Chapter 64
Chapter sixty-four
Lenna
Lenna was impressed at the speed in which magical mail was delivered from the Opal Palace to the Slate Kingdom. She was less than impressed with the “fuck you” Leon had sent back in bold letters written across the decree to divorce.
Now, here she was–standing atop one of the mighty ships from Esmeray’s considerable armada, off the coast of Doortan, right outside the invisible, magic nullifying dome that surrounded the Slate Kingdom.
Esmeray, Laurent, and Lenna watched as the ships anchored in the Doortan port bobbed gently against the docks.
Sailors were too busy loading and unloading crates, barrels, and freight to even notice the lone ship outside of the narrow inlet, its white sails displaying Esmeray’s crest–two curved horns with a golden staff in its center.
If they didn’t notice the ship, they were also completely unaware of its intentions.
Keerian flew down, shifting from his Sentry as he crossed the invisible barrier from the non-magic land to the sea.
“Leon’s definitely down there,” the Golden Gargoyle said as he shook his hair out, tying it neatly into a ponytail at the nape of his neck.
Lenna used the Prism that morning to show them what Leon looked like.
“His ships are the four dark oak ones with the blue banners. They must’ve just loaded up the season’s trade goods–the holds are full of lumber, but there’s no humans aboard. ”
“That’s why he’s there,” Lenna replied, feeling her rage build.
Her voice was low, emotionless. No more would she play subservient wife to that man.
Lenna had thought Leon a monster before she had come face to face with real monsters–and survived.
Now, Lenna saw her soon to be ex-husband as nothing more than a weak man.
“Leon’s paying the captains to begin their sail down the coast to sell the lumber. ”
Damn him. After he dismissed the letter Lenna had sent him with the divorce papers included, Lenna sent another–this one with a handwritten note telling him she was not coming back to Doortan and that he needed to sign the papers and break apart their loveless marriage.
At Keerian’s recommendation, Lenna added that she would not take anything in the divorce, since the royal coffers were open to her for the rest of her life. If that was what Leon worried about, Lenna assuaged those fears saying all she wanted was out of the marriage. Nothing more from him.
Leon had written back two days later. A nasty letter demanding that she needed to stop the delusions of being someone who mattered, and to come back immediately to continue her wifely duties she had promised in her wedding vows. The divorce papers came back ripped clean in half.
Upset and needing to vent, Lenna showed Esmeray, and asked, albeit embarrassed, if she could put together one more letter with divorce papers. Esmeray decided a different course of action would be a better idea.
Atop the forecastle deck, Esmeray stood impossibly still, head cocked, her dark hair whipping down her back in a gust of wind. With disdain, she surveyed the four boats that would bring more riches to Leon once they delivered their precious cargo down south.
Laurent stood beside the Queen Absolute, resplendent in a white robe adorned with bright green vines embroidered down its sleeves. On Esmeray’s other side, Keerian stood in soft armor made from flexible black leather, his golden wings shining in the afternoon sun.
Lenna opted for a lighter dress, a soft lilac smock cinched around the waist with a brilliant silver chain.
Blue amethysts studded the belt, offsetting her free-flowing red-gold curls.
The belt had been a gift from Hale, who Lenna had been visiting often at his bakery–without the escort of Sparrow and Esmeray.
It felt fitting to wear it today.
Lenna’s eyes narrowed as Leon came into view.
Her heart thudded, and her palms turned clammy at the sight of the balding, wiry man striding down the wooden planked dock.
She balled her hands into fists, reminding herself that she was powerful, strong, smart, and loved by her true family.
This poor excuse for a man was her past–and certainly did not have a spot in her future.
“Ew.” Esmeray crinkled her nose as Lenna pointed out Leon. “You can do so much better.” Keerian echoed the sentiment to Lenna, before leaning his head down to kiss his mate on top of a curled black horn.
As Leon stopped in front of the gangway of the first ship, Laurent stepped forward, blue flames dancing merrily at the tips of his fingers. He looked at Lenna. Lenna gave him a single, curt nod.
