Chapter 15
Avera
Avera couldn’t believe she’d once more been kidnapped, only this time, she wasn’t given free rein of the ship, or a cabin. She was placed in a cage in the cargo hold, a space with no windows where she was allowed no walks on deck, a true prisoner.
The seasickness returned, not as bad as the first time, but enough that Avera couldn’t stand the sight of the slop they sent for her to eat.
She stuck to drinking water only, and after a few days, the man tending her noticed she kept refusing food and must have notified the captain for he paid her a visit.
A sour-looking Koonis stood in front of her cage. “I hear you’re starving yourself.”
An annoyed Avera glared. “Maybe if you didn’t feed me garbage and keep me in a cage, I’d have more of an appetite. Why have you taken me?”
“I’d say that’s obvious. You’re worth a lot of coin.”
“Selling people is wrong,” was her lame reply.
“Wrong, but very lucrative,” he countered.
“Benoit is just as likely to kill you as pay you. After all, he had no issue ordering the murder of my siblings and his wife, Queen Voxspira.”
“You’re assuming he’s offering the largest sum,” the sly captain stated.
“Who else would be interested?” Asked, and yet she had a sinking feeling she knew. The captain, after all, sailed under Merisuan colors.
“The emperor has offered a generous payment to whoever brings you to him alive, which is better for you, considering Benoit would prefer your corpse.”
“Why would the emperor want me?”
“To combine the once mighty Voxspira blood with his own. Felicitations on your impending marriage,” Koonis declared with a leer.
“I’d rather die than marry him.” She’d heard enough rumors of the aging Emperor—and the fates of his previous wives—to realize the peril.
“Speaking of death, before I deliver you to the emperor, you have another task to perform. Congratulations, you’re getting your wish and going to Verlora.”
Avera’s stomach tightened. “Why?”
“Aren’t you going to thank me?” he mocked. “I thought you wanted to go.”
“I do, but why have you changed your mind? You were quite insistent on not going near the continent.”
“What else could I say with all those scurvy scoundrels listening to our conversation? Suffice it to say, going to Verlora was always the plan. The emperor wishes for you to retrieve some special rocks. He claims you’ll know which ones he speaks of.”
“What does he know of the stones?” She approached the bars of her cage and clung to them.
The captain shrugged. “I wouldn’t have the slightest clue. I am simply relaying what he ordered.”
“How can you have gotten any orders from him? It’s only been a few weeks since I left Daerva, and Merisu is in the opposite direction of Saarpira.”
“You’d have to ask his witches how they do it. All I know is I have a notebook that displays messages from his eminence. If I write in the book, he can see my reply and respond in kind.”
“Magic,” she breathed.
“Obviously.” The captain cocked his head. “What are these rocks? Jewels of some kind? A rare metal ore?”
“I don’t know.”
“But they are why you’ve been desperately seeking to go to Verlora.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
She lost nothing telling the truth. Perhaps this captain would see the importance of her mission. “The stones act as a lock to keep a very bad entity imprisoned. Without them, it will escape and eradicate life on our world.”
The captain stared at her without blinking, then guffawed. “That’s funny. A royal with a sense of humor.”
“I am not joking. It is imperative I find those stones and return them to Daerva before Zhos escapes.”
“Once you find them, they’re going straight to the emperor.”
“Why does he want them?”
“Don’t know. Don’t care. What I do grasp is my reward quadruples if I return with you both. So we will go to Verlora, and you will find these special rocks. Then we shall sail to Merisu where I shall become a very rich man.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Refuse, and I dump you on Verlora, alone and unarmed. Cooperate, and I’ll send you with some of my best fighters.”
“You really think your people will volunteer? Verlora is deadly to the living.”
“Yet you want to go, and the emperor insists on it, so I have to wonder if that claim is grossly exaggerated.”
Her lips pressed into a tight line. Why did she argue? Let the man drop her on Verlora. She’d slip the sailors he sent with her, find the rocks, and… She didn’t have a clue how she’d sail away, but she did know she’d rather die trying than go meekly to her fate. Marry the emperor indeed.
“It’s settled then. We’ll anchor off the coast of Verlora. You will go ashore, find those rocks, and return.”
She couldn’t help but ask, “And if I die in the attempt? You’ll get nothing.”
“Maybe, maybe not. Hopefully the eyewitness accounts of my crew observing you entering the mist will be enough to convince Benoit of your demise and I’ll still collect a reward.”
