Author's Note:
Hey, everyone! This chapter we'll finally be rounding off the party, so get ready for that! Other than that, enjoy!
-Tangent
Bjorn was standing on the edge of a grassy field, looking out over the ocean at a speck in the distance that was steadily growing closer. About two miles southeast of Thais, there was a dock built for any fishing vessels or other ships that wanted to dock near the city.
"The ship is heading straight for the dock, Sergeant." One of his men said, saluting as he approached.
"Yes, I see it as well." He responded, shifting slightly. Since Emma had been knighted, she had ceded her position to him, stating that she was planning on leaving soon regardless.
I'm not sure where she's going, but I hear it's a personal assignment from Uthar. The man thought as the ship grew steadily closer. He had his men armed and ready on the docks, just in case the ship was hostile. After all, there had been no ships coming in for months. There were two cannons aimed at the docks in addition to the thirty or so men, meaning that they were well armed.
About an hour later, the ship slid slowly into the dock and stopped, bobbing in the water. Bjorn could see a group of people on the deck, preparing to step onto the land.
"Hold!" He called, walking closer. The person in front, a man wearing a cloak looked up at him and waved a hand in welcome. "Who are you?" The man pulled his hood back to reveal features that were not human, complete with a set of pointed ears. The woman did the same, revealing striking light blue hair that complemented her robes.
"I am Ean Okho. We have returned to Thais to speak to Uthar about our mission." Bjorn knew that he was telling the truth. Everybody in the city knew about Ean and his band of fighters and how they had saved the city from destruction.
"Then I say welcome back, heroes." Bjorn said with a smile. "We will escort you to Thais, if you deem it necessary."
"Of course." Ean said as he leapt down from the boat, landing fifteen feet below without so much as a cry of pain. The woman, Iya, followed suit. The men muttered behind him, and Bjorn's eyes went wide. So it was true that the elves had magic.
"Showoffs." A boy muttered as he clambered down slowly. The elf grinned at him briefly as the other four members of the group joined them on the dock. There was a red-haired man, as well as a smaller boy, who looked to be around thirteen years old. A fiercely beautiful woman, evidently the captain of the vessel, gave orders to her crewmates before leaping down as well. Bjorn turned to her, bowing slightly.
"Your crew may disembark and camp on the beach if they so wish. We have provisions if you require them."
"We have enough, but thank you." The woman answered. "They will disembark in due course, I assure you." Bjorn turned and gave orders for ten soldiers to remain on duty, in case of any emergency. The rest mounted up, and the sergeant secured horses for the party to ride back to the city.
"How has the city fared?" A green haired man asked Bjorn as they began moving.
"The prince has ordered the military to begin clearing the monsters from the surrounding areas. Other than the casualties suffered by a battle in Brightwood Forest, Thais is well." The man nodded, evidently thinking.
"What battle was this?" Iya asked Bjorn, who felt a stab through his heart at the thought of George. After all, he had never really made up with him before he had…
"I… I'd rather not speak of it, ma'am." He said quietly. "It is still a struggle for me to accept."
"Of course." She said kindly. The group rode on, some of the soldiers still whispering to one another about being in the presence of such great heroes.
"It hasn't changed much." Ean remarked as they dismounted outside the gates of Thais. Bjorn dismounted as well.
"We will leave you here."
"Thank you for escorting us, Sergeant." Ean said, nodding to him as the six people marched up the path and entered the city of Thais once more. Bjorn watched them go, something like hope fluttering in his mind.
Their arrival in the city caused quite a stir. Upon seeing them, a small crowd began forming around them, asking them questions or just thanking the group for what they had done. Even Gavin and Jack, who were more or less unknowns, were treated with great respect and kindness by the people, something Ean was glad to see. As they arrived at the castle gates, Ean waved to the crowd as they walked through the guarded and entrance and disappeared from sight.
As Ean pushed open the doors to the throne room, he saw that there were two, not one, figures standing near the throne in conversation. One was a slim figure wearing armor that covered their whole body. As they entered, both people turned to look at the group, and the woman on the right spoke first.
"You're back!" She ran forward, removing her helmet as she did so. Iya's eyes widened.
"Emma!" She said, and gave the green-haired woman a hug. "You've changed so much!" Indeed, Ean could see that Emma was no longer a small, petite girl. She was taller, broader, and carried herself with a general air of confidence that she had been lacking before. She had a sword on her hip and shield on her back. He hugged her as well when she turned to him, and Rye raised a hand in greeting. He too seemed quite stunned by the change in the woman before them.
