Arrival

  The dead El~ariah lay all around her. They had sacrificed themselves rather than fight for anyone but the true kings of Paragor.

  Liessen ran down the stairs and she fought like Odin himself.

  She found Satine and Accolon in the dining hall, facing several of the demon spawn. Tears streaked Satine’s face—she had been told about her father. But her strength was that of her parents’, and so she fought on.

  Liessen longed to join them, but she could see exactly how this would play out. Knew she would be taken as a prize, and that if she fought, she would be punished the only way that could possibly hurt her—by hurting Satine. So she would comply, to save her daughter.

  Satine and Accolon fought so well together the queen was not needed. Almost beautiful, their fight was like a dance. Liessen knew they loved one another, and just hoped it would survive the wreckage of this day.

  When it was over, Liessen called out, and Satine ran into her arms. Liessen wanted to comfort her, but there was no time.

  “Not now, sweetheart. Now we must be strong. Strong for your father.”

  Satine nodded and stood back. She could not stop her silent tears though.

  “Accolon,” Liessen said urgently, and the boy ran to her side. “You must leave here now,” she said firmly.

  “What? No! I must—” he said, gesturing to Satine and holding up his bloody arm for Liessen to see, as if she needed reminding of what had just happened.

  “You can protect her more if you get away.” Liessen lowered her voice to a whisper so that Satine would not hear. “We will need someone free who knows what happened here today. Someone must bear witness to this and warn the rest of the world that there is trouble. You must get out. Warn them—they are our only hope. I will send Satine after you.” Then she stopped and pulled him into her arms.

  “Be strong, Accolon my darling. You are a son to me also. Be brave for Satine, and brave for Altor. Go back to your family, and keep your vow,” she whispered, staring fiercely into his dark eyes.

  He nodded and pulled away. He walked over to Satine and Liessen saw them speak. Satine was crying and he hugged her, but still she cried. Liessen thanked the gods, desperately grateful that she had sent their child away. This was no place for a royal baby.

  And then Accolon was gone. He would keep his vow, she knew.

  There was no more time for thoughts now, for in that moment, the doors opened and Leostrial walked in to claim their lives.

  Chapter 36

  They boarded the armada the next day. Eight thousand fighters from four different lands. For the Strangers, the time they’d spent in Paragor previously had seemed like an age, but when they were faced with the eternity on the ships, it felt to them as though they had only been on Paragor for a heartbeat. Summer had come to an end and by the time they were ready to land it was near freezing.

  During the long days at sea, the bickering between the Strangers increased. Eventually it got to the point where they couldn’t even be in the same room as one another.

  On the seventh day after their departure, Accolon and Elixia were standing on the deck trying to put a bit of distance between themselves and the fighting Strangers.

  Elixia had accompanied them. Accolon had said she would be invaluable for reviving wounded soldiers during the battle. She had not told him that she could do nothing with the wounded, only the dead, and that tending to such a large number of people would be nigh on impossible, because she did not want to be left behind.

  They stood close, their faces to the wind, their hair swept behind them.

  “Do you think we made a mistake in putting our faith in them? They are so young,” he said quietly.

  “Do not doubt the prophecy now, Accolon, or we will fail. They will come through in the end, I am sure of it. Youth doesn’t always mean a disadvantage.”

  “What of the fifth and sixth? What of the missing two?” he pressed.

  “Jane said they would be here in time,” Elixia replied. “But if we are wrong, and they are not the Bright Ones, and this not the prophesised time ... Do we have a chance, Accolon?” He only just heard her above the wind and the noise of the waves crashing.

  The thought of the death that was to come had been in Elixia’s thoughts over the past few months. Only she truly knew what to expect.

  Elixia knew death’s true nature—that it was not the opposite of life, but so closely linked that they overlapped one and other. They didn’t know that death walked with them every step, growing inside them. They didn’t know that it was as much a part of them all as life.

  Elixia was the last who knew of the dying art, the only woman who could understand death without fear.

  “I would like to say yes,” Accolon answered. “It seems hard to believe that one country could raise a greater army than four put together. But there are other things to consider. Leostrial has inhuman power, and the gods have not answered our call.”

  Elixia was about to say that she did not know why that was so when the water in front of them began to move in a strange pattern, swirling faster and faster, until a whirlpool appeared. Finally, from out of the depths, a form emerged. Too large to be a man, he exuded power, and he looked akin to a fish. His skin was tinted a faint blue and his hands and feet were webbed. There was no clothing on his strong body, and Elixia quickly turned away. But only for a moment, for when he turned his eyes upon her, she felt as though she were the naked one, and laid open to his very gaze.

  His eyes were beautiful. They were blue, without pupils, and Elixia thought she could see waves crashing in them. He was standing on the waves, and though the swirling water was far below them, his head was at the height of their own.

  “Greetings, Aegir,” Elixia said to him, for she had met him before.

  Accolon looked swiftly at her and then turned to stare back at the sea god.

  “Greetings, necromancer,” he replied calmly. His voice sounded loudly in their ears. He turned to Accolon and said, “Greetings Accolon, King of Uns Lapodis.”

