Elysium had to steer Alastor's horse for the first half of the journey from Dathir; Alastor's body was slumped on Elysium, nearly crushing her. She groaned and pushed Alastor off of her.
"You really can't handle your liquor," Elysium muttered.
Alastor's head was pounding so hard, he couldn't think of a witty comeback. Elysium could barely see through the fog that began to pour through the forest, now well past the desert. Elysium squinted, trying to concentrate. She clutched the reins, kicking the horse's flank. Her mind began to trail back to Vail, and how it felt when she'd ride him through the Alarian forests. She missed her home; she'd do anything to protect it. But, she realized that she'd been too blind to the harsh realities of the other realms and kingdoms.
Elysium pulled the horse over to a nearby tree beside the path and dismounted. She pulled her ivory riding hood over her head, trying to disguise herself from any raiders or guards. Alastor had finally managed to regain his strength, and he dipped his head into a small pond a few feet behind the trees. The cool water sobered him up enough, and he shook his head like a wet dog, his tussled charcoal hair flinging water droplets around. He turned to look back at Elysium. She had been so quiet since they'd left Dathir. Deep down, Alastor knew what Najamar had said bothered her; he couldn't blame her. That being said, the kingdoms depended on her just as much as they depended on him. Not only that, but they only had one more city to pass through before they would reach the ruins that held the scythe.
Elysium mounted back onto the horse before Alastor shot her a look.
"Move over," he ordered and hopped up in front of her. With one snap of the reins, his horse was already flying through the forest. The fog seemed to dim the closer they got to the mouth of the forest. Overhead, Elysium could hear the sounds of waves slamming against rocks and the bells of ships sounding. They stopped at a cliff that looked out over Tidefall, the coastal city.
Tidefall sat right on the water; ships constantly parked at the wooden docks. Fog would roll onto the sandy beach in the morning, and barnacles encrusted the buildings in the town. The townspeople were constantly sunburned, with sun-kissed hair and olive skin. They were skeptical of magic, especially because of their past alliance with Sylvan's kingdom, before his assassination. Since they'd learned of his death, placed a barrier that could shield the town from magic. As soon as a being entered the borders, they were temporarily stripped of their magic until they left again. That way, danger could at least be managed. That being said, Tidefall was constantly threatened by pirates, who camped out near the coves, plundering their villages at night. Now, without magic, the city had little to no way of protecting itself. This allowed the Pirates to nearly overthrow the entire city. The villagers were terrified to leave their own homes, so they boarded up their windows and locked their doors. The once vibrant village was now scattered with burning caravans and torn-apart marketplaces. The streets were littered with debris, and blood stained the curbs.
Elysium swallowed the closer they got to the town, ready for any sort of fight the Pirates may be expecting. They neared a winding pathway; seashells were scattered around the grainy sand. The blazing sun beat down on Elysium's riding hood; she knew that they would need to find the proper attire to blend in. Alastor steered the horse down to the rocky bridge that connected to the kingdom's territory lines. He realized his horse's weight wouldn't be able to hold across the bridge, with small pebbles falling with every brush of the wind.
"We'll need to walk the rest of the way," Alastor said, and hopped down onto the sand. Elysium followed, and they trailed discreetly to the territory lines. Elysium furrowed her brows when she realized there were no guards at the border. Alastor, however, shrugged and walked right inside, oblivious to any sort of danger. Elysium scoffed and trailed behind him, looking up at the city.
Built directly into the limestone cliffs, beached Sandstone walls lined the rocks. Two massive, ornate towers stood guard over the inner harboThe Tiered Layout: The city "bleeds" down the mountain. The lower docks are for the common folk and sailors, while the more intricate domes and spires climb higher toward the peaks, reserved for the merchant lords and royalty. A wide, stone-paved walkway curved along the water's edge. The waters were crowded with vessels and elegant longships with long masts.
The pair wandered into the city, scanning behind one of the sandstone buildings. They peeked around the corner, searching for somewhere they could find clothes to blend in. They realized that the pirates had stripped the entire town of its clothing and merchandise. That was when Alastor had an idea.
When Elysium finally looked back for Alastor, he was gone. She felt her heart sink, and she frantically looked around. Alastor peeped out from an alleyway across from her, a smirk on his face. He motioned for her to follow, and she crept across the road to him. The two crouched behind a wooden case.
"What if we disguised ourselves?" his voice was blazing with excitement.
Elysium tilted her head and lifted a brow.
"What?"
"If they think we're also Pirates, we can blend in easily, and probably make it past here unscathed."
Elysium thought about it for a moment. As much as she hated to admit it, he could be right. She finally looked up at him and nodded. Alastor's smile grew even wider, and he grabbed her hand, dragging her down the alley to a small shop nearby. Alastor scanned the inside from the window before he opened the door, and the pair swiftly moved inside. Seashells were decorated across the counter, and an eerie feeling from the vacant shop washed over Elysium.
