The Traitor A. Lombardo (best thriller novels to read TXT) 📖

harder and heavier than anything a Katori can break, even a Beastmaster like you. If you do manage to pull the bolts from the hull, you will sink the ship and drop to the ocean floor. Terrible way to die, if you ask me.”

A moment later, Denmir stepped into the light.

The man’s sunken eyes surprised Kai. “I know you. You are Rayna’s father.”

“I do not deserve that title. Twice my Fenia granted me the gift of fatherhood, and I tossed my girls away. My girls hate me, and my wife blames me for our lot in life. Sure, it was adventurous being rebels—but it did not stop at adventure, as you will soon see for yourself. Keegan has darkness I never thought possible from a Katori. Once you cross that line, you become like him, and we are all doomed.”

Part of Kai wanted to care, but this Denmir made his choice—twice, for that matter. “Do not look to me for pity. You made your choice. Blame this on youth if you wish, but we both know you had a choice. Even now, you continue to follow him. But I saw you both that day on the beach. You did not kill Rayna when you had the chance. In fact, you held back when you fought me, I know it. You are not heartless like Keegan, though I think part of you does enjoy the fight.”

It was clear that his words struck deep; Denmir did not hide his shame. “Fenia tells me our Rayna lives. Is this true?” He pressed his face into the bars to stare at Kai. “I must hear it for myself. I must see the truth in your eyes.”

Denmir’s pain ran deep, his eyes welled with tears, but none fell.

“Rayna lives,” Kai acknowledged. “She was lucky. Keegan nearly killed her—or do you, like Fenia, want to blame me?” He stared back, searching the man’s soul.

“I do not blame you. I blame myself. As you said, I made a choice, and it cost me dearly. It still costs me. Fenia is angry, but she knows Keegan is to blame. He ordered the lightning that struck Rayna’s tree and we did nothing to