  Accolon tilted his head in a respectful gesture and said, “Greetings, Aegir. How do you do?”

  Aegir laughed bitterly and replied, “How do I do? I am angered that you have called me here when there is direst need for me elsewhere.”

  There was a moment of charged silence before Accolon spoke. “Aegir, we called you because we want to offer you our help.”

  A disbelieving laugh escaped his lips. “And how, pray, do you think to help me?”

  Elixia took a deep breath. “Not just you, all of the gods. Am I right to assume you do not know what the angel meant when he said that someone was coming?” Elixia saw a brief flash of surprise pass the god’s face before he nodded. “We know what he meant.”

  “But how do you know?” Aegir asked. “We received the message only today.”

  Elixia was confused, but she kept her composure. The Strangers must have had a premonition.

  “There are those among us who have the gift of foresight,” she improvised.

  “We know the Bright Ones are with you,” he said impatiently. “Did they see this?”

  Elixia nodded in reply.

  “Well tell me then,” he said, sighing.

  “It’s Leostrial. He is planning to attack Elendial.”

  “We have known for a long time that Leostrial was planning something, but we have not known what, for there is a shield that hides him from us.”

  “We have come to fight him. With your help,” Elixia said.

  She saw his eyes darken and realised she had made a mistake.

  “Did you think that we would sit back and watch mortals fight for us?” he asked incredulously.

  “Forgive us, Aegir. We are uncertain of many things at the moment,” said Accolon respectfully and the anger faded in the god’s eyes.

  “I must leave you now, but we will be watching over you,” he said. Then reluctantly, “Thank you.” And Aegir was gone in a spray of water.

  Elixia and Accolon stood i
n silence for a long time, staring out into the ocean. She turned to him and said, “It is a great thing to have seen a god. Very great.”

  “Even one such as he?” Accolon asked bitterly, still staring at the sea.

  “Yes, even one such as he. Never forget that he is a god, Accolon, and he has the power to crush us.”

  He turned to look at her, and his dark eyes stared intently at her. Elixia’s breath caught in her throat.

  “I’m sorry I have not been a better husband to you,” he said.

  “Accolon you—”

  “No, no,” he stopped her speaking. “I am sorry. But I want you to know that I have relied on you these past months.” He paused and took her hands in his own. “You mean everything to me.”

  “But you do not love me, Accolon. Not truly. Not like you love Satine. I can see it in your eyes. I can see it in every breath you take. I have finally found peace just being your wife. Please don’t spoil that by lying to me,” she said.

  She let his hands drop and walked back under the deck so that she didn’t have to look at his face any longer.

  Chapter 37

  The three Strangers stood around a small cabin in the lowest level of the ship.

  Anna had asked them to meet, having heard that they were landing soon. They needed to sort out their problems before the battle began.

  “Where’s Jane?” Harry asked.

  “Probably with you-know-who,” Luca muttered.

  “Those two are joined at the hip,” Anna sighed.

  Right on cue, Jane entered with Fern in tow. Luca muttered something and Jane gave him a frosty glare.

  “What’s the matter?” she asked Anna.

  “We need to talk,” Anna replied.

  Jane looked around at the three friends. Harry was sitting on a chair behind a large round table, tapping his fingers impatiently, and Luca was standing in the corner by himself with his arms folded. Anna had been sitting next to the window, trying to deal with a severe bout of seasickness but stood up when Jane entered.

  Jane nodded in agreement and sat down in the chair that Anna had been sitting in. Anna sat on the bench next to Harry at the table.

  “Was I wrong in thinking this was a meeting just for the Strangers?” Luca asked pointedly looking at Fern.

  “Luca!” Jane said angrily.

  “Why does he have to be here?”

  “He’s with me. I asked him to come,” Jane said in a firm voice.

  “But he isn’t a Stranger, Jane. Maybe it’s best he leave,” Anna said somewhat more calmly.

  “Anna!” Jane started, but Fern interrupted her.

  “I will leave. I only came to offer my help.” Then he turned and walked out of the cabin.

  “What the hell is wrong with you all?” Jane turned to face them. “What has Fern ever done to deserve that? He’s only ever been good to you all.” She paused for a moment and sighed tiredly. “I’m asking the wrong question, aren’t I? I should be asking what I have done to deserve this. What have I done? You’ll have to tell me because I have no idea what’s made you so angry with me.” Silence followed until Luca finally spoke up.

  “Why does everything have to be about you, Jane?” he asked quietly.

  “You always insist that you know everything,” Harry said. “I can’t speak for the others, but that’s why I’m mad.” There were nods of agreement around the room.

  “Plus,” Luca said, “don’t you think it’s pathetic, what you’re doing?”

  “What am I doing?” she asked softly.

  “To Athena. Both you and Fern are betraying her. You used to hate liars.”

  The silence was acute, painful. Jane’s eyes narrowed. “Low blow, Luca. I suppose you can’t be expected to realise that this is deeper than all of that.”

  “No, it isn’t,” he said, “You just wish it was.”

  Jane’s face changed from angry to hurt in an instant. She looked around at them all for a moment, each one of them fidgeting uncomfortably under her gaze.

