CHAPTER FIVE
Selene
Selene pressed her face to the cold glass. “Something is going on,” she said quietly. “The warriors have been building for months, and still no news.”
Aya shrugged. “I would not worry about it,” she said. “It isn’t for us to know.”
“Aya, you have to stop being so complacent,” Selene said irritably. “The warriors are no longer fighting – they’re building ships when we’ve never had a need for a navy before. Don’t you want to know why?”
“Not really,” Aya said. She wrapped her arms around herself and shivered in the cold night air. “It’s better than them hacking each other up to bits, wouldn’t you agree?”
“But it’s been going on for months,” Selene stressed. “At least three fortnights have passed.”
Aya gave her a blank look. “I am not sure,” she said timidly. “Have you spoken with your mother?”
Selene stared at her. “You forget my mother has barely spoken to me,” she said coldly. “She’s much too concerned with Taryn to care.”
“Oh, Selene,” Aya said. “You still have not warmed to her.”
Selene shrugged. “I don’t really see why I should,” she said coldly. “She’s certainly not warmed to me.”
Aya didn’t reply. Selene pulled her fur-lined cloak closer around her body and pressed her forehead to the cold glass until she felt like her brain was frozen. She closed her eyes and blew on the glass until a cloud of condensation appeared. Tracing her finger in the mist, Selene sighed. She was deeply unhappy. Ever since the warriors had begun building ships, Selene had been too frightened to sneak out. The docks had been a peaceful place of respite before, a place where travelers gathered to sing and exchange tales and lore. But now, the docks were often home to the warriors. From what she’d heard through various pieces of gossip, Selene understood the warriors were being treated very well by the royal family. There were lavish meals every day, and entertainment at night. All she heard was how happy everyone was, but there was something odd to her that she couldn’t quite put her finger on.
“What is wrong, Selene?”
“I’m restless,” Selene said. She yawned. “Feel like taking a stroll outside?”
Aya looked at her with wide eyes, her blonde hair frizzed in curls to her shoulders. “Selene, it’s dangerous. The men never go home – some of them sleep right out there, on the docks!”
“I know,” Selene said. “I was hoping someone of them could talk to us, you know. Perhaps they could inform us what the nature of all this building is about.”
Aya bit her lip and frowned. “Selene, it’s too risky.”
Selene shook her head. “I feel safer with those men than with Junius or the like,” she said. She rolled her eyes. “At least one positive thing has come of this – Mother no longer puts pressure on me to find a husband.”
“And you’re going to look for one by the docks?” Aya laughed nervously. “Selene, that is insane.”
Selene narrowed her eyes and stared at her friend, unsure how Aya could be so oblivious. Selene and Aya had grown up together, they’d played in the royal gardens and shared whispered secrets under counterpanes and fur coverlets. But Selene’s rebellious streak and Aya’s cautious nature had never quite reconciled, and Selene knew her friend would never truly understand her.
“We will be safe,” Selene said confidently. She grinned and dipped her hand into a desk drawer, pulling a large knife with a barbed blade.
“Selene!” Aya gasped. “Where in the name of the gods did you find that?”
“I bought it from the market,” Selene said nonchalantly. That wasn’t exactly the truth – she’d bribed a hungry servant with gold and food – but ever since the encounter with Junius, Selene hadn’t felt safe. She was wise enough to know that men like Phaelenx wouldn’t always be around…and she wanted to take matters of her own safety into her hands, and her hands alone.
“I can’t believe you,” Aya said. “That kind of weapon is illegal!”
“I know,” Selene said. She frowned. “You are the one who told me it would be wise to train and defend myself.”
“I meant with a skilled warrior, someone who could show you how to move! Not with a knife! Selene, if you were found with that, you would be punished!”
Selene shrugged. “Again, I cannot force myself to care,” she said, tossing her dark hair over her shoulder. She tucked the long knife into a special leather holster strapped to her chest and knotted her hair in a loose bun at the nape of her neck. “But I know this – I will never allow Junius, or any other pig of a man, to harm me again.”
Aya licked her lips. “If you are sure we will not be seen,” she said in a small voice. “I…I cannot deny that I, too, am curious about the state of Zhekan affairs.”
Selene smiled, catlike, before climbing to her feet and opening her wardrobe. She pulled out a fur-lined cap and cloak and tossed both to Aya.
“It is cold outside, winter is nearly here,” Selene said. “Put these on, and we’ll bring a flagon of mead to stay warm. Perhaps if we offer some to the warriors, they will tell us what they know.”
Aya looked doubtful. Selene thought she was going to protest once again, and she sighed impatiently. But to her relief, Aya got to her feet and pulled the cloak around her lithe body.
“We should take more than one flagon,” Aya said. “It is freezing cold out that, and we will need that for ourselves.”
Selene grinned. She’s finally learning, she thought proudly as Aya handed her a second flask filled to the brim with a potent blend of whiskey. Perhaps she’ll learn to be fearless, after all.
Selene and Aya were silent as mice as they crept down the spiral staircase, through the great hall, and out into the night air. It was so cold that Selene felt the tip of her nose go numb. She pulled her fur-lined hood close to her head until her scalp was sweating, but her face still felt cold.
“It is freezing,” Aya complained. “I should not have let you trick me into this!”
Selene laughed quietly. “I did not trick you into anything,” she said. She reached for the flagon of whiskey and took a long sip until her chest burned with the fiery liquor. “Here, this will help.”
