Lady of the Sea: The Aureate Chronicles, Book One Read online

  Aureate Chronicles, Book 1

  Lady of the Sea

  Heather Zwygart

  © 2016 Heather Zwygart

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  To Ella and Cora, my little encouragers.

  To my husband, who helped finance this passion project of mine. ;)

  Table of Contents

  PROLOGUE

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Māori WORDS

  SPECIAL THANKS

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Prologue

  A. D. 1100

  Black clouds consumed all remaining rays of light, letting loose a deluge of rain, ceaseless in its ire. A lone ship broke through a wall of waves and mist. The prow, reaching heavenward, appeared frozen in time only to come crashing down amidst a violent sweep of spray. Cold, wet, and miserable, the 40 oarsmen on board the Sea Wolf, pushed and pulled in rhythm to the coxswain’s drum.

  “Oy! Over there,” called one of the oarsman sitting closest to the front of the ship, staring out at the open water. Several of the other men spared the energy to glance over the side, spotting a large silver silhouette gliding through the dark depths. A burly man with shaggy blonde hair, tied back with a leather rope, shouldered his way from the back of the deck.

  “Erik,” a shipmate called, waving him over. “It’s time. The men can’t keep this up much longer.”

  Judging the distance, Erik guessed the whale was only four fathoms ahead of them. He thought the beast would never tire. The men looked up at him expectantly. Erik was the best at what he did. He had been chasing whales since he was a green lad and loved a little adventure as much as any man, but he wondered if they weren’t all a little mad for pursuing this whale into what felt like the very heart of the storm.

  He thought the men and beast alike had earned a reprieve. They had been out at sea for weeks. Garr, the clan’s chieftain, was a greedy man and not likely to agree.

  Then there was the matter of Erik’s family. He had a wife and young daughter waiting for him at home. Sometimes, his chest would ache at the thought of missing them.

  “Right, let’s get this over with,” Erik growled. Adjusting his grip on the rough bark encompassing the jagged point of a harpoon, he carefully found his footing on the wooden planks of the longship, a rope secured around his waist for added protection from falling overboard.

  The boat tossed treacherously with each opposing wave, the rain-slick boards providing little traction. Gleaming harpoon in hand, Erik saw his window of opportunity; narrowing his eyes against the spray, he wound his arm back and let loose the deadly weapon with a grunt.

  At the last possible moment, the harpoon jerked back, almost as if flung away by an invisible hand, missing its mark entirely. Erik thought he saw the end of a tail belonging not to their silver whale but another sea creature, a dolphin perhaps, but it was hard to make out anything through the rain and haze of the gale.

  To his right, he saw the same thing happen to Finan, who had released his own harpoon from the companion ship just moments after; only, this time, Erik was sure he saw a flicker of gold radiance pierce the gloom.

  Erik’s people loved to tell tales, and many were about the fantastic, if not frightening, creatures who called the deep ocean home… sea serpents, mermaids, and the like. He was reminded of one legend in particular that told of sea folk who shone bright like the sun, radiating inner fire that could blind a man.

  The whale had disappeared beneath the dark rolling waves, but it would resurface soon enough; they had it on the run. If Erik was honest with himself, he could no longer deny something was protecting that whale. And then he saw it...

  A small calf rose to the surface, releasing a spray of saltwater into the air. It drifted there for a moment, as though hopeful the danger had passed, before sinking beneath the waves to rejoin its parent. It didn’t appear as though anyone else saw it.

  While the calf might be an added bonus, Erik personally didn’t enjoy hunting young prey.

  Erik had already decided that the storm was reason enough for him to call an end to the hunt The calf only solidified his resolve. He liked to think he was giving it a second chance at life. Don’t waste it, he thought to himself.

  Erik was second in command and used to making decisions that went against the grain. Garr wouldn’t like it, but, hopefully, even he could see the sense in waiting out the storm. Erik was done risking his life and the life of his crew. Enough was enough.

  Garr sailed with Finan and his crew, which suited Erik just fine, but that made it hard to get messages back and forth. They had spotted an island not too far off in the distance. The crew could get their much-needed rest while doing any repairs that might be necessary.

  “Turn the ship to port!” Erik commanded, raising his voice to be heard over the deafening sound of the wind and waves. Erik knew seeing the stern of his ship as he turned about would get Garr’s attention. He’d deal with the chieftain’s temper once they got to land.

  The cow’s timing was terrible, as she chose that moment to surface, resulting in a flurry of activity on the deck of Finan’s ship.

  “Finan!” Erik shouted, hoping to be heard over the roar of the wind, while motioning for him to stop. “That’s enough!”

  In the split second it took for Erik to turn his head to issue the command, Finan had already released a second harpoon. Lightning shot across the sky as a piercing cry rent the air. It didn’t sound human and Erik knew the whale hadn’t made that sound. He and Finan made eye contact. So he had heard it too?

