Emperor's Heir - Chapter 28

Chapter 28

We left the glade, travelling deeper into the forest. Before we did, I tore off a piece of linen from the hem of my gown and wrapped it around Mother Willow’s tear. I strapped the linen securely around my waist, tying the torn piece tightly. As we left the glade, I turned once to look back at tree. For a brief moment, the leaves of the branches shifted and waved, though there was no wind. I turned away with a smile, knowing that the nymph had wished me good luck.

The branches no longer tore at my skirts or tugged on my hair as we journeyed into the woods. Occasionally, a leave to brush gently against my hand as if in greeting. The moon shone brightly, lighting our way. Raffi, took the lead, yet, I didn’t know where we were going.

After some time, I finally broke the silence. “Where are you taking us?” I asked.

“To the sea.” Came the gruff reply.

“Why?”

“You need to meet a kelpie, correct?” I nodded. “Then the sea is the only place where you will find one. Normally, though, people don’t seek them out.” He shuddered.

“Why not?” I asked, brushing away a tree’s branch that hung a bit low in my path.

Raffi halted in his tracks and spun to face me. “Have you never heard of Kelpies?!”

I ducked my head. “No,” I murmured.

The dwarf smacked his head. “Listen carefully. They are creatures that look human but possess fins – “

“Like mermaids?” I interrupted.

“No! Worse.” Raffi’s nose wrinkled and his brows scowled down at my ignorance. “Their eyes are black – black orbs that stare at one with a soulless and heartless intensity. Their mouths seduce and lure innocent fools with sweet music and loving promises, but their teeth are sharpened like a fish and hunger for the hearts of living men.”

I shuddered.

The dwarf held up a finger. “But this is not the worst of all.”

“No?” I gulped.

He shook his head. “Worse than this … they can take on the form of a friend.”

“You mean …?”

Raffi nodded solemnly. “They can choose to look like you.” He jabbed his finger into my chest. “Or they can look like me.” He pointed back at himself.

Chills crawled up and down my spine. I shivered. “But we still have to get close to these … creatures. How?”

Raffi shrugged. “I don’t know what you plan to do, Avacë. I will take you to the sea, but that is far as I intend to go. I’ve had one run-in with a kelpie as a child and I don’t intend to repeat the experience. If you hadn’t …” His mouth clammed up suddenly.

“’If I hadn’t … ‘what?” I prodded.

The dwarf shook his head irritably, as if trying to get rid of a bad memory. “Doesn’t matter,” he grumbled. “Shall we continue?” With that, he spun around and marched into the bush.

Curious yet sure that I wouldn’t get an answer out of the stubborn dwarf, I followed quickly before he drew out of sight.

We walked for some time. The moon grew ever higher in her orbit, shining down brightly and lighting our way. I caught myself looking up at her often in thanks. My feet would have caught on an errant root many a time if it wasn’t for her bright beams.

Soon, the smell of saltwater filled the air and stung my dry nose. I could almost taste the salty tang of kelp and seaweed on my tongue. A little while longer and then the lonely cries of gulls reached our ears. Then came the lulling clashing and thrashing of water against the rocks of an unseen shore.

Raffi pulled back a branch and stepped back to reveal a breathtaking view. The ground dipped steeply and the grass slowly turned into silver sand that twinkled in the moon. Below was the sea, with churning waves near shore, and a deep blue calm further out. Then, at that moment, the moon shifted and rolled to the side.

Before our eyes, we watched as the sun started to peak his head over the horizon. Slowly, he rose a little higher till he turned the sky and waves deep hues of orange and red. A little higher and there were flames of purple and pink in the midst of a clear blue sky. Yet, the sun had not fully risen when he suddenly dipped back down again and disappeared. Everything settled into darkness, before the moon appeared and shone her blue-light.

“What just happened?” I whispered. “The sun – it’s gone!”

Raffi shrugged. “As it’s been doing since the creation of Quanxi.”

My brows rose. “You mean that the Moon has always …”

“She is the Ruler of the Heavens,” Raffi explained, “Tradition speaks of a time during the first light, that Her Lightness and His Lordship, the Sun, used to share the sky and shone their light side by side. It is said that they were lovers and very happy together. But, the Sun soon became jealous of his wife and sought to keep her for himself.” Raffi shut his eyes and sighed sadly.

