Sea of Sighs (Empath Book 2) Read online

  It was unlikely that anyone was going to come wading out of the shallows to get them, but it was only a matter of time before Sammah found out that they were heading to Sha’sek, and it wouldn’t take much for him to figure out which city they would head to. Sammah’s resources were spread wide, and Ross wanted to avoid Sammah’s direct influence as much as possible. It was going to be hard enough negotiating with his brother.

  “Are you sure you want to go into the city today? You look exhausted. You must need more rest than a morning?”

  Quinn bit down on her lip. She didn’t want to be delayed heading into Farn, but nevertheless, she was concerned for him. Ross shook his head slowly. “You have no idea what it’s like to be in a campaign do you? I’ve fought battles after night-long marches, so I should be fine looking after you two in a city like Farn, even if you do ignore my instructions from time to time. Don’t worry about me, just make sure you get fed, and figure out what it is you want to do once you get behind those walls. I can look after you, but I can’t tell you what your lives are going to be like.”

  Quinn didn’t think Ross would sleep, but he was snoring within minutes of covering himself with a loose blanket. She and Maertn sat there in silence for a few minutes, the imposing walls of Farn on the horizon forcing them to contemplate what might be ahead. Maertn cleared his throat. “So… what do you think should be doing when we get there?”

  “I don’t know. I have no idea what it’s going to be like. Part of me wishes I had stayed in Everfell.”

  Maertn snorted, “And what, face a trial that you have no chance of getting away from alive? That was a choice, was it Quinn?”

  “You know who rules Farn?”

  Quinn did know, and Maertn must have remembered, after all the conversations they’d had with Sammah. Quinn had a few ideas why Ross wanted to bring them here, so she hadn’t questioned Farn as his choice. He was after all far more experienced in Sha’sek politics than they were. Maertn shook his head, and the fact that Maertn was ignorant as to their destination was more than a little worrying. “You can’t remember who rules on Farn?”

  “There is never just one ruler. Sha’sek is ruled by the council.”

  Quinn groaned, cradling her face in her hands. “Did you never listen to anything Sammah taught us?”

  “Usually, I was too busy healing. You were the one that got all the lectures. Why, what have I got wrong?”

  “The council is a collection of leaders from all the islands. You don’t have a council per island, every island has its own leader. So yes, we are going to be relying on the benevolence of one single leader, and it’s someone you’ve definitely heard of before.”

  “Are you going to tell me, or are you going to keep nagging me?”

  “Farn is ruled by Baron Pax, Sammah’s older brother.”

  Maertn had been stirring a pot of tea, and on hearing that news, he stopped, his petrified gaze rising to meet Quinn’s. “Sammah’s brother? Is Ross out of his mind?”

  “The opposite, actually. Think about it, this is the only real place in all of the islands that we stand a chance of being safe.”

  “How, by the spirits, have you figured that one out?”

  “We don’t know for sure that Sammah was acting on his own. But, how likely do you think it really is that the council still wants a war with Everfell? I don’t think it will happen. I think Sammah was working on his own, and Ross evidently agrees. So, he’s taking the gamble that the strongest island with the most influential leader will be the safest place for us to stay. If anything, Farn will be the safest place to keep us hidden from anyone coming to find us from Everfell.”

  Maertn grunted, and Quinn were sure it was a sound of disapproval rather than anything else.

  “And what happens if the baron and the council knew precisely what Sammah was doing, and they do want to start the war again?”

  Quinn had thought of that, and she didn’t want to answer the question. Personally, she was pretty sure she knew exactly what would happen if Sha’sek did still want to go to war. Abilities had been useful in the previous war, and whether she liked it or not, she’d figured that they’d want to use her, especially if they discovered she could be just as powerful as Nerren. If Pax was allied with Sammah, then she was walking into a death-trap.

  All she had to hold on to was hope; that of all of his kin, Sammah was the black sheep. From his texts, Sammen had been much the same. Ross had told them what it meant to be an apath. Hopefully that was enough for the council to distance themselves from Sammah’s dangerous intentions.

  Hope. That wasn’t a lot to hold on to. Quinn curled into a ball, deciding then that she definitely wanted to be back in Everfell. Lying on a beach in a foreign land, exposed and feeling utterly alone, a lonely tear trickled down her cheek. Eden Quinn thought, I miss you so much.

  * * *

  Ross’s snoring abruptly came to an end a few hours later, to the relief of Maertn and Quinn. The two were usually able to fill the silences. Their familiarity usually brought with it an easy banter. Now however, with the imposing city on the horizon and an uncertain future ahead of them, they had nothing to say to each other that would be anything but nerve-wracking. They were both desperate for their guardian to wake, so that they could at least be on their way.

  “What’s wrong with you two? You both look miserable as sin. Have you spent the last few hours arguing?”

  “Quite the opposite,” Maertn replied, “we’ve been sitting in a grumpy silence waiting for you to wake up.”

  “That sounds enjoyable.” Ross sniffed at the air. “Is there any tea left?”

  Maertn hit out at the brew pot with a spoon, and Ross got himself a cup. The tea was long-stewed, but he didn’t seem to mind.