"I hope I'm not interrupting, but…" Uthar said with a smile as he descended the steps in front of him.
"Uthar!" Ean said, shaking hands with him. "Good to see you! Has everything been alright?" A cloud seemed to pass over Emma's face as he said this, and he glanced towards her. However, the emotion was gone, and she was standing at attention once more.
"We need to fill each other in." Uthar said, turning to look at the rest of group. His eyes fell on Ava, standing at the back, and he froze. She stepped forward, smirking.
"Well, well… It seems that you've managed to turn your life around, prince." Ava said, and Uthar smiled.
"Good to see you too, Ava. Is the crew well?"
"Aye, although they wish you were still traveling with us." The woman said with a faint smile.
"Well, I had to shoulder my responsibilities at some point." Uthar said with a sigh. "But we can talk about personal matters later. Come, tell me what you discovered at Eredar."
In Uthar's office, Ean began relating everything that they had discovered since they had left Seri. The others, Emma included, were sitting next to him as he spoke, and Uthar listened attentively from his desk. As he concluded the tale, Uthar sighed again.
"Damn… I suppose it was too much to hope for."
"Do you know of a way to get over the mountains?" Ean asked. "Or anybody who would know?"
"I'll have to consult my scientists and historians." Uthar said." I'll contact Ella too. Speaking of her…" He glanced at Emma, who nodded wordlessly. "I suppose I owe you some answers as well." He began to tell them about Ella's kidnapping, and the monsters that had gathered in Brightwood Forest a month or so prior to their return. Ean's brows furrowed as the story went on, with Emma pitching in with a few details here and there.
"I… wasn't in time to save her." Uthar admitted quietly. "George was the only one close enough, and he…" He trailed off, and Ean understood what had happened. The others were looking down at the floor too, shadows over their eyes.
"He died for the future." Uthar said quietly, and Emma nodded. "And I won't let his sacrifice go to waste."
"Nor will we." Iya said from her chair. Uthar stood from behind his desk.
"With the bad news told, I'm afraid I don't have much for you just yet. However, there are two things I wish to address."
"What is it?" Ean asked, and Uthar pointed to Emma.
"I'm dispatching Emma to join you, effectively immediately. She's the best fighter I've ever trained, but she needs more experience in general." Iya smiled at Emma, whose mouth quirked up slightly in return.
"We'd be delighted to have her." Ean said with a grin. "We need somebody to keep us from dying."
"What do you think I've been doing?" Rye said with a smirk, and the others chuckled.
"Well, she can watch you, then." Jack said, and Emma flushed slightly at the joke. Rye also seemed flustered, but he did not say anything.
"Alright then, that's settled." Uthar said. "But the other request…" He seemed apprehensive, and Rye raised an eyebrow.
"What's so bad about the other thing?" He asked.
"I want you to take my brother Nicholas with you." The room was silent for a moment while Ean considered the request.
"Why specifically him?" He asked cautiously.
"He is the best healer in both Thais and Candar, and probably Seri as well." Emma said from her place next to Uthar. "But he…" She paused, not wanting to sound rude.
"He is arrogant and bad-tempered." Uthar finished. "I know, Emma. If you could take him with you, show him that helping people is the true spirit of a prince, I would be most grateful."
"Will he want to come with us?" Ean asked, and Uthar shrugged.
"I can order him to, but I'd rather he do it voluntarily. You can talk to him about it, but be prepared." Emma nodded, and Ean folded his hands together in front of him.
"What do you think, guys?"
"A healer would be useful." Rye put in. "Even if his attitude apparently sucks."
"I agree." Iya said, and Jack and Gavin muttered assent as well.
"Ava?" Ean asked. "Have you met him?"
"Not in many years, but he was really good back then as well." The pirate said. "Sure, but he'd better not make me angry." Uthar chuckled.
"He very well might." Walking around his desk, he moved towards the door and opened it. "I think that's everything for now. Are you planning to rest for the rest of today?"
"Probably." Ean said. "I'll take the time to take stock of everything we have."
"In that case, come dine with me tonight." Uthar said. "I can introduce you to Nicholas then."
"We'll be there." Ean said with a smile. The party exited the study and proceeded back down the stairs to the throne room, joined by Emma.
"It's good to have you with us." Iya said to her, and she nodded.
"Maybe I can pay back the debt I owe you now."
