I could see his desperation. I wanted to help. “Maybe stop trying to protect him and heal him and just start treating him like the old Kol. Then he might remember how to be him.” I shrugged.
Nyx nodded slowly, as if he was finally hearing what I was sure I couldn’t be the only one to have told him. Zaria looked grateful I had offered advice from an outsider’s perspective.
I scanned our surroundings. “We need to take a look around. Should we split up? I can fly out and take a look at those ships while you check the city for any undead that escaped the fire,” I suggested. Well aware that Nyx was the general here, but also that he was dealing with things right now.
“Sounds good, but don’t be long. Just look. Do not try and land on any of the vessels. Meet straight back here,” Nyx ordered.
I dipped my head in confirmation and stripped off the pants I’d only just found. I stashed them, determined not to be caught naked in her presence again, and shifted, taking to the sky and heading out to the bay. Nyx and Zaria flew the opposite way, taking in the carnage in the docks and the beginnings of the city.I was afraid to hear what destruction the undead had wrought on an unprepared city, but my thoughts were halted abruptly when I took in the sight of the bay.
The water was pitch black, moonlight reflected in shimmering ripples across its calm surface, and the ships crawling with undead were—gone.
The entire bay stood empty. Not even our ship was anchored there. I blinked in disbelief. They couldn’t be gone. It wasn’t possible. No ship could up anchor and retreat fast enough to be nowhere in sight. Never mind a dozen! I flew out to sea, scanning the horizon for a retreating fleet, but I could see nothing in any direction. It simply could not be.
I returned to the bay, scanning the water for any sign that hundreds, maybe thousands of undead that had spilled from those decks, but nothing floated, no debris, nothing. Up on the dock, nothing but charred spots and ash remained. I was expecting bodies, but just like that, all tangible evidence of the attack seemed to have vanished. Eaten up by the dark fire flames.
As soon as we were able to break the connection those several fae had over the dead, it was possible for Nyx to dispatch them. This was vital knowledge for them. But it had not helped those poor souls caught up in the attack. In homes and shops around the dock, stricken fae were emerging to take in the scene. If loved ones were missing, there was no evidence of them left. I could only imagine the coming days would be hard with no bodies to give proper burial rites to.
I landed back at the palace gates and shifted, dressing as I waited for Nyx and Zaria. They flew in from the city, and Zaria jumped down from Nyx’s massive form.
“Any undead?” I asked her.
She shook her head. “They were all trained on the palace. None went further into the city, thank the Goddess. How about the ships? Empty?”
“Gone,” I said, still hardly believing it myself.
“What do you mean, gone?” Nyx snapped, joining us.
“They are nowhere to be seen. I flew out over the bay, and they were just gone. Even our ship.”
“That’s—” Nyx choked.
“Completely impossible,” I finished. “I know. I looked over my shoulder out into the bay. “I hope Captain Veles retreated when the attack started. They were anchored far enough out, I’d like to think they could have beat a hasty retreat if they acted quickly.”
“May the Goddess protect them,” Zaria muttered.
“We have to leave,” Nyx said, suddenly focused. “Our enemies know we are here and vulnerable. We need to return the prince to the First Kingdom with all haste. I will inform the palace that our visit is over.”
“The Duke will not be pleased,” Zaria said grimly.
“I will assure him his daughters will be safe with us. But the prince being here, away from the First Kingdom, was obviously what drew the attack. His kingdom will be safer if we leave.” Nyx said.
“I don’t mean he won’t be pleased we are leaving early. I mean, he won’t be happy being left with all this mess.”
“I will pledge the King's assistance in restoring his palace. That should put a smile back on the old bastard’s face.” Nyx glanced around at the devastation. I’m glad he had that kind of authority.
“How do you propose we transport our precious cargo without our ship?” I asked.
“Quietly,” Nyx said. “We need to get out of this city without being seen. There are too many eyes on us here, and we don’tknow how we were discovered. But even if we could find Captain Veles, we can’t go home the way we came, it’s too obvious.”
I lifted my arms in frustration. “Then what do you suggest?”
Nyx scanned the charred ground, but he wouldn’t find answers there. Then he looked up. “Find us a smaller vessel. One that is going port to port with cargo, preferably in the other direction to the First. Anyone watching for us will be looking towards the First, not away from it. They will assume we will take the fastest route home. No one will think to look for boats that stop at every village on the coast.”
“So find a small cargo boat with room for seven passengers?” I asked skeptically.
“No, four passengers and a couple of crates of Light Wine bound for the big markets somewhere. Wherever you can get us that isn’t here.”
I blinked.
