Chapter 21
Asmar, as your brother spent his formative years as my ward, I offer you an opportunity.
An offer born of kindness and one I strongly suggest you accept.
Asmar will be the first to fall – and fall it will.
Allow me entry, act as my gateway to the Shuteran continent, and I’ll grant you figurehead status.
A teeny, tiny bird winged his way to me, whistling a happy tune.
He sings of your bride! I’m certain you must be deliriously in love.
Stand aside, or her pretty little throat shall be the first of the very many I shall slit when my boots trample Asmaran soil.
— A DECREE FROM THE EMPRESS OF CARUSH, SENT IN SECRET TO KING MATTHIAS OF ASMAR
‘Why’s she coming?’ Ifan’s horse stamped her hoof, as he glared at Skye.
‘And why wouldn’t Skye join us?’ Asher’s bay mare whickered as he brought it closer to Ifan’s.
The twitch in his jaw was severe enough for me to see it. I clutched the reins tighter, wondering if it’d be wrong of me to persuade his horse to canter off in the opposite direction.
‘Surely one of us should stay behind. If something goes wrong at the beach then the entire Elmswood line will be wiped out.’
‘Good point,’ Matthias said, reaching over to me and squeezing my fingers. ‘Perhaps you should stay then, Fan?’
His dark gaze bored onto his king; his horse pulled against her reins as though her rider unnerved her.
‘I see why you’ve brought your wife.’ He moved his horse off, glaring over his shoulder at his brother and king. ‘It wouldn’t really matter if anything happened to her. From what I’ve heard there’s no chance she’ll produce an heir anytime soon.’
Matthias kicked his horse forward, while Skye threw hers between them.
‘For Evella’s sake. There’s an enemy ship on our shores and this is what you’re doing?’ she cried, while Asher settled close.
‘You’re all spooking your horses,’ I said. ‘I don’t have a good track record using my gift on them, so I suggest we sort this out later and get ourselves down to the shore. How long will it take?’
Matthias rode back, every muscle on his grim face taut. ‘About an hour, but the wet ground will slow us. It gives anyone who might’ve been on the ship plenty of time to get away and hide. Let’s move.’
We rode in an awkward silence. I followed towards the rear, aware I’d no ability to defend myself were we to be ambushed. Though with Pablo at my side, it wasn’t something I worried about.
He leapt across the land, his exhilaration matching my own, and I harboured a pang of guilt for containing him within the library. Some people mistakenly referred to him as my pet, ignoring my rebuffs. The wolf chose to stay. He was feral, dangerous, with the ability to turn at any point.
He howled, and I bit my lip to prevent returning his call.
He was the only concession I’d ever allowed.
I not only relied on him as my instinctive guide when my sight wasn’t enough, but as my only companion.
The thought of ever losing him contorted my heart.
He’d chosen to stay after I found him, a tiny whimpering bundle, desperately suckling from his mother’s still form.
The rest of the litter lay unmoving next to her, the rotting corpse of a diafol a few paces away.
Despite how my skin prickled, despite how everything within me screamed to leave him, something about the tiny bundle called to me.
Cradling the barely alive cub next to my heart, I sneaked him into the library and nursed him to health.
When he was about five or six months old, I sent him into the woods, worried he’d turn diafol after his exposure to the poisoned milk.
I’d ached for him, but believed I’d made the right choice.
For three months I’d been more alone than ever, even after Matthias’s abandonment.
Then one day, when the first flurries of snow softly fell around the library, I’d jumped at a snarl.
Pablo stalked from the trees, a bloody rabbit held in his maw.
His fur was smooth, eyes clear. I huffed a breath.
The few drops of Vyrium hadn’t turned him.
As I learned later, it appeared to protect him.
I’d barely moved a muscle as he strode towards me, placing the mauled rabbit down.
He’d tipped his head, that wise amber gaze locked on mine as the rabbit’s eyes fluttered open.
A back leg twitched and we tore through the snow, back to the library.
That was four years ago and we hadn’t been apart since.
We dismounted before rolling sand dunes.
Towering blades of sharp grass swayed in the brisk wind as we made our way to the beach.
The sun dipped behind us and for a moment it was an almost perfect place.
Gulls called above, wings trembling as they battled the currents.
I took a deep breath of the salty breeze and sent a plea for the birds to quieten.
A satisfied smile lit up my face as the beach silenced.
Matthias looked up, halting for a moment, then turned, shielding his eyes from the burning glow of the fading sun.
‘Was that you?’ he asked, with a quirked brow, his hand reaching for mine.
I smiled and nodded. ‘I thought they might announce our arrival to anyone hiding.’
‘And Glesni told me your gift was only useful for ridding the castle of mice!’
He gave my hand a squeeze, and my heart warmed at the tender touch. Perhaps we could come back here, another day, when all of this was over. Me, him… and Pablo.
I was lost in thought and didn’t spot how the dunes dipped. The sand gave way beneath me and I slipped.
‘Damn,’ I hissed. Pablo turned his face to mine as Matthias moved his grip from my hand to my elbow. The wolf snorted and, shaking his head, set off again, his ears above the pale swaying grass.
The soothing waves lapping the shoreline distracted me.
I’d only ever seen the dismal rocky coast of Drufaera.
I’d listened enviously to Matthias’s tales of running barefoot through soft golden sand and splashing in the warm waters of the Asmaran coastline.
