“That won’t be necessary,” said an ewien as he walked down the gangplank.
Killmar noticed that he was quite young, even for his species.
“I am Admiral Kasima,” said the man with a bow. He sported a nicely trimmed moustache and beard.
“Oh, and what is it you want, Kasima?” he asked annoyed at the arrogance that seemed to ooze from the man.
“I was told that you had a companion,” he answered before peering into the cabin, a smirk crossed his face. “Oh, I see.”
The words barely left the young man’s mouth when Killmar’s hand seized his throat. It had happened so abruptly that Ren turned only after the admiral was lifted into the air. Sunlight bathed Killmar’s form, exposing the curves to each muscle as if they were carved from marble. “Do not dare look at her with those eyes! Your early elevation has made you conceited! Or could it be that you believe you are safe from my wrath because of one silly ship?” Rabid jealousy made each word poisonously threatening.
“Admiral!” screamed a boy as he jumped from the galleon with his katana drawn.
“Wait, you fool!” cried his comrades as the inexperienced seaman fell the eight-foot difference between the galleon and ship’s deck.
Killmar simply moved aside, and the young deckhand crashed into a few nearby water barrels. The boy scrabbled to his feet, already bruised and bleeding. The crew of the galleon pleaded for him to return, their voices frothing with desperation. Ignoring them, the deckhand screamed and lurched forward, attempting to sever the hand that was tightly gripped around his admiral’s throat.
The blade harmlessly passed through the air as Killmar easily evaded the blow, retaliating with a low left punch. His fist dug hungrily into the boy’s stomach, causing him to topple over and vomit.
“Killmar, wait!” urged a feminine voice as he rolled the boy onto his back and placed his left foot on his throat.
He stiffened and awkwardly turned towards the sterncastle. Jessica stood in the doorway of the captain’s cabin dressed in his black robe. “Do not kill the boy. He was only trying to save his admiral,” she pleaded.
His eyes softened as rage was crushed by a far more tender emotion. “Very well.”
“The admiral, as well,” she added quickly as he lifted his foot off the boy’s throat.
He looked at the gasping admiral as if he had forgotten about him. “He—”
“I know, but forgive him this once, for me?” she interrupted gently.
Ren turned to Jessica as Killmar dropped the nearly asphyxiated man. “Vendrious’s blood, remind me not to upset you.” She smiled slightly, and he started to understand how she could sway a man kings feared to cross.
Killmar walked over and lightly kissed her. “You are becoming quite demanding.”
“Well, I am your loving, devoted wife after all,” she replied with a wink.
“What have I gotten myself into?” he asked mockingly as he held his head.
She pouted. “Would you please get dressed? Everyone can see you.”
“Oh, you want to keep me all to yourself, do you? Very well,” he said entering the cabin.
She ran over to where Kasima sat coughing. “Are you all right?”
He nodded.
“You should not be disrespectful towards Killmar. Next time, I will not stop him,” she said as if scorning a child.
Kasima slowly got to his feet. “I thank you for saving our lives.”
She turned to the unconscious boy. “I hope he’ll be all right.”
“So do I,” said the admiral before he instructed the sailors to fetch the boy.
Killmar exited the cabin dressed in his usual black tunic and trousers, absent his usual leather boots. “And why have you come here?”
Kasima stiffened at the sight of his assaulter. “We are to escort you and your lady to Erana, by order of the Pillar of Light himself.”
“Hmmm, I see. It seems this is where our paths part, Ren.”
The old captain smiled. “It has been my honour.”
Killmar fished five gold coins from his trouser pocket and stuffed them into Ren’s hand.
“What’s this? You already paid me,” he said, bewildered by the riches in his hand.
“A bonus, for the cabin and your professionalism,” he answered with a wink.
“Thank you. It has certainly been interesting,” he said as they shook hands. “If you ever find yourself in need of a ship, you know where to find me.”
“That I do,” said Killmar before turning to Jessica. “Let us be off then. Wouldn’t want to offend the Emperor by our late arrival, now would we?”
Jessica stifled a giggle as she followed him up the gangway.
Hallion glowed a
soft green on the horizon as the sun had all but set.
Jessica leaned against the bow’s guardrail. “It is so beautiful.”
