Legends of Marithia: Book 3 - Talonsphere (21 page)

She wanted them all to die.

The city shuddered with the force of the catapults unleashing another rain of fiery missiles. The onslaught left Greenhaven’s skies, tearing their way toward the approaching ships.

Her body shook and her teeth chattered, long after the missiles were in her view. She struggled to maintain control as her face contorted.

Why did I ever let her go out there?
she thought, wishing that it was her in that explosion. Nobody could have possibly survived it.

Raehar stood on uneasy feet, his ears ringing and muscles aching from the explosion, and he surveyed their surroundings. Smoke surrounded him, and as it cleared, another barrage of dragon’s breath erupted nearby, setting a ship on fire. Many mermaids were killed by the explosion. Their bodies floated on the ocean’s surface like dead fish, twisted and torn, their blood seeping from their wounds. His stomach churned at the sight before him, and he breathed through his mouth to avoid the stench of death. This was the worst he had ever seen in his life, and he wanted to get out of there, as fast as possible.

Where do I have to go to?
he thought.

The ocean exploded all around them as Greenhaven’s missiles rained down, water bursting in all directions.

Vampires yelled at each other, instructing their shocked ballista crews to fire on the attacking dragons. Bolts fired in all directions, with only a few finding their targets. Some managed to breach the dragons’ skin as they roared. One of them dropped into the ocean, sending waves in all directions.

The ocean once again came alive with mermaid activity, and a second wave of attacks began.

“Lucia!” Raehar said, scanning the dissipating smoke for the bloodship. If she had been hit, she may sink to the bottom of the ocean, eternally a living shipwreck.

The last of the smoke dispersed, and only fragments of the princess’ boat remained, and Lucia was nowhere to be seen.

“What is going on?” he said, looking around.

Two vampires that were hastily introduced earlier, Tusdar and Mestal, dispatched a mermaid on their deck. Raehar called out to them, “Where is the Lucia and her crew?”

A familiar voice yelled from behind him. “I am here! But the crew is gone. I had to roll the ship underwater to avoid being hit. I righted myself and they had gone.”

Lucia swung her sword through a leaping mermaid, cutting her clean in half. The mermaid shrieked as she fell to the ocean.

“Damn it! Wait for me, Lucia!” Raehar said, descending toward the cargo hold. There was one way out of this mess and this life that he was sick of.

This was not what he sailed the seas for.

Chapter 12 : A Storm Of Scales

“When the continuum of time is disrupted by stones of change, the ripple effects can collide in a spectacular fashion.

Things that we would never have foreseen, can happen right before our eyes.”

(Kai’En - Marithian Seer)

T
he distant crackles and pops aided his slumber as the warm night winds caressed his skin. He rolled onto his back and stretched his legs, yawning as he rose to his feet and shook off the dry leaves. He was refreshed and ready to head home. It may have been a wasted trip, but he knew that everything happened for a reason. Looking to the ocean, he saw that the fleet had disappeared. He mumbled to himself, “I must’ve slept longer than I realised.”

It mattered no longer, as he was accustomed to adjusting to a changing world, and at times, being a conduit to change.

Kai’En turned around to face a sword’s tip. Its blade shone the moonlight in his face, and he raised his arm to block the light. He recognised the man before him, and his eyes widened at the situation he found himself in.

Kai’En touched his face, feeling the foreign shapes under his fingertips, scratching at his face as if to ail an itch. To be recognised with this face could only be a bad thing. This was his secret life, where he played the players in their games, for his own benefit.

And he arrives, as I had foreseen. Damn spell should have worn off by now.

Vartan stared into Kai’En’s eyes, seeing a stranger as he lowered his arm. “Don’t you dare move a muscle.”

The prince looked over Kei’En’s coat and took a step back. He narrowed his eyes and said, “You?”

“Oh no. Vartan, it’s not what you think.”

Vartan’s party was in his peripheral, standing near with their weapons readied. Yuski’s bow strained as she said, “Who is this man? How do you know each other?”

The prince reached forward and grabbed Kai’En by the scruff of his neck and threw him to the ground before placing the tip of his sword on the man’s neck and gesturing with his other open hand for everyone to stay back.

“I saw you in a vision. It was
you
who organised the attack on Helenia, wasn’t it. You were working with Derian and made a deal with him. Give me one reason why I shouldn’t run you through right now?”

