Page 12 of Sword of Rage
Soldiers ran around the deck in a flurry of activity. Sails were raised and lowered. The ship slowed. And finally,finally, the anchor was dropped.
Gytha approached Ackley. “The other ships report no one is in view of the shore.”
That was good. Hopefully there wouldn’t be a battle right away.
“A unit has been sent to investigate. We’re to wait here until they return.” She scanned him as he sat against a crate, the skin on his face peeling from his nasty sunburn. “You look awful.”
“Thanks,” he said, forcing a smile on his lips. “Just what every guy wants to hear.”
She squatted next to him, her right hand patting his knee. “I will stay at Idina’s side.” She nodded as if the idea were her own.
Until Idina was officially married to Owen, she was Ackley’s responsibility. And even then, Ackley doubted he’d just walk away and leave her alone. The need to protect her was second nature. Even though Idina was intelligent and headstrong, she was still a woman and his sister.
Gytha stood. “You’re supposed to prepare to board a boat for shore.”
He had no idea what that entailed. Since he’d been lying half-dead on the deck for most of the journey, he’d learned nothing about the ship or sailing. He hadn’t even learned anything about those here with him. Before they’d boarded, Owen had mixed the Melenia and Marsden soldiers in order for them to get to know one another better since they’d be fighting side by side.
As Gytha went to the other end of the ship, joining Idina, Ackley wondered how Owen was holding up. Owen was close to Ackley’s age and far too young to be shouldering the responsibilities of a kingdom. Ackley knew what it was like to have a parent and sibling murdered. Thankfully Ackley’s mother, his sister Idina, and his brother Gordon were still alive. Owen had no one. The letter he received stated that the royal family had been slaughtered by Russek. It didn’t offer any other details. Ackley didn’t think Owen would want them anyway.
Ackley didn’t know much about Russek, other than it bordered Melenia. King Dexter of Marsden had sent seven hundred soldiers with Owen to help reclaim the kingdom. Once Owen was established as the king and wed to Idina, Ackley would return home with the Marsden soldiers.
Not that there was much to return home to. He supposed he should go back and take over the Knights of the Realm. However, he’d left it in capable hands while he was gone. Some time away would do him good.
Owen approached. “Scouts report no one in sight.” His right hand gripped the hilt of his sword and he took a deep breath. “We’re going on shore. We’ll stay in the valley until everyone has regained their land legs.”
“Land legs?” Ackley really should have asked questions about traveling via a ship across the ocean before he boarded. It would have saved him these past two weeks of torture.
“It’ll take a day or two to adjust to land. I don’t want everyone marching toward the castle until we’re ready. If we’re attacked, or cross paths with Russek, we need to be able to defend ourselves.”
Ackley nodded. He had no idea what the plan was since he’d been barfing his guts up instead of attending any of the meetings. “We’re heading straight to the castle?” Shouldn’t they figure out where Russek’s main troops were located? Then ambush them until they could easily retake the castle?
“Eventually.” Owen glanced about before squatting eye level with Ackley. “As soon as you’re able, I need you to go on a mission for me.”
For the first time in two weeks, Ackley became intrigued. “I’m listening.”
“There’s a coastal city to the south, only a couple days’ journey away. I need for you to go there and find out if it’s been taken. And then I need you to locate my cousin.”
Ackley raised his eyebrows, trying to understand why Owen would want to seek his cousin out when he needed to focus on regaining the throne.
Owen lowered his voice. “The correspondence I received informing me of my family’s demise came from this city and was written by my cousin.”
“And?”
“My cousin should be dead.” Owen pursed his lips. “She would have been at my sister’s birthday party when the takeover happened. Which means she managed to escape. She may be the only living relative I have.”
“Are you afraid she’ll challenge you for the throne?” There was something Owen wasn’t telling him.
“No.” He scratched his forehead. “It’s complicated.”
“If I’m going to find your cousin, I need to know.” He wasn’t going to walk into the situation blindly.
“This city, Kreng, it’s not part of Melenia. Meaning, we were never able to gain control of it. We reached a treaty with the people there and allow them to function independently of the crown. They have their own army. My family isn’t allowed to step foot in the city.”
“Then why would your cousin go there?”
“An excellent question. It is, however, the only city that could have dispatched a letter to me.”
Ackley considered what Owen had said. “Do you trust your cousin?”
