ã€ŠSalt, Sky, and Fireã€‹


 Chapter One

    SALT, SKY, AND FIRE

    By

    SERENA DRACIS

    ? Serena Dracis April 2023

    All rights reserved.

    This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any person, place, or location is purely coincidental.

    This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part¡ªexcepting limited quotes for purposes of review¡ªwithout the express written consent of the publisher.

    Cover designed by Getcovers.

    CHAPTER ONE

    I was the Bestiary¡¯s first Candidate.

    I knew the Founder.

    I fought in all the wars.

    I¡¯ve seen far too much.

    From the personal journal of Ozora

    Dean of Magics

    The Bestiary

    ****

    ¡°Enjoy your walk, Ozora!¡± Cedric called as I closed the door to my little cottage. I smiled and waved back as my neighbor continued on the path to his home, out of sight behind a stand of trees.

    The sun was headed towards the sea, but there was still enough light for a walk. I needed one.

    I¡¯d been living in Emberglen for a year now and was feeling restless. I hadn¡¯t stayed in one place for years and was considering moving on, even though I¡¯d grown to love it here. Emberglen sits on the shores of Alurenth¡¯s west coast but it¡¯s not a fishing town. Instead its folk were farmers and vintners of some of the finest wines in the kingdom.

    When I¡¯d passed through last year with a caravan of traveling entertainers they persuaded me to stay when the mayor¡¯s eldest son sought my help banishing a particularly nasty demon that took up residence in the mayoral mansion and made the fine house unlivable. Along with some nearby homes.

    As added enticement, the grateful town gifted me the empty cottage of their late midwife, who¡¯d passed just the season before.

    How could I say no? Especially when the mayor¡¯s handsome son went to extravagant lengths to express his gratitude.

    It was a pretty town, supported by both the wineries and a steady stream of visitors come to taste them. My cozy cottage sat at the far edge of town away from the bustle of the caf¨¦¡¯s and shops. It was a short hike from where my home sat on a bit of a cliff overlooking the waves down to the beach itself. I followed the packed dirt path through tall waving grasses that brushed against my light cotton skirts. The salty breeze lifted a few locks off my face and I inhaled, trying to let go my heavy thoughts.

    I followed the trail down a set of stairs cut into the cliff side and once I reached the sand, I peeled off my sandals and walked through the shallow wavelets that ran up the beach.

    The ocean against my skin was soothingly cool. I took another deep breath and released all my worries into the sea. It was a trick I had to help me clear my mind.

    It helped that this section of the beach was completely deserted.

    Perfect.

    Strange to think how calming I found the ocean, considering how far it was from my home and family. The Caradare Mountains were several months journey from Alurenth, and none here had ever seen the giant eagles my clans raise and ride. Stranger still to say it feels like I¡¯ve been called here.

    Hence my dilemma, should I stay or go? I was comfortable here, but I longed for more.

    Have to say, there are worse places to be called to than a seaside resort for wineries and their guests.

    The colors of the night crept in from the east behind the hills, chasing the sun into the waters and leaving a brilliant explosion of reds, oranges, and golds painted across the clouds and waves. I reached, then passed a tall promontory that stuck out into the surf where the cliffs marched into the waterline. Emberglen vanished, blocked by the towering sandstone.

    It wasn¡¯t usually this hard for me to pick up and leave. As a Journey-level mage, I make my living by Journeying, selling my mage craft and skills. Emberglen¡¯s invitation to stay came just when I wanted a break from traveling. To tell the truth early on, I¡¯d considered staying permanently. Typically, this sort of luxury was only for Adept-level mages.

    Until I started hearing the latest news out of Hastrior, the city that sat on the westernmost point of the Eastern Reaches. Emberglen was far enough north of Hastrior¡¯s peninsula that it took weeks for word to circulate, but once it got here, it shook me. Most of my restlessness came from a need to get farther away from the big port city. I had a history there. Did not want to revisit.

    Yes, sure, I¡¯d heard rumors. For five years outlandish ones have circulated of the man I¡¯d left behind in Hastrior. Those fly on the wind, but how much truth to put to them? Impossible to tell. Then other, more disturbing stories trickled in.

    I was shocked to hear how much the city had deteriorated. As time passed and more reports came in, it became impossible to ignore the dire state of Hastrior. All these rumors and worries pushed me toward leaving.

    Just not tonight. Maybe Emberglen is far enough away.

    The stars started to appear and I couldn''t bring myself to turn for home. Walking soothed away my gloomy thoughts, and it was nigh impossible to stay upset on a gorgeous summer night. The breeze was a soft caress and the waves sweet music that lulled my fears.

    I shook my head to dismiss my concerns.

    Nothing I can do about it right now, so I might as well enjoy the night.

    The cliffs had smoothed out, leaving behind low dunes covered in waving grasses and a line of scrub oak that followed the shore.

    Fairies sometimes danced in the grasses under the moonlight but my timing was off. Neither moon was overhead.

    From farther down the beach, I heard the unmistakable sounds of a boat grinding ashore, hull scraping over sand. Boots splashed through the low lapping waves.

    Voices. They didn¡¯t speak the common tongue or any other language I knew.

    ¡°Di¡¯kutla huumans. Tion¡¯solet jaeta coeletra?¡±

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    Stupid humans. How many will we kill this fine evening? I had to whisper a translation cantrip. I¡¯d studied high elvish, poring over their books in my growing library, but couldn¡¯t understand this dialect. This wasn¡¯t the lyrical, flowing speech of the high elves, but here and there I could catch an odd word or phrase. Elvish, but not? This was more guttural, harsh. As if they were biting off their words.

    There was only one possibility, and it was chilling. It also wasn¡¯t supposed to be real.

    I¡¯d only read about the Crimson Birth in fantastic stories from the Old Empire. The histories were full of lurid tales about this legendary secret army of assassins and rogues. A group formed from degenerates, taken from all the Empire¡¯s prisons, then kept in isolation until unleashed on the Emperor¡¯s command. Their only purpose, to train and kill. This they did with a bloodlust not seen in any other elder race, both amongst themselves and when sent to do the foulest of acts.

    The histories said they had their own language, and those who spoke it were the trusted of the Emperor, or the Crimson Birth themselves. It ensured only the Emperor commanded them. They refused to acknowledge any order not given in their own version of elvish.

    Can¡¯t be.

    I didn¡¯t want it to be true. Didn¡¯t want to face what that implied. But no elves in the East spoke that guttural tongue.

    Which meant¡­

    These elves must have come from across the Sundering Sea.

    The deep shadows of the tall cliffs at my back kept the invaders from spotting me. Grateful for the friendly dark, I summoned my numin, magical energy used to craft spells, and cast a glamour to hide my form, then crossed the sands to the scrub oaks. I wove through the tree line, sneaking closer, in the direction of the voices on the breeze. Emberglen wouldn¡¯t survive these marauders unless they were warned. The rocky outcropping I¡¯d just passed hid the ship. They wouldn¡¯t see them coming, hidden here.

    There, aground on the beach was a large ship, filled with elvish warriors filing out onto the sand.

    The night was dark, and the elves didn¡¯t carry torches or magelights, but with another whispered cantrip I stretched my sight, casting an owl vision spell that allowed me to see greater detail in the dark and further than my own eyes.

    Two additional ships waited out in the deeps. Dark sails on dark water when neither of the two moons were crossing the night sky. This was intentional. They¡¯d timed this.

    Why? Why would they invade? What do we possess that high elves would desire? My thoughts spun. My most trusted histories described the high elves as near-immortal beings of light and grace. The stories of the Crimson Birth were just that, fictional tales to astonish.

    Not some real terror squad invading my home.

    Trusting my glamour and shielding to hide me, I crept closer, hoping I¡¯d misunderstood or misheard.

    Nope.

    The elvish warriors moved quietly, speaking amongst themselves in hushed voices. They were certain of victory. Another eavesdropping spell proved they were bent on conquest and enslavement.

    Who do I warn? Who do I tell? Would I learn anything else by listening a little more?

    ¡°Haa¡¯taylir!¡± Sure of my glamours and wrapped in my spying, I didn¡¯t notice a thing until I was yanked to my feet by my hair. A loud shout battered against my ears and a squeak escaped from my lips. I grimaced, part pain, part self-loathing. Caught!

    A nasty, lascivious grin split the male elf¡¯s lovely face. I¡¯ll never forget something that looked so divine, oozing such depravity. ¡°Mesh¡¯la huuman.¡±

    Look here! Pretty little human. The translation spell was still working. I grasped the elf¡¯s hands where they clutched my hair, rising on my toes, trying to ease the strain and pull on my thick braid. My scalp burned, and I was sure he was trying to yank all of it out by the roots. He gave me a little shake, like I was nothing but a rat. Licking his lips, he uttered a thick chuckle.

    ¡°Yur majik.¡± He lifted me higher, until my toes barely scraped the dirt, speaking now in heavily accented common. ¡°No good ¡®gainst Crimssson Birth.¡± He flicked his fingers and my body rocked with the blowback of my spells shattering under his magical assault.

    I clamped my teeth against the scream of pain that wanted to burst forth as my numin crackled and dissipated, keeping all but a hiss and moan from escaping. The little ropes and sigils of energy I¡¯d woven snapped and lashed as my magical energies drained away into the surrounding ether. I sagged, hands still weakly clasping the enormous male¡¯s wrist, trying to stem the rush of my mage energies. The elf laughed again, poking me in the stomach, then breast as if testing for tenderness.

    With a sharp jerk, still yelling filth, he dragged me toward his comrades, breaking through the tree line and crossing the sands. I kicked my heels and dug in my nails, but his heavily muscled arm was wrapped in hard leather armor. I might as well have been a kitten for all the good my struggles did against his greater strength.

    Worse, I couldn¡¯t reach my numin. When he shattered my spells, he¡¯d put some sort of block up, preventing me from casting.

    Panic built. My heart raced. I couldn¡¯t stop fighting or I¡¯d die. I knew it.

    I redoubled my efforts, trying to find some weak spot to target.

    Nothing. I hadn¡¯t even slowed his march. He crossed into the sands of the beach from the clumps of rocks and grass that led back towards the tree line. His brothers turned at his shout, depraved smiles lighting their beautiful high elvish faces.

    Sound, heat, and a rolling pressure wave hit, knocking us both back several feet. A deafening roar, like a hundred gongs struck all at once belled out from ¡­

    Above?

    The concussion loosed the elf¡¯s grip. I landed with a thump, rolled, and realized I was free. The blast threw me a good ten feet from my captor. I had the good fortune to land on small, grass-topped dune. The elf warrior was not so lucky. He¡¯d struck his head on a rocky outcropping and did not stir when a shadow darker than the star-spangled sky swept overhead.

    What. Was. That? I had my answer immediately.

    A thick column of incandescent flame shot from the sky to incinerate one of the two waiting ships offshore. Likes its sister ship burning on the sand, It exploded, scattering timbers, sails, and elves across the water. Finally, I realized why none of the warrior¡¯s brothers in arms had come to his aid.

    They were all dead.

    Flames fully engulfed the grounded ship. The crew and fighters that had been ashore were crisped husks. The flaming blast that had knocked me free was the grounded ship exploding.

    Just like the one out in the bay.

    Another belling roar echoed across the water and the third ship met the same fate as the others. Faint screams reached me, carried on the wind along with the taste of ash and the acrid scent of flame and smoke.

    There was only one thing that capable of that.

    And I do not intend to stick around to be its next victim.

    Jumping to my feet, I tore across the grassy dunes toward the trees. Only to fall again moments later as a blast of wind and pressure hit, this time from above. The ground rocked and trembled with the impact. I managed to raise myself to my hands and knees, but paused when I saw what landed in the sand ahead of me.

    An unimaginably vast body cut off my path to the forest¡¯s edge. Cut off sight of the forest itself.

    It was leathery, reptilian with wide semi-transparent wings held high, and a thick, muscular neck topped by a ¡­

    That¡¯s ¡­ that¡¯s a ... My mind floundered.

    ¡°Dragon.¡± I breathed, half-terrified, half awed.

    ¡°Get up you fool. And hurry. There¡¯s likely more and we need to stop them!¡±

    I wasn¡¯t sure I could. Who was speaking? Who would help me in the face of ¡­ that?

    Two legends in one day? How lucky can I get? I held my breath. That reptilian head was bigger than me! It snaked forward towards me, snuffling like a dog on a scent with its wide wings flared high, blocking out the stars. The dragon had saved me from a gruesome death, but I was surely still about to die. There was no way to escape this beast.

    I closed my eyes and let out a slow exhale, grateful this way would be swifter than what the elf had planned.

    ¡°Get up!¡± The voice came again. A voice well-used to command from the way she barked. My eyes flew open. The dragon lowered its wings.

    Now I saw the woman perched on the dragon¡¯s back, bending over and stretching her hand as she beckoned imperiously. ¡°Get your ass over here. Now. Unless you don¡¯t care about saving those friends of yours in Emberglen?¡±

    The thought of my town in peril gave me all the strength and motivation I needed.

    I lurched to my feet. Threat to them was the only thing that would induce me to run toward a dragon. Plus, if the dragon and rider had wanted me dead, I¡¯d already be sipping mead in Paradise.

    The dragon obligingly angled its foreleg, allowing me to run up and grasp the woman¡¯s hand and forearm. I¡¯d never have been able to reach it otherwise. The helpful beast slowly lifted its leg as I scrambled up its boulder-like shoulder.

    ¡°Behind me. Sit!¡± The woman barked, pointing to a padded leather seat, held in place by thick straps and buckles that encircled the dragon¡¯s neck.

    I dropped into the seat, looking for anything to hold on to. Nothing. I hoped the dragon was a gentle, level flyer.

    ¡°Wrap these around your waist.¡± Twisting in her saddle, she shoved two lengths of leather into my hands. ¡°Tie them off here and here.¡± A quick finger jabbed at a two thick rings set into the leather harness. ¡°And hold on! Cassyrra can¡¯t double back fast enough to catch you if you fall.¡±

    Relieved, I hurried to do as the woman bid and lashed myself down.

    Just in time.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± The woman shouted, this time at the dragon, who reared up on her back legs. Bunching her hindquarters and raising her wings, the mighty beast leaped into the night sky.

    Flames and smoke fell behind us, dwindling as the dragon mounted towards the clouds. The woman was yelling, but the rushing wind took the words. The dragon¡¯s shoulder muscles bunched and flexed beneath me. Mighty wings pumped, then flared and tilted as she leveled off, taking us on a long looping turn toward my village.

    I screamed.

    From sheer exhilaration.

    The wind took my voice, and if the rider in front of me heard, she didn¡¯t react.

    I wouldn¡¯t have cared if the world heard me.

    A long-sought center within my soul awakened in the rush of wind and sweep of wings, bursting to life in me.

    Whoever this woman was, however she¡¯d partnered with this magical beast, she had to show me how she¡¯d tamed the untamable.

    At that moment, I knew my life would never be the same.

 Chapter Two

    Sometimes when the Source of all gods answers our prayers, it comes in a form we¡¯re most likely to reject.

    From the personal journal of Ozora

    Dean of Magics

    The Bestiary

    ****

    The air up high was cold. I hadn¡¯t dressed for flying, and I shivered as I clung to the dragon¡¯s leather harness. Only my legs were warm, pressed against her hide. Even through the thick pad and my cotton skirts, I could feel the beast¡¯s heat.

    Going from sure death to riding a dragon had my wits spinning. It was all I could do to cling to the rigging and mutter prayers to Source that the lashings wrapped around my waist would hold. The scent of smoke and burning flesh faded behind as we climbed toward the clouds.

    I¡¯d walked a few miles, but we covered that in a few heartbeats aloft.

    Then Emberglen was below and again billowing clouds of stinging ash and smoke struck us like a slap, making breathing difficult.

    The landscape spun as the dragon circled to descend. We passed over the town in flames and another ship aground on the beach. Elves swarmed the streets, cutting down all in their path. Some looked up as Cassyrra flew low overhead. She made a few rounds, circling the perimeter..

    Emberglen¡¯s residents were not warriors, and Alurenth was a kingdom at peace with its neighbors. A pair of squads of the Royal Guards rotated between the city and families on the surrounding farms. Even if all had been in the barracks, these deadly warriors would''ve cleaved through them with almost as much ease as they cleaved down the shopkeepers and visitors.

    I saw more than I wanted of the destruction from the dragon¡¯s back as she swept over the town. Tears ran unchecked down my face to be dashed away by the wind.

    Such a vile end for such gentle, cheerful people.

    With two mighty strokes of her wings, the dragon banked out toward the sea. Her shoulders dipped, and my knees tightened, gripping as she dove, then reared back, sculling the sky to hover over the ship. Her massive head towered above us, and it seemed she stood in mid-air, balanced on her hind legs and tail.

    I leaned in, clutching the saddle and lashings with everything I had. The wind from Cassyrra''s powerful strokes swirled around me like a storm, drumming in my ears and whipping the hair that had escaped my braid. Through blurring eyes, I saw her jaws drop as her head shot forward.

    The blast of light and sound forced my eyes closed. I turned my face away, involuntarily protecting myself from the carnage that burst forth from Cassyrra¡¯s throat. Even behind my eyelids, the furnace of dragonfire blazed through, and I saw pink instead of black.

    I wasn¡¯t cold anymore.

    The elves on the beach tried to scatter after the first scorching attack, but she caught them in moments with another rain of fire. The invaders got a faster, more fitting end than the King and his justice would¡¯ve handed down.

    My heart squeezed tight, and it hurt to breathe. My thoughts numbed at the massacre beneath me, going silent in a void that was anything but dark. Rather, it burned hotter than the sun.

    I¡¯d never seen such devastation.

    The dragon wasn¡¯t done.

    With a thunderous rattle and snap, Cassyrra folded her wings and dove at the ground, where more invaders were concentrated, streaming toward the beach and their now burning ship. My head rocked back when she flared wide her pinions, backwinging to break her plunge.

    I wouldn¡¯t have thought such a colossal beast would be so maneuverable, but that dragon flipped on her tail to batter the stragglers with massive gusts of wind before she toasted them with another blast of dragonfire. For the second time, I clung to her neck as she stood nearly vertical in the sky.

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    They didn¡¯t even have time to scream. Much.

    The red-haired woman slapped the dragon¡¯s neck, and the beast climbed, making two wide circuits of Emberglen. Her head swept side to side as if scanning for survivors. Or enemies.

    Nothing moved when she passed overhead, but that might have been pure freezing fear by any left alive.

    She angled her wings to descend, flapping them mightily to lower her hind legs, then fore feet to the ground in a gentle landing.

    ¡°You can untie yourself from the harness.¡± The woman half turned in her seat. ¡°Cassyrra will try not to drop you, but lean against her shoulder as you climb down. It¡¯ll help you balance.¡±

    My hands joggled as I worked to untie the knots. ¡°Do you think anyone survived?¡± I asked, my voice raspy from all the smoke.

    The woman only shook her head.

    ¡°I don¡¯t, but we¡¯re going to go look. If any elves survived and have anything like a brain, they¡¯re running. Not one of them, no matter how tough a unit the Emperor might¡¯ve sent, can stand against Cassyrra.¡±

    Beneath me, the dragon rumbled, as if to reassure.

    I sort of half slid, half walked down Cassyrra¡¯s shoulder and forearm. Moments later, the woman landed next to me, hopping down more gracefully.

    We walked to the edge of town, the dragon following.

    ¡°How do you know it was the Emperor?¡± In truth, I was only guessing I¡¯d been caught by the Crimson Birth. An informed guess, but a guess nonetheless.

    ¡°Where else do high elves live but in the West?¡± Emerald eyes snapped with fury, but it was obvious the woman¡¯s anger was toward the dead elves.

    Of all the elder races, only high elves developed a taste for conquest. The Ancient Elven Empire of the West dominated the world for thousands of years, subjugating all others under their rule.

    Until they broke the world.

    Before I was born, the Wars of the Sundering were nothing but tales of old. Half fiction, half myth from over a thousand years ago that told of a world that no longer existed.

    They were some of my favorite stories. The magics of the high elves were like nothing seen before or since, devastating in war, but in peacetime ¡ª gloriously unmatched.

    ¡°That would explain the one that dragged me by the hair.¡± I told her ¡°He looked like the ones I¡¯ve seen in paintings but he didn¡¯t speak high elvish.¡±

    She shot me a quick, curious look.

    ¡°I like to learn.¡± She nodded, but my next words stopped her. ¡°I think they were the Crimson Birth.¡±

    ¡°Not many know of them.¡± Her eyes widened to reflect the reds and oranges of the leaping flames, giving them an eerie glow.

    ¡°I¡¯m not many people.¡± I answered.

    A tight grin split her expression, and she muttered something over her shoulder to the dragon next to her. I couldn¡¯t hear what she said, but what sounded like a rumble of laughter reverberated from the dragon.

    Throughout the town, the story was the same. The elves had wiped out all they found, executing everyone.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry we couldn¡¯t save them.¡± In the blazing light of the bonfires, her freckled face sagged with grief. ¡°The elves had their attacks too well coordinated.¡±

    I felt nothing. I was numb. In shock.

    The Crimson Birth had taken out the entire town.

    My heart ached, and stomach churned. Was this the beginning of a new war with the Ancient Elven Empire of the West? What other reason could there be for this unprovoked attack?

    I wanted to mourn and cry, but the tears wouldn''t come. There was nothing more to do for the people of Emberglen. Mourning would have to wait, because the Emperor wouldn¡¯t attack just a resort town.

    ¡°Hastrior.¡± I murmured. Barely breathed it really, but the dragonrider heard, and glanced back at her beast. I would have sworn they had a brief, unheard conversation.

    ¡°Hastrior.¡± She agreed. ¡°If they take that city and establish an outpost, they¡¯ll be unstoppable. They could retake the Eastern Reaches.¡±

    ¡°Can your dragon take us there?¡± I forced myself to ask as my teeth ground tight, trying to stop the words.

    It was the last thing I wanted.

    Never again. I¡¯d sworn it.

    Never to go back there.

    Hastrior was the last free city in all the Eastern Reaches. All the rest had been absorbed by their surrounding kingdoms and rulers in the centuries since the Sundering, but the royal family of Hastrior struck a deal with the kingdom of Alurenth to preserve its independence.

    The alleged murder of its prince over five years ago by a pirate had spelled the beginning of its fall.

    I hadn¡¯t been in Hastrior for about five years. My last trip there was disastrous. I made bad choices. Got my heart broken and then some by a pirate captain.

    Yes. That pirate captain. The one that tried to run the place after the Prince¡¯s death. I so should¡¯ve known better.

    Except his handsome face and charming manner did things to me I¡¯d never experienced before in all my travels. I was drawn in and paid the price.

    When I left, I swore I¡¯d never go back.

    Now, I had no choice.

    The other woman¡¯s emerald eyes lit up, and a wide grin split her freckled face. In the dancing firelight, it gave her a feral glow.

    ¡°Cassyrra has plenty of fight left in her.¡±

    The dragon, on hearing her name, stretched out her throat and loosed a trilling roar, then snapped out her wings.

    The dragonrider ran up her mount¡¯s shoulder, then reached one hand back toward me.

    ¡°I¡¯m Taenya, Cassyrra is my Bondmate.¡±

    My head whirled as I once more strapped myself to the dragon¡¯s harness.

    ¡°Bondmate?¡± I asked.

    ¡°Later, I¡¯ll explain later. Right now, we need to save Hastrior.¡±

    Cassyrra¡¯s muscled bunched beneath me, and once more we launched into the star-spattered skies.

    Emberglen faded behind me.

    What would I find in Hastrior?

 Chapter Three

    Fraser Connell is the deadliest thing in the sea.

    His mother was a nereid who fell in love with a human. A pirate she saved from drowning, and followed onto the land. Instead of dragging into the deeps as she should have. She gave up everything to be with him and he betrayed her. Big mistake. Their son emerged years later, a man grown with a thirst for vengeance.

    How do I know his history so well? He told me.

    From the personal journal of Ozora

    Dean of Magics

    The Bestiary

    ****

    Three ships were outside of Hastrior¡¯s protected harbor, firing their cannons at the elvish galleons. They¡¯d held the invaders off so far, but they were outmatched.

    The elves were returning fire and their mages were launching fireballs. I had no combat training and even I could see that they wouldn¡¯t be able to hold against the elvish assault for long.

    Taenya leaned forward and slapped Cassyrra¡¯s neck, then twisted to shout over her shoulder.

    ¡°Hang on, this might get a little wild.¡± I barely caught the words before the dragon dropped like a stone, wings folded tight to her flanks. The wind rushed past, shrieking in my ears, and yanking at my hair. The stars turned into streaks as my eyes teared.

    When she snapped her wings back out and leveled off, I dared to wipe at my eyes with one hand. There was no chance I would let go of those leather straps, my lifelines, with both hands.

    We were much closer to the ocean and Cassyrra let loose a thick column of brilliant blue flame. Scything her long neck, she swept all three elvish vessels.

    They roared into oblivion, their wood exploding in the dragon¡¯s blast.

    Cassyrra angled her shoulders and swept into a long curve that took us farther out to sea. Her wings boomed, and the wind was like a physical force, beating against my face and ears as she climbed up to just below the clouds. It seemed like I could see forever from up here, even in the darkness. We hovered high above the water, out beyond Hastrior¡¯s tip. The continent swept away from us, back toward the east before the coast curved to the north and south, glimmering in the starlight. The waves breaking against the beaches glowed ghostly blue with their own light, limning the coastline. Neither moon had yet risen but the eastern hills were edged in gold, announcing their arrival.

    There were no more elvish vessels. Just as the breaking waves glistened when they struck the shore, any vessel crossing these waters would leave a bluish wake in its path. None approached from the Vauxterel archipelago but who knew what lurked in the islands out of sight?

    There was nothing else to be seen along the coast at the moment. Emberglen burned north of Hastrior, but that was it. No sounds of battle, no bursts of mage energies reached us as we scouted the offshore waters, but no other towns were as close as Emberglen.

    I realized with a jolt, why the Crimson Death had also attacked Emberglen, the closest town to Hastrior. Taking Hastrior and Emberglen meant the invaders would control the entire peninsula and significant chunks of Alurenth¡¯s coast to the north and south if they¡¯d been successful. Enough to establish a secure footing in the East and starting point for their invasion. Seeing it from the air, even in the dark, made their strategy clear.

    What was also clear¡ªthe Emperor wouldn¡¯t have dared such an attack if Hastrior had been at full strength. Instead, he struck when she was weakened and depleted, a shell of her former glory and strength.

    Cassyrra circled and cruised lower, aiming for the tip of Hastrior¡¯s peninsula. A thick finger of land jutting out into the sea, pointing toward the West.

    I held my breath, tension knotting my stomach.

    He won¡¯t be here. Why would he be here? If I say it enough, it¡¯ll be true. Right?

    I¡¯d tried to kill Fraser Connell, the pirate captain rumored to have killed the ruling Prince, the last time I was in Hastrior.

    Pretty sure he¡¯s held a grudge against me ever since.

    To be fair, it wasn¡¯t my fault. It was his.

    Completely.

    Our history is a tragic one. I barely escaped.

    It may be he let me go.

    Either way, I¡¯m the last person he¡¯d want to see.

    If he was even in Hastrior.

    Which was doubtful. There hadn¡¯t been even a whisper of a rumor that anyone had spotted him in years. I might just get lucky and never see Fraser Connell again. Ever.

    That was my hope anyway.

    Cassyrra landed in the wide-open fields of the peninsula¡¯s tip. A massive, blocky keep sat in front of us, a few hundred feet away. A heavy stone wall formed the outermost rampart, running right up to the cliff¡¯s edge. The single wooden door was closed and there were no windows on this side facing us.

    Not surprising. They built it to defend against the very invaders Cassyrra had just destroyed. That no torches or magelights illuminated it and it appeared abandoned was concerning.

    Climbing down from the dragon¡¯s back was easier the second time. Bare feet helped. Somewhere along the way I¡¯d lost my sandals, but that was the least of my worries.

    Hastrior¡¯s defenders still needed to sail back into the harbor. Taenya pointed at the longboats pulling to shore, tiny lights gliding across the black sea toward the harbor much faster than their mother ships.

    ¡°I think Captain Connell is in one of those.¡± She said.

    Her words froze me. Why would she speak his name?

    ¡°Cap¡ªCaptain Connell?¡± I gulped to cover my stammer. ¡°He¡¯s long gone from all I¡¯ve heard.¡± I couldn¡¯t keep my voice from warbling from the sudden tension that gripped my throat.

    ¡°Yep. I was told he was the one spotted the incoming ships. I need to talk to him about something important.¡± This night was about to get a whole lot worse. And I¡¯d thought it peaked with invasion from an ancient empire.

    I didn¡¯t stop to think about how she knew this. All I could hear was that she was planning to stand here in this field under the stars and have a conversation with the pirate who¡¯d single handedly ruined the last free city of the East.

    I wanted no part of it.

    ¡°Listen.¡± How to put it? All my past history with the infamous pirate captain. ¡°I should point out that he would not be happy to see me.¡± Best I could come up with.

    Before I lost my nerve, I spilled my secret to Taenya. I had to say something, couldn¡¯t just stand there and pretend I wasn¡¯t the one who set his ship on fire.

    Taenya¡¯s eye grew wide, but whether with respect or fear I wasn¡¯t sure when I told her I¡¯d planted the fireball spells in his holds. Detonated them while I looked him in the eye.

    Then she burst into laughter.

    ¡°I had to do it. I did!¡± I rushed to justify my destruction. ¡°I was told he planning to raid the hippocampus pods for brood mares. By someone I trusted because Fraser trusted him. Implicitly.¡± My explanation was jumbled, but I had to get it all out now. ¡°There are several large wild pods living in the waters around the Vauxterel Islands.¡± Hippocamps, part-horse, part- fishy or dolphin-ish creatures, were common enough sights around port cities like Hastrior. I¡¯d sometimes see them from Emberglen on my beach walks.

    The boats had disappeared from view and I heard the sounds of splashing and faint men¡¯s voices carried up from the beach far below on the incoming breeze. My heart rate notched up and I hurried through the rest of my story.

    ¡°Fraser planned to catch a bunch to sell to anyone with enough money to afford the luxury.¡± I didn¡¯t bother to keep the disgust out of my voice. After all this time I still felt the revulsion as if I were there again, hearing of it for the first time.

    The creatures were notoriously difficult to catch, and almost impossible to train if wild caught, but if raised from a youngling they are incredibly loyal. Wealthy merchants and nobles hire their riders to guard their ships. While most who tried to hunt the powerful predators were unsuccessful or even killed, I knew Fraser had an advantage most did not.

    ¡°He was planning to use his numin to control them.¡± Nereids and hippocamps live and work together. ¡°Thanks to his elder blood, Fraser knew he could easily entrap the mares, the most valuable of all, and sell them for more than their weight in gold.¡± Just saying it brought back all the rage and fire I felt so long ago. ¡°I was not going to stand for that. I didn¡¯t much care if he was on his ship or not when I set the fire spells. My only goal was to stop him from raiding the poor creatures.¡±

    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    ¡°You really thought that would stop him?¡± Taenya half laughed, half choked.

    ¡°No ship, no raids.¡± I flung my hands up as if to toss away her doubt. It had seemed so simple when I saw his ships holds refitted to transport the large beasts. ¡°My only thought back then was to take away his ability to get to the pods.¡± It came out snappish, but I was feeling quite nervous. ¡°I¡¯ve avoided this place ever since.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not like Emberglen was far from Hastrior.¡±

    ¡°It was far enough, and I didn¡¯t go there directly.¡± I rubbed my arms, trying to warm them up. The chill of the skies was slow to wear off.

    ¡°Did he stop hunting the hippocamps?¡±

    I shrugged. ¡°He disappeared not long after I fled. There were rumors. Some blamed him for an attack on a noble but no one¡¯s seen or heard from him since ¡­¡± I trailed off, unable to say again that I sank his beloved Skirmisher past the sudden tightness in my throat.

    We just waited. I twirled my hair, twining it through and around my fingers, braiding and unbraiding it. A nervous habit from my youth. It usually soothed me.

    Not tonight.

    In the intervening years I heard plenty of stories in my Journeys before I settled in Emberglen. Some reports had him in Hastrior that first year, but never for long and never confirmed.

    They were just stories. Fraser Connell was a legend.

    Some said he was killed by his second in command, Gordon Derryngton.

    I¡¯d long thought that was possible. Far more reliable folk came through and told how Gordon had taken control of Hastrior. That was consistent early on from many Journeying bards. As the years went by, Gordon¡¯s leadership failed, and he himself vanished. They speculated he was murdered. I mourned when I heard. Gordon had been a genuine friend, and I couldn¡¯t imagine he¡¯d been part of the city¡¯s ruin.

    For ruined it was. Late last year a Journeying bard told why she was avoiding the city. Too risky after she learned of losing fellow bards to criminals in Hastrior who killed and robbed in broad daylight now. Sincere regret shone in her eyes along with tears for her fallen friends as she explained she had to think of her and her family¡¯s safety.

    I hope being with a dragon will keep me safe. I didn¡¯t want to linger, or even be here. The once grand and prosperous city had sunk into squalor and none were trying to steer her back on course. The lawless and criminals ruled here.

    Why in the hells does she need to talk to Fraser? The question burned, but more than that, I wanted to run. Run and hide. Behind the dragon, anywhere that man couldn¡¯t see me.

    ¡°Do we really need to do this now? We¡¯re all tired. Maybe we should come back after we¡¯ve had a chance to sleep on it?¡± I asked in vain. ¡°Maybe just you should come back, leave me out of this. I¡¯ll only complicate things.¡±

    ¡°No kidding.¡± Taenya gave a cough that sounded self-deprecating. ¡°Nope. We need to have this talk right now. All of us.¡± I wondered why she had said the last with a growl.

    ¡°Maybe I should just go wait over there with the dragon.¡± I tried. It didn¡¯t work.

    ¡°Cassyrra.¡± Taenya corrected. ¡°And no.¡± She muttered something else, but I couldn¡¯t catch it. I shivered even though the night was balmy. Fraser could go full scary person in a heartbeat. Even with my defensive magics, he was fast and I hadn¡¯t anything prepared or close at hand. Which meant he¡¯d have the advantage.

    ¡°Listen. He won¡¯t be happy to see me either, but¡­¡± Taenya spoke up, this time so I could hear. ¡°Fraser owes me now. I did just save his ship.¡±

    Cassyrra coughed, then rumbled. The air against my skin tingled.

    ¡°Sorry love. We just saved his ship.¡± Taenya answered the dragon as if she had spoken aloud.

    A few moments later, Fraser Connell stepped onto the field.

    I remembered seeing a stairway carved into the cliff side, glowing magelights illuminating the way up as we¡¯d flown in. The longboats must¡¯ve beached there.

    The Captain was soon joined by two others who stepped wide to flank him. They made quite a dramatic picture, striding across the field.

    Fraser Connell¡¯s teal blue hair tumbled to his shoulders in careless waves and his skin was burnished copper from so many years on the sea. The moons had by now climbed into the sky, and we could see each other clearly as he got closer. A fine tremor ran through me. I grounded hard, gripping the dirt and grass with my toes. He came to a sudden stop as soon as his eyes met mine.

    ¡°You.¡± He smiled like a shark. Lots of teeth, but zero humor.

    I¡¯d been dreading this moment. When I saw him again, and he saw me. All the things I¡¯d done, I¡¯d said, rose within my memory, reminding me what we¡¯d had, what I¡¯d torched.

    I did it for all the right reasons though. I just never thought I¡¯d ever be this close to him again.

    ¡°She¡¯s my apprentice, Fraser. So whatever issue you had with her, you now have with me.¡± Taenya said.

    His burning blue eyes turned to the woman next to me, recognition once more spreading across his face.

    ¡°By all the gods above and below, Taenya DeLange!¡± Honest surprise, and that same self-deprecating laugh I¡¯d once loved burst out of him.

    Wait. She knew Fraser too? Although, to be fair I¡¯d only just met her, and we¡¯d had little time to chat.

    It seemed I was momentarily forgotten. ¡°Oh, I have an issue with you too. Did you forget? I didn¡¯t.¡± His handsome face seemed to shine with delight. I¡¯d seen that look before. Fraser was at his most dangerous when he seemed to be at his most charming.

    ¡°Only I could be so lucky. How did I get so lucky? Both of you? Tonight? Last I saw you, Taenya ¡­¡± Fraser tapped his chin and rolled his eyes as if searching for the right memory. ¡°You and your brother were galloping out of Hastrior. I was feeling generous that day and didn¡¯t hunt you down for trying to start a mutiny on my ship and encouraging my men to kill me. Very reckless of you.¡± He chided, shaking his finger at Taenya, as if scolding. ¡°I thought my reputation alone would¡¯ve convinced you how futile that attempt would be.¡±

    ¡°You did kill my Prince. And ruined my father.¡± Taenya was quick with her answer, her voice neutral, but her expression went hard as her jaw clenched.

    ¡°Your father was a brilliant man who gave his loyalty to a fool and paid the price.¡± Fraser said, sidestepping her accusation.

    I wondered if she intended to strike Fraser with that fist at her side. ¡°For what it¡¯s worth, this wasn¡¯t my idea, and I¡¯m not thrilled to be here either. But you need to hear what I have to say.¡±

    ¡°Flying in on a dragon just when the Empire invades, thereby saving me and my ship is one way to ensure I don¡¯t kill you on sight.¡± Behind us, Cassyrra growled and brought her head next to Taenya, drawing Fraser¡¯s attention. ¡°How did that happen?¡± He asked, real wonder in his expression as he gazed at the dragon, but then stopped himself. ¡°Never mind. I don¡¯t want to know. Why are you here?¡± His face and words were now hard, tight, as if he didn¡¯t have time for this.

    ¡°Cassyrra has chosen you and Ozora as her first students.¡±

    We were both struck speechless.

    ¡°We are needed. You are needed.¡± Taenya lifted her palms in a wide shrug, as if trying to lift a heavy weight from her shoulders. ¡°I¡¯d been warned the Emperor was on the rise again. I didn¡¯t expect to find him invading tonight though.¡± Taenya sounded a little breathless, as if what she had to say went against everything in her. ¡°I can¡¯t tell you why. Yet. Only that it has to be the three of us, or the East is doomed.¡±

    Fraser crossed his arms, causing his leather armor to creak and shook his head. ¡°This is not the way to win me over. She.¡± He jerked his chin at me. ¡°Is a deal breaker for anything you might suggest.¡±

    ¡°Look, I get that we all have history and baggage.¡± Taenya began only to be cut off.

    ¡°She torched my ship!¡± He yelled, stabbing a finger in my direction. I could hear in his voice that it still pained him.

    ¡°You were raiding the hippocampus pods for their mares.¡± I shouted back.

    It had near killed me back then, finding out. The man I fell in love with was not only a mercenary, but a merchant of innocent wildlife.

    I know. Why were the hippocampus mares what flipped me into a rage? I knew he was dangerous, but never around me, and well ¡­ a mercenary. I¡¯d seen him make business decisions with cold calculation for his profit but it was a side I rarely saw. He was also a handsome, charming man and wooed me like he meant it. A heady thing for that younger me.

    But he knew how I felt about such things, and he deceived me. We¡¯d talked about it more than once. Ripping wild animals away from their families, enslaving them, was never okay with me, then or now.

    His aquamarine eyes were deeper than the ocean, and I wanted to drown in them. Five years had run between us and I still felt that familiar flutter in my belly when his hungry gaze locked with mine. Even with all he¡¯d done, he hadn¡¯t lost a bit of his effect on me. When I saw his eyes light, I knew he could tell. His lips lifted in a cruel half smile.

    Fraser was about as handsome a man as there ever was, and he knew it. It was just another weapon for him. Yeah, I found that out firsthand too.

