Phoenix Gift

Chapter Eleven

Alexis slept or cried during the voyage across the sea. After living on Milagros where magic saturated the land, being away from it left her feeling uneasy. She was too young to understand why she felt the hollow pain gnawing at her, but it would not leave her no matter what distractions the others tried.

The kingdoms of Nuwa were like Milagros once and thrived on magic for millennia. However, magic ebbed away from the lands of men. Unicorns and other creatures thriving on magic retreated to remote areas where there was still enough to sustain them in the deep forests and mountains where mortals rarely tread.

The sailors’ songs seemed less joyous, the sky duller, the suns not as warm, the sea not as friendly. Cadmus and Eja were easily provoked and snapped at those who disturbed them, while M’zuzi’s owl became lethargic. The ship sailed on, each sunrise and sunset discovered them further south.

Time acclimated them to the ebbing magic retained somewhere in the depths of the sea. Even Alexis gradually accepted it as the journey crawled onward. Yet, somewhere within, she still felt pain and loss. Cadmus and Eja settled, but the others had learned to give them a wide berth to avoid quick jaws.

Alexis sat on a barrel, swinging her legs in boredom. Cadmus and Eja lounged nearby. The green dragon yawned to show his intolerance of the long voyage. Five moons had passed since they began and Alexis tired of the same monotony. Natalia’s attempts to entertain her with lessons were to no avail. She wanted the company of creatures, but not so much as a fish could be seen in the water nor gull on the mast.

“Would you like me to teach you sailor knots?”

Alexis glanced away from the seemingly unending sea to look at the speaker. Nearly ten years her elder, the young boy was tall and slim. He did not look strong enough to handle sailor duties, but his wiry frame stood up to the work well. Long days under the harsh suns had rendered his skin several shades darker than her own.

Tilting her head, Alexis asked, “Why?”

“Well, sailor knots are useful,” Dale scratched his head, not used to younger children, lacking siblings of his own.

“For what?”

“For most anything: securing rigging and supplies, even that barrel you’re sitting on.”

“When am I going to do that?”

“I don’t know. You could knot your doll’s hair or yours.”

“I don’t want to knot my hair! Lady Natalia braids it!”

“Well—”

“Land-Ho!” a shout from the crow’s nest startled them.

Alexis jumped at the sound. Dale hurried to his place as they trimmed the sails and prepared to bring the ship into harbor. Hopping off the barrel, Alexis ran to her father at the helm. Cadmus and Eja scampered with her as sailors swarmed the deck. The Reen Dorema sailed into Keldon harbor.

Curious fishermen watched them. It was a long time since any such ship docked in their small and shallow harbor. It skimmed the bottom but did not ground itself. The crew threw out ropes to people gathering on the dock. The accosted observers secured the ship as the gangplank was lowered and the first of the sailors disembarked to finish the job. Keldon did not have a harbormaster as it was too shallow for many large ships to enter, so such visitors were rare.

As sailors secured the last of the sails and rigging, two knights left the ship. While one mounted a horse and raced off in the direction of the Castle, Park hurried to the Fishing Troll. He wrinkled his nose at the acrid smoke wafting through the inn and tavern as he stepped inside. It was dimly lit and as damp as he remembered. The years since his last visit had not improved the hostel, but it was the largest of the village’s accommodations.

“Can I help you?” a gruff voice asked.

Turning, Park faced a burly form jacketed by an oily, leather apron. Trying to ignore the smell of the rancid meat the man had obviously been handling, the knight managed to answer, “King Xavier of Milagros requires rooms for himself, his daughter, and entourage as well as stables for our horses.”

A bushy brow rose as the man wiped his hands on his dingy trousers. l*****g his lips, he said, “It has been a long time since we had such illustrious visitors. How many rooms you be needing then? I only have six or seven on the top floor.”

“Are all of them available?”

“Well, yes.”

“Then we’ll take them.”

“Those rooms are valuable accommodations, ya’ know.”

“King Xavier is willing to pay whatever is required to secure the rooms for himself and the safety of the young Princess.”

