Chapter 52 – Vale
VALE
My enemy spun out of my blade’s path, her movements fluid, like the serpent her house claimed as their own—boneless and slippery.
“I thought you were on our side,” Lady Fayeth Virtoris hissed through clenched teeth. So much blood spattered her brown face that even the pounding rain did not wash the red away completely. Just like the blood of sailors that clung to every part of me.
“I stand with my father,” the last word stuck in my throat before pushing through, “and my brother. With the true rulers of Winter’s Realm.”
She held out her sword, a thin, short blade. “Something happened to you.”
“Isolde Falk tricked me.” My blood burned hotter just thinking of that conniving female.
The need to kill Isolde beat through me like a song sung repeatedly.
She’d performed so many wrongs. All of them burned into the insides of my eyelids, inescapable even during sleep.
After I fulfilled my father’s wishes here, I’d get the revenge I craved.
“Sayyida told me that she’s your mate.” The boat rolled against a wave, and the Lady of Ships took three surefooted steps back.
“Trust me, Prince Vale, mates are not so common, but I know of that bond. My mate left his home court for me, and I would go to the ends of the realm for him. If Isolde Falk is your mate, she would not trick you.”
A common belief, but Sassa Falk tricked her mate, and Isolde had fallen in her ancestor’s footsteps. It was all so clear to me.
“You know nothing of what she is capable of.” I closed in and thrust.
Again, the serpent dodged, but this time, I anticipated how she’d slink away. My second swipe struck true, gliding across the Lady of Ship’s abdomen, parting the flesh.
She stilled, sucked in a breath. Her gaze lifted to meet mine as blood poured and the tang of metal perfumed the air heavy with salt and rain.
“If you’re ever yourself again, tell my family I love them.” She fell to her knees. “Tell them I have no regrets in the side we chose. And to lead well and follow their hearts for they’re steadfast and honest.” She fell forward, right into a pool of her blood.
A guttural scream sounded above, and I turned to find that in the time I’d been doing my duty, our enemies had sent an aerial unit. I scanned the sky, searching for the black pegasus belonging to Isolde. Before I could locate the creature, a heavy blow landed across my face.
I stumbled, caught myself on the ship’s railing.
“How could you!” shouted a voice.
I straightened to find Vidar Virtoris standing in front of me, trembling with rage as he looked down on his dead mother.
“She’s my enemy.” My hand tightened on the hilt of my sword. “As are you.”
“You’re out of your mind, aren’t you?”
I snarled.
“Vale, I’m your brother!”
“I already have a brother.” I charged, ready to continue fulfilling my father’s wishes, but Vidar turned and ran. I gave chase, but like his mother, he was fast and slippery. The Virtoris heir made it across the deck. Leapt over the rail.
I leapt too, my wings catching the wind as I prepared to soar into the sky and join those fighting amongst the starbursts of mage firepower.
However, instead of flying up, Vidar dove into the sea.
My breath caught, and I stopped in midair.
The churning waves, made even more violent by the storm and the battling ships, looked menacing.
He’ll come up sometime. He has to, I told myself as I sheathed my weapon. All I had to do was wait.
I was so engrossed in scanning the volatile waters I didn’t see or sense the incoming fire attack until it was too late. Like half of the ship behind me, I went flying forward and was tossed like a limp fish into the waves.