It took all my will to slow down. If I were seen, no one would allow me to leave. Not tonight, but nor would they expect any lady to try.
Thinking quickly, I slunk down the servants’ areas. I’d spent every summer in this castle, since I was a small child. There were always ways to go unseen, and a way to get outside the castle walls without being caught.
When I stepped into the courtyard, salty sea air laced with the coppery scent of blood overwhelmed me, telling me that death already lingered in the air. The moon cast a red glow to everything. But what was worse, a fog had swept in, cloaking the ground in a swirling mist.
I touched the hilt of my dagger, drawing strength from the cold metal, then slunk in the shadows, circling to the old, abandoned stables.
Creeping though the dark building to the back, I carefully moved behind a number of broken saddles and other gear. I pulled a bale of hay to the side and searched around for the edge of a board hidden deep in the ground. Digging my fingers under it, I lifted, revealing the hole underneath. Setting the board to the side, I slid into the hole, trying hard not to think of what might lie on the other side.
It took a while to climb below the thick stone walls of the castle and onto the other side. When I came out into the open, beneath the scraggly trees of the woods, I took a deep breath of the salty, clean air. But my relief passed quickly. On this side of the wall, the fog hung heavy and thick, like the breath of a giant on a cold winter morning. The night’s chill reminded me of autumn days, when everyone looked to the sky, waiting for the first flakes of winter.
No wonder the Tarakians were leaving. Summer had somehow fled from one day to the next. I gathered my cloak more tightly around me and stared up at the moon. Forgive me, father.
I slid along the wall until I reached the rocky beach. The red sea crashed along the shore, the sound deafening all others.
Shaking my head, I remembered my task, so I moved forward even though every instinct told me to go back. Creeping along the shore took longer, but I had no desire to enter the woods until I had to. As welcoming as the forest was during the day, it was the most dangerous place to be this night.
Shapes darted between the trees beside me.
I froze. But no, it had just been a trick of the lights.
A twig snapped. I spun to look behind me. Nothing there either.
Moving faster, I willed myself not to be afraid. This was my responsibility. Turning back wasn’t an option. If I’d just remembered the whole myth, if I’d just warned Branda, she’d be home safe now.
My grandmother’s prophecy curled through my mind. Would the goddess punish me by killing my friend?
I sped up. I couldn’t let that happen.
When I reached the base of the hill, I took a steadying breath, then pressed on. The smooth stones came into view, glistening in their perfect circle. They were sea stones, shimmering like the colors of a bubble. But tonight they held an inner glow. The eerie sight told me, if I ever didn’t believe, that these stones held magic.
Then, I saw the princess, clutching a blade, and Branda standing beside her.
“You have to shed blood to make it work,” Princess Gaudius said, anger lacing her words. “Just a little blood.”
I didn’t give Branda time to answer. “Get away from her.”
Both women whirled to face me.
The princess’ eyes glittered with an intensity that sent chills racing down my spine. “You won’t take this from me!”
She raised her blade.
I ran at her.
It swept down, just as I knocked her to the ground.
Branda cried out, springing back from us.
I pinned Princess Gaudius’ wrists to the ground as she struggled beneath me.
“You cut me,” Branda said, tears lacing her words.
We both turned to the dagger, still resting in the princess’ hands. Dark liquid coated one edge.
A savage grin spread across her face. “Posdena, great Goddess of the Sea, hear my cry! I have brought you a sacrifice. And in return, I want the life of the young prince of Tarak.”
Stillness followed her words.
My gut twisted. “It’s just a myth. You were going to kill a woman, for a myth.”
And then a sound came, sending ice coiling through my veins. A sound, like the lapping of waves against a boat, came from the woods, in the direction of the shore. It moved closer to us, causing every hair on my body to stand on end.
I released the princess and rose, withdrawing my own dagger.
“What is it?” Branda asked, clinging to my back.
She came before I could answer. The great Goddess of the Sea. Her skin held the shimmer of a fish’s scales. Her long, tangled hair flowed down her shoulder in green waves, like sea weed. And her eyes held the ever-changing glow of the stones. A long gown, red as the waves of the ocean, draped over her thin body.
