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Rian
I had spent the first hour at the ball looking for Adrika, expecting to find her wearing the beaded dress I had seen hanging in our chambers when we first arrived in Aisling. The rest of my time had been spent in dreaded small-talk and welcome-backs from those who had known my father. Some only wanted to satisfy their curiosity as to where I had been for the last ten years. Every time I thought myself free from this personal type of torment, I would be stopped by another.
And then I suddenly recognized my wife, and everything around me faded away. Admittedly, the woman in the purple dress had quite often caught my eye, but I never dreamed it was her. If only I had paid more attention to her features before now, I could have been with her sooner. I watched as she whirled around the outskirts of the dancefloor in the arms of another man. I had always thought her beautiful, but tonight she was stunning.
“I need to go dance with my wife.”
“Oh . . . all right . . .”
I had cut the man off in midsentence and could not care less. I did not even look at him as I headed for the dancefloor. Weaving in between dancers, I came upon her and her partner just before the next song began. Finally, I held her in my arms, thankful for the slower song that followed. Adrika wore a smile on her face, but I could see the weariness behind her expression. She had no doubt been on the dancefloor from the beginning. Surely every man in the room would want to dance with her and half probably already had.
My reasons for inviting her out on the balcony were two-fold. As soon as our dance was interrupted, I headed that way. I took a deep breath of ocean air as soon as I exited the ballroom. I needed to decompress after being around so many people. I would never take this night away from Adrika, but I was almost tempted to talk her into leaving early and going up to our room. Nothing would make me happier than being alone with just the two of us.
The castle at Aisling was made up of a collection of cylinder towers. I walked on around to the end of the balcony where this tower met the next. Deep in thought, I leaned my elbows on the rail before me. This was a perfect night to tell Adrika how I felt about her.
I would start by taking her in my arms and kissing her soundly. Then I would tell her of all the ways I found her attractive. This would lead nicely into me telling her how I had come to love her. Maybe after that, she would be the one to suggest we leave the ballroom and head to our chambers. My mind moved on to the future. What will our children look like? How many would we have?
Adrika. She was probably looking for me, and I had lost track of time with my woolgathering. I could hear someone just ahead as I made my way back toward the entrance. As I neared the light of the last torch, the couple came into view. Some man had Adrika against the balustrade. Her back was arched over the railing as she pushed against his chest, and her head was turned away from him.
All thought left me as I ran. I jerked him around to face me. All the force of my instant anger powered my fist as it hit his jaw. His head thumped against the top of the baluster as he crumpled to the floor. The wolf mask bounced off the castle wall and spun around on the balcony floor.
“Is he dead? Did you kill him?” Adrika dropped to her knees beside the unconscious man. She patted his face. “Brett. Wake up, Brett.”
“Brett? Your lover, Brett? Is this the same man?” I could feel my heart pumping in my ears as heat seared my face.
She glanced at me and then turned back at the sound of groaning coming from the scum-of-the-earth man lying at my feet. I reached down and grabbed her by the elbow, yanking her to her feet. “Stand up and look at me. Is this the same Brett, the one your father spoke of?”
She let her head drop in a brief nod as she looked down at my chest.
“Did you invite him out here? Did you know he would be here tonight?”
Her mask did nothing to hide her glare as her gaze once again met mine. She tried to jerk away, but I held on to her arm. “No, I did not know that he would be here tonight. What kind of fool do you take me for? Why would I invite another man out on this balcony when I knew it is where you would be?”
“Did you mean to make me jealous?”
“Jealousy requires feelings, and I was under the impression that you had none.”
I let her go, and she reached up to rub the spot where my fingers had been. Her glare deepened as her brows came together, and she pressed her lips into a firm line. “What about you and that woman out at the barracks?”
“What does Gemma have to do with this?” I gestured toward the man lying motionless beside us.
“He followed me out here, which is beyond my control, but you sought her out. You are no different than him.”
I took a step closer to her. “First of all, I am nothing like this libertine. I had no idea Gemma was even in Aisling until I ran into her at the practice arena. Secondly, unless I am wrong, it appeared that he was forcing himself upon you. I have never forced a woman into anything. I have never had to.” My own words made me cringe. As soon as I said it, the irrationality of blaming my wife hit me. I felt like the proverbial snowball, rolling down hill and gaining more than speed. I could not seem to stop myself.
