The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Two: Beyond the Veil (20 page)

Tying off the horses, Callum gave the men permission to find the tavern and seek out food. Aiva moved to follow them, stopped by the feeling of Callum’s hand on her wrist. “I believe now is the best time for us to speak,” he stated calmly.

“Can it not wait until after we have eaten?”

“I would prefer it did not.”

Defeated, she let him lead her away from the bustle of the street, ducking into the cover of a darkened alley. The area was disconcerting. Garbage lay scattered about on the ground. For one of the largest cities in Carpaen, it was surprisingly dirty and ill-cared for. She could only hope that this was only a small segment of the city and that further exploration would provide safer surroundings for them to leave their horses and supplies for the night.

Callum was alert. Eyes scanning the alley to make sure no one was around. “You have left me in a very unpleasant predicament,” he frowned. “I cannot focus on my job knowing that you are here. Your protection is my sworn duty and even at my side, in these lands, I cannot guarantee your safety. As you can imagine, this has me a bit on edge – not to mention the accusatory words you aim at me whenever you have the chance. It is not my desire to fight with you, yet you leave me with few options.”

“Well, I am not turning back, so you have no choice but to accept it.”

“Do you have any idea the danger you are walking into?” Callum stepped in closer, glancing out of the corner of his eye. Someone was approaching. Protectively, he placed his body between Aiva and the street, shielding her from view. “I will do what I can to watch over you, but I have limited control. Our numbers are not ideal to be escorting someone of your station.”

His eyes continued to drift foward. Something had caught his attention, distracting him from their conversation. Absently he motioned for Aiva to place her hat atop her head, his weight shifting to reveal a human male standing only a short distance away, watching them both intently.

Pressed against the wall, Aiva stared at the man, taking in the details of his face. He was tan, deeply darkened from the exposure to the sun. Lines on his face indicated him to be older, though her familiarity with humans was lacking, making it impossible for her to judge his exact age. There was a devious glint in his eyes that made Aiva uneasy to allow him so close, noticing Callum’s hand slowly sliding down to settle on the hilt of his sword. “Can I help you?” he asked loudly. Authoritative.

The man grinned, a rotted blackened tooth visible under his upper lip. His voice revealed a thick accent, making it more difficult to understand his words which he spoke in the common tongue of the humans. Aiva had little experience with the language outside her lessons, causing difficulty in picking out the words. “You two men be with the Tanispan military?”

Aiva’s lips twitched with amusement. He thought her a boy? Probably better that way. Less trouble could come from that misunderstanding than if he were to discover her true identity.

“We are,” Callum nodded, making no attempt to correct the man’s error. “If you have business, state it. If not, I suggest you leave us be.”

“Oh, I have business, if you be a man of business. Your jacket shines brighter than the other soldiers. Lieutenant? Commander?”

“Captain,” Callum stated with a hint of pride. “And I only do business if it suits me.”

The man gave a sly wink at Aiva over Callum’s shoulder, stepping closer, moving out of the lights filtering through the windows lining the street. Callum maintained his stance between him and Aiva. “Some men came through town not long ago. They offered an item for sale I believe your King and Queen be lookin’ for. If the price is right, I could be willing to offer some information.”

“What would you consider to be the right price?”

“Well, I be a man of trade above all else,” he smirked. “I’ll start simple. That’s a pretty young lad you’re keeping to yourself,” his hand gestured toward Aiva. “In exchange for him, I’ll tell you what you want to know.”

“Try again,” Callum said, firm, a hint of anger noticeable in his tone. “My soldiers are not bargaining tools.”

“Gold be a currency all men appreciate.”

“Gold? What makes you think your tip is worth that much to me?”

The man’s wretched smile faded, replaced by an irritable glare. “I know men who would pay by the pound in gold to know where your soldiers be. That choice be up to you.”

Reaching into a pouch at his belt, Callum retrieved a few coins, the gold surface glinting in the pale light. The man snatched them from Callum greedily, his dirty fingers tucking them away into the tattered vest he wore. “Speak,” Callum ordered. “My patience runs thin and I have no tolerance for fools.”