  “That will taste disgusting by now.” Quinn said

  “I don’t particularly care, I just want to wake up.” Ross replied. “So, you’ve decided what we’re going to be doing?”

  “Maertn didn’t even know where we were, so, no, we don’t know what we’re doing.” Quinn replied tartly.

  Ross looked cautiously to Maertn, then back to Quinn. “I thought you said you hadn’t been rowing? I need you two to be getting on with each other to give yourselves the best chance of thriving in there. You’ve had a blissfully peaceful relationship your entire lives, and I don’t want to see that start falling apart now.”

  “Nothing is falling apart, we’re just both very nervous. We’ve never been here before, and we’re petrified,” Maertn replied quietly

  “I can’t blame you for being frightened, but that’s why you need to talk to each other. And I mean really talk. Quinn may need your support, Maertn, but the same works both ways. You’re going to need Quinn there for you, if you decide that you want to actually stay in Sha’sek.”

  “Where else have I got to go?”

  “You know for a fact the king would have you back in Everfell in a heartbeat. As long as there’s a threat of war hanging in the air, King Vance will take you back.”

  “And abandon Quinn? I don’t think so.”

  “Good, if that’s the way you think, start acting like it. All I see right now is a pair of frightened children bickering with each other and ignoring the real problems. Whilst that might be what you actually are, you can be forced to grow up quicker than you wanted to. Baron Pax is going to expect more than what I’m seeing right now, so you need to buck your ideas up, and start pretending that you’re not afraid. You managed to it fine in the end with Sammah, so there’s no reason why you can’t do it here too.”

  “Circumstances are somewhat different, Ross.”

  “Different yes, but also more important. You’re on strange soil now, and aside from me, there is no one coming to save you.”

  * * *

  The muted of distant hoof beats sounded, and all three stood from their fire.

  “Who is it?”

  Quinn hated the wobble of fear in her voice, but she couldn’t hide it. Ross wanted them to be bra
ve, and she would be, but she wasn’t a very good liar.

  “I don’t know, but I can’t imagine that it’s anything good,” Ross answered angrily. He stalked away from the fire, heading back towards his horse and drawings swords.

  “Is that going to be necessary?” Maertn asked, stepping back bewildered as Ross passed him a blade.

  “I don’t know, but if someone’s going to attack us, we’re not just going to stand here and let them do it.”

  “Neither of us can fight like you, Ross. What are we meant to do? Just watch whilst you get cut down?”

  “If they attack me first, I expect you to use your common sense and get the hell out of here.”

  Quinn and Maertn shared a brief glance, before huddling further away behind Ross. Maertn gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, and pushed Quinn behind him, too. They both received nods of approval. They were reacting in the right way, even if the circumstances were dire.

  The riders were getting closer now, and Quinn saw that it wasn’t just a lone messenger out on the shores. There are at least a dozen men, and the uniforms were a clear statement that they weren’t civilians out for fun.

  “Do you recognise the uniforms, Ross?”

  “Ha. I do, and it’s not a good thing.”

  “They’re soldiers, then?”

  “Do they tend to kill people on sight, over here?”

  “That’s a terrible question Quinn,” Maertn hissed over his shoulder.

  “Actually, it is a good question, because if they did, I’d have already told you to turn heel. No, they don’t. They’re not normally sent out for benign reasons, though. So I’d say someone warned the baron that we were on our way.”

  “Who could have possibly done that? No one knew were coming here?”

  “They didn’t have to know. A similar message has likely gone out on all the larger islands, and this kind of patrol is happening on all of them. It wouldn’t have been hard for Baron Sammah to anticipate where we’d go. This was always going to be a logical choice for us.”

  “So, if we’re going to be taken under arrest, can we safely assume that the baron was supporting his brother’s actions in Everfell?”

  “I don’t want to assume anything right now, so let’s just start being cooperative and take it from there.”

  “Cooperative? You’ve got two swords in your hand.”

  Ross looked down at them, and back up to Quinn, surprise in his eyes at her challenge. “Well, if they’re not friendly, I’m going to have to defend you aren’t I? The last time I checked, you weren’t my mother and Maertn wasn’t my liege lord. Sorry lass, but not taking orders from you when it comes to combat.”

  Mortified, but buoyed by his brave words, Quinn arranged herself so that she could easily dart away if needed. Maertn copied Ross's pose, and they did all they had left to do. They waited for the guardsmen to arrive.

  * * *

  Their anxious defence didn’t last long. Fourteen horses, complete with mounted, armed riders surrounded their meagre camp.

  “Hold!” One of the men, Quinn couldn’t tell which one, called out the command in the Everfell tongue. They all drew their swords, holding them limp at their sides, but ready to swing if the order was given.

  “Don’t insult us by asking us why we are here, just tell us what you want us for.” Ross’s voice was solid and unwavering, and right in that moment, Quinn loved him.

  “We were expecting the children to be on their own.”

  Ross raised both swords, waving them around with mock glee. “Well, you can clearly see that they’re not. That shouldn’t change anything though, given they are just children. Can you do us the decency of answering my question?”