    It may have partially motivated me burning his ship.

    The look he gave me right now had made stronger women than I melt into his arms.

    I hated that I still wanted him to them wrap around me.

    He practically purred. ¡°Is that what you think I was doing?¡±

    ¡°I know it¡¯s what you were doing.¡± I grasped at my fury like a drowning woman, wanting to feel anything but that pull, that need. So I swerved into rage. Immersing myself in something very close to desire, and just as hot. How dare he deny to my face what I knew to be true? How dare he look at me like that, now that I knew he¡¯d lied to me?

    ¡°This is going about as well as I expected.¡± Taenya said to no one.

    Rather, she said it to her dragon, who was nodding her head in agreement.

    ¡°Any suggestions?¡± She asked her dragon.

    Cassyrra stood, shaking her wings. Stretched out, they blocked the stars. She was so huge, I had nothing to compare her to. I¡¯d seen elephants in menageries but Cassyrra dwarfed them.

    A low thrumming vibrated the air. I felt more than heard it. Couldn¡¯t tell if they were from the slow beats of her wings as she extended, then folded them, or some sort of vocalization. They carried a sensation of motherly calm, chiding her children for squabbling but in a loving manner. Strange to feel it from a creature I¡¯d think more likely to eat me than feel tender affection for me.

    I hadn¡¯t realized how tightly I¡¯d held my shoulders until they relaxed under the dragon¡¯s soothing vibrations.

    Didn¡¯t seem to have the same effect on Fraser.

    ¡°There is nothing you can say that will convince me to listen to either of you.¡± Fraser spoke calmly. As if to a small child. ¡°You should probably leave.¡±

    Silence dragged but the tensions bounced between the three of us, drawing tighter. Fraser¡¯s men stepped back, sensing danger and not wanting to get caught in the crossfire of two mages and their captain.

    Cassyrra stretched her long neck to the sky and loosed a low, crooning roar. Not loud, but powerful. Like with the humming vibes, it brought that sense of motherliness, but now tinged with irritation, as if it frustrated her we were still arguing. Her voice rolled out over the field and dropped over the cliff, echoes bouncing back up before fading. An eerie ripple passed over us all. Not numin, not a spell, but a magical energy nonetheless, leaving a sense of tightness, desperation even, but whose I couldn¡¯t tell.

    ¡°Your beloved hippocamps will die if you don¡¯t help us.¡±

    Taenya¡¯s words dropped into the brittle silence like rocks into thin glass. Tiny tinkling shards scattered into the night, cutting us loose from our stiff stalemate. Fraser Connell paled, and I saw real fear wash over his features, making them go slack.

    Why would he look like that? Didn¡¯t make sense. ¡°Beloved hippocamps?¡± I couldn¡¯t stop myself. ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡± I wanted to say more. I just couldn¡¯t. I was too shocked. It couldn¡¯t be true.

    Fraser protecting hippocamps? No.

    No!

    He was catching and selling them. They were nothing but a money stream to him. I¡¯d seen the proof.

    ¡°Not quite what you thought, Ozora?¡± Fraser¡¯s voice sounded hollow, as if he¡¯d heard my inner thoughts.

    Beautiful, sad blue eyes welled up with pain. Something in Taenya¡¯s words had cracked him open. It was as if I could see into him, see his true self. What his ripped open gaze revealed filled me with doubt. Ashamed, I looked away, not able to stand seeing that rawness. Looking away, I could deny it had ever been.

    The moment passed.

    He coughed and straightened, tugging his leather vest and settling his sword hilt. ¡°But you never could hear that you might be wrong.¡± That accusatory tone was back and his deep indigo brows lowered. The vulnerable Fraser I¡¯d just seen was gone.

    ¡°No. ¡­ Look.¡± Weariness laced with sadness filled Taenya¡¯s voice and crumpled her. She scrubbed her face with both hands as if she could erase her words. Dropping them, she tried again.

    ¡°We both know Prince Bartholomew Crummey was worthless. I knew it then, but he was also mostly harmless, and his death just seemed so senseless. When you took over the town, well, Dad, Dylan, and I got ideas. I ¡­ I was an idiot. We all were.¡± It sounded like Taenya¡¯s teeth barely moved, as if this was as much of an apology as she could muster.

    ¡°I can¡¯t convince you. I know that. I¡¯m not even going to try. I¡¯m just asking that you meet the one who can.¡±

 Chapter Four

    Fraser is not a typical nereid.

    He¡¯s bigger, thanks to his human father. Stronger too.

    Nereids though are no weaklings. They might look slender and fluid compared to others, but ¡­

    They. Swim. All. Day.

    From the personal journal of Ozora

    Dean of Magics

    The Bestiary

    ****

    There on the cliffs, in the middle of the night, Fraser¡¯s storm-dark eyes widened, this time with curiosity and, was that hope? What it meant, however, he didn¡¯t say.

    ¡°Why?¡± Something in that simple word riveted me. His tone was still terse, but he no longer reeked of rage. He wrapped so much more meaning around that little question than just asking for a reason to believe Taenya. He was asking, why him? Why now? Why did it have to be the three of us? What more was there to bringing all of us with all this baggage and history back together?

    ¡°Because she convinced me, and when I first met her, I was still planning on killing you.¡±

    His expression shuttered, and all those old suspicions once more filled his looks. ¡°Is that so?¡±

    ¡°Oh for fucks sake!¡± She slapped her palm to her face. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean ¡­ dammit. Cassyrra!¡± She turned to her dragon. ¡°I¡¯m screwing this all up. I¡¯m too tired to be diplomatic.¡± She hurried through her next words, as if she had to get them all out right now. ¡°Just. Listen. That¡¯s all. Then you can walk away, okay?¡±

    He folded his arms but nodded.

    ¡°You have to help us or your hippocamps will die.¡± She repeated. ¡°It¡¯s that simple. You decide.¡±

    Cassyrra huffed a gust of smoky wind over us. She dropped her head low, so it was next to the ground and her throat vibrated as she rattled off a sort of grumbling purr. This close, her voice was palpable. It danced across my skin, causing my hairs to rise in gooseflesh along my arms, but I heard her with more than my ears.

    ++You should all rest for the night. Let us meet here again tomorrow morning and speak of these important things when we¡¯re refreshed. ++

    The words rolled into my mind, gentle and loving, but vast with power. Compassionate but stern. I felt as well as heard them, and my heart did this odd flip, as if I was sorry I¡¯d disappointed her but also inspired to do better.

    Weird. Just being near her, within the aura of her draconic numin, her emotions affected me as if they were my own. The sensations intensified when she spoke into my mind.

    ¡°Excellent idea, Cassyrra.¡± Taenya¡¯s relief came through loud and clear. ¡°We can¡¯t get her here until tomorrow anyway.¡± She said for the second time. ¡°Dammit, I did it again. I¡¯m telling you, this will all make sense tomorrow. I promise. Can we please just call a truce or something?¡±

    ¡°The alternative being we stand here staring at each other all night? I don¡¯t suppose your pet is going to let me just walk away without agreeing to your little breakfast discussion?¡±

    ¡°Nope.¡± Taenya sounded like she¡¯d reached her last nerve.

    ¡°Fine.¡± Fraser sighed. ¡°Come back tomorrow.¡± He shrugged. ¡°Or not. I¡¯d rather not. I¡¯d be happier if you didn¡¯t. But I¡¯ll be out here.¡± He waved his hand, indicating the field. ¡°Waiting. Tomorrow.¡± There was that humorless, sharklike smile again. ¡°I give you my word.¡±

    Taenya glazed her response with a false sugary sweetness that said she didn¡¯t trust his word for a second. ¡°Great. Appreciate the offer of breakfast too. Doubt we¡¯ll find anything to eat at my old home. I hear it stayed abandoned.¡± Her answering grin had about as much humor as his. Cassyrra shifted her weight from foot to foot, but didn¡¯t speak.

    Fraser grunted and turned his back on us, striding to the cliff. His men scurried after him and all disappeared down the stairs.

    ¡°Generous of him.¡± Taenya¡¯s voice was dry with sarcasm. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± She gave Cassyrra an affectionate slap as the dragon extended her foreleg.

    ****

    Taenya¡¯s home sat on Hastrior¡¯s north coast.

    It was a quick hop from the keep¡¯s field to the abandoned DeLange estate. Cassyrra¡¯s wings boomed as she settled onto the overgrown lawns and gardens that ran atop the cliffs. Hastrior''s flat tableland was situated atop tall granite cliffs that overlooked the shore. The wealthy kept their estates on the north side and DeLange house was one of many abandoned mansions.

    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    Families had fled as the city crumbled.

    The house itself was dusty and in disarray, but we didn¡¯t care. It was enough to have a dry place to rest. With Cassyrra outside, we had little to fear.

    Although I got very little sleep, in truth.

    I laid there, wide awake, the night¡¯s events running through my thoughts on a seemingly endless loop.

    Not how I thought my night would end when I went for my evening stroll along the beach. It didn¡¯t seem possible it had all happened but a bare few hours ago.

    From being captured by a deadly invading force to being rescued by a dragon, you¡¯d think my night¡¯s adventures would be enough for a lifetime.

    It was the revelations about Fraser that truly kept me awake, along with the little detail about being the dragon¡¯s apprentice. We hadn¡¯t even talked about that yet.

    My brain was too full.

    Eventually, I drifted to sleep, and dreamt of Cassyrra lecturing Fraser and me as we sat at desks like schoolchildren.

    ****

    FIVE YEARS AGO¡­

    ¡°Kiry was right.¡± I said to no one when my eyes opened. I¡¯d been awake for a few minutes but had curled up under the soft cotton sheets, keeping my eyes closed and taking in the sounds of the morning. It was my first time back in Hastrior for over a year and last night had been fantastic.

    I¡¯d traveled here with the caravan leader before and trusted him. Kiry was an old friend, and he¡¯d recommended Hastrior. ¡°Prince Bart is unmourned and they¡¯re calling Fraser Connell the Privateer Prince now.¡± He¡¯d said as we rolled through the Solar Gate yesterday, Hastrior¡¯s eastern access to the rest of the world. Although Hastrior¡¯s principality extended into the rolling hills, the city proper was walled off, and the King¡¯s Road from Alurenth ended at Hastrior¡¯s eastern battlements.

    From the streets below came the sounds of the city waking up. Vendors were just opening their businesses and birds called from the tall palm trees that lined the boulevard. The hotel was older, ¡°vintage¡± their signage said, but clean and comfortable. Kiry dropped me off here yesterday.

    ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up when I¡¯m back through, beginning of fall likely.¡± His smile was warmer than the late afternoon sun, and just as lazy and satisfied.

    We found each other¡¯s company enjoyable, in more ways than just the obvious. Journey mages sometimes must wander far to make their livelihood, so making friends with the caravan folk just made sense. Kiry¡¯s rugged, bearded face rose in my thoughts and warmed my heart. I figured I¡¯d be ready to move on by then. Hastrior had been profitable my last time here, and I expected the same this time.

    I took these few moments before getting up and inhaled. Deep, slow breaths, grounding and centering myself, ensuring that my heart and mind were calm.

    Today¡¯s gonna be a great day. Most of the time, my inner pep talks even worked. Today, it helped that warm bright sunlight filled the little room, adding sparkle to a fresh new day.

    I sat up in bed and leaned on the open window to gaze out over Hastrior. There was a caf¨¦ across the street that, if I remembered right, served the best breakfasts. My stomach rumbled and soon I was going down the hotel¡¯s steps and off the curb to eat and start my day.

    ****

    Shoppers spilled from the walkways into the streets of the packed bazaar. I grinned at the sheer volume of customers streaming through the aisles and knew this would be a very profitable trip.

    In the Dayseller¡¯s section, where non-residents like me rented spaces for the day, I secured a sweet spot under a lovely shady tree for tomorrow. My stock of pre-loaded spells, talismans, amulets, potions, powders that I¡¯d made while traveling was full, ready for tomorrow. I¡¯d sell out in no time with this many customers.

    Now, I had the rest of the afternoon to wander around and take in the city.

    This is going to be a great day. I was following my nose toward the scent of roasted meats when, without warning, a male staggered into me, thrusting me off balance. I lost my footing, sure I was going to fall.

    A pair of powerful hands scooped me up before I hit the flagstones, pressing me against a male¡¯s broad chest. I¡¯d instinctively brought my hands up to break my fall and now they splayed across pecs harder than stone. Through his thin cotton shirt, they were like warm granite.

    ¡°Lovely to meet you, too.¡± His deep baritone voice rumbled under my fingertips and my hands flattened like they¡¯d melt into him. I looked up to meet a pair of pale blue eyes, the sort of vivid color that you only see in tropical waters.

    ¡°Oh my¡± turned to ¡°what the fuck¡± when his hands slid down to cup my ass and hitch me closer, fingers digging in as his thick, corded arms flexed and pressed me deeper.

    ¡°Get your hands off me, you perv!¡± I barked. Summoning my numin, I shifted my grip from his chest to his wrists and loosed a pair of lightning bolts from my fingers.

    Which had the desired effect.

    He released me and jumped back, shaking his arms as if to shake off the numbing effects of the blasts. ¡°Great Gahan!¡± He cursed. ¡°What did you do that for?¡±

    I smirked when he stumbled and almost tripped over the stacked boxes of a nearby vendor.

    ¡°Decent people offer to help when someone falls, not take the opportunity for a free feel.¡± I said, weaving my numin into a teleportal spell. Seconds later, I was stepping sideways through my magically crafted doorway to a point I was already heading toward the next street over in front of my hotel.

    I flipped him a universal signal, telling him he was number one seconds before I cut off my numin and slammed the portal closed in his shocked face.

    ****

    So imagine my surprise when I saw the same ass sitting at my favorite table in my favorite breakfast caf¨¦ three days later.

    His back was to me, but that long curly mop of teal, turquoise, and deep ocean blues had been the second most noticeable thing about the male that groped me a few days ago. The morning breeze off the bay tousled the loose, messy curls, making them dance.

    There weren¡¯t many reasons he¡¯d be sitting there, and none of them interested me.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to apologize in person for groping me. Staying away would¡¯ve been enough.¡± My approach was anything but subtle. The cart that held all my wares and supplies had squeaky wheels.

    He stood and turned, giving me a wide, sure grin that I¡¯m positive had already melted female hearts. I had to look up and up some more. I¡¯m scarcely over five feet and he towered more than a foot above that. I was already irritated. We were off to a great start.

    ¡°How could I?¡± He asked. ¡°When you are so exactly what I need.¡± His voice was deep and seemed to pulsate right through me while his heated eyes trailed up and down my curves.

    I snorted, amused at his boldness, and folded my arms to give him my best direct stare. The one that invited him to keep messing around and find out what else a pissed-off mage would do to dissuade him from stalking her.

    The flutter in my belly responded to his heated gaze despite my attempts to quash it.

    ¡°Is that so?¡± I asked. ¡°What sort of need do you think I can satisfy?¡±

    Two can play at that game.

    ¡°A mage.¡± Was his simple answer, innuendo melting away. ¡°I need a mage and none here have anything like your ability.¡±

    Flattery does get a male almost anywhere.

 Chapter Five

    The night I blew Skirmisher up, he told me he loved me. Ha! After what I¡¯d learned, I doubted he¡¯d ever come close to that emotion.

    I told him I¡¯d rather mate with a diseased octopus than spend another moment in his depraved company.

    From the personal journal of Ozora

    Dean of Magics

    The Bestiary

    ****

    True to his word, Fraser waited in the field below.

    Him and three tents. From the scents that wafted upward, he¡¯d also kept his promise about breakfast. Even if Taenya had twisted his arm about it.

    My stomach rumbled.

    Cassyrra banked and circled. I¡¯d braided my hair more tightly to keep it from whipping around and saw more clearly now that I didn''t have to paw my hair out of my eyes every few moments.

    It was beautiful up here, and my soul ached with longing.

    The Hastrior coast gleamed in the warm morning sunshine, and triggered a bittersweet rush of nostalgia when we¡¯d left the DeLange estate to climb to the sky. I hadn¡¯t flown since I left home.

    Memories of my family rose unbidden. The Qarrai raise and partner with the great eagles of the Caradare Mountains, and I grew up soaring above the clouds like this. It seemed all my childhood came rushing forward to fill my vision and for a moment I felt the chill of the mountain air, here above the warm coastal waters.

    Leaving the Qarrai meant I¡¯d never expected to have this view again. Last night¡¯s hectic jumble of events and the dark meant I didn¡¯t seen much while aloft. I hadn¡¯t thought of home until now. This time, it wasn¡¯t the wind that sent fresh tears streaming down my face.

    The Caradare mountains were still home, although I¡¯d never been back.

    A black streak of smoke rose in a thin thread to the north.

    Emberglen. A pang shot through me, sharp and swift. Clenching my fingers into white-knuckled fists on the saddle lashings didn¡¯t take away the pain or stop the next course of tears. They¡¯d gradually dried as the dragon winged her way back to the keep overlooking the harbor.

    Cassyrra passed over the tents again, lower this time. Fraser waved and pointed to a wide-open field near him. Bunching her muscles and angling her wings to follow his point, she prepared to land.

    In the next breath, my head rocked, and the saddle tilted underneath me as Cassyrra pumped her wings and flung her body to one side. For a few moments, I clung sideways, clasping the harness and praying to Oone, the luck goddess that my bindings would hold.

    A loud, trilling whistle whooshed past. It was a new sound, one I couldn¡¯t place. Next, Cassyrra bellowed and for those seconds, that was all I could hear.

    ¡°What the ¡­ You treacherous prick!¡± Taenya too had a bellow that I could hear over the wind as Cassyrra backwinged, sculling the air to stand on her tail in the air.

    Two indigo nets of numin flew to the scene below, woven from the dragon¡¯s scythe-like claws.

    On the grassy plain where the tents waited were Fraser Connell and a ballista, surrounded by three men. All were now trapped in two half-globes of numinous netting, Fraser in one, ballista and crew in the other. One tent had hidden the weapon and men until Cassyrra was in range. The dragon¡¯s spell froze the crew while they were lifting the next three-foot bolt. The collapsed tent that had hidden them surrounded the still men like dirty laundry mounds..

    Grumbling like a growling cat, Cassyrra settled on the grass. She let us dismount, and we walked up to where Fraser stood, trapped in a webbed dome crafted from deep blue magical energies. He folded his arms over his chest and said not a word as we approached.

    In the bright morning sun, his tumbled mop shone in hues of deep teal and blue. I¡¯d run my fingers through his soft curls so many times. The memory hit hard, and I twined my fingers through the laces of my tunic.

    It wasn¡¯t the same. Not even close.

    I stared at the magical cage instead of Fraser to distract my unruly heart and blinked. At first it seemed Cassyrra had cast a single spell, but now I saw she¡¯d cast two different spells at once. I had to check the ballista crew to make sure I saw this right. The three men remained frozen, while Fraser was not. He rolled his eyes as we approached, then his shoulders. His sleeveless tunic showed off his burnished copper skin and corded biceps.

    The spell, look at the spell. Not the fierce pirate glowering at you, with blue eyes hotter than a flame.

    The complexity of the numinous netting was dazzling. It sparkled and danced in my magesight. A shimmering web of sigils and runes spun with lavender numin that overlaid the visible woven dome of blue, anchoring it into the ground. From what I could decipher of the spell¡¯s weaving, it was impenetrable to weapons, physical or magical.

    I had to know more.

    So did Taenya, just not about magic.

    ¡°You tried to kill my dragon.¡± Her voice was soft, deliberate.

    Fraser shrugged, meeting her eyes with his own glittering stare. ¡°I said I¡¯d be waiting here today. I¡¯m here. I just didn¡¯t say I¡¯d have others with me.¡±

    Silence stretched. Neither one broke. Cassyrra huffed and poked the blunt end of her long muzzle at Fraser. ¡°I did tell you not to come.¡± He reminded Taenya, not glancing at the beast whose head was bigger than him. He kept his intense gaze locked on her.

    ¡°Are you forgetting that you two crazy bitches have tried to kill me?¡± Then he swiveled his glare to the dragon and poked his finger at her. ¡°So back up, lizard.¡±

    Cassyrra reared her head back like a startled horse and shook it with a twisting motion that set the frills and spines that adorned her jawline and brow ridges clattering together and chiming. She stopped herself and snarled at Fraser, lifting scaled lips to reveal glittering, scythe-like teeth.

    Fraser snarled back, his steely calm breaking for only a moment before he regained his composure. He did not scare easy.

    ¡°You might have helped me out last night, but my gratitude ends when you, or your dragon,¡± he jerked his chin at her. ¡°Demand I spend any more time in your company. Or hers.¡± Fraser shifted his intense focus to me. ¡°I thought you sufficiently acquainted with my reputation for holding a grudge and getting revenge.¡± His calm, precise delivery sent chills skittering over my neck. He didn¡¯t clip his words. Rather, he let them roll off his tongue, slow enough that each one settled in before the next one followed, and cool enough that snow wouldn¡¯t melt.

    He was the lethal mercenary right now, undaunted that Cassyrra trapped him under an unbreakable dome of numin.

    ¡°I would¡¯ve thought you both had more sense than to come here.¡± He narrowed his eyes, and his gaze darkened. Silence dripped after his words, and he let it pool. His gaze roamed up and down my body, lingering on my hips and breasts with deliberate contempt.

    ¡°Especially you.¡± He wasn¡¯t glaring anymore. Faint disgust now coated his features, as if he was looking over a piece of fruit he once fancied, then changed his mind. I thought I couldn¡¯t get angrier. Wrong. His arrogance knew no bounds.

    ¡°I thought you were smarter than this, Ozora.¡± His forbidding demeanor and soft speech were scarier than angry yelling Fraser, but I was past caring about that. ¡°You ran away, and I didn¡¯t punish you for Skirmisher.¡± One thick finger jabbed at Taenya, then at me. ¡°You both deserved the ballista from my point of view.¡±

    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    ¡°Did you forget about one tiny detail?¡± I exploded. ¡°The Emperor? Invaded last night!¡±

    ¡°I believe I¡¯ve already said I¡¯m grateful for your help.¡± He nodded at Taenya and Cassyrra. ¡°But with our history, I figured you would just fly off. Consider us even. There was no need for any of this.¡± He waved his hand at his men and the dome enclosing him, as if to suggest we were to blame.

    ¡°This was the most important port of the Eastern Reaches and you¡¯ve let it turn into a shithole. You practically rang the dinner bell for the Crimson Birth. You don¡¯t get to pretend you aren¡¯t to blame here.¡± I had to say it. If he was ignoring how Hastrior¡¯s fall had led to this, I¡¯d rub his nose in it and make him see.

    This attack was his fault. He¡¯d weakened Hastrior, and the Emperor had struck. After we¡¯d settled in at the DeLange estate last night, I¡¯d had plenty of time to mull over our reunion and the current state of the city.

    I was back to mad at him and wanted to prod him into some sort of reaction.

    I got one, but I didn¡¯t like it. His dismissive sneer was insulting, a bare lift of one corner of his lip, but his bored tone was worse. As if our history were of no more importance than his breakfast last month.

    ¡°Little mage, we had fun, and you were sweet, but you aren¡¯t as smart as you think. You let someone feed you lies, and you believed them. Lapped them up without even thinking to ask me if the rumors were true.¡±

    ¡°I saw everything. With my own eyes.¡± I flared. The calmer he was, the angrier I got.

    ¡°You. Sabotaged. My ship.¡± His words hit like rocks against my skin, accompanied by darts from his eyes, but I savored them. I¡¯d finally got to him and now I knew.

    He was still mad at me.

    Good. I¡¯d hate to be alone in that.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe I fell for such a monster!¡± Rage filled me, but I didn¡¯t shriek. I growled. From somewhere deep within, all that fury from discovering his betrayal rose.

    Not forgotten.

    Never would I forget those pens in his ship, fitted with sturdy upright beams for hammocks to hold the beasts. Hippocamps could survive out of the water. They had to breathe air just like us. The modifications to Skirmisher proved everything I¡¯d been told. I¡¯d planted the fireball spells as soon as I realized what the pens meant.

    Confronting him, I realized this fight had been brewing in me for five years. I thought it would go in a very different direction. The times I imagined seeing him again usually involved him groveling in apology for even thinking of harming the hippocamps.

    That¡¯s okay, I was ready. I knew I was in the right then, and I¡¯m still right today. I stopped him from raiding the hippocampus pods. That¡¯s what mattered.

    I just wasn¡¯t expecting him to say, ¡°You have no idea what you lost that day. Only what you think you took from me.¡±

    Anger I expected, and his implacable determination. Those were easy enough to see, even through his aloof exterior. I didn¡¯t expect the sadness, the regret that tinged his dismissive gaze for just a moment.

    It stopped my heart, and for that timeless moment, I questioned if I had done what was right, as I¡¯d told myself for so long. Doubt hit hard but was gone in an instant, when his pale blue eyes frosted over, once more cool and mocking.

    How dared he blame me? As if I was the one at fault?

    ¡°Well, this is going to be awkward.¡± Taenya¡¯s voice broke the climbing tension, and we each looked away. ¡°Because Cassyrra insists her first students must be you two. Along with me. Won¡¯t we all have fun together?¡±

    I¡¯d kinda forgot she was there. Fraser had filled my entire view.

    From behind the webbing of the dome, he shrugged. ¡°I told you this last night and I hate having to repeat myself. There is nothing you can say that will convince me to come learn some spells from your pet lizard. Add in her as a classmate?¡± He flicked his fingers where they peeked out under his crossed arms like he was tossing away trash. ¡°Not happening.¡±

    Taenya laughed and Cassyrra rumbled and shook her head.

    ¡°We do have our work cut out for us.¡± Taenya seemed unperturbed by Fraser¡¯s flat denial.

    ¡°But you are right about one thing. I¡¯m not going to convince you at all. You¡¯ll decide that all on your own.¡±

    Fraser could look furious, he could look intimidating, but now he just looked confused. ¡°I told you, nothing you say¡ª¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not what I¡¯m going to say.¡± Taenya cut him off. ¡°Like I told you last night, I¡¯m going to let someone else to do the convincing.¡±

    ¡°Like who?¡± He scoffed. ¡°I don¡¯t imagine they¡¯ll have anything more compelling to say than ¡®the Emperor¡¯s invading¡¯ and I don¡¯t really care much about that.¡±

    Taenya¡¯s grin widened, and she cackled. ¡°Can¡¯t wait for you to meet her. It¡¯ll just be a few more minutes.¡±

    The dragon had shifted position, so that she faced due east toward the sun climbing into the sky. Taenya watched her as if waiting for some signal. Fraser¡¯s closed expression and frown said he was done talking.

    The dragon uttered a low, resonant hum and raised one long-fingered forefoot. We all turned to face the massive beast. She sat on her haunches so she could raise her other forefoot, spreading her wings for balance.

    ¡°Cassyrra expected your little trick.¡± Taenya said, keeping her gaze riveted on her dragon. "We were warned, but it was easy enough to guess that you would try something," Taenya said casually while keeping her gaze fixed on her dragon. ¡°She figured you¡¯d take a shot at us.¡± Fraser¡¯s brows raised and his eyes widened, but he said nothing. Taenya nodded, then started walking toward her dragon. Over her shoulder, she called. ¡°You¡¯re about to meet the one who warned us of your treachery.¡±

    Cassyrra flicked her claws, then scythed them together. They made a snicking sound that chimed like metal on metal and sent bright violet sparks of numin outward in a spray.

    Instead of fading, the sparks swirled and grew, until a vertical whirlpool of numin spun, hanging in the open air above the grass. It twisted there for a few seconds, then snapped into a doorframe. Hazy purple energy billowed, contained within the bright violet borders, and obscuring the view of the field beyond.

    Taenya now stood at Cassyrra¡¯s shoulder and spoke a few sentences in a language I didn¡¯t recognize. Liquid and chirpy, it sounded like a cross between spoken word and birdsong. She finished speaking and clapped her hands, giving three sharp raps. The haze crackled and retreated to reveal a very different scene in the frame, one that did not belong in the grassy seaside field.

    It was the fanciest teleportal spell I¡¯d ever seen.

    Undulating waves of sand stretched as far as the eye could see under a sky bleached white with heat. Standing in the doorway was another beast out of legend.

    A sphinx.

    Her lovely human-ish face was tinted gold, and her short, tousled waves of hair glinted like spun golden floss.

    ¡°About time.¡± Of course, a sphinx would speak. That wasn¡¯t what made me flinch. It was her voice. I wish I could say it was musical, or lilting, but rather she sounded like a peevish teenager.

    Massive paws the size of a royal¡¯s dinner plate stepped through the teleportal frame, thudding softly as she walked from ¡­ wherever she was, to here. Numin sizzled against her tawny coat, a thin purple line that crackled along the length of her frame as she passed through.

    She was easily the size of a small horse.

    ¡°I told you so.¡± She said, sitting and facing all of us. She shook out gilded wings, flaring them wide before folding them again to her sides. Her head tilted, and she rolled her eyes. ¡°You waited, though. You got so close he shot at you.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Cleobah.¡± Taenya said, with exaggerated patience. ¡°We had to be sure, but you were right.¡±

    The sphinx chortled.

    ¡°Well, what¡¯s next? He¡¯s not so thrilled with our idea?¡± She tilted her head toward Fraser.

    Cassyrra huffed, her agreement rolled along with the gust of air that came with it.

    ¡°You¡¯re right. Again.¡± Taenya said. ¡°If you count your sarcasm as a prediction.¡± Her green gaze went stony. ¡°I think your exact words were ¡®they¡¯re gonna love it!¡¯ Yet this is about as far from ¡®loving it¡¯ as it gets.¡±

    ¡°You must not have heard me when I said, ¡®eventually.¡¯ They¡¯ll get there.¡± The sphinx radiated a confidence I couldn¡¯t understand.

    Sphinxes are immortal. One of the few truly immortal beings. I¡¯d run across a few mentions of actual encounters with them at the mage schools I¡¯d attended and they were considered rare, often deadly, like many magical creatures.

    They had a reputation for capriciousness, benevolent in one meeting, only to attack in another. The most fascinating theory I¡¯d read on this was that sphinx exist in all time streams and are the only creatures that can see and even walk from one to another with ease. My own instructors and authors of multiple bestiary textbooks theorized the creatures might be reacting to events in other realities that overlap with ours but are invisible to ordinary sight.

    Since Taenya addressed this one by name, and as a friend, I relaxed somewhat.

    Then those gorgeous golden eyes locked on mine.

    ¡°This one is more like it.¡± Satisfaction flowed from the sphinx with her purr in a palpable wave, the vibrations ticklish against my skin.

    I realized the sphinx¡¯s face was youthful, that she was not yet mature.

    No one had ever encountered a sphinx, male or female, that looked young. All the bestiary tomes I¡¯d read described them as mature or even old.

    ¡°Did you tell him about the school?¡±

    ¡°I told him Cassyrra had chosen him as a student. He didn¡¯t want to hear anything after that.¡±

    ¡°Did you tell him he¡¯ll have twice the numin he has now, permanently?¡±

    ¡°We didn¡¯t get to that part.¡±

    Now I needed to hear more. Twice the numin?

    Numin is the magical energy that fuels a mage¡¯s spells. Each mage¡¯s personal store of numin varies, and those who have a smaller pool are always looking to gain more.

    Some ways are less pleasant than others.

    Never had I heard of permanently increasing a mage¡¯s own inner numin pool. Everything I knew said it couldn¡¯t be done.

    ¡°Well then, let¡¯s see if that changes his mind.¡± The sphinx stepped up to Fraser, speaking as if to a small child. ¡°You¡¯re already using your numin with those hippocamps. How would you like an even closer bond and more numin to boost your spells?¡±

    All I heard was ¡°hippocamps.¡±

    ¡°I knew it!¡± I hissed, pointing my finger and hoping my ire would hit him through the numinous shield surrounding him.

    ¡°You know nothing, little girl.¡± The sphinx chuckled, turning her luminous golden eyes to mine. It was jarring being called ¡°little girl¡± by a creature that looked to be five or six years younger than my twenty and five years. Even her lioness body was that of a rangy youngster. ¡°But you will. Both of you.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Fraser and I spoke in unison. I glared at him. He gave back as good as he got.

    Her leonine shoulders shook, her wings rustling as well.

    ¡°Oh come on. I ca-an¡¯t tell you.¡± Singsong and annoying. It was jarring to see this powerful magical creature acting like a bratty teen, and stripped away much of the mystique. She tilted her head, studying Fraser like he was a bug under glass. ¡°Taenya was supposed to tell you about it.¡±

    ¡°We didn¡¯t get the chance.¡± Taenya said. ¡°You didn¡¯t give me the heads up about these two hating each other.¡±

    I turned my laugh into a cough. Cleobah broke off her examination of Fraser to slide a sly side-eye at me, then blinked at Taenya. ¡°Oops.¡±

    Taenya growled. ¡°Ozora, Fraser, meet Cleobah. She and Cassyrra are friends. This new mage school is their idea.¡±

 Chapter Six

    That first moment my eyes met my Bondmate¡¯s, it wasn¡¯t what you would think.

    I was frankly annoyed by her attitude.

    From the personal journal of Ozora

    Dean of Magics

    The Bestiary

    ****

    ¡°But apparently, we need to deal with this invasion first.¡± Taenya continued before Cleobah could interrupt. ¡°Would¡¯ve thought a creature that could peer through time might¡¯ve given me a heads up about that too.¡± She sounded bitter, and like she might have a reason.

    ¡°I said it wouldn¡¯t be easy.¡± The sphinx blinked, as if shocked Taenya had to ask. ¡°I said to keep your eyes to the west. If I remember right, and I always do, my exact words were ¡®watch for the setting sun to rise again.¡¯¡±

    ¡°I got that. I just thought we¡¯d have more time.¡± Taenya grumbled. We were all on edge. No one wanted to be here. ¡°Before we had to deal with the Emperor.¡± She added, to show she¡¯d understood the sphinx.

    ¡°It¡¯s like you didn¡¯t listen to me all those other times.¡± The sphinx rolled her eyes so far her neck circled along. ¡°I can only tell you about the future if I say it so that you don¡¯t understand. It only makes sense after you¡¯ve passed through it.¡± Cleobah¡¯s wide-eyed stare was pure innocence, but then her narrow lips quirked in a tiny smirk. ¡°Unless you¡¯re very, very clever.¡±

    Taenya¡¯s mouth opened to protest, but Cleobah finished before she could speak.

    ¡°I don¡¯t even know what I¡¯m going to say before I say it. You asked, I answered. I helped you as much as I could. More than any other seeker. It¡¯s not my fault you didn¡¯t recognize it.¡±

    Taenya sputtered. ¡°You didn¡¯t even try to give me any extra help.¡±

    ¡°Did.¡± Cleobah countered, sounding smug. ¡°When I told you to get her first.¡± She jerked her narrow chin at me. ¡°That wasn¡¯t even part of your question. I gave you that out of the goodness of my heart.¡± Here she grimaced and added. ¡°It hurt too.¡± Her golden expression crumpled, lids screwed tight as she remembered some past pain, but from what I couldn¡¯t tell.

    Taenya gritted her teeth. ¡°You said, ¡®You won¡¯t sway the one in Hastrior without the one from Emberglen.¡¯ How in the goddess''s name am I supposed to glean ¡®invasion¡¯ from that?¡±

    The sphinx drooped her head between her shoulders and front legs. A heavy sigh lifted her wings.

    ¡°After that. What did I say after that?¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t¡ª¡± She cut herself off, eyes narrowing and lips pursing. ¡°That I should hurry or I might be late.¡± Taenya admitted. ¡°Still doesn¡¯t tell me about the Emperor invading.¡±

    ¡°Best I could do.¡± Cleobah¡¯s shrug and continued snarky responses seemed to annoy Taenya. So said the hard glint in her eyes and the extra tightness to her jaw. ¡°It got you to the spot where you¡¯d see their first landing.¡± I staggered as the horse-sized sphinx nudged my shoulder with her wing. ¡°This one is lucky. You almost were too late. That elf had her. The concussion from the ship exploding was a lucky break. For her.¡± Her chuckle had a wicked chime to it. ¡°Not so much, the elf.¡±

    ¡°But they are coming back?¡±

    ¡°Most assuredly.¡±

    ¡°How soon?¡± Taenya emphasized.

    Cleobah laughed again. I¡¯d never have guessed a sphinx would be so ¡­ merry. She had the air of one genuinely enjoying herself. None of the texts ever hinted a sphinx had a sense of humor.

    ¡°Soon enough that you¡¯ll need more than just these two. If they can mend their differences.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t pick anyone else?¡± The words burst from Fraser, as if the pressure in him built to the point it was uncontainable. I wasn¡¯t sure if he meant me or him.

    ¡°Nooooo.¡± The sphinx assured him. ¡°It¡¯s all of you, or none of you.¡±

    Cassyrra rumbled. Taenya nodded. Fraser scrubbed his face with his hands, as if to wipe away what the sphinx implied. When he dropped them, he¡¯d regained his distant demeanor, now with extra skepticism in his icy expression.

    ¡°The words of another magical beastie?¡± Fraser¡¯s chuckle was bitter. ¡°Is that the best you¡¯ve got?¡±

    ¡°Oh no, pirate.¡± Cleobah was definitely purring. ¡°It¡¯s not my best.¡±

    ¡°Privateer.¡± Fraser growled through a locked jaw.

    ¡°Whatever.¡± Cleobah dismissed his correction. ¡°Since you need to hear something convincing.¡±

    Golden lids slipped over golden eyes. The lioness woman lifted her chin and half sang, half spoke.

    Never again to question.

    Never again to doubt.

    Your heart¡¯s desire.

    Achieved.

    A wave of numin rolled outward, following the rising and falling of the beast¡¯s singing. It tingled as it passed me. With my magesight, I saw it wrap around Fraser like a glowing golden cloud before sinking into his form. The magical energy seemed to have dissipated, leaving a faint glitter that lingered on his skin and clothes.

    The last notes rolled over us before fading as the sphinx blinked, opening her eyes. Slitted pupils widened, making her eyes seem black for a moment before they refocused on Fraser. Her slim lips twitched upward at their corners.

    ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± She seemed quite pleased with herself.

    Fraser snorted. ¡°For what?¡±

    ¡°I answered your question.¡± Cleobah told him, as if it were obvious.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t ask you anything.¡± His eyes went from hard to confused.

    ¡°No, but your soul did.¡± She answered. ¡°It¡¯s been screaming since I got here.¡±

    ¡°What was the numin?¡± I asked.

    ¡°You saw that?¡± The sphinx¡¯s dark amber brows arched. ¡°Of course you did.¡± Her golden eyes warmed.

    My brows peaked too, wondering what she meant.

    ¡°You cast on me?¡± Fraser demanded.

    ¡°No.¡± Cleobah retorted. ¡°Your question called to my numin. I cast nothing.¡±

    Taenya and I traded looks. Cleobah chortled, as if this were all just too amusing.

    ¡°Okay, okay.¡± She slid her gaze over to Taenya and asked. ¡°You really didn¡¯t tell them anything.¡± The dragonrider pursed her lips and shook her head.

    ¡°Guess I better back up.¡± Cleobah seemed like she was talking to herself, muttering under her breath. ¡°They know nothing of sphinx¡¯s prognostication. Or it¡¯s costs.¡± Her face appeared to age, in a flicker becoming a mature, then elderly woman. In the next breath, she was again youthful, wrinkles melting away like an illusion. I shot a quick, questioning look at Taenya, wondering if she¡¯d seen the transformation. She gave a brief bob of her head but seemed unconcerned.

    Stolen novel; please report.

