“You’re sayin’ that you’re the lost prince of Tipet, and ta save Elurra from her crazy aunt we need ta find an ancient Guardian war room?” Rowan asked skeptically.
“That sums it up,” Terrin replied.
“I’ve heard weirder,” Snore said after a moment’s thought.
“I really don’t care what story you come up with; I’m just glad you’re back,” Tristen chimed in. “I’m bored of shooting at things all day. I need new targets. I say we go to Lur Alava and save the princess already.”
Terrin raised an eyebrow in surprise. He’d noticed the youth’s posture and demeanor had changed, and he seemed more assertive. Terrin wasn’t sure if he finally felt comfortable, or if learning to defend himself had given him more self-confidence. Either way, the changes seemed to be positive ones. The other dwarfs murmured in agreement.
“I agree. I’m tired of nothin’ but weapons practice day in and day out. I’m itchin’ for an adventure,” Rowan proclaimed.
Snore grunted in assent, and Plague blew his nose and nodded.
Terrin glanced over at Kai and Aleah, who’d both been quiet. Aleah’s face was drawn with worry. Terrin knew she was concerned about Elurra, and he couldn’t blame her. Trusting the small group of pirates with Elurra’s life wouldn’t be easy for her.
“I wish I could come with you, but I have duties here,” Kai said regretfully. “When you save Elurra, give her my regards. Remind her she will always have friends in Amora.”
“I am going with you,” Aleah declared abruptly.
Every head in the room turned in shock, and Kai’s head snapped around.
“No!” he declared.
Aleah scowled at him.
“I can take care of myself, and Elurra needs me. I did not believe her when she told me Nitiri was a threat, and she almost got killed as a result. I will not sit back and watch from hundreds of miles away.”
“If you get injured or killed, both Kai and Elurra would murder me,” Terrin interjected.
Aleah stood and slammed her fists on the table. Everyone jumped.
“I am not a weakling! I am tired of being left out. This is my mission as much as Elurra’s. Lur Alava is my home. I refuse to be left behind!”
Terrin caught Kai’s look of distress.
“Could you leave us alone for a moment, please?” Terrin asked.
The pirates filed out of the room hastily, none of them wanting to be caught in the crossfire. Kai lingered behind.
“You too, Kai.”
The prince looked like he was about to argue, but he finally sighed and left the room.
“You are not going to talk me out of going,” Aleah said defiantly.
“Aleah, I understand how you feel about this, but—”
“You cannot possibly understand!”
Terrin felt his frustration grow, threatening to bubble over the surface.
“You know the lurching feeling in your gut? Double it. I care about Elurra with every fiber of my being. Being away from her feels like my heart is trying to tear itself in two. I know exactly how it feels to have someone you love in danger, and now you are trying to put Kai through the same torment you and I are experiencing. He loves you, Aleah. I am pretty sure he fell in love with you the moment he met you in Lur Alava. He betrayed every tradition and expectation of his station to be with you. Your presence there will not guarantee her safety, but your presence here will save Kai countless sleepless nights. Please stay here, for him.”
Aleah’s hostility melted, and she surprised Terrin with a tight hug. Hesitantly, he returned the gesture.
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“Please find her before it is too late,” she breathed.
Terrin gently pulled away.
“That’s the plan. Go tell Kai you changed your mind.”
Aleah wiped her eyes and smiled, then left the room.
He gave her a head start before following her out. The dwarfs were waiting for him in the hallway. He stared at the small group and wondered if there was any way they could possibly pull off a revolution against someone as powerful as Nitiri. Tristen was barely more than a hundred pounds, Snore needed ten hours of sleep to function, Rowan was a clown, Plague was a walking pandemic, and Terrin himself was a thirteen-year-old trapped in the body of a young man.
How are we supposed to defeat a lunatic with magical powers and a thirst for vengeance? he wondered hopelessly.
He gave the group a smile, and with false confidence, he said, “Pack your bags, men. It’s time we took down a power-hungry witch.”
The pirates cheered and charged toward their rooms to get ready for the difficult journey ahead.
°◌°○●○°♣°○●○°◌°
When Elurra revived herself the second time, her teeth started to chatter. She wrapped her arm around herself to conserve heat as her mind raced to discern why she was so unnaturally cold. Abruptly, she remembered Lira had adjusted her nanites to cool her. She quickly recited the reversion command, and her shivers slowly disappeared as her body temperature leveled out. With her crisis averted, she got the chance to study her surroundings.