“That it is, the Empire’s cities are by far the most beautiful in Cortast,” said Killmar as he approached from behind and wrapped his arms around her.
A nearby sailor cleared his throat. “The admiral wishes you to join him in his cabin.”
“He can wait. We are enjoying the scenery,” replied Killmar absently.
“Yes, of course,” said the man before scurrying off to some unknown task.
Jessica turned around in his arms. “They are already terrified of you. Must you make it worse?”
“I suppose I don’t have to, but I do so enjoy it,” he said with a mischievous smile.
“Doesn’t it bother you that everyone fears you?”
He shrugged. “Do you?”
“Do I what?”
“Fear me?”
“Of course not. I could never be afraid of you,” she said sincerely.
“That’s all that matters,” he answered before kissing her softly.
“Can we go see Kasima now, or do you still want to taunt the poor man?”
He reluctantly released her. “I suppose we can go meet the self-important fool.”
She smiled as she took his hand and led him to the admiral’s cabin. He was seated behind his desk when they entered. The room was only furnished with the essentials needed by a military-driven man such as he.
“You called?” asked Killmar sarcastically.
The admiral subconsciously moved his right hand to his bruised throat. “Yes, there will be a royal escort waiting for you at the docks in Hallion to take you directly to the palace in Erana. Is this acceptable?”
Killmar smiled at young man’s adaptability; his elevation in rank would seem to be due to his merits. “It is. Was there anything else?”
Kasima dropped his gaze in shame. “I apologise for my earlier behaviour. I let my pride get the better of me.”
Killmar watched him silently for a while as if to determine his sincerity. “You have my pardon, you are still young and foolish. But never forget what almost happened because of your foolishness. If not for Jessica, I would have massacred you and your entire crew.”
The admiral knew that it was not a boast, but simply a fact. “I will not.”
Jessica walked down
the wharf. It surprised her how identical Hallion was to Larin. The structures, the roads, even the wide variety of people seemed similar in some strange fashion. At the end of the docking strip were two battalions of the Royal Eranian Guard. Their mounts, as well as their gold and green armours, were legendary. An elegantly adorned carriage waited for them between the two columns of royal guards.
“They are called ranshaks,” said Killmar at her obvious fascination with the reptilian mounts.
She couldn’t take her eyes off the strange six-legged lizards. “I have only heard about them. It is said they are faster than any warhorse.”
“They are also more intelligent and can tear at enemies with their teeth and claws; they’re superior to the horse in almost every way.”
“Then why aren’t they used by the Kingdom or Coalition?”
He smiled. “Because the ewiens might have something to say about that. They are native to the planes of Erania and exclusively for the use of the Viridian Dragons. Poachers are treated harshly with a few years of torture before execution.”
“I see, but why are they just exclusively used by the royal guard?”
“The ranshaks were once plentiful, but centuries of warfare brought them to the brink of extinction. By making them the royal mounts, the current emperor both affixed prestige to the reptiles and kept them from becoming extinct.”
“Quite clever,” she said impressed.
“Indeed, it is a shame old age will soon claim him.”
A stern-faced ewien stepped forward as they reached the carriage and kneeled. “I am Rantal, Commander of the Viridian Dragons, it is a honour to meet the legendary Blue Rose in person.”
Jessica giggled at Killmar’s disapproving expression at the mention of the moniker.
“This is an unusual reception. Has something gone amiss?” he asked as he regarded the surrounding guards.
Rantal rose, and for a moment, Jessica saw a slight smile flash on his face. “His Eminence said you would ask and told me to deliver the following message, ‘
Ha, finally got you. Suffer through the pomp that is my everyday life!
’ That is all. Before you ask, I do not know how his Eminence knew you were coming.”
Killmar chuckled and shook his head at the Old Emperor’s cunning and foresight.
The commander turned to Jessica. “I had been told you have a companion.”
“This is Jessica, my wife,” said Killmar as she curtsied.
Rantal’s eyes widened, and his voice was filled with genuine sadness. “The princess will be most heartbroken at this news.” Killmar frowned and he quickly added. “I meant no offence, milady.”
Jessica only smiled and he motioned to the carriage. “Shall we be on our way?”
Killmar nodded and helped Jessica into the carriage.