“A sacrifice,” she rasped. “It’s been too long.”
Branda trembled behind me.
I took a step back, one leg gave out.
Princess Gaudius rose smoothly to her feet, bowing low. “My goddess, I am your child, and I have not forgotten your needs.”
A terrifying smile transformed Posdena’s face as her gaze flickered to Branda. “You will come with me, into the sea.”
I stumbled to my feet. “No.”
Her smile disappeared. “No?” Her gaze ran over me, hunger filling her eyes. “Who dares tell a goddess no?”
My limbs went numb as terror swept through me.
“Ignore her,” the princess said, “but remember my wish. The young prince of Tarak must die.”
The goddess nodded, not taking her gaze from me. “Whoever brings a sacrifice this night, shall have their wish, and whoever sheds blood among the circle of stones will forfeit their life. It is a deal as old as your people.”
She reached out for Branda.
With trembling hands, I raised my dagger. “You can’t have her, she’s an innocent.”
“No one is innocent,” the goddess rasped.
Princess Gaudius came towards me, reaching out for Branda. “It’s over Lady Quinn. Let this end.”
An idea came to me. I slashed out.
The princess screamed as blood oozed from her arm.
“I’ve brought a sacrifice and a wish,” I said, hating how my voice shook.
My words were met with silence.
The goddess laughed, a terrible sound like old hinges opening. “Clever human, what is your wish?”
“No,” Princess Gaudius whispered in horror.
I stiffened, meeting the ever-changing eyes of the immortal being before me. “That both girls go free.”
The goddess grew in size. The sound of crashing waves became a deafening roar. “Do you dare to make a wish that would anger me?”
My head spun. My teeth chattered. Sweat nearly had the dagger slipping from my grasp. “Yes.”
Her eyes blazed with anger. “Then I shall grant your wish, but you forfeit your life.”
I gripped the hilt of my dagger tighter, knowing it wouldn’t stop her.
“No,” came a voice from the shadows.
Turning around, I faced yet another goddess. Pale light lit her flawless skin. Her hazel eyes shone, sparkling like the waves beneath the sun’s rays. Black hair cascaded down bare shoulders. But her dress was simple black velvet, encasing a slender figure.
I could do nothing but stare.
“Laycee,” Posdena greeted, with a trace of fear. “There’s no need to concern yourself.”
Hope blossomed inside of me. Laycee was a Fate, one of the three women responsible for deciding the destiny of each man and woman. She determined the length of each person’s life, and perhaps, my life wasn’t yet at its end. What was more, as far as I knew, The Fates were the only beings more powerful than the goddess herself.
Laycee continued towards us, stopping when she stood between me and The Goddess of the Sea. “Oh, but there is. Dessi, the
young woman you see here, is under my protection.”
Posdena narrowed her eyes. “Since when do The Fates interfere in the decisions of the goddesses?”
“Time for you to go.” The Fate’s voice was like steel.
I held my breath. Branda grabbed my arm, her nails biting into my flesh.
Posdena leveled me with a glare that had me nearly crumbling to my knees. “Very well, but you have made an enemy of me. Remember, it was your choice.”
She flew at me in a swirl of colors, but slammed into the earth just in front me. She shattered into drops, spraying all of us with freezing water, smelling of blood.
The waves calmed. A bird sang a mournful song.
Princess Gaudius stood straighter, smoothing her hands over her dark cloak. “Thank you for your assistance with –”
“Every action has consequences,” Laycee interrupted, turning narrowed eyes on the princess. “You were willing to sacrifice a human life for what you wanted, so now you will sacrifice.”
“No…” the princess whispered, backing away.
The earth trembled as Laycee raised her palm towards her victim.
Princess Gaudius fell with a scream, clutching her stomach.
“For your selfishness and cruelty, you will never have a child.”
Tears raced down the princess’s pale face. Her rattling breaths filled the silence. “But I must have an heir.”
“Not my concern,” The Fate said, turning to focus on Branda. “And for your ignorance and greed –”
“She was tricked,” I spouted.
Laycee continued on as if I hadn’t spoken. “You will lose something truly precious to you, but I will not reveal anything more.”
Branda stood absolutely rigid, eyes wide in horror.