"Ah, a fellow slave." Jack joked, and Rye laughed. "We're in the same boat." Emma looked confused, but Ean rolled his eyes.
"We have some catching up to do. Would you care to join us at the inn?"
"I haven't eaten lunch, so sure." Emma said with a shrug. The group left the castle to see that the crowd had been dispersed, something that Ean was grateful for. He led to them to the same inn they had stayed in previously, and the owner was only too delighted to have such honored guests in his building.
"Like I said last time, we're still paying." Ean said with a grin, handing over the money. "I'm not trying to put you out of business."
"You're much too generous." Said the man, pocketing the coins. "I'll bring out some food straight away for you all." The party sat down, with the seven of them around a large table, which was soon filled with both food and drink. Rye studied Emma out of the corner of his eye. Last time he had seen her, she was nothing but a girl, scared out of her mind. But now, she was a warrior, one that he was sure could handle him in a fight rather handily. Gavin and Jack introduced themselves to Emma again politely, and she greeted them with proper respect. Jack in particular seemed to warm to her, maybe because she was an orphan like himself.
"How did you come to train with Uthar?" Ava asked curiously. "He never did like teaching people."
"I guess he thought I was special." The woman said, holding a cup of water in her hands. "He's taught me about battle magic mostly, and a little bit about strategy and tactics. Most of the learning came from the instructors though."
"Did you enjoy it?" Iya asked, and Emma nodded quickly.
"I certainly did, but now…"
"It feels like a lot to take in." Ean said quietly.
"I suppose so, yes." Emma said. "I imagine that's how the rest of you feel." They all nodded assent, and there was silence for a moment before Rye asked her another question. The rest of the afternoon passed quickly, and soon it was time for them to meet Uthar in the castle for dinner. After Ean had changed into fresh clothes, he joined the others in the lobby as they set out for the castle once more. Upon arrival, they were greeted by the steward and shown to the dining room, where Uthar sat with another guest.
"Everyone, this is Prince Nicholas." The man stood up, revealing his face in full. He had long blond hair that fell to his shoulders, and was held back by a band in his hair. He wore fine white robes embroidered with blue and gold, and his features were high and noble. His blue eyes swept over each of the, and Ean thought he saw a trace of disgust in the eyes.
"Yes, how very touching. I am Nicholas." The prince said in a somewhat icy tone. "I suppose it is nice to meet you, Ean and Iya." His eyes traveled over the rest of the group, his face only growing colder with each passing member. Finally, they fell on Gavin, and his lips curved downward in a snarl.
"What is a filthy warlock doing here, Uthar?" Gavin's eyes met him, and he felt an intense loathing for the prince.
"Excuse me, but I can hear you." He said loudly, and Nicholas smirked.
"Your magic repulses me. I can feel it shying away from my own pure abilities." Gavin took a step forward, his eyes glinting dangerously.
"What I am is none of your business, you puffed-up, pampered man." Nicholas turned red, and he took a step forward to match Gavin and opened his mouth again.
"Enough!" Uthar said loudly. "Nicholas, I am the ruler, and Gavin is my guest. Kindly do not insult him in front of me and his party." The prince stiffened, then nodded tightly.
"Fine." He spat, and took a seat next to his brother. Gavin sat as well, on the other side of the table, and the two glared at each other. Ean and the others took their seats hesitantly, glancing from the warlock to the prince.
"Excuse me for keeping you waiting." Uthar said. "We will now be served." The servants of the castle immediately brought out several platters of food, much more than Uthar would normally eat. Apparently he had notified them of the occasion, and the meal was quite excellent.
"This might be the best meal I've ever had." Jack muttered between mouthfuls, and Ean grinned across the table at him.
"I don't think I could make anything this good on the road. One of the privileges of city life, I suppose." He winked at Jack, who nearly choked on his water. Next to Ean was Iya, who was eating with all the grace she could muster. Rye sat across from her and next to Nicholas, who paid him absolutely no mind and ate in stony silence. Ava chatted with Uthar occasionally, but their dynamic seemed tense and awkward. Likewise, Gavin was also very silent. Finally, after a few quiet minutes, Nicholas pushed back his chair.
"I've had enough, brother. I'm going back to my rooms for the night." He let his chair fall on the stone floor with a clang and stormed from the room. There was total silence for a moment, and Uthar sighed.
"Well, you met him. Gavin, I am so-" Gavin waved a hand.
"Don't be. I gave as good as I took." He still looked angrily, but he had visibly relaxed when Nicholas left the room.
