Water filled her nose, and panicking, she opened her mouth. Water filled her lungs in searing pain. Dots filled her vision, and she was dragged deeper, the chains pulling her down, down, down.
All she could see was the dappled water as the afternoon light filtered through it, and Emory knew she was going to die. The thought filled her, and weakly, she kicked her legs again, fighting against every fiber in her body. Flashes of memories came to her, her parents’ voices ringing in her mind, the last words they ever spoke to her. And she fought.
“You will learn that greatness does not come from a country’s acceptance, or even a crown. You will see, Emory, that greatness comes down to a person’s decisions and what they choose to stand by. Even when every odd is against them.”
Fire burned through her, and she wondered if Adair thought he was on his path to greatness. Darkness pulled at her, and she clawed toward the surface, any surface. There was a flash before her, imploring green eyes, and a strange guttural voice that yelled, “Ceol!”
Pressure was loosened from her wrists, from her neck, and she felt her body suspend in the water, floating up. Hands frantically clawed around her waist, and she was surging upward, through time and space. Maybe this was what dying felt like, a freedom, a fierce peacefulness. Her eyes were closed, and she felt herself climb, up, up, up.
Until she broke through, and freezing air assaulted her.
Eyes flashing open, Marquis’s face filled her vision, his forearms pressuring hard down on her chest. He hissed in pain, his wrists bound in makeshift splints, and she gazed at them, wondering who had hurt him.
Sputtering, he rolled her onto her side as water spewed from her lungs, and she dragged in painful breaths. “Good, Emory. Listen. Breathe. Listen to my voice and breathe.”
More voices circled around her.
“Memphis, will you shut up? He just saved her life.”
Brokk.
“Oh, and you’re so trusting, all of sudden, when we all almost died for them!”
Memphis.
“Will you both be quiet? We don’t have long.”
Tadeas.
Relief coursed through her violently, and she coughed up more water, shivering from the freezing water that soaked her clothes.
“Emory, you have to lie still for me for a second, okay? We have to get your clothes dry.” Marquis’s voice was soft, and she closed her eyes, exhaustion crippling her.
Her best friends argued around her, not trusting the prince. She didn’t understand why. Over the course of the last couple of weeks, Marquis had a steadying force from just being himself. He had never pushed her like Adair had. He had never confused her like Memphis did. And so, she lay still as a roaring wind sounded all around her, and she was lifted from the ground. Her world became a spinning entity. The wind was warm, like she was standing on a coastline bathing in the sun. She spun, faster, faster, faster.
Until gently, she drifted back down, finding her feet underneath her. Her hair was tangled and wild, but she opened her eyes, swaying slightly as she croaked at the disheveled prince, “Thank you.”
Marquis dipped his head and stepped back when Memphis shot forward, gripping her in a crippling hug, whispering in her ear, “I thought I had lost you. I thought you had...”
His voice was thick with emotion, and she hugged him back. “I’m here.”
Breaking from his hold, she looked at Brokk, looking rough but nonetheless alive. “How did you all find me? I saw you fall Brokk... And Adair...”
“We split apart because someone wanted to be the hero of the day,” Memphis said, raising a pale eyebrow at his friend, “but it didn’t take me long to figure out you weren’t in the Academy. I used Brokk’s secret tunnel and headed for the woods. That’s where I found Marquis and Tadeas.”
Brokk cut in, “Adair has some control over the army. I knew Gortach had you, and I barely got away, but I did.”
Piecing the rest together quickly, she looked over her shoulder, the suspended roaring orb of controlled water churned behind them, the limp body of Gortach floating within it. Shivering, she looked back at the group. “Thank you. I owe you all my life.”
Tadeas looked to his son before moving toward her. “Emory, we have to get back to the Isles. Right now, this country is lost to the Strattons. You can all come with us, find sanctuary there.”
Chewing on her bottom lip, she looked to Brokk and his gaze darkened. Her heart dropped into her stomach, but she knew she had to hold firm.
“Thank you, Tadeas, but no. Protect the Isles, and I will call on you.” She stuck her hand out toward him. “For all our sakes, I hope you will keep your promise to come to Kiero’s aid when we need you.”
He shook her hand firmly, his voice gravelly. “We will uphold our end. You will always find sanctuary on the Isles. Where will you go?”
Her pulse jumped, her heart battering against her chest unevenly as she whispered, “Into hiding.”
Nodding, he bowed to them. “There are dark times ahead. I hope that we will all meet again on better terms.”
Marquis mimicked his father, wincing against his splintered wrists. He caught her eye and quirked a smiled. “I’m glad you’re not dead.”
She chuckled. “Yeah, same to you.”
He shuffled, uncomfortable, but in a clipped tone whispered, “If you see Adair again, don’t immediately try to kill him. He is still in there, I think, despite what he has done.
Anger licked at her heart, confusion and frustration battering against her will. Bowing her head, she said, “I can’t make any promises.”
His face darkened but Marquis dipped his head. “Until next time, Princess.”
And with that, the King and the Prince of the Shattered Isles turned their backs. Marquis faltered, before looking back at Emory. His emerald eyes flooded with emotion, as the winds shifted.
