Chapter Twelve #2
“I suspect my king would have preferred Ashwish be chained to the underbelly of the boat for the duration,” I whispered over the heads of the prince and princess.
Porgo nodded as if in agreement and then handed the twins a dry cookie.
Once Teryn was done vocalizing, he and Masha joined us, her son climbing into her lap after she tenderly lowered herself onto a soft pillow.
“Masha speaks no mainlander,” Teryn explained as the guards joined us under the awning. “She has asked that her son be fed. I assured her that whatever foods we have onboard will be split among us, even the man in the hold, evenly.”
I nodded. The twins broke their cookies in half to share with the sniffling son of Ashwish.
Masha lowered her head in thanks while we waited as another skiff, smaller, sped across the water.
A tall woman with blue ink on her skin like Porgo’s joined us, her yellow gaze moving over us as the captain met her at the rail.
With a few words, the woman took a seat, told us her name was Payya, and explained she was the vahasi’s wind whisperer but was on loan to get us home to Celear at twice the speeds.
While Porgo rested, she would summon the wind to keep us sailing.
“Wonderful.”
Porgo chuckled when I softly moaned. So there would be no breaks in the turbulent waves even overnight. My skin would ooze barnacle paste by the time I arrived home. Teryn tenderly patted my thigh.
Home.
It felt so far away here, surrounded by people speaking a foreign tongue, gazing at hot, dry lands. I ached to see my friends, ride a horse, and look out over the fertile fields of the mainland. If I never had to enter or sail on water again, I would be well pleased. Aside from a bath.
“Settle your gullet, mainlander, we are flying at full sail!” Porgo laughed aloud as the winds began to howl, filling the large sails with a gust.
I double-dipped another glob of pearly barnacle goo.
For reasons of safety for the twins, the prisoner, and his family, we slid into the sea cave under the castle in the dark of night.
It had been decided—announced to us via a raven as we rounded the tip of the vills of Renedith—that the masses in Celear and throughout the mainland were too bloodthirsty to be trusted if we sailed into the main port.
Aelir wished no harm to befall Masha or Kinya, her son.
He had not mentioned whether he worried over Jaska. I doubted so.
So it was we arrived much as we had left, with no pomp nor circumstance.
Just a small ship slipping into a craggy cave.
Only this time, there was a troupe of people on the dock.
The king, his queen, his consorts, Teryn’s two children, and of course, Tezen.
My cousin and four other royal guards flanked the royal family as we wind whispered our way to the slippery dock.
“My sweetlings!” Raewyn coughed, tears flowing down her cheeks as the prince and princess were passed from the smaller rowboat that had come out to greet us.
Aelir hoisted his daughter into his arms, weeping openly, then turned into the warm embrace of V’alor.
The guard commander wept as well as did Lady Merrilyn.
The children were hugged, kissed, and fussed over as expected.
I eased out of the boat, grateful to feel something that was somewhat stable under my boots.
Teryn engulfed his son and daughter in a massive embrace as I eased around the families now reunited to place my feet on the rocky shore.
A burst of bright purple light flew into my field of vision. Even with a bubbling stomach and a headache, I was still happy beyond measure to see Tezen Plumwax flitter in front of me.
“Royal Ward Guardian Plumwax, where is your armor?” I asked in mock outrage. She frowned at the simple, plain brown trousers and white blouse she was wearing.
“I’m not allowed back on duty until some old cleric says so,” she huffed, darting in to kiss my cheek and zipping back away from my face. “You are a sight for the sorest of eyes. You smell like the asshole of a carp though.”
I chuckled. “It is the paste I have been ingesting to keep my stomach contents inside,” I replied and got a snort of amusement. “When will you be able to return to duty? I’m sure the children will wish you to be with them.”
She glanced over at the children being coddled and then found my gaze. “I do not know. The king must reinstate me once the clerics pronounce me fit for service. I am…” She cleared her throat. “I am not sure he will place me back with the twins. Dereliction of duty is a serious charge.”
I was flabbergasted. “What? Who would dare to bring a charge like that against you?”
“None have, not yet, but surely the king will not wish me to be the royal ward guardian since it was my fault the twins were taken.” She wiped her round cheek to gather a lone tear.