"There's no way he'll agree to come with us." Rye said flatly. "He thinks that Jack, Gavin, and I are scum."
"I saw that too." Jack put in. Uthar looked disappointed, but he nodded.
"I… thought as much. I'll try to talk to him tomorrow and convince him."
"Good luck to you." Ean said with a serious expression. "He seems to respect you only marginally more than Iya and I. Sorry Uthar, but I don't think he would fit with us."
"I know." The prince said morosely. "But I'll try all the same." With that, they resumed eating once more, with a bit more cheer than before. Gavin seemed to return to normal, and he made a few jokes with Rye here and there throughout the supper.
When dinner was over, the group stood and thanked Uthar for the meal.
"We will see you tomorrow afternoon, then." Ean said, and they turned to leave.
"Wait." Uthar said. "Ava, would you care to stay and chat?" The pirate looked slightly surprised, but she nodded.
"I'll come back to the inn later." She told Ean, who nodded. They left the castle to see that night had fallen, and the area near the castle had gone silent for the night. They entered the inn, which had a few patrons at the bar. Ean nodded to the innkeeper as they ascended the stairs, and each of them returned to their own room. Gavin closed the door behind him, and Ean stared at the wood worryingly.
"Do you think he's still mad?" Iya asked from beside him.
"Probably. I just don't know how much." Ean said. "You think we should ask?" Iya thought for a moment, then knocked on the door to the warlock's room.
"Come in." Gavin said, and they entered apprehensively. He was sitting on his bed, and they took chairs next to the fire.
"Gavin, about what Nicholas said…" Ean began, but Gavin stopped him.
"I can't say I'm surprised. After all, I should have expected it from a healer."
"What do you-" Ean began, but there was another knock upon the door, and Rye and Jack entered.
"Too late to join in?" Rye asked, and Gavin shook his head. After they were seated, he continued.
"Most powerful or magical healers use white magic, or pure magic, to cure their victims. I use dark magic to cast curses and attacks, so that's why he doesn't like me. In his eyes, anybody who uses dark magic is evil and should be cast out."
"But you're not an evil person." At Jack's comment, Gavin seemed to grow nervous.
"Yeah, well… It's mostly because of a long history between light and dark users, which makes us wary of each other. But still…" He shrugged, and Ean leaned over to touch his shoulder.
"I don't care what magic you use. You've saved us many times, Gavin, and that makes you a good man in my book."
"I agree." Iya said. "Don't let it get to you, please." The warlock sighed.
"I'll try, but I'm not sure I can get along with such a disagreeable man."
Back at the castle, Uthar and Ava had decided to wander the halls while they pursued their conversation.
"How is Seri?" Uthar asked. "It has been a long time since I visited." Ava glanced at the paintings that lined the hallways, thinking.
"Much the same, except a little bit worse for wear. No trading as of late, but hopefully that will pick up. Have you contacted the sultan?"
"Yes." The prince said, brushing his hair out of his eyes. "I'm trying to negotiate a deal with him about trading between our ports, but he's very… how shall I put it?"
"Annoying works." Ava said with a smirk, and Uthar laughed.
"True, but I can tell that he cares for Seri, even if just a little bit." Ava scoffed at that, but Uthar nodded. "I know you don't believe me on that. We never agreed on positions of power."
"We did once." The pirate muttered, adjusting her eye patch. "Until you abandoned both the crew and your master." Uthar stopped in the hallway, his head turning to look at her fiercely.
"I didn't abandon you, or him."
"That's not what he thought." Ava said. "He said you were bowing out." Uthar rolled his eyes.
"Of course he did. Still, it was my decision, wasn't it? Thais needed me, and I'm glad that I returned before it was too late. My parents…" He faltered at the mention of the pair of ruler, and Ava remembered what Ean had told her about the frozen kings and queens. She felt a twinge of guilt, but pressed on anyways.
"You could have ruled without them anyways, Uthar. Don't pretend that you're weak."
"I'm not, but I care about them, okay? Didn't you ever care like that about someone?"
"I grew up in the slums." Ava reminded him. "My parents died when I was seven, and I've had decades to think on the matter."
"And I'm sorry for it." Uthar said, and he began walking once more. "We'll have to agree to disagree. In fact, I didn't ask you to stay to argue, Ava."
"Oh? What is it, then?" The pirate asked curiously, and Uthar pointed to a staircase.
"Let's make this a little more private first. Don't want the nobles overhearing."