Her face crumpled just before she turned and stepped over her former lover and made her way to the castle entrance.
“Adrika, wait.”
She did not even look back. The man at my feet groaned and then reached for the back of his head before going limp again. As much as I wanted to, I could not leave him there. His injuries would have to be looked at, not to mention what consequences awaited him for accosting the princess of Dermot. Adrika was nowhere in sight when I entered to find Garrett to let him know what had happened.
Two days had passed since the ball, and Adrika was still barely speaking to me. She sat at the conference table with her arms folded across her chest. Her fingers tapped against her upper arm as if to draw attention to the marks my fingertips had left behind. In truth, I still felt bad. Anger had gotten the best of me, but that was no excuse. I had apologized profusely, tried to talk to her, attempted to make sense of all that had transpired, but she refused to speak to me. I was done trying. If we were to be reconciled, she must come to me.
I refocused my attention on the conversation going on between Garrett and Reagan about the kingdom of Aisling placing restrictions on some of the inventions coming out of Gilvary. It was all foreign to me.
So far, Session had not gone the way I imagined. All of my plans and ideas for bringing Dermot up to a more modern level was shot down by Farris’ advisor with the claim of lack of funds. My brothers wanted the main road leading to my new home to be paved. I wanted the same thing and was informed this request had been made at every Session meeting for the last three years, and Farris had always said no.
I asked why Fort Cathal only screened those entering Gilvary but not those coming into Dermot. That is when I was told that Reagan had offered Farris a partnership in this endeavor when the fort was first built, but Farris wanted nothing to do with the plans—not if he had to help pay for it.
My brothers had warned me that Session may be brutal. They had told me that once we sat down at this table, our personal relationships were set aside. It was obvious that both held resentment for my father-in-law’s policies. It was hard for me to represent the ideas of my king when I agreed with the other side.
“It has no weapon attached. Its only purpose is to transport people. Do you suppose I have plans for a civil war against my brothers? I am not my father.” The fact that Reagan had brought Father into the conversation showed just how hurt he was by the implication.
I failed to understand how exactly we had come to this point. What were they even talking about? I turned to Garrett. His head was bowed as he looked down at the table. Brianna sat beside him, her face expressionless as she stared at Reagan.
Garrett finally leaned forward and looked up at his brother. “Reagan, this is not an affront to your character. We have talked about this before.”
I watched as Aisling’s steward pushed through the crowd to get to Garrett. The importance of the interruption showing in the wrinkle of his brow and the tightness around his eyes and lips. “Your Highness.”
“What is it, Austin?”
“I am sorry for the interruption, but a pigeon post just arrived from Dermot that seems of utmost importance.” The blond-headed man looked nervously across the table at me and then to Adrika as he handed the tiny slip of paper to his king.
Garrett’s brows drew together as he studied the missive before also looking at me.
I leaned forward in anticipation. “What is it?”
“Cordelia has declared war on Dermot. They have already crossed the border and are apparently being held off by some of the citizens and, I am guessing, a few warriors. I am not sure what Farris’ army consists of, but I have heard it is sparse.” He looked at Adrika as if for confirmation.
She had gone pale as she held her hand over her mouth, but she did not say anything. I placed my arm around her shoulder in comfort. She did not move from her position, so I allowed my hand to drop down to the back of her chair.
Garrett was probably right. The only protection Dermot had against Cordelia was the fact that the only access between them was a rather narrow pass bordered between rugged mountains. I had never had a need for traveling through there before, but the area around the pass was said to be sparsely inhabited due to the lack of areas to grow vegetation.
Farris had been too sure of his connection with his wife’s native country, but she was gone now. Could this attack have anything to do with the king not choosing a husband from that country for his daughter?
I was no stranger to war, but I could do nothing from here. “We will need to get back to Dermot as soon as possible. We will board the first available ship. Kealan, you can stay here and finish out Session.”
Farris’ advisor looked as if he may protest being left behind, but then seemed to think better of it.
