Heaving herself up and breaking the surface of the water, Liandra gasped for air. For a moment she hung, simply catching her breath after nearly drowning, headless of the battle not far off, or the hot flames still on the surface of the water where pieces of the ship floated.

The smoke was thick. It burned her throat. She coughed hoarsely as she gripped the dock. Liandra screamed in frustration as she hauled herself up.

She lay on her stomach, catching her breath.

The ship… it’s gone. How are we going to get the Emperor out of Mikuma?

She looked up, but couldn’t see far due to the thick haze of smoke blowing over her. She couldn’t tell what was darker in shade, the smoke, or the sky. She got to her knees, wiped her face and trudged along the docks until she made it to land.

She slowed, still wobbly on her feet. As the smoke cleared, her eyes widened in shock.

No! Not possible!

The Emperor’s guard was in tatters. Her knights were still alive, but men lay dead and scattered. Some cried out in grief, and Liandra knew their Imperial Highness had been assassinated.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“What has”—she coughed into her plated forearm—“happened here!”

Zandersan came forward. “Assassin,” was all he said.

Liandra surveyed the group of men, the Emperor’s body in the arms of Masaru, the crown prince. The mage was there. Evidentially he had survived the destruction of their only ship.

“We move back to the Western Temple,” she commanded.

Yorikana, a pained look on his face, ran to the Knight Commander. He pointed at the battle lines. “We may not have to,” he said. “The enemy. They’re retreating.”

She turned. Of course they are. They’ve succeeded in their mission.

But turning back to the prince, she knew that this wasn’t over. “Where’s the Princess?” Yorikana didn’t answer. He seemed distracted. “I said, where is the Princess, man?”

Coming too, the Mikuma general turned and pointed farther up the supply line. “Over the hill.”

“Pull our forces back,” she told him.

The mage approached, breathing heavily. “I have something to tell you.”

“Later.”

“Now.”

She paused for a moment as he walked off out of earshot. Liandra sighed, then she followed. “What is it?”

“There’s another ship.”

Instantly she felt her spirits rise. “Another ship? Where? How do you know this?”

He raised a hand. “It’s hidden.”

“Tell me where it is,” she demanded. “We must get the royal heirs out of Mikuma!”

“I’ll tell you where the ship is on one condition.”

“We don’t have time for conditions, mage. If you have a ship, you damned well better tell me or I’ll—“

“I said I have a condition.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Fine. What is this condition you speak of?”