    ¡°Here¡¯s the thing.¡± Cleobah tapped her paw in emphasis, causing little puffs of dust to burst upward. ¡°If you ask me a question that has to do with the future, I¡¯ll always answer honestly, but I don¡¯t have control over what I say. I also don¡¯t always answer what you ask me directly, but what your soul needs to know. Since I don¡¯t have control over what I say, and most folks don¡¯t ask what their soul needs but what their ego demands, well, is it any wonder you have trouble understanding it?¡±

    Fraser now looked puzzled, as if he was struggling to decipher Cleobah¡¯s answer. I couldn¡¯t blame him. I hadn¡¯t been able to quite follow the sphinx¡¯s contorted response of magical and spiritual concepts.

    Cleobah didn¡¯t seem to notice. ¡°That¡¯s why most don¡¯t get it till they¡¯ve already gone through it, and it¡¯s in their past.¡± She added, as if that clarified things.

    Now I understood why the passages I¡¯d read about sphinx called them ¡°capricious¡± and ¡°nigh incomprehensible.¡±

    ¡°Lucky for you, I can tell you anything about the past or the immediate present. So let me give you something easy¡­¡± She rose and paced for a moment, fluffing her wings as she strode back and forth. ¡°Give me a moment. There¡¯s so much to choose from.¡±

    I had to agree with her.

    ¡°Ozora saw the holding pens in the Skirmisher.¡± Did not expect her to say that. Or the rest.

    ¡°She had every reason to believe you were transporting and selling hippocamps because she saw that¡¯s exactly what you were set up to do.¡± I nodded in agreement. This creature was right, but how was she right? There was more. ¡°She never would have torched your ship if you had shared your plans with her sooner. That sunset sailing you dreamed of would¡¯ve been your fate.¡±

    That last bit was wrong. There was no scenario where I would forgive him, let alone sail away with him. Fraser¡¯s coppery face went slack, but he recovered fast, stiffening his features and voice with scorn. ¡°So?¡±

    Cleobah nudged me again as she paced past, sending me a couple steps toward Fraser. ¡°Tell her.¡± Resuming her seat facing all three of us, she slid her glance between him and me, as if waiting to see our reaction.

    I was confused. How would telling me his plans change my mind? What sunset sailing? What was the sphinx talking about? Then the memory rose from our past and slapped me.

    I¡¯d never forget his shattered expression when I set off the fireball spells planted in Skirmisher, but I¡¯d buried it deep. Cleobah¡¯s words dredged it back up in my memory.

    He¡¯d professed his love as the sun was slipping toward the sea. I¡¯d laughed in his face as my explosions boomed and surging waves rushed outward from Skirmisher¡¯s hull.

    The betrayal on Fraser¡¯s face when he realized what I¡¯d done nearly destroyed me and, for half a moment, I¡¯d wanted to beg his forgiveness.

    But I didn¡¯t. He just stood there and watched me run away as flames leapt from the hatches of his dying ship. I didn¡¯t expect the hurt in his eyes would cut so deep.

    I never should¡¯ve looked back.

    ¡°Might help if you two had an actual conversation about what happened that night.¡± Cleobah¡¯s dry comment jerked me back to the present. I avoided Fraser¡¯s gaze. There was an uncomfortable jiggle in my belly that might have been regret.

    ¡°Can we at least talk this over?¡± Taenya sounded very much like an exhausted parent. ¡°As we all just learned, we don¡¯t have a whole lot of time.¡± She flipped a quick, stabbing glare at Cleobah. ¡°So if you two can both kiss and make up? Shake hands, spit in the dirt, whatever it takes?¡± Her emerald gaze swept Fraser, a jumble of regret and rage. ¡°Otherwise you¡¯re going to lose a lot more than your hippocamps. They¡¯ll only be the start.¡±

    Silence followed Taenya¡¯s dire pronouncement, rippling outward in large, heavy waves, like a boulder dropped into a lake. Fraser broke it, groaning and running his hands through his hair, then scrubbing at his scruff of a beard. ¡°Will you release my men?¡± He asked.

    Cassyrra growled, making the air vibrate. Her tongue dragged across teeth like short swords, making a wet, scraping sound I¡¯ll not soon forget. Taenya glanced between the dragon and Cleobah, who gave a slight nod.

    ¡°She¡¯s faster than you think.¡± Taenya reminded him. ¡°Don¡¯t get any funny ideas.¡±

    His aquamarine gaze was sharp enough to slice, but he nodded agreement.

    The numinous netting dissolved around everyone.

    ¡°Steady men. Set the bolt down.¡± Fraser commanded as the crew jumped, seeing that the dragon was on the ground and we¡¯d added a sphinx. He dismissed them and they scampered off.

    Listen, no one is brave when a dragon is staring at you like you¡¯re a snack and lets a few licks of bright blue flame play around her scaly lips.

    Fraser didn¡¯t budge. ¡°Satisfied?¡±

    ¡°For now.¡± Cleobah said.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting so many. There might not be enough.¡± He answered. ¡°We¡¯ll also need a bigger table. I¡¯ll go arrange it.¡± He added, turning on his heel to stride to the largest, open-sided tent.

    ¡°You cocky bastard. You never intended to talk with us.¡± I shouted at his back.

    ¡°Nope. I thought the ballista would take care of my problems.¡± He yelled over his shoulder, giving Cassyrra a wide berth. I flashed him a rude gestured he didn¡¯t see because he turned and disappeared behind the cook¡¯s tent.

    ¡°Not helping, my dear. You should remember who gave you the information that led you to fireball his ship.¡± Cleobah murmured. She moved with surprising stealth for a creature her size and stood near my elbow now.

    Ignoring the sphinx, I grabbed Taenya¡¯s arm, holding her in place as she turned to follow.

    ¡°That man cannot be trusted.¡± I said. Urgently, quietly. ¡°He just tried to kill Cassyrra and now you¡¯re going to sit and eat with him?¡± Shock crept in, raising my voice.

    ¡°How is trust lost or gained?¡± Cleobah asked.

    Her question startled me, and I half spun toward the sphinx. She angled her head to meet my eyes. ¡°Do you know it so well?¡±

    ¡°She does that.¡± Taenya said, jerking her chin toward Cleobah. ¡°Random non sequitur questions or statements. Sort of her thing. Kinda looks really old for a second at times, too.¡± Detaching my hand from her arm, she added. ¡°Believe me, trust is the last thing Fraser Connell gets from me. But I trust Cassyrra.¡±

    Just saying her name changed Taenya¡¯s whole being, and she softened, gaze resting on the dragon.

    Truly, seeing her in the bright light of day only drove home her magnificence.

    Last night, Cassyrra was deep and velvety, blending into the darkness. Today, when the sunlight struck her scaled and armored hide, I saw she was in fact a purplish blue, but so dark it bordered on black. Golden rays slid over her massive form, sparking iridescent rainbows and more. The bright light revealed a subtle pattern flowing over her flanks and shoulders in muted sapphire and violet. Whorls and lines, slashes, and splashes of color painted a lovely but barely visible tapestry across the vast mural of her frame. Across the translucent sky-blue expanse of her wings, this pattern flipped to inky indigo.

    Nothing I¡¯d ever read about dragons came close to reality. Were they all incredible beauty and vast intelligence in a massive, deadly form?

    ¡°And Cassyrra trusts Cleobah.¡± Taenya interrupted my musing. There was a softness in her gaze that seemed to say she understood how I felt being this close to such a powerful creature..

    ¡°And Cleobah says, let¡¯s go.¡± The sphinx swished her tail and walked away, breaking the moment, and reminding me we were here to convince Fraser to help us.

    ¡°Listen, I honestly do not want to do that.¡± It seemed like my feet were sealed to the ground, unable to take another step. I wanted to argue more, to stop us from allying with the man I¡¯d broken my heart over. There had to be some way to convey how bad this idea was. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you meant by calling me your apprentice, but I¡¯m interested. Yes. I just don¡¯t think I can stand being around that man.¡±

    Taenya rubbed her eyes, as if trying to wipe away things she¡¯d seen. ¡°It¡¯s not like this is easy for me, either.¡± Her words struggled to reach my ear. She dropped her hands, her emerald eyes hard as stone. ¡°I absolutely wanted to kill that man, but I have Cassyrra in my head telling me I need to look past his dubious history.¡± Cassyrra uttered a sharp chirrup. Taenya snorted and wrinkled her nose. ¡°That I still need to hear his side, she says. As if knowing why he killed my Prince matters.¡± She shook her head, and her expression stilled.

    ¡°The Bond is not always a joy. Remember, I told you first.¡± She bent her head toward mine and I still had to strain to catch the words. Her breath hissed to silence as she jerked her shoulders upright and spun in the direction Fraser had disappeared, as if she regretted those quiet words. Tilting her head and gesturing with one hand, Taenya indicated we should join him.

    ¡°What Bond?¡± I asked as I fell into step with her. She¡¯d made it sound like more than just a simple joining.

    ¡°That¡¯s what we all need to talk about,¡± was her unhelpful reply.

    Cassyrra had reclined on the grass near the biggest tent. Her accompanying sigh pushed the long blades outward in a ripple. I noticed she¡¯d placed her head close to where Fraser had settled in a carved and padded chair at a table.

    Set for one.

    That asshole. I fumed, washing away any regret with the heat. He¡¯d actually not expected us to survive. I was right about him no matter what Taenya said. Vile, untrustworthy piece of filth. There¡¯s a reason mercenaries are hated and feared, and Fraser Connell evidently relished living up to the dire reputation.

    The sharp words that rose to my lips to complain about the seating died as several folks came scurrying into the tent, carrying a bigger table and more chairs. Cleobah reclined on a double layer of thick rugs, her hips to one side and forelegs stretched out. I half expected her to purr like a cat in front of a fire. She slow-blinked as I ducked under the rolled up side and strode across the rugs that covered the ground under the tent to the table. The thought of spending time around Fraser churned my stomach, but I wanted what Taenya and Cassyrra were offering, so I pulled out a chair and sat.

    ¡°None of you expected to be here.¡± Cleobah said. ¡°You also don¡¯t believe me. It¡¯s okay.¡±

    She crossed her forepaws and looked at each of us before focusing on Fraser. ¡°Let¡¯s get this out of the way.¡± A grin spread across her golden lips from ear to ear. ¡°No mages you have can overcome that thousand-year-old dragon mage.¡± She lifted one plate-sized paw and waved it at the dragon, who - I swear this by all my Qarrai ancestors - grinned back. ¡°You have no weapon that can cross the forcewall shielding she¡¯s cast. Don¡¯t even bother.¡±

    Fraser¡¯s copper skin paled to a faded tan and his tapping finger stilled.

    With those short sentences, Cleobah brightened my whole day by ruining Fraser Connell¡¯s.

    ¡°We¡¯re all going to have a cozy chat.¡± The smile on her gleaming face outshone the sun. ¡°Without any untoward interruptions.¡±

 Chapter Seven

    I was broken after Ozora and Skirmisher. I didn¡¯t save those hippocamps; they saved me. Healed me. As they had before when mother died, and I lost myself in work at Uncle Luvon¡¯s ranch.

    They were a safe haven. I owe them my life, and I will do anything to protect them.

    Captain¡¯s Log, Mayhem

    Captain Fraser Connell

    ****

    I stomped away after shouting that I assumed the ballista would solve my problems. I needed to get away from those two women in front of me right now.

    Before I did something I¡¯d regret. Or get me cooked well done.

    Those crazy bitches smoked too much blissflower. It was the only explanation that made sense. Easy enough to dismiss the sphinx¡¯s mystical mutterings and nonsensical poem. I just couldn¡¯t wrap my head around what she said about Ozora and the hippocamps.

    There¡¯s no reason for that overgrown cat-girl to know I¡¯d pictured that sunset sail, dreamed of Ozora and me together.

    Except she nailed it.

    I paced between the tents, lost in my thoughts of years ago.

    That night. On the deck of Skirmisher watching it go up in flames, I was afraid if I caught Ozora I¡¯d either kill her or beg her to stay. To explain.

    Why? Why destroy what we had?

    I¡¯d been told she torched Skirmisher over gossip I¡¯d cheated. Told by someone I trusted.

    Why now is she yelling about hippocamp mares?

    ¡°It didn¡¯t make sense five years ago. Why should it make sense now?¡± I muttered.

    ¡°Sir?¡± One of the cook¡¯s helpers paused, and I asked him to bring a bigger table and chairs.

    He hurried away. I wanted to do the same, but it wouldn¡¯t get rid of the four troublesome females.

    I wanted to punch or stab something.

    Never. Ever. Did I ever imagine I¡¯d have a smart-ass sphinx and a dragon ¡ª

    A frikkin dragon! Show up with only the two people to try to kill me and live to tell of it.

    Although if I¡¯m being honest, I let them get away.

    I did. I let Taenya go because I didn¡¯t have the will to chase her down at the time. I let Ozora go because I didn¡¯t trust myself.

    And it doesn¡¯t matter how many times I tell myself, ¡°we were only together a couple months,¡± or ¡°don¡¯t let her get under your skin.¡±

    Fucking plenty of other women since Ozora didn¡¯t ease the impact of seeing her again.

    I twisted the heel of my boot on the carpet under the table. They¡¯d laid out rugs from the keep under this tent. Grinding something helped funnel away some of the rage. Wish I could grind away the memory of her as readily.

    Along with the yearning.

    I¡¯d kept her from occupying my thoughts for a very long time. I¡¯d put her almost completely out of mind.

    Now, seeing her again. I wanted to scoop her up, beg her to explain even as I wanted to kick my own ass for even considering being such a fool again.

    Especially since this time, she came with a ton of baggage.

    Invading elves.

    Dragon.

    Sphinx.

    Mutiny instigator.

    That¡¯s not all. Did I fail to mention? Somehow, my trusted former second in command has let this once glorious city fall to shit.

    I knew I should¡¯ve stayed on my island. Should¡¯ve let the elves sail by and take the whole fucking Eastern Reaches.

    I wanted to, just ¡­ there were reasons. A bunch of them.

    How Taenya and Cleobah learned of them is a mystery, but calling me out about my hippocamps meant I had to listen.

    Hippocamps saved me. I¡¯d do anything to save them.

    I didn¡¯t care if the elves burned Hastrior, but it was obvious to anyone who knew history they wouldn¡¯t stop there. They¡¯d eventually find me and my crew on our little isle in the Vauxterel chain, and then we¡¯d all be dead. My crew are seasoned warriors, but against the Emperor¡¯s entire fleet? Not a chance, as we all found out last night.

    The Wars of the Sundering were millennia ago, and here in the East no one remembers them except as myth. They are unprepared, and if the Emperor ever got a foothold in Hastrior, it wouldn¡¯t be long before he once more ruled the world.

    My first instinct was to take Mayhem and set sail for anywhere but here. Find a place so far from the Empire of the West I¡¯d be dead long before they caught up with me. Taenya must be crazy to pit the three of us, plus a couple of magic critters against the Empire.

    Even if one of them is a dragon. Even if the oldest tales of the Sundering sing how it was the dragons that ensured the victory of the East over the Empire.

    I glanced over at said dragon, reclining next to the tent. I¡¯d never expected to be so close to one. As far as I heard, not one had been spotted in hundreds of years.

    It was terrifying and awe-inspiring. She, Cassyrra, met my gaze with the one eye facing me, glowing with her inner fire. The bright morning sun dimmed its brilliance to a pale lavender glow rimming her eyelids and glinting off her brow ridge.

    Her nostrils flared wide, from narrow slits to wide ovals a small child could¡¯ve crawled into. I stared, fascinated, as her scaled lid drooped in a slow blink and her cat-like pupil widened, then shrank. I sensed she was looking right at me.

    ++ Little man, you might consider letting go of all that anger. Remember where your true heart rests and be guided by that. ++

    The words flowed into my mind. Feminine. Soft but tempered with age so unfathomable I could only call it ancient. I hadn¡¯t been called ¡°little man¡± by anyone for a very long time. My mother was the last one. Realization and memory punched at my heart.

    All those visions of mother rose to overtake me. Right now, her sad, pale face overwhelmed my sight as she whispered, ¡°Goodbye, my little man. Be good for your uncle and aunt.¡±

    I shoved the image away and glared at the dragon who only slow blinked back at me, unimpressed.

    Twice now, the colossal beast had dropped her thoughts into mine. It was a special kind of invasion, into that most private of spaces. I had no idea how to stop it except to get her to leave. Take all the others too.

    ¡°Best get used to hearing her.¡± The sphinx was definitely getting on my nerves. She had all the charm of a petulant teenager. Seeing her reclined on the thick, double-layered rugs, striking a pose like a carved statue of her likeness, startled a chuckle out of me.

    After all the wild twists my life has taken in the last couple days, all I had left was bitter humor. Bleak laughter that I was forced into fight not of my choosing with these two mages as my allies.

    Talk about irony!

    It was supposed to be mine. The big stone fortress and everything in it. Mine and Ozora¡¯s. A dream gone up in flames that haunted me still. I¡¯d left the keep to Gordon when I left the city five years ago and expected to find him there. Instead, I found it in disarray and most of the staff fled.

    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    So many problems, it was a challenge to figure out where to start untangling them. I hesitated because no matter where I started, there was no avoiding Ozora and our past.

    The sphinx¡¯s word echoed again through my head.

    Never again to question.

    Never again to doubt.

    Your heart¡¯s desire.

    Achieved.

    I twisted them, looked at them from every angle and still couldn¡¯t come up with any idea what the gold lion-girl was talking about. My heart didn¡¯t have any questions, nor were my desires unfulfilled. Not anymore.

    Typical mystical mumbo jumbo. Magic and numin are real enough. I use them every day. But I¡¯ve also seen my share of psychics who claim to predict the future only to give you vague pronouncements that you can later make fit for anything.

    I had no need for sphinxes or their prophecies. I make my own path in life and definitely don¡¯t base it on random statements by a creature I¡¯ve just met, no matter what their reputation.

    ¡°Not random.¡± The talking lioness interrupted my thoughts. ¡°Time streams flow in very specific patterns. I see them, read them, walk through them. I see everything.¡± With those last words, her voice crackled, as if it came from a much older woman. For those few seconds, the young girl¡¯s face became that of an aged crone. It lasted for only those couple of breaths before she was once more youthful, with a sly look in her golden eyes. ¡°Ask me something. You know you want to.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± I was bored, waiting on Taenya and Ozora, so the sphinx¡¯s teasing lured me in. ¡°Why tell anyone anything, and why make it next to impossible to be of any help?¡±

    ¡°I know.¡± She sighed, sounding now like a disappointed child. ¡°It bugs me too. I try, I really do, but the words still come out obscure.¡± Oddly enough, I believed her.

    ¡°What about my past?¡± I asked. ¡°Want to tell me where I messed up with Ozora?¡±

    Dear Gahan, why did I let that slip out?

    Wide golden eyes fastened onto mine as if they¡¯d never let go. I¡¯d always laughed at the idea of someone looking into your soul, but that¡¯s indeed what Cleobah did. It was as if her gaze poured through me, following little tracks and trails, finding all my past misdeeds and adventures.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t you. It was her.¡± Her leonine shoulders and wings lifted and settled in a shrug.

    At that moment, Taenya walked in, followed by Ozora.

    ¡°So we¡¯re all going to eat while you try to convince me to join your merry band?¡± I spread my hands in exaggerated welcome. ¡°After I tried to kill you?¡±

    No, I don¡¯t regret it. Yes, a part of me kinda wishes the bolt had struck. Things would be so much easier without her back here. Just hearing Ozora¡¯s voice again twisted something deep in my gut. Something that had never let go of her. Like how I couldn¡¯t forget the sound of her breath in the early morning. The way the sun glanced over her dark lashes and darker hair.

    Her brown eyes darkened to almost black when she saw me looking her over. I couldn¡¯t help it. She still looked the same. Suddenly I was again that younger me, desperately in love and shattered, hearing her last hateful words.

    Taenya¡¯s voice yanked me out of memory.

    ¡°Considering all our history.¡± She emphasized the word that linked us together. ¡°I¡¯d say now we¡¯re even.¡± As she sat, Taenya added. ¡°Maybe we try starting from scratch?¡±

    Realizing I¡¯d practically dug a hole in the already threadbare carpet with my heel, I kicked back, propping my feet instead up on the table.

    ¡°You must be truly desperate if you¡¯ve come here to beg for my help.¡±

    ****

    FIVE YEARS AGO¡­

    ¡°Get your hands off me, you ass!¡± My first clue she wasn¡¯t throwing herself at the famous privateer Fraser Connell. Jolts of lightning swiftly followed her barked command. Vivid blue slashes leapt from her fingers to my arms.

    I released her and jumped back, stumbling, and almost tripping.

    ¡°Great Gahan!¡± I cursed. ¡°What did you do that for?¡± I shook my hands, trying to shake off the effects of the mage blast. It didn¡¯t work. Painful tingling spread from where the bolts had struck.

    ¡°Decent people offer to help when someone trips, not take the opportunity for a free feel.¡± She snapped, flipping me a universal signal I was number one. Numin rippled, and she stepped sideways through a teleportal that opened to her right and vanished.

    A spicy new mage in town? The bustle of the surrounding bazaar never slacked, even though I stood there, unmoving.

    ¡°Everything okay, sir?¡± Jared, one of my guards, asked. He was part of my crew, and ever since the DeLange¡¯s failed attempt at mutiny, Gordon insisted I take two guards with me in the city.

    ¡°You saw that mage?¡± I asked him. When he nodded confirmation, I added. ¡°Find where she¡¯s staying, would you?¡±

    Jared¡¯s expression didn¡¯t flicker. He nodded again, and said, ¡°yes, sir.¡± Only his eyes held a glint of laughter.

    She had to be new. I¡¯d have known if a mage of her talent was already here. I¡¯d been looking.

    A teleportal spell cast that rapidly after she blasted me meant she was skilled and powerful.

    She was right, I was an ass, and now I had to convince her to help me.

    Gahan, god of the waves, must¡¯ve been favoring me after all, shoving the mage I need into my path. My arms still burned and tingled from shoulders to fingertips, but I grinned. Today was my lucky day.

    None of Hastrior¡¯s local mages could craft the air amulets I sought for my crew. They were one of the last pieces needed for Skirmisher¡¯s next mission. I had to find this new mage. She was my best hope to launching the rescue mission I¡¯d been planning.

    Even if it meant finding out by making her use her spells against me.

    Remembering how it felt to hold her, even momentarily, made my breeches tighten.

    I needed to find her.

    It didn¡¯t take too long.

    ¡°Come to Hastrior for business.¡± Jared reported the next day, handing me the slip of paper with the address of her hotel. A few days later, I sat at an outdoor table of a caf¨¦ across from her hotel. She routinely had breakfast here before moving on to the bazaar. She liked to get there early, setting up in her spot under a large shady tree.

    This was her favorite table in the caf¨¦. The one she liked to sit at while she sipped and nibbled as she read her book.

    The rattling wheels of her little cart squeaked to a halt behind me. ¡°You don¡¯t have to apologize in person for groping me. Staying away would¡¯ve been enough.¡±

    I stood and turned to look her up and down. She lifted one dark eyebrow, her brown eyes gone black.

    ¡°How could I?¡± I asked. ¡°When you are so exactly what I need.¡±

    I layered on the seductive vibes, and I¡¯m certain my desire showed in my gaze. Since she was so clearly expecting me to be sleazy, I gave her what she wanted. She snorted and crossed her arms, her expression daring me. ¡°Is that so?¡± she asked, her tone light but somehow more dangerous. ¡°What sort of need do you feel I can satisfy?¡±

    ¡°A mage.¡± I told her, melting away the innuendo. ¡°I need a mage and none here have anything like your ability.¡±

    Her defiant expression crumpled into confusion. Maybe a little regret? At least I hoped that¡¯s what I saw.

    ¡°I need air amulets to protect my crew if they fall overboard or get snared by wild sirens. No one in Hastrior has the skill.¡±

    The wariness didn¡¯t leave her eyes, but interest sparked.

    ¡°Those aren¡¯t easy. Sylphs and sprites are fickle, and I need one for each amulet. How many?¡±

    ¡°One hundred.¡± I said. ¡°To start.¡±

    I saw her swallow. Her lovely eyes darted over me, taking in my clothes, my weapons.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± She blurted into the awkward silence. It filled the space behind her unsubtle assessment of me.

    ¡°Fraser Connell. At your service.¡± I sketched a bow worthy of a king¡¯s court.

    Since I returned to the world above the waves, since I took over Skirmisher, I¡¯ve never been so pleased to see a woman look so shocked at learning my identity.

    ¡°The pirate captain?¡± Her deep brown eyes lit with golden sparks of wonder and her jaw slacked. I grinned. She¡¯d probably heard plenty of rumors.

    ¡°Privateer.¡± I corrected her. ¡°I¡¯m paid to hunt pirates, among other things.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the one who killed the Prince?¡±

    ¡°Never listen to rumors.¡± I sidestepped her question. Her brow twitched and lips pursed, but she didn¡¯t press.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t stalking lowly Journeyfolk below such a lofty person as yourself? Don¡¯t you have important city governance to see to?¡± This mage was no stranger to verbal sparring, she deflected and sidestepped with matching skill.

    ¡°After we settle on your price for the amulets. What will you need?¡± Banter was fun, but I was ready to sit and eat.

    ¡°You¡¯re serious.¡± Her head tilted, to look deeper into my eyes. She was nearly a foot shorter than me and it was a stretch for her. She even rose up on her toes, expression intent.

    ¡°I never joke about my crew¡¯s safety.¡±

    ¡°A most considerate pirate.¡± She coughed, and stepped back as if realizing how close she¡¯d come. ¡°Excuse me, privateer.¡± She widened those glittering eyes with exaggerated emphasis.

    Even her sarcastic correction was adorable. ¡°It¡¯s an important distinction, but I might be a prince now, since the job is open.¡±

    ¡°Privateers get the standard rate. Princes pay triple.¡±

    ¡°If I¡¯m paying that much, I¡¯ll expect your undivided attention.¡±

    Her face blanked of expression in shock, as if she didn¡¯t expect my answer, but she caught up hastily and didn¡¯t hide the calculation in her smile.

    It undid me, even though she was obviously about to ask for something outrageous.

    ¡°If you¡¯re serious, you can buy me breakfast and tell me the rest.¡±

    Absolutely.

    I have no idea why she caused such an immediate fascination. She wasn¡¯t beautiful. Not in the classic, sculpted, high fashion sense.

    Yet, she was stunning.

    It was the light that shone from her, a glow that made her irresistible. She couldn¡¯t have been ignorant of my attraction, she just was not reacting. It made me want to break down those walls she had flung up, hiding behind a business-like mask.

    All her wariness returned, dimming her glow. I cleared my throat and said, ¡°That¡¯s what I was hoping you¡¯d say.¡± I pulled the chair out for her. Now it was her turn to look me up and down, curiosity breaking through her suspicion.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to treat you like you¡¯re a respectable businessman and this is a legitimate contract.¡± She maneuvered her cart of wares and supplies off to the side and sat in the chair I held.

    ¡°Naturally.¡± Easy enough to agree to. ¡°That¡¯s what this is.¡± I assured her as I sat back down.

    ¡°Prove otherwise¡ª¡± She raised both hands and made grabby motions. ¡°¡ªand I will turn you into starling.¡± She leaned across the table to emphasize her point. ¡°And leave you that way.¡±

    My laugh burst out, but at her wide-eyed, serious stare, it cut off.

    ¡°I¡¯m duly chastened, Lady¡­?¡± I paused, waiting for her to fill in the blank.

    ¡°Ozora.¡± She sat back, folded her hands in her lap, and corrected me. ¡°I¡¯m not titled, nor do Journeyfolk mages use them.¡±

    ¡°Why a starling?¡± My curiosity prompted me to ask.

    ¡°Did you know starlings are excellent mimics? I had an auntie who nursed one with a broken wing. Little Speckles learned to repeat certain things auntie said, even his name.¡± I blinked in confusion at her non-answer. Ozora¡¯s lips curved with satisfaction before turning up in a broader smile to the server who¡¯d approached our table. ¡°Good morning, Raven, how are you?¡±

    They exchanged quick chit-chat while Ozora ordered a sumptuous breakfast.

    ¡°Were you going to answer my question?¡± At least that¡¯s what I tried to ask after placing my order, only to have her cut me off before I got past the first syllable.

    ¡°Because then, just like Speckles, you could tell everyone who you were and have to eat bugs.¡± That was unquestionably a challenge in her sweet expression and sparkling eyes.

    ¡°Very specific.¡± I nodded, impressed.

    She shrugged. ¡°People think because I travel alone, I must be an easy target.¡±

    ¡°How many starlings would recognize you, Ozora?¡±

    The see-sawing motion she made with one hand seemed to belie her cheery, ¡°Not too many.¡±

    Bright, merry, and genuine, yet if I were to retrace her travels somehow, I was sure I¡¯d hear a few starlings call her name.

    Most mages of her caliber were pampered creatures with wealthy patrons. Why she was still Journeying, I didn¡¯t care.

    She was here now, and I had to have her.

 Chapter Eight

    Now it all fucking makes sense. Why he needed so many air amulets for his crew. So they wouldn¡¯t drown rounding up the hippocamp mares.

    He¡¯s betraying his nereid family by selling those beautiful creatures!

    I don¡¯t know how I ever let him touch me!

    From the personal journal of Ozora

    Dean of Magic

    The Bestiary

    ****

    ¡°All the Eastern Reaches are desperate, they just don¡¯t know it yet.¡± Taenya leaned forward, bracing her forearms on the table. ¡°We don¡¯t have time for you to hear all the scary shit Cleobah has told me. And that¡¯s just what she can tell me.¡± Her sharp emerald gaze could¡¯ve cut stone. ¡°We need you and your hippocamps right now, and believe me, Cleobah has looked at every timeline. This is the only one that has a hope of success.¡±

    ¡°You are talking to the wrong guy.¡± Fraser scraped his black leather boots on the table, leaning away from Taenya¡¯s intensity. ¡°I¡¯m not a hero. Not unless you pay me. And my hippocamps are not for hire.¡±

    It seemed like the world tilted underneath me, even though the padded wooden chair I sat on stayed level. Taenya and Fraser¡¯s tense exchange rattled through me, echoing in my head, drowning out everything else.

    Hippocamps and Fraser?

    I¡¯d heard plenty about hippocamps from Fraser¡¯s trusted friend and second in command, Gordon Derryngton. He¡¯d come to me, knowing my interest in the beautiful half equine, half piscine beasts. What we uncovered horrified me to this day. He was a true friend, letting me ugly cry on his shoulder when we discovered Fraser''s plans to capture and sell stolen hippocamps.

    As I pondered over Gordon and our investigation, Cleobah''s statement reminded me to consider the source of my information..

    Why did I believe him all those years ago? The notion struck abruptly, one I¡¯d never considered. I trusted him because Fraser trusted him, but something that had never occurred to me before rose, reminded me.

    Everything I learned about Fraser and hippocamps came from Gordon. Every lead we followed. Every seedy bar we sat in to meet up with informants. Gordon discovered and arranged it all. I followed the path he led because everything seemed so clear.

    All the terrible things he whispered back were so easy to accept, coming as they did from such a trusted source, not to mention what we discovered together. No one knew Fraser better. Seeing the pens in the Skirmisher only solidified that those awful accusations were true.

    Back then, I¡¯d been so sure and I¡¯d never questioned my decision in the intervening years. Not once.

    Based not only on what Gordon had shown me, but also on what I saw and heard with my own eyes, the evidence was clear.

    Fraser was going to round up hippocamps and sell them. I couldn¡¯t allow that.

    Could not allow him to commit such a despicable crime.

    Gordon also helped confirm what I suspected from the start. Fraser and I were never meant to be.

    ¡°The very last thing I need right now is some magical beastie giving me cryptic advice.¡± Fraser rose, pulling me from my reverie.

    Taenya and Cleobah scowled, and Cassyrra lifted her head.

    ¡°This was all a mistake. I am not a mage, and this is not my city.¡± Fraser punctuated each point by stabbing his forefinger on the table with quick staccato, finishing with a dismissive wave. ¡°I will solve all your problems. Take down you shield and I will go. Now.¡± He cast one last scornful glance over to me before adding. ¡°Do what you will with Hastrior. Good luck against the Emperor.¡±

    ¡°Gonna steal another ship?¡± Taenya tilted her head.

    He shoved his chair back so violently it toppled. ¡°Damn right I will.¡±

    His back was rigid as his mainmast as he marched away.

    ¡°I must¡¯ve missed something.¡± I muttered. Taenya flashed her eyes at me before closing them, her jaw working.

    ¡°He is an arrogant ass.¡± She growled. ¡°But he can¡¯t leave.¡±

    ¡°You know, high elves consider hippocamps a delicacy.¡± Cleobah called to his wide back as he crossed into the bright sunlight from the tent¡¯s shadow.

    That paused him.

    Birdsong and the breeze through the grasses filled the silence behind the Cleobah¡¯s words.

    ¡°What high elves?¡± Contempt dripped from him. ¡°They only ones I saw are at the bottom of the sea now.¡± He turned his head just enough to send those tight words back at us over his shoulder, then jerked his chin at Cassyrra. ¡°Or burnt to a crisp.¡±

    Cleobah¡¯s feathers rustled as she rolled her shoulders and stretched her wings. ¡°You also know the Emperor will find that little island of yours with the first wave of his fleet. You¡¯ve already figured out he¡¯ll fill the Vauxterel Archipelago with ships before you can move all your horsey friends.¡±

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    His teal and turquoise hair gleamed and shimmered when he shook his head, shoulders slumped with defeat. An angry groan ripped from him, as if yanked out with a hook.

    Raking his fingers across his scalp, he spun and marched back to the table.

    Taenya and I jumped when he slammed both his fists on the oaken planks, making the dishes and flatware rattle. He leaned in close, his face transformed into someone I¡¯d never seen. A person who¡¯d never emerged when we were together.

    This was Fraser Connell, Scourge of the Seas. The realization that this must¡¯ve been the face Prince Bartholomew saw last flashed through me, along with a chill.

    This Fraser was calm and precise, but menace colored his every move. ¡°I will do this only if you can guarantee their safety.¡± He looked only at the sphinx, demanding her promise. My heart still gave a couple extra beats in response to his lethal intensity.

    Cleobah purred, unmoved by his threatening posture. Her curled lips and curving eyes glowed with satisfaction. ¡°This is the only way you can guarantee their safety.¡±

    ****

    FIVE YEARS AGO¡­

    Fraser found me an empty shop faster than I expected. I¡¯d made it a clause in our contract. It seemed strange, ordering a hundred air amulets, but Fraser Connell took crew safety seriously. Few ship masters would go to the expense of ordering the protective devices, let alone pay extra for them to be made rechargeable. It was an odd ask and an expensive one, but he didn¡¯t seem to lack the resources. Hastrior was a wealthy city, and now he controlled it.

    The little shopfront had charm, and lots of passing foot traffic. One in a string of stores set along a wide avenue near the market. A sought-after location on a prosperous street, I¡¯d learned a few days after moving in.

    I felt odd having an entire shop, a luxury I¡¯d never expected. Moreover, my customer base kept growing. The longer I stayed, the more people stopped in. Soon I had repeat customers and new referrals mentioned my spells had helped their friend and would I put together something for them?

    All because I insisted to Fraser that I needed a proper workshop to produce that volume of amulets and keep the supplies I¡¯d need. Now here I am with my own store in Hastrior.

    It was exhilarating and terrifying at once. I was dizzyingly happy, but also out of my depth.

    With the shop and with Fraser.

    He wasn¡¯t at all what I expected. He had a side that ¡­ well, you couldn¡¯t ever call him soft ¡­ but I caught glimpses of the man he might have been, if he didn¡¯t command the mercenaries of his crew. If he wasn¡¯t a hired killer himself.

    I saw a man who didn¡¯t want to go on killing for a living.

    I didn¡¯t know if what my intuition told me was right, only that it whispered in my ear whenever I watched his face change, looking out to sea.

    Or at me.

    Fraser never spoke his thoughts at those times, nor did I ask. We were close, but not that close.

    We have a business contract, and we¡¯re having a bit of fun.

    That¡¯s all this is.

    He is handsome and charming. A romantic summer fling in a lovely seaside resort before moving on does make this a perfect stop. No need to get attached or make this out to be more than casual fun.

    So what am I doing with a shop?

    There¡¯s no future between us.

    Surely we both know that?

    Lately he looks at me, especially when he thinks I¡¯m not paying attention, with a question in his eyes. One he never gives voice to, but lets it linger before glancing away. It¡¯s almost comical now. I pretend not to see him staring. He asks me how my day went, and how the shop is doing to fill the awkward gap.

    Of course, that¡¯s not what he truly wants to say. I wished he would speak his mind instead of letting me drown in this state of wonder.

    Oh, don¡¯t get me wrong. He well and truly swept me off my feet. Impossible not to fall for those looks and that intensity. He found out my favorite sweets and had them delivered to the shop. My favorite flowers waited for me in my rooms.

    After he contracted for all those amulets to protect his crew, should they fall overboard.

    Amulets of air are difficult to make and I can only make so many in a day. I have to coax sylphs with loads of sugary candies to help me bespell the devices. The airy sprites whistle up gusts and breezes that I bespell into the amulets.

    The numin it takes to ensure each amulet is rechargeable is more than double what a regular air amulet requires. I found that my previously inexhaustible supply of numin had limits. After three or four amulets, I needed to pause and recharge my energies.

    Plus, with my growing customer base, I needed to reserve my numinous energy for their spells as well.

    Numin is like a pool. Each mage has a reserve of magical energy that they draw from to weave their spells. Run your numin dry and you can¡¯t cast. Simple as that.

    Fraser initially wanted my complete focus on the amulets. Now he smiles and encourages me as I expand my customer base, even though it''s slowing down my amulet production..

    He just gave me this shop. Every time I let myself speculate about what that means, I get scared. No one does that in contracts for Journeyfolk. Only Adepts can command this sort of luxury. I made an outrageous demand for our contract and he fulfilled it without a blink.

    Now, even though I¡¯m not making as many amulets a day as I could if I didn¡¯t take on customers, he says he¡¯s fine with it.

    In the most secret space of my heart, I wanted his approval to mean he likes my work taking longer because it keeps me here longer. That it¡¯s not just a business deal for him anymore, and his extravagance, despite couching it in the terms of the contract, means he too feels this might go deeper.

    I just can¡¯t accept that he¡¯d be falling for me. He¡¯s a wealthy mercenary and now a city ruler and when all¡¯s said and done, I¡¯m still a Journey-level mage. I refuse to let my head fall as hard as my heart.

    At least that¡¯s what I told myself.

    I would not take him seriously. The reasons were so many I didn¡¯t even want to look their way. I only want to have fun and enjoy our time.

    That¡¯s what I keep telling myself. Even though when Kiry came through last week, I smiled and waved him on, telling the caravan leader I¡¯d be staying.

    I could¡¯ve hurried up, finished and been gone. That was my plan. Next thing, Fraser shows up midday and takes me to lunch, refuses to let me get back to work and ooops, now it¡¯s morning and I¡¯m back at the shop. When I pointed out he was putting me behind schedule, he gave me that infuriating little boy grin that said he¡¯s not really sorry, but he¡¯d pretend by looking cute.

    That was last week. This week, he¡¯s seemed more distracted and we haven¡¯t been together as much. What if he¡¯s wondering how to break it off with me? Even with the delays, I¡¯ll be done with these amulets before too much longer. Maybe that¡¯s what those odd staring looks mean?

    It¡¯s inevitable. We have to end.

    We both knew that, right?

    I jumped, startled out of my reverie, when the little bell above the door jangled. I smoothed my silky sundress and shook out my skirts as I rose to greet Fraser¡¯s second in command.

    ¡°Hello Gordon, what brings you here today?¡± I gave him a welcoming smile.

