The Traitor by A. Lombardo (novels for beginners txt) 📗

Doubt narrowed her gaze. “Don’t judge me, boy. You know nothing. Nothing about me, my life, or the man we follow. Your father is a monster, but much of what he preaches, we still believe. He charmed us at the start. We only wanted to be free. Free to live and travel and not hide our true selves. Keegan wanted power, and we did not care about the cost of our choices. Our rebellion felt satisfying at first, but over time that changed.”

Kai could see the history of fear in the woman but questioned her anyway. “Why didn’t you leave? Go back to Katori?”

A single tear spilled down Fenia’s cheeks. “You can only watch so many fellow Katori die at his hand before you surrender to your fate. Live and fight at his side or die at his touch. This life has not been all bad. I don’t mind most of it; besides, I wanted to live. Still do,” she insisted.

The hope that Fenia might help him gave him courage. “You must help me escape,” Kai pleaded. “I need my crystal. Keegan took it from me.”

She frowned. “You have no idea what you ask. And in any case, we are too far out to sea—you would not make it. A young Beastmaster, dragon or not, has no hope of flying to shore. You have flown how far—a few hours, at most?” She questioned with her tone and eyes.

“I have crossed Baden Lake, twice in one night,” he declared, confident that it mattered.

Fenia cocked her head. “Should I be impressed?” She turned to face the windows. “Let me guess, you changed back and rested before your return flight? Boy, we travel with Weathervanes at the helm. They drove us south half the day into the open sea well before we turned east. Even I cannot glean the shore at our distance, and I am one of the best. We must avoid the trade routes running between Port Anahita and Fort Pohaku. It has hardly been a day, but our distance traveled is equal to nearly two days with average winds.”

Hearing they had not sailed beyond Fort Pohaku was good news. Knowing his geography well, he knew he needed to get off this ship before the final point of land below Fort Pohaku. It was true, in his dragon form, he had no idea if he could traverse an ocean, but the ability to become a manta ray meant he had choices. “How long?” Kai searched Fenia’s eyes. “How long until we pass the Point of Diu?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know, another day, day-and-a-half. But you are not getting off his ship. Resign your fate, as we all have. Without your crystal, you cannot transform. You belong to Keegan. He will not give it back until he knows he can trust you.”

“Fenia, please. I must warn Katori. Diu means to send ships around the coast. For your daughter’s sake, help me.”

“Do not use my daughter against me. It will not change my mind.” Fenia stormed out.

Frustrated that he had pushed Fenia too hard, Kai leaned against the wooden cabinet filled with wine. There had to be another way off this ship. If she did not help him, he would make his own way. But how? He could not swim to a shore he could not see—not in his human form, anyway. And without his crystal, there was no transforming into any creature.

The setting sun dipped into the sea, scattering orange and red across the sky. Thoughts of his mother and the time she spent hiding in her dragon form without her crystal stirred an idea in Kai’s mind. All those years ago in the garden, she had transformed on her own. No crystal aided her. Maybe he did not need his crystal, either. His next thought was the memory of her screams—he thought they were because she fought the change, but now he wondered if the transformation was painful without the stone. Either way, he had to try.

Imbued with new courage, Kai resolved himself to escape; with or without his crystal, he could not waste any more time waiting for Keegan to whisk him around the world. No, he needed to act now if he hoped to stop a war.

Kai jostled the cabin door’s handle. It was still locked. No matter, he searched the desk for anything to pick the lock. A knife or letter opener would be ideal, but he would settle for a pin—no such luck. He tapped his fingers on the desk. There had to be something he could use.

Maps cluttered the surface. Kai slid the individual sheets into a stack, sorting the disorganization. Before him, a black feathered quill stood proudly. The find brought a curl to the corner of Kia’s mouth. He snatched the pen from its holder and inspected the tip. The metal shaft and flat tip were ideal for his needs.

Of all the tricks Riome had taught him, this was the first time he felt thankful for this intrusive skill. He knelt on one knee and examined the lock. The flat point of quill fit perfectly, and with a jiggle and twist, he heard the lock click open. Free from his latest prison, Kai opened the door and peered into the passageway. It was dark but empty.

Venturing into an alcove, he saw his freedom through a bank of windows. Moonlight kissed the deck a few feet away. He took one step, then another. A glimmer of hope lifted his spirits as he stood at the forward hatch. Men worked the rigging and moved about the ship, but none noticed him. Not wanting to reveal his location, Kai twisted the handle and opened the door. Salty air assaulted his senses, and the sounds of the ocean gave him pause. He had not thought beyond his cage. Without his crystal, he