  “Finish it off then,” Erik snarled, breaking eye contact. If Finan was so eager for the kill, let him drag the carcass back. He wanted nothing more to do with the hunt, but he knew it would take both their ships to pull it to shore, and what was done, was done. Joining Finan’s crew in ensuring the whale was dead and tied securely between the two ships, they sailed for the island.

  Once on land, there was a shout of excitement as the head of the whale slowly broke the surface of the water. A current of anticipation quickly spread through the men as they continued to painstakingly pull the carcass ashore. There, atop the whale, just above the dorsal fin, lay a woman of preternatural beauty.

  Long white blond hair, gleaming like a sparkling waterfall, cascaded down the curved side of the whale. A string of lavender pearls wound gracefully through her hair, and around her neck, ending with a shimmering gold pearl the size of a small robin’s egg. It was cradled gently between the lips of a large gleaming white oyster shell. The multiple ridges of the shell’s exterior were all inlaid with white pearls of various sizes.

  Her body was bare and pale, except where crimson blood flowed from the wound in her chest, exa
ctly where Finan’s harpoon effectively held her prisoner.

  It took Erik a moment before he realized what he was seeing. Perhaps she was one of the sea maids from the stories. Surely, that was the only explanation for this otherworldly creature who had seemingly given her life in an attempt to protect the mother whale and her calf.

  She had shapely legs where he supposed a tail ought to be but he had heard tell of that happening too. Even in death, they sought to hide their true identity.

  Erik felt sick. This was wrong, so terribly wrong. She would be missed. Someone or something would demand an account of her death and he could only imagine what payment they would exact in return. What had they done?

  Chapter 1

  1850, South Pacific

  I wake to the sting of rain on my face. The wind howls through the tight passage, and, with it, sprays of water threatening to dislodge me from where I lay on the cold, hard rock of a lonely outcropping. I cannot change here, so far away from the mainland, it would be too dangerous. I fear delaying now will be next to impossible, given the tremendous currents of energy swirling around me.

  Had I been more alert, I might have heeded the signs, the bleeding crimson sky, the restless waves crashing against the rocks, but I had been numb with exhaustion. The storm was clearly just getting started.

  Cian, my mentor, had once explained in one of my lessons, the reasoning behind the Aureate’s ability to transform our tails for legs but had warned me repeatedly of its unpredictability.

  “Water, dear girl, is a flexible medium for energy transfer.”

  I can recall his deep gravelly voice as he patiently instructed me. At the time, I had cared little for the how but I listened anyway.

  “As our kind nears the shoreline, this energy, water molecules in ripples called waves of transition, is absorbed,” Cian explained. “If enough of this energy is absorbed, we can expect to experience the shift from water to land to go smoothly. Where there is less energy, our abilities allow us to make up the difference, or such was the case centuries ago. With each passing year, since the Sol Fyre’s absence, more and more of the Aureate are finding it impossible to make, or complete, the change.”

  Another wave crashes against the rock, nearly sweeping me off the other side. What was I thinking, leaving Sol? Leaving the safety of home and my own kind. But it isn’t really safe anymore, is it?

  Since Acelin’s death, I vowed I would play by the rules, staying within the protective boundaries the Elders set for our people. No more exploring, no more adventures. The full extent of what I’m about to do sinks in with every furious drop of rain. A jolt of searing pain shoots through my body, bringing my thoughts instantly back to the present.

  I don’t think I’ll ever become used to the pain caused by changing. It’s hard to imagine there ever having been a time when growing human legs had been simple and pain-free. I don’t have time for self-pity. I have to reach the shore before I lose control.

  I dive into the churning water below. I can just make out the shoreline six fathoms ahead. Another flash of lightening streaks across the sky like an angry white scar. If I didn’t know any better, I might think the Elders had discovered my disobedience and were stirring up the elements in a display of rage.

  Before Cian, I was nobody. As his protégé, and future Keeper of my people, I had begun to make a name for myself. Cian would be hard-pressed to keep my absence a secret.

  I’m so close, yet something doesn’t feel right. The edges of my sight begin to blur. Pain clouds my thoughts and I feel disoriented. Blacking out is a real possibility.

  If I do manage legs without losing consciousness, I’m not altogether sure I could manage the fight against the storm without my tail. One powerful wave, and I would be dashed against the rocks, effectively ending my quest before it even began.

  Waves toss me back and forth like waterlogged driftwood, and I start to feel it. The change begins. I’m powerless to control it, and, along with it, I feel fear, suffocating fear. I won’t make it in time.

  I’ll never have the chance to avenge my sister and Cian. What will happen to him and all the others who are depending on me to find the pearl? Oh, what cruel irony, having come this far, overcoming heartbreak and escaping the death sickness, only to have it end here, in dark waters far from home!

  I don’t have long to dwell on this before everything goes black...

