warmth of Callum’s lips lingering upon hers, she could hear Ireni’s whispered words from that day on the Palinoen shore.
Ireni will never know what it is like to be loved by him
. She didn’t deserve to be loved by anyone. It was her hand that tore Shaelyn from them in Escovul. Her blade that stole Kaemin’s life before he even had a chance to live. Her countless other crimes over the years had caused the suffering of so many innocent people. Ireni deserved nothing more than a cold and lonely death at the end of a blade that was as merciless and unforgiving as her own.

Eyes narrowed Aiva could feel her resolve beginning to strengthen. Her fingers tightened around the hilt of her sword, knuckles white, trembling with a newfound vigor at the thought of crossing blades with Ireni again. She would find Aiva a more worthy opponent this time.