“Smart man,” he grinned, the lines on his face darkening from the grime layered in the creases of skin. Casually he tilted his head back, searching to see if anyone was around before leaning closer to Callum. “Your Queen be missing a precious jewel?”

Aiva stiffened against the cool exterior of the building. This man knew about Shaelyn; or at least appeared to have knowledge. She wanted to pull the information from him but she lacked experience in how to accomplish that task. Interrogation wasn’t something a princess was taught in her lessons. Thankfully, Callum was there to handle the situation. Hatred aside, Aiva couldn’t deny he was good at talking.

“I didn’t pay you to ask questions.” Shoulders pulled back, Callum let his fingers drum against the hilt of his sword, casual yet purposeful, drawing the man’s attention to the weapon he carried. “Tell me what you know or I will conclude our business with your corpse.”

The man laughed uneasily, his eyes straying to cast a glance at Callum’s sword. “I be gettin’ to the point. No need for that,” he cleared his throat. “A young lass be with the men. One of your breed. I hear them call her Princess.”

“Princess?” Callum eyed the man, staring him down in attempts to intimidate him. “What makes you think this girl to truly be of royal blood?”

“Their leader said it.”

“Leader?”

“Aye.”

Callum paused, thoughtful. Aiva could tell he considered his words carefully before speaking again. “These men… were they led by a woman?”

“They be, yes.” The man clucked his tongue over his rotted teeth, a slight smile returning to his mouth. “She be a fine woman. A lady of the sea, she be.”

“An Esai?” Callum asked. “Blonde hair?”

Aiva stared at him in disbelief. Esai? She hated to think of the possibilities. Callum’s pirate whore? A sense of hatred filled her heart to consider seeing the woman who turned Callum against his own people.

“You know the lady?” The man looked genuinely surprised. “She be a fierce one, that wench.”

“Did you hear where they were headed?”

“They be takin’ the southern road. Said someone be on their heels.”

Nodding his head, Callum reached his arm toward Aiva to lightly take her hand. She paid little attention to Callum’s touch in her shock. “Be on your way,” Callum stated firmly. “I won’t be needing your services any further.”

The man scoffed at Callum’s swift dismissal. “You don’t want to know more?”

“There is nothing else you could offer which will be of use to me.” Gruffly, Callum pushed his way past the man with his free hand. The sensation of his grip tightening around Aiva’s fingers brought her back to her senses, realizing for the first time that he had hold of her. Her nose wrinkled in distaste though uncertainty prevented her from tearing free of his grasp. She didn’t know what the man in the alley was capable of. Something about Callum’s presence made her feel safe. Secure. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her. Even as a traitor, he was too smart to risk her life. Such a mistake would cost him everything.

Pulled along under Callum’s hold, Aiva could feel her heart pounding inside her chest. They were drawing closer to the street, sounds of jovial conversation spilling out through the doors of the tavern where the other soldiers had gone for their meal. But there wasn’t time to worry about food. The pirates had been there, and not long ago. If Callum could rally the troops, there was hope of rescuing Shaelyn before it became necessary to cross the desert.

“What are we going to do?” she breathed, finding it difficult to keep up with Callum’s long strides. He was distracted. Seemingly unaware of Aiva’s presence despite the continued pressure he exerted over her slender hand, nearly crushing it from the force. A pained grimace contorted her features, no longer able to tolerate the discomfort. Holding firm, she ceased her steps, the soles of her shoes skidding over the gravel behind Callum until the effort of pulling her weight brought him from his reverie.

At the sight of Aiva’s face, he quickly released her, aghast at what he’d done. “Aiva, I’m so sorry,” he exhaled, reaching for her hand to examine it for injury. “Are you alright? Did I hurt you?”

“I am quite fine,” she shook her head, retracting her hand to prevent Callum from touching her again. There wasn’t time for idle chatter. They needed to get the men together. Every second Callum wasted on her was another second their enemy was taking Shaelyn further out of their reach. They could discuss their mutual hatred another time. “Go,” she commanded, motioning Callum toward the tavern. “Order the men on their feet. We must move.”

“We will,” Callum nodded, straightening his posture once again. His distraction dissipated, returning to his usual calm, authoritative stance. “I need you to come with me. I can’t leave you on the street alone. It’s too dangerous.”