The familiar Kerali Mountains dominated the horizon, betraying they were near the border. Her growling stomach disturbed her observations. She checked her sword as she rummaged for the hidden food pouch she had stored between the layers of her dress. She was halfway through chewing when she heard a rustling behind her. She turned to find her captor sitting up, his eyes dark and colorless.
“I knew somethin' had gone funny when you didn't wake up a few days ago. Have you been pretendin' to be out this whole time?”
He didn’t give her a chance to answer. He unexpectedly raised his hand and spoke the dart command. Her kidnapper’s malicious grin was the last thing she saw before she was forcefully plunged into darkness. Nothingness gripped her as her lingering panic faded like a bad dream. Something cold brushed across her cheek, and she blinked in surprise as the darkness lifted.
Snowflakes danced before her eyes, and the corner where Cade and Nitiri met slowly emerged in the light of the moons. Nitiri approached, her steps light and carefree.
“Cade? Come out, wherever you are,” she called playfully.
Cade emerged from the shadows, but his mood did not match Nitiri's.
“Hello, Princess Nitiri.”
Nitiri's smile vanished, and she stopped in her tracks.
“How did you—”
“What’s wrong, Your Highness? Surprised? Crackle put it together and made me realize what a fool I've been.”
Nitiri cursed under her breath.
“What's wrong, Princess? Did you think you could get farther into our ranks before you were discovered? Did you think you could uncover all the 'bad guys' in the kingdom for your daddy? I commend you. Your acting skills are phenomenal,” Cade spat spitefully.
“You think I am spy? You honestly believe I came out here to offer you up to my father on a silver platter for gratification?”
Cade smiled bitterly.
“Isn’t that exactly what’s going on, Your Royal Highness? Your brother is half your age, but he’s lined up to inherit the throne. Your father looks at magic like a festering disease polluting his kingdom, and he looks at you the same way, doesn’t he? He wishes you were a man, and you must prove you’re superior if you ever want to rule. Did you think if you brought the secrets of the Rhai Cudd to your father, he might appreciate you? I hate to be the one to tell you, but you have it all wrong. You can arrest me and everyone else you’ve met, but we’ll take our secrets to the grave.”
“This is why I refused to tell you my name. I am not a title or my father’s pawn. I do not want your stupid Rhai Cudd, the crown, or my parents’ approval. I just wanted a friend! Someone who was not paid to spend time with me or was gaming for their personal gain. Is it really so much to ask for someone to truly see me for who I am?”
“Are you asking me to believe the princess of Lur Alava spends time with a nobody like me without a hidden agenda?” he asked sarcastically. “I can’t believe the great Princess Nitiri would be interested in someone like me without ulterior motives.”
Elurra saw his shame and realized his hostility stemmed from more than just the thought of her betraying the Rhai Cudd.
“I can spend time with anyone I please!”
“Stop it!” Cade screamed.
Nitiri and Cade glared at each other, both panting hard.
“Please stop lying to me,” Cade said. “It’s over now. If you want to arrest and torture me, get it over with. I won’t run. Hang me from the gallows like a trophy. Use me as a warning to the other Rhai Cudd members. Whatever you want, do it. But please, the façade, I…I can’t—” Cade’s voice cracked, and he looked away. His chest heaved, and his hands were clenched tightly.
Nitiri’s face hardened.
“Is it too inconceivable for you to even consider I was trying to escape my father’s impossible expectations and the image I must uphold every day? You cannot imagine the burning desire I have to flee the cage I live in. I risk everything to see you. Can you truly not understand you are the only real thing in my life?”
“How could I ever believe you aren’t going to betray me?”
His hatred was gone. Elurra couldn’t see his face, but she could hear the suffering in his voice. Nitiri’s heels clacked against the ground as she slowly closed the distance between them. To Cade and Elurra’s surprise, Nitiri abruptly slapped him. He yelped and looked up at her in astonishment. Tears were openly running down her face.
“I fell in love with you, idiot. I thought you were the first person to genuinely care about me, but you judged me like everyone else as soon as you learned my title.”
Without another word, she turned her back on him and took off the way she came. For a second, Cade was too stunned to move.
“Nitiri, wait! Please!” he called. He desperately sprinted after her, but she had already vanished into the night.