“So, he hid her,” he continued, “in the darkness away from all other eyes. However, he underestimated her light. It pierced the darkness and lit up the night. With the help of Queen Baema, the Moon dominated her betrayer. However, she loved her husband too much to banish him entirely. So, she allows him a glimpse of the world every day.”

The dwarf fell silent, and together we stared deep into the starry sky where the sun had appeared just moments before. Raffi did not seem eager to talk, but something he had said began preying at my mind. After a few more lingering moments, I couldn’t help myself.

Turning slightly towards the dwarf, I asked, “You mentioned Queen Baema earlier. Is she the one that ruled before Queen Malba?”

Raffi nodded.

“Why hasn’t she returned?”

The dwarf pondered quietly for a moment, then shrugged. “No one knows. Her Highness is very wise and very good. But not many understand her ways.” Raffi paused. “To be honest,” he muttered, “I don’t think the Queen would have left if she had known how things would come to be.”

“What? What’s wrong?” I asked.

The dwarf gave himself a shake and pasted on a false smile. “Nothing … nothing is wrong.” He pointed to the shore. “Now, if you want to get that Kelpie’s fin of whatnot, you’d better start by getting closer to the water. I’ll stay here and keep lookout.”

I nodded, ignoring the fact that the dwarf was lying about Quanxi being alright. Something bothered him and even I, a newcomer, could sense it. Yet, I too pasted on a smile and took a step towards the slope.

However, Raffi quickly tugged my arm back. “If ever you feel in danger, get as far away from the water as you can,” he spoke earnestly, “Kelpie’s power is only as great as their source. They are part fish. Remember that.”

I nodded to show I understood and gripped the dwarf’s hand in fond farewell. “Wish me luck.”

Raffi mumbled gruffly. But I could make out the words, “Be careful.”

Smiling to myself, I stepped out of the wood and onto the grassy slope. Without looking back, I carefully made my way down the sandy dune. A couple of times I slipped and nearly slid to the bottom. Though the sand was soft, it was ice cold and I quickly jumped back to my feet, my skin stinging as though it had been burnt. With the help of a few weeds and twigs, I managed to get to the bottom of the dune without slipping again.

Once standing on the bay, I wasn’t sure what to do next. I watched the water lap gently against the shore. Not sure what I was supposed to do next, I approached the waves. They continued to brush softly over the pebbles and sand.

Crouching down, I wrapped my arms around my knees and continued to watch the sea sway about. I closed my eyes and let the sound wash over me, its lullaby soothing and calming my senses. Curious, I dipped my fingers in. Just as I did so, I thought I heard a faint cry, coming somewhere from the wood. But I was too surprised to take notice. The water was warm!

Just as I was about to pull back, I felt something grip my hand. I started back and jumped to my feet. Then, I nearly fell over my head, for my hand was still stuck in the water. Whatever was holding it, would not let me go.

I pulled and tugged with all my might. But the struggle seemed fruitless. When I took a breath from the fight, I happened to glance up and realized how dire the situation was becoming. I was no longer standing on shore, but waist deep in the sea!

I stopped fighting and started screaming, screaming at the top of my lungs for Raffi. But, no matter how often I called, no matter what pitch I made, my voice made no sound. I could feel the throbbing in my throat, but my cries never made it out of my mouth. I knew I had not grown deaf, for I could still hear the gulls that flew overhead.

Overhead! While I had been trying to get Raffi to hear me, I was being sucked further into the sea. The water was at my neck now and the gulls that flew overhead seemed more like vultures circling over my evident death.

I dug my heels deep into the sand beneath my feet. But they only pooled away in the water. Whatever had a hold of me gave me one final, hard tug. Gulping one deep breath of air, I looked up as water sloshed over my head and I was pulled into the watery depths of the sea.

The saltwater stung my eyes. I closed them tightly out of pain and fear. But, when my aggressor made no move, I slowly opened them. At first, I could see nothing but the blue shadows where moonlight flitted through. Then, right in front of me, like a fish approaching from a pool, slowly swam a figure into a watery moonbeam.