“Do not worry about me…”

“It’s my job to worry about you,” he cut in. “The city is not safe at night. There are scoundrels who wouldn’t hesitate to snatch you up the way the pirates did with your sister. A woman of your station fetches a high price on the slave market.”

“No one in this city knows who I am, nor are they aware of my station,” Aiva argued, stepping toward the wagon to ready the horses. What was he waiting for? She had given him a direct order. “Go get your men, Captain,” she jutted her chin out defiantly, her tone assertive, making it clear the matter wasn’t open for negotiation. Callum may be the Captain, but she was still his superior. And she wasn’t about to let him forget it.

Begrudgingly, Callum took a step back, nodding in defeat. “Of course,” he replied, lips pursed tightly as if to hold back from saying something more. His gaze lingered on her as he started to turn away, not wanting to let her out of his sight. She watched him, head held high, determined not to let him see the unease she felt. There was no time for fear. Shaelyn was counting on them. And she had no intention of letting her down.

.

Chapter Seven

Aiva trudged along behind the troops, lingering toward the rear in hopes of avoiding Callum. She’d had enough of his company to last her a lifetime though she knew it would only get worse. To her dismay, she was counting on him. At least for now. He knew the layout of the land better than she did. Not to mention the men trusted him. He was their brave, heroic Captain. And while she was their Princess, they knew far too little of her to put the same faith in her orders as they did Callum’s.

From her vantage, Aiva could see Callum, deep in conversation with another soldier, heads tilted in close to avoid being overheard. Their pace had slowed significantly before coming to a halt. Judging by the tension visible on the faces of the men, Aiva could only assume that the trail they followed was quickly fading over the barren landscape, making it difficult to pinpoint the direction of their enemy.

A soft brush of a hand on her shoulder caused Aiva to jump, inhaling a sharp breath. Her hand lifted reflexively, nearly striking the person who had come to stand beside her. “Kaemin,” she breathed in relief, a smile passing over her lips to see her friend there. “I keep mistaking you for someone else.”

Kaemin smiled half-heartedly, his eyes cautiously scanning the area around them. The other men had continued to move forward, though only a few steps, gathering around Callum, anxious, waiting for orders. Aiva watched him, curious at his sudden approach. Whatever Callum discussed with the men was clearly of great importance. It didn’t make sense why Kaemin would choose to disregard his Captain. When he spoke, his voice was soft, making sure their conversation wouldn’t be overheard by the others. “Aiva, I wanted to speak with you.”

“Now hardly seems the time,” she laughed uncomfortably, stealing a glance toward Callum. “I would not want you to be reprimanded for ignoring your superior officer. The gods only know the punishment he would impose.”

“I am not concerned with the Captain,” Kaemin shook his head, shoulders bowed as if bearing some great burden. For the first time Aiva noticed the dark circles under his eyes. The bronzed color of his complexion. The sun was quickly taking its toll on the pale skin of their soldiers. And it would only get worse. There was far more desert left to traverse.

Grateful for the pause, Aiva allowed her weight to lean against the supply wagon, attempting to appear casual. She had no reason to fear Kaemin. Her concern lay solely in what Callum might do if he discovered the two of them alone together. She didn’t want to risk accusations which would endanger her reputation as well as Kaemin’s plans for marriage. “Are you not in the least curious what great wisdom the Captain is imparting on your fellow men?”

Letting his gaze sweep the area once again, Kaemin shrugged in false nonchalance. “I’m sure I will hear it eventually. I thought now might be a good time to speak with you.”

“Me?” Aiva stared at him, making no attempt to conceal her confusion. “What exactly did you want to speak of?”

The expression on Kaemin’s face fell. “You,” he stated simply. “Your behavior of late has been rather odd. I hardly recognize you, Aiva. Calie was worried about you even before this all began.” He squinted, peering into Aiva’s eyes, as if looking for some hidden answer in their depths. After a moment he relaxed, exhaling in disappointment. “What is this grudge you have against the Captain? I was under the impression you and he were friends.”