  “I hate myself,” she whispered. “The guilt’s killing me, but I just ... If we are about to go to war, and something happens to him...” She closed her eyes. “I love him. Don’t you get that?” When they didn’t reply, she frowned. “You’re right. Of course you are. I’m disgusting.” Jane stood up and made for the door.

  “Where are you going?” Anna asked.

  “If you don’t mind, I think I’d like to be somewhere where I’m not going to be attacked by the people I thought were my best friends. The people I love most.”

  “You don’t love us most,” Luca said bitterly. “You love Fern.”

  “Is that what this is about?” Jane turned on Luca. When she got no answer she said, “So am I not allowed to fall in love? Am I only allowed to love one person at a time?” She shook her head and left the room.

  “Why did you have to go and say that?”

  “What? You’re blaming this on me?” Luca replied angrily.

  “Don’t blame him!” Anna said to Harry.

  “Oh, right. Trust you to turn on me. Why have you been so mean to me lately?” Harry asked, bewildered.

  “Why don’t you leave Anna out of this?” Luca snapped. “It’s got nothing to do with her.”

  “Of course it has to do with me!” she replied.

  “She has as much right to speak as you do,” Harry said. “And we all know what happened when you spoke, don’t we, Luca?”

  “Yeah, you probably should have kept your mouth shut,” Anna said quietly and Luca turned angrily. Harry cut in. “We all just need to calm down!”

  “Shut up, Harry!” the other two chorused.

  “I don’t have to shut up! Why can’t I talk?”

  “Because you talk crap and you always have,” Anna said, shocking the boys.

  “Well I’m sorry. I never realised you all felt that way.”

  “Well now you do, so shut up for a minute,” Luca said.

  “Leave Harry alone!” Anna said to him.

  “Why don’t you do us all a favour and shut up too, Anna?” Luca said, still steaming.

  And so it went on, each snapping at the other. Round and round in circles, below deck they stayed, sailing closer and closer to the end.

  ***

  “Fern! Wait!” Jane ran to catch up to him, grabbing at his elbow to slow him down. He shrugged her off and kept walking towards the end of the ship. They were on the deck and the day was particularly windy, so she had to yell for him to hear her.

  “I’m sorry, okay?”

  He either didn’t hear over the crashing of the waves, or he chose to ignore her apology.

  “I said, I’m sorry!”

  “I heard you!” he yelled.

  “It was nothing against you—they were angry with me.”

  “Forget about it.” He kept walking, and she tried to catch up with him, but the wind blew her against the railing of the ship so hard that she hit it with a bone-jarring thud. He turned back to her in alarm, but she signalled that she was okay, and he walked on. Jane felt bruised. The skies darkened to an intimidating grey and it started to rain.

  “I’m not going to forget about it until you talk to me!” she yelled at his back.

  It was hard to see him now, for the rain poured down in torrential sheets, and the wind threatened to knock her over. But she struggled on. Dimly she heard the warning bell. She couldn’t see through the rain, and didn’t know how to get below deck. The horrendous wind whipped the waves up around her.

  Fern turned and realised that she was struggling, but just as she breathed a sigh of relief, it caught in her throat.

  High above her, a tremendous wave came crashing down onto the deck. It smashed into Jane and washed her over into the merciless sea. Her body was hurled about by the rough waves, and the last thing she saw before the endless darkness was Fern holding onto the mast, watching her with wide, horrified eyes.

  Then there was only water. Everywhere. Up her nose, in her eyes and her mouth. It w
as pulling her down. The waves picked her up and slammed her down.

  As her head broke the surface, she could dimly see the ship, but it was growing smaller with every second that went by. She felt like she had been in the water for hours, though she knew it could only have been seconds.

  Jane stayed conscious a long while, her body battered by the waves, but eventually she let go, only to swirl into endless blackness.

  ***

  Elixia ran up onto the deck with Accolon, her heart racing. It had not been long since she had gone to their cabin yet the weather had changed so quickly. Fern clung desperately to the mast, his eyes scanning the sea. Elixia was battered by the huge winds, and her sight obscured by the sea spray. The skies were now black. Accolon reached Fern before she did, but she arrived in time to hear him say, “Fern, you must come below deck!”

  Fern blinked, seeming to snap awake, and suddenly there was terror on his face. “Jane ... Jane!” he cried.

  Accolon looked into the ocean, and Elixia saw his eyes grow wide with horror.

  “She went over?” he cried, and his words seemed to snap Fern out of his stupefied trance. Without a word, he made to dive over the edge of the ship after Jane, but Accolon was quick, and caught him.

  “No! What are you doing? I have to save her,” Fern screamed, struggling insanely.

  “You can’t go in there. If you do, you will die,” Accolon shouted into the wind, desperately holding Fern back.

  “Don’t you understand? If she dies, I don’t want to live!”

  His words hit Elixia like a blow, and she started to cry.

  “Get below deck, Elixia,” Accolon screamed at her, and then turned back to Fern. Her brother was extremely strong but so was Accolon. His arms gripped like iron.

  Elixia clung to the railing with all the strength she had. Fern’s voice was hoarse from screaming, and he now threw his whole body into ripping free of Accolon’s clutch.