“But she’s the victim,” I argued, even though my voice trembled.
“Anyone who makes a deal with a goddess deserves whatever befalls them. Princess Gaudius and Branda will go now. But what happened tonight will remain our secret. Otherwise, the consequences will be dire.”
The princess stared at the ground. “As you wish.”
I stiffened. The barely restrained anger in her voice held a future threat.
The Fate raised a brow. “And no harm shall come to these girls, at least not from you.”
“Of course,” Princess Gaudius said, rising unsteadily to her feet.
The Fate snapped her fingers and both girls shot into motion, moving back towards the castle.
Branda looked back at me, although she didn’t stop moving.
I held her gaze, trying to reassure her without words.
And then, Branda turned away.
The two girls disappeared beneath the darkness of the woods.
Without wanting to, I stared at The Fate where she stood watching me. All the anger was gone from her stance, but a shiver of fear still slithered down my spine. The air hummed around her, almost visibly heavy with whatever magic this immortal being overflowed with.
A cool wind stirred. I wrapped my arms around myself as emotions swirled inside of me.
The Fate tilted her head. “Dessi, I have a very important task for you. What say you?”
It took too long to form words. “Why me?” I asked, trying to keep my voice from shaking.
Her eyes fluttered closed. “You are my Changer. One of those rare people capable of changing destiny.”
A strange realization came to me then. I owed this woman. Whatever this strange being asked of me, I couldn’t refuse.
I touched the inside of my silky sleeves. “What do you want from me?”
She studied me for a moment, then spoke, her voice coming to me as if from a great distance. “You must accompany the princess to Tarak.”
Her words hit me like a blow to the gut. I staggered a step, holding my stomach. “And if I refuse?”
In an instant, I snapped into the air, crying out. I hung, ten feet from the ground. Whirling my arms about, trying to steady myself, I slowly came to the realization I was neither falling nor going higher. My gaze went to the Fate.
Anger lit her face, twisting it into something feral. “My Changer has no say. She does as I tell her to, without question.”
Something dark curled within me. The truth was I had no choice, and yet, I didn’t have to like it.
I nodded, looking from her to the ground below me. “I’ll do it. I swear.”
From one breath to the next, I hit the ground, falling on my back. Air whooshed out of me. I took unsteady breaths, gasping for air.
The Fate’s face loomed over me. “You will find a way to accompany the princess to Tarak or I shall destroy everything you hold dear.”
Tears sprang in the corners of my eyes as I nodded. “Yes, of course.”
Then, she was gone.
Sitting up slowly, I looked around. The woods were no longer eerily quiet. Night birds sent their calls. Bugs spoke to one another.
I rose shakily to my feet and walked quietly back to the castle. My grandmother’s prophecy had come true. I’d not just shed blood once tonight, but twice, and I was punished doubly for my stupidity.
My heart sank. The last thing I wanted to do was go to Tarak in the company of the princess. But I had no other choice. I’d given a Fate my word, and I couldn’t risk her anger if I failed to do as she ordered.
I crawled beneath the wall, my limbs numb. Drifting like a ghost across the courtyard and into the castle, I tried to push aside my fears. Going to Tarak wouldn’t be all bad. Smit and Branda would be there.
Even though I’d be in a strange land. Without my family.
Exhaustion and helplessness brought a heavy weight to my limbs.
Pausing in the hall, I stopped between my door and Branda’s. Had she made it home? Creeping into her room, the fire burned merrily, and the windows had been drawn. In the bed, my friend slept soundly.
How could she sleep after such a night? Perhaps it was The Fates magic. It had to be.
Even though I wanted to wake her, I didn’t. She deserved a peaceful night’s sleep.
Spinning on my heel, I went to my room, undressed, and crawled into bed. I longed for sleep, but failed to find any as the blood red moon slowly made its way across the sky.
Two days later
My face felt swollen after weeping like a child on my father’s shoulder. He’d said little, his eyes squeezed shut, and his strong arms clutching me in a painfully tight grip. But now his warmth and strength were gone, and I was left on the deck of the ship, watching my homeland growing smaller and smaller in the distance.
A cold that had nothing to do with the wind or the salty spray of waves ran through me.
