Haven: Chronicles of Warshard (22 page)

“She always will be,” Drakkone
agreed.

“I hope to be like her one day then,” Haven smiled. “Breen sounds like an exceptional
woman.”

“She was,” Drakkone
said.

“She still is,” Nina leaned against her father. “She’ll always be
great.”

CHAPTER 24

S
everal agonizing days passed before the monarchs of Warshard were gathered in the council room. They had finally reached a
consensus.

Haven stood with the kings and prince, holding on to Corrin’s hand tighter than she needed to. A lot rode on this one decision. If the council chose to come with them, fight Kadia, take back their kingdoms and depose the evil queen, all would someday be returned to normal. At least she hoped. If they kept their decision not to help, it was only a matter of time before Haven and her friends would be forced to flee again. Kadia would come for them. She’d destroy Seaburn, and Haven would be the only one left in the end, for she was the only one who couldn’t
die.

“Thank you for coming,” Vas stood and addressed the
group.

Besides the Royals and their guards, Nina and Drakkone had joined them, sitting nearby. Haven met the young girl’s eyes across the court. She smiled and nodded at Haven. That simple look held more comfort than she thought possible. It overwhelmed her and brought on a smile of her
own.

“We’ve reached our decision on the matter of lending troops to the six
kingdoms.”

They all held their breath in
anticipation.

“We will not lend you our
soldiers.”

Haven was about to cry out when the rest of the council
stood.

“We will not lend you them because we wish to lead the charge. We will, of course, have you accompany us on our ships and join in battle. We would like your help in the attack and will form a plan with you. But if this is to be Seaburn’s war as well, a lot rides on this final battle.” Vas paused, looking to each of them in turn. “We will leave in two weeks time. The council hopes this is an acceptable
alternative.”

“This is marvelous,” Evander breathed, while the other Royals had to keep themselves from audibly
cheering.

Haven and Corrin embraced, while Emeril and Evander shook hands. Each royal thanked the council members in turn, bowing respectfully before them. They all smiled ear-to-ear as Vas addressed them
again.

“You shouldn’t thank us,” he began. “It was because of Nina that our decision changed. We hold her opinion in high regard, and after her encounter with the young queen, our decision was
unanimous.”

“Nina,” Haven said, looking to her young friend. The girl rose and came to Haven, taking her hands in both of her
own.

“Your intentions are so pure, Lady Haven,” Nina smiled. “We will help you in any way we can. Kadia must be stopped, and I think I can
help.”

“But how?” she
asked.

“My abilities go beyond seeing into the minds of others and calming them with my presence.” Nina squeezed her fingers. “Another of them happens to be changing or controlling that mind, to an extent of
course.”

Haven gasped. “That sort of power could be
dangerous.”

“It would be in the hands of another,” Nina laughed. “Many believed it would be too much, but I’ve proven otherwise time and time again. If I can get to Kadia myself, I can stop her and her power. I’m sure of
it.”

“But that could get you killed!” Haven found herself increasingly worried for this girl. The urge to protect her was overwhelming. “Can you even wield a sword? Or fight at
all?”

“I’ve never needed to with my powers. Do not worry yourself. I will have many to protect me if I should need
it.”

“And I will be among them,” Haven
said.

“Lady Queen,” Corrin cautioned
her.

Haven shook her head. “I will be among them, Nina. I will not let you face Kadia
alone.”

Though the thought of seeing Kadia in the flesh again sent goosebumps over her skin and fear needling at her chest, she stood firm. Haven knew Nina could feel this, both her fear and her determination. Nina slowly nodded and
smiled.

“You are a wonder, Lady Queen,” she
said.