Alastor traced his fingers across the dust on the counters before he found a small wooden chest near the back. Crouching over it, he examined the golden lining around the wood. He lifted the top of the chest open, and a small laugh escaped from his mouth.
Elysium could hear him tearing through the pieces of clothing inside the chest, before he snapped around and tossed an outfit to her.
"Put this on." He said, then turned back around to find his attire.
Elysium walked to a corner and started to change. She paused when she saw Alastor's eyes flicker to her. Red with embarrassment, she covered herself with her dress, glaring at him.
"You could at least try to be a gentleman," she huffed.
Alastor turned back around and gathered his clothes. The two faced away from each other as they changed, and would occasionally feel the other start to turn their head around.
Elysium walked over to a full-length mirror beside her and looked at herself. She wore an off-the-shoulder white chemise with voluminous puff sleeves, cinched tightly by a dark, lace-up corset belt. Her lower half consisted of a charcoal-grey harem-style skirt paired with sturdy black boots. She braided her long, chestnut hair into a marvel of braids and loose waves, partially pinned back into a crown. Then, she turned to look at Alastor; the part fit him like a glove.
Alastor wore a dark, charcoal-colored linen shirt, unbuttoned deeply to reveal a muscular chest and a circular, feathered or scaled pendant. A thick, weathered leather baldric crossed his chest, decorated with silver buckles and studs. His waist was wrapped in a dark sash and a heavy belt featuring a prominent silver dragon or sea-serpent buckle. His black hair was wind-tossed and damp, framing a face set in a stern, brooding expression. Elysium felt her breath hitch for a moment, and then she snapped out of it, grabbed her bow and quiver, and pulled it around her shoulder. She let Alastor out of the shop, and they wandered back onto the street.
The city was unsettlingly quiet, leaving only the sounds of waves and seagulls in its place. Suddenly, Alastor threw his hand up, signaling them to stop. When Elysium turned her head to look around, she felt something tug at her arm, a little girl. The child's tattered clothing exposed her olive skin. Her blonde hair fell over her eyes, and she pushed it out of the way and behind her ear. Alastor was too busy scanning the streets to notice what was happening. Elysium kneeled to the little girl and smiled.
"Where's your mother?" She asked warmly.
The little girl pointed down another winding alley. Elysium held out her hand for the little girl and led her down the alleyway in search of her mother. When Elysium had faded out of Alastor's sight, he heard a yelp and shot around.
"I leave her alone for five minutes." He muttered and shot around the corner to the alleyway.
"Shit."
She was gone.
____________
Elysium's eyes fluttered open, and she dizzily looked around. She was overwhelmed by the sharp pain she felt on the back of her head. When she reached up to touch it, her arm was jerked back by a silver chain. Frantic, Elysium's eyes darted around, then down to her bound ankles. Elysium struggled, trying to yank herself free. She looked around to see that she was on a ship, with a large mast hanging overhead. The waves rocked the boat, and mist from the waves pattered onto the deck. Elysium stopped moving when she saw a shadow across from her, looming behind the mast on the quarter deck.
Stepping from the shadows, a thick, barrel-chested man walked out into the light. He had heavy arms and hands like butcher blocks. One eye was slightly milky, and a beard mocha that was uneven and threaded with bone charms. His long, smoky hair hung over his shoulders, brushing past his sun-burned cheeks and scarred lip. His leather trenchcoat dragged to the floor, the hem split and torn from battles.
Captain Rourke Varrin had led his crew since he was twenty years old. Now at forty-seven, he'd nearly conquered the entire coast, plundering villages and towns until they were left in ruins. The captain slowly walked over to Elysium, his hand placed at the end of his sword. He crouched down to her, brushing his rum-stained fingers down her cheek. The smell of blood and salt floated from Rourke as he stood back up and took a step back.
"You don't walk into my harbor by mistake." His voice was low and raspy.
His milky eye dragged over Elysium. She swallowed. His eyes narrowed for a moment.
"So tell me. Are you stupid… or desperate?"
Elysium lifted her chin from where her throat was tied around the wooden pillar.
Before Elysium could respond, Rourke blew a piercing whistle that rang in Elysium's ears. She heard bustling and low sneers before the Captain's crew stood before her eagerly. The first to approach her was a woman, the second in command.
Selene Marris was sharp, with dark braided hair and sea-blue eyes. Her fingers tapped on a dagger she had tucked in her belt. Her trousers were blood-stained, along with the collar of her white blouse.
"Oh, Captain…" Her voice was silky.
Selene circled Elysium slowly, now pointing the blade at her.
