The Unexpected Heir: A Tale of Alus (34 page)

"His argument is pirates or privateers, though we have good alliances with most of the countries along the north coast of Taltan; so I don't know why we would have to fear them. My worry is weather."

Toman looked to the west, though the sails obscured a clear view of the skies in that direction. "There are hardly any clouds in the sky. Unless you've picked up some of your cousin's weather abilities, I don't know why you would think that."

"If I wasn't fighting seasickness the whole trip, I would say that it was my gut. That is what you soldier types say when you have a sense of trouble coming, don't you?'

Dillon heard her trying to speak like a commoner and smiled before looking down at his carving. Toman didn't hide his smile and he nodded. "Yes, my lady, we soldier types do rely on our gut for hunches to avoid danger when we can."

Again the man looked towards the sky. "My gut doesn't say the same thing, but I haven't been seasick this whole time either."

Giving an incoherent exclamation of annoyance at his opinion, Xerese moved towards the prow of the Zephyr to watch the water and the sky. She was no air wizard, but for some reason she believed that her hunch was right.

Philip returned home feeling weary. The funeral for the princess had been a few days earlier and since then the king had been pressuring his council for answers. He wanted to find the culprit behind the poison. Philip had a feeling that at this point, Orlaan didn't even care if they found the right man. Anyone that could be used as a scapegoat to give him revenge to ease his pain would do, but Philip wouldn't give up and do such a thing. He hoped Lord Denefar had similar moral parameters or his spies might offer up an innocent as a sacrifice.

A surprising amount of activity was found inside his home. Servants were moving in and out of the entry hall in a hurry that was unusual, at least for this time of day. Bags were being brought down and maids were running to and fro on errands that he couldn't immediately understand.

As he entered, Serafene came down the stairs speaking with Alicia and Laram, their head steward. His wife noticed him looking perplexed down below and offered Philip a weak smile.

"What's going on?" he asked curiously. Philip felt his heart sink into his stomach sensing that something was amiss. It wasn't a difficult leap to make, since he couldn't remember Serafene ever in the midst of packing without warning him first.

With a big sigh, his wife took his hands as she met him at the bottom step and said, "Etrine's letters have become more disturbing and now Oland has even requested that I come visit her. I think Carland's death has pushed her towards a nervous breakdown. Perhaps a visit from her sister and niece can help to snap her out of her darkness."

Alicia didn't look completely happy as her mother announced her intentions.

"Both of you are going?" the man replied sounding a bit surprised.

Serafene nodded.

"I thought that you were still working through your suitors," he said to his daughter. "Do you think that you can leave at a time like this?"

While Philip didn't truly care if she married sooner or later, the matter had been a priority for both Alicia and his wife for the last few months. Both had seemed intent on finding the right man before her twenty-fifth birthday. They had time, but it was still closing quicker than he could believe. Time passed faster the older he got, but the last month had gone at a blistering pace with all of its disturbing events.

Wincing at his question, Alicia replied, "If mother is gone, the house will get too lonely. I would rather go with her and try to help than remain here just to let those men try and dote on me. I am not so superficial to ignore when my family needs me."

He wasn't sure if she was trying to convince him or herself, but he nodded. "Are you sure about this?" he asked turning to his wife. "If there is a conspiracy to bring down the royal family, you two might be riding into danger. I can't protect you if I remain here."

"But you can't go with because of Orlaan," Serafene nodded. "Don't fear for us. I will take a dozen guardsmen in addition to the drivers and footmen. If this enemy's choice is using the shadows to accomplish his goals, that many eyes and swords should be more than enough to dissuade them from harming us. I even called on the wizards' guild and two wizards are on the way to join us."

Her face went from confident to worried looking at her husband and she voiced the fear saying, "I am more worried that you won't be safe here. Inside our home might be protected, but you keep putting yourself in the line of fire for the king. If our enemy notices, then you might be the one in danger, Philip."

Still holding both of her hands, the man noted the soft warmth of her touch. He looked into her worried, blue eyes and noticed a stray lock of dark blonde hair. With his right hand, Philip gently lifted the strand placing it back over her ear.

"If this enemy wants to kill members of the royal family, a spouse means little. I can't vie for the throne, only you two could. As to being noticed and winding up in their sights, I am being careful enough to avoid that as best I can.

"A trip to Etrine's home will take you days to get there. You will need to stop at a few inns along the way. The men will have a hard time of securing those places for you."

Serafene began to shake her head and said, "We can argue this all day, but I must go. We will both have to agree to do our best to stay safe. That is all we can do. Life is full of danger no matter what we try. We just need to have faith."

"If you are certain that you must go, then I won't stand in your way. I couldn't even if I wanted to," he finished with a little laugh. Like he had told her, she was the marquess. His title was more honorary than official since he wasn't blood kin of the king. He could never take the throne unless somehow Serafene was in line to wear the crown and her orders superseded his own.

The blonde haired marquess pulled him close to kiss her husband. Alicia glanced away embarrassed by their affection, though pressed she would probably still prefer it to parents who merely tolerated each other's presence.

"Well, there are just some things that a sister must do for her siblings. Etrine is in a fragile state. Hopefully we can help her to grieve in a more productive way. Carland was her baby, but Bartrand and his wife remain. Perhaps she can take solace in her elder son. I will see what else I can think of to raise her spirits.

"The trip will give me time to think of more at least."

There was little more to argue, so the three worked out their goodbyes while their carriage was brought around by the drivers. Horses and guardsmen flocked around the carriage readying their equipment and packs. It wasn't a procession easily missed so Philip just hoped that Serafene's assumption was correct. A show of force might keep assassins away, but would the Brothers of the Blood or another enemy decide to gather a larger force if the opportunity presented itself.