Aiva folded her arms across her chest, unsettled by the question. Had she been so obvious? Since embarking on their mission, she had gone out of her way to rein in her emotions to conceal it from the men until the time came when she had the evidence to expose Callum for what he was. She hoped Kaemin was the only one who noticed. He was her friend. Perhaps he was better at reading her than she had given him credit for. “I do not trust him,” she frowned. There was no point in lying. The truth would be made clear soon enough.

“May I ask why?” Kaemin inquired, stepping closer, his voice lowered, cautious. The others were occupied for now, but there was no way to know when they would conclude their business.

Following his lead, Aiva bowed her head forward, her words hushed. “Lord Dacian told me about Callum,” she stated bluntly. “He took it upon himself to warn me of Callum’s association with the pirates. That he was involved in some intimate relationship with their leader, Ireni. The same woman responsible for my sister’s kidnapping. Dacian admitted to me that he stumbled across Callum in Ireni’s arms, and that Callum swore him to secrecy. I tried to tell this to my brother, but he refused to listen. So I confronted Callum about it during our reception in Escovul and he confessed. I cannot trust a man who has admitted to relations with our enemy.”

Kaemin’s forehead creased in contemplation. It was the most serious she’d seen anyone look after hearing the information she’d learned. Lord Dacian was a friend of Kaemin’s. He would have no reason to discount the secret simply on account of who it came from. “A high charge indeed,” he mused. “And you say he confessed?”

A sudden chill washed over her. She was reminded of the conversation she’d had with Callum in the wagon back in Kaipoi. He denied the admission there. Though only in regards to being in Ireni’s bed. His level of involvement remained suspect. “He admitted… I don’t know,” she sighed. In good conscience, she could no longer swear to Callum sharing a bed with their enemy. “In Kaipoi, he argued that he was not sleeping with Ireni, at least. I am just not sure if that is any better.”

“Let me bring you in on a little secret, Aiva,” Kaemin replied quietly, taking another half-step toward her. “I know you came with us to help your sister. You have also tagged along in attempts to expose the truth in regards to the Captain. Am I right?”

“Yes,” she nodded vehemently. “You are the first person who has listened and understood my fears and concerns since this all came to light.”

“Perhaps. But you need a different tactic if you want to have any hope at proving something,” Kaemin glanced toward the others as if expecting someone to approach them at any moment. “Think of the stories you have been told about your mother. When she infiltrated the enemy, have you ever heard tell of your mother running up to the Ven’shal leaders and shouting at them her beliefs regarding their true intents?”

Aiva pondered over the thought. “Of course not,” she frowned. “That would have been ridiculous. They would never believe her if she made it so obvious.”

“Exactly,” Kaemin raised his index finger, pleased with her understanding. “So think about it, Aiva. Compare you current situation with your mother’s. Do you see where it differs? Where your plan is falling apart?”

Her mouth closed, surprised by what Kaemin was saying. He was right. Working to expose a traitor was very much like exposing a plan for war, on a smaller scale. “I suppose I have been a bit more vocal about my concerns. What else can I do? He refuses to speak with me.”

“That is probably because whenever you two speak, it turns into a fight. I suggest you learn the art of subtlety. Think like a soldier. A spy,” he leaned in closer as if in preparation to share some great secret. “The best way to learn about your enemy is to get close to them. Gain their trust. After a while everyone is bound to talk. Information flows more readily in confidence than when shouting insults.”

Kaemin had a good point. Hope was restored in her mind to consider a new means of accomplishing her goal. Though there was one thing which could stand in her way. She’d already begun to tear away at her relationship with Callum. Recovering what was lost would be a chore in itself. It would be difficult to do alone. “But you have seen the way Callum and I are together…”

“If allowing Callum close to you is what is required to save your sister, then you need to do it. Sometimes we are forced to do things we don’t want to, for the sake of the greater good. That is part of being a soldier – and I imagine it is very similar for a queen.”

His words struck something in Aiva. She suddenly felt her confidence drop even more, feeling a twinge of guilt. It didn’t make sense. She had succeeded in exposing Callum’s secret to one of his men and yet she experienced no joy. There wasn’t enough proof.
What if Edric was right? What if there is more to the story…
No. She couldn’t afford the thought. Not right now. There were more details needed before she would allow herself to start considering him innocent of all charges.

“I will do anything for my sister, Kaemin,” she stated matter-of-factly. And it was true. She would endure torture to save Shaelyn.