    Mostly the crew kept to themselves, and Fraser did not encourage them to socialize with me. Gordon was the exception.

    ¡°Hello, Ozora, pleasant day to you.¡± Gordon¡¯s always polite. ¡°Many customers today?¡± He raised his brows, looking both sincerely interested and mildly concerned that he¡¯s the only one in the shop.

    ¡°Plenty enough.¡± I answered. ¡°How can I help you?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s rather what I can do for you.¡± He said. ¡°I know how strongly you feel about protecting our local hippocampus pods. I thought you might want to know that there¡¯s some scuttle about an illegal roundup being planned. Breeding season is coming up quick. How would you like to help put a stop to it?¡±

 Chapter Nine

    It¡¯s been five days since she left.

    I had to make a choice. It was life or death.

    Their lives, or her death.

    I chose them. I¡¯ll always choose them.

    Captain¡¯s Log, Mayhem

    Captain Fraser Connell

    ****

    I went down to the harbor at dawn, just like I had every other day since returning to Hastrior.

    Except for the first one. Still wish I could get a do over on that.

    It¡¯s been two weeks since Ozora and Taenya fell back into my life.

    Literally. From the sky. On a dragon.

    I¡¯m still seething that in such a short amount of time they¡¯ve coerced me into staying in the city I hate, training with the woman who broke my heart and sank my ship.

    In magic. Magecraft magic, not the numinous energy work the elemental and sylvan elder races use, but actual spells.

    For what? All those females are delusional if they think we have a chance against a millennia-old emperor. Still waiting for a better answer from that snide sphinx than, ¡°You¡¯ll understand soon enough.¡±

    Fuck my life. Stuck here with the two women I least want to be around when I could be home.

    Yes, home. Longing rippled through me, echoing along a long thread that connected me to them. My hippocamps, or rather one rather special hippocamp.

    Yes, mine. But I was also his. I¡¯d never left him before, hadn¡¯t needed or wanted to.

    He still lived. The bond was tenuous. Still there, but I couldn¡¯t tell anything else. We''d been apart too long.

    I took a deep inhale, filling my lungs with the clean scent of morning. Here, outside the keep, it was fresh and scented with the meadows that rolled out to the tip of Hastrior¡¯s peninsula. That would change as I walked through town. This was my last untainted breath for a bit.

    I wanted to leave. The need to know that everything was okay, that they were safe at home consumed me.

    I just couldn¡¯t, and those reasons ate at me like crabs on a carcass, tearing away at my resolve, pushing me closer and closer to doing things I¡¯d regret. Again.

    Even if I wasn¡¯t bound here by the sphinx¡¯s threats, Mayhem wouldn¡¯t make it. The Western elves had been brutal, their ballistas and mages wickedly accurate.

    I¡¯d held her together with some binding and shielding spells that kept her intact and afloat until she could get back to the harbor, but now she was going nowhere. It had taken me a week just to find craftsfolk with the skills to repair her.

    To the east, the hilltops glowed like a forge, the sun a white-hot circle climbing into a golden sky that faded to palest blue. Not a single cloud crossed the vast bowl above. I could tell already it was going to be hot. The morning air was velvety soft against my arms and face, without a hint of chill as I strolled through the streets to the harbor.

    It was too early for the shipwrights I¡¯d hired to be on the job, but that was just fine with me. I liked to get there before them, the quiet and emptiness suited me. I¡¯d have preferred to stay aboard Mayhem, but Cassyrra and Cleobah insisted I remain up at the keep with Taenya and Ozora.

    Yes, we all lived because of Cassyrra and Taenya. I just hated having my nose rubbed in it every day.

    My days were now filled with schooling from the dragon on spellcraft and arguments with Taenya and Ozora about almost everything to do with the current state of squalor in Hastrior. Then when those finished, we argued about the Emperor¡¯s invasion plans and how the three of us¡ªokay, five counting the dragon and sphinx.

    How the fuck are five of us going to stop the Ancient Elvish Empire of the West?

    Even with a dragon on our side? No matter how I gamed it out in my head, with every sort of strategy, I¡¯d yet to devise a winning one.

    They¡¯ll probably figure out it¡¯s impossible around the time Mayhem¡¯s seaworthy. Till then, I can play along. Once they do this fanciful idea to create a new kind of mage school will die, and we¡¯ll all go our separate ways.

    And I can banish Ozora once more to the past.

    Hastrior¡¯s harbor was on the south side of the peninsula, and this early it sat in shadow as the sun¡¯s first rays crested the hills beyond the city. Soon, washes of light painted the buildings and streets in gleaming rose-gold tints. Out toward the horizon, fast fading dusky purples and dim blues still coated the sky but vanished as I walked. Night chased away by the day¡¯s brilliance.

    The light did not improve Hastrior¡¯s streets. Bulky shadows became trash piled in the gutters and corners of the buildings while rats darted among the refuse.

    A couple of gulls wheeled overhead, crying piteously to each other. Their sorrowful screeches bounced off the warehouses lining the boulevard. Few stirred this early, passed out from too much drink or other drug of choice.

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    After two weeks, I¡¯d stopped counting how many likely dead bodies I passed walking from the keep down to the harbor. The broken, the addled. They clumped together in Hastrior¡¯s once beautiful streets. Collections of people passed out, huddled in the doorways of the shuttered and abandoned buildings.

    I wasn¡¯t prepared for the ruin that was Hastrior now. Hardly any businesses survived in what had once been the biggest port on the coast. All that remained were those sad folks who¡¯d lost their souls to pain and despair.

    I hadn¡¯t cared at all when I left what happened to this place. In my rage I wanted to see it all erased, a need that threatened to consume me. My only hope of survival lay in releasing all that fury on one who deserved it, burning him and all his foulness to the ground. I then made a paradise out of the ashes.

    I was here because this was the only way to save that haven. My home.

    Drawing in another deep, grateful breath, I dropped from street level to the quay. The salty tang of the harbor soothed me as I left behind the palpable odor of the city. I took as few breaths as possible while I had to walk through a collection of wastes from the city¡¯s denizens fermenting in the streets and gutters.

    I walked along the water¡¯s edge, then turned to follow the long stone quay that jutted out into the harbor. Mayhem rested next to it, nestled close to the stone and shore. I ran my hand along her wooden flank as I passed before following my stone path further out into the bay. ¡°We¡¯ll get you fixed up soon, girl.¡± I whispered, her boards smooth under my palm. ¡°Then we¡¯ll go home.¡±

    Once I reached the end of the quay, I let my gaze rest on the horizon, hopeful.

    And waited, the sun heating my back and legs while my mind wandered.

    Where was Gordon? Not the first time I wondered about that. It was my favorite problem to wrestle with as I stood here morning after morning. My crew hadn¡¯t been able to find him. He¡¯d vanished and even the rumor well had dried up.

    Five years ago, it was Gordon who encouraged me to go after Ozora sank Skirmisher, providing an outlet for my destructive fury. Gordon, the man who knew me better than any other, told me to take Mayhem, the flagship of Hastrior¡¯s navy. Take what I needed from the city and go. Put Ozora and this place at my stern and go save the hippocamps on Pastainell¡¯s island. He would stay in Hastrior and Mayhem would always have a safe port here. He¡¯d ideas to keep the city alive and thriving and wished to stay.

    I hated to lose him. We¡¯d grown from boys to men together on Skirmisher. He was my first, my oldest friend since I came back to the lands above the waves.

    Gordon was the one who told me Ozora believed I cheated, and it was Gordon who suggested I try to romance her out of her doubts. He¡¯d suggested taking her to Skirmisher for a night alone. He would take the crew out for a much-needed night off before we set sail for Pastainell¡¯s private island, where the hippocamps were being kept.

    Then ¡­ well, we all know what happened then.

    Then, I was done. With her and this city. Nothing else mattered but rescuing those mares. I had a purpose and if she was going to believe dock gossip and not even ask me my side of the story, then fuck her.

    Once we had the mares and freed the island¡¯s prisoners, I was too busy to think about her.

    After things settled down, I didn¡¯t care anymore about what happened on the mainland. In the beginning, Gordon sent back letters with Mayhem¡¯s every trip for supplies. Each time he gave himself a glowing report and told of Hastrior¡¯s prosperity. They stopped after about a year. I didn¡¯t care. I dismissed my crew¡¯s reports on the city when they made supply runs. Did everything I could to put her out of my mind and my heart.

    The night we set sail for Hastrior ahead of the elvish ships, Ozora didn¡¯t even cross my mind. Couldn¡¯t remember the last time I thought about her.

    All it took was two timeless moments.

    Two breaths. Two heartbeats.

    And it all came crashing down.

    How much I needed her.

    How I wanted her. Still. Even after all that had happened.

    And I hated myself for the longing.

    For letting a dream five years dead try to come back to haunt me.

    All those old feelings and memories dredged up from the darker corners of my mind came creeping now into the light.

    I didn¡¯t want them. Didn¡¯t want them distracting me with how she smelled like lilies, how soft her skin was. How she¡¯d gasp when my hand ran down her thigh. I thought I¡¯d let go all of it. I tried to shove those thoughts and memories back down into the pit where I¡¯d stuffed them all these years.

    But it¡¯s kind of hard to ignore them when the source was always around. Coming down here to check on Mayhem was the excuse I gave, but I needed this break from her. To be somewhere her presence didn¡¯t fill everything.

    From out in the harbor, three small bubbles popped on the surface, breaking the silence.

    Relief flooded through me, as if released by those little pops.

    The water¡¯s surface erupted. Boiling, then breaking as Bastion¡¯s head crashed through the surface, followed by his long, arching neck and powerful shoulders.

    Our bond flared into brilliant life as our eyes met, pulling me into the rush of connection, his heart and thoughts twining with mine as our numin wove together.

    Bastion let loose a trumpeting neigh, shattering the quiet with echoes that bounced off the stone walls of the harbor.

    ¡°Quiet, idiot!¡± I whispered, sending the same command down the bond. He shot me a reproachful look, swiveling perked up ears back against his head, but he clamped his lips shut and stretched his neck, swimming for the end of the quay.

    Stairs leading into the water were off to my left, and I ran down them until I was up to my thighs in the harbor. Bastion planted his forehooves on either side and braced his tail against the underwater steps, looming over me like a big dog giving its human friend in a too-enthusiastic greeting. His blue- and gold-streaked head rubbed against my torso as he uttered happy little whickers and grunts.

    Nostrils flaring, he snuffled my loose shirt and shorts, then pulled me in with his head until he¡¯d tucked me against his broad chest. I wrapped my arms around his neck and leaned, his glistening hide soaking through the last dry spot on my shirt.

    ¡°I missed you too, my friend.¡± The bond reverberated between us with warmth, trust. Love.

    Right here, right now, everything was okay.

    Soon I¡¯d have to go check in with the shipwrights, see them to their tasks. Then later, I¡¯d have to go meet with Cassyrra and Ozora to train in spellcraft.

    But right now I don¡¯t care. This was the moment I¡¯d waited two weeks for, the moment I¡¯d come down here every morning for. I pressed my face against his short, sleek coat, my tears lost in the salt water running from his dark blue dappled hide.

    Bastion whuffled, his throat vibrating against my chest, so I felt as much as heard him. Through the bond he sent soothing calm, flowing outward from our connection in my heart to chase away my doubt, my hurt, and pain.

    Right here, right now, Bastion and this moment were all that mattered. The water was so warm I barely felt it lapping against my thighs. I breathed in the scent of hippocamp, a sweet and tangy mix of saltwater and horse while my fingers combed through his long, curly mane.

    ++ Everything¡¯s okay. They¡¯re all safe. ++ Images and emotions flowed through the bond from Bastion saying that all was well back home.

    I¡¯d bonded with many hippocamps while living with my nereid family under the waves, but Bastion was unique. Far more intelligent and communicative, he understood complex, even abstract ideas and requests.

    I¡¯d asked him to do something I never could¡¯ve asked of another hippocamp. When I left home, I told him to come find me here. I knew being so far apart would strain our bond to near breaking. I couldn¡¯t hear or feel him, beyond knowing he lived.

    No other hippocamp could¡¯ve done it. Lots of them wouldn¡¯t have, wouldn¡¯ve instead chosen to return to the wild instead.

    Only Bastion.

    This.

    This is why I stay.

    I would do anything to keep Bastion and his pod safe.

 Chapter Ten

    When we were done, we took out six nobles running hippocamp stables, including Prince Bart.

    It was the last one, Duke Pastainell, hidden on a tiny, self-sufficient isle in the Vauxterel chain that gave us the idea to stay.

    Why leave when we had this beautiful secret place? The only others who knew of the island were now feeding the sharks and crabs.

    Captain¡¯s Log, Mayhem

    Captain Fraser Connell

    ****

    Relief ran through me, this time straightening my spine and legs. I pulled back, slapping Bastion¡¯s neck.

    ¡°Thank you, old friend.¡± I looked him over. His smooth hide and scales were glossy, and he was sleek with health. He¡¯d made the journey here from the island alone through the open ocean. It seemed he¡¯d had no problem living a wild life. ¡°I was worried when it took you so long.¡±

    He shook his head, causing his long, cascading mane to shimmy and dance, flinging drops of water everywhere. His ears swiveled back halfway and his eyes narrowed. He even shrugged, bobbing his neck and lifting his shoulders as if to say, ¡°who me?¡± Through the bond, I sensed he hadn¡¯t exactly hurried, that he¡¯d been ¡­ distracted.

    ¡°Enjoy your trip here?¡± I asked. I had a good idea what had slowed the stallion in his travels. Then he confirmed my suspicions and flashed me a series of images. Memories of him finding a band of wild hippocamp mares. And a sense of smugness. Which explained why it had taken him so long.

    ¡°You could¡¯ve let me know. I was worried!¡± Bastion only snorted and tossed his head in equine laughter, along with the impression he didn¡¯t think I¡¯d welcome a distraction. An additional set of images flowed through the bond of me and Ozora, and more.

    ¡°That is not true. You know nothing about her!¡± He jerked his head back in surprise at my outburst, rolling his eyes and snorting with derision. His doubt and scorn were clear, pulsing down the bond.

    ++ Not true. ++ His words rang in my skull, loud and clear.

    My bond with Bastion was the strongest I¡¯d had with a hippocamp. He was also my first bond in a very long time, but none of my other hippocamps had spoken telepathically. Or laughed and accused me of lying.

    The damn stallion had known about my memories of Ozora since our bonding.

    He sensed our reunion, and felt my longing, even from a distance. Which he interpreted as me distracted by a pretty mare and figured he had time for the same. The big stallion got just one minor detail wrong. He couldn¡¯t tell the difference between my day-dreaming and reality.

    I didn¡¯t quite know how to explain the reality to him.

    ¡°At least you got lucky.¡± I muttered, giving his crest another good scratch. My lips twisted in amusement as his twitched with pleasure. His eyelids fluttered, and he sighed, leaning into the scratch. ¡°I¡¯m just glad you¡¯re here and okay.¡± I gave his neck one last affectionate slap before stepping back and up a couple of stairs. ¡°But I don¡¯t want people to see you. Yet.¡± I pictured a little cove below the keep out on the point, and shared it with Bastion, ensuring he¡¯d be able to find it. It gave him the perfect place to rest and stay safe. ¡°Go. Stay there for now. Let me know if there¡¯s trouble.¡±

    He snapped his jaws in protest, but backed off the stairs. Pushing with his forehooves and pulling with his thick, powerful tail, Bastion floated into the deep water beyond the end of the quay. He sank into the bay, pausing just long enough to give me one last reproachful look before disappearing below the surface. I watched the ripples from his passing spread, then shatter themselves against the stones under my feet.

    I waited until the water was once more glassy and still.

    ¡°Is this where you come every morning?¡± Ozora¡¯s voice drifted over my shoulder. No edge. No bite. A tinge of curiosity.

    I¡¯d heard her soft footfalls. Those strappy leather sandals she loved to wear made almost no sound when she was trying to be quiet. I¡¯d still heard them.

    Felt the pressure of her presence behind me as she paused, holding her breath. Waiting. Not for what I¡¯d say, but how I¡¯d say it.

    For the last two weeks had been ¡­ tumultuous.

    I know I said things I regret.

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    ¡°Yes.¡± I turned to face her. ¡°I like to check in on Mayhem.¡± Neutral. Like her.

    A thick braid coiled round her head like a crown, with several loops of braids trailing from the elegant style. The rest of her hair fell in a long straight curtain of night that spilled over her shoulders. I knew just how soft and silky those inky strands were, and caught myself rubbing my fingers together. Yanking my memory away from savoring how they felt running through my hands and across my palms took effort.

    ¡°You¡¯re wet.¡± Her brows twitched, and she waved a finger in my direction.

    ¡°Yes, I know, Miss Obvious, thank you.¡±

    ¡°You like to swim in the harbor?¡± Ozora¡¯s tone, along with her widened eyes and pinched lips, all spoke of distaste.

    ¡°Did you come all the way down here just to discuss my morning routine or¡ª¡±

    ¡°Cleobah sent me. Said you might have something to show me?¡± She cut me off, but Ozora''s response was uncharacteristically neutral. Not even a hint of sarcasm.

    So, even though a slew of responses raced through my mind, most either rude or raunchy, I gave a non-answer to avoid sparking something I didn¡¯t want to finish.

    ¡°Not sure what she¡¯s talking about, except the view out here is pretty. Closest I can get to being out at sea right now.¡±

    That sardonic expression meant Ozora wasn¡¯t buying it. She had this way of half-frowning when she didn¡¯t believe a word of my bullshit, like she considered no more effort was needed to show her scorn. I wondered if the sphinx she¡¯d been so buddy-buddy with of late had given her tidbits from my past.

    Cleobah had no trouble talking about that and where you¡¯d messed up. It was just the future that caused her to speak in riddles. I¡¯d discovered there were unexpected up and downsides to living with a creature that could see all possible futures and pasts.

    Ozora held her tongue, no matter I could almost see her thoughts racing across her shifting expression. To my surprise, she took the last few steps to join me at the end. Some six feet below, the water was deep and clear, the cut stone block wall disappearing into the depths. She turned her gaze to the horizon, out where the sea met the sky. A single line divided the blue of the deeps from the blue of the heavens, but I wasn¡¯t looking out to sea. I was looking at her.

    I dragged my eyes away from her face before it got awkward.

    Well, damn, it already was.

    The silence stretched between us. Of all the things we couldn¡¯t say. The words piled up like blocks knocked over by a rampaging toddler. Disjointed, half-formed thoughts that just wouldn¡¯t come together.

    ¡°Cassyrra wants us scouting the town today.¡± One of us had to break it. Ozora kept her eyes on the horizon, as if that were easier than looking at me. ¡°Wants us searching for signs of magic. Says it¡¯ll be good for you and might help kick in your magesight.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t see the energies, the numin.

    I¡¯d never learned how.

    Every mage in the West or East uses magesight to see the numinous energies that craft their spells. Ozora described it as seeing a sort of glow, or line, or splash in every color, outlining or pulsing around every living thing and the spells cast by mages.

    Ozora could read spells with her magesight like she was reading lines from a book. It¡¯s what made her so damn good.

    Me, not so much.

    I could feel them, like I could feel the emotions from Bastion and others. Like I could feel the energies of the tides and the pull of the moons.

    Magesight never meant anything to me, nor did I need it since I wasn¡¯t a mage. I¡¯d always presumed it meant seeing images the way I see my own memories. Or psychics see visions. Ozora had loved pointing out how wrong I was on day one of our training.

    ¡°Nope. Magesight means seeing the numinous energies like you¡¯re seeing them with your eyes. It¡¯s like you¡¯ve never used your own numin before.¡± Since day one, every training session, unless Cassyrra was there, Ozora had some reason to scoff.

    The magesight discussion had been only the first fight in our first week. All because I told her that all nereids use numin but not all nereids are mages when she¡¯d given me a spicy retort.

    ¡°Well, you¡¯re a mage now! How did you live this long untrained with all that numin? How are you burning through it?¡± Ozora''s specialty when irritated, and she thought you were being stupid, was asking rapid-fire questions.

    I knew. I just didn¡¯t want to tell her. Picking a fight was the easy way to distract her.

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t understand, it¡¯s a nereid thing.¡± Ozora hated to have the holes in her knowledge pointed out to her. It worked, the fight was on.

    Bonding with all the hippocamp mares and Bastion was how I burned through my numin. Being this far away had slowed that drain to less than a trickle, but the past two weeks of training more than compensated, draining away the energy. My distraction worked. Ozora stopped wondering how I¡¯d survived with all that numin, but she¡¯d glared at me for days because of that fight.

    I wasn¡¯t ready to tell her about Bastion or my island.

    I learned to use my numin in the coral cities under the waves and on my uncle¡¯s hippocamp ranch. With water magics, feeling is more important as the numin passes through the water. Nereid mages have magesight, but I never studied magecraft. I hadn¡¯t needed to. When we¡¯re in our element, numin flows through us, it¡¯s not something we have to store or hoard. Ozora had no way of knowing that because she¡¯d never encountered a nereid before me.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it enough that I can feel it?¡± Which I could. I could find any spell Cassyrra or Ozora laid by passing my hand over the spot where they anchored it. The numin would send a tingle up my fingers and arm. It was the same question I¡¯d asked her on our first day that sparked the fight. She gave me the same answer today.

    ¡°Nope.¡± Her eyes remained locked on the horizon. I couldn¡¯t read her expression, and I braced myself, thinking I had another fight coming.

    ¡°I have some ideas, though. I think it¡¯s just a matter of retraining your brain.¡±

    The idea of Ozora messing with my mind was both terrifying and exciting all at once.

    ¡°What like I¡¯m a dog?¡± I crossed my arms and turned to face her.

    ¡°Never guessed you¡¯d be into that, but no.¡± Faint distaste wrinkled her brow, and she shook her head, making the tiny braids trailing from her wrapped crown dance. ¡°Eww. Anyway. You learned to bond with hippocamps? Do I remember that right?¡± I nodded, unsure I wanted to say more, as she turned her gaze from the horizon and faced me. My shoulders relaxed. It didn¡¯t look like she was spinning up to continue our fight.

    ¡°I have an idea, but I don¡¯t know yet if it¡¯ll work. Want to come and have breakfast with me and we can talk about it?¡±

    She waved her hand at me again. ¡°At least that¡¯s what I was going to ask you, but I didn¡¯t expect you to be taking a dip.¡±

    I shook out my clothes.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got extra on Mayhem. Let me change and check in with my contractors. I know of a cafe nearby.¡±

 Chapter Eleven

    I wonder if the coastal cities of the Eastern Reaches would fear Fraser Connell, Scourge of the Seas, if they knew he had a soft spot in his heart for hippocamps he could sail his ship through.

    From the personal journal of Ozora

    Dean of Magics

    The Bestiary

    ****

    ¡°So then, this idiot says, ¡®I can ride any beast you can!¡¯¡± Fraser shrugged, lifting his shoulders, and turning his head self-effacingly. ¡°I just backed off and invited Drein to try. I didn¡¯t tell him to do anything, and I damn sure didn¡¯t expect the fool to take me up on it.¡±

    How had I never known this Fraser Connell?

    Five years ago he told me he lived with his nereid family before coming back to land. He didn¡¯t go into many details. Just that he¡¯d come above the waves out of duty to them and to avenge his mother.

    I hadn¡¯t asked for more. Back then, I¡¯d just let him tell me the story he wanted me to hear.

    I remember him saying he lived with an uncle who raised hippocamps towards the end. Gordon had confirmed it, telling me that¡¯s why Fraser could be so confident about wrangling wild mares.

    Because he¡¯d done it before.

    It made him twice as bad in my eyes back then, further justifying what I did.

    But this Fraser, the one telling me of his youth wrangling and riding the massive sea predators, would never have done the awful thing I believed. Never would dream of capturing or selling hippocamps, making my long-held belief a lie.

    Would he? The habit of hating him for five years was hard to kick. Time and greed did funny things to people. Had I ever truly known him?

    He brimmed with elemental numin, now as he did back then. His gemmy turquoise and teal curly mop of hair likewise told of his nereid elder blood heritage.

    It seemed those curls begged me to run my fingers through their silkiness. I gritted my teeth, trying to grind away the quick flash of desire.

    I¡¯d done a lot of that over the past hour or so.

    Five years ago I believed Gordon because we discovered Fraser¡¯s plans together. But everything I¡¯d heard so far this morning conflicted with what we uncovered all those years ago.

    Somewhere in their stories were truths and lies. I just wasn¡¯t sure how to untangle them.

    We lingered in the caf¨¦ after breakfast, and still sort of picked at the remnants.

    ¡°Let me guess, the mare savaged him?¡± I had to work at keeping my gaze on his face. Not let it wander to caress the hard bulk of his shoulders, softened under the folds of his drapey silken shirt. He¡¯d changed in his quarters while I wandered the deck of Mayhem. As he climbed up the stairs from below in a billowy shirt under a light vest wearing breeches that clung to his thighs, my heart did that little flip. Damn, he¡¯s hot, ran through my head on a loop.

    Hearing stories from his time on his uncle¡¯s ranch showed me a Fraser I never knew existed. This Fraser made me hungry to hear more. I nodded in silent encouragement, wanting him to keep talking so I didn¡¯t have to. Pretty sure I¡¯d only be able to stammer gibberish right now.

    I couldn¡¯t help it. My gaze lingered over his coppery skin as he leaned in propping his elbows on the table. Long, black, silky sleeves, folded and tied back, bared his forearms and biceps. My fingers twitched under the table, where I¡¯d hidden them to stop myself from reaching out. I could only wonder if his skin still felt the same, surprisingly smooth for one always out in the elements.

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    Sitting across from him, training with him every day had not lessened his attraction. I tightened my belly to stop the tingles that fluttered there after being caught too long in his clear, blue gaze. Humor bubbled in those gorgeous eyes.

    ¡°Close.¡± Fraser chuckled. ¡°He made it into the saddle even with her dancing all over, but then she whipped her head around faster than a striking sea snake. Got hold of his shoulder and yanked him off, but dropped him when I told her to. Uncle Luvon still beat my ass.¡± He leaned back against the tall wooden seat back and sipped his coffee, both hands cupping the sturdy brown mug. His eyes went hazy and distant just for a moment while he swallowed. I wanted, with heart-stopping intensity, to wipe away the sorrow that creased his brow.

    As if he felt my energy shift, he put his mug down, then gave me his infamous grin.

    ¡°It was worth it to hear that son of a bitch squeal like a stuck grouper.¡± We both laughed, and the tension broke. ¡°I let that mare shake him a few times too, you know, like a shark will?¡± Fraser split his face with a wide, toothy grin, shaking his head like a dog with a rat to show. ¡°Just to prove my point.¡±

    ¡°It would be a hard point to miss.¡± I chuckled, inwardly horrified. Not that he¡¯d let his hippocamp attack, but that I agreed with him. Two weeks ago I¡¯d have bet any sum that would never happen, me agreeing with Fraser Connell about anything. Yet, here I was, and he was right. The consequences were all on cousin Drein. ¡°Did Uncle Luvon realize you¡¯d let the mare give your cousin a few good shakes?¡±

    ¡°Why do you think he beat my ass?¡± Fraser spread his hands wide, mischief painted across his scruffy, half-day bearded face. ¡°Still worth it.¡± That did it. That little-boy smile that did me in every time. ¡°Drein never again tried to take my hippocamp. He was just jealous I was a better rider, and better at bonding with them.¡±

    That¡¯s what I wanted to hear.

    ¡°Can you tell me more about that bonding?¡± I asked him.

    Okay, so I had an ulterior motive.

    This morning, Cleobah and Cassyrra had told me more about their plans for this new mage school and that it had something to do with magical bonds. Cleobah described it as something like a witch having a familiar, ¡°but with more numin. And talking.¡±

    I wasn¡¯t sure it would work, but they hadn¡¯t told me all the details, only some. Cassyrra was confident, Cleobah more reserved. In typical sphinx fashion, she wouldn¡¯t say why. Only sent me down to the harbor this morning with the hint to hurry if I wanted to see the real Fraser, and to ask him about hippocamp bonding.

    ¡°He¡¯ll show his true self, but only if he doesn¡¯t think you¡¯re there.¡± She cautioned.

    ¡°So, spy on him?¡± Cleobah just lifted the corners of her lips a fraction. Cassyrra¡¯s gentle mental voice added the suggestion Fraser and I search the city for spells and magic energies as practice.

    ++ He hasn¡¯t yet engaged his magesight and doesn¡¯t understand why it¡¯s so important. Can you help him? I think if you two were to go searching the city together, he could learn much from you. ++ I¡¯d considered the dragon¡¯s words on my walk to the harbor to find Fraser and, now listening to him, I had a good idea why he couldn¡¯t see the numinous energy.

    ¡°It¡¯s ¡­ hard to describe.¡± Fraser¡¯s eyes went soft and unfocused. ¡°It¡¯s this connection that you just feel.¡± He tapped his heart, then his head. ¡°If you¡¯re thinking about it up here, you¡¯re doing it wrong.¡±

    ¡°Is it like when Cassyrra talks to you?¡± I asked. ¡°Does the hippocamp talk to you?¡±

    Once more, he picked up his coffee and leaned back, the wooden seat creaking as he shifted. A frown passed briefly over his face and he turned to look out to the street beyond the caf¨¦¡¯s window, watching the people flow past. I wondered if the question upset him when he answered.

    ¡°Hippocamps are intelligent, and they certainly think for themselves, but they¡¯re not¡ª¡±

    He cut himself off before he finished his thought, and his eyes narrowed. Following his gaze, I realized he was watching a pair of sailors as they turned down the cross street, heading for the harbor.

    Fraser leaned forward abruptly, setting down the mug. His fingertips tapped out a quick rhythm on the table. ¡°I¡¯ll, uh, be right back.¡± He slid across the bench seat and stood, then turned back, gripping the sides of the table with both hands and leaning in close to my ear.

    ¡°Do me a favor? Stay here. Please.¡± I¡¯m pretty sure those were his teeth grinding together as he uttered the last word. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back, five minutes tops.¡± Then he spun and headed out the door and down the same cross street the two men had disappeared down.

    ¡°Dammit, Fraser.¡± I muttered. I couldn¡¯t very well take off after him. We still needed to pay. He was out of sight before I could call the server over, but came strolling back up the street just as I was leaving the caf¨¦.

    ¡°Did you catch them?¡± I asked.

    ¡°Old friends. Just wanted to say hi.¡± His answer was easy, breezy, but those tense lines around his mouth and the hard look in his eye said different. Unless I was going to flat out call him a liar, I had to accept his words.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go back down to the harbor. I have an idea for getting your magesight to kick in.¡± I suggested.

    As we walked back through the streets, there were just a few more things I needed to know.

    ¡°You keep saying you just felt it when you were working with the hippocamps? Could you feel other spells or numin underwater?¡±

    He nodded. ¡°I could sense them from farther away than here on land, too.¡±

    I was hoping he¡¯d say that. This might just work.

    Since his senses were better in the water, why hadn¡¯t we started there? It was a pretty simple idea and I wanted to test it out right away.

    I also looked around for those two men he chased after as we strolled, but no luck.

 Chapter Twelve

    I¡¯d never seen a hippocamp close up before, but the illustrations in various texts painted them as gorgeous. Nereids had bred them for centuries and theirs were every bit as stunning and pampered as any land noble¡¯s favorite steeds.

    From the personal journal of Ozora

    Dean of Magics

    The Bestiary

    We were back aboard Mayhem. I paced the decks while Fraser went below to change into something he could swim in. The sound of his bare feet on the wooden stairs pulled my gaze from water and sky. Fraser climbed to the deck in swim trunks, with a towel slung around his sculpted copper shoulders. My gaze slid from his firm pecs and across those lean abs before I gulped and yanked my eyes out to the horizon.

    Did not think that one through. I scolded. This was my idea, and I did say he¡¯d be swimming.

    I don¡¯t know why I assumed he¡¯d put on the same things he was wearing before. Oh sweet Nahit, give me strength.

    But why did he go swimming fully clothed earlier when he had trunks on Mayhem? He broke my musings by slinking up behind me.

    ¡°Sure you just didn¡¯t want to get me half naked?¡± He purred.

    Dammit. Surely he could feel the heat of my blush, and I realized he¡¯d caught me looking.

    I jumped out of his reach and quick-stepped to the end of the quay, waiting at the top of the stairs where I found him before as he slowly walked to join me.

    Okay, he strutted.

    I kinda wanted to kiss that smug half-smile off his scruffy face and struggled to squash the impulse.

    He rolled to a stop next to me, posing. Both hands gripped the ends of his towel and he stood with one hip cocked. Fraser is all lean muscle on a tall frame. Not a bulked up fighter like a knight or paladin, but you couldn¡¯t mistake him for anything but powerful.

    He was still grinning that lopsided little boy grin. I yanked my gaze away, staring anywhere but at him.

    ¡°S-so.¡± Dammit! I sneaked a peek. Yep. His grin grew wider, and he took two more steps to stand even closer.

    I paused, drew a slow inhale, and tried again. ¡°Tell me what it feels like to use your numin under the water.¡±

    This time I pulled off sounding business-like, professional, although I was far from it. Hold it together, Ozora. It¡¯s no different from teaching anyone else. I worked on slowing my breathing, trying to get my thudding heart back to a regular pace while he answered. It helped that he pointed down the stairs, directing my attention to the choppy wavelets. ¡°Like those. Ripples, or waves, sometimes like ¡­ tentacles?¡± He paused and his brow creased, as if searching for the right word. ¡°Or rope? Dragging across or wrapping around me. Much like currents feel underwater, but different.¡±

    I looked with my magesight, and saw, much to my delight, the elemental magics streaming across the surface and wending through the depths. Their lines and splotches formed a network altogether different from the waves crossing the surface.

    Perfect! This should work. A flutter of numin over by Mayhem pulled my attention. Fraser had mentioned spells that kept her together after the fight, but that looked nothing like binding or water repelling spells.

    The quick exhale of his breath against my cheek drew my attention back from the waters. Fraser immediately straightened and tugged at the towel around his neck. He coughed and reddened and wouldn¡¯t look me in the eye, making me wonder if he¡¯d stepped even closer. But again, why?

    I was a bit sad I¡¯d been lost in my magesight. He¡¯d been kissing close and ¡­

    Perhaps it was better I hadn¡¯t noticed.

    ¡°So to you, numin feels like.¡± A quick surge of triumph coursed through me that I managed not to stutter this time. Even though my heart sped up again at the memory of his lips pressing on mine. ¡°Something touching your skin? A ripple, a strand of something, a wave?¡± Oh Nahit, this is not getting any easier. Pull it together, Ozora. ¡°But how did you know it was numin and not a current?¡±

    Why I imagined calling on the goddess of love and carnality would help my predicament, I can¡¯t say. Nahit¡¯s more likely to incite me to things I¡¯d surely regret. Probably be easier if he wasn¡¯t standing so close, but to move away would be admitting ¡­ well, admitting he was getting to me.

    ¡°Numin is alive. The current is not. There¡¯s no comparison.¡± His low voice was nearly a caress and the heat coming off his bare skin was not helping my control.

    I gave up caring what he thought and walked around the well the stairs created to stand at the end of the quay on a narrow outcrop of stone. Yes, much easier when he wasn¡¯t close enough to touch.

    The stairs in front of me stepped off the side of the pier and giant stone blocks capped the end I stood on. Behind me, the deep waters of the bay lay at the bottom of a sheer drop off.

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    Don¡¯t step back.

    Don¡¯t step back.

    Don¡¯t step back.

    I pointed down the stairs and said, ¡°Get in and stop when you feel anything that¡¯s numin.¡±

    He cocked his head, gaze sharpening with curiosity. Pulling the towel off his shoulders, he let it fall to the top step, and without another word, he was in the water. After swimming out about eight feet away from the stairs, he paused.

    ¡°There¡¯s a ¡­ stream of numin two feet below mine.¡± He called. Magesight helped me peer through the water to find the pale gold track of a dolphin¡¯s song-spell flowing where Fraser described. Since I wasn¡¯t fluent in dolphin magic, I couldn¡¯t tell much about it. Didn¡¯t matter though, he¡¯d accurately found the closest numin source.

    ¡°Well done!¡± I told him. ¡°How does that feel different from the current going past you?¡±

    His arms sculled below the surface, and his brow smoothed as he considered. His gaze went hazy. A sure sign he switched his focus from purely physical senses to those mystical receptors that detect numinous energies.

    Magesight oddly combines using physical eyesight overlaid with energetic sensing. Fraser¡¯d just given a textbook example of reading magic energies received by the whole body. He had the sensing part down. The last piece was engaging that visual overlay.

    ¡°Like I said, it¡¯s alive.¡± He lifted his shoulders, sending new ripples of their own spreading outward.

    ¡°Good, but what else can you sense from it?¡± I prodded. ¡°Is it an animal? Another nereid?¡±

    He blinked. ¡°A dolphin.¡± His expression was almost blank, as if he spoke as soon as the answer popped in his head.

    ¡°Very good!¡± He grew up with nereids. Dolphins and hippocamps are always around their cities. The cynical side of me finally spoke up, tired of horny me slobbering over Fraser¡¯s perfectly chiseled abs. Cynical me did a great job dampening my carnal thoughts. He¡¯d be familiar with dolphin magic. I cleared my throat. It was a good, easy start.

    ¡°Find the next numin source.¡±

    I had him find and trace the numinous trails and spells around the docked ships and out into the bay. Have to say, I was even proud of myself for staying calm and efficient. It helped my focus that he was out in the water. Only his head and shoulders were visible.

    I assumed we were doing great until after about fifteen minutes. He stopped and swam toward the quay.

    ¡°What are you doing? We aren¡¯t done.¡± I shouted. Yeah, it came out louder than I wanted. There were a few more numin sources I wanted him to find.

    ¡°I am,¡± He snapped back. ¡°I¡¯ve been doing this sort of thing since I was a boy. I know how to feel for numin. We¡¯ve gone over that plenty of times. How does this help me see it? Unless you can answer me that, I¡¯m done. I¡¯ve got better things to do than swim around the bay.¡± He was shouting too by the time he reached the stairs and stood, water running off his skin, dripping from his chin and tangled curls. His face and chest glowed with his exertion and anger.

    ¡°S-stop.¡± Clenching my jaw, I paused, sucking in a lungful of air before continuing. ¡°Please. Just ¡­ give me a few more minutes.¡±

    He paused, hip deep in the water, looking up at me. Blue eyes, like the clear waters of the islands, right now were vibrant with frustration.

    ¡°I promise, it¡¯s all about to make sense.¡± It was even true.

    ¡°Promise?¡± His gaze was practically a tangible touch as it grazed over me. ¡°What if you break it?¡± He taunted. I refused to give him the satisfaction of responding to his innuendo.

    ¡°Turn around. Take some deep breaths and calm down.¡± I did the same, slowing my breathing while he spun to look back over the water. ¡°Can you still feel the numin you found?¡±

    He frowned with concentration, glaring at the water.

    ¡°Close your eyes.¡± Instead of gritting my teeth and mirroring his frustration, I paused so I could keep my voice tranquil before telling him. ¡°Just feel. Keep your eyes closed and concentrate on what that dolphin¡¯s spell feels like against your skin and letting that form an image in your mind¡¯s eye.¡±

    His chest lifted as he took a deep breath, pushed it out, and closed his eyes. After a few more breaths, ¡°Got it.¡± He said, his voice tight.

    ¡°Now do that with the rest of the numin you sensed.¡± I swear I heard him growl, but his shoulders dropped a fraction and he didn¡¯t argue.

    So far, so good.

    ¡°Keep your eyes closed.¡± I told him. ¡°And imagine the numin glowing with different colors. Picture it in your mind¡¯s eye.¡±

    He swung his head to give me an irritated look, eyes most definitely open. ¡°Seriously? Make believe?¡±

    I made a twirling motion with my finger. ¡°Eyes closed. Use your imagination.¡± I said.