"She is worth more alive than gutted."
A man huffed behind her. Pushing past the rest of the crew, he shot Selene a disapproving look. Brannick Jones was the enforcer of the crew. Huge, bald, and scarred, he laughed too loudly and always smelled of rum and sweat. He'd killed more men than he could count, and drowned in the rush of taking lives. Every swing with his fists of a club would send him into a frenzy of excitement. His green eyes were wide with enthusiasm as he glared at Elysium.
"A shame," He said, clicking his tongue.
"Could've been Oliver's first kill."
All eyes turned to a smaller man, looking to be in his early twenties. Oliver Gray had joined the crew after his family was killed in a shipwreck. They discovered him on the shore and quickly took him under their wing. The trouble was, Oliver was a nervous wreck. He wouldn't dare hurt anyone else, and it killed him to see the others promote such tyranny. He was a lean man, smaller than anyone else on the crew. His light brown hair had been highlighted from years of sweeping the deck in the blazing sun.
Oliver clutched his bird-carved necklace
He stared vacantly at the crowd, and Brannick grabbed him by the collar, dragging him to the middle of the deck. He shoved his head towards Elysium. Oliver looked terrified, trembling underneath Brannick's huge hands. Elysium pressed her back against the wood, splinters digging into her spine. Brannick released Oliver, pushing him to the side. Oliver stumbled before nervously ducking back into the crowd, eyes looking down.
Brannick loomed over Elysium, club in hand.
The Captain stamped his foot loudly, echoing through the deck. All eyes shot over to him, and a hush fell over the crowd.
"We've captured the Alarian Princess," He said loudly. "I wonder how much Lupus will pay to see her alive."
They don't know what's happening. Elysium thought.
She wondered how they possibly couldn't have known about the betrayal.
The sun burned Elysium's skin the longer she sat chained on the deck. She'd spent hours on the heated wood. After the sunset, the crew members retired to their quarters and assembled below deck for the night. They were going to strategize how best to contact Lupus and inform him that his wife was held hostage. Alone with only the sound of the waves and whistling ocean wind, Elysium stared up at the sky, her body aching and tired. When she was alone, all she could think about was Alaria. She thought about Zeta and Celeste; if they were okay, if they were hurt. She could feel her heart race the more she ruminated on it. She thought about Lupus and how he was probably sitting upon her throne right now, covered in Alarian blood.
Then, she thought about Alastor. Had he left her? Why wasn't he with her?
Then it hit her.
Did they kill him? Did he get too smart with them, and his ego finally caught up to him?
She had to find out.
Elysium was pulled from her thoughts when she heard the sounds of boots hitting the wooden steps. She swallowed, her body tensing. Rourke and Selene both walked over to Elysium, weapons in hand.
"Where is he?" Elysium croaked.
Selene raised an eyebrow and exchanged looks with her Captain.
"Who?"
"Alastor Kaelthorne." Her voice was fierce.
The two stood silent for a moment before bursting out into laughter.
"You think the Dark Prince is going to come rescue you?" Rourke roared.
"He left you," Selene said.
Elysium froze, blinking. "W- What?" She stammered.
"He fled and left the city." Selene continued.
That couldn't be true, right? Elysium shook her head.
"He's gone to try and find the scythe himself," Selene sneered, her finger tracing her blade softly.
Elysium fought back tears, biting the inside of her cheek. She realized that she very well could die in this moment; she was powerless. Her magic was gone, and she was alone.
"Since we can't seem to communicate with Lupus," The Captian said. "Your blood is going to be on his hands."
Elysium's body shook, and she kicked her legs out, trying to free herself. Her wrists been bruised and cut so deeply, blood trailed down her arms and trickled onto the wood below her. Selene put her fingers to her mouth and whistled, signaling the crew.
Rourke climbed up to the forecastle deck and wrapped his hands around the base of the foremast.
Rourke obnoxiously tossed his chalice of rum into the air. It spilled over the sides and splattered onto the wooden deck. He cursed drunkenly under his breath and regained his balance.
The crew members gathered on the main deck, cheering and hollering. Torches lined the deck, and the Captain drew his sword.
He tilted his head.
"You've got the eyes of someone who's been told she's important."
He crouched slightly, bringing himself level with her.
"The sea doesn't care what you were on land."
He pressed the flat of the blade under her chin and lifted her face.
"Out here… everyone drowns the same."
Elysium held her breath. She thought back to her childhood, back to the things that made her happy, before she learned how cruel the world really was. Her body stopped trembling, and she relaxed as she accepted her fate.
Rourke's eyes were giddy with elation, and he raised his sword up. Elysium squeezed her eyes shut.
Suddenly, the lanterns went out. They weren't blown; they were extinguished. Darkness slammed across the deck, and the sea became unnaturally still. Someone gasped, and Brannick cursed.
