Page 80 of The Shadowed Oracle
They only waited for Callinora to go on.
“He and his crew were shipwrecked. Attacked. After washing ashore, they were captured and wrongly held prisoner by the usurper Enitha.”
Dean looked to Tyla.
Then Tyla looked to Raidinn, confusion apparent in their faces.
Callinora informed them, “Enitha rules the Isles.”
“Is it not Horace?” Tyla asked.
Raidinn, equally as shocked, added, “His family has ruled the stone temple for centuries.” There was a touch of melancholy in his voice. “Have the Occi Isles allied with Makkar?”
“We don’t know how deep their loyalty runs,” Callinora replied. “All we know is that Enitha has pledged to his cause. The Occi Isles, if called upon, would have to fight against any rebellion.”
The Occi Isles.The path Tyla had scouted the morning of their departure. She had mentioned it as a sort of paradise, where even her human-obsessed father wanted to take them to see at least once in their lives. A place separated from the infighting of the mainland, and more importantly, rumored to be unaffected by the scourge.
Tyla had wanted to know if the infection had spread to the outskirts of Peloria Forest in case they needed to take another route. But the mission had been for naught. Ungii were swarming the region, closing off a safe road to what she’d thought was a haven.
Dean, making no secret of his ignorance, asked, “I’ve never heard of Queen Enitha, but I imagine she has built quite an army if you and your father couldn’t do what you ask of us?”
He’d hit the perfect note between bluntness and unassuming curiosity, yet Callinora still clenched, a barely visible wrinkle creasing between her eyes.
“Sending the army would leave Maradenn unguarded,” the princess said. “We sent one of our strongest legions, just a few ships, and they were defeated upon arrival. And the second, slightly larger legion we sent… the only soldier that returned came to us in a very small box, with a message that read:any more, and not one Maradenn ship will survive the Jemii sea.”
“Sorry…” Dean held up a hand. “Could you expand?”
“Expand on what?”
“Literally all of it,” Ingrid chimed in.
Callinora took a long breath. “You see, we need the route to Iberium open. It is crucial for our people.”
It was the only route that connected Maradenn to the fruitful free lands to the far west. Since the disease and the Ungii spread to the inland rivers and forests, their trade was heavily relied upon. Without it, half his population would starve within a matter of months—a consequence of being so tactfully isolated between the sea and the harsh mountains.
“Father made his choice,” Callinora said. “And I had to obey. My husband, in exchange for our people.” She bit her bottom lip, again keeping her opinion on the decision to herself. “I can give you a ship disguised as a merchant vessel and a small crew toaccompany you. As for why I have confidence inyouspecifically to free my husband…”
Her eyes panned to Dean and Raidinn, examining them like one might a herd of race horses before purchase. “My husband wasn’t captured strictly for his position. Enitha has very specific tastes. And you two, well, you fit the description.” She stopped, then zeroed in on Dean. “Especially you, I might add. The resemblance is uncanny.”
She tossed this last statement away like an afterthought.
“Hold on,” Ingrid said, stammering for more clarity. “Resemblance to who? Your husband?”
“Correct.”
Tyla could only laugh, “So you saw us out there. SawDean, I should say, and you couldn’t help but think of the ways you could use us. A small band of desperate outsiders like us would have no choice but to accept, right?”
Callinora didn’t flinch. “We’re talking about my husband. So, yes, I saw the opportunity, and I took it.”
Slowly, everyone turned their attention to the male in question.
“I don’t think my resemblance will matter,” Dean said dryly. “I mean, Raidinn here, he is the far superior flirt.”
It took a moment for the hint to land, but when it did, Raidinn erupted. “Hey! I’m not some whore!” He leaned close to Dean and his sister, adding, “Despite what you two have heard.”
“I’m not asking you to whore yourself.” Callinora shook her head. “I’m only asking you to distract her. If you present yourselves as merchants selling exotic jewels—which, luckily, is another one of Enitha’s vices, then she will welcome you into her court with open arms.”
The princess gave a friendly nod to Tyla and Ingrid, “Meanwhile, you ladies can find and retrieve my husband. He will be easy to locate. I’m told he never leaves Enitha’s side. Nojail cell holds him. Nor is he guarded. Enitha poisoned his mind, you see, making him believe hewantsto be there. So I imagine he’ll be easy to sway.”