    ¡°I can think of better things to use my imagination for than picturing swoops of color.¡± His bright blue eyes heated to flame.

    I called on Krimis now, goddess of ice, to keep me cool. ¡°Yes, we both know how talented you are.¡± I made my voice not only cold but dry. Discouraging as the glacier fields of the far north. ¡°Now close your eyes, turn around, and feel again for all that numin you located.¡±

    ¡°My way is more fun.¡± He pouted, but did as I bid.

    ¡°Can you feel them?¡± I asked after he¡¯d been quiet for a minute. He gave one sharp nod of his head. ¡°Now, imagine, with your eyes closed, seeing them in bold colors.¡±

    I waited, unable to break my stare as his shoulders rose and fell. I counted a half dozen breaths. A half dozen more. He said nothing, but the tension that clenched his back muscles tight, bunched his shoulders like carved granite, melted away. He uncrossed his folded arms and let his fingers trail in the water. Rivulets chased droplets, running down the dips and valleys of his tightly corded arms. I was suddenly jealous of the water.

    ¡°You¡¯re seeing it in your imagination, aren¡¯t you?¡± I asked, my voice low, husky from my own thoughts. He nodded. This time, instead of an angry jerk, his head dipped a fraction, as if he didn¡¯t want to take his inner gaze from the water. Even with his eyes closed, his intensity was compelling, making it impossible for me to turn my gaze away. I wished I had something to drink and had to make do with a few swallows.

    At least he can¡¯t see me ogling him. I mused, glad he was blind to my stare. I smoothed my expression before saying, ¡°Now, open your eyes and picture what you¡¯ve imagined overlaid on your vision.¡±

    My feet were on the edge of the quay, but I had to see his face. Smooth stone blocks lined the straight drop down to the water some six feet below. I wasn¡¯t worried. I could readily feel the edge through my sandals.

    His jaws were relaxed and no frown lines creased his brow. A faint smile lifted his lips, only to spread into a wide grin that crossed his entire face. Sparks of numin lit his eyes, like daystars come out in the summer sky.

    ¡°It worked!¡± He shouted, his words echoing my thoughts.

    ¡°What color is that dolphin spell?¡± I asked, laughing along with him when he shouted back the right answer.

    ¡°Yellow. It¡¯s yellow-gold. The little sea sprite that lives in the rocks below Mayhem warded her door in bright red. The selkies at the river mouth have marked their boundaries in green.¡¯

    ¡°Very well done! Impressive, you found the selkies.¡± The glowing green wards were strong and bright, but much farther than I would¡¯ve expected him to sense.

    Fraser¡¯s delighted smile dimmed, and he seemed to track something under the water.

    A ringing neigh blasted out as a wave burst up from the water.

    I gasped with double shock. The surge swept my feet out from under me right before a massive blue hippocamp leaped to the top of the quay and struck me with his broad chest.

    I toppled over the edge and splashed into the bay.

 Chapter Thirteen

    Why is it I can¡¯t get him out of my head? No other man makes me feel like he does.

    It¡¯s that simple.

    From the personal journal of Ozora

    Dean of Magics

    The Bestiary

    ¡°Bastion!¡± Fraser shouted when he saw me fall. I heard the panic in his voice. ¡°Ozora!¡± His voice faded as I sank, pulled under by my long skirts. They tangled my legs, wrapping tighter as I tried to kick my way to the surface until I could only weakly swing them. My arms couldn¡¯t fight the pull of my soaked clothes.

    Wish I¡¯d held onto one of those amulets I made for Fraser. I¡¯d never learned to swim. Swinging my legs frantically only wound my skirts tighter, binding me. The surface got farther away.

    Well, shit. Killed by a hippocamp. Talk about irony.

    My vision wavered as I held my mouth clamped shut against my body¡¯s demand for air, when two muscular arms slid underneath mine. Fraser dragged me above the waves and I gasped, drawing fresh breath into my starved lungs.

    He started yelling as soon as we broke the surface, but not at me.

    ¡°You big dumb meathead! What the hells were you thinking?¡± He directed all his rage at a hippocamp stallion perched on the end of the quay. The beast stood on his forehooves, braced upright by his long, powerful tail. Snorting, he shook his mane, as if pleased with himself.

    Fraser leaned back in the water, dragging me across his chest with one arm, then began pulling for the stairs with his other.

    My fingers clutched his forearm and barely made a dent in them. I never wanted him to let go. I also needed him to let go of me right now or I¡¯d lose every scrap of self-control and beg him to give us another chance.

    The stone steps hit the backs of my heels, and Fraser scooped me up in his arms.

    Oh Nahit, I¡¯m doomed. He lifted me like I was nothing as he stood, still berating the hippocamp. ¡°Quit acting like an idiot.¡± Fraser¡¯s deep voice vibrated against my arm and thigh where he held me pressed against him. ¡°You could have killed her!¡± The stallion glared down at me and snorted, blasting a thin spray from his nostrils. His black eyes gleamed.

    ¡°Think maybe that was his intention. He seems like the jealous type.¡± Even though he had knocked me into the bay, I couldn¡¯t help but admire him.

    He was a gorgeous beast. Heavy, built like a draft horse with forelegs like tree trunks, and a thick crested neck.

    Why did he try to kill me? With my magesight, it was plain as the sun high above. Their bond sparkled and pulsed with mingled blue and green numin. I splayed my hand on Fraser¡¯s chest where his end of the bond anchored in his heart. It was beautiful, a wide stream of shared energies that stretched from Fraser¡¯s heart to the hippocamp¡¯s chest high above.

    ¡°Jealous indeed.¡± I murmured. Did I mean the hippocamp or myself? This bond was like nothing I¡¯d seen. Stronger than a plaited steel cable, yet invisible unless I used magesight. The energies spun in ever-shifting patterns, and I got lost in the dazzling play of numin over my hand. Time seemed to disappear as I sank into the boundless feelings of love and trust that radiated from their link. ¡°He¡¯s yours. This bond.¡± I blinked, pulling my awareness back from what was between them, and looked up into Fraser¡¯s ocean blue eyes. ¡°Are they all this strong?¡±

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Salt water ran down his face, dripped from his scruffy days-old beard onto the back of my hand. His heart was pounding, wet skin smooth under my suddenly hyper-sensitive fingertips. My palm pulsed in time with the thumping in his chest. I could feel all of him against all of me, his arms and chest hot against my back and thighs.

    His lips. They shaped the word, ¡°no¡± but I¡¯d forgotten what I asked. All I could think of was how it felt to be held by him again.

    And I wanted to kiss him. I didn¡¯t just want to remember the feel of his lips, I wanted them on me.

    Now.

    As if he read my mind, his arms tightened, and he bent his head toward mine. My hands ran up his chest to curve round his neck, tangling in his sopping curls.

    His lips were just a breath away.

    ¡°This. Is a very. Bad. Idea.¡± I swallowed his whispered words like I wanted to swallow him.

    ¡°I know.¡± I breathed back, our noses brushed. ¡°When has that ever stopped you before?¡±

    With a low growl, he closed the brief distance between us, his lips claiming mine.

    He was salty and sweet, just like I remembered. Hot, demanding, and I trembled, opening to him as time stood still and I sank in a sea of emotion. A turbulent ocean, shared only between us. Heat and desire pulsed, and I wanted to drown in him.

    No one kissed like Fraser. No one else¡¯s touch had me this ready, this needy. Only he made my heart sing and my body melt. His arms were like steel wrapped in velvet and my whole being sang to feel their strength around me once more.

    He folded, sitting on the stairs so he could pull my legs across his lap and run his hand down my thigh. I sighed, then whimpered when he wrapped my tangled skirts round his fingers.

    ¡°Your pretty things nearly killed you.¡± Hot words caressed my neck while his fingers parted my soaked silks like tissue. Fingertips grazed my inner thigh as his lips explored my neck, sending fresh tingles along my nerves.

    ¡°I saved your life, Ozora. Again.¡±

    A loud splash swiftly followed by a swamping roll of water took us under, pulling us off the stairs, and I was again tumbled beneath the waves and tossed. I clamped my mouth shut, but salt water drove up my nose and I panicked, thrashing.

    Fraser never let go. He kicked a few times, and we both broke the surface along with another. I snorted and coughed, trying to clear the water from my nose and mouth. Fraser patted me on the back a few times till I caught my breath.

    ¡°Ozora, meet Bastion.¡±

    The three of us rocked in the waves caused by the cannonball-like plunge of the hippocamp stallion off the quay.

    Even with Fraser¡¯s arm around me, it was intimidating meeting the immense beast. He might look like a horse from about the flanks forward, but there was nothing horse-like about the sharp, curved fangs he displayed in a wicked snarl. This was a predator in his element.

    My fingers tightened on Fraser¡¯s arm, wrapped around my waist, unsure what the lip-lifting and snorting meant. I felt better when he steered us back to the steps and I could stand. The solid stones under my feet did wonders to restore my confidence.

    ¡°Stop acting like you¡¯d eat her.¡± Fraser said to the hippocamp while grabbing my wrist before I could escape, holding me waist deep in the water. ¡°What, going to run away?¡± Eyes so blue I could drown in them lit with merriment. ¡°I thought you loved these critters? Now you don¡¯t want to meet one? Come on.¡± He tugged, and I stumbled into him. His arm once more went round my waist. ¡°He¡¯s really a big puppy. I promise.¡±

    Bastion obviously heard him and responded by squealing and stomping one fin-like forehoof, sending another spray over us. ¡°Okay asshole, we get it. You¡¯re fierce.¡± Fraser laughed, turning his shoulder and planting his feet firmly while gripping both my arms. My protest died on my lips when Bastion reared up on his tail to stand out of the water and paw both hooves in a dramatic display. Only Fraser kept me from being pulled into the deep again.

    That was it. He might be a sweet puppy with Fraser, but I was smart enough to stay out of range of those hooves and teeth.

    The moment had definitely passed.

    I elbowed Fraser and slid out of his reach. He chuffed and relaxed his grip. I made it two steps before he once more captured my wrist. Irritated, I spun, lifting my hand to cast. I wasn¡¯t sure what.

    ¡°Really, come meet him. Please.¡±

    His raw plea stopped me. Stripped of all the masks and layers he wore, there was just his soul, laid bare in his clear-water gaze. It was a rare glimpse, one that took me back to when I¡¯d believed in him, in us. He let go my wrist, leaving the choice to me.

    How could I say no?

 Chapter Fourteen

    Pastainell chose his island hideaway well. With what we found, makes sense why he didn¡¯t want anyone to find his private pleasure palace. Hippocamps weren¡¯t the only thing he was trafficking.

    I originally planned to free the mares, but they¡¯d never survive. So here we¡¯ll stay. We have all we need, for all of us.

    Captain¡¯s Log, Mayhem

    Captain Fraser Connell

    ****

    Not every crew member from Skirmisher sailed with me aboard Mayhem when I left Hastrior five years ago. Some stayed with Gordon and I saw two of them walk down the street while Ozora asked me about the hippocamp bond. Telling her to wait for me in the caf¨¦ was futile, but stalling her questions by running out the door and leaving her to pay slowed her down.

    No luck. They disappeared, and the streets weren¡¯t crowded. They should still be in sight. Now I questioned if I¡¯d seen the old crew members. It had been a while.

    Ozora met me on the street, wearing a simmering expression that said she didn¡¯t believe my casual excuse.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to try out your idea?¡± I asked, relieved when her expression lightened. Tell the truth, I¡¯d bet we both grasped at the diversion.

    We walked back to Mayhem, and she made me change into ¡°something you don¡¯t mind swimming in.¡± Puzzled, I donned swim trunks and grabbed a towel.

    I didn¡¯t know what ideas she might have about getting my magesight working, but I was pretty sure she was getting ideas about me when I climbed to Mayhem¡¯s deck. The way she blushed and practically ran to the end of the quay when I got close confirmed it.

    She was so rattled she could barely talk. Her confusion, delicious. Especially when I slow walked right up to her, stood close enough to touch if either of us leaned just a tiny bit one way or the other.

    She still smelled like lilies.

    With a quick cough, and a couple side steps, she regained her composure.

    Much to my disappointment. Once Ozora starts talking about magic, nothing else exists.

    ¡°Tell me again about how you feel the numin under water.¡± She asked, studying the surface of the bay. Now, with smaller pleasure craft out and about, the water rippled with their wakes. Visible currents and crosscurrents that intersected, sending fresh ripples outward in new directions when they collided.

    Ozora¡¯s brows peaked and her lips puckered adorably. Her eyes went hazy and unfocused while I talked. I couldn¡¯t tell for sure, but got the impression she saw something out in the water.

    I only knew she didn¡¯t see me looking at her.

    Freely, I drank her in. She drew me with her intensity right from the start. She wasn¡¯t coy, didn¡¯t play head games.

    Or so I thought until Gordon told me different. Couldn¡¯t wrap my head around what he said, and what I¡¯d learned since.

    Ozora today seemed much like the Ozora I first met five years ago. In two weeks, she never once mentioned infidelity. Hippocampus pods she brought up from time to time, usually with one of her dagger-like glares. I considered introducing her to Bastion and erasing some of her more outlandish statements.

    What was she looking at? She hadn¡¯t noticed I¡¯d stopped talking yet, lost in her study of the bay.

    I wondered if she still tasted sweet. Her lips pursed, and I leaned in, unable to resist. Longing gripped me, and I bent closer, inhaling her dainty lily fragrance.

    Her expression shifted and awareness returned. Grateful for my loose swim trunks, I pulled back hastily and gripped my towel with both hands so I wouldn¡¯t drag her to me and kiss her. With regret, I snuffed the poke of disappointment in my gut that she seemed oblivious to what almost happened.

    Before long, I was treading water out beyond the quay.

    ¡°There¡¯s a ¡­ stream of numin about two feet below mine.¡± Couldn¡¯t tell what kind of spell, but when she asked, I found it felt like the dolphin who¡¯d cast it. That was a first. Guess a few of the past weeks¡¯ lessons sank in.

    I searched for and found the different numinous signatures of the various spells and creatures of the harbor and bay.

    It was boring as fuck.

    What was she trying to prove?

    And why was I the idiot following her commands like a trained seal?

    Because Ozora was the only woman I wanted.

    Didn¡¯t matter how much I tried to deny it, didn¡¯t want it to be true.

    Ever since that first day we met, I¡¯ve been caught by her spell.

    The one she never knew she cast.

    Back when Ozora and I met, I fell for her hard. She¡¯s the only woman to nearly knock me off my feet with just one glance. Okay, she used a spell to do it.

    Yes, I deserved it.

    In my defense, she did fall into my arms. Our meet-up wasn¡¯t the first time I¡¯d hooked up with a female after she ¡°tripped¡± into me. Can you blame me for thinking that I was lucky that day in the bazaar?

    I mean, she was hot. Petite, but with curves that made her mage robes cling and skim, and just begged to be caressed.

    I shoved such thoughts away, but after fifteen minutes of swimming and numin seeking, I was done. This was nothing I hadn¡¯t done countless times before and too many memories intruded in the silence under water.

    ¡°We¡¯re not done.¡±

    We so are little mage, we so are.

    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    My magesight was broken, or never worked, so maybe the dragon is wrong about me being a mage.

    I didn¡¯t tell her that, though. I climbed the stairs out of the water, but stopped.

    Not because she ordered me to.

    The breeze off the bay wrapped those sheer scarves she wears for skirts around her thighs, showing me every inch of her perfectly curved form.

    I Could. Not. Move.

    She liked to layer them. Said they let air flow through better than a skirt made from one piece of cloth and kept her cooler.

    While inflaming any male with eyes. How am I supposed to look at numin with those fluttering little scraps beckoning me to rip them off?

    Use my imagination, ha!

    ¡°I can think of better things to use my imagination for than picturing swoops of color.¡±

    No-nonsense Ozora only twirled her finger and pointed, resistant to my scorching stare and hints. No fun, just more magery. How could she be immune? I¡¯d seen the way she devoured me with her eyes. How could she stand there with that bland expression and tell me to close my eyes and block the sight of her?

    She wasn¡¯t playing.

    Damn. I shoved my thoughts back on track and turned away to face the bay.

    She was right, though.

    I could feel the spots she¡¯d had me swim to from where I stood on the stairs. Pretty sure I would not have located them without getting close enough to touch them, but now that I knew where they were, I could feel their vibrations, each individual spell or creature¡¯s numin like different notes of a song, playing against my skin in the water.

    Behind my closed lids, I did as she said and pictured the numin painted with lively colors that flowed with the energies.

    It was only imagination at first, but then, with an almost palpable snap, something else kicked in. A trickling flow of my numin along a track I¡¯d never noticed before. Bright, vivid colors now painted every ripple, every stream, every minor spell. Even some I¡¯d not found in my swimming now glowed in my mind¡¯s eye in blushing pinks, blues, greens, even yellow-gold, warning reds, and purple.

    When I opened my eyes, the vivid splashes and lines of color I¡¯d imagined infused my vision.

    I stretched, seeking further, and new numin sources popped I hadn¡¯t found before.

    A new dot of numin from far below, out toward the breakwaters of the bay, grabbed my attention. It moved too fast. I couldn¡¯t tell what it was. The dot became a blob, then a streak that shot toward the quay.

    Realization hit as Bastion erupted from the water, neighing and thrusting with his powerful tail to land on the quay and shove Ozora backwards into the bay.

    I yelled their names as I dove into the water. With my new magesight, I readily located Ozora. She burned like a flame under water, struggling desperately to swim against the pull of her tangled skirts. Looping my arms under hers, I dragged her to the surface and pulled for the quay.

    Bastion, naturally, was quite proud of himself.

    I was furious.

    ¡°You big dumb meathead! What the hell were you thinking?¡±

    He posed on the quay, radiating pure stallion satisfaction. Shaking his head, he flung salt spray off his long, wavy mane into the air. Droplets that caught the morning sun and sent diamonds of light dancing across the stones and water.

    Now I had Ozora in my arms, against my bare skin, and my fury changed into something equally hot. Her scent drove away the salt of the sea from my breath. I drew her into my lungs and wondered if I¡¯d have the strength to let her go once we got to shore.

    I didn¡¯t. I lifted her once my feet touched the stairs. She shivered, and I pulled her closer.

    ++You want mare? Now you have mare. ++ Bastion leaned down, blowing and snorting from his position above us. He arched his neck and flared his nostrils, stamping one finned hoof on the stones.

    I yelled at him, but didn¡¯t mean it. The big idiot did me a favor, and I had Ozora in my arms again. Didn¡¯t care how. My heart pounded like it would leap into her hand where she¡¯d pressed it on my chest. My entire being leaned into that touch. Her dark eyes met mine. I was drowning and never wanted to come up.

    I tried to say no. I told her it was a bad idea.

    It was the best idea ever.

    She still tasted as sweet. I couldn¡¯t let her go. Losing her again might be the end of me. Just holding her wasn¡¯t enough. I needed to touch her.

    My legs folded, and I sat on the stairs, pulling her into my lap, water swirling around both our bodies.

    The heat of her pressed into my hard cock stole all my reason.

    I ripped away those damn skirts that practically drowned her. Just the notion that they still touched her drove me nearly insane.

    Dear gods, she hasn¡¯t stopped me. There was that sigh as I traced her bare thigh with my fingertips. I thought I was hard before. Now she was arching into my touch. I traced her neck with my lips to whisper in her ear.

    ¡°I saved your life, Ozora. Again.¡±

    That time too, she¡¯d ended up in my arms. Then in my bed. Mayhem was but a few short steps away.

    Bastion has terrible timing.

    Through the bond, I felt him move just before the splash of his massive body striking the water sent a surge that yanked us both back out into the bay.

    I held Ozora tight and shot us to the surface. Bastion rose next to us, his lips peeled back in equine laughter, still radiating smug satisfaction. I wanted to laugh but stifled it when I saw Ozora¡¯s stiff face. She coughed and spluttered, and her fingers clamped onto my arms like I was her lifeline. I don¡¯t know that I¡¯ve ever seen Ozora afraid.

    ¡°Ozora, meet Bastion.¡±

    She nodded but said nothing while I swam us back to the stairs, her body not quite as pliant this time. Once she had her footing, she stood and looked like she would bolt. I slipped my fingers around her wrist.

    Knew I couldn¡¯t let her go.

    ¡°What, going to run away? I thought you loved these critters? Now you don¡¯t want to meet one?¡± I tugged, and she stumbled into me, making it easy to slide my arm around my waist. Telling her Bastion was really just a big puppy though, had the opposite effect.

    He put on a display Ozora didn¡¯t find it amusing or impressive, judging by the elbow she rammed in my side. It hurt, but I still moved fast enough to recapture her wrist. She raised her other hand like she¡¯d cast something, but stopped when her furious gaze met mine, stayed, and softened.

    ¡°Seriously, come meet him. Please?¡± I meant it, and let go her wrist. No need to hold her like that.

    Something rippled through me when she stepped back down into the water with me. I didn¡¯t know what. It wasn¡¯t the consuming lust of before, but it made me grin like an idiot. Bastion swam to us, smooth and gentle as a mare with her newborn foal. Planting his hooves on the stairs below us, he stretched his neck to snuffle over her soaked blouse. Ozora laid her hands on him, the expression on her face pure wonder.

    ¡°Never been this close?¡± I asked, even though her reaction made it obvious.

    She shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve only seen them from the shore, and once they rode the bow of the ship I was travelling on.¡±

    ¡°Ship guards.¡± I nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll bet the captain or his passengers hired them.¡± Bastion¡¯s eyelids fluttered. Ozora had found the sweet spot on his crest and gave him a good scratch.

    So much for keeping my hippocamp a secret.

    Ozora seemed delighted with him. With her feet under her and the stallion behaving, she¡¯d swung from suspicious and fearful to adoration.

    ¡°Who¡¯s a good boy? Who¡¯s so handsome.¡± She cooed in his ear. He shook his head, looking supremely pleased with himself, and nudged her hand for more scritches. With a little laugh, she obliged, but I heard another snicker from up on the quay.

    A few dockworkers had approached. The splashing must have alerted them and they stayed to look over Ozora. Her blouse and ruined skirt were virtually see-through, and the males eyed her up and down.

    ¡°Wait here, be right back.¡± I murmured in her ear and climbed the stairs to retrieve the towel I¡¯d dropped there, fixing the men with an unwavering stare.

    ¡°You should find somewhere else to be. Now.¡± I barked when they looked like they¡¯d linger. The taller one¡¯s eyes widened, recognition filling them. Slapping his buddies and whispering, they scurried away.

    Ozora didn¡¯t notice I¡¯d left. Which was fine. She didn¡¯t need to know about the creepers. She patted Bastion on his shoulder and stepped up out of the water to meet me. ¡°He¡¯s so big. Are they all like this?¡±

    ¡°No, mares are much smaller, as are most males. Bastion is the biggest stallion I¡¯ve ever known.¡±

    I held out the towel and silently asked Bastion to back up, telling him to stay with Mayhem if he wanted. ¡°Let¡¯s get you back on the ship and into dry clothes that don¡¯t show the world what you¡¯ve got.¡± She glanced down and saw her filmy silk blouse and ruined skirts were transparent.

    That blush. She was no innocent, but Ozora was a pure soul.

    I was anything but.

    The moment had definitely passed, and my reason once more yelled that I shouldn¡¯t be this close. I shouldn¡¯t be kissing her, touching her, wanting her.

    I was a killer, a rogue, and she didn¡¯t need any of that chaos in her life.

    Bad enough, we had to live and train together for now. Sex was a complication we couldn¡¯t afford. Plenty of other places to get that, without causing either of us the inevitable pain that would follow. I didn¡¯t want to think about the deeper emotions that touching Ozora awoke. Not if she was going to be out of my life once she realizes this whole school fantasy notion will never work.

    Or Mayhem is seaworthy, whichever comes first.

 Chapter Fifteen

    I never was much for magery. Sure I could¡¯ve become a mage, even when I lived with my nereid family, but I never wanted to spend the time studying.

    Out riding the waves and exploring the seas on my hippocamps was all I needed.

    Captain¡¯s Log, Mayhem

    Captain Fraser Connell

    ¡°Do you have women¡¯s clothes stored on your ship?¡± She wouldn¡¯t meet my gaze, and her tone was all business. Guess she was going to pretend it all never happened.

    Doubtless for the best.

    ¡°There are some female crew who can perhaps loan you something.¡± I kept my voice neutral, even though I was anything but.

    ¡°Just glad we don¡¯t have to waste the rest of the day, and I don¡¯t have to spend the numin ¡®porting to the keep and back. We do still have that assignment from Cassyrra.¡±

    She primly tucked the end of the towel in and we were both aboard Mayhem in a few moments.

    Yeah, right. Search for magic, practice magesight.

    So much fun.

    ****

    One of Mayhem¡¯s female crew was Ozora¡¯s size and offered a set of loose silk pants and tunic in vivid turquoise and cream. Once we were both clean, dry, and clothed, Ozora led us on a random search of the city. We wandered down alleys and along boulevards wherever we saw a numinous glow.

    She had a way of making a game out of it. Silly as it was, it worked. The concentration it took to identify the different spells and casters erased the awkwardness of our kiss.

    Soon, it was easy to identify each elder race from its own energetic or elemental signature. Wood elves, dryads, shapeshifters and more cast the spells we found.

    Until this one. Stumped, I couldn¡¯t place the caster.

    ¡°Hey, come look at this,¡± I called to her. It was later in the day, and practicing my new skill began to lose some shine. How easy it was to read the different magical signatures scattered around the city. Warding spells, glamours, as well as prayers and offerings to various deities, all glowed with numin. Once I learned the trick, it became simple to shift between regular vision and magesight.

    This one was different, and it irritated me I¡¯d not identified the caster.

    The sigil wavered and flickered like it was drawn with silver flames and the energies radiating from it felt both hot and icy.

    Painted on the brick wall of a tavern, right on the corner at about eye level, its energies would¡¯ve ensnared any passerby.

    ¡°It¡¯s ¡­ it¡¯s like it¡¯s blank.¡± I hesitated. That wasn¡¯t quite it. ¡°There¡¯s no elemental or sylvan energies woven into it. I can¡¯t tell who cast it.¡±

    Ozora stood by my shoulder and peered at the wall.

    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything like it.¡± Her nose wrinkled as she squinted, staring at the dainty, filigreed symbol. ¡°Well, my own numin is similar, but that¡­feels ancient.¡± Ozora seldom sounded hesitant when she talked about magic.

    Swirls, lines and dots formed a circle a couple of inches across, looking painted on with a brush. No denying it was a work of art. As if the artist applied varying pressure to produce thicker or thinner strokes of bright silver outlined in darker, gleaming grey.

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    ¡°Huh? What do you mean?¡± I shot her a questioning look.

    ¡°Human numin is unaligned. Like this. Not elemental, not sylvan. It can shape any sort of magic. Only high elves are similar. It¡¯s what made them so devastating in the wars.¡±

    ¡°A history lesson too? I¡¯m so lucky.¡±

    She gave me a sharp side-eye, then tapped the brick. ¡°It¡¯s obviously not human, but ¡­ I don¡¯t like the alternative.¡± She shook her head, as if trying to shake off her doubt. ¡°The only other thing I can think of that would look like this is high elf magic.¡±

    ¡°Where are the high elves on the continent to cast it?¡± I wanted to laugh, but her look of concern as she stared at the sigil gave me pause. She was serious. ¡°We stopped the invaders. They¡¯re all dead. Remember?¡± Cassyrra and Taenya had flown sweeps for days after that night. ¡°We know they¡¯ll try again, but none of them survived the attack two weeks ago.¡±

    Uncertainty clouded her brown eyes, turning them dull, but her chin and jaw tightened, resolute. ¡°It can¡¯t be anything else.¡± She insisted. ¡°I don¡¯t know how, but it¡¯s the only explanation.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s got to be another reason. Cassyrra torched all their ships. Those high elves are fish food. None landed here.¡± I braced one hand to lean in close and study the circular design glowing on the wall. The silver flames seemed to call to me, a soft song promising blissful relief, peace, but underneath that, there was something else.

    Just as alluring, just as seductive, it seemed to even know my name. I followed the numinous trail into the spell¡¯s design, entranced by the intricacy.

    SLAP!

    My head rocked, smacking into a brick wall, and Ozora¡¯s fists gripped the front of my shirt. I now faced the street, the wall of the tavern at my back and the sigil about four feet away. Looking at it triggered longing and nausea, its faint singing echoed still in my ears.

    ¡°Don¡¯t do that again.¡± Her voice shook. ¡°Still think it¡¯s not high elvish?¡±

    ¡°I have no idea. What happened?¡± The last few moments were a blank. That Ozora could grab and haul me around without me even knowing was ¡­ well, I would¡¯ve said impossible, except there she was leaning against me. I could feel her shaking, and now that was all I could think about.

    ¡°You started to walk towards the tavern¡¯s door, saying something about ¡®finding Kioc¡¯ inside.¡± The lines of her thighs against mine, her forearms pressed into my chest. Hell, even the way her fists clutched my shirt drove any last thoughts of magery or high elves away. Her scent filled my breath. My hands came up to her hips.

    She immediately let go, stepped back.

    ¡°What¡¯s Kioc?¡± She asked, turning her head to glance at the sigil to again and hide the rush of color to her cheeks.

    ¡°Don¡¯t know.¡± My head felt funny, and I scrubbed at my face. I pushed off from the wall and staggered. Ozora¡¯s hand shot out to steady me, but instead of letting go, her fingers clenched on my arm.

    Oh little mage, now all I can think about is you wet and soft against me in the waves.

    The look of faint horror scrawled on her expression said Ozora¡¯s intentions were far from seductive.

    ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± She breathed, her eyes wide and staring.

    She wasn¡¯t looking at me. Golden numinous sparkles danced in the depths of her eyes. She was looking at something on me. ¡°Look at your shoulder.¡± She nodded to indicate my left shoulder, the one she¡¯d grabbed.

    A wispy copy of the sigil rested on the silk of my shirt. Tiny, I would¡¯ve never noticed if Ozora hadn¡¯t pointed it out. Faint silver flames burned, and threads of numinous smoke rose from where it rested on the black fabric.

    I froze under her hand.

    ¡°Is it touching you?¡± Her voice was hard, brittle.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. I don¡¯t feel anything.¡± Her fingers relaxed, as did her expression.

    ¡°Good.¡± Was that relief I heard? ¡°Hold absolutely still. You might feel this a little.¡±

    Raising her other hand, she muttered and loosed a stream of numin from her fingertips. Bright golden light reached toward my shoulder, spanning the distance in a matter of seconds. It spun and twisted as it arched, forming a long thin funnel that widened as it neared my shirt.

    Hovering there for a moment, the numinous funnel expanded, then dove for the sigil encompassing it entirely. I hissed, my skin burning as if touched by flame when it passed through my shirt with a crackling hiss.

    Ozora muttered. The numin obeyed by snapping away from her fingers and forming a sphere, enveloping the sigil. The burning sensation grew.

    I gritted my teeth and clenched my fist to keep from pulling away. ¡°Is this going to sit there much longer?¡±

    She frowned, pointed at my shoulder, and growled. ¡°Kaitah ainkar!¡± With a snap of her fingers, the little ball of numin jumped off my arm, coming to a stop about a foot away from the sigil on the brick. ¡°Oh no you don¡¯t,¡± Ozora snarled and slapped the brick wall.

    The ball vanished with a puff of golden smoke.

    ¡°Whew. That thing was nasty. Never have I seen a sigil do that.¡± She let go of my arm and shook out both hands.

    ¡°What was it doing?¡± I glanced down at my shirt. A perfect circular hole sat where the sigil once did. ¡°Wait, not sure I want to know.¡± Lifting the sleeve showed a burn to match the circle on my shoulder.

    ¡°Burrowing into you, seeking your numin.¡± She shuddered, then tapped the wall, avoiding touching the silvery mark by several inches. ¡°This is one for Cassyrra and Cleobah. Let¡¯s head back.¡±

    It was a long, quiet walk to the keep.

    Cleobah was waiting for us in front of the gate.

    Here on the east side facing into the city was a single, massive arched passage through the ten-foot-thick walls. The gates and portcullis were raised and a half-dozen of Mayhem¡¯s crew stood guard. Cleobah sat in the roundabout before the gates.

    ¡°Have any luck?¡± The sphinx inquired, arching her dark gold brows. Her furred and feathered tail twitched, but it was her sly grin that said the sphinx already knew the answer.

 Chapter Sixteen

    Chapter Sixteen

    On one one little island in the Vauxterel chain, Fraser found a horror and made a home.

    That¡¯s where he¡¯d been hiding for all these years.

    He¡¯s the only reason we are here today. Without his early sighting of the elvish invaders, they¡¯d have overtaken Hastrior with no other kingdom the wiser until it was too late.

    He was just in time.

    From the personal journal of Ozora

    Dean of Magics

    The Bestiary

    ****

    ¡°No one has seen a high elf since the Sundering.¡± Taenya mused. ¡°Are you sure?¡± She asked.

    Fraser tossed his head and pointed at me. ¡°She is. I don¡¯t know what I saw.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the only thing that makes sense.¡± I insisted.

    ¡°I mean, I hear what you¡¯re saying.¡± Right away, I could tell she didn¡¯t believe it. ¡°Sure, maybe the Emperor has changed the tactics he¡¯s used for the entire time high elves ruled the world.¡±

    ¡°Well, when you say it like that¡ª¡±

    ¡°But why sneak in a high elf mage to plant a little sigil in the city that¡¯s pretty and makes you feel good?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t forget implanting a numin-draining attachment.¡± I reminded her.

    ¡°How does that help the high elf mage, or the Emperor? Tiny bits of numin from random city dwellers? High elves are swimming in numin. They don¡¯t need to drain folks here in Hastrior.¡± She rolled on as if I didn¡¯t interrupt. ¡°That¡¯s what doesn¡¯t make sense.¡±

    ++ A valid point. Without seeing the sigil, I could not say. ++ The dragon was the only one here that had seen high elf magic. Since her voice was only in my head, it was sometimes hard to tell what she said to only me, or the entire group.

    ¡°Might be a tight fit in that street.¡± Fraser turned to where the dragon stretched her long length out in the grass, answering the dragon¡¯s silent statement aloud.

    Taenya, Fraser, and I were sitting under a tent in the fields west of the keep.

    Cassyrra did not fit anywhere within the keep¡¯s walls, and in the summer heat, the inner corridors and airless rooms were stifling. The builders of Hastrior designed it for defense, not comfort, with few open windows. After five years of neglect, its main benefit was shelter from the rare passing rains. The stone walls were strong as ever, but cleanup was a slow process.

    We opted for tent living outside when we found a collection of them in storage. While we still used certain rooms and corridors, Taenya didn¡¯t like to sleep far from Cassyrra, and I was happier to sleep outside where it was cooler. There were also plenty of linens, pillows, and rugs. We¡¯d found several magically locked and thus untouched storage rooms. The contents of these storage rooms transformed the tents and hard-packed ground underfoot. Instead of simple cots and dirt floors, our quarters were plush, luxurious even. Paradise! With the keep between us and the city and Cassyrra, we slept peaceful and safe. None of the crime lords of the streets or their lackeys dared approach.

    Grace, the chef¡¯s wife, came out of the keep, carrying a platter with a collection of meats and cheeses. Her children followed, carrying more pitchers of water and ale. We all thanked her as they set the food and drink on the table.

    That any staff remained was a miracle, and a blessing for us. The head chef and house manager had stayed behind, along with their spouses and children, as well as a few of the footmen and stable hands. When the keep was abandoned, they had no other place to go, and had kept a small section livable, including the kitchens. They appreciated the addition of Mayhem¡¯s crew to help with cleaning and refurbishing.

    ¡°I doubt we could fit you anywhere in the city proper, love.¡± Taenya chuckled and Cassyrra rumbled, her draconic version remarkably similar to Taenya¡¯s, if much deeper in pitch. ¡°So we¡¯ll have to just¡ª¡±

    ¡°I can show you the spell. That¡¯s easy enough.¡± I cut Taenya off. I couldn¡¯t take this dithering any more. With a flourish, I cast up a glamour that showed the sigil Fraser found. If Cassyrra needed to see it to determine if it was high elvish or not, I¡¯d make that happen now.

    The image hung in the air over the table we all sat around, a delicate glyph of curling lines, slashes and dots drawn in a circular pattern of silvery numin. It glittered, so bright and hard it felt sharp, like a well-honed razor, just to draw it with my numin. Even in replica, it throbbed with power. As if just showing its image caused some odd echo effect between me and the original caster.

    Interesting.

    The strange sigil wavered and glinted where it hung in the air. Cassyrra raised her head and snarled. Cleobah looked at me curiously, her golden eyes gone hard.

    ++ Take it down. Now! ++ The dragon yelled, her inner voice drowning out whatever the sphinx was saying. I could see Cleobah¡¯s lips moving, forming the same command.

    I didn¡¯t want to.

    Even as a copy, the sigil was pretty and alluring. If I looked close enough, I might figure out its purpose, or the elf who cast it. That odd echo grew stronger, and I could feel and see something within the sigil¡¯s graceful curves and lines. Echoes became whispers.

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    I could almost understand them.

    ++NOW++ Cassyrra¡¯s roar wasn¡¯t just in my head. It rattled the tent poles and broke my concentration, powered by the dragon¡¯s anger and a brush of her numin. The sigil vanished with a slight pop and scattering of tiny bright shards that disintegrated into nothingness.

    ¡°High elf looking to trap the unwary. He almost did. Twice.¡± Cleobah¡¯s long tail lashed, betraying her agitation despite her placid demeanor. Reality crashed in on me as my wits returned in the uneasy silence. I¡¯d come close to drawing the original caster¡¯s attention to us.

    ¡°I¡¯ve¡ªI¡¯ve never seen that before. Never knew just a glamoured image of a spell could link back¡­¡± My voice trailed off, but I found it again. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. I just thought to make things easier.¡±

    I should¡¯ve been more suspicious after seeing it hop onto Fraser. Never had merely showing a spell¡¯s image caused that sort of linkage. It shouldn¡¯t have been possible.

    I¡¯d been so wrong and put us all in danger. Remorse made me want to creep away in shame.

    It hit me hard, right then.

    None of us were ready for this, not if something as simple as an image-glamour spell could have such potent, far-reaching effects.

    High elves here in Hastrior. Not in the future that we could prepare for. Nope. This was the here and now, and we were only getting started.

    We ate in silence, each of us turning that knowledge over in our private thoughts.

    I wanted to be wrong. Trying to stifle the hopelessness that washed over me, I lifted my head to catch a brief gust of wind that blew along the shore.

    The summer breeze brought the scents of wildflowers and salt, sweeping away my glamour¡¯s lingering energies. The atmosphere lifted, but only a fraction. I was embarrassed and looked over at my private tent several feet away with longing, weighing if I could slink away.

    ++ They craft them to capture all. The powerful fall under their sway as easily as the weak. ++ This time I knew Cassyrra¡¯s gentle words were just for me. ++ There is no shame. Now you know their power and pull. Now you can guard against them. ++

    I would have to. There was no running from this.

    ¡°Where did you see that?¡± Cleobah asked. I pulled my gaze from the slices of ham, turkey, and cheese on my plate. ¡°That sigil?¡± She asked. ¡°Where did you see it?¡±

    ¡°A tavern. We didn¡¯t stop to look for more, but I¡¯ll bet it¡¯s not the only one.¡±

    Fraser coughed but said nothing.

    ¡°Safe bet,¡± was Cleobah¡¯s dry response.