“Well, then, I think twelve silvers a night is not too much to ask for security,” the innkeeper winked.

Park was careful to maintain his composure at the outrageously low price. Most others would have asked for gold considering Milagros’s lauded wealth. He bowed his head, shook the hand the innkeeper offered to seal the deal and said in a low voice, “How are you, Garvan?”

“Well enough,” the innkeeper cast a quick glance across the room to see if the two patrons watched. “Not really a good time for a visit though.”

“How so?”

“King Harrod’s in trouble to be sure. The people are unhappy because the crops are failing, and the sea doesn’t give many fish. Not natural for this time of year.”

Park nodded. In the north, it was early autumn, and the south should be enjoying an easy spring.

“You best tell your King to be careful, magic folk aren’t welcome around here and people don’t like those friendly with them either.”

“We have two wizards traveling with us,” Park kept his voice low. “And a pair of small dragons.”

“You can’t bring them in here,” Garvan whispered. “I won’t risk my inn, understand?”

“We’ll leave them on the ship.”

“Good,” the innkeeper looked around again, trying to judge if anyone had heard them.

“Thank you, my friend,” Park turned to the door.

“How’s my niece doing?” Garvan suddenly asked, catching the knight off guard.

Park paused, considering an answer, before he said, “You can ask her yourself when she arrives with the rest.”

The knight returned to the ship, delivering his news as the sailors helped offload trunks. Xavier listened, giving only short nods as he studied the harbor and those watching them. Only when Park finished did he speak, “Not surprising. Get the others ready. I’ll speak with M’zuzi and Tavel.”

“What about Alexis? She’s not going to like leaving Cadmus on the ship.”

“Can’t be helped. We don’t have a choice.”

* * *

The second messenger returned six days after disembarking from the ship. He handed Xavier King Harrod’s answer. Xavier read the rolled parchment in front of Park, nodding to confirm that their journey could continue. Early the following morning, they saddled their horses outside the stable. Renting two wagons and two horses from Garvan, they loaded supplies for the journey to come.

M’zuzi and Tavel took their first steps on the Continent to join the party. Alexis rode in front of her father with Cadmus perched on the horse’s neck or in her lap. As expected, the dragon had thrown quite a fit when it was forced to separate from its young mistress, but not nearly as loudly as Alexis. She insisted on staying on the ship with Cadmus if the dragon was not allowed to follow, but Xavier refused. Though Alexis had adapted to the long sea journey, she needed to rest in a sturdy bed that wasn’t constantly swaying.

She cried the first night and didn’t settle until Cadmus came tapping at the room’s window. Xavier had been reluctant to let the dragon in as it went against his word to the innkeeper, but for Alexis he was willing to allow it if the dragon didn’t make itself known to anyone outside their group. Luckily, their stay was a short one.

Natalia and a servant drove the rented wagons while the others rode their Milagrian mounts in front and behind. It was a larger entourage than Xavier usually bothered with, but it was necessary to protect and care for Alexis. The worn dirt road led them across wide meadows and passed large farms.

Cows and oxen grazed on large, rolling pastures. Dotted throughout the landscape was the occasional small village, usually nothing more than a marketplace, inn and tavern. Rich farmland made Harleigh self-sufficient. A good thing, since its shallow harbor made it difficult for large ships to enter. If Garvan was right, Harleigh would become more dependent on imports if it lost its ability to grow its own food.

That would certainly lead to more hardships for the people. Though beautiful, the terrain was monotonous and disappointing for Alexis, who was used to a more enclosed environment filled with colorful life. She spent much of the day staring at the distant forest, imagining what creatures might be found in its shadows.

Their journey was uneventful, and their nights spent in small tavern inns. Xavier hoped the Reen Dorema and her crew faired equally well. The ship would be a tempting target for desperate and maligned hearts.

Castle Culan rose suddenly from the horizon, and they followed the road to its gates. Xavier felt a shiver run through him and did not know if it was apprehension or anticipation. Dimly, he recalled the last time the castle had instilled such feelings in him, and it was not a good memory. Still, he could not turn away from his path, as before, there was too much at stake.