  Chapter 2

  I gingerly lift myself out of the small bluish green, crystal clear pool just outside the cave I currently call home. The fish in the pool are plentiful, and my very nature ensures that I’m proficient at catching seafood, but my legs keep tripping me up. They’re long and ungainly. I manage to catch only two small fishes and a miniscule crab.

  Giving up, I stomp off in search of any seaweed that might have washed ashore in the storm. I need to build up my strength before attempting any further physical feats. My jaw hurts from clenching my teeth, and I make a physical effort to relax.

  When I awoke this morning to the sound of lapping waves and surrounded by white foam, I thought for sure I had died and become foam myself. The Aureate live long lives, but according to Cian, without the pearl, we are soulless beings, living on borrowed time.

  “Centuries ago, the most powerful of our kind thought to make us stronger by containing the very essence of the Aureate inside a pearl, safe from the reaches of men, who, at the time, hunted our kind ceaselessly. They chose to call the pearl Sol Fyre, sun fire.”

  This wasn’t common knowledge, and when I asked why the Elders chose to keep this information from the rest of us, Cian grew quiet and pensive before answering moments later.

  “As Keeper, you will have unlimited access to knowledge, some of it dangerous, and you, my dear girl, will have to decide if your peers are ready for the gifting of it.”

  “So the Elders didn’t make that decision, you did?”

  “I didn’t want a repeat of that terrible day we lost Cordelia,” Cian said, eyes full of sorrow and regret. “Sol Fyre was taken into possession by a Viking lord, leader of the same humans responsible for the princess’s death. War was waged and we lost many to their weapons of iron. We failed to repossess the pearl, and, in the struggle, it became lost to both sides.”

  “Then how do you know where it is now?” I asked.

  Shoulders back and chin raised he continued, “We can feel it. It is somewhere near or on one of the many islands that exist in our territory. And don’t think we haven’t found it for lack of trying. During the battle, there was a moment’s weakness when the pearl was visible to our kind. The Elders combined their powers, creating a powerful enchantment to cause Sol Fyre to become dormant with the intent that only a Royal could wake it from slumber. We cannot be sure, but it is thought that this same enchantment has kept its whereabouts hidden from us as well.”

  “Then why all the secrecy?”

  “Knowing of the pearl’s whereabouts could have enticed many of the Aureate to take matters into their own hands, and it could have meant the further slaughter of our people. We are not the immortals we once were, and our kind dwindles dangerously. Would you have us become extinct?” I shook my head not possessing a ready answer for him.

  “In answer to your earlier question, no, keeping it secret was a decision we all made together. The Elders consulted me, and I agreed that revealing the knowledge would be dangerous and cause fear and discord among the commoners,” Cian concluded solemnly.

  “I was but a commoner when you found me...” I said quietly, unable to meet his eyes.

  “I am finding more and more, my dear, that you are not as common as either of us has been led to believe,” was his reply as he turned to leave, effectively ending the discussion.

  I still don’t know if I agree with that reasoning. I felt obligated to do something with the knowledge I had been given, which included the location of the pearl in the land of the long white cloud, Aotearoa. This is the reason I’m here, preparing to take on the island and its hu
man inhabitants.

  What do I have to fear from these humans who are bound to the land like barnacles to a rock? Absolutely nothing, I tell myself, as I begin the trek over the sandy rise, heading toward a well-beaten path.

  Reaching out, I gently touch blades of long silver grass that toss back and forth at the wind’s bidding, much like seaweed swaying in the ocean’s currents, giving me the comforting feeling of home. The sand feels soft and deliciously warm beneath my feet, a surprisingly welcome feeling after so long. Hadn’t I done this a hundred times with Acelin?

  I never questioned my older sister’s choice of diversion, and my strong desire to be just like Acelin motivated me to transition so much earlier than others my age. Acelin, having found a remote island and telling no one about it until the day she surprised me for my twelfth birthday, insisted I come with her. Of course, I couldn’t join her on land right away, but it was enough to be near her and feel the sun’s warmth on my skin as I played in tidal pools all along the shore.

  After a while, it wasn’t enough anymore to just sit there while Acelin ventured further and further inland, making new discoveries without me. I could feel the currents of energy coursing through my body and was able to recognize it for what it was. My sister said she would visualize those currents flowing into her tail, splitting down the middle, creating new paths and leaving long, lean limbs in their wake.

  Adopting this method, I was frustrated when, at first, it didn’t work for me. I was stubborn and kept at it until, one day, I was sitting on a rock, waiting for Acelin to return for our evening swim back to our underwater home. Restless from sitting for so long, I coiled my tail, expecting to make a clean jump into the water but, instead, flopped in with as much grace as a sea lion.

  Confused, I looked down to see luminescent legs treading water as if they had a mind of their own. The process had been pain-free and quick. With as much subtleness, my legs fused back together in the next instant, as smooth as molten lava hardening from the ocean’s coolness, returning me to my true form.