    ++ Again, to what purpose? ++ Cassyrra mused. ++ Why send spies and plant luring spells when the Emperor could send fleets and armies? ++

    ¡°Unless he can¡¯t?¡± Fraser tapped his lips, as if unsure he wanted to give voice to his own question. ¡°What if the Emperor¡¯s might is now reduced to subterfuge instead of invasion?¡±

    His suggestion sounded ridiculous, but Cleobah didn¡¯t laugh. Taenya¡¯s gaze drifted to Cassyrra with that blank expression that meant they were talking privately.

    ++ Why do you say that Fraser? ++ Cassyrra asked. She shuffled her wings and shifted, swinging her head round to peer at all of us. Her cat-like pupils flexed, widening and narrowing as she peered into the tent from the bright sun. She was so big, not even her head could fit under the canopy. Heat radiated off her indigo hide, rolling over us like a wave as her bulk blocked the onshore breeze.

    Fraser lifted his shoulders and shook his head. ¡°No one ever said the Emperor was stupid. Look what spending his ships and armies like they¡¯d never run out won him last time.¡±

    He made a telling point. One I hadn¡¯t considered.

    ¡°What if after all these years the Emperor figured out an easier way to take over? One that didn¡¯t use up entire armies?¡±

    Dammit! I hated to admit this.

    ¡°You might be onto something.¡± I had to unclench my jaws, so that I didn¡¯t bite off the words. An idea popped into my head. It wasn¡¯t the craziest one I¡¯d had, but it was something.

    ¡°First thing we need to do is find out if there are more sigils and where they are.¡±

    ****

    Cassyrra and Taenya were high above Hastrior while Cleobah and I stalked the city streets, hunting down the mystery high elf sigils. Every one we found, we reported the pair in the sky, who made notes. Fraser too went searching but struck out on his own.

    Back at the keep, we¡¯d tacked a map of the city to the stone wall under our common tent and had almost half of the city marked with the ones we¡¯d found after a week. I fretted we still were walking the city. There had to be an easier way.

    ¡°There¡¯s another.¡± Cleobah pointed with one plate-sized paw at the sigil. The high elf who cast these was Adept for sure, and his numin reeked of age and experience. I¡¯d been right to call it ancient. His spellwork was beautiful, deadly, and he did not try to hide them. There was a deep level of contempt in them too, as if it didn¡¯t matter if any saw them for what they were¡ªskillful traps.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it funny how these are just laying out for anyone to stumble across?¡± Cleobah¡¯s question mirrored my own inner thoughts. ¡°He wants folks to blunder into them and pick up little shards of his spells.¡±

    What wasn¡¯t funny was how much difference five years could make. I remembered this street well. Fraser and I used to love the ransacked restaurant Cleobah and I faced, staring at the sigil sprawled across its front wall. A wide picture window once filled the space, giving diners a view across the whole of Hastrior¡¯s bay.

    Now plain, rough boards covered the space the window once filled, and the sigil filled the entire frame. It practically shouted at passersby to go indulge their whims.

    Like every other sigil we¡¯d found, this one¡¯s enchantment was suggestion. The numin woven into its lines pulled at the unwary, drawing them in and planting a tiny copy of it on any who brushed against it. Cleobah and I watched as two people walked past and stumbled, rubbing their shoulders or hands against the sigil. That tiny brush was enough. With magesight, I watched the high elf¡¯s numin burrow in, taking root in the person who walked on, oblivious they were now bespelled.

    The suggestion itself was simple: indulge your every desire.

    And seek Kioc.

    We¡¯d been unable to figure who or what Kioc was, but Hastrior¡¯s residents were well in its grip. The results of the sigils spread among the folk were easy enough to see on any street corner or back alley.

    ¡°If only I could see the whole thing.¡± Frustration would not let me go. The map back at the keep was haphazard right now. Only once the entire city was mapped would we be able to discern a true pattern or purpose. ¡°I bet if I could get aloft I could sense more of them and speed this up, but Cassyrra¡¯s too big to fly low enough for me to see them with magesight.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got wings too.¡± The sphinx said, fluffing her feathers.

    I swung to face her. ¡°Are you saying you¡¯d carry me?¡± The street was deserted. Cleobah and I stood in the middle of it, avoiding the sigil¡¯s luring energies. They radiated out, covering the walkway. The rest of the businesses, other restaurants, jewelers, or clothiers were now half-burned, boarded up husks.

    ¡°I could.¡± Cleobah shrugged.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say something before?¡± I demanded.

    ¡°It¡¯s a sphinx thing.¡± She said, giving me a sly smile. I rolled my head and eyes.

    ¡°You said nothing for a whole week, making us traipse all over these streets.¡± Yeah, I was a little mad about it.

    Her face crumpled, and with a sigh, she admitted, ¡°I wanted to see more of the city.¡±

    I wrinkled my nose. ¡°You did?¡± I could tell she was being honest. Her eyes glowed. That was a sphinx thing. Her numin flowed when she spoke the truth, illuminating her beautiful gold eyes.

    Came in quite handy too, as Cleobah had a wicked sense of humor and was not above pranks.

    ¡°I¡¯ve never been in one like this before and it looked so interesting, what I could see from the keep. I¡¯m over it now. This is just depressing.¡± She stirred the air, gesturing with a wing at the cluttered street and dilapidated buildings. I held my breath as the gusts brought the street¡¯s funky smell to nose level. Her expression shifted from sorrow to excitement.

    ¡°I can¡¯t wait until we clean this place up.¡± Cleobah said to herself, then pointed with her wing. ¡°Let¡¯s go over to that park. You can use a bench to climb on so you don¡¯t have to jump or pull on me.¡±

    We had the map done that night.

 Chapter Seventeen

    Chapter Seventeen

    The only difference between my Bonding and any Candidate today is¡­

    I knew my Bondmate well before we sealed our Bond.

    From the personal journal of Ozora

    Dean of Magics

    The Bestiary

    ****

    Taenya and I were sitting together under the tent, sharing a bottle of wine and a bit of blissflower. It was late, but neither of us cared. We¡¯d finished that fucking map and that deserved some celebration. Magelights in their crystal containers danced, giving the tent and stone walls life and movement. Or was that just my head making them seem to swim?

    ¡°I thought I was dead a few times. No saddle, no lashings to hold me on. Just my strength.¡± I told Taenya. ¡°I¡¯ve flown on eagles, flown on your dragon, but this was the scariest flight of my life. Had to hold on for real and I am not used to that.¡±

    It was true. Flying on Cleobah was a whole different level of terrifying exhilaration. Her frame was altogether different from a horse or an eagle. I¡¯d had to grip tight with my legs and clench my fists in the ruff of longer fur and feathers around her shoulders with nothing but my own strength holding me on as we soared over Hastrior. What had seemed like a good idea from the ground was more unnerving than I¡¯d expected, but I¡¯d gritted my teeth and held on. I¡¯d regret it tomorrow, though. Already the stiffness in my legs reminded me I¡¯d used them more than usual. ¡°Do I seem the muscle-y type to you?¡± I flexed one arm.

    Hey, I¡¯m a mage, not a fighter. I don¡¯t need muscles to be in shape.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have dropped you,¡± Cleobah murmured from her spot nearby. She¡¯d piled a bunch of cushions together, making a big fluffy bed that she was curled up on. ¡°That was the most gentle flight ever.¡±

    Fraser walked out of the keep, heading toward the cliff.

    It was abruptly ten times hotter in here.

    Black leather breeches clung to his muscled thighs and round ass, and a tight black leather vest seemed molded to his pecs and abs. He¡¯d pulled his long mop back into a tight braid.

    ¡°Why all the leather?¡± I did not tell him he looked hot enough to scorch. First, he already knew. Second, his ego didn¡¯t need any more stroking.

    His arms were bare, and the magelights glowed on his coppery skin, casting bright highlights and deep shadows on his muscled biceps and forearms. My fingers and palms itched to caress those curves and dips.

    He whipped his head around. ¡°Why are you still awake?¡± That was definitely a demand, not a question.

    ¡°Guess you didn¡¯t see us.¡± I pointed to myself, then Taenya. She lay draped across one couch and I sprawled on the one opposite the glowing brazier. Typically, I welcomed its warmth in the late-night coolness, but since spotting Fraser I now felt overheated.

    I wouldn¡¯t have seen him if I hadn¡¯t been facing the gate of the keep. I caught the look of surprise that he promptly smothered, turning it into a glare.

    ¡°You¡¯re looking very dangerous tonight, Fraser.¡± I pointed out. They were nigh invisible, but he had to have at least a dozen daggers hidden in those tight leathers. I¡¯d seen him train with them, slipping the thin blades out and whipping them at his targets faster than the eye could follow. His only visible weapon was the longsword at his side. ¡°Expecting trouble?¡±

    No, he was the weapon. A bold warning. An unmistakable threat.

    Especially in those black leathers.

    My mouth went dry, and I grabbed for my wineglass when my mind pictured peeling that vest off him.

    ¡°Who¡¯s waiting on the beach?¡± Taenya asked, voicing my next thought.

    ¡°Oh come on! What the fuck?¡± He went straight to angry and yelling. ¡°Are you my mommies to interrogate me?¡± Which could only mean.

    ¡°Nailed it.¡± I said to Taenya, holding up one hand in acknowledgement.

    ¡°No!¡± Fraser spluttered. ¡°Well, yes, but ¡­ it¡¯s ¡­¡± He clamped his lips and stalked into the tent, eyes grim. He leaned over, bracing his palms against the back of the sturdy couch, giving me an up-close view as he bent over. ¡°Look, it¡¯s nothing to do with either one of you. This is my personal business. So you can both fuck right off.¡± He straightened and waved one pointed finger at both of us.

    ¡°So sensitive. Why would that be?¡± Cleobah purred, lifting her head from her paws. ¡°Seeking long lost treasure, Fraser?¡±

    ¡°You can fuck right off too, kitty-cat.¡± He snapped before spinning on his boot heel and disappearing into the dark beyond the tent.

    ¡°I think he really likes me.¡± I looked over my shoulder at the sphinx. Cleobah slow-blinked at Fraser¡¯s retreating back, her expression pure mischief. Narrowed cat-like eyes on an all too human face, plus the tiniest lift of her lips gave her an uncanny, predatory expression. I¡¯d seen the cats of the keep wear a similar expression when hunting, just before they caught their prey.

    ¡°You know where he¡¯s going?¡± I asked her.

    ¡°Of course I do.¡± She still stared off into the dark, but Fraser was long since gone. We all heard his boots ring, then fade as he descended the stone steps to the beach. Cleobah¡¯s expression shifted to something like concern, but the normally talkative sphinx said nothing more.

    ¡°That¡¯s not suspicious, is it?¡± Taenya asked. ¡°Stalking out of here looking like a murder about to happen.¡±

    Cassyrra was invisible in the field beyond until she hummed, igniting the gorgeous lines and swirls along her wings and flank with faint lavender and sapphire.

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    ¡°Should we go after him?¡± I asked. ¡°Do we care if he¡¯s going to kill someone?¡±

    Taenya sat up. ¡°Cassyrra isn¡¯t worried about him. Says he can handle himself.¡± She stood and stretched. ¡°I¡¯m for bed. If he¡¯s not back in the morning, then I¡¯ll worry.¡±

    She strolled off into the dark, heading for her dragon.

    ¡°Good advice.¡± I stood too, bidding Cleobah a pleasant night and heading for my tent.

    Sleep didn¡¯t come. I couldn¡¯t stop thinking about Fraser. He¡¯d become distant after we started mapping the sigils.

    Okay, after we kissed.

    It was awkward for both of us to be together, which was very little since we found the sigils. Training was on hold right now. The high elf sigils became a priority and a welcome distraction, with the bonus of keeping us far apart for most of the day. Lately, I only saw him when he emerged from his tent for breakfast. The last few days, he¡¯d returned late, after I was asleep.

    I did not know how I felt about us. That kiss. It burned, the memory keeping me awake now as well as the shame. I had to be the worst sort of hypocrite. I hated him for five years. Only a month ago, I¡¯d have turned him into a starling for sure if he crossed my path.

    Why the hell did I kiss him? I tossed and flopped. My discomfort had nothing to do with my bed or position, an ache I tried hopelessly to deny.

    Whatever. It¡¯s his life. We aren¡¯t a thing. I rolled over on my bed, trying to find a more comfortable position.

    ¡°I know you¡¯re awake. Can I come in?¡± Cleobah¡¯s voice came from beyond the thick canvas wall. Both moons were out, making it bright enough to cast her leonine shadow on the wall.

    Magelights ignited in their crystals when I stood. Shuffling across the rugs, I untied the lacings holding the tent door closed.

    ¡°You might want to put on different clothes for this excursion.¡± Cleobah walked in, crossed over to where I had a small cabinet and a dressing table, looking over my things.

    ¡°Am I dressing for a fancy party?¡± I asked when she pulled a couple of necklace talismans from my collection, dragging them across the wood of the dressing table with one claw tip. She didn¡¯t scratch the surface, despite the size of her paw and claw.

    ¡°It¡¯s a party.¡± She said. ¡°I don¡¯t know about fancy, but we¡¯re going to crash it. Wear those.¡± She thumped the dressing table holding the talismans she selected with her paw, making them rattle. ¡°Then pick something you can be ¡­ flexible in.¡±

    ¡°Where are we going?¡± I asked, scooping up the two necklaces made of silver and gemstones. I didn¡¯t look, just obediently draped them around my neck and followed the sphinx to where she sat looking over my wardrobe.

    ¡°Bring daggers. And that.¡± Cleobah gestured to my belt pouch, the one stuffed with pre-loaded cantrips and potions, and ignored my question. She was being curiously quiet and her face was taut with something that looked like pain.

    Soon, I¡¯d rigged out in all-black, tight-fitting leggings, a clingy high-necked, long-sleeve top, and a vest solely for my throwing daggers.

    ¡°This doesn¡¯t seem much like a party.¡± I said, wrapping the belt around my waist. ¡°More like burglary or robbery.¡±

    ¡°Close enough.¡± Cleobah pressed her lips together and muttered. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    She wouldn¡¯t answer any questions, just led us out across the field under the stars, up to a large boulder and stopped.

    ¡°Get on.¡± She jerked her chin at the boulder, her jaw clenched.

    ¡°Wait. What¡¯s going on?¡± This was all too weird. She¡¯d taken us wide of Taenya¡¯s tent and Cassyrra, whose snores buzzed in the distance.

    Several old tales of sphinx leading people to their death flashed through my memory. Cliniys in his Bestiary, Complete wrote several times of their dangerously capricious nature, using those tales as proof. They liked to play with their prey and often designed intricate traps.

    I did not want to end up as one of those stories.

    ¡°You know I can¡¯t tell you outright. This is still in the future. Well, your future.¡± She winced.

    I crossed my arms, shook my head. ¡°Maybe we should talk with Taenya.¡±

    Cleobah scowled, anger erasing the pain in her face. ¡°Don¡¯t be like that. This has nothing to do with her, and he¡¯s running out of time. Dammit.¡± She grimaced, lips twisting and compressed. Her front legs buckling as her eyes tightened. She was definitely in pain. ¡°Knew that one would get me. Listen, I can¡¯t tell, but I can show you. Get. On.¡±

    ¡°He?¡± There could only be one ¡°he,¡± right? The rest of my question stayed unspoken, and Cleobah didn¡¯t say, didn¡¯t even nod. Her lips remained sealed.

    Once more, I was astride the sphinx.

    She broke into a lope, heading straight for the cliffs, then stretched into a run and launched by leaping from the edge. I clamped my lips on a yell of surprise and bent low over her shoulders, holding on tight as she plunged toward the rocks below. Her wings pressed deep into my legs, quivering as she folded them tight to her flanks like a falcon in a stoop.

    This is it. I refused to die screaming. The wind tore at my eyes and shrieked in my ears. My muscles spasmed to hold me on when Cleobah snapped her wings out, swooping into level flight.

    ¡°You¡¯re pulling my feathers out and making it hard to breathe! Relax!¡± She shouted over her shoulder. ¡°I told you, I won¡¯t let you fall.¡±

    I relaxed my grip on her shoulders. ¡°Sorry!¡± I yelled back, not sorry. ¡°If we¡¯re going to make this a habit, let¡¯s come up with some straps, so I don¡¯t have to clutch at you when you fall into a dive like that.¡±

    Her muttering vibrated through my legs, clamped around her ribs, but whatever she said got lost to the wind of her flight.

    From the air, Hastrior¡¯s lights twinkled, reflected in the bay''s water, but we left them behind as we soared inland. Cleobah landed us in a small field beyond the city¡¯s perimeter walls. Houses, some occupied, some not, judging by the lights glowing in windows, lay scattered along a dirt road. It tracked from the hills behind us toward the main road that lead to the Solar Gate.

    ¡°Your answers are in there.¡± Cleobah sat and nodded at one house in particular after I slid to the ground.

    No lights shone from darkened windows. Peeling paint, a yard overgrown with weeds, but with glass in all the frames and the door looked sturdy. The other dark buildings on this road had doors busted open like their windows.

    I guess that meant it was still occupied, and its residents were asleep.

    I looked from the sphinx to the house and back to Cleobah. ¡°Am ¡­ am I supposed to go in there?¡± I pointed at the dilapidated building and raised my brows. Was she serious?

    ¡°Only if you want to know.¡±

    ¡°Know what?¡± I was confused. Why had she flown us out here in the middle of the night? ¡°I wasn¡¯t serious about the burglary part.¡± Irritated, I asked. ¡°Weren¡¯t we were talking about Fraser back at the keep? He¡¯d never come here. Why bring me to some run-down house in Hastrior¡¯s outlying burbs?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve told you as much as I can.¡± Her tail lashed the long dry grasses, and her lips clamped tight, scarcely letting her words out. ¡°Go in, don¡¯t go in. Is it dangerous? Could you die?¡± She muttered to herself, rising to her feet and pacing, plate-sized paws swishing through the brittle stems. Her expression transformed, becoming more ancient and implacable. Her gaze lost focus. I wasn¡¯t sure she saw me anymore and wondered if I should be worried. ¡°These are things people always ask. The answer is the same.¡± She halted herself abruptly. Awareness snapped back into her golden eyes, filling with sad concern. ¡°Yes.¡±

    This was a different side of Cleobah.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t ask ¡­ you came to me.¡± I protested, not sure where she was going with her brief speech. ¡°You¡¯re the one dragged us out here.¡±

    ¡°I really have to spell this out for you?¡± Exasperated, she rolled her eyes, but it was a relief because she was back to her normal, youthful self. Crazy-talking, ancient Cleobah was a scary creature. ¡°Okay, not making it easy for me.¡±

    On impulse, I wanted to bark back at her, but something stopped me. I took a breath. Heard the quiet pleading behind her tight, sarcastic tones.

    After spending so much time with Cleobah this last week, I¡¯d learned a few things. Despite being born just a couple hundred years after Cassyrra, she was very much the youngster she seemed. Sphinxes, being immortal, take a very long time to mature.

    Despite all her power and ability, I saw the struggling young girl who honestly was trying to help. Unsure how, she¡¯d cover her fear and uncertainty with sarcasm and snark.

    I thought over what she¡¯d told me this evening and came up with a disturbing conclusion.

    She wasn¡¯t being a snotty teen; she was terrified and unable to warn me outright. Only able to drop vague hints and hope I¡¯d put them together because of the constraints on her about revealing the future. Worse, it seemed to hurt her when she came too close to exposing too much about upcoming events.

    ¡°Are you telling me Fraser is in there?¡± I asked, horrified. This was a place no nereid would come to willingly. Which meant something bad had happened.

    Her expression and wings sagged with relief. She could speak now with ease once I recognized what she¡¯d been hinting around. She blew out her breath like she¡¯d been holding it. ¡°Be sneaky.¡± She whispered.

 Chapter Eighteen

    My mother returned to her nereid family beneath the sea after my father broke her heart.

    She walked us into the waves one day, never looking back.

    Her brother and sisters took us in, gave us safety and love.

    It couldn¡¯t erase the burning in my soul to end the man who destroyed my mother.

    Captain¡¯s Log, Mayhem

    Captain Fraser Connell

    ****

    ¡°Gahan, deliver me from meddlesome mages.¡±

    ¡°Captain?¡± Bishop paused, letting the oars drag in the water. The tiny skiff was just big enough for the two of us. Cramped, but the trip from the beach under the cliff to Mayhem¡¯s quay didn¡¯t take long.

    ¡°Nothing. Just complaining out loud.¡± I muttered, staring out across the water, my dark thoughts a match for the inky depths. Bishop resumed rowing.

    Finally found him. Gordon¡¯s disappearance solved at last. I had a lot of questions for my old friend. Didn¡¯t expect his answers to be good.

    I¡¯d been out hunting sigils when Bishop found me today. At least that¡¯s what I told Taenya and Ozora. It was even true. It just wasn¡¯t the entire truth.

    My hunt for Gordon had nothing to do with them or magecraft. None of their business and the less I talk to either of them, the better off I am.

    Besides, I could search for sigils at the same time as I searched for Gordon¡¯s whereabouts. I found plenty of sigils, but Gordon? All I found were empty buildings and dead ends. I¡¯d set the crew to searching as well, but their luck matched mine. Until Bishop brought good news.

    ¡°He¡¯s been spotted, Captain. In the old brewery.¡±

    By the time we got there, the brewery was empty. ¡°I trust the fellow who found him. Known him since I lived here before.¡± Bishop said. ¡°He told me this is where Gordon sleeps. Why don¡¯t we come back tonight and grab him after he passes out?¡±

    We planned for him to pick me up on the beach below the keep tonight and take me to Mayhem to collect up the rest of the crew. ¡°I do not want him getting away again. Make sure you bring enough men, Bishop.¡±

    He nodded, a toothy grin splitting his face. ¡°I¡¯ll send word when Gordon¡¯s spotted again.¡±

    The message came that evening. Bishop¡¯d be at the beach by midnight. Taenya and Ozora were already celebrating completing the map. Good for them. I figured at the rate they were going, they¡¯d both pass out before I left.

    Really wish they hadn¡¯t caught my exit. I ground my teeth but set my eyes on the fast-approaching harbor. Mayhem rested several slots away. Bishop pulled us up alongside the massive stone retaining walls that divided the water of the bay from the city, right next to a steep stairwell up to the street.

    ¡°Where¡¯s the crew?¡± I asked.

    ¡°Already waiting near the brewery. This slip is closer than going all the way to Mayhem and walking back.¡± He answered, voice muffled as he bent to tie up the skiff to the metal rings sunk into the stone.

    Finding out Gordon had sunk to sleeping in an abandoned brewery shocked me, but so much of what I¡¯d found in Hastrior shocked me. The sigils that blanketed the city had Ozora convinced they had something to do with the city¡¯s downfall. I wasn¡¯t so sure.

    I had a lot of questions for my old friend Gordon Derryngton.

    The Gordon I¡¯d known before would never have slept in an abandoned brewery, or let the city deteriorate. My friend had stayed because he wanted to keep Hastrior thriving. That man would¡¯ve fought to prevent this from happening. He¡¯d promised to keep the city running. What had gone so wrong, he¡¯d abandoned it?

    The brewery sat several blocks back from the harbor. We passed no one coming or going, and no magelights shone from the buildings or street lamps.

    ¡°Don¡¯t light up, sir. We don¡¯t need that.¡± Bishop cautioned when I would¡¯ve ignited a small luminous crystal. The tiny magelight gave a narrow beam, but bright. ¡°Don¡¯t give him any hint. Our men are in position. They¡¯ll be ready.¡± The further moon had nearly set, poised to dip below the horizon, but there remained enough light for us to see our way through the dark streets.

    The shadows deepened as we entered the brewery. Wide cargo doors stood open like a hungry mouth, but the sinking moon¡¯s light didn¡¯t pierce very far.

    We walked some fifteen feet into the deeper shadows of a wide-open warehouse space. Our footsteps echoed, bouncing between the slab walls and giant vats that loomed at the edges. Scarcely distinguishable from the night sky, they stood in front of tall clerestory windows lining the top of the wall.

    Brilliant magelights flashed, blinding me.

    ¡°I did not expect that to work.¡± I blinked to clear my vision, but that voice was too familiar. ¡°You just walked right into it. Have your wits gone soft out there on the island?¡± It took a few more moments to see Gordon Derryngton standing some ten feet in front of me. A half-dozen men flanked him.

    I am all kinds of a fool.

    ****

    ¡°There he is. Now he¡¯s coming about.¡± My head rocked back, and I stared up at Gordon, my braid pulled tight in his fist. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, Captain.¡± He sneered the last word. ¡°I thought we had a deal. You would go play with your water ponies and stay the fuck out of Hastrior. In return, Hastrior is mine.¡± His fingers tightened at the base of my skull, pulling the skin at my temples taut.

    Everything hurt. It had taken all of them to take me down. I¡¯d cast a shield spell so their knockout spells didn¡¯t work, but that didn¡¯t stop them from all taking their turns beating me. I had two on each arm by the time I cast the shield spell.

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    They didn¡¯t hold me long, but they were smart. One of them cut my sword belt, or this night would¡¯ve gone differently. Another pulled a club and the other five piled onto me. Don¡¯t remember anything after that.

    Gordon pulling my hair was nothing.

    My gaze roved, seeking clues to where they held me, but all I could see right now was the ceiling and Gordon¡¯s aged face. The intervening years weren¡¯t kind to my friend.

    He had me bent back in the chair I was bound to, a simple upright backrest on a hard wooden seat, holding me only by my hair. My neck and back arched in his grasp. I wrapped my hands around the wooden dowels of the backrest and pushed, taking some of the strain off. The wood rolled under my hand and squeaked, then stopped.

    ¡°So, why are you back here now? Blowing up ships, taking over the keep. Why do you care what happens here?¡± Gordon released me and slapped the back of my head, making it rock again.

    This was all kinds of bad.

    I scanned my surroundings. This didn¡¯t look like the brewery or anything near it. This was a run-down ground floor room in an old house somewhere. I couldn¡¯t see much outside the windows I faced. There was nothing beyond the dark. In the room, two lackeys stood guarding the doors at opposite ends. Both were closed. Turning my head, I saw a small brick-surrounded fireplace on the wall behind me.

    ¡°More, why are you looking for me and learning magic?¡± He paused his pacing to bend over and look me in the eye. ¡°Must say, buddy, that one surprised me. The old Fraser didn¡¯t care for magic beyond his pets. Easier to buy spells off a mage, you always said. Why the fresh interest?¡± He straightened and tapped his chin. ¡°Could it be because your pretty little mage has returned? You remember, the one that sank Skirmisher? Why are you so friendly with her now?¡±

    ¡°Someone¡¯s been telling tales.¡± I said. I¡¯d known Bishop for a couple of years now, trusted him.

    ¡°Everyone has a price.¡± Gordon¡¯s grin stretched wide. ¡°Bishop¡¯s wasn¡¯t much. Those sigils sure helped.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, what¡¯s up with those?¡± The longer I could keep him talking, the more chance I had to figure a way out of this. The downside was I had to listen to Gordon tell his story. Being a bard, he loved the sound of his voice.

    ¡°This city was doomed when you killed its Prince, Fraser.¡± Off to a dramatic start. Not surprised. ¡°You might captain a ship and command men, but you fail at city rulership. Prince Bart was hated, and you had your reasons, but you destroyed this city for what? Because he was breeding and selling hippocamps?¡± He pointed out the windows to the darkness outside. ¡°It¡¯s not like there aren¡¯t plenty more swimming out there in the seas.¡±

    I gritted my teeth. He was right. Absolutely. He was just leaving out the most important part.

    ¡°You told me to go!¡± The words burst out and even in my anger, there was a stab of pain at losing the friend he had been. I¡¯d suspected, but having it shoved in my face cut deeper. ¡°Yes, I left, but only because you swore to me you could handle it. Remember that part, old friend?¡± I growled. Tugging at the bindings around my wrists and ankles was useless. The ropes held me fast. I couldn¡¯t shift my legs or arms more than a fraction from where he¡¯d tied them behind my back and to the legs of my chair. ¡°Or are you forgetting how you begged me to go?¡±

    His eyes crinkled in amusement at my struggles. ¡°The last time I saw you, you were a wreck. Crying over Ozora leaving you when you should¡¯ve been praising Nahit she took her crazy elsewhere.¡±

    Is that what he saw? My pain as weakness?

    ¡°I never took you for frail, Fraser. Ozora sank your ship and your answer was to shrivel and weep like a child with a broken toy.¡± He sneered. ¡°What use is a heart to a privateer? Or a prince, for that matter? The man who swam above the waves all those years ago was steeped in revenge.¡± Gordon flung his arms wide in emphasis. ¡°He took Skirmisher!¡±

    Then he lunged at me. I steeled myself not to react.

    ¡°Drove a sword through his father¡¯s belly without regard for such a paltry thing as a heart.¡± He matched the motion to words, miming a sword thrust at my chest. His gaze locked on mine down the straight line of his extended arm. ¡°That man was my brother. I would¡¯ve followed that Fraser into hell.¡± Gordon straightened from his lunge, never breaking his stare. ¡°That man would¡¯ve killed that mage bitch for what she did.¡±

    A red haze clouded my vision, but Gordon didn¡¯t stop there. ¡°Where¡¯s Fraser Connell, Scourge of the Sea?¡± He made a show of shading his eyes as if searching for something.

    ¡°Dead!¡± He dropped his hand, then poked me in the chest with two stiff fingers. ¡°Because the Fraser Connell I knew would¡¯ve killed both those women up at that keep a long time ago.¡± Pressure built in my gut, and I strained against the ropes. The chair creaked in protest. Gordon stood abruptly. ¡°Instead, you let Taenya and her brother escape, then turned into a weeping baby over Ozora.¡±

    ¡°Taenya and her brother were idiots and their scheme never really had a chance. You knew that. Why so bloodthirsty, Gordon? This is a new side to you.¡± He just laughed at my question like he didn¡¯t hear it, answering with one of his own.

    ¡°Do you want to know why I volunteered to stay?¡± His gloating, twisted grin said he was about to drop a juicy tidbit he¡¯d been hoarding. ¡°You never asked me back then, just said thank you and took off. Do you want to know why I stayed in Hastrior? Instead of sailing with you to rescue still more hippocamps from Duke Pastainell?¡± Gordon rolled his eyes and took two steps closer, bent over so his scornful gaze hit mine.

    ¡°Because I couldn¡¯t stand to look at your sad, sorry, defeated face for one more second.¡± Gordon¡¯s grin said he was enjoying every minute of this. The bindings and chair creaked promisingly, but I remained bound fast. He knew he had me secure, and with his goons in place ¡­ well, I¡¯m good, and I¡¯d give my best, but ¡­ Gordon knew there was nothing I could do to get free. ¡°After Ozora, you were a pathetic husk of the Fraser I knew and loved.¡±

    He had me, and he knew it.

    You could never accuse Gordon of stupidity. He¡¯d brought me far inland. I had no idea how long I was out, but I couldn¡¯t feel the ocean from here. No salt or moisture touched the stale air here in this room. My numin was only a faint trickle, hardly enough to sustain me. Nowhere near enough to cast. The land surrounding this house was dry as old bones. There was no water anywhere nearby to replenish my energies. Gordon knew me well and knew my weakest point. He¡¯d brought me here to cripple me, making me easier to kill.

    Otherwise, I could¡¯ve snapped out of these ropes or shattered this chair. I couldn¡¯t even cast the simple untying spell Ozora taught me. My numin flows from my nereid blood. This far from water, this dry, I had next to none.

    ¡°But Ozora wasn¡¯t your only weakness. Those damn hippocamps.¡± He threw his hands into the air as if to toss away his frustration. ¡°You crumpled the day you saw those pitiful sea nags. The old Fraser would¡¯ve taken the prince¡¯s gold and walked away. Not given a damn about what Bart kept in his stables.¡± Gordon snapped his fingers dismissively, biting scorn coating his face, distorting his features. ¡°The Fraser that was born from Bartholomew¡¯s death is a spineless, sentimental fool. You were such a broken man that one terrible love affair sent you running after more hippocamps. Instead of taking this city¡¯s riches.¡±

    Tugging at his waistcoat, he gestured to one of the guards.

    Clearly, Gordon did not sleep rough in some abandoned brewery. He was clean, impeccably groomed, and his fine linen and silk trousers and waistcoat were tailored to his form. He pulled a watch from his pocket, looking up as the guard approached. After muttering in the man¡¯s ear, he waited as the guard spun and left the room, as if gathering his thoughts.

    ¡°You were so ready to walk away from wealth.¡± Gordon wagged one finger, then tapped his chest. ¡°I am not such a fool.¡± He strolled behind me to a table pushed up against the wall next to the fireplace.

    ¡°Outstanding job you¡¯ve done here, Gordy.¡± I said with false sincerity. ¡°It¡¯s thriving under your benevolent guidance. If it was all about the money, why stop the river of gold that was Hastrior?¡±

    ¡°Because there is no stopping the Emperor.¡± His amber eyes glowed as he stepped round from behind me. My breath stopped.

    Gordon had no numin. He was a fighter and a bard, but his use of spells was limited to pre-loaded magic items. The icy pale numin that limned his gaze cast a pallor over his face. ¡°Hastrior and the Eastern Reaches will once more fall under his rule. He is implacable and unstoppable.¡±

    ¡°But if you serve him, he will spare you?¡± I asked, had to hear him say it.

    Gordon¡¯s eyes glittered, and a nastiness I¡¯d never seen in him lit his smile. ¡°His emissary is most generous to those with wisdom.¡±

    This was decidedly not the Gordon I once knew.

    ¡°Seems I¡¯m not the only one to have a change of heart. Difference between you and me?¡± I leaned toward him, far as the ropes would let me.

    He was going to kill me. I knew that look on his face, even with the ghostly light of another¡¯s numin animating my friend¡¯s form.

    Damned if I¡¯d let him think I was scared.

    I wasn¡¯t.

    I told him why.

    ¡°I found my soul with those hippocamps. You¡¯ve sold yours to evil.¡±

    ****

 Chapter Nineteen

    Nereids are ocean dwelling water elementals. Their numin, their life force streams from their Mother Ocean, Anja, and all their magical energies depend on water. Some live on land, it¡¯s true, but none live far from the sea.

    From the personal journal of Ozora

    Dean of Magics

    The Bestiary

    ****

    I raised my eyebrows and jerked my thumb at the darkened house. ¡°That? Are you sure?¡± I doubted Fraser would be in such a parched place. A nereid wouldn¡¯t last very long here. They¡¯d run back to the sea before the dry land drained their numin and I¡¯d never seen Fraser go past the city walls.

    Cleobah gave her tiny, satisfied smirk. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s me.¡± Flaring her wings, she added the obvious. ¡°Sphinx. All the time streams.¡±

    ¡°That tells me nothing.¡± I grumbled. She gave her wicked little laugh. I¡¯d learned to interpret that half-smothered snicker as Cleobah¡¯s amusement at things only she could see.

    Scanning the area again confirmed it seemed deserted, but where we landed was a good hundred feet or more from the house that Cleobah indicated. There might well be people in every home watching us. It was impossible to tell.

    The house looked deserted from this side, dark and uninviting, but that didn¡¯t mean it was, and the roof of a bigger structure loomed beyond the home.

    I needed a closer look, and I sure wasn¡¯t going to stroll on over.

    Closing my eyes, focusing on the spell I needed, I called a pool of swirling gold numin to my palm. Whispering the eye-spy cantrip and picturing the conjuration in my mind caused the glowing energy to quiver before forming into a tiny globe.

    Familiar warmth ran through me, my numinous energy flowing as I worked my craft. I used this spell often. It was a handy way to scout places at a distance, and had saved me more than once from walking into something I¡¯d have a hard time getting out of.

    The last words of the cantrip sculpted the glowing sphere into an eye, golden like Cleobah¡¯s. It floated in the air in front of me, blinking. My vision doubled as it linked with the spell, then stabilized. Cleobah hummed with pleasure. ¡°Good choice.¡±

    ¡°I better not see him plowing someone.¡± Although the uneasy flutter in my gut said that wasn¡¯t the case at all and my bitter snipe was just¡­

    ¡°Jealousy? What if he is?¡± Cleobah spoke my concern. Her gaze sharpened with curiosity.

    ¡°He can do who he wants. I don¡¯t want to watch.¡± I hissed back, not wanting to talk about Fraser being with another woman. With a flick of my fingers, I sent the eye-spy zooming over to the house.

    There was nothing in the two tiny rooms of the windows we faced. It zipped around the opposite side, revealing a large picture window that glowed dim orange. A covered porch stretched across the front of the house. Nearby, a large, covered wagon and some horses were tied up next to a barn.

    Something was really wrong. That many horses plus a wagon meant a lot of people. Out here beyond the city walls, in a largely abandoned suburb. That uneasiness in my belly clutched tight in warning. I sent the eye-spy to peek in the picture window of the house.

    They had Fraser tied to a chair. Two men guarded doors on opposite walls. Gordon Derryngton had Fraser balanced on the chair¡¯s back legs, one fist clutching his braid and bending his neck and back savagely. The grimace on Fraser¡¯s face was part pain, but mostly rage. His lips contorted into a snarl of defiance.

    Where was the rest of the party? I saw four men plus Fraser, so why did they need six horses plus a wagon?

    I found them in the barn. Four other men sat around a scarred table playing cards. A quick scout of the rest of the grounds showed they were the only ones outside. Gordon, Fraser and the other two were the only ones in the house.

    I told Cleobah what I¡¯d seen.

    ¡°Perfect, knock those four out, then we¡¯ll work on getting Fraser loose.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t cast through an eye-spy.¡± I told her. ¡°Besides, I already dissipated the spell.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t?¡± Incredulity lit her face. Her eyes widened and mouth dropped. ¡°Why not? You¡¯re Adept.¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not. Not yet.¡± An Adept would¡¯ve been able to cast at a distance, and all the men would already be asleep. Adepts learn the advanced magics of attack and defense, as rulers and merchants often hire them to protect kingdoms and commerce.

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    Journeyfolk don¡¯t have the numin to cast major spells or multiple spells at once. I did, but until Cassyrra I¡¯d been unable to find an Adept to take me on as apprentice or mage school that would accept me.

    None of which was helpful right now.

    ¡°I thought this would go differently.¡± Cleobah¡¯s shocked expression froze me. Her wide eyes seemed to stare at nothing for a moment before refocusing on me. A single tear formed in one of her eyes, dried by the parched breeze.

    ¡°You thought I was Adept?¡± I asked quietly. She looked like a kid who meant well, but burnt the breakfast they tried to cook you and set the kitchen on fire too. ¡°Your little rescue scheme was based on me being Adept?¡±

    ¡°I thought you¡¯d be able to knock everyone out from here and simply untie him.¡± Her lip quivered.

    Yelling wouldn¡¯t do any good and would only alert all those men that we were here.

    Gritting my teeth, I bent and dug into my belt pouch. Sorting through my collection of pre-made cantrips, potions, and amulets, my brain scrambled for anything like a plan.

    First, I had to take out the men in the barn.

    My seeking hand clasped a smaller pouch holding vials of sleeping powder. When I pulled them out, Cleobah wrinkled her nose. ¡°How can you use that? If you try to throw it on them, it¡¯ll get on us too, and nighty-night.¡±

    ¡°I know.¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯m working on it.¡± It took some effort, but I kept my voice placid. Getting mad would only frazzle both of us, so I swallowed my frustration, channeling it in one direction. How to take out as many of them as possible and free Fraser.

    All the spells I knew or had prepared required line of sight to cast. Which meant the men would also see me. Something I wanted to avoid.

    I had four vials of powder. Two would put the all the men in the barn into a deep sleep until tomorrow afternoon.

    ¡°I need a way to get this on all of them at once.¡± I drummed my fingers against the vials and frowned at them, as if I might glare them into giving me an idea.