A low, familiar voice sounded from the far end of the deck.
"I wouldn't."
Unharmed and unrushed, Alastor stepped forward from the shadows. He wasn't even looking at Elysium; his eyes were locked only on Rourke. Rourke refused to lower his blade.
Alastor glanced over at Elysium, then back to Rourke.
"Release her." It was a slow, low command.
Rourke's scar split as he grinned.
"Or what?"
There was a pause, and he air tightened. Alastor took one slow step forward, a grin crossing his face.
"Oh, I don't know."
He gestured vaguely to the ship.
"Maybe the hull splits in half. Maybe the tide drags you under. Maybe I get bored and start counting how many bones a man like you has."
He shrugged.
"We'll see how the mood strikes."
Immediately after, Brannick lunged forward. Alastor didn't even look at him. Brannick's body lifted, as if it was grabbed by invisible hands. Elysium flinched as he was flammed into the mast, hard enough to crack wood. He dropped, unmoving.
"See? Mood." Alastor brushed his hands together.
The crew was silent. The crowd stood silent, but Rourke was burning with rage, keeping the blade at Elysium's throat.
Alastor's grin widened slightly.
"You must be Rourke."
He looked him up and down.
"I expected… well. I suppose this fits."
"Carefuly boy," Rourke warned. "I've fed prettier men than you to the sea."
Alastor leaned against one of the masts, folding his arms together.
"I somehow find that very hard to believe."
Alastor pulled his knife from his belt and toyed with the keyhole of the chains, crouching over her. The lock clicked open, and the chains fell to Ellysium's feet. She rubbed her sore wrists with her hands.
"Honestly," he muttered, "I leave you alone for five minutes."
"They were going to kill me." She replied
He arched a brow.
"Yes. I noticed." He said dryly. "Try not to make a habit of it."
Elysium nodded silently as Alastor pulled her up from the ground, setting her onto her feet. Rourke yelled, commanding the crew.
"Cut the ropes!" He shouted.
The crew pushed the ship away from the dock, pulling up the anchor. Elysium frantically looked around as they began to drift away from the shore. The tide and wind caught on quickly, moving further and further from the city. Alastor took a moment, then looked down at her.
"We're going to have to jump." He said.
Elysium's eyes widened. "We'll die."
Alastor rolled his eyes and grabbed Elysium's wrist, quickly leading her to the ship railing. The crew began to circle them, weapons drawn. Before Elysium could protest, Alastor had already climbed up the railing, looming over the icy cold water. Elysium quickly followed, shaking.
"On the count of three," Alastor said.
"One."
Rourke yelled loudly.
"Two."
The crew lunged towards them.
"Three!"
They leapt inches from the clutches of the crew. Elysium could feel her stomach drop as they fell, the wind catching in her hair. The water hit her with such force that it knocked the breath out of her lungs. Fully submerged under the surface, Elysium kicked her feet frantically. The freezing water made her chest burn, and she could feel her wading legs growing numb beneath her. The saltwater stung her eyes as she fumbled her way through the dark water, finally brushing against Alastor's arm. He wrapped his hand around her waist and pulled her from the water, plowing up to the surface. Elysium gasped, bobbing up and down as she caught her breath. They would still have to swim a ways to the shore, and Elysium's body was already freezing and weak.
Alastor noticed her fatigue and wrapped his hand around her arm, dragging her behind him as he quickly waded through the freezing water. When they reached the shore, they both collapsed onto the sand, heaving loudly. Alastor turned over onto his back, shaking the water from his hair. Elysium hunched over, rubbing her legs back to warmth. She looked up at Alastor as he stood, her eyes weak and tired. Alastor lent Elysium his hand and pulled her up to her feet. They looked behind them at the ship drifting away, with the echoes of the crewmate's cursing and hollering.
"Let's go," Alastor said, and nodded his head towards the docks. Climbing up the wooden steps, Elysium was startled when they were met with a crowd of cheering villagers. They all embraced the pair, hugging them tightly. Alastor, with a look of confusion on his face, peeled one of the villagers off of him.
"What's this about?" He asked, tilting his head/
The fisherman let out a booming laugh.
"By the gods, we're saved!"
More villagers crowded around them. Someone grabbed Elysium's hands, shaking them excitedly.
"You drove them out!"
"You freed the harbor!"
"Those devils have ruled us for months!"
Elysium blinked, overwhelmed.
"We just-"
"We're throwing a feast!" another woman declared loudly.
The crowd erupted in agreement.
"A celebration!"
"A proper one!"
"Music! Firelight!"
Alastor's grin slowly spread.
Now this he liked.
Elysium groaned quietly.
"Oh no."
Alastor leaned down toward her.
"Oh yes."