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He was silent after that. It made me think that he was more intelligent than I gave him credit for. I was a little chilled by his subsequent compliance. It was almost as if he was pretending to agree but was plotting something else. Of course, it was also possible that he had just accepted his defeat.
The two days and two nights were given to let me, Francilia, Rowali, and Fuza escape with the help of Emir. Razuku believed that his king would want him to be in Mogochislenia. He said he had more work to do, and he would be doing it without the powers of a fire stealer. Cora and Eli would remain with him.
“We are going home!” cheered Rowali the following day. We would be leaving early, before the midday meal. Cora had prepared some meat pies for us to bring along for the trip.
“Yes! We are,” I agreed, a smile emerging on my lips as I thought about surprising Metheus. Of course, he might not be happy, but he had to deal with it. It had been months, and I could no longer wait, especially after the news from the neighboring continent had stopped.
What was going on there? I feared that I might be too late, the chill in me replacing my earlier triumph. It made me speed up my movements, shoving clothes into my luggage as quickly as I could.
“Are you ready, Your Majesty?” Emir asked later. “Do we need more men to carry your things to the boat?”
“I will bring Rowali’s things,” Fuza volunteered, sturdy arms carrying the bags.
“I do not have much with me, Emir,” Francilia said. “I have left some of my clothes in Prozeus.”
I widened my eyes at her. She seemed so sure we would be returning. We would be using one of Queenspell’s ships. We barely even used them, except for trade. Mogochislenians were usually content with being on land – their land. There was enough intrigue within the continent to keep everyone busy for the rest of their lives.
Before leaving, I bid my goodbyes. The witches’ counsel promised to learn more about the enemy. I also knew that the crows would find their way to send help if needed be. And yet, a largely unknown enemy was difficult to go against. My mother caressed my face when I went for an embrace. She advised me to be more alert. My father tapped my back the same way he always did when I was younger. He advised me to be calmer.
Both of them knew me very well. I did not know when I would see them again, and perhaps I was cursing myself for losing the last few blood family I had. However, it was time to go. Metheus needed me.
As if in keeping with the contract that my mother and King Doro made, we brought along cloth, iron, and copper, as well as other goods that Arrowspear needed more of. It was the most routine part of the preparations, although it was only the second time I left Mogochislenia. The first time I left I was a new bride, almost a year ago.
We settled in the ship, descending into the bunks below the deck. Rowali and Francilia thought it was safer for the three of us to stay together. I agreed. Rowali and I squeezed on the one bed while Francilia settled on the couch. Fuza and Emir remained above deck, with two other men who watched the sail.
“I am glad that we are going home,” Rowali said drowsily at some point. I could not correct her and say that only she was returning home. I was leaving home, possibly for good. Nobody knew.
“Yes,” I replied, my mind conjuring more thoughts of Metheus. It was safer to think of my husband now that we were on our way to him. It did not matter how many disasters had come along his way. I would make sure he made love to me soon after I arrived. These thoughts stirred heat in me, and I wondered if he would reciprocate. Sometimes despair could take away so much from you and leave you an empty shell.
Rowali seemed about to say something when we felt the ship shaking a little.
“What was that?” she demanded, clutching my shoulder with both of her hands.
“I do not know. Did you feel that, Francilia?”
“Yes, I did. I am going to ask Emir about it,” she said, quickly climbing the steps to the upper deck.
She was gone for a little while. Then, the ship shook again. It did not feel like waves carrying it on an up and down stream. Instead, it almost felt like someone held the ship like a toy and then shook it from side to side.
Who else could take a ship and shake it about like it was made of nothing? Not on a bright day with no storm clouds looming up in the sky. Not when the nearest volcano still slumbered and did not show any signs of stirring.
“Your Majesty,” cried Francilia, thundering back down the steps to us. “The sun is bright. We did not hit any rocks, according to Emir. He said he had never experienced anything like it before, and he had been sailing since he was a child.”
“That is not good, Luella,” whispered Rowali. Both of us now sat on the bed. We would not be able to sleep throughout the trip.
“It is going to be fine, Rowali. We are almost there,” I comforted her – and myself.
The ship shook again. This time, it tilted to one side. Fortunately, we were on the higher end as the other end sank into the water. I heard the men above deck bellow. Then, just as suddenly as it tilted, it righted itself again.
“I will go above deck, Rowali. I will send Fuza for you,” I said to the young girl, kissing her forehead. I put a coat over my white cotton dress and proceeded to ascend.
The top of the deck was drenched on one side. I could only imagine what it did to the rest of the area below. The men had huddled to the dry side, right above the steps leading to the lower deck.
The sun shone brightly, and we could see the tip of Arrowspear emerging into view.
“We are almost there,” I hummed in relief.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Emir said. “In good time, too, because we may not survive more of that mysterious shaking.”