The ranshaks grunted
as trees flashed past the windows of the carriage. Jessica had to admit that these creatures lived up to their reputation. Three days had pasted since they left Hallion, and they yet had to make camp a single time. They only made brief pauses twice a day to break fast and enjoy dinner.
“Don’t they need to sleep?” she asked with a yawn to the blue-haired man across from her.
“Who?” asked Killmar as he turned from the small window to his left.
“The Viridian Dragons. I have not seen a single one of them get some rest. Don’t ewiens need sleep?”
“Oh, they do.” He pointed out the window to a rider who sat slightly hunched over. “He’s currently asleep.”
She leaned closer to the window for a better look. “Really? Why doesn’t he fall from his saddle?”
He tried to point to the leather straps he knew were there, but the view was too obscured by dust. “The saddle has distinctive leather straps that the rider uses to lash himself to it. And before you ask, the ranshak would alert its rider should trouble arise.”
She sat back, surprisingly put at ease by that. “You mentioned before that your magical-egg-prison was on the Draconian Isles when you broke free from it.”
“Yes, and?”
“Well, what was it like there?”
“Much like you’d expect,” he said absently staring out the window again.
She pouted at the unenthusiastic reply. “Is it true that dragons live there? Everyone knows the Draconian Sea is the water serpents’ breeding ground, but no one really knows if the dragons live on the Isles. Many believe they went extinct hundreds of years ago.”
“No, they are very much alive. They all live on Zer’vhean; well, almost all of them.”
“Zer’vhean?”
“It means Home of the Faded Gods in Dragon Tongue.”
Jessica felt her curiosity pique. “Why is it called that?”
“Arrogance, that’s why. Remember I told you about creatures who live off the flow of quenru?”
She nodded excitedly.
“Well, dragons are one of those species. After mating, female dragons lay hundreds of eggs which develop into unhatched dragonlings. These eggs lay dormant as they slowly leach from the Flow until they are filled to the brim, so to speak; after which they hatch. This is a process that takes hundreds of years, which is why you don’t trip over a dragon whenever you turn a corner.”
“Fascinating, but how is that related—”
“Dragons know that forgotten gods eventually fade into the Flow, hence they see—”
“Themselves as faded gods,” finished Jessica.
He nodded.
“Are they faded gods? I mean, do they possess the memories or personalities of forgotten gods?”
Killmar shook his head. “No, quenru in the Flow has no personality or self-awareness. It is just bravado on their part.” He saw her beaming at the news. “You seem awfully cheerful.”
She fidgeted with a loose tassel that hung from her waist. “It just seems like I am slowly discovering the answers to the world’s greatest mysteries. I know it is silly, but it makes me feel special somehow.”
“You’re the wife of a god and only now you feel special?” he said hurt.
“No, I didn’t mean—” she started before realising the jest. “Must you always tease me?!”
He rubbed his chin dramatically. “Let me think . . . Yes, I think I must.”
She turned, annoyed, to the window on her right.
Killmar smirked. “Alas, now I have no one to hear my gripping tale of my time spent on the Draconian Isles,” he said feinting misery.
She turned her head slightly, but kept her curiosity on tight reins.
His smirk broadened at the reaction. “I suppose I could tell Princess Hinamori when we reach Erana, but who knows what conclusions she might draw if I tell her details of my past?”
She looked at him and there was murder in her eyes. “Excuse me?”
He had never seen her like this and it invoked a very unpleasant feeling within him. “Jessica, you know I was just teasing, come now, I’m . . . I . . . I am sor-”
She placed her right index finger on his lips. “You don’t have to say it. I know it is hard for you.”
He gently moved away her finger and kissed her. “You need never fear other women. I will never abandon you.”
She enjoyed the warmth of his hand as he stroked her cheek before moving back to her seat. “Wonderful, then you won’t mind telling me of your time spent on the Draconian Isles.”
He laughed. “Eternally curious I see.”
She returned his smile. “Only of that which is important.”
“Well, to be entirely truthful, there isn’t much to tell. After I escaped from my prison, I met a rather interesting dragon. You see, my prison was among the treasure in his hoard. He wasn’t very hospitable at first, but we soon came to terms. I did not stay long before I left his island.”