Kai’En’s heart thumped through his chest. He wasn’t sure how to get out of this one. Ideas flooded his mind and he racked his brain for the best course of action.

Come on, you are always good at thinking on your feet.

“By the gods, Vartan, are you sure about this?” Anakari said.

Kai’En put his hands in the air after taking another moment to scratch at his face. “Vartan, I know what this looks like, but I did not organise that attack. I swear it.”

I can hardly believe this myself, but the man speaks the truth
, Keturah said.

Vartan’s face contorted as he stared at the man before him. “But, how could you be telling the truth? I saw it through Nymira, and I saw
you
.”

Sharp intakes of breath reached his ears as Kai’En’s face twisted and changed its features. They watched as the man cried out, tears building as his body tightened. After a few moments, they stared in horror at Kai’En’s real face looking back at them.

Vartan stepped back as he realised that they had followed this man’s advice. If they were misled, then he wasn’t sure he could stop himself from hurting the seer.

“Kai’En? What are you... you better start explaining yourself!” Yuski said, drawing her own sword and bearing down on him. “We fucking trusted you!”

A few loud crashes came from Greenhaven, and they looked to the castle’s direction, watching the flashes light up the sky. He was so far from the stronghold that was clearly under siege.

“Kai’En, you were the man working with Derian? How much of what you told us is true?” Vartan said, before staring down at Keturah.

“It was all true, Vartan, but there are some elements that may have been altered,” he said, before Vartan ran the edge of the blade down the skin of Kai’En’s neck, grazing him.

Vartan narrowed his eyes and yelled in the man’s face. “Altered? We’re here, looking for a realm that we cannot find, and Greenhaven is besieged. What exactly did you
alter
? And if you didn’t organise Helenia’s ambush, then who did?”

“Vartan, please. At least let him stand and explain himself. He won’t be going anywhere with us around,” Dryden said.

Vartan pointed at the castle and snapped. “They could all die because of you!”

He sheathed his sword and paced around Kai’En. Breathing deep to calm his nerves, Vartan nodded and let the man stand. Kai’En wrapped a cloth around his neck. “That was unnecessary, Vartan, but I forgive you. It must be quite a shock to see me like this.”

“Forgive? You have nerve,” Vartan said, before Anakari pulled him back.

“All right, I certainly do owe you all an explanation, but it is not what you think. The vision you had, was it in a dungeon, with the map?” he said.

Vartan nodded.

“Was I helping Derian? In a way, yes. Look, he was not always bad. I knew him when he was a child, when he still had some good in him. I suppose I hoped I could stop him from turning into what I envisioned. I was wrong. He had turned into a twisted shit of a man, and ultimately a vampire, paying extremely well for deliveries of blood. No, I did not kill anyone, although he thought I did. I drained the recently dead to create the bottles. Everyone has a price.”

Is he telling the truth?
Vartan thought.

Yes, I will tell you if he lies
, Keturah said.

I can barely believe that Derian was good once
, Vartan thought, before saying, “Go on.”

“How do you think I survive this war? I need gold, just like everyone else. Derian would have hired more assassins than you could fight off. By taking the job, I ensured your victory.”

Vartan narrowed his eyes and raised his sword. “So, you did order the ambush.”

Kai’En raised his arms. “Wait, I am on
your
side in this war, don’t you see?”

“Looks far from it, does it not?” Dryden said.

“Vartan, don’t close your mind to possibilities. You not only killed the men who attacked you, but you and Helenia were unhurt, were you not?” Kai’En said.

“Yes, but I lost good men that day!”

“Such are the sacrifices we make for the greater good. Better some good men than the princess, isn’t it? I see visions too, so you must know the nature of them and how they can change or deceive you. I sent a group of mercenaries who I supplied plenty of ale before their job. They never stood a chance, and everything that has taken place has led to this.”

“What else have you influenced? Is Daessar really here?” Vartan said.

“You must know, I do it all for the greater good. Everything I told you is true, and the entry to Daessar is here. In a manner of speaking.”

More flashes lit up over Greenhaven and explosions erupted over the landscape. Vartan pointed his sword to the city. “
That
is a manner of speaking? You put everyone in danger.”

