Chapter 34 Freija #2
He cocked his head and narrowed his eyes.
“The odds are much higher that they will reach a port before we reach a village on foot.”
He raised his good arm and pointed at the one with blue sails. “That one.”
“Okay.” I rose and turned toward the forest to fetch firewood.
“No, no, Freija.” His chest heaved and he cleared his throat. “Use your royal magic.”
“It’s far too dangerous. Everyone will know what I am. And what if they’re humans? Or worse, fae like the gang who just attacked us and aren’t exactly friendly?”
“We need to signal that ship. Loath as I am to do so. We need a healer and that particular ship will have one.”
I stared back at the vessel gliding past, too far away to see anyone on board, but… Blue sails. Dark blue sails that looked like an oncoming storm. I’d seen those sails before.
Halvar was right. The ship did have a healer. But I wasn’t sure the captain would keep us alive if we stepped on board.
I didn’t like it, but I had to. Halvar needed help or he’d succumb to his wounds, and I couldn’t live with myself if he did.
With a deep breath, I focused on the warm swell of power in my sternum.
It swirled around expectantly, ready to do my bidding, whatever that may be.
I pictured a ball of light and willed the magic into my hands.
It zipped through my extended arms, and a moment later a warm glow pressed against my eyelids.
I opened my eyes and found a large ball of light floating between my palms.
“Are you sure about this?” I asked, not taking my eyes off the orb.
“Do it,” Halvar replied.
There were so many ways this could land us in trouble—if that was actually a human vessel, if any humans had wandered onto the cliff above us, or if that boat truly was the one I thought it was and we’d alert those fae that a royal was nearby…
“Do it, Freija.”
He was right. I launched the orb into the air. It floated quickly up above us, like the sky was getting a new sparkling sun. Hopefully the ship could see it at that distance. If not… No, I couldn’t let there be any “if not” situations. We didn’t have time for that, and my heart couldn’t bear it.
Without further thought, I called on more of those royal light powers that had been granted to me by the ancestors upon birth and shot a smaller orb into the larger one. They both exploded upon contact and sparks of light shot through the air above our heads.
Please see us.
Please.
Please.
Please.
I repeated the motion. One orb crashing and exploding into the other.
The vessel with the blue sails pivoted, facing our direction, and a small boat was lowered into the water from one side.
Thank goodness. Hopefully this wasn’t another trap.
The crew hoisted the small boat occupied by me, Halvar, and the two shipmates that had been sent ashore to fetch us.
While we’d miraged our ears just in case, I hadn’t bothered with my hair this time.
There was no use. That display of magic was enough of a signal to any fae-kind as to who and what I was.
The sailors helped me climb on board the ship, while Halvar grumbled at their offered hands and hoisted himself onto the deck with one hand.
At the sight of what had to be the entire ship’s crew gathered on the deck, I came to an abrupt halt and let my pack fall to my side.
Halvar came up beside me, his head turning every which direction, scanning for threats.
We stood there in our tattered clothes, covered in dirt, Halvar’s arm slowly dripping blood against the planks, staring at the Fjord Fae as they stared back at us.
“Welcome aboard,” a male voice that I unfortunately recognized called from among the throng of people. The crowd of crew members parted, revealing the man I very much did not want to run into again: Henrik Balderson.
Those tattooed hands were clasped behind his back, a thick blue jacket covering his frame, while a rakish grin crooked his lips.
“I was wondering who might be able to create balls of light magic like that. Certainly no one besides my siblings and definitely no one outside of Skolvik or Iceland. But then it dawned on me.” Henrik’s cool gaze swept across me once more like a thief scanning for treasure.
“Welcome back, Ana. Or should I say Freija?”
I gasped. “You knew?”
“I had my suspicions.”
Halvar’s growl sounded like an “I told you so,” but I ignored him. It was too late now anyway.
“Will you tell your father? Consider this my capture and hand me over to the highest bidder?”
The crew around us squirmed as if my questions were an insult.
Henrik shook his head. “I have no interest in my father’s business nor starting a war with the Fjell. I have far more important matters to attend to.”
Magic pulsed from Halvar’s hands and twin axes appeared once again—even with his bad arm. “What do you mean?”
Apparently, those words were a threat, one I didn’t see, but I trusted Halvar. Even if he was now bleeding significantly again.
Henrik’s eyes flicked from the weapons to me. “My focus is on missing treasures and this ocean, not the politics of the fae. Now, last we saw you two, you were in Egersund. What brings you farther north?”
“We’re heading back to Skolvik.”
“And the need to call on our ship with your magic?”
I pointed to the bleeding bundle of frustration beside me. “He’s injured, more so than he is letting on.”
Halvar grunted like he didn’t appreciate being called vulnerable. And usually I wouldn’t, but my gut told me that wound had been poisoned and the excessive amount of bleeding suggested that was true.
“Very well, then,” Henrik said. “I’d be happy to grant you passage to Grim… for a price.”
A low rumble sounded from my side.
“What price?” I asked. “Gold? Money?”
“I have no need for money. I have barrels full of gold and treasure.”
Thank the ancestors.
“I like shiny things, though. Do you have something shiny that you might be able to send back to me?”
Why were so many men obsessed with sparkling objects and money? It wasn’t like they held power. Not true power at least. I thought back on what items I might be able to barter with, and a single object came to mind. “Would a tiara suffice?”
Henrik’s lips split into a wicked grin. “That would be perfect.”
Well, looked like I’d finally found a home for the tiara that had been abandoned on my dresser.
“With that settled, let’s get your General some medical attention. Magnus!”
A man scurried out of the crowd and fell in beside Henrik.
“Get our guests to the healer’s quarters and prepare a cabin for them.”
“Yes, sir.” The man turned to us and gave me a gentle bow. “Please, follow me.”
We did as requested, and the sea of blue-clad sailors stepped out of our way, making a path to the rear of the ship where an open door waited for us.
“Someone clean up this blood!” Henrik yelled from where we’d left him as we descended into the belly of the monstrous ship.