A dastardly plan that left her either dead on Verlora, stuck with no way back to Daerva, or returning to Koonis so he could hand her over to the emperor.
An emperor who knew about the stones.
It gave her an idea. “I’d like to converse with your employer.”
“I’m the highest ranked on board.” The captain’s chest puffed.
“I’m aware. I meant the emperor. Let me write to him in your magical notebook.”
“Whatever for?”
“While I am on a quest to find those special stones, I know nothing about them. Not how big or small, or even the color of them, but perhaps your emperor does. It would be helpful.”
The captain appeared pensive before nodding. “I will ask him and if he agrees you’ll be given access to the messaging journal.”
Koonis left the cargo area which held a few crates along with her cage.
Avera paced, chewing the tip of her thumb.
She’d finally be going to Verlora, just not in a way she’d expected.
Whether or not she found the stones and returned to this ship remained to be seen.
Then again, she might not have a choice.
Being stranded wouldn’t help anyone. At least if the captain took her to Merisu she had a chance.
A chance to escape. A chance to stop Zhos.
A likelihood of being married against her will.
She slumped to the floor. The thought of what she had to accomplish overwhelmed her. Not to mention, she hadn’t forgotten Opal’s words to find and bring the Griffon on her quest if she wanted the best chance to succeed.
But that ship had literally sailed with her on it. Griff probably thought it was good riddance. Yes, he’d kissed her. He’d probably kissed dozens of other women. It meant nothing. He wouldn’t risk himself, let alone his crew, trying to find her.
It meant she was truly on her own.
Daunting, but she couldn’t give up. She needed to find the positive. Getting to Verlora. Finding the stones. Then she’d worry about how to get back to Daerva.
If she survived.
To her surprise, Koonis returned a short while later holding a slim, leatherbound book and a quill with its ink pot.
“You may write to his eminence. But make it quick. My supper will be ready shortly.” He handed her the items and then stood, watching over her.
Avera hadn’t really thought of what she’d say. She grabbed the quill and held it over a blank page.
Greetings, Emperor Titus. This is Queen Avera Voxspira. Might as well start with an attempt to assert her title.
The text disappeared and her eyes widened. Widened even more when new writing appeared.
Greetings Queen in Exile.
Captain Koonis had spoken the truth of his magical journal.
It is my understanding you wish me to go to Verlora to retrieve some stones. However, I feel like you should be aware that I do not know what I’m actually seeking. Do you have any details?
The missive faded and the blank page took a moment before displaying a reply.
There are five of them. Their size and shape almost identical. They should fit in the palm of your hand. Perfectly smooth. Rounded. One might call them egg-shaped. While appearing almost black in hue, they will exhibit a colored sheen when held to a bright light.
That sounded a little more distinctive than five rocks.
What are they?
She didn’t expect a reply. To her surprise, the emperor gave an answer, but it differed from Opal’s.
They are known as the Dracova set. Lost ages ago during the world’s last great sundering. It is said that in times of great turmoil they will surface to provide the world protection against calamity.
She hesitated before writing, Are you speaking of Zhos?
Yes.
You wish me to find them that I might place them back on his prison to prevent his escape.
There is no stopping Zhos’ return.
Then why have me fetch the stones?
I’ve told you enough. You will find them. Think of them as your wedding gift to me.
I’m not marrying you.
You will. The fates have decreed it.
Avera scowled. As she went to write a reply, a new message stated, Until we meet.
Koonis had been watching the entire exchange and immediately reached in to snatch the notebook.
Avera glared at him. “I wasn’t done.”
“The emperor was.” With that, the captain left, and Avera could only mull over the little she’d learned.
The stones had a name, the Dracova set. Odd Opal hadn’t used their title.
Interesting the emperor knew of Zhos, but disturbing was his claim they couldn’t stop its return.
Also disturbing was his assertion they would marry.
She wouldn’t allow that to happen, assuming she survived Verlora.
The only good thing? The emperor seemed to think she’d succeed. She sure hoped so.
The voyage took only a few days, Saarpira being the closest inhabited isle to the lost continent.
But those days dragged. Other than a single lantern left lit during the day, she had nothing to entertain herself.
Nothing but her own mind which went over and over everything she’d experienced and learned over the last week, or so.
She found it hard to keep track of time.