"How scandalous." Ava said sarcastically, but she followed the ruler regardless. Uthar opened a door at the top of the tower and ushered her onto a balcony that overlooked the town. Even at night, plenty of streetlights and lamps shone everywhere, illuminating Thais with yellow light.
"I have sworn to protect it." Uthar murmured as he stood at the railing. "But I never thought I would entrusted with the fate of the world."
"You aren't alone, though." Ava said. The prince turned to her.
"You are quite right." He seemed to gather his thoughts, and then: "Ava, I need you to travel with Ean and the group on this quest of theirs. And I mean more than just sailing them to where they need to be." Ava took a step back surprised.
"Me? Why?"
"Because you are the only person I'd send in my place." Uthar said. "And that's not all." Ava held up her hands defensively.
"I just met up with you after twenty-something years, and you're already placing demands on me?" Uthar stared at her, his face solemn.
"The fate of all kingdoms hangs in the balance, Ava. Perhaps we must all shoulder responsibility in saving them." The pirate met his eyes for a long moment, thinking. Uthar continued.
"Nicholas needs to go with them, but he is not ready for such a task. He is selfish, immature, and haughty."
"I noticed." Ava muttered grimly.
"Which is why I need you to whip him into shape." Ava opened her mouth, then closed it, then opened it again.
"You presume a lot, Uthar."
"I know, but we are short on time, and there is much to do." To her uttermost shock, Uthar knelt before her. "Please, Ava. Take care of them and Nicholas in my stead." She considered the prince for a moment, and then smiled.
"Fine. If you must know, I was already curious about this little quest of Ean's."
"And Nicholas?" Ava frowned.
"He may need more work, but I have an idea. However, I need you to trust me with him completely."
"I do." Uthar said, but she stopped him.
"Are you sure? What if I have to do something to him that you might not like? Can you really handle me treating him like I plan on doing?" Uthar paused, unsure. "Because I need control over him if I'm to change him into a better person."
"I trust you. Do what you must." Uthar said, and the pirate smiled evilly.
"Perfect."
"Although you might have your hands full." Uthar said. "He hates the warlock, from what I can see." Ava froze at the mention of Gavin, and her face turned to disgust.
"I'm not fond of him either, but I'll do my best to ignore him." Uthar looked at her with apprehension.
"Very well, then." He knew what happened when she was younger, but still, he thought she would have gotten over her prejudice against dark magic in the few decades since the incident.
Looks like he's got his work cut out for him, but I wish him luck.
Morning arrived, and with it, life returned to Thais in a rush. Ean rose earlier than the rest to go for a walk, eager to burn off some energy before the day began. The streets were not yet very busy, and few people stopped him as he moved through the streets of the city. Those that did figured it was better not to disturb him too much.
"Hi, mister! Are you that elf that saved the city?" A little boy had come up to him, accompanied by his mother.
"Don't ask so rudely!" His mother scolded him, but Ean merely waved a hand in pardon.
"I wouldn't say it like that, but I suppose so." The child's eyes went wide, and he gasped.
"Wow, that's so cool!" His mother took his hand again.
"I'm afraid we must go now, but thank you for protecting the city." She spoke sincerely, and Ean nodded.
"Thank you for believing in me, ma'am." The woman smiled and moved away down the street. Such interactions were becoming more and more common. To tell the truth, it made Ean slightly uncomfortable, but the elf supposed it was worth it if the people felt safe. If only his parents could see him now…
After trying a drink called apple cider from a vendor, Ean purchased two and began heading back to the inn, where he found that Iya had just awoken.
"Here, try this." The elf said, passing the female a cup as he walked over to her chair by the fire. He took a seat as she sipped the warm drink, and her eyes widened.
"Wow, this is really good!"
"I was surprised too." Ean said, smiling at her. "It's made from apples, I guess. I couldn't get the guy to give me the recipe, though." He rolled his eyes mockingly. "And here I thought I was someone important." Iya giggled slightly as his mock outrage, and Ean's heart seemed to stop for a few moments at the sound. He turned away to hide his reddening cheeks.
I really need to figure whatever this feeling is out. Ever since Iya had opened her eyes and recognized him again in the Snow Queen's palace, he had been feeling out of sorts whenever Iya was near him. Especially when she was smiling, or laughing, or… pretty much anything recently. He felt a tug on his sleeve, and he turned to see the elf in question looking at him curiously.
"What's wrong?" She tilted her head to one side in a way that made Ean aware of how close their chairs were.