“Laurent,” Esmeray commanded, a serpentine smile gracing her face, “burn the boats.”
Laurent grinned as he shot two balls of flame high up into the sky, and they arched neatly before crashing onto the ship furthest down the dock.
Fire exploded upon impact with the deck.
The irony was not lost to Lenna. The lumber Leon made all his coveted profits on was the perfect kindling for the flames that enveloped the entire hull and mast within seconds.
A tingle of thrill slithered up her spine at the crackling sounds of the fire raging and roaring.
Panicked shouts rang out from the harbor. Leon whirled around, his face mottled in anger, running towards the burning ship. Laurent had a delighted look on his face as he launched more balls of fire towards the next ship.
And the next.
And the next.
Within minutes, the four ships belonging solely to Leon were engulfed in flames, their cargo reduced to cinders.
The profits gone. Esmeray wrapped Lenna in a hug.
“Let’s see if he decides to sign the papers now,” the Queen laughed as a giant black crow hopped onto the narrow wooden railing in front of them.
The crow was double the size of the ones Lenna used to see in Doortan, its dark eyes fixated on Esmeray.
The crow’s blue-black wings shimmered in the sun, and a band of white feathers formed a crescent moon atop its head.
Esmeray handed the crow an envelope simply addressed in bold black letters, “Leon.” The beastie took it gently in its sharp beak, before Esmeray directed the bird on who to deliver the letter to.
With a nod of its feathered head, which completely bewildered Lenna, the crow hopped along the railing before flying towards the harbor, expertly weaving between the pillars of smoke curling off Leon’s burning boats.
“First fire chickens and dragons, now giant crows.” Lenna muttered to herself, “What’s next?”
Esmeray laughed, her fae hearing impeccable. “I’m buying you a fire chick when you find a house to move into.”
Lenna wasn’t opposed.
The group silently observed the crow as it landed on a wooden chest in front of a purple-faced, screaming Leon.
Leon startled at the larger-than-normal bird before gingerly reaching out to take the envelope from its beak.
He tore it open, reading a letter Lenna knew she had not written, before bellowing at someone to bring him a quill and ink.
He scribbled furiously before throwing papers back towards the crow, who screeched with indignation before collecting each piece of parchment in its beak and launching off the chest, soaring back towards their ship.
Lenna knew the exact moment Leon saw her.
His face blanched, taking in the two winged beings, the massive crest flapping in the sea breeze–and Lenna.
Fear wracked his features as he stumbled backwards, narrowly avoiding tripping over stacked crates behind him.
Lenna burst out laughing as he turned tail and bolted down the dock, disappearing into the shadows of the town beyond.
“Okay,” Lenna giggled, “Who wrote the letter and what exactly did it say?”
Esmeray beamed. “I did. I told him if he didn’t sign those divorce papers, burning ships would be the least of his worries. And…well… I maybe threatened his life?”
“I added to it,” Keerian chimed up, ultimately very pleased with Esmeray and his contribution. “I told him that alcohol is very flammable and one little spark and that nice Estate of his would go the way of his boats.”
Lenna shook her head in amazement, her smile widening. “You two are very violent.”
Keerian squeezed his mate affectionately, their wings tucked in between each other. “We just love you, that’s all.”
The crow landed with a triumphant air about it, bobbing its beak–and the signed divorce papers.
It was done.
Lenna was freed from the marriage that dimmed her very soul. Throwing her arms around Esmeray, she laid a smacking kiss to the Queen’s cheek before turning to hug Keerian with the same ferocity.
The mighty ship turned, guided by fae magic, sailing swiftly away from the Slate Kingdom and back to Irridessen.
As soon as Doortan faded into the horizon, Lenna slipped the wedding band off her finger, tossing it into the depths of the churning water below.
As it sunk down into the dark waves, Esmeray waned them from the ship.
In a quick flash of gold, Lenna found herself standing in front of a very colorful bakery in the heart of Florra.
Esmeray winked before waning away with her mate and Laurent.
The afternoon sun warmed her face as she stepped lightly towards the bakery’s door. Without a doubt, Lenna knew she was home.