My heartbeat wrenched as the grass thinned out and the sand lay firmer beneath my feet.
‘I want to see this beach of yours.’
The dune before us sloped away, and the others sped down, clouds of sand rising as they tore towards the large brown blotch marring the seamless beach.
‘We’ll come back,’ he said, tugging me closer and whispering into my ear, ‘I swear to you. I’ve dreamt of it, the picnic we’ll have.’
‘Will there be cheese?’ I asked as we followed the others, my breath hitching as the unfamiliar ground gave way slightly. The sky blended in with the lapping water, so calm and still, unlike the ferocious waves pounding the rocks of Drufaera.
His laugh ignited a spark within. I almost forgot we were approaching an enemy ship when he nudged my shoulder.
My lips still carried the ghost of our kiss.
I wondered where we’d be now if it hadn’t been for the clanging bell, the warm blood tracking down my face.
I glowered at the clouds, cursing Evella. She truly had it in for us.
‘There’ll be at least four different types… and buttered bread and wine.’
Pablo pulled away from me, racing towards the boat. The others stood around the shattered hull, giving Pab a wide berth as with nose to the ground, he snuffled the debris before sneezing and making Ifan leap.
The wreck came into focus. Broken shards of wood lay across the sand, some barrels and a few broken chests.
Asher kicked some damp wood back towards the boat. It lay on its side, the tattered purple flag of Carush rippling at an odd angle. Asher had said it wasn’t big, but it was easily sixty foot long. A silent gull landed on a broken post, possibly the mast, and cocked his head, watching us closely.
‘No footprints in the sand,’ Ifan said, crossing his hands across his broad chest, staring around.
‘Only ours,’ Asher agreed. ‘So whoever was on board probably drowned before the ship washed up.’
Matthias narrowed his eyes against the glare reflecting from the sea. ‘Or they’re still out there, clinging to flotsam, ready to get washed up.’
‘We’ll place extra guards along the coast,’ Ifan said, bending down and peering at a broken barrel. ‘Leave it to me. I could head back now. Get orders in place.’
‘What’s that?’ Skye asked, approaching her brother as he bent over.
He hastily stood, yanking his black tunic back down. ‘Nothing.’
Skye stood next to Matthias. ‘You’ve got tattoos.’ She sounded amused. ‘On your back. When did you get them?’
I brushed the hair from my eyes as Ifan’s cheeks heated under the unwanted attention.
His brows furrowed, and once again I was struck with the strangeness of Ifan being the youngest of the three siblings.
He was almost twice the width of Matthias; his clothes bulged across his muscles as though they were ready to fall apart at the seams if he inhaled too sharply.
His nostrils flared, his body taut. ‘I got some tattoos a few months ago. I’d say the eerie unmanned enemy ship we’ve discovered is slightly more pressing than what I’ve done.’
Skye inhaled sharply. ‘I didn’t mean anything. Damn, Ifan. I was only making conversation. I don’t get what your issue is lately.’
I glanced at Matthias. Was he going to let them argue like this?
Ifan barked out a laugh. ‘No, you wouldn’t. You’re too busy making moon eyes at a spineless man.’
‘Fuck you, Ifan.’ Now Asher was in his face, hands raised as though he were going to punch him.
‘Are you going to let this happen?’ I turned to Matthias, who’d crossed his arms and tilted his head.
‘This isn’t about me. And they were the same as kids. They need to fight this out.’
‘Fight?’ I said as Pablo whined. I turned, furrowing my brows as he pawed a small wooden chest peeking out from the sand. ‘Have you seen the size of your brother? He could keep Carush’s armies away single-handed.’
I didn’t hear Matthias’s reply as Pablo yipped. I blinked quickly. Was that… smoke coming from the chest?
The beach, Matthias, his siblings, guards – all faded into the background, anger swallowed by the swell of the waves. A frigid tingle trailed down my spine as I stared at the chest. What was it?
It must be one of the swirls marring my sight. I took another step forward as Pablo backed away, his hackles high. I bent down and there, there it was. Smoke.
‘What?’ I whispered, unsure if it was my sight causing the smoke to resemble thick treacle rising, untouched by the breeze.
‘Matthias?’ Had I spoken? I glanced back over my shoulder as my knees crunched against the damp sand.
Skye shoved her brother. His mouth flew open but the words were carried far from my ears. Asher grabbed her arm, held her back. They weren’t listening anyway.
I crawled closer, ignoring Pab who grabbed the seam of my tunic, tugging me back.
‘Off,’ I ordered, cocking my head and blinking. This was unlike anything I’d seen before. Inhaling sharply, I found the shadowy smoke burned my nostrils, yet I didn’t cough. Strange? It was then I spotted flecks of bronze swirling through the thick tendrils spreading outwards. Exactly like—
‘Vyrium,’ I whispered.
Shit. This was some form of smoking Vyrium. A weapon forged by the empress? Poison? Perhaps we were to be slaughtered on a desolate beach? I swallowed against my dry throat, eyes wide.
Pablo snarled, and I glanced back over my shoulder. I thought Matthias was looking my way, but with the smoke and my sight, who knew? My lips parted. I had to warn them. Before I’d inhaled a breath, the beach exploded.
The force threw me back. Sand clogged my lungs as I twisted through the air. My head slammed down. I think Matthias screamed my name, but the ringing in my ears stole my senses. I knew nothing as shadows consumed me.