“Nonsense. The king knows there is no blame to be placed on you.” I wished I could give her a comforting squeeze on the arm. Instead, I peeled off my gauntlet to give her tiny shoulder a gentle tap. “If push comes to shove, I shall speak with His Majesty about—”
“Tezen!” the twins yelled, breaking free from the mob of joyous parents to dash over, hands in the air, seeking a small kiss or a minuscule hug.
Tezen glanced at the king. Aelir gave her a warm smile and a nod.
The pixie cried out in joy—a sound that made one wince—and flitted in to peck each child and hug their necks.
The little ones tenderly patted her back as she clung to them, taking great care of the pixie’s delicate wings.
I felt a warm gaze on me. Lifting my sight from the twins and their guardian, I found tender amber eyes caressing my face.
Teryn, with his arms around his son and daughter, gave me a smile.
Then the second boat arrived, the skiff bearing two Sandrayan guards, Masha, her son, and Jaska.
All joyous celebration died as the guards handed Masha over to Teryn, who had rushed forward.
The boy was handed over to Teryn’s son, P’tash.
Silence, foreboding and deep, settled over the cave.
Nothing but the drip of water from the jagged rock formations above, joining with the subtle lap of the sea, was heard as Jaska was manhandled from the skiff to the dock.
“Abiding by the laws set forth in the Treaty of the Yellow Vales, this criminal is being handed over to you to do as you see fit. The crime was committed against your house by a mainlander. His trial is yours to oversee, Your Majesty. Vahasi Khorsiri sends you his warmest regards and looks forward to returning to the port discussions as soon as possible. We cannot let those who disrupt overtures of peace to sow chaos to prevail. Those who are of Sandrayan blood and took part in this crime are in our custody now. The family of this insurgent is yours to do with as you wish.”
Masha, now exiled, stood proudly beside Jaska and walked away with him as he was led past a silent monarch. Hatred glowed in the king’s light blue eyes as the sea breeze tugged at the mass of his blond hair. He wore no crown, nor vestments of royalty, but it was clear that this man was nobility.
“Tell your Vahasi that we are more thankful than we can ever say for his aid, and that includes allowing Mahouk Nouradi to help return our children to us. Port negotiations will resume in two passes of the sun.” Aelir looked at the queen, a child of fabled sailors and explorers, for agreement.
Raewyn inclined her chestnut head, blue-green eyes locked on Jaska, her gaze rife with malice barely checked.
“Talks will resume with all haste, but after I spend the next day with my children,” the queen announced, turning on her heel to stride over to gather her son and daughter and then lead them by hand back up into the castle, with Lady Merrilyn as always right at her side.
“Take him to the dungeon,” V’alor barked, his hand resting on Aelir’s thin shoulder, the royal guards in attendance taking the prisoner from the Sandrayans.
Masha watched in misery, her sleepy son in her arms, as Jaska was led up the damp stairs.
She went to follow, but Teryn whispered something to her that gave her pause.
“We shall take our leave. May the goddess bless you.” The Sandrayan guards bowed deeply before climbing back into the boat to row themselves back to the Simin Draya.
Porgo would take them back to their homelands and return to Celear to wait for Teryn to finish the talks that had been so horribly interrupted.
Aelir came to me after a short talk with Teryn. I lowered my head and clasped my fist to my coil root chest plate. “I cannot express how much joy you and the ambassador have brought to my family on the return of our heirs.”
“It was my pleasure and duty to serve, Your Majesty.”
“Yes, and as always, you have served the kingdom well. We will call you up to the solar in the afternoon for a debriefing.” He turned to look at V’alor behind him.
The guard commander inclined his head. “Tonight, find some sleep, a good meal, and a cold glass of ice wine and know that the throne is in your debt.”
He kissed my grimy cheeks. V’alor clasped my forearm, holding it tightly.
“I knew you were the right man to take my place.”
“Thank you, Commander.”
“Please, my friend, this night we are more than ranks. We are old boon companions who have gotten into troubles aplenty as young wild piglets roaming the back alleys. Thank you for bringing the twins home safely. Your valor and service to the commonweal shall be rewarded.”
I shook my head. “I need no more reward than to see you and your family reunited.”
His grip tightened momentarily. “My family is eternally in your and the ambassador’s debt. Now, I see that the queen is giving me that telling look of hers. She is eager to be with the little ones as we all are. We shall speak later. Rest well, my friend.”