Someone came to stand at my side. “Is that your father still sitting on the rocks?”
I stiffened. Smit shouldn’t see me so distraught. “Yes,” I whispered the ragged word.
Reaching over, he took my hand off the railing and held it gently in his own. “I know you love your family and your home.”
Tears clogged in my throat as I nodded.
“And I know this is hard for you.”
I squeezed my eyes shut against the storm of tears threatening to break, again.
His thumb caressed my hand, drawing a warm circle. Within me something reared to life, acknowledging the man beside me. A connection flowed between us. I sensed in him his relief that I’d accompanied him. His joy that I let him hold my hand. And something more than that. He admired me. Liked me. And wanted to kiss me more than he wanted to take his next breath.
My eyes flew open.
His gaze ran over my face, focusing on my lips.
I swallowed. My sadness fled in the face of this moment. A moment I felt I’d waited a lifetime for.
Licking my lips, I watched as his eyes widened.
“Dessi,” he murmured.
I leaned in closer.
His lips brushed over mine, then increased their pressure.
I’d never been kissed before. For a moment, panic fille
d me. What did I need to do?
But then the pleasant softness of his lips stole all other thoughts, and I stood still, drinking in his kiss.
He pulled away, panting. His warm breath, smelling of exotic spices, swam over me.
My head spun, and I placed a hand on his shoulder to keep from falling.
“We kissed,” he said.
I stared at him, longing to stroke the stubble sprouting on his chin. My fingers ached to trace his strong jaw, maybe even to kiss the softness of the skin beneath his ear.
Shivering, I looked away. What had gotten into me? No man should affect a woman in such a way, to make her forget that she was on the busy deck of ship, being kissed by a man that was neither her betrothed nor her husband.
I slipped my hand away from his, and let my other hand drop from his shoulder back to the railing.
He cleared his throat. “The debt from our bet has been paid.”
I struggled for the right thing to say. “A bet that was hardly fair.”
A grin spread across his lips. “Why, my lady, do you imply I cheated?”
Relief rushed through me. I knew how to deal with Smit when he joked, when he smiled and teased. Not the Smit that kissed me senseless.
“Of course it wasn’t fair. You fought in your man’s place!”
He reached out and caught a curly strand of hair. “Well, that way I could win my bet… and prove to your father I could take care of you.”
I smacked his hand away from my hair. “Who said I need someone to take care of me? If I recall, you’re the one who needed my help.”
He groaned. “You’re never going to forget that, are you?”
Now it was my turn to smile. “Never.”
His grin faded as his gaze strayed back to my lips. “I think we have some things to –”
“Lady Quinn,” a servant stopped not far from me, her gaze on my boots. “Princess Gaudius would like you to join her for tea.”
Smit snatched my hand and bowed low over it. “I guess we’ll speak later.”
My heart thudded in my chest. “Lord Croswell.”
He pressed a quick kiss on the back of my hand. “Lady Quinn.” And then, he released my hand and walked below deck.
The servant waited.
“Go on. I’ll come in a moment.”
Her eyes widened in surprised, but she curtsied and walked away.
I stared back at my lands as all the good feelings Smit had stirred inside of me faded away. The princess despised me. Her polite words always held an edge now, and her gaze cut as deeply as any knife. Branda feared her, like a creature that waits in the shadows.
Thunder boomed overhead, and I turned to the sky, surprised. Storm clouds rolled overhead with a quickness that only magic could bring. The ship began to pitch one way and then another as the waves rolled with more force.
I clenched my hands. I’d made an enemy of both Princess Gaudius and The Goddess of the Sea. No doubt, they’d find ways to make me pay for going against them. But with Laycee on my side, I might just be able to defeat both my enemies, and explore the strange connection between Smit and myself.
At least I hoped.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lisa Morrow is a life-long reader who treasures fantasy in all forms. Being a middle child in a large family gave her a unique perspective on the world, but few experiences compare to her time spent studying abroad in Cambridge, England and wandering throughout Europe.
After her travels, Lisa settled down in Arizona to teach junior high English, and later, to spend time with her young children, husband, and cats. To some people, her life may seem quiet. But to her, every day is spent in a world colored by the imagination