    Hmmm.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go over to that group of trees. It¡¯s closer and will give us a better view.¡± I pointed to a clump of tall fruit trees clustered near the barn. ¡°But before we do, give me a second.¡±

    I pulled an invisibility amulet out of my pouch and triggered it. Glittering numin burst forth from the carved wood and stone disc, spreading to encompass both of us in a glimmering cloud. From within, I saw the boundaries of the invisibility shield, but any observers would see only dry fields under the stars. Unseen, we made our way over to stand in the middle of the thick, clustered trunks.

    The numin stored in the amulet wore out and it shattered in my hand. I shook the broken pieces to the dirt and studied the barn.

    The weathered structure glowed from within, light pouring out between the thin wooden planks and the open doors and windows.

    ¡°They don¡¯t seem worried about letting others know they¡¯re here.¡± Cleobah whispered. I shook my head, but the open doors were promising.

    ¡°This might work.¡± I whispered back. I tucked two of the vials back in my belt pouch.

    ¡°What?¡± Cleobah swung her head to look at me. I was already whispering the conjuring spell. Similar to the eye-spy, a numinous globe manifested, but this one was a hollow globe of force shielding. It glowed with my golden energy and floated in front of me. A perfect sphere except at the very top, where a small circular opening waited.

    ¡°Hold your breath until I tell you.¡± I said.

    ¡°Why¡ª¡± Cleobah shut up and clamped her lips fast enough when she saw me pull the stoppers off the vials, then tip and drop them both into the force globe. I sealed it before any powder escaped, but just to be sure, I snapped one of my breeze amulets to release a quick breath of air. If any sleeping powder drifted loose, this would whisk it away.

    ¡°Now I have to get it over them.¡± There was no way to avoid crossing the bare stretch between the trees and the barn. I¡¯d be visible to anyone. In my favor, none of the house windows faced this way, and the barn door pointed away from us.

    It¡¯s not that far. It¡¯s not. I eyed the patch of bare dirt between the trees and the corner of the barn. I couldn¡¯t hesitate or think about it or I¡¯d talk myself out of it. ¡°Wish me luck.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t cast anything else while holding the force globe, but I could throw it like a ball, even maneuver it. I just had to see where I was throwing it. Which meant I¡¯d have to step into the doorway to give it a toss.

    Just walk to the barn. Walk to the barn. How hard can it be? No one was in sight.

    I sucked in a deep breath and left the comforting shadows of the trees. A dozen steps, fifteen, and I reached the safety of the shadows at the corner of the barn.

    I froze in their depths, stretching all my senses while letting myself breathe, slow, soft, silent. Nothing but the night birds calling and the wind through the leaves.

    And the raucous laughter of the men in the barn.

    Peering between the planks while cradling the ball of sleeping powder, all four still sat around the table. One passed a bottle of brown liquor to the man next to him, while another waved his hand. With great enthusiasm, he described his latest female conquest.

    ¡°Once I finished I told her, ¡®you said you had to leave, leave.¡¯ Dumb bitch took a swing at me as she was crawling out of bed.¡± The rest of the men erupted into coarse laughter.

    Stepping with care so as not to make a sound, I made my way across the front of the barn. The sad structure was in such poor shape I had no trouble seeing the table they sat around was about ten feet from the doors. I wouldn¡¯t even have to step into the doorway.

    Cupping my hands under the orb holding the spilled sleeping powder, I pressed my back against the barn. The old wood still held some of the day¡¯s warmth.

    Just lean and throw. Lean and throw. Don¡¯t think. I leaned out past the frame, enough to see the men clustered around the table. I aimed and lobbed the golden globe in a low arc, guiding it with a thread of numin. Once it was over the table, I gave it a downward shove, then released the force globe.

    An explosion of white powder burst upward and covered them all.

    The men never had a chance. They jumped up when the globe dove for the table, but it was too late. The sleeping powder sifted over them in a fine cloud. I ducked back behind the door frame in case any of it wafted this way.

    There were four loud, satisfying thuds as they crumpled. I guessed some hit the table on their way down, judging from the sounds of wood splintering. Super proud of myself, I was less cautious about heading back to the stand of trees.

    I swung around the corner and slammed into the chest of the man from inside. The one Gordon sent out on an errand.

    Oniony odor swamped me, and I tried to scramble away from his sweaty shirt, coughing and gagging. He was faster, grabbing my arms only to give me a heavy shove, hooking the back of my foot with his.

    I went down hard. The breath chuffed out of my lungs in a whoosh when I slammed my back against the hard-packed dirt. What little breath I got wheezed and didn¡¯t sustain me. My vision swam.

    He knelt at my side and grabbed my arm. Before I could react, he slapped my right wrist. The sizzle of whatever spell he laid on me burned.

    I blacked out.

 Chapter Twenty

    One of the first magical crafts I learned was artificing from the first mage I ever met, Glenda.

    When I left my Eagle Clan family, I joined a troupe of traveling entertainers and Glenda was one of them. She almost fainted when she saw me bursting with numin and untrained.

    It was she who taught me how to make beautiful jewelry, then layer spellwork into the metal and stone.

    From the personal journal of Ozora

    Dean of Magics

    The Bestiary

    I came to, and everything was dark.

    I couldn¡¯t see, and my breath rasped through my nose. My mouth had dried out, stuck to the rag jammed between my lips.

    Rank, oniony body odor filled my nostrils. I clenched my teeth into the rag to hold back from gagging.

    The man who¡¯d knocked me out carried me.

    I was bound, blindfolded, and gagged.

    Shit.

    If I couldn¡¯t see or speak, I couldn¡¯t cast. There were some amulets in my belt pouch that activated by touch, but he¡¯d stripped it off me. I wondered how long I¡¯d been out.

    Long enough for him to incapacitate me.

    Not good.

    I made myself stay limp, did not want to let him know I was awake. His steps shuffled along a wooden floor.

    We were inside.

    From the way the air had changed and his echoing steps, I guessed he¡¯d brought me into the house. I hoped it was the house Cleobah flew us to. If I¡¯d been out long enough for them to take me somewhere else, I doubted I¡¯d be able to break free.

    Don¡¯t panic. Don¡¯t panic. Breathe. Think.

    I¡¯m still alive. If I want to stay that way, I have to stay calm.

    Where was Cleobah? Had they taken her out too?

    The echo changed when he stepped into a room from the hallway he¡¯d carried me down. I had a hard time not reacting when Fraser roared.

    ¡°What the fuck did you do to her?¡± It sounded like he tore the words from his throat. ¡°I will kill you seven times over for this.¡± Despite our dire situation, I did not envy them. Death laced Fraser¡¯s words.

    ¡°Heh, sure pal.¡± The man¡¯s voice vibrated through my chest. He sounded bored. Dropping me onto a hard bench, he gave a rough shove to prop me against the wall.

    ¡°That would be a neat trick.¡± Gordon¡¯s voice dripped light amusement, then turned intent. ¡°Nice catch, Carl. Do you have a numin-blocker on her?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she won¡¯t be waking up for hours.¡±

    ¡°Shit. Why didn¡¯t you put a numin-blocker on her?¡± He snapped.

    ¡°Because you didn¡¯t tell me to prepare for the mage.¡± Carl answered, just as sharp. ¡°You¡¯re lucky I had a knockout spell, and I got the drop on her. Not to mention, you didn¡¯t give me enough money for a numin blocker. Mages get pretty upset when you ask them to make one. They ask for lots and lots of gold." My captor¡¯s garlicky breath washed over me as he answered the other male¡¯s sharp question. He sounded annoyed, his voice tight and overly patient, like a frazzled parent explaining something to a toddler. Nausea washed over me and I struggled to remain calm. My regular breathing techniques no longer helped.

    Carl¡¯s sweaty fingers lifted my bound wrists, then dropped my hands on my chest before sliding down my legs to bind my feet. ¡°Look. She¡¯s tied. She can¡¯t speak, can¡¯t cast, can¡¯t move. Satisfied?¡±

    The coarse rope scratched against my skin. I tensed, trying not to squirm and get some relief.

    Gordon grunted.

    Carl¡¯s hands slapped the wall, and he groaned as he levered himself upright and took a few steps. The bench rocked under me as he settled onto it above my head.

    I had a bad feeling about this. I couldn¡¯t even wiggle my fingers. Carl was right. I¡¯d never be able to scribe a glyph or sigil. I couldn¡¯t whisper a cantrip. Couldn¡¯t see.

    I¡¯d seen enough through the spy-eye, though.

    Seeing Gordon stunned me, especially when some rumors had him dead. I never thought I¡¯d see him again.

    I had so many questions.

    I¡¯d feared for him when I fled Hastrior, been relieved when I heard he¡¯d stayed to run the city. Without his efforts, we never would¡¯ve stopped Fraser¡¯s supposed trade in hippocampus mares. I¡¯d been so sure we protected the wild pods, and so proud of what we¡¯d done.

    Yeah. I was. Until I had my eyes pried open. It hurt to realize how na?ve I¡¯d been back then. Sleepless nights became the norm this past week, and twisting with guilt over my actions.

    I¡¯d been wrong. Completely.

    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    There was no way Fraser trafficked in hippocamps. I¡¯d seen the bond he had with Bastion. Nothing sustained that sort of soul entwinement except love.

    Which meant I¡¯d broken off our relationship in the worst possible manner, for all the wrong reasons.

    Yeah, the guilt hit hard. Now here we both were. Trapped by the man who fed me lies. All while pretending to be so caring and empathetic.

    Why did I believe him? Not the first time I wrestled with that question. These last couple of weeks I¡¯d struggled plenty. It was so easy for me to accept back then because Gordon didn¡¯t tell me Fraser planned to capture and sell hippocamps to the highest bidder. He showed me. When he first approached me, he didn¡¯t have all the pieces, didn¡¯t know it was Fraser.

    We found out together.

    Gordon seemed just as shocked as I when he took me to see the newly built pens in Skirmisher¡¯s holds. The harness nets so new, they hadn¡¯t even been used.

    Or so I thought.

    Gordon had vowed if I took out the Skirmisher, that he would ensure Fraser never sailed again. I set my fireball spells before I left the holds. I always thought Gordon upheld his word. Heard nothing but vague rumors of Fraser from then till now.

    Gordon had been Fraser¡¯s right-hand man, but that last night he swore he¡¯d make things right. How many other vows had Gordon broken?

    His voice matched boot heels that paced the wood floor near me. I forced myself to breathe. Slow, in and out through my nostrils. My racing heart made it difficult. Surely he and Carl heard how it thundered?

    ¡°You better be right about that knockout spell.¡± Gordon¡¯s voice was low and nearby. Carl replied in just as low a tone. ¡°Question me again, and I¡¯ll slit your throat myself.¡±

    ¡°Try me.¡± Gordon had a deadly reputation. He wouldn¡¯t have been Fraser¡¯s right-hand man if he wasn¡¯t just as lethal as his captain. His boot heels squeaked and strode away.

    Cautiously, I drew enough numin to engage my magesight. Even with my eyes covered, I still sensed the numin fueling the different spells around the room. As Fraser learned, these energies are not visual, even though it¡¯s called magesight. So I still ¡°saw¡± in a sense, the same way Fraser ¡°saw¡± the numinous energies in the water while his eyes were closed.

    No details, only vague forms, but the energies were distinct. A male shape glowed with a sickly pale fire. Gordon, infused with numin not his own. A sigil, similar to the ones we¡¯d found around the city, hovered over him. Hazy threads of pale numin anchored it to the back of his head.

    Now I wanted to throw up.

    I sought Fraser by looking for his numin signature, scanning the room. I heard him but didn¡¯t see his numin. A worrisome sign.

    I found my belt pouch, glowing on the table I¡¯d seen with the eye-spy spell.

    It took two sweeps to find Fraser, his numin so depleted I wondered that he still had the energy to roar and threaten as he did.

    ¡°This is quite the delightful surprise, I must say.¡± Gordon sounded genuinely pleased. ¡°The same people His Grace wished to speak to come seeking me. Appreciate you saving me the effort of prying you away from that dragon up there.¡± The glow that was Gordon paused near Fraser¡¯s dim light. ¡°How did you get the beast to help you?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯d have to ask her. They dragged me into this against my will.¡± Fraser¡¯s voice sounded husky from his earlier outburst. Or was he fading?

    A dry nereid is a dead nereid. It had to be his human half keeping him alive right now, but how much longer could he take this? Gordon was savage for bringing him out here. Away from the lushness of the coastline, these hills were arid, especially this time of year.

    ¡°Who¡¯s so interested in us?¡± Fraser paused to cough, a dry hacking. ¡°Who¡¯s holding your leash?¡±

    The silence grew tense, but Gordon eventually answered. ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough anyway. His Grace, the Duke of Kiocinassa.¡±

    Huh?

    ¡°Who¡¯s he? Sounds fancy.¡± Fraser cleared his throat, sounding more like himself.

    ¡°Third cousin to the Emperor and an Adept. Naturally.¡± Gordon¡¯s voice moved, as if he were pacing and I lost the rest of his words. ¡°¡­ entrusted the Duke with preparing the city for the return of its rightful ruler.¡±

    Oh shit.

    A door opened.

    ¡°Sir, the men outside, they¡¯ve been knocked out. I can¡¯t get close to them. They¡¯re covered in sleeping powder.¡± An unfamiliar voice spoke up across the room.

    That¡¯s everyone. Carl¡¯s heavy breathing still wheezed above my head. New guy with brisk boot heels crossed the floor. ¡°The horses are fine, but I don¡¯t know when those men will wake with that much on them.¡±

    ¡°I think I saw a breeze cantrip or two in her belt pouch. Might be able to use those to clean off the men.¡± Carl still sounded bored, like he wanted to do anything else but sit here.

    ¡°Then you two go take care of it. Get them loaded onto the wagon after.¡± Gordon ordered. Two sets of footsteps left, closing the door behind them.

    Silence filled the room. It smelled like dust and sorrows in here. I didn¡¯t hear Gordon¡¯s steps until he stood above me, but the high elf¡¯s numin burned in my magesight, filling him and pressing against my shields.

    I¡¯d calmed my heart rate, but the pressure of that eerie energy caused it to spike again.

    My shields held. Gordon muttered something I didn¡¯t understand. The pressure increased.

    ¡°I know you feel me, little human.¡± He spoke with a voice not his own. This one lyrical, in a way Gordon¡¯s bardic-trained baritone would never match. ¡°Those shields won¡¯t hold for much longer. Not now I have you in my care.¡±

    I did not want to be face-to-face with a high elvish duke. Hearing his voice speak through Gordon made my brain to freeze with fear. Somehow even at a distance, he recognized me from when our energies had touched. Those brief moments when I cast the glamour of his sigil were enough for him to mark me. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you.¡± He hissed.

    ¡°Tell me Gordon.¡± Fraser¡¯s voice rang out. I sought him again with my magesight. He sounded stronger, but his numin remained just a thin thread. ¡°Did you invite His Grace in or did he arrive bearing gifts?¡±

    The soft chuckle was the scariest thing I¡¯d heard yet from Gordon. Because it wasn¡¯t really Gordon.

    ¡°He needs no one¡¯s invitation. He goes where he pleases and takes what he fancies.¡± Footsteps returned to Fraser¡¯s side. ¡°He¡¯ll drain you both completely. He can¡¯t have any mages here in Hastrior. The Emperor learned his lesson in the Sundering. Force is not the only way to conquer and rule. With the right suggestions, a city will destroy itself.¡±

    ¡°The sigils.¡± Fraser¡¯s hoarse voice revealed his inner turmoil.

    Gordon gave away an important bit of information. The Emperor feared mages.

    Cassyrra and Cleobah¡¯s school idea suddenly made a lot more sense.

    But the school would never happen if we didn¡¯t get free.

    Which didn¡¯t seem likely. We were well and truly stuck.

    I went through everything I¡¯d brought with me, searching mentally for something, anything to use to loosen these ropes so I could cast. Just a tiny loosening.

    Gordon¡¯s glowing form was across the room. I dared shifting my wrists and stretching my fingers to try to scribe a glyph.

    And brushed the talismans Cleobah had pulled from my collection and told me to wear. I gasped. Couldn¡¯t help it.

    I¡¯d forgotten about them, and Carl hadn¡¯t found them under my high-necked shirt.

    My seeking fingers rested on a rain talisman. I sell them to farmers to ensure their fields get adequate water. It¡¯s bespelled so that anyone with just a bare trace of numin can activate it.

    It releases a lot of water.

    Perfect.

    The silver of the talisman warmed as my numin flowed into the ingot inscribed with runes and embedded with aquamarine chips, triggering the enchantment implanted in the necklace.

    That¡¯s all it took.

    ¡°No!¡± Gordon shouted, his boots racing toward me. Too late.

    A deluge cascaded down, flooding the room.

    Fraser¡¯s numin flared to life as soon as the water touched him. The beating rain restored his energies in moments. I didn¡¯t need eyes to see his beautiful form. Drenched in his element, the magic of his heart and soul blazed to glorious life.

    My heart ached with regret. I¡¯d been a blind fool. I hoped he¡¯d forgive me someday.

    I didn¡¯t deserve him. He¡¯d been right to hate me.

    I¡¯d make it up to him. Somehow.

    Even over the drumming of the water beating down, I heard snapping wood as Fraser broke the chair they¡¯d tied him to.

    ****

 Chapter Twenty-One

    When I left Uncle Luvon¡¯s ranch to hunt my father, I didn¡¯t expect to see hippocamps again except from a distance. They had nothing to do with my purpose and no place in my life as a privateer.

    When I saw a hippocamp again, it ruined my life.

    I¡¯d do it again in a heartbeat.

    Captain¡¯s Log, Mayhem

    Captain Fraser Connell

    ****

    FIVE YEARS AGO¡­

    ¡°I think you¡¯re being an idiot.¡± Gordon tipped his beer back and drained it, then slapped the empty on the bar. ¡°Sir.¡±

    He was my brother in all but blood, and together we¡¯d spilled enough to fill a river. From my first days above the waves, Gordon had my back. He was the only one I trusted to tell me the truth, and he was the only one of Skirmisher¡¯s crew could get away with calling me an idiot.

    In this case, he was doubtless right, but I didn¡¯t really care.

    I couldn¡¯t get that poor hippocamp out of my head.

    I¡¯d left that life behind. Put them out of my mind and from that moment until now, I hadn¡¯t thought about hippocamps.

    Now I couldn¡¯t stop.

    Three days ago, Skirmisher set out on what should¡¯ve been a simple guard-duty cruise. The Earl of Sintane¡¯s son was getting married, and he¡¯d hired us to protect the wedding ship from pirates.

    The short version: it ended badly.

    ¡°You aren¡¯t wrong.¡± I said to Gordon. ¡°I lost my head when I saw the groom¡¯s younger brother astride that hippocamp gelding. Poor beast was so bespelled it could hardly move. That was the only reason it would tolerate an unbonded rider.¡±

    ¡°I know. You¡¯ve told me.¡± Gordon¡¯s tone held resigned patience.

    ¡°It was just supposed to be a routine guard duty cruise.¡± I muttered. ¡°How did the Earl let his son make such a stupid mistake?¡±

    I¡¯d said that more than a dozen times since watching the hippocamp flounder to keep up in Skirmisher¡¯s wake. While his rider laughed and raised his leather flogger again. The memory overrode the half-filled bar by the harbor. My vision dimmed, but my ears filled with the creature¡¯s scream of pain as the hard leather struck his flanks.

    The beast roused somewhat when I dove from Skirmisher, perking his ears as I swam towards him, but it was short-lived. Soon he once more sagged in his harness, head drooping to float in the water. With my numin, I¡¯d sent a wave rolling over them, pulling them closer to me and dragging the rider off the hippocamp¡¯s back.

    Now I chuckled aloud, remembering how the young man sank, thrashing his arms about with no effect.

    ¡°At least you rescued him.¡± Gordon seemed to read my mind. Part of why we were such an effective team. Our mental processes followed similar tracks.

    ¡°Three times.¡± I reminded him.

    That¡¯s how many times I had to shove him under until he told me who sold him the wretched creature.

    Prince Bartholomew Crummey.

    ¡°Think he said something about never going near the ocean again when I hauled him back on the wedding barge.¡± Gordon signaled the bartender to bring him another. ¡°That and making sure we never get another contract. Ever.¡±

    ¡°I heard him too.¡± I growled. Word was out about the wedding cruise events, and it was already bad for business.

    ¡°You did sort of spectacularly give one of Alurenth¡¯s peers an enormous fuck you.¡± Gordon said.

    ¡°I just can¡¯t get it out of my head.¡± It was the best I could do. Close as we are, he wouldn¡¯t understand. He¡¯d never bonded.

    I¡¯d felt the hippocamp¡¯s numin draining away, as if it was my blood running out along with his lifeforce. I¡¯d known he wouldn¡¯t last soon as I dove in.

    In the moments before he died, I¡¯d cradled that sad beast¡¯s scarred head in my arms and offered him a bonding so he didn¡¯t die alone. When he weakly twined his numin with mine, I immediately saw and felt him relax through our connection. His heartfelt gratitude shattered me. He¡¯d been terrified by the constricting spells that compelled his obedience and the harsh treatment of his rider.

    His trembling eased and his nostrils blew, softer and more relaxed, as I broke every spell that held him. The newly forged bond between us allowed me to banish any other numin.

    My fingers shook as I tore off the harness wrapped round him and his eyes opened, locked on mine.

    Their onyx depths were dull, but through our bond I sensed a brief spark of hope.

    He showed me where he came from. A stable with dozens of hippocamps, all of them as bad off as him. Horrific stalls and pens that reeked of desperation and despair. He asked me one thing before his final exhale.

    His tattered midnight mane spread in the waters when his head drooped, his forelegs at rest and his soul free. He believed me when I promised him I¡¯d find his kin and free them.

    I would never break that promise. I couldn¡¯t.

    It was the only way to get the image of that terrible place out of my head.

    I shuddered and took another sip of beer but didn¡¯t taste it, lost in my brooding.

    I knew who, now I just needed to know where. The images the dying beast showed me didn¡¯t tell me where the stable lay hidden. Which is what brought Gordon and me to this dive bar a few blocks off Hastrior¡¯s harbor.

    One other thing jabbed at me. ¡°What kind of fool tries to ride a hippocamp when he can¡¯t swim?¡± Finishing my beer, I set it down on the bar. ¡°Did I tell you what that idiot said when I asked him?¡±

    Gordon raised his brow and glanced at me from the corner of his eye. ¡°Hmmm?¡±

    ¡°His exact words were, ¡®the beast is supposed to rescue me if I fall off.¡¯ Said he paid extra to have it bespelled to swim under and lift him to the surface.¡±

    ¡°You have got to be kidding me.¡± Gordon swiveled his head, turning surprised amber eyes to meet mine. His flat tone matched his shocked expression.

    ¡°I shit you not.¡± Now I laughed, remembering how the young man had spluttered each time I yanked him to the surface, freckled face crumpled with fear and tears lost to the ocean.

    Remembering the abuse the gelding had suffered kept any sort of remorse for my treatment of the Earl¡¯s son at bay.

    ¡°He had plenty to say about you once we got him back aboard.¡± Gordon¡¯s voice turned grim. He disapproved of the way I treated the client, had said so a few times.

    ¡°No one died. I refunded their deposit, and they got the whole cruise for free. I¡¯d say we came out even.¡± In truth, I didn¡¯t give two fucks what they thought of me. I¡¯d seen what they thought was acceptable and found them lacking.

    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    ¡°They don¡¯t quite see it that way.¡±

    Now I scanned the newcomers strolling in through the door. Still didn¡¯t see my contact. ¡°They can suck my dick. We completed the contract with a safe conclusion.¡± The bartender returned with my fresh beer. ¡°You know that little shit was never in danger of drowning.¡±

    ¡°I know. But some of our upcoming contracts have cancelled.¡±

    ¡°Their loss. Refund their deposits if we took them.¡± I gripped his gaze with a harsh stare. ¡°This is non-negotiable, Gordy. You can stay or go, but this is happening.¡±

    I watched him wrestle with that. If his agreement bordered on begrudging, well, I couldn¡¯t hold it against him. What I proposed was utterly mad.

    The Earl¡¯s son told me of Prince¡¯s Crummey¡¯s hippocamp stables. He just couldn¡¯t tell me where they were. ¡°I truly don¡¯t know, sir. I was busy in my rooms below decks.¡± He¡¯d gasped. ¡°Sea passages are boring. That¡¯s why I wanted the hippocamp, so it would be more exciting.¡±

    The temptation to dunk him under the waves and let go for good when he said that was almost irresistible.

    Today, I was waiting for a man who had the coordinates of the prince¡¯s hidden stables. He¡¯d picked the bar and the time. Now this man was late.

    ¡°You know I¡¯m with you.¡± Gordon assured me.

    ¡°There he is.¡± I jerked my chin at the wiry male who slunk through the little tables to approach.

    ¡°You are looking for hippocamps, yes?¡± The selkie shifter hissed.

    ****

    A week later, Skirmisher rocked at anchor off a deep cove to the north of Hastrior. The prince¡¯s stables were on the opposite side of the promontory that blocked their view of us. Two days ago we¡¯d dropped a scout on the beach and picked him up today. He reported Prince Crummey went light on guards and heavy on mages and trainers.

    ¡°Spend their day playing with the ponies, sir. Don¡¯t see many weapons about, and I didn¡¯t see them practicing any. Send two squads overland and bring the rest ashore in skiffs at night and we¡¯ll crack ¡®em open like a walnut.¡±

    It went flawlessly. I wasn¡¯t surprised. I demand precision.

    I was not expecting to capture Hastrior¡¯s prince.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t this an unpleasant complication.¡± I said in an aside to Gordon. We stood on the beach, staring at our collection of prisoners.

    Now that the fighting was over, the crew lit a series of torches, setting a perimeter, and placing the captives within. A few rash ones had challenged us and learned that it¡¯s not Fraser Connell alone who¡¯s Scourge of the Seas. They were now piled off to the side, beyond the flickering torchlight. We¡¯d dump them at sea later.

    Most knew better than to fight and surrendered without lifting a sword.

    ¡°Why is he gagged?¡± I nodded at Prince Crummey. He was easy enough to recognize. Had even completed contracts for him. We hadn¡¯t formally met, but his aquiline nose and thin lips were plastered about Hastrior in posters praising him and his philanthropic works.

    ¡°Because the rest of them know better than to flap their lips and complain when staring down a sword with their hands and feet tied.¡± A dozen men and women sat on the beach, bound. He swung his finger to indicate four others, who were also blindfolded and gagged. Aside from Prince Bart, all the rest were just tied together with ropes.

    ¡°Except them. They¡¯re mages.¡±

    I nodded approval. ¡°Wise.¡±

    I hadn¡¯t made it to the stables yet, but I strolled over to the prince. ¡°Isn¡¯t this unfortunate, your Highness?¡± I even meant it. I¡¯d intended to sweep in, overcome the staff, free the hippocamps and vanish.

    Now I¡¯d gone and committed an act of war against a ruling prince.

    Not a good look for a privateer who relies on contracts with royalty and merchants.

    Pissing off two ranking nobles from two different states in as many weeks was a record for me.

    Prince Bart¡¯s eyes bulged when I approached. I do have somewhat of a reputation.

    He shouted around the gag, his eyes turning red at the edges.

    ¡°Please, your Highness. If you¡¯ll just calm down.¡± I crouched down, so I was closer to eye level with him. ¡°I¡¯ve heard some unsettling news about your little enterprise here.¡± He kept yelling, so I paused. Eventually, so did he, his nostrils flaring as he sucked in raspy lungfuls of air. He¡¯d gone through all his breath shouting around the gag and now was having a hard time getting it back. ¡°I¡¯m going to relieve you of your collection of hippocamps.¡± His voice went up a notch and in the flickering torchlight, his face turning beet red. ¡°Look I know. You¡¯ve been quite profitable, I¡¯ve found. I just can¡¯t allow you to keep doing so. I think you understand why.¡±

    Nereids are fiercely protective of hippocamps. The bonding makes anything else impossible. That anyone would keep them away from the seas or cut off from their bonded was not something I¡¯d allow.

    Prince or no prince.

    Crummey was back to gasping for breath, his face no less red, but his lips were turning blue.

    I pulled his gag off. It would be worse if he died. No one would believe he¡¯d expired from apoplexy. The rumor mill would claim I killed him. ¡°You really should try to be calm. You may do yourself harm. I assure you, no one¡¯s going to hurt you and once we¡¯ve got the hippocamps away, you¡¯ll be released.¡±

    The prince gasped, mouth wide open before he wheezed. ¡°I¡¯ll have your balls. This is outrageous!¡±

    ¡°I understand your anger, your Highness, I sincerely do.¡± Movement from the beach caught my eye. Sera ran up from the stables. ¡°But if what I find in your stables matches what I was shown?¡± I shook my head and let just a fraction of my rage burn through my stare. ¡°You¡¯d be wise to keep your mouth shut and count yourself lucky I don¡¯t collect your balls and your head.

    ¡°Sir, you need to come down to the water now.¡± Sera was always intense, but rarely were her hazel eyes shadowed with that much concern and anger. I wondered what could¡¯ve upset my healer to put that look on her face.

    ****

    I wanted to puke.

    My crew had already freed the captive nereid youths and taken them to safety. Hippocamps drifted listlessly in pens lining a wooden dock.

    Now I wept. What that hippocamp gelding shared with me paled compared to what we found. These pathetic creatures didn¡¯t even stir when their bonded were taken away. Only a few lifted their ears or followed me with their eyes. The rest just stared at nothing, their eyes flat, not noticing the surrounding activity. I strode to the end of the dock, leaving my crew behind so they wouldn¡¯t see me lose it. My heart shattered into pieces seeing those dull coats and eyes.

    ¡°Bring. Me. The prince.¡± I clipped off the words, sending them over my shoulder. Two tear tracks dried in the breeze. Boot heels tapped on the wooden dock at my order.

    Sera joined me. ¡°Sir, you need to hear this.¡± She filled me in on just some of the things the young nereids told her. My stomach heaved.

    ¡°They say the prince¡¯s people forced them to bond with the ¡®camps and then break them. Over and over. To break them.¡± Her voice cracked, and I heard her choke back a sob. ¡°Make them more malleable. Easier to bend with the binding spells.¡±

    ¡°Easier to sell at a premium price.¡± I finished for her.

    From behind us came a stream of shrill vituperation. My anger became my shield and hid my grief, burned away my nausea.

    ¡°I say, this is utterly preposterous. I am not to be treated like some common gutter trash. I am the Prince of ¡­¡±

    His voice dwindled when I turned to face him. ¡°You are Prince Bartholomew Crummey of Hastrior and you have some explaining to do.¡±

    He recognized the change in me. I¡¯d gone from sort of sorry to cold, rigid fury.

    ¡°I am not subject to anyone¡¯s orders, Captain.¡± He spluttered.

    ¡°No, technically you¡¯re not and to be honest, I do not want to hear your whiny explanations and attempts at justification. So again, shut your mouth and listen.¡± Wisely, he closed his lips, but his green eyes burned.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to give you a choice, Prince Bartholomew.¡± I¡¯d come to a painful decision. One that would haunt me, but it was the best I could make of an ugly situation. ¡°I will take you back to Hastrior as promised.¡± His frightened gaze lightened with relief that froze with my next words. ¡°But I will make sure everyone from your closest advisors to the City Council down to the street-sweeper¡¯s brats knows exactly what Skirmisher¡¯s crew found in your sick stables.¡±

    His weak green eyes darted from me to Sera, whose expression was terrifying. I¡¯d never seen my healer so fierce. She had good reason. She¡¯d been the first to see the disheveled nereid youths imprisoned with the hippocamps.

    ¡°You used those nereids to force the hippocamps to submit to the staff.¡± Sera shook as she flung her accusation at the prince. ¡°You kidnapped and beat them to force them to submit.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. Those are hired staff.¡± Bartholomew insisted, casting anxious glances at the other men and women around him as if seeking their agreement.

    ¡°By hired,¡± Sera said, her voice brittle with fury. ¡°The prince means his henchmen lured them with promises of high pay then trapped them in this cove. His Highness'' staff drugged them and worse, then refused to return them to Hastrior.¡± When he brought his gaze back to me, indecision had replaced the prince¡¯s fury, well-laced with fear.

    He was right to be afraid.

    ¡°How do you think the good people of Hastrior would react if they knew what we found?¡± I asked Sera. She didn¡¯t mince words.

    ¡°They¡¯d rend him to pieces. His people already don¡¯t like him. There wouldn¡¯t be enough left to cremate and toss to the winds.¡±

    Prince Bart¡¯s florid expression paled and went slack.

    ¡°Exactly. What. We found.¡± I repeated, not letting him avoid my stare, just to make sure we understood each other.

    ¡°I- I- I don¡¯t know ¡­¡± He gulped, his eyes darting. ¡°You don¡¯t understand. It¡¯s not what you think.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t honestly think that tired line works, do you?¡± I was disappointed and said so.

    ¡°Hey¡­Listen...¡± Another big swallow. The prince was seemingly feeling a bit queasy. His complexion had taken on a distinctly greenish tinge. ¡°I can make you rich.¡±

    I leaned in to whisper in his ear. ¡°I¡¯m already rich.¡± Straightening, I said. ¡°I haven¡¯t told you your other choice. Don¡¯t you want to hear it?¡±

    He shifted his head from side to side a fraction, too terrified to say no.

    I told him anyway.

    ¡°You end this, right here, right now.¡± His jaw went slack, but I didn¡¯t stop. ¡°Any method you choose.¡± I rested my hand on his shoulder. ¡°I will assist you if you need.¡± He shook under my grip. I locked my gaze with his and refused to let him look away. ¡°In return, I promise your secret will die here with you. Hastrior need never know.¡±

    It was a devil¡¯s bargain, and I knew it. I hated myself for it, but I still did it.

    I handed him the poison cup myself.

    After I promised him I¡¯d look after Hastrior. Prince Crummey was everything the wildest rumors accused him of: a drug- and sex- addicted degenerate. The island held all the evidence. Even the lenient courts of his own city would convict if they understood the full scope of what we uncovered. He cared only that his image remained untarnished, and he¡¯d whispered the one phrase that would force my compliance and wring a vow from my lips. I might tell them any tale I wished, so long as I ensured Hastrior survived and Prince Bart looked like a hero. I passed him the cup, and he handed me his abdication letter. His last request, that I wait to read it until I was in front of the city council.

    Not. Likely.

    ****

 Chapter Twenty-Two

    Except for needed resupply trips to Hastrior, we¡¯ve stayed on our island and tended our pods. I am done with privateer work. I am done with the killing and the fighting.

    Gordon has gone silent. I hope he is well but I¡¯ll be honest, I don¡¯t care.

    He made his choice. It¡¯s his city now.

    Captain¡¯s Log, Mayhem

    Captain Fraser Connell

    Gordon laughed, and his sickly glowing eyes brightened. ¡°Now I know my brother is truly dead. He would never have admitted to such a weak thing as a soul.¡±

    I almost pitied him. The emptiness and despair that would make a man say such a thing is heartbreaking, but also dangerous.

    Almost. If the old Fraser was dead to him, well, this Gordon was my enemy.

    It¡¯s him or me.

    I choose me every time, but I had very little else on my side at the moment.

    I was in some serious shit.

    Gordon dragged a chair over to sit next to me.

    ¡°Do you remember your first day aboard Skirmisher?¡±

    Of course, he remembered that one well. I had to beat someone¡¯s ass to be accepted by the crew. ¡°You shoved Lotho into the circle when they called for volunteers to test the new guy.¡±

    ¡°I never liked Lotho.¡± His eyes misted with a nostalgia he absolutely faked. ¡°But he was one of our better fighters.¡±

    ¡°Better than you.¡±

    ¡°True. Why do you think I had us train together?¡±

    ¡°You always were smart. Always several steps ahead.¡±

    Gordon shrugged. ¡°I thought the same of you. I respected you. You weren¡¯t the only nereid aboard, but you¡­you are a force of nature. When you fought Lotho, all I could think was, ¡®that kid is like a tsunami, and just as unstoppable.¡¯ So what happened?¡± He leaned against the backrest of his chair. It looked like mine felt and both had seen better days. ¡°You found out Prince Bart had a side-hustle selling a creature that to nereids is almost as common as dogs. So what?¡±

    I didn¡¯t answer him. I couldn¡¯t.

    The dryness here seemed to pound at me like a smith¡¯s sledgehammer. My lips cracked and my throat burned. I blinked rapidly, trying to clear my blurred vision, but with only partial success. I had to get back to water soon. My numin had drained to a thread, pulled away by the land.

    I had one reason to be grateful to my father. He earned his despicable reputation as a pirate, and I¡¯m glad I killed him. His sole redeeming factor is his human strength sustains me when I am far from the ocean. I¡¯d tolerate this far longer than my kin beneath the waves. This dryness would kill them. To me, it was uncomfortable, but I¡¯d live. It made me weak as a newborn foal, though.

    Gordon knew me well. Well enough to be sure that without my numin or nereid strength, these thin ropes and old creaky chair would suffice to hold me. The ultimate insult. It¡¯s also why Gordon didn¡¯t gag me. I had nothing to cast a spell with and he¡¯d hate to have this conversation be one-sided.

    ¡°You went from being an undefeated and wealthy privateer to a bleeding-heart crusader. You had a waitlist for clients clamoring to fill your pockets with gold and point you at their enemies.¡± He flicked his fingers, imitating a grammatic device. ¡°Scourge of the Seas. You earned that! Then you went and threw it all away.¡± Twisting his lips into that familiar sneer, Gordon mimed tossing a ball over his shoulder.

    Gordon had a sincere distaste for the softer emotions. He lacked empathy and in my former line of business, his ability to act without being bothered by a conscience was a boon.

    I hadn¡¯t known his distaste included such a deep hatred for me. That¡¯s what I read in Gordon¡¯s expression and actions.

    Especially since when we parted, I left with his blessing.

    Just like Skirmisher, I was a wreck and needed to get out of Hastrior. He endorsed my conviction, and I¡¯d sailed away, grateful for Gordon¡¯s understanding and support. I thought we¡¯d parted as friends.

    Hastrior¡¯s fall made so much more sense now and that he¡¯d been the one to help engineer its demise cut deep.

    He was right, though. The power vacuum left when I killed the Prince had opened the door to the Emperor.

    This was my fault.

    I¡¯d still do it all over again. I¡¯d just change one minor detail.

    ¡°You did try to talk me out of it, as I recall.¡± Of their own will, my lips twitched, corners lifting involuntarily as the memory surfaced. ¡°In the end though, even you agreed with my decision, Gordon. You helped me make it.¡± I reminded him. I flexed fingers that tingled, trying to force blood into them.

    ¡°Protecting the prince¡¯s reputation, while admirable, had a spill down effect you should¡¯ve expected. You did a terrible job running the city. You couldn¡¯t stand to sit through one council meeting. ¡®Don¡¯t I have people to do this?¡¯ is how you put it.¡±

    He was right. I¡¯d been getting ready to set sail before I met Ozora. I¡¯d heard rumors of another noble with hippocamp stables and planned to chase them down. Ozora distracted me, but even through our relationship, I kept my men out searching.

    ¡°Then Ozora showed up.¡± He rolled his eyes. ¡°That was doomed from the start.¡±

    The door to my left flew open as if kicked. The henchman Gordon sent out of the room a while back had returned. My heart stuttered when I saw who he carried in his arms.

    ¡°Speak and she appears.¡± Gordon rose as the male carried Ozora into the room.

    ¡°What the fuck did you do to her?¡± My dry throat tore with my shout. ¡°I will kill you seven times over for this.¡± My voice came out hoarse and my vision clouded with red. The henchman had her bound, gagged, and blindfolded.