“Good,” Kaemin nodded. Flashing a warm smile he offered his hand to Aiva, beckoning her to follow. “We need to get back to the others. By now I’m sure Callum has devised a plan to rekindle the track. When he gives the word, we must be ready to move. Every second we waste here is another second they have ahead of us on the road.”

The next few days passed in a blur of sand and sweat. Every mile they traveled carried them deeper into the desert, temperatures rising beyond that which Aiva had endured before. A man in the unit by the name of Gadiel had taken up the role as their tracker, leading the group along the road, pausing occasionally to kneel in communion with whatever life they could find in the barren landscape, searching for signs of their enemy’s passing. Gadiel was incredibly skilled with the use of the innate Vor’shai magic. Aiva was impressed by the ease which he utilized the energy that flowed between him and the land, pinpointing the length of time behind the pirates they were on the road, directing the unit to follow their path.

She tried to keep her distance from Callum and Gadiel, not wanting to be in the way. She was self-conscious about her appearance, having been on the move for nearly a week now without time to change her sandy clothes or wash the layer of dirt and sweat from her skin. They were becoming a disgusting lot, yet Callum continued to push them onward, only allowing for short breaks on occasion to close their eyes, no more than an hour or two at most. He wasn’t willing to give the pirates more ground than they already had.

Around them, the land was utterly dry. Sparsely speckled with trees which looked dead at first glance, though upon closer inspection appeared to be of a strange, desert design, feeding off some scant moisture in the air, or perhaps from deep underground. An occasional rocky outcropping jutted up to create pockets of shade where they would take shelter while stealing a drink from their reserves. Aiva was beginning to doubt that they would ever find her sister. The journey was wearing down their own men. She could only imagine what it was doing to the pirates, forced to keep in motion to avoid being found.

Sheer force of will was all that kept Aiva moving. Her legs ached. Muscles burned. The fair skin of her face was reddened by the constant exposure to the sun, stinging from the salty sweat which poured over the surface. When she thought about giving up from exhaustion, she considered how Shaelyn must be feeling, treated like a slave. Carried about without care of her fragile frame. And to consider what the men might do to her was sickening. She didn’t trust them. Pirates weren’t known for their morals. A young woman in their clutches would have much to fear. Especially one of Shaelyn’s beauty.

Aiva found little opportunity to speak with Callum after leaving Eykanua. He had been avoiding her, though she couldn’t be sure whether it was intentional. It was his duty to remain close to Gadiel and help direct their unit. While she lagged closer to the supply wagon, it placed distance between them, granting her the opportunity to observe her target while disallowing her a chance to act on her plan.

The horses gave a muffled whinny as they came to a stop, the entire unit halted by a simple gesture from Callum’s hand. Gadiel was knelt down on the ground, palms splayed against the dust, eyes closed. Completely still. A soft green light – which matched the color of his eyes – encased his hands where they connected with the sand, expanding out a short distance, rising in glowing tendrils along his arms. After a moment his eyes opened, lifting his head to stare at Callum. “Something isn’t right.”

On guard, Callum moved to one of the horses, retrieving a longbow from its straps, eyes surveying the area. Aiva watched him with interest. She’d never seen him hold such a weapon before, forgetting how much more advanced his combat training was now than when they used to play in the courtyard. The others took his lead, garnering their bows, quivers attached at their belts or thighs. Aiva stepped closer to the horses, shielding herself behind the troops.

Taking a step out in front of the unit, Callum sniffed at the air. A faint breeze could be felt through the heat, offering little to Aiva’s senses to indicate the presence of anyone around other than their own men. Still, something had Callum on edge. Tensed. Ready to fire at the first sign of movement.

From somewhere in the distance Aiva was aware of what sounded to be a soft whistle cutting through the air. A dull thud echoed in her ears, not registering at first what it was until she noticed the soldier at her side suddenly pitch backward, falling flat to the ground. She spun to see what had happened, hands cupped over her mouth in abhorrence to find an arrow lodged solidly through the man’s throat. A disgusting gurgle came from him in his dying moments before going limp. Reflexively, she felt her stomach begin to heave. Turning away from the sight she dropped to her knees, retching violently.