Page 37 of Her Royal Blood

I knew their nature, they fought to the death and they had no honor when it came to killing. They’d take a life by any means possible. Sneaking up on them was the only way to assure we’d win without casualties. On the long boat ride I thought of Aria and how I needed to see this mission go well so that I could return to her without incident.

I must have dozed off while we sailed through the ocean as many of the troops did, shoring up their strength for the battle ahead. When the skies started to darken, I knew the day had passed and we were close to the ships. I went above deck to find Derringer with the captain.

“Have you spotted them?” I asked, quietly as some of the other men, hiding on the deck were also sleeping.

“We got a lock on their location about two hours ago. We’re just waiting until the right moment. They are going to see us come into range, but we look like we’re carrying supplies, no men on board, perhaps they won’t recognize us. I think it bestif you strike at about two in the morning. It’s my experience that the crew thin out by then, especially if they’re just carrying prisoners then the men are going to start drinking around midnight.” Derringer laughed, likely having spent most of his life on the sea.

He’d know best how crews faced the wee hours of the night.

“Sounds like a good plan. What time is it?” I left my watch and all of the things that would get ruined in the water back with Aria.

“We have about an hour. There’s some food on the stove in the galley. Eat and make sure your men get fed. We’ll bring you near the ships after everyone has had time to eat and digest.” He slapped me on the back and all we had to do was bide our time.

I went below deck and woke one of the captains to assemble the men quietly and make sure they were fed. I ate from the provisions in my pack not wanting to be weighted down by too much food. It didn’t take long for the men to eat and get prepared to shift. When two o’clock came we were ready.

We decided to jump in at the same time so that there was only one splash. At that time Derringer also cast out a large fishing net. As predicted, the few guards on Polonius’ barges looked out to find Derringer casting another set of nets and dismissed him as a late night fisherman.

We’d all shifted into our wolves and swam the short distance easily. One by one we clawed up the side of the boat with stealth and silence. The first guard to spot us was taken out quickly by one of the Royal Guards who bit a hole into his throat. The trick was to kill the warriors before they had time to shift or sound the call to alert the others we were there.

Myself and a few of the guards went below deck to where prisoners were being held in chains attached to the walls. There were about thirty of them. The place smelled like shit, literally,and vomit. The smell alone could have killed a man, but I made sure the my claws swiping across their necks did the trick.

As soon as the first few soldiers died the rest shifted and we launched a full scale attack. Half of my troops went on the first barge and the other half to the second. I jumped on the back of one wolf while another bit my tail. I quickly sunk my teeth into the wolf I was riding’s neck while I kicked the one biting me in the face. There were snarls and yelps. While the wolf under me was dying, I jumped off and rammed the wolf who still had my tail into the side of the boat, crushing his spine, making him release my tail. When he did I bit into the scruff of his neck and tossed him overboard, too weak to swim, he’d drown.

After a few hours of fighting we killed all of the guards. Two prisoners refused to go with us and we left them in chains, but took them with us. I figured I’d have Hawk try to talk some sense into them before I made any decisions about their lives. The rest we liberated, were happy that the rumors of Prince Lex Redveign’s offer was true. With Polonius they’d have to fight until their deaths, with me it was only until we defeated Polonius, then they could live as they best saw fit.

By the time we were finished with the soldiers the seas were quiet and we were victorious. We shifted and returned to Derringer’s boat with the newly recruited prisoners. We collected about eighty of them with six prisoners kept in chains for Hawk to figure out. Our mission, however, had been accomplished.

Chapter 13

Aria

I wanted to fight by Lex’s side, but I had to get to Amadeus and see if I could help him recover. The fact that he was still so deranged and unwell was a grave problem as he was a brilliant and powerful mage. We needed his support against Polonius, but more importantly I needed my father to be well again. I dressed and met with King Helix before he left for his stronghold near the harbor.

“I wish you the best with Amadeus. I know that Nan has been tending to him, but hasn’t been able to break his illness, hopefully you’ll have better luck with him. Being his daughter and a mage, I trust that you are the best qualified to bring him to his senses again.” King Helix looked at me with subtle defeat in his eyes, but he was showing respect and honor to me, two things I never thought he’d give me.

“I promise, you will see him well again and back at your side,” I vowed, hoping he knew my sincerity.

“As I said, Queen Aria. I trust you and I’m counting on you to restore him.” With that he gave me a short bow and I curtseyed and was off to make my way through the city to the Palace.

Derringer had shown me how to use the tunnels under the city to get around. Luckily the Crypt Claw had not discoveredthem, mostly because they were only used by the military. Since they were a military secret, unless they tortured a soldier to disclose their location, the Crypt Claw would have no way of knowing the tunnels existed.

It took me a few hours to find my way, but I was able to eventually make it to the Palace. When I arrived there was an entrance right near Amadeus’ workshop next to the laundry room on the Redveign estate. Since only Amadeus, Nan, and myself could enter Amadeus’ workshop, it was easy for me to find a servant’s uniform in the clean laundry and put it on.

All but a few servants remained in the house. They were mostly there to tend to Armadeus and keep the garden. Nan had left with Queen Delia and Janaya to the safe house they were staying in so Amadeus only had the remaining servants to tend to him. From the looks of it there was one man and two women still on the property. I knew this because I could see them huddled together in the kitchen from the window atop the eastmost laundry room wall.

The rest of the palace was dark and silent. Surrounding the property were Crypt Claw warriors playing games, drinking, or laying on benches in the garden sleeping. When I exited the laundry dressed in a clean servant’s uniform, I kept my head bowed and walked briskly into Amadeus’ workshop, not even bothering to let him know I was there with a knock.

Amadeus was awake and wandering around. At first he didn't notice me, just meandered slowly shuffling his feet making a wide circle around the workshop. When he did notice me, nearly stepping on my foot, his face flashed a look of surprise.

“Tirah,” he said in a whisper. “What are you doing here? It’s not safe. You look beautiful as ever though, a vision even in a servant’s drab clothes.” He looked like he might kiss me and I backed away. “You’re right, it's too risky,” he sighed. “I can’t see Aria on the grass. She was playing earlier and now she’s gone.I try to protect her, but Lady India is such a bully. I fear she’s ruining our girl’s spirits. If I could find my book of spells, I could get us out of here. We’ll go to Solbrook or another kingdom in Voltaire and be free.” The smile on his face was sweet and endearing, but sad.

Likely this was a conversation he’d never had with my mother. She died before he had the chance. It was also heartbreaking that he thought I was her. I must have looked so much like her now. He did mention a spell book and if I could find that for him, perhaps there’d be a spell to help heal him in it.

“I can help you look for your spellbook, Amadeus,” I told him, eager to find anything to aid my magic.

“It’s here on a shelf somewhere.” He looked puzzled, searching around the room.

I immediately started rummaging through the debris and junk on the cluttered shelves. There was a bookcase so I skimmed my finger over the spines to read their titles. One was an Apothecary book, another a book on healing, and there were books on bending refracted light, making potions, and casting spells, but they were not specifically his spellbook. I continued to look through the books to no avail. I knew his book. I had actually gotten spells out of it before and none of the books on the bookshelf were it.

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