After receiving the good news, the Royals proclaimed a celebration that night. But until night came, the young Royals would accompany Drakkone and Nina into town for a tour of the city. Seaburn was a truly magnificent place. Buildings carved from sandstone, markets full of people, silks, beads, and mouth-watering fruit seemed to be around every corner. High towers stood in the distance, music soothed the ear in every street, and smiling faces constantly crossed their path. Everything was beautiful, from the architecture to the people of the republic. Haven took it all in with thinly veiled awe. Her eyes darted to this building and that, the port in the distance, and the gold pillars nearby. Drakkone, Nina and a few of their Seaburn guards pointed out many of the well-known landmarks in the area, as well as some of the less known ones. They told stories, led them through public and private areas, into courtyards, and out in the streets. The foreigners were stunned by it all and Haven couldn’t get
enough.

It was dusk when they arrived at their final destination. The crown jewel of Seaburn was its army, which provided extensive training for its soldier. The academy was known far and wide. Not only were the structures built beautifully and expansively, but they housed all the soon-to-be warriors in the republic’s
military.

“The academy is almost as large as the palace,” Blythe said, gawking at the huge
structure.

They stood in the main courtyard, taking everything in. Soldiers ran to and fro, practice drills were conducted on the lawns, and beyond all the bustling stood the main building. The pillars towered like sentinels, thick and tall, rising as high as her castle walls. Beyond the rows of columns, the sandstone building caught her eye with its stained glass windows filled with beautiful depictions of different battles or
kings.

Crossing the courtyard barely gave the young queen enough time to take it all in before the great wooden doors opened and they were ushered
inside.

“Welcome to the Academy,” Drakkone smiled widely. It was the first time she’d seen a smile on the man’s face, and the look suited him. Drakkone beamed with pride. It seemed not many people from Seaburn itself joined the military, but when they did, they rose high in
rank.

The further they delved into the building, the more people they passed, each with a different look than she’d come to know of the people of Seaburn. Haven watched as the soldiers marched by, her thoughts brushing away the droning of Drakkone’s voice as he went on about a particular statue or another. Haven slowly fell behind the group, watching a small formation go by. Not one pair of eyes darted to hers. Each man or woman held a stern face and stared straight ahead, intent on their task. Wherever they were going, they appeared to be fine soldiers. But they definitely were not native to Seaburn. They had somewhat paler skin with a slightly yellow hue. Their eyes were smaller, noses less pronounced and lips fuller. Haven wondered how these people could fight for Seaburn if they weren’t even from here. She knew they had been taken from the southern lands, lands they called savage. But some were still so young. It occurred to her again how little she knew about this place, and the voices of her friends echoed in her ears. They wouldn’t tell Haven how the soldiers were broken, because they knew it would hurt her, and if she knew, she might not be able to use them to get her home
back.

Haven clutched her arms, a chill passing through her and she decided to disband from the group and head back to the palace. She hoped her presence wouldn’t be missed, but she couldn’t stand to be here anymore and look at these faces, so completely devoid of emotion. Something awful was going on here; she could feel
it.

Moving through the halls, Haven tried to make her way out. In the maze that was the academy, she was soon lost, heading up and down stairs she didn’t
recognize.

“What have I done?” she hissed to
herself.

Descending quickly, Haven burst through another door, sure that this had to be the way back into the main hall. A dimly lit corridor met her, along with soft moans drifting down the stone hall. Haven stopped in her tracks. She was not meant to be here, and she knew it. Unfortunately, her curiosity got the better of
her.

Proceeding quietly, Haven lifted her dress from the floor. The gold shimmered in the soft orange light, casting dapples of light across the sandstone walls. She kept her dress high from the ground and her footsteps quiet, careful not to alert anyone of her presence. She had never been so glad to have a sword at her
hip.

The stone floor was rough here, as were the walls. Instead of the beautifully polished slabs she’d grown accustomed to, these uneven rocks were held together by peeling plaster. Torches lined the walls, as did cells. Most were empty but every now and then she passed a wooden door with moans emanating from within. The further she went, the wider the hall grew. At the same time the floors and walls became dirty, almost filthy with grime. Haven wondered how they could keep people down here. She assumed it had something to do with breaking them, but she couldn’t be sure of
what.

“Stop!” a woman screamed up
ahead.