Garrett cleared his throat. “This war will affect us all. If I may suggest, I think the women, along with our advisors, can handle the rest of the meeting. I can travel with you to Dermot, and I am sure Reagan will want to head to his own border, as they will most likely strike there next. With them sharing the most accessible border with Gilvary, I am surprised they did not attack there first.” He rubbed his chin and looked toward Reagan. “Then again, that border is also the most protected.”
Reagan looked at me and slammed his hands down on the table in front of him. His grin did not match the circumstances. “A ship will take several days to get you to Dermot, and even then, you would be set down at the opposite border from where you need to be. With approval, I can get the three of us to Fort Cathal in one day. We can be there as early as tomorrow evening. The two of you can travel through Nolan Pass, gathering troops as you head toward Cordelia, and I will head home.”
I had no idea what he was talking about but kept my mouth shut. It was hard to believe the trip could be made in only a day, but after the journey here in one of his contraptions, there was no telling what Reagan was capable of.
Garrett looked at Brianna who gave a curt nod before turning back to Reagan. “Just this once, and you must veer away from Dragon’s Keep.”
The crowd around us buzzed with conversation.
Reagan’s mouth gaped open. “You mean to tell me that your concern all this time has been over those non-existent beasts?”
Garrett and Brianna both swore dragons lived in a cave at the top of the tall butte standing just inside the border between Aisling and Gilvary known as Dragon’s Keep. Reagan insisted they were legendary beings that had never existed in the first place.
Garrett pressed his lips into a thin line before answering. “Regardless of what you think of our policies, this is my answer. Take it or leave it, the choice is yours.”
It amazed me how the two could go back and forth between the roles of brothers and kings.
Reagan scooted to the edge of his seat as if to stand. “Very well, I will have a pigeon sent immediately. Are we done here?”
“Go write your missive. We will meet in my office in fifteen minutes.” Garrett stood and spoke out to the crowd around us. “This Session meeting is at an end for today. We will pick up where we left off when tomorrow’s meeting begins.”
Everything was planned. The women would indeed stay behind while Garrett, Reagan, and I would travel together as far as Fort Cathal. From there, we would split up with Reagan traveling on to the castle in Gilvary alone. There were still no reports of a breach between Gilvary and Cordelia, but as Garrett had said, it seemed inevitable. Reagan had already sent word to alert his warriors.
I tried to speak with Adrika that night as I was preparing to leave, but she was still giving me the cold shoulder. I knew what war could bring. I had seen death all around me before. She was no doubt naïve to the danger facing me. If we never saw each other again, would she care?
She was still asleep when I arose early the next morning. Her shiny black hair was fanned out behind her. I rubbed a silky strand between my fingers before leaning over and kissing her on the cheek. Her brow wrinkled for a moment before relaxing again in slumber. I said my mental goodbyes, shouldered my pack, and quietly left the room.
I ate a quick breakfast alone in the family dining room, my brothers nowhere to be seen. When I entered the great hall, Garrett was coming down the stairs looking battle-ready in his dragon-embellished armor.
His brows drew together as he looked at me. “Two questions. First, where is your armor? And second, do you truly plan to enter into battle with that archaic weapon? I have seen you practicing with the staff and know you are capable of using it, but is it the most efficient choice?”
I felt like a kid in school without his homework. “That is three questions, Brother. I did not think I would be heading into battle again so soon when I left Rivania, and I did not want to appear as if I were looking for a fight as I traveled home, so I left everything behind but my sword. And, I decided to master the staff because it is the preferred weapon of what is now my kingdom. Besides, it is more useful than you would think.”
He only nodded his head. “I have an old set of armor and a bow used only in practice that you can use. We will pass through the barracks on the way out. Are you ready?”
Opening the front door, I motioned for Garrett to go through before me. He stopped in front of me on the steps. I followed his gaze out toward the stables. A huge balloon-like structure peeked out from behind the castle wall. My heart jumped at the sight of it. I had tried not to let on to the fact that I had no idea how we would travel at a speed that would get us to Fort Cathal in twelve hours. To voice my questions would be to admit that I had not been listening during the Session meeting.