“Not at all, Vartan. You were not meant to be at this battle of Greenhaven. Fate has many paths, and it was not the right time for you to meet Kassina in battle again. Too much has already changed, and the future is becoming uncertain. There are only a few of us left with enough influence to ensure our path to victory. Stop worrying, as most paths I have seen result in a victory for Greenhaven tonight.”

“You can’t be serious,” Yuski said.

“We are wasting time here. No more games. Where is the entry to Daessar?” Vartan said.

His patience was thin and crumbling with each flash on the horizon.

“Have you realised yet that our meeting today was anything but chance? The entry to Daessar is right underneath your feet, Vartan, and your key is
Anakari,” he said.

They all stared at the ground. There was nothing around but earth.

“No, not
on
the ground, but far beneath it. The time is right, and you need to travel to Alyanti, the city under the sea, and the home of what you would know as mermaids.”

“Wha...” Vartan said, “Is this another trick? How are we meant to travel underwater? We’re not fish!”

Kai’En reached into his pack and drew out a small tome. “No, Vartan, this is no trick. Take this and consider it a gift to make our peace. Given your blessing, you would likely have no problem breathing underwater, but I guess we can’t be sure. Within the book are secrets unknown to even Kassina and Shindar. In it are spells of the ancients, but be warned, some of them may produce effects that differ from their intentions. The spell to let you breathe water, however, works the same in the realm of Daessar, as it does here. It is not the only way you can get there, but it will work.”

Vartan could not let deception pass, even if it was for a so called greater good. He took the book and sheathed his sword before approaching Kai’En.  “Know this. If you ever mislead us again, whether it is for the greater good or not, there will be a price to pay. We could have known and made a decision to stay on the best path. Never take our choices from us again.”

Kai’En nodded and smiled. “I promise, Vartan. The time for you to join the battle for Greenhaven is
now
, so you had best be on your way. Good luck.”

Karven, we need to get out of here, now!
Vartan thought.

The ground shook under their feet as Karven landed, and again as Finn did the same.

“We fly to Greenhaven,” Vartan said, mounting the king of dragons.

He prayed it was not too late.

The ocean was a chaotic sea of horrors. Blood flowed from bodies floating on its surface, fish picking loose chunks of flesh in a feeding frenzy. Vampires, manning the crossbows, cheered as another dragon fell into the seas, collecting the back half of a pirate ship in its fall. The broken ship bobbed on the surface and sank to its grave as pirates leapt overboard.

Vampires scanned the skies, not finding any more targets. Greenhaven’s endless barrage and attacking dragons had taken their toll as the ships remained locked in a fierce battle between Kassina’s remaining forces, and the many pirate ships.

Raehar made his way back to his ship’s deck, with Jasmine lying in his arms. Just as he made it to the top of the stairs, a missile hit the side of their ship, launching them into the air. Raehar twisted to land hard on his back, struggling to regain his footing as the ship rocked violently and took on water. With shaking knees, he ran to the edge of Lucia’s deck.

I am not going to die here. Whatever it takes, I will walk away from all of this.

“Is that our prisoner?” Lucia said.

Raehar leapt across the ocean, his breath held as caught Jasmine looking into his eyes. He slipped on the watery deck of the ship as he landed, tumbling in a heap with Jasmine grunting. He wiped his brow and drew his sword. “Sorry.”

All but the closest vampire ships had already pulled away. With a blur of shadows under the burgundy moonlight, Mestal and Tusdar landed on Lucia’s deck. They drew their swords toward Raehar’s neck and screamed, “You dogs betrayed us all!”

Raehar sneered and looked to Jasmine beside him. “We did nothing of the sort. This agreement was between our masters, who ye notice are no longer here with us. Put down yer swords, and let us leave here and be free. I have no desire to fight ye. Ye and yer men can be free of all this, aye?”

Mestal looked at Tusdar and they said nothing, as if they were waiting for something.

“Do you hear her? I hear nothing,” Tusdar said.

Mestal shook her head, and they both lowered their swords.

“I may be a pirate, but I’m a man of honour. Lucia, take them out of here and to wherever they want to go, and then make yer way back to Grenlees, aye?”

“Aye, capt’n, but what about you?” Lucia said, shifting to avoid an incoming missile that sprayed seawater on her deck.