Freyja's Fire - Chapter 3 - A'mara Books

3

(Fenjaday, cont.)

Erion Sands

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Aurelia ran after Prince Aron again, catching up to him just before he trampled on a picnicker’s blanket. “Sorry, Sister,” she apologized instantly to the Sister of Vasana, clad in a fuchsia-colored habit, her blonde hair braided neatly down her back, nearly to her waist.

“No problem, Your Highness,” the woman replied equally promptly. “May I give him a cookie?”

“Sure,” Aurelia replied. “Aron! Cookie?”

The toddler grabbed the offered treat and smashed it into his mouth.

“Say ‘Thank you!’” Aurelia prompted.

“Tank,” the boy said, mouth full of food, making Aurelia aunt roll her eyes at him.

“He’s very sweet,” the woman said.

“Thank you. I’m just glad I can hand him back...” Aurelia straightened and looked around. The other children were hanging around Marie. Why couldn’t Aron do the same? She wondered where her brother had gone off to.

Gemina joined her. “I think Adrick and Katja have gone the way of Breyind and Rachel – celebrating their anniversary early!”

Aurelia rolled her eyes again and ignored the knowing look the woman gave her. “They could have at least told me!”

“Hey, I think it’s incredibly romantic!” Gemina soothed. “I hope I find a man who is as romantic to me as our brothers are to their wives!”

“Romance! The only reason it worked for them is because Rachel and Katja had no idea who they were! They didn’t know our brothers were royals. I can’t even play a decent game of Wolff because everyone knows who I am! How do I find a man who doesn’t just want to be brother to the future king?”

“I don’t know, Aurelia.”

“Believe, Your Highness,” the Sister advised. “When the time is right, it will happen.”

“I want to believe!” Gemina said. “What’s your name?”

“I’m Klara. Sister Naemi and I are down here for a few days to hunt for crystals. Our convent is up on the slope of Mt. Vasana. Do you know of it?”

“Yes, of course,” Gemina replied. “Vasana has always been one of my favorite deities.”

“I’m sure she loves knowing that too!” Sister Klara informed.

“Do you have the gift of foresight?”

“Alas, no. But I know that you and your cousin are something special. Good things will come to you both if you work together. You would be Lady Gemina?”

“Yes, Sister.”

“And Princess Aurelia?”

“Yes, of course,” Aurelia replied.

The sister tutted. “The man for you will be able to match your fiery spirit, yet humble you gently, Your Highness.”

“You insult me?” Aurelia rebuked.

“I mean no offense, Your Highness. Forgive me.”

Aurelia felt herself losing control of her temper. Only Aron’s hand in hers stayed her. “You’re forgiven,” Aurelia said thinly.

A moment later, the other sister returned to the picnic.

“Good afternoon, Princess Aurelia, Lady Gemina, Prince Aron,” the other woman greeted. Dressed in an identical fuchsia habit, her ruddy hair was piled on top of her head stylishly.

“Enchantée,” Aurelia replied, keeping tight control on the remainder of her temper.

“I think we need to take Aron back to his mother,” Gemina excused.

“Good afternoon,” Aurelia greeted, then went with her cousin and nephew.

“Aurelia, remember what your mother said about our responsibilities!” Gemina scolded.

“The Sister had no right to lecture me – and neither do you!”

“But she was right! You need someone who can love you for who you are, but not be too overwhelmed by your position. He can help you become a better person!”

“Hrumph!” Aurelia replied. “I can count on one hand the number of people who can talk to me like that without me biting off their heads!”

“And the man you’re waiting for will be the first one on your other hand, my dear cousin.”

“We will see, but I wouldn’t count on finding someone like what you have described. I don’t see my brother...”

“It was an excuse! I didn’t need you biting off that Sister’s head! However, I do think that Marie would make a good change in company about now.”

“Hrumph!”

♥

Abundantia

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Kolt Rain drifted below the clouds watching the stricken ship, helpless to do anything to save it. He saw the various sailors, crumpled in heaps here and there on the deck. His own brother lying close to the form of himself lying beside the wheel, the last one able to do anything to help, yet now lying powerless.

He looked around and saw people on the beach, not so far away. Several of them saw the ship, he knew.

Velantia wasn’t on any chart, but there had always been rumors of its existence. Would he only see it with his dying eyes? But maybe it would be better that the ship founder off shore so that whatever disease had killed the Captain, his adoptive father, and all the rest of the crew… as well as the woman who had carried Garrick’s son, he was pretty sure… whatever disease it was would remain at sea. To not take any victims in Velantia.

the voice came to him.

<Çtara?> he wondered back. <How can I survive this? How can anyone survive this?>

< This is not for you to know or understand. You were brought here on purpose.>

<But this disease! It will kill people here!>

<All mortals must die – eventually. It is not for you to count their days.>

<Let me get to the wheel! I can save the people of Velantia. Let me die at sea. Let the ship go down!>

<I can blow it back to sea,> another voice volunteered.

<This is not your realm, Kali.>

<Shut it, Vasana!>

<Vasana?> Kolt wondered.

<Different cultures, different names. Your ancestors knew me as Çtara. You must go back. Your mission is not yet completed. There is a woman who needs your help...>

Kolt felt himself being tugged back towards the ship. <No!>

He opened his eyes, then closed them again against the sun. He could feel the ship drifting towards Velantia. He sat up, but his head was spinning too much. He lay down again, wondering how things could possibly work when he could not pilot the ship any longer.

The scraping of the hull against the rocks and the shudder of the ship let him know that it had found land, though whether the ship would rest usefully or not was still unknown to him. He wished for his flask, but could not reach it. Three days without water, he knew he could survive. But lying naked and sick on a sun-heated deck would reduce that considerably. He prayed that Çtara would prove to be right.