Aya took a small sip, coughing and sputtering. She handed the flask back to Selene.
“That does help,” Aya whispered. Her cheeks were pink. “No wonder my mother is always inebriated.”
Selene and Aya giggled as they made their way down the emerald lawn. Selene could see three large bonfires by the docks, with warriors chanting, skirmishing, and shouting. They were large, intimidating men, but Selene was determined not to be frightened. She plastered a smile on her face and strode forward powerfully.
“Selene!” Aya gasped. “What was that?”
Selene and Aya froze in their tracks. A loud growl pierced the air, and a shiver ran down Selene’s back.
“An animal, perhaps in the woods,” Selene said, trying to sound braver than she felt. “It won’t hurt us.”
Aya was shivering. The pink in her cheeks had faded and she looked miserable and scared. She reached into the folds of her robes and pulled the mead flagon free.
“I cannot do this,” Aya whispered. “I am sorry.”
“Aya, do not leave, I promise, we are safe,” Selene said quickly. She wasn’t about to admit that she only felt strong because of Aya’s presence at her side. “No harm will come to you, I promise!”
“I am sorry, Selene,” Aya repeated. She thrust the flagon into Selene’s hands, then turned on her heel and fled. Selene watched with a sinking heart as Aya’s figure grew smaller and smaller. With a heavy sigh, she turned her attention back to the docks. If the men had noticed, they gave no indication. With her head held high, Selene strode towards the docks.
“Aye, lass!” One of the men yelled. “Have you come to lie with us?”
“No,” Selene said sharply. The men eyed her with suspicion and she forced a smile. “I have come to offer you libations, and to hear your tales.”
Two of the men hooted with laughter. “Lady, we have everything we could want,” one said, gesturing at a large table loaded with pitchers of mead, cheeses, meats, bread, and fruit.
Selene frowned. “Perhaps, then, as a gesture of goodwill, you will allow me to sit with you and hear your tales of the work,” she said. “As a citizen of Zheka, I am quite curious.”
A large man covered in tattoos stood from the crowd, glaring at Selene. When she recognized him, she gasped.
“Phaelenx,” Selene said. “I need to speak with you.”
Phaelenx chuckled. “Oh, so now you need me to talk to you?”
The other men fell silent and Selene’s cheeks flamed bright red.
“Yes,” Selene said haughtily. “Please. Come with me.”
To her surprise, Phaelenx shrugged, then parted from the crowd. All of the warriors were silent as Phaelenx joined Selene by her side. She shivered at the sight of him up close – even though she hadn’t forgotten his size, it seemed to her that he had grown even larger and more muscular.
“What is it,” Phaelenx asked quietly. “Why have you come? Are you in trouble?”
Selene shook her head. “Not exactly,” she said softly. She handed him the flask of whiskey. “This is the best whiskey in Zheka,” she said. “I know you’re treated well, but this warms the bones, even in the coldest of weather.”
Phaelenx eyed Selene for a long moment before taking the flagon and lifting it to his mouth. He drank for a long time, and when he handed it back, Selene realized the flask was more than half empty.
“Come,” Phaelenx said in a low voice, his breath sweetened with liquor. “Walk, this way.”
Selene was reluctant to leave the warmth of the fire, but she was eager to get away from the silent, staring men.
“I take it you are not used to visitors,” Selene said lightly.
“No, lady,” Phaelenx said. “Especially not visitors from the royal compound.”
Selene frowned. “I have not been out at night in months,” she said. “There have been no travelers, no bards with news from abroad.”
Phaelenx sighed. “Lady, the only news I can give is that Nasenia is facing a health crisis. There has been a plague, and it has wiped most of the population.”
Selene bit her lip. “Please, don’t call me lady,” she said. She shivered, pulling her cloak tightly around her.
Phaelenx took his own robe from his shoulders and handed it to Selene. She wanted to resist, but the robe was warm and smoke-scented from the flames. As Phaelenx wrapped it around her shoulders, she felt the warmth sink into her bones.
“Why are you building ships?” Selene asked. “At court, there is little else discussed…and yet, no one seems to know the reasoning.”
“I do not know,” Phaelenx said darkly. Selene passed him the whiskey and he took another long pull. When he handed it back to her, Selene took a drink, enjoying the flaming warmth in her throat.
“I just cannot figure it out,” Selene said quietly.
“Commander Aerdan ordered us to build ships, or else face punishment – imprisonment and a fine,” Phaelenx said. “Since then, we have heard nothing from the commander, or the queen.”
Selene took a deep breath. “I’m so confused,” she said.
Phaelenx nodded. “Aye,” he said. “As am I.”
The pair fell into silence as they walked around the docks. Selene turned her face to the heavens and stared at the stars.
“I should be going back to the compound,” Selene said. “My friend, Aya, she was with me, but she ran away before I found you.”
Phaelenx nodded. “I am sure the others will gossip, but do not worry, your secret is safe with me.”
Selene couldn’t help but smile. “Thank you,” she said softly. “I appreciate that.”
They parted ways, and Selene began the long trek back to the royal compound. As soon as she was almost home, she realized that she was still wearing Phaelenx’s warm robe. Gods, she thought in irritation. It’s going to be morning by the time I get home!
In frustration, Selene whirled around and began walking back to the docks. But as she was passing the castle, something caught her eye and she froze.
Taryn, robed in black, was sneaking past the guards at the royal moat.
What now, Selene thought, her heart slamming against her ribs with a cold panic. What is going to happen to us?