We continued to the barracks where I was outfitted for battle. I was anxious to get a closer look at our new mode of transportation. The dread I could read in Garrett’s face increased my concern, but I had learned long ago to hide my fear. We exited through the back passage that would land us outside of the protective wall surrounding the castle.
Just outside the pasture gate, the ship-like vessel attached below the balloon loomed before us. Ropes were tied in the front and back, anchoring it to the ground. The bottom of the craft was made of wood with a small tower in the front and a higher platform in the back. The pale balloon above dwarfed the wooden structure.
Admittedly, I was awestruck. I circled around to the front, taking in each component and trying to identify each one’s purpose. “What do you call this thing?”
It almost appeared as if Reagan was dancing a jig as he followed me around the vessel. “We are calling it an airship for now, but I think an invention this marvelous deserves a better name. What do you think?”
“I have never seen anything like it.”
“It is the only one in existence, as far as I know. It is actually just the prototype for a larger one we are working on.” It was easy to read the pride in Reagan’s voice.
I tilted my head back to look up at the balloon. “So, we are just going to float all the way to Fort Cathal?”
“Not exactly. Once we lift off, the motor will propel us there. You will see.”
We made a complete circle around the contraption while Garrett remained in place.
A slim man jumped down from the ladder hanging from the side of the ship. “Everything is loaded. Are you ready to go, Boss?”
He was wearing a tight cap that covered most of his head, with a pair of goggles perched on top. Tools were attached to his leather vest. His skin-tight striped britches tucked inside a pair of tall boots only accentuated his thinness. I would not have recognized him if he had not spoken. Dale Ellis was the only person I knew who had the nerve to call his king Boss.
Reagan gestured with his hands. “Rian, I am sure you remember Dale and up there is our mechanic, Mave. She designed some of the elements for this craft.”
A woman stood at the top of the ladder in an outfit almost identical to Dale’s. The smear of grease on her mocha-colored cheek gave me pause. Should I trust a vehicle that had obviously been in need of maintenance after only half of the journey? I threw my hand up at her in greeting.
“Royalty first.” Dale waved his hand dramatically toward the ladder.
Reagan grabbed a rung and began climbing. I gestured for Garrett to go next. His pale face tilted up to where Reagan had just disappeared before he reluctantly ascended, and I followed. The inside of the craft was exactly like a ship at sea, only much smaller, with scarcely enough room for the five of us.
Dale and his partner worked in unison as they reeled in each of the tethers. The sensation of floating increased once we were completely unattached from the ground. The pair climbed up on the platform at the rear. Mave pulled a chain and fire shot up above her head, sending heat into the balloon.
I leaned over the edge of the ship to view the ground below us. A crowd had gathered near the front of the castle. I wondered if Adrika was awake by now. Was she seeing this? My knees felt weak as we came level with the top of the Aisling castle and then the view of the Moya Ocean was unobstructed.
Dale pulled his goggles down over his eyes as he brushed past us on his way to the front. A whirling sound had me looking back to the platform where Mave still worked. The propeller behind her was turning. Small blue sails dropped down around the bottom of the balloon and we began to move forward.
“Are we not headed in the wrong direction? This is not the way to Fort Cathal.” Garrett’s voice was higher in pitch than normal.
Reagan slapped him on the back. “You are thinking of the way you would have to go on land. There are no roadways in the air, Brother.”
I was amazed as we traveled over one of Aisling’s thick forests. “Everything looks so small from up here. Why are there so many dead trees?”
“We have had a drought here for the last five years. I knew we had some losses, but I had no idea how bad until now.” Garrett turned and sat down with his back to the ship wall.
“It is worse in Gilvary. Everything was green when I left, but if the last few years are any indication, all the grass will be brown and crunchy by now. The loss of trees is more prevalent there as well, and more obvious since we had so few to begin with.” As he leaned over the edge of the craft, the swift breeze ruffling Reagan’s hair revealed more gray sprinkled through the black than I had noticed before.
As I took shaky steps to the other side of the ship, I wondered what the drought had done for Dermot. Mountain streams were the main water source for most of my kingdom.
My kingdom.
I was hit anew with the fact that I was about to go to war on behalf of Dermot—a place I had never called home before, but it felt right to do so now.