"I…" He hesitated, unsure of how to explain his lapse in concentration. Footsteps sounded on the stairs, and Jack appeared around the corner, rubbing his eyes.
"Good morning." He said, and he spotted the drink in Iya's hand. "I miss something?" Ean let him try his, and Jack frowned slightly.
"Not to your taste?" Ean asked, and Jack shook his head.
"Never really liked apples." A few minutes later, Gavin and Rye joined them for breakfast, saving Ean from having to confront Iya with his odd feelings. Still, he missed the flash of disappointment that crossed her face before she concentrated on the conversation in front of her.
"Where's Ava?" Rye asked, and Ean gestured to the front door.
"She's at the castle. Something about… teaching proper manners?" He shrugged, indicating that he had little information about the matter. "And Emma stayed in the castle."
"Do you have any plans for today?" Gavin asked, and Ean nodded.
"I was thinking we'd head to Candar tomorrow morning, but we can spend today preparing or doing research. I was thinking that you and Iya could head to the castle library and do research about Eredar." Gavin lit up noticeably at the mention of books, as did Iya.
"I might just wander around town and see if anything needs to be done." Jack said causally, and Ean raised an eyebrow. Such behavior was not normal of Jack, and he wondered if the boy really was changing.
"I'll go with him." Rye volunteered, and Ean smiled.
"Perfect. If that's all, then I might go try to talk to Nicholas and see if he's calmed down any." After they finished their meal, the party split up and headed out into the city to begin their day.
Ava had risen early that morning and headed to the castle. She had been thinking of ways to shape Nicholas up, and she had decided on a rather… unorthodox method. On the way into the town, she had noticed several beggars that liked to sit near the town gates, asking for food or donations. Even in a town like Thais, there were always the poor and the unfortunate. Of course, Uthar had a monthly program to help destitute citizens, but it was possible for a few to slip through the cracks.
Seems like the kind of people Nicholas doesn't like. If I can just force him to see that people aren't always inferior to him… After being admitted to the castle, she found Uthar pacing the throne room in a state of agitation.
"What's got you in such a twist, prince?" She asked. Uthar frowned.
"I tried speaking to Nicholas this morning, but he was… not very happy with me." Ava frowned as well.
"Why?"
"I asked him to go again, and when he refused, I may have gotten a bit angry as well." Uthar covered his face with his hands wearily, slumping onto his throne. "Do you think you could-"
"Say no more." Ava said evilly, grinning. "I've been waiting for this moment." Uthar caught the devilish look on her face and looked up at her.
"Ava…" He apparently decided against whatever he was going to say. "Just don't kill him, please."
"No promises." She said cheerfully, turning to leave the throne room. Uthar watched her speak to a servant, who pointed her down one of the many halls of the keep. Her cloak swished around her as she departed, purple hair swaying behind her.
He's in for it now. The prince thought apprehensively.
She opened the door to the healer's room and found him sitting a chair, poring over a book. His rooms were spacious and well-decorated, with paintings and pictures lining the walls. His bed was messy, and there were books scattered throughout the room, on tables and dressers. He looked up as she entered, and a look of pure shock crossed his face.
"Wha… You!" In an instant, she was upon him, seizing his arm and yanking him up. He was wearing white, long-sleeved robes that signified his position as a healer.
"Come on, prince! Time's a-wasting!" He spluttered for a moment, evidently stunned by her sudden attack. She moved two steps towards the door when he seemed to regain his ability to move, and began thrashing.
"Unhand me, you filthy pirate!" He bellowed, struggling. She kept moving, her superior strength making it easy to drag the man behind her. He jerked again, accidentally knocking a small table over, sending books in all directions. "Guards!" He bellowed, but nobody appeared as Ava opened the door and pulled him into the hallway. A maid stopped short at the sight of the furious prince being dragged down the hall by a one-eyed woman, her mouth falling open. And then, as she had been instructed, she turned away and continued her work.
Nicholas continued to thrash and yell all the way to the throne room. He wasn't very heavy, although the pirate did have to stop once or twice to get a firmer grip on his fancy robes.
"Stop struggling!" She snapped as they entered the main hall. Uthar was still on his throne, speaking to somebody who must have been the captain of the guard. As they entered, Nicholas let out another cry.
"Uthar! What is she doing with me?" The soldier next to him drew his sword, as did the other guards in the hall, but Uthar flung a hand out in front of his commander.