Her accent was so thick she had a difficult time making out the word, but that scream had her running. Haven drew her sword before she could even think. Sounds of a struggle met her ears. Bodies thudded against a wooden wall, one after the other. Up ahead a cell door stood ajar. Another scream pierced the air. Haven dove through the entrance of the cell. There stood a man over a young girl of maybe sixteen. Her yellow skin marked her as foreign. She had wild fearful eyes. The man above her hovered in Seaburn armor. He tore at her clothes with
fervor.

Images of hands gripping her wrists, pinning her down flashed through her mind. Those same hands moved over her body in indecent ways, cold lips kissing down her bare neck. Her cries echoed in her ears as she tried to get him off, but they weren’t her cries this time, they were this poor
girl’s.

Haven held the tip of her sword to the back of the man’s neck, her whole body trembling with rage. He hadn’t seen her coming and froze at the touch of her cold blade. “You will release her this moment,” the young queen commanded. Her hands shook as the anger built, her knuckles white on the hilt of her
sword.

“Yes, of course,” the man said, releasing the woman, who shuffled to the back of her cell, dark messy hair shielding her from the world. “No need to be
rash.”

“I want to see your hands,” she said, eying the sword at his
hip.

“You aren’t too steady with that
blade.”

Haven blanched, staring at the back of the man’s dark head. She took a breath and tried to calm the shaking her of fists. “I don’t need steady hands to cut your head from your shoulders,” she
growled.

The man chuckled. Haven froze. She couldn’t believe he was laughing. With a sword to his throat he was laughing as if she wouldn’t kill him. “You’re a brave little girl, aren’t you? Just like this one.” Haven didn’t need to see his face to envision the sick smirk he
possessed.

“Put your hands up and shut your mouth,” Haven commanded, taking a step back to allow him space to
stand.

It was then that the man made his move. Pulling his sword from his sheath faster than she could blink, the man rounded on her, slashing his sword outward. Haven backed off just in time for the tip of his blade to cut a clean line across her cheek. Haven hissed at the sting and instinctively reached to wipe the blood from her face. The pain disappeared before the man stepped from the
cell.

He looked at her with wide, dumbfounded eyes. “The immortal
queen.”

Haven took his moment of pause to present her own attack, swiping at him hard enough that he had to back into the cell door. It banged against the wall and he lost his balance. She took her advantage and pressed on, pushing her sword through his shoulder. The man howled in pain and kicked out at her, sending her flying back into a stone
pillar.

Regaining his footing, the man stood and attacked. Haven blocked and twisted out of the way of his next assault, moving into the open portion of the small room. It was then that the woman in her cage came to life and attacked. Like an animal she screeched her battle cry and lunged onto the man’s back, clawing at his face with her nails. The man cried out and dropped his sword, taking her hands and throwing her from his
back.

“You savage brat!” he growled, glaring daggers at the girl on the
ground.

Haven took advantage of his bad footing and kicked him in the stomach, hard enough to send him toppling onto the floor, where she drove her sword through his
chest.

“You’re the savage,” Haven hissed through clenched teeth, jerking the sword as deep as it would go. She watched the light leave his eyes before she
moved.

With the chaos past, Haven crouched beside the limp body, catching her breath. Her adrenaline was fading, and with its disappearance returned her sense of mind. Looking at the young savage girl, Haven stood and offered her hand. “You’re safe now.” Haven smiled, if only
slightly.

Large brown eyes met hers and immediately welled with tears. The girl put her face in her hands and began to sob. Haven slid to the floor beside her and wrapped her arms around the small girl, who shook as more tears came. She didn’t say a word. She didn’t tell her it would be okay. She didn’t lie, only sat there with her and let her feel the safe touch of a comrade in arms. If this was how women were broken in these cages Haven could not accept the aid of Seaburn. These women were raped into obedience before becoming soldiers. It was a pain she felt so deeply that her anger returned with a vengeance. She would kill every last man who stood in her way to free these
girls.