He still didn't know if all the family was a target or even if, but there had been too many deaths and incidents in a short time to ignore the possible danger. Serafene had to see her sister though and Philip knew that there was little he could say to stop her from going to visit Etrine.

After their last goodbyes, the man watched as the remainder of his family disappeared out the gate. Annalicia should be returning soon at least, he thought. Maybe the return of his youngest would start to heal what was wrong in Yalan. It was a lot to ask of a young girl, but it was a bit of hope when he needed it.

The storm had blown up almost like magic and the Zephyr was tossed about by the massive waves. Winds tore at the sails no matter how the frigate turned or tried to save them. Reducing sails was the best option, but they couldn't escape the storm that way either.

As the storm raged, Xerese tried to ride it out in her cabin with her guards. Her stomach couldn't take the turbulent tossing of the Zephyr and she grew sicker. Being trapped inside was even worse. Finally unable to take the sickness and fear, the girl pushed for the doorway to the deck.

"My lady,.. Xerese, stop!" Toman tried recalling the girl to her senses even daring to use her name.

She was smaller than him, weaker; but Xerese was desperate.

"You can lash me to the cabin with rope, but I can't stay down here!" she cried in panic.

Wood cracked and creaked making it sound like the Zephyr would be destroyed before the might of nature soon. It made her even more certain that her life was in more danger down below than if they could reach the deck. At least if she could be secured to the cabin, Xerese knew that she wouldn't be trapped inside unable to escape if the ship should sink.

Dillon exchanges uncertain looks with his senior. Neither man liked being trapped in the cabin anymore than she did, but they were pretty sure that it was safer than going on deck.

"My lady..." Toman started again but stumbled as the ship threw him aside from an unexpected striking of a wave.

No longer in the girl's way, Xerese hurried out the door and up the stairs. Both of her guards pulled themselves up the stairs behind her using the railing trying to catch up to their charge.

Xerese opened the outer door and her fears magnified. The wind and rain nearly threw her back down the stairs with the force. Waves crashed over the outer rail of the ship threatening to wash away the sailors fighting to keep the Zephyr from being destroyed. They were all seasoned sailors and even a terrifying storm could be beaten if they chose the right tactics as they tried to weather the worst of it.

Thick ropes had been run through heavy metal rings along the deck and on the sides of the cabins on the deck. Sailors used the ropes to move along the deck while tethered to the ropes. Waves could knock them from their feet, but the ropes kept them from being pulled over the side into the roiling ocean.

Voices called to her but were swept away by the storm. Xerese tried to breathe as rain soaked her through almost instantly. Holding onto the rope crossing in front of the door, the girl looked out on the storm and strangely felt more at peace.

Suddenly a wave washed her feet out from under her dumping water down the stairs. The two guardsmen only remained where they were by holding tight to the railings. A moment later Toman's hand grabbed her shoulder forcing the girl to look at him.

"We have to close the door! You'll flood the ship! Close the door and come back down with us. It is safer there."

She started to shake her head when another wave struck her high across the waist. The sound of wood breaking could be heard nearby before lightning struck the waves just hundreds of feet away. Only dropping between waves had likely kept the bolt from striking a mast, but the ship tilted in the valley trying to throw Xerese back down the stairway.

Her death grip on the rope kept her in the doorway despite it all. Toman, however, slipped back. His hand tightened on her shoulder for a moment before the sleeve tore away. She felt some pain, but there was too much going on to truly pay attention to it. Her hands hurt as well and her forearms where they slid against the thick rope.

The Zephyr strained and the agonizing sound of wood cracking signaled the forward mast breaking in half. Another lightning strike split the top of the wave before them closing in on the ship, the girl feared.

New pain came as the door struck Xerese as the rope tightened pulling it closed in her face. Her forehead and arms hurt as she lost her grip on the rope. She tumbled back, but Toman's powerful arm caught the girl as her feet no longer touched the ground. The wind went out of her, but Xerese knew that it could have been worse. The wood was much less forgiving and hard.

Dillon reached past trying to secure the door. More water continued to stream onto the stairway and she looked down to see the water below them caused by her panic. Even as the guardsman closed the door, the sound of thunder eclipsed the breaking of wood. The massive ship jumped and the three of them were tossed to their knees on the stairwell. Then suddenly the roof above them tore away. The wall above the lower stairs broke away in ragged pieces and the storm found its way to them despite their attempts to retreat.

The door broke away where the hinges met the other wall as it flexed and bent before the waves and wind. Toman held her tight to him ducking down holding onto the railing. Water came through the open walls as it began to flood the lower compartment as she had feared.

Brilliant light blinded Xerese as she looked where the wall had been. The aft deck exploded sending men and planks flying outward. She could hear their screams even over the storm, Xerese thought. With the wind and the echoes of thunder; it was likely her imagination. The frightened girl closed her eyes tucking her face to Toman's chest trying to block out the sight and sounds of the poor sailors.

Their world suddenly turned and the girl was shocked as she was immersed in water. The wood of the stairs was missing and Xerese wasn't even sure if they were on the ship any longer. Somehow Toman's arm remained around her waist.

She opened her eyes and felt him pulling her through the water. Air struck her face with the sting of rain.

"Dillon!" Xerese heard him call out fearfully. Such a powerful man afraid, even the most powerful of men were nothing before a storm. Caught out in the ocean, a human had no chance once their ships broke.