"Stop, all of you!" The commander looked at him for a long moment while the prince said something quiet to him. Then, he nodded and sheathed his sword, as did the other men in the room.
"Traitors!" raged Nicholas, who was struggling more than ever. "Where are you taking me?"
"We're just going to town, so stop struggling and relax!" Ava snapped at him. "There's something you need to see." Nicholas slowly subsided with angry mutters and insults, although he still kept trying to pull away from her. "I'm only letting go if you calm down. Got it?" She snarled, and he nodded slowly. Her strength was… intimidating, and Nicholas felt a tremor of fear travel down his spine.
"Why did you have to drag me from my quarters?" He asked angrily. "I was in the midst of some very imp-"
"I don't really care." Ava said off-handedly, and the man flushed angrily again. They entered the town once more, and Nicholas immediately drew his robes up around him, as though they would shield him from some invisible attack.
"And if I may ask," The prince said through gritted teeth. "Where are going?"
"You'll see." Ava said. After a few minutes, the pair arrived at the entrance to the city, where they found that the beggars were still congregating. The pirate turned to Nicholas with a serious look in her eyes.
"You see those people?" Nicholas scoffed.
"Really? You drag me from my room to see a bunch of ragtag beggars in the streets?" Ava's frown deepened, and she felt real anger beginning to bubble in her gut.
"I don't know if you've noticed," She said, emphasizing each word. "But you are the prince of this city."
"So?" The man sneered, and she resisted the urge to punch him.
"These are your people. Surely you could spare some healing magic for their sicknesses." Nicholas stared at her in shock. Evidently, he thought that the whole affair was a giant waste of time.
"Why in the name of all that's holy would I touch some filthy, smelly peasant?"
"Because you have a responsibility!" Ava roared at him, temper flaring. Several people nearby turned, searching for the yell. "You are acting like a selfish, entitled-"
"Please, sir." A frail voice came from behind Nicholas, and Ava stopped suddenly. One of the beggars, an elderly man, had come up behind him. He wore tattered clothes and was holding out his hand. "Can you spare a coin for a man like me?" He clearly had not heard their conversation. "I'm so hungry, and-"
"Why," Nicholas snarled. "Are you coming close to somebody like me?" The beggar took a step back.
"I… I thought you could…"
"You thought I'd spare a single copper for a lowlife like you?" Nicholas said loudly. "You aren't worth the time it'd take for you to clean my boots." Ava was aghast at what she was hearing, and so was the old man.
"But… Prince Nicholas…"
"Silence!" Nicholas shouted. "Get away from me, you peasant, or I'll have you thrown in jail!" A crowd had begun to gather, and several of them looked angry at the scene in front of them. The beggar flinched backwards, taking a few steps away from the irate man.
"Fine!" He spat. "You worthless fool!" Nicholas's eyes darkened, and he raised his hand.
"Stop, you idiot!" Ava snarled, an arm latching itself around the prince's throat. He choked and spluttered as she dragged him away, but it was too late. Everybody standing nearby had seen the true form of the hated prince, and several people were calling out for them to stop. Moving quickly, Ava dragged the prince through an alley and into another, where she flung him onto the ground. He picked himself up, eyes blazing with anger.
"You…"
"Say another word," Ava said in her softest, deadliest voice. "And I will cut your tongue off." To emphasize the point, a razor-sharp dagger appeared in her hands, the point gleaming. Nicholas turned pale and shut his mouth immediately. "Now, you listen to me, and listen well. You are a prince, and you will act like one or so help me, I will knock you out and drag you back to the castle."
"Uthar wouldn't let you." The man whispered, and she smiled mercilessly.
"I convinced him to let me help." Nicholas paled even more, and the pirate continued. "You cannot go around treating people like garbage merely because they are less fortunate than yourself. For a healer, you sure seem to be awfully apathetic towards people that need help."
"So?" Nicholas said defiantly. "That's my business."
"Maybe, but you're hurting other people, and that stops now." She said. "So what you're going to do is buy that man some bread and apologize. He looks as though he could use a good meal." The prince looked mutinous at the thought.
"Why do you care? Not like it affects you."
"Because even though I look like a ragtag pirate, I have a heart." Ava said. "And I know you've got one too." Nicholas seemed stunned by the thought, and she dragged him to his feet. "Now get moving."
They returned to the main street, thankfully avoiding further attention from the angry crowd. Once they made it to a bakery, Ava forced the prince inside, where he very reluctantly purchased several loaves of bread. They returned to the main gates, where the man was still sitting by himself. As they approached, he looked up. His face became angry, and he stood up.