    ¡°Heh, sure pal.¡± The male carrying her barely looked in my direction. I growled when he dropped Ozora onto a hard bench and shoved her roughly, propping her against the wall.

    ¡°That would be a neat trick.¡± Gordon¡¯s voice sounded amused, then turned serious. ¡°Nice catch, Carl. Do you have a numin-blocker on her?¡±

    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    He quick stepped over to where Carl settled on the bench and cast a furtive look over at me before lowering his voice. Carl followed suit, and I heard no more.

    I tugged again at the ropes around my wrists. They hadn¡¯t budged.

    ¡°She has nothing to do with us, Gordon.¡± I insisted.

    ¡°Come on, Fraser, you know that won¡¯t fly with me. I think to be safe, I should slit her throat now.¡± Gordon spun and half drew his dagger.

    ¡°NO!¡± I roared. Straining with every muscle only made the chair rock, teetering back and forth. For all its creaks and crackles, it held. Dammit! I fumed.

    Gordon dissolved into laughter as he flipped his dagger before sheathing it. ¡°Oh don¡¯t worry, lover-boy. Not yet. He¡¯ll want her alive. Can¡¯t harvest her numin when she¡¯s dead.¡± Strolling back to the chair, he once more sat, looking supremely pleased.

    ¡°This is quite the delightful surprise, I must say.¡± Gordon¡¯s gaze lingered on Ozora, stretched out on the bench against the wall. She didn¡¯t stir. My breath rushed out. I didn¡¯t realize I¡¯d held it till I let go with relief when I saw her take a long, slow inhale.

    Gordon turned to me, his face lit with sincere pleasure. ¡°The very people His Grace wished to speak to come seeking me.¡± He splayed his fingers on his chest in mock wonder. ¡°Appreciate you saving me the effort of prying you away from that dragon up there.¡± Waving one hand vaguely in the direction of the keep, he finished with, ¡°How did you get the beast to help you?¡±

    I rolled my shoulders as much as possible to ease the strain building in them from being tied. ¡°You¡¯d have to ask her. They dragged me into this against my will.¡±

    Gordon swiveled to look back to Ozora¡¯s still form, a question forming in his amber gaze.

    ¡°Who¡¯s so interested in us?¡± I broke off in a fit of coughing. Damn this dried out place! ¡°Who¡¯s holding your leash?¡± It did not surprise me to find Gordon doing someone else¡¯s bidding. We all did aboard Skirmisher. We were all mercenaries for hire.

    Seemed Gordon was less particular about his client¡¯s intentions than I was.

    ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough, anyway. His Grace, the Duke of Kiocinassa.¡±

    I¡¯d never heard of any such dukedom, but I didn¡¯t know all the inland peerage.

    ¡°Who¡¯s he? Sounds fancy.¡± I coughed again, clearing my throat. My back burned from being forced this straight for hours on end. I was tired, and without my numin, my body would soon need to rest.

    My vision wavered, and I shook my head, trying to keep myself awake. I almost missed Gordon¡¯s next words.

    ¡°Third cousin to the Emperor and an Adept. Emperor T¡¯glantis has entrusted the Duke with preparing the city for the return of its rightful ruler.¡±

    Speechless.

    I really hated to admit that the damn sphinx and dragon were right. I¡¯ll apologize if I live through this.

    The other door burst open.

    ¡°Sir, the men outside, they¡¯ve been knocked out. I can¡¯t get close to them. They¡¯re covered in sleeping powder.¡± I hadn¡¯t noticed Carl¡¯s buddy left. After he brought Ozora in, I didn¡¯t see much else.

    ¡°The horses are fine, but I don¡¯t know when those men will wake with that much on them.¡±

    From across the room, Carl spoke up. ¡°I think I saw a breeze cantrip or two in her belt pouch. Should be able to use those to clean off the men.¡±

    Ozora¡¯d taken out half of them on her own.

    I¡¯d been near blind with fury when Carl carried her in that it hit me right then.

    She¡¯d come after me. Somehow, she¡¯d known, and come after me on her own.

    My heart crumbled. If I wasn¡¯t so dry, I would¡¯ve wept.

    She was a marvel. Courageous, impulsive, wild, and headstrong, yet so delicate and lovely just looking at her stopped my breath. No other woman would have come looking for me, and I certainly didn¡¯t deserve her.

    I loved her still. I¡¯d always known it, just been stuck in deep denial.

    It took me a moment to realize my arms and legs were shaking. I¡¯d strained so hard against my bonds, trying to get to her that my muscles tremored in protest. It was torture that I was this helpless.

    They had her so tightly bound that even if she woke, she had no way to cast. My fingers twitched. I longed to cut the bindings off her, could practically feel the familiar hilt of my dagger in my palm.

    Gordon¡¯s chair squeaked as he rose and strode over to his henchman. ¡°Then you two go see to it. Get them loaded onto the wagon after.¡± He waved Carl out of the room. The big guy rolled his eyes and sauntered after his buddy.

    Gordon¡¯s attention slid over to Ozora, and in a few quick steps, he stood over her.

    If he said anything, I couldn¡¯t hear it. I stretched my hearing, but all I caught were some hushed murmurs. All I saw was his back.

    Ozora didn¡¯t move, didn¡¯t even twitch her foot. When Gordon moved, I saw the smudged imprint of a knockout spell on her wrist.

    Fuck. She would be out for a while. Those things were nasty, but popular. They¡¯d work against anyone, even a mage.

    Although, the more numin a mage had, the faster they¡¯d recover. Ozora once said it had something to do with the mage¡¯s numin burning up the knockout spell, erasing its effects. ¡°More numin, faster you wake.¡±

    I still remember when she said it. Last week. I¡¯d been so mad at her, at everyone for being stuck here.

    Gordon¡¯s information changed all that.

    I had to get out of this. Had to get us free. I strained against the ropes again.

    I had to get him away from Ozora.

    ¡°Tell me Gordon, did you invite His Grace in or did he arrive bearing gifts?¡± I called out, trying to get his attention. The soft chuckle that floated over his shoulder was utterly un-Gordon-like. ¡°He needs no one¡¯s invitation. He goes where he pleases and takes what he fancies.¡±

    A strange new quality infused Gordon¡¯s voice. A higher tone I¡¯d never heard before, and his eyes shone with an eerie new light when he spun to face me.

    ¡°He¡¯ll drain you both completely.¡± At least he left Ozora, slow walking back to me. ¡°He can¡¯t have any mages here in Hastrior. The Emperor learned his lesson in the Sundering. Force is not the only way to conquer and rule. With the right suggestions, a city will destroy itself.¡±

    Chills overtook me. I couldn¡¯t sweat, but the cold that gripped me would not let go.

    ¡°The sigils.¡± I croaked. They were everywhere, telling people to act out, do what they wanted, seek pleasure.

    For how long?

    ¡°It¡¯s not a fast way to conquer, but the Emperor doesn¡¯t care how long it takes. He only need wait for the citizens to destroy themselves.¡±

    Across the room, Ozora gasped. A quick indrawing that triggered an immediate reaction from Gordon.

    ¡°No!¡± His face drained, turning pale. Terror bloomed in his widened eyes as he spun, leaping toward her.

    I felt it before the first drop touched my skin. Dewy, soft, gentle, but inevitable as the mists at dawn.

    Sweet, blessed moisture.

    That heaviness and thick scent that only means one thing rolled over me in a wave.

    Rain.

    Silky curtains drenched me in the next heartbeat and my skin soaked it in. A desert transformed to lush and supple in a monsoon. My pain, that itchy cough¡ªgone, even my vision cleared as I drew in a breath. The rain so heavy the air seemed thick as I inhaled, but my throat and lungs soaked it in, expanding and stretching. Gone the sensation I would crack and crumble to bits, washed away in the blessed rush of moisture.

    My numin.

    Oh, it was like coming home after being gone so long you forgot what it felt like.

    Then when you return, all of you rushes right back, pouring into all those dusty and forgotten places, bringing wholeness.

    My numin flooded through me, filling my veins, pounding with my blood. I was the rolling waves, the unstoppable tide.

    I stood. The flimsy ropes and rotting chair shattered, no longer capable of holding me.

    Ozora couldn¡¯t see Gordon lunging for her, hands outstretched. Could only struggle weakly when he grasped her shoulders, then lifted and spun her to be a shield between him and me. He gripped her with one arm wrapped across her chest, his blunt fingers digging into the soft upper arm.

    My complete focus narrowed on him and her.

    ¡°Step away from her Gordon.¡± I took two slow, stalking steps toward them. He drew his dagger.

    ¡°Seems more like you should step back.¡± Gordon fixed me with a triumphant stare and feral snarl. He flipped his blade carelessly with one hand while holding a squirming Ozora in the other.

    I was too far away, and we both knew it.

    ¡°You know you won¡¯t leave here alive if you harm her.¡± That was a promise I¡¯d keep.

    Catching his dagger, Gordon held it aloft, meeting my steady stare with one of his own. ¡°Let her go, and let¡¯s talk.¡± I took one more cautious step.

    Gordon shook his head, a grin splitting his face. He didn¡¯t care. I could see it in his glittering, hungry gaze. His fist tightened, fingers whitening around the dagger¡¯s hilt, and I knew I couldn¡¯t get there in time.

    A scream of rage and despair rose, and I leaped for them anyway, hands reaching for his arm as it flew high, then plunged, the dagger aimed at Ozora¡¯s heart.

    Gordon¡¯s screech echoed in the mostly empty room before mine made it past my lips. He threw Ozora at me, thrusting her away as his face contorted with pain. She hopped and splashed through the water that had risen to our ankles and toppled into me. I caught her, but with her feet bound she couldn¡¯t stand at all and we both collapsed, hitting the floor and sending up waves in the growing pond.

    My arms went around her, and I rolled us away from Gordon. Bracing my legs, I came up, cradling Ozora with one arm and reaching for my dagger with the other.

    I just slapped the empty sheath.

    It didn¡¯t matter. Gordon didn¡¯t stick around, but turned and ran. He was nearly to the door his henchmen had just left through.

    I didn¡¯t care. I had Ozora.

    That was all that mattered.

    ****

 Chapter Twenty-Three

    After I fled Hastrior, the bards that I passed in my Journeying told the same tale of Fraser. How he¡¯d stayed long enough to raid Hastrior¡¯s coffers of as much coin and riches as he could load onto Mayhem before sailing off into the horizon.

    That was that last thing I knew to be true of Fraser.

    Anything else was an unconfirmed rumor.

    From the personal journal of Ozora

    Dean of Magics

    The Bestiary

    ****

    With magesight, I could see Fraser rise when I heard the chair shatter. Gordon shrieked ¡°No!¡± and the splash of his feet as he skidded to a stop next to the bench sent another chill wave surging over me.

    My head spun as his hands snatched me off the bench and swung me across his chest, clutching at me with one arm.

    ¡°Step away from her Gordon.¡± Fraser¡¯s voice was calm and deliberate.

    ¡°Seems more like you should step back.¡± Gordon¡¯s answer rumbled where he held me pressed to his chest.

    ¡°You know you won¡¯t leave here alive if you harm her.¡± Fraser¡¯s voice softened. Not pleading. Advising Gordon to think carefully about his next action. ¡°Let her go, and let¡¯s talk.¡±

    Gordon¡¯s shoulder shook, and his fingers dug into my arm. I grunted, but it couldn¡¯t make it past the gag. Squirming did nothing but cause his arm to flex and fingers to clutch ever tighter. My groan gurgled at the back of my throat.

    Done with this! I summoned my numin once more, sending into the second talisman Cleobah had pulled for me to wear.

    One I made for women, to protect them against anyone who might try to take advantage of them. It makes the wearer feel hot as a forge to anyone touching them. Anywhere. Instantly. It won¡¯t burn clothing, and the wearer feels nothing. Only the assailant.

    Like the rain talisman, this one activated by touch, but I¡¯d bespelled it so all the wearer had to do was will it. No chants or extra touches needed.

    Gordon reacted predictably.

    He screeched in my ear and threw me off as fast as possible. I tensed for impact and thudded into Fraser. We still fell, but he took the brunt of it, rolling us both.

    I heard a few splashes, sounding like footsteps running away, then nothing but Fraser¡¯s ragged breathing as he held me tight against him. Both of us trembling, waiting.

    Nothing happened.

    For two breaths, we waited. Three. Then Fraser¡¯s fingers fumbled to pull off my blindfold and remove my gag. I saw his scruffy face for only a moment before his mouth crashed into mine. Time seemed to stop, and I knew nothing but the taste of him, his lips scorching against my own.

    Too soon, he stopped, crushing me to him with both arms, his voice hoarse in my ear.

    ¡°Ozora. Ozora.¡±

    The rain cascaded over us. His arms tight around me, slick and warm, held me close, trembling as he murmured my name again.

    My heart overflowed. I wanted to cry with relief, with joy, with gratitude that we were both whole and together.

    His arms relaxed. ¡°I need to get those ropes off you.¡± He picked me up, then set me on the bench and went looking for a knife, returning within moments.

    Once he¡¯d freed my hands, I grabbed his head and dragged him to me. The knife clattered to the floor as his hands slid round my waist and around my back.

    Oh sweet goddess, how could I ever doubt this man held my heart? Aching regret coursed through me that I¡¯d nearly destroyed us. Pain mingled with joy sent tears coursing down my cheeks, hidden in the drenching rain.

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    His lips brushed my chin, then the shell of my ear before he pressed a series of kisses down my throat, leaving a hot line trailing toward my breasts. His hands came up to cup them, caressing my nipples through the thin, wet linen. My senses reeled, chasing away thought. All that mattered was him, the feel of his wet, slick skin under my seeking fingers, and the pouring rain seeming to make us one.

    The ground shook and a thunderous roar rocked the little house, shaking it so hard Fraser was knocked off balance and had to put one hand on the wall behind me to steady himself.

    I groaned with frustration.

    He laughed, then ducked his head to murmur in my ear. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not done with you. Just wait.¡± Delicious tingles ran through me. Gorgeous blue eyes dancing, he added. ¡°I¡¯m going to have a word with that damn dragon about her timing.¡± Retrieving the knife, he sliced through the ropes around my ankles and offered me his hand as he rose. Glancing upward, his lips quirked into a sly smile. ¡°Want to shut off the waterworks? Or does it quit on its own?¡±

    I reached for the rain talisman, too fast and clumsy, I fumbled with it before stopping the downpour.

    Sitting there, staring up at his handsome, grinning face, I was tongue-tied like a schoolgirl, unable to say anything. I hadn¡¯t expected to live through the night once I woke up bound.

    I didn¡¯t know what to say to him. Knowing what I did now, after all I¡¯d done. I¡¯d have been crushed by it except he was here, looking at me with laughter in his brilliant gaze.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Fraser!¡± It was all I had, and the words tumbled from me, rolling like awkward toddlers. It wasn¡¯t enough. What would be?

    I hadn¡¯t budged from the bench. Could only look up at him and hope that his kiss meant he forgave me. The laughter faded from his eyes, replaced by something both tender and fierce. My eyes welled as he sank to his knees in front of me. Somehow, he understood what my simple apology meant.

    I was sorry for sinking his ship and our relationship.

    I was sorry for hating him all these years.

    I was sorry for being a snotty bitch to him during these last couple of weeks of training.

    ¡°I know.¡± He whispered as he leaned in. His lips were gentle and soft, a promise that we could do better this time.

    ¡°Are you alive in here?¡± Taenya¡¯s voice came through the door Gordon had left open in his haste a moment before she strode in. The concern in her voice brightened to mirth when she saw us entwined. ¡°Definitely alive. Good news!¡± She flung up her hands in celebration. ¡°Cassyrra¡¯s got the men outside penned up. Why don¡¯t you come out and let¡¯s get this sorted?¡±

    ****

    In the end, I cast a teleportal and Fraser¡¯s crew took Gordon and the rest into custody, loading them aboard Mayhem and locking them in the brig. The sun was coming up by the time we returned to the keep, and breakfast already set out for us. I silently blessed Grace and her family.

    ¡°What do we do with them?¡± I asked, sipping my sparkling water and juice. None of us had yet sought our beds, lingering over the remains of our meal.

    ++ That is a question for another time. They are bespelled. Those implanted sigils are still linked to the Duke but the blocking spell I¡¯ve cast around Mayhem should blind His Grace to their whereabouts. ++ Cassyrra¡¯s deep, motherly voice was stern. ++ Now that we know how this city has been attacked and who did it, we can look at how to counter the Duke. ++

    ¡°We must erase all those sigils around Hastrior.¡± Cleobah said. ¡°The question is how, without tipping our hand.¡±

    ++ Indeed, Cleobah. We must tread carefully. ++ The dragon¡¯s tone was solemn.

    ¡°At least now we know how this mage school ties in with protecting the East against the Empire.¡± I said. ¡°Gordon tipped their hand.¡±

    ¡°I always knew.¡± Cleobah muttered.

    ¡°Yes, and about that.¡± I started. ¡°Where were you while I was getting knocked out?¡±

    ¡°All the time streams, remember?¡± I so disliked her smug and dismissive excuse. Especially when she paired it with that ruffle of feathers across her leonine shoulders. ¡°I knew how it ended for you two. And I went and got the muscle.¡± She pointed one wing in Cassyrra¡¯s direction.

    ¡°You can all keep talking, but I¡¯m for bed.¡± Taenya rose and stretched. ¡°I don¡¯t expect I¡¯ll be out till well after noon. We¡¯ll regroup once we¡¯re all rested.¡± She turned and headed for her tent, but shouted over her shoulder. ¡°Rested! I mean it! Don¡¯t wear each other out.¡± She could barely get through her words without laughing and walked off.

    Fraser had been sitting a few feet away on the couch next to me, but when Taenya left, he eased his arm around my shoulder. ¡°Beat it Cleobah.¡±

    ¡°Did you not hear her?¡± The sphinx shot back, but she was laughing too. ¡°Just take it back to your tent.¡±

    Eyes like a tropical sea lit when he looked deep into mine.

    ¡°Mine¡¯s closer.¡± I threaded my fingers through his turquoise and cobalt locks. They¡¯d dried in stiff curls that softened under my touch. His expression shifted instantly to mischievous. I didn¡¯t hold back the laughter that burst out when he lifted me in his arms and crossed the short distance to my tent. I¡¯d left the flap tied open.

    ¡°Not letting you get away again.¡± His arms tightened as he stooped, then straightened, ducking through the entrance. ¡°You¡¯re stuck with me. Whether that¡¯s here, learning magic, or ferrying you on your Journeys. You best get used to it.¡±

    He barely fit and had to bend his head to avoid brushing the top of the tent, even this close to the center pole. With my hand around the back of his head urging him, we kissed. Long, slow strokes of his tongue danced with mine like he had all day to taste and explore.

    This was not enough. Not nearly.

    I pulled back long enough to say, ¡°Put me down¡ª¡± His growl cut me off, but I laid my hand over his mouth and added, ¡°just trust me.¡±

    I was on my feet in the next second.

    ¡°No one better fucking interrupt¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Snapping my fingers, I cast a forcewall shield around the tent, ensuring it glowed even to regular vision. ¡°No one¡¯s getting through that.¡±

    We ignored the rest of the world for a while, lost in each other. His touch was so familiar, as was his body under my seeking hands. It was as if no time had passed between us.

    It was like coming home.

    One I never wanted to leave.

    ****

 Epilogue

    The Bestiary got its start well before the official Founding.

    But since Cleobah and I are the only ones who recall it, we see little point in reminding folks.

    Foundation Day ceremonies aren¡¯t for us, the first students, they¡¯re for the ones who came after.

    From the personal journal of Ozora

    Dean of Magics

    The Bestiary

    ****

    ¡°How about ¡®Cassyrra¡¯s Arcane Arts University¡¯?¡± Fraser said. ¡°I¡¯d think if a dragon is going to be the first and main professor, maybe it should have your name on it.¡±

    ++ All who knew me from before are dead. My name does not inspire as it once did. ++ Cassyrra¡¯s mental voice filled my head, yet was not oppressive. I sensed the dragon put shielding between my thoughts and hers to protect my privacy. Only the thoughts she wanted to share came through, however her words often carried emotional overtones that triggered an echo in my soul. Sorrow and longing for missing friends brushed over me, and my heart squeezed. For that brief moment, deep and sharp anguish stabbed through me.

    ++ The only one from so long ago who would remember me remains our enemy still. ++ If I could still feel the dragon¡¯s grief, so could I also sense her resolve.

    Believe me, you will never encounter anything else more impervious to change than a dragon set upon her course.

    ++ There appears to be one bright spot. ++ She continued, sounding like her usual serene, confident self. ++ The Emperor is seemingly weakened in his advanced age. These are underhanded tactics. Sigils to ensorcel a city? Before, he would consider such trickery beneath him. He swept the world with his fleets and armies. Made the world cower to his might and he gloried in his power. Why should he hide his attack in this petty manner? Because he can¡¯t muster a greater offense. ++

    ¡°Or he just got smarter with age.¡± Fraser quipped back. ¡°He hasn¡¯t shown his hand. That tiny group of ships he sent has to have been what he thought he needed to take Hastrior. It might¡¯ve been what Duke Kiocinassa told him to send. Doesn¡¯t mean he¡¯s lacking in fleet or armies. Just that he only sent what he needed.¡±

    ++ Both things can be true, Fraser. The Emperor has learned new tactics, and he¡¯s done so from a place of reduced power. ++ Cassyrra was gentle but firm.

    ¡°And we¡¯re back on this argument.¡± Taenya huffed. ¡°Can we get back to what we were talking about before Fraser sent us down his personal rabbit hole?¡±

    ¡°Which was?¡± I asked.

    ¡°That.¡± Taenya waved at the map of the city, shifting our focus to the not so pretty picture we¡¯d uncovered mapping the high elf¡¯s sigils. The picture it painted sent chills through me whenever I looked at it. No wonder I¡¯d wandered from that conversation. I didn¡¯t want to talk about it. It disturbed me intensely that anyone would craft such a spell.

    Cassyrra and I had puzzled over it for days before deciphering its meaning. It was a sigil of binding and control splayed across all of Hastrior. Like a horrific art piece, it was at once elegant and depraved.

    More than that, it was also a numin funnel. The son of a bitch had crafted the placement of every suggestion sigil in the city into one massive sigil. This aggregated sigil then bound every individual to the Duke of Kiocinassa through the little splinters of his numin¡ªthe copies of sigils implanted in the city¡¯s residents.

    ¡°You said, Ozora,¡± Taenya turned it back to me. ¡°That it looked like that sigil could somehow drain numin from ¡­?¡±

    ¡°Everyone.¡± I finished. ¡°Literally everyone who has one of those little sigil implants, like the one that jumped onto Fraser, is linked to the Duke. How much influence he can have on them I don¡¯t know, but I¡¯m pretty sure he can drain numin from anyone implanted with a sigil. And by anyone, I mean everyone. The amount of energy he has to spend maintaining the sigils is only a fraction of what he can get back from all the implants.¡±

    Fraser turned pale whenever we talked about the sigil¡¯s effects on the bearer. He knew he narrowly escaped the same fate. We¡¯d learned once it lodged in a person, it was impossible to banish. Or at least, nothing we¡¯d tried so far worked.

    And we¡¯d tried. We still held the men we¡¯d caught along with Gordon, and they were all implanted. Any attempt to remove the sigil was met with resistance by the bearer and the implant itself.

    Gordon¡¯s sigil was next level, and we¡¯d not touched it. We had no way for Cassyrra to examine him on Mayhem, and didn¡¯t want to remove him from the protective wards.

    ¡°Maintaining?¡± Fraser asked.

    ¡°The sigils around the city lose numin each time they implant a person. The Duke has to renew them continuously, but with the funnel he¡¯s set up.¡± I tapped the map. ¡°It basically feeds itself and the excess spills into him. It¡¯s genius. It¡¯s also insanely diabolical. He can drain folks to a withered husk in moments if he wants.¡±

    ¡°You mean kill.¡± Fraser said. ¡°He can kill everyone if he wants, just by pulling on their numin?¡±

    I nodded. ¡°In theory, yes.¡±

    ++ High elves are power. Their seemingly endless numin reserves are what made their Empire and kept them at their lofty peak for millennia. None would ever have resorted to such a perversion of their numin before the Sundering. They would not have needed to. ++ Cassyrra sounded thoughtful, as if considering what she said. ++ Begs the question, why would the Duke need such raw power? ++

    ¡°Anyone with power wants to keep it.¡± I said. ¡°If the Duke is used to a certain level of numin, makes sense he¡¯d do anything possible to keep from feeling a lack.¡±

    ¡°What if we try getting rid of the other sigils?¡± Taenya said. ¡°Not the implanted ones, the sigils painted around the city. Maybe a sidewalk or brick wall won¡¯t fight back like Gordon¡¯s henchmen?¡±

    ++ I know of a spell that should banish a sigil, but I¡¯m reluctant to try it. ++ Cassyrra had an all too human habit. She tapped her claws when she was conflicted or in thought.

    ¡°Now you tell us?¡± Taenya¡¯s expression slacked. ¡°Why haven¡¯t we been erasing them this whole time?¡±

    ++ Because it¡¯ll only clear one sigil at a time and with that feedback loop and funnel, the Duke will know instantly that we¡¯ve discovered him and his works. ++

    ¡°So our tradeoff is we erase one sigil but we also alert the Duke that someone is onto his plan.¡± I summarized.

    ++ I¡¯m hopeful it would also release all those linked to the banished sigil. However, it would take quite some time to clear the city, and I¡¯m quite sure the Duke would not be idle once he felt us tamper with his works. ++

    We presumed he hadn¡¯t sensed our attempts on the men we¡¯d captured along with Gordon. They were all still held aboard Mayhem, and Cassyrra had put a forcewall shielding around it to block any of the Duke¡¯s spying eyes. So far, no one¡¯s tested either the magical wards or Fraser¡¯s guards.

    ¡°So what do we do?¡± Fraser asked. ¡°You two are the mages. I¡¯m just here because of my hippocamp.¡±

    ¡°Cassyrra, might there might be a way to, I don¡¯t know¡­modify or adapt that spell to banish all the sigils all at once?¡± I asked.

    The dragon tilted her head, her ears flicking like a horse¡¯s would if it were listening to distant sounds. ++ I do not know if such a thing is even possible. ++ While her words weren¡¯t encouraging, they held a sort of hopeful curiosity. As if the idea never occurred to her before. ++ I do not think such a thing as this ¡­ mass ensorcellment for control and numin harvesting has ever been done. Dragons have no need, nor do any of the other magic-wielding beings with the capability to cast at this level of skill. They either have no need or no will to do so. ++

    ¡°An old dog has learned new tricks.¡± Cleobah spoke up for the first time from her bed of piled pillows.

    Which was the sphinx¡¯s was of saying it was possible, and the Duke had figured it out.

    I¡¯d learned how to interpret some of Cleobah¡¯s more cryptic utterances. When a topic strayed too close to future events, her statements became more erratic. But with practice, I could now discern some sense in them.

    Sometimes. This one was relatively easy.

    The corollary to that was¡ªwe might be able to figure out a way to banish every sigil at once.

    Except¡­

    ¡°What would banishing the Duke¡¯s sigils all at once do to the people implanted?¡± Taenya asked.

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    Fraser just shook his head and held up his hands. ¡°I¡¯m out.¡±

    I opened my mouth a few times, but had nothing. We couldn¡¯t even figure out how to get rid of the sigils.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± I had to admit.

    Not even Cleobah had a snarky comment. Silence reigned around the table.

    ¡°Who¡¯s ready for lunch?¡± Grace asked, balancing a platter on one shoulder. She walked out of the keep, followed by her daughter Leonie, carrying another platter. ¡°Also, a guard from the Solar Gate¡¯s arrived. Want him brought back here?¡± She asked as she slid the platter on the table, then stepped back for Leonie to do the same.

    Fraser shook his head. ¡°No. Put him in the front reception room and I¡¯ll be there shortly.¡±

    ¡°He said it was important.¡± She said over her shoulder. ¡°Something about the King¡¯s emissary is demanding to see the person in charge.¡±

    There was only one king close enough to Hastrior to send an emissary.

    The King of Alurenth.

    ****

    A few hours later, we were hosting the elegantly dressed and outraged most noble Earl of Belizar. We¡¯d had the guard bring the emissary and his entourage to the keep and provided refreshments while we cleaned up and put on more formal clothing.

    We weren¡¯t running Hastrior. Technically, that was still the city council.

    Who literally did nothing while Hastrior crumbled. We had contacted none of them yet because they weren¡¯t in the city. Instead, they¡¯d retreated to their estates out in the surrounding hills. Fraser had ordered some of Mayhem¡¯s crew to protect the Solar Gate since the council members took all the city guards when they left.

    Which was how we received the emissary instead of the council.

    To those who come after and may disdain our actions or call them unlawful, you need only look to that same history to see we also averted disaster many times over.

    The Earl minced across the tile floor, his high-heeled, high-fashion boots clicking a swift beat. He came to stand at the foot of the dais. We sat behind a long oaken table, looking down at our visitor. Taenya and I flanked Fraser.

    The Earl doffed his feathered hat, eyes flicking around, taking in the bare stone walls and empty receiving room. With a sniff, he swept an elegant bow, bending low over his pale stockinged leg. The skirts of his long-tailed coat rustled as he rose with a glare fierce as an indignant kitten, fixed on Fraser.

    My lip twitched, repressing a smile. I glanced to the back of the room. Two of Fraser¡¯s men blocked the door with their pikes, keeping Quinn¡¯s guards outside.

    It¡¯s hard to take a man so carefully coiffed and painted as a serious threat. Even with my limited arms knowledge, I could see that the thin rapier at his side was for dress only. It would be better at cutting cheese than doing battle.

    He straightened his heavily embroidered waistcoat and announced. ¡°I am Quinn Cantrell, Earl of Belizar, here on behalf of and with the full authority of His Majesty, King Roland Balceran of Alurenth. I must inform you firstly of His Majesty¡¯s extreme displeasure, along with mine own.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Fraser drawled. ¡°What have we done to earn your ire, good sir?¡±

    The Earl scoffed. ¡°That you have to ask? Is not the state of the city I just had the misfortune to traverse not cause enough for concern? The King is also greatly distressed by the destruction of one of his towns, and I might add, my own. Emberglen is part of Belizar.¡±

    ¡°Indeed, loss of life is tragic.¡± Fraser managed to look sincerely sorry. ¡°However, why does this bring the Earl here to Hastrior today?¡±

    ¡°The King wants to know just who is running this city, and when the regular tithe payments to the Alurenth Crown will resume.¡± Quinn rapped his thin ebony walking stick on the tile for emphasis. ¡°Hastrior has been in arrears for years and has not responded to any previous attempts by the Crown for redress.¡±

    All our history from five years past was still coming back to us in waves of consequences. We¡¯d all contributed to the mess that was Hastrior, and now we had to clean it up.

    The Earl¡¯s next words caught me off guard.

    ¡°I will need an explanation why you are sitting there and not in chains. That man is a murderer.¡± Quinn announced to the echoingly empty room and pointed his elegant, manicured finger at Fraser. His voice cracked at the end and a blush of color flooded Quinn¡¯s neck to stain his face bright pink as he glanced for his guards. Only to realize our own men were between him and his protection. He coughed and straightened his shoulders. In a somewhat milder but still firm tone, he continued.

    ¡°Last, His Majesty is curious about the two ships that came to attack his shores. And what burnt them to a crisp?¡± He asked. When none of us made any move to answer, he sniffed again. ¡°I have come to determine if this is a violation of our treaty. The invaders demolished Emberglen but were, in turn, eradicated. We demand to know if Hastrior had a role in their presence here in the East.¡± I could tell from the way he said ¡°Hastrior¡± he in fact meant ¡°Fraser¡± but hesitated to go that far.

    Pretty sure the upset Earl hadn¡¯t even noticed Taenya or me.

    I really only heard the first part of what he said before my temper got the better of me.

    ¡°That man is the only reason Hastrior, such as it is now, survived. It was he spotted the incoming fleet and raced ahead to warn the city and kept the invaders at bay.¡± I clenched my fingers into a tight ball on the table to keep them from drumming with irritation.

    Or turning the arrogant Earl into a whippet.

    I think he¡¯d do well as a whippet. He sort of looked like one, with his thin limbs and long face and delicate constitution.

    And the way he shook whenever Fraser frowned at him. Where did he get the courage to accuse Fraser?

    Me, he was less impressed by, apparently. His pale grey eyes sparked with outrage and he sneered down his long nose at me. ¡°Who are you again?¡±

    ¡°Someone you don¡¯t want to piss off.¡± Taenya cautioned Quinn with a low laugh. ¡°You remember who I am, right Quinn?¡± She asked, flattening her palms on the table. ¡°We met many times at the Prince¡¯s palace. Last time was at his Holiday Gala and we danced the waltz.¡±

    Quinn blinked. Then again. ¡°Taenya DeLange?¡± Shock broke through his brittle outrage. ¡°Why are you here? How are you still alive? We heard reports you were one of Captain Fraser¡¯s victims.¡±

    She didn¡¯t say a word, just leaned back and made a flippant gesture, brushing across her shoulders and glancing at Fraser seated next to her as if to say, ¡°well, here I am.¡± Quinn gaped like a hooked fish.

    ¡°Well ¡­ The Crown ¡­The Crown still demands answers.¡± He managed to get that much out. ¡°About ¡­ all of it.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re not unreasonable people, Quinn.¡± Taenya soothed. ¡°Hastrior wants to be a good neighbor, but at the moment, we aren¡¯t in a position to pay our own people, let alone a tithe to your king.¡±

    Fraser drummed his fingers on the table, his eyes hooded with thought, as if he were contemplating his next words carefully. ¡°City governance was non-existent and we¡¯ve been working hard to re-establish some regulation and safety.¡± The Earl¡¯s delicately groomed brows rose. Fraser chose his words with such care, I wondered what he wasn¡¯t saying.

    ¡°Here is my answer to your king.¡± His voice calm, but steely with resolve as he flattened his palms on the table. ¡°Any prior tithing arrangements were with the prior ruling family. Which no longer exists.¡± Fraser added. The Earl¡¯s shocked face went slack.

    ¡°Are ¡­ are you reneging on your treaty with the Crown?¡±

    ¡°We never had one.¡± Fraser was firm. ¡°As my friends have pointed out, we have other, more pressing issues right now. We can discuss a new treaty at a better time.¡±

    ¡°More¡ªmore pressing than maintaining the goodwill of your closest, and I must say, most powerful, neighbor?¡± Quinn Cantrell stammered, taking much of the edge from his threat.

    ¡°Yes. Yes. There are more concerning things in our world than back taxes owed to your king from dead people.¡± I snapped. ¡°Why are you here complaining about money when you should be seeing to Emberglen?¡±

    ¡°Still don¡¯t know who you are, or care. Stay out of what doesn¡¯t concern you.¡± Quinn sneered.

    Gold sparks spat from my fingertips and danced across the table, sputtering out as they fell off the edge.

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t very smart.¡± Fraser muttered.

    ¡°Funny, I lived in Emberglen a year and never saw you there.¡± I smiled sweetly. ¡°The longtime residents knew you, though. They called you the King¡¯s Tax Man. Because they never saw you in Emberglen except at tax time.¡±

    Quinn¡¯s lips twisted, and I knew I must¡¯ve hit a nerve. He pulled at his collar, loosening his elaborate cravat, and cleared his throat. I¡¯d rattled him, but he recovered fast.

    ¡°You know so much about Emberglen? Hmm?¡± His voiced oozed condescension. ¡°Do you know what kills from above with blasts of fire hotter than a forge? The Crown¡¯s investigators could come up with but one explanation when they examined the wreckage of the ships. But it made little sense, so I dismissed it.¡±

    The King chose his emissary well. He didn¡¯t blink as he continued.

    ¡°I think you¡¯ve got a new sort of fireblast spell that you¡¯ve managed to carry aloft. This is the only rational explanation. While it seems that in this case you acted in Alurenth¡¯s best interests, even if too late for Emberglen, I need to ensure you cannot be a threat to Alurenth.¡± Now the foppish male displayed a ferocity that belied his finicky mannerisms and extravagant dress.

    Maybe that rapier wasn¡¯t just for decoration after all. Fraser would intimidate anyone, but it appeared Quinn had a backbone after all.

    ¡°I assure you, we don¡¯t have such a spell, and Alurenth is in no danger.¡± Taenya said, a small smile on her lips. ¡°The Crown investigator¡¯s conclusions. Why didn¡¯t they make sense?¡±

    ¡°Because all the dragons are dead.¡± He spat, his sneer dismissive. ¡°Everyone knows that. All the draconic researchers agree.¡± He shook his head and waved his hands. ¡°I¡¯m not here to talk about fantastic tales. I¡¯m here to find out why Hastrior has failed to adhere to its terms in the Crown¡¯s treaty. If you helped Emberglen, even after the fact of their destruction, it will go better for you, but you must divulge your new magical weaponry.¡±

    Fraser crossed his arms, shaking his head. He hated having to repeat himself. ¡°There is no more treaty because there is no more ruling family. It died with Prince Crummey. If you want to talk about a new treaty, you can take it up with us later. Right now, like Ozora said, we¡¯ve got more pressing issues.¡±

    He really did look like a hooked fish, down to flapping his gaping mouth silently a few times before saying, ¡°His Majesty will not be pleased with this flippant dismissal. Goodwill has reigned between Hastrior and Alurenth for centuries and yet you will throw it all away?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re missing the point, friend,¡± Fraser corrected him. ¡°We have nothing to throw away. Your treaty expired with the Prince.¡± He repeated, shoving his chair back. ¡°Unless you have something more productive to say than old news about old treaties, then this interview is over.¡±

    Taenya held up one hand.

    ¡°Listen, Quinn here might be slow to catch on to the facts here in Hastrior, but that¡¯s not fair to him. He¡¯s not exactly in possession of some of the most pertinent ones now, is he?¡±

    Quinn stuttered. ¡°Taenya I protest. I am the King¡¯s Under Secretary of Intelligence. It¡¯s my job to be up to date on facts.¡±

    ¡°Then you might want to check your spy network security because if the things you¡¯re saying here are a reflection of what they¡¯re telling you then you are wasting your money.¡± Fraser told him bluntly.

    Taenya grinned. ¡°Let¡¯s take him out back.¡± She stood to show she was sincere. Fraser didn¡¯t budge, but he uncrossed his arms to put them on his hips.

    Closer to his daggers.

    ¡°Quinn, you need to expand your perspective and come up to speed with a few things. Then maybe we can have a productive conversation about Hastrior¡¯s new relationship with your king.¡± Taenya said, matching Fraser¡¯s placid but firm tone.

    Fraser¡¯s frown deepened, and I tilted my head to toss Taenya a questioning look. It¡¯s not like we could hide that a massive ancient dragon now lived out here on Hastrior¡¯s point, but did we want to announce it to our neighboring kingdom?

    Although, in reality not many here in Hastrior had noticed. The keep was somewhat remote from the rest of the city and Cassyrra had done little flying over land. She loved fish and kept herself well fed without disturbing local stock keepers.

    Absent governance, and city law enforcement, no one had come knocking on the keep¡¯s door demanding answers. Until now.

    We knew that all sorts of rumors were running around, some of the more outlandish ones were quite entertaining. None came close to the truth.

    In all fairness, I¡¯m not entirely sure what the full truth was. About anything. It wasn¡¯t like we had a plan for any of this. We were making it up as we go.

    ¡°Cassyrra says she¡¯d love to meet him.¡± Taenya¡¯s smile just got wider. She stood, walked around the table, and jumped off the dais to land in front of Quinn. Gesturing to us to follow, she hooked his arm with hers. ¡°Come on, we¡¯re old friends. I¡¯ve got something to show you that¡¯ll hopefully yank out that stick you¡¯ve got shoved up your ass.¡±