  “For their own safety, the children are to be taken into the custody of Baron Pax of Farn. Such is the will of the council.”

  This statement made Ross lower both his blades. “The council? They are already gathered here?”

  “Baron Sammah has been a prisoner in Everfell now for nearly a fortnight; of course the council was called.” The man talking to them edged his horse out of the rough circle, bringing him closer to Ross. Quinn saw him frown. “What does a man of Everfell claim to know of our council’s ways?”

  Ross bought himself up then, straightening his back and taking an authoritative stance.

  “You might ride with these well-dressed jumped-up sword swingers, but not me. I know most of you are likely from noble houses. You probably didn’t see a drop of blood during the wars. I did. I fought on the shores of the lands to the north, and it wasn’t against Sha’sek. I was by your side. I fought with the ranks from the island of Kenn. Don’t start asking me what I do and do not know about Sha’sek.

  “I know how difficult it is to gather the council at short notice. It doesn’t matter how short a time Sammah has been imprisoned; it wouldn’t have been long enough to get the houses from the farthest islands here to have already passed judgement. What that says to me, is the council has been gathered for quite some time, and there are other things afoot. Tell me that I’m wrong, Captain Evander of Farn.”

  No small wonder Vance wanted him in court, Quinn thought.

  The man Ross had addressed as Evander gritted his teeth, biting back a response that would have clearly got in into some trouble. “The council rules itself. I’m sure if you claim to know so much about our ways, you already knew that. In fact, you know a great deal about us. My temptation is to just kill you, but if you fought on our side, and are guarding two of our own, then I don’t want to take the risk of just cutting you down. The only question is, will you come peacefully, or would we have to subdue you?”

  “Are the children in danger?”

  “They will be, if we don’t protect them.”

  “I’m already doing that.”

  “And a grand job you seem to be doing. Outnumbered and surrounded on your first day with them on the islands. I salute you, you were clearly the best man for the task.”

  “Task? I’m here of my own free will. The king in Everfell was willing to send these children out to die on their own.”

  “And the council is fully of the belief that the king is going to send yet more men after her still. It seems we are both intent on protecting them, so you can drop your swords. If you are here to protect them, you are not a threat to us, and we none to you. You can come with us, but I can’t allow you to keep your weapons. We’ll need to submit you to the council, too.”

  Ross dropped his swords, and this brought out a squeal of fright from Quinn. The captain’s horse danced to the side, and Evander brought it into rein.

  “Please girl, keep calm. We don’t know what you’re capable of yet, and you seem young, but you also seem to become capable of projecting yourself to others. I’d rather you didn’t instigate a stampede. Please understand that we are not here to hurt you; you’ll be completely safe under our care.”

  “I don’t know you, so how can I even begin to judge that to be true?”

  Evander looked surprised, even shocked that she’d ask such a thing. “Why, just look for yourself? You are an empath, aren’t you?”

  Quinn blushed, embarrassment flushing her cheek. She relaxed her guard, encircling the captain and thoughts. The sense was he was a pleasant man, but authoritative, and loyal. His loyalty to Sha’sek wouldn’t necessarily help Quinn, but such men—similar to Ross—could at least be relied upon to tell the truth.

  “Tell me again then, tell me why you’re here, and what are you going to do with us.”

  “We are to take you into custody. That sounds like an arrest, and in some ways it is, but you won’t be thrown with all the other thieves into our jails. You’ll be in a suite of apartments, awaiting submission for the council. They know that you grew up with the Baron Sammah. You are a healer, and a young girl whose skills are unknown. We know that Sammah is an apath. We know that Sammah has been arrested by the King Vance, and there is upheaval in Everfell. You are close to it, and we know that someone was using you an
d your abilities. The council needs to know just what you did, just what Sammah has done, to find out how they should act next. The council fears that war is coming, and they need to know if Everfell or Sha’sek is at fault.”

  “Is he being honest, Quinn?” Ross’s words were guarded, but also rich with curiosity.

  “He’s telling the truth.” Quinn’s statement was simple, and without hesitation. She might be a strange young woman, unable to swing a sword and needing to be defended by others, but she could tell Captain Evander and his men feared what she was, and she would have to start using this to her advantage.

  “I suppose I’d better surrender, then. My name is Ross. You already know these two, I assume?”

  “Thank you, Ross. Surrender is not quite the right word. You are not at the mercy of the council. On the contrary; they are very much looking forward to meeting Quinn.”

  19

  Eden hurried down the hallway on the heels of the king, doing his best to keep up. Vance’s temper had been escalating for the past few days, and the man was intolerable. Even Rowan had been more level-headed in his dealings in court. Eden was regretting putting his lot in with the king.

  “Your highness, you need to give the lords notice before you call a trial. We all need to be present.”

  Vance came to an abrupt stop, wheeling on his chamberlain in fury. “We? Don’t forget your place. You are not the lord of Sevenspells, you are my chamberlain. You’re meant to be loyal to me Eden, so why are you questioning me in this?”

  Eden was forced back a couple of paces in the face of Vance’s verbal assault. “I’m just trying to recommend what’s right, your highness, isn’t that what the chamberlain’s meant to do as well?”