"What do you want?" He demanded, and Ava elbowed Nicholas. However, he would not move, and she sighed.
I knew he'd be too stubborn. Taking the bread, she proffered it to the man, who blinked.
"My friend would like to apologize for his earlier words. Isn't that right?" Nicholas seemed to shrink even more, but he muttered:
"Yes." The man took the bread, eyeing both of them suspiciously.
"Well… I appreciate it… I suppose." He said gruffly, and walked away. Ava turned and walked away as well, Nicholas right behind her.
"Are we done now?" He asked tiredly.
"Depends." She said. "Did you learn?"
"I don't see what there is to learn, besides that you might get me killed some day." The words almost set her off, but she managed to clench her teeth and control her anger.
"Not that. Don't you feel as though you helped?" The man frowned.
"I… suppose so." As they entered the gates of the castle, Nicholas glanced at Ava once more. He still hated her, but maybe marginally less so than before.
"So, what are you going to do?" She asked as they entered the now empty throne room. He stopped suddenly, staring at her with only a minimal amount of anger on his face.
"About what?"
"Coming with Ean on his quest." The prince frowned and turned away.
"I don't see why it is necessary."
"Because the entire world is at stake." Ava said with a trace of asperity. "Because the Snow Queen will kill you and everyone you love if you do nothing and sit here, holding onto your prejudices."
"I…" Nicholas said, evidently taken aback.
"If Ean and Iya fail, we are all doomed." Ava said simply, and she truly meant. She had come to see just how important the mission was for not just her, but everyone. The prince closed his eyes and turned away for a while. "Think about it, but we are leaving tomorrow." With that, she left the prince standing there in the throne room and strode out of the castle once more.
As the afternoon waned, there was still no sign of the angry prince, which was somewhat disappointing. As the party ate in the park outside the castle, joined by Emma and Ava this time, they related stories of their day.
"Any luck in the library?" Ean asked, and Iya shook her head.
"Nothing substantial about Eredar, although there were several mentions of a great, hidden trove of knowledge guarded by the kingdom."
"So, the weapon is likely there." Rye said, and Gavin nodded. "We just went around town and did some odd jobs here and there. Jack was actually quite helpful."
"I know my way around houses." Jack muttered. "Especially from the outside." Gavin grinned at the remark.
"That's still helpful, though." Emma pointed out, and the boy smiled sheepishly. Ava was sitting a bit farther away from the group, and Ean turned to her.
"What were you doing, Ava? I went to find Nicholas, but one of the guards said he was… forcibly escorted from the castle by a purple-haired woman with an eye patch." Jack nearly choked on his food, staring at the pirate.
"Oh, that." Ava said. "I was just…"
"There you are." A voice cut her off, and they turned to see Nicholas standing there, breathing heavily. He seemed slightly embarrassed to have intruded upon them, and opened his mouth once or twice before saying anything.
"What can we do for you, Nicholas?" Ean said, standing up to face him.
"I… I want to speak to you two." The prince said, pointing to the elves. "In private." Ean looked at Iya, who nodded. They stepped forward and led Nicholas away from the group. Once they were out of earshot, the elf turned back to him.
"What is it?" The prince was still flushed, and he took a breath or two before answering.
"I want to come with you. But only on a few conditions." Ean raised his eyebrows in shock. What had Ava done to him?
"Let's hear them." He said. Nicholas folded his hands in front of him, thinking.
"I'm not coming to make friends or anything like that. I'm only here because I see no better option to stop the Snow Queen. So, I wish to remain as separate from the group as possible. And I absolutely refuse to be anywhere near that warlock." Ean stared at him for a long moment.
"What do you think?" He asked Iya, who frowned.
"He could be helpful, Ean. He's not asking too much, either."
"True." The elf said. "Very well, Nicholas. You may come with us." The prince looked up, but he held up a hand. "On a condition of my own." The elf's eyes hardened slightly. "You will not treat the members of the party as though they are lesser than you, especially Gavin. If you wish to ignore him, that is fine, but I will not tolerate disrespect. Clear?"
Nicholas looked down at the ground again.
"That is… fair, I suppose." Ean smiled and extended a hand to him, which he took reluctantly.
"Then I welcome you aboard." The prince did not smile, but he seemed to be happy all the same. Still, Ean wondered just how reclusive he was going to be, especially with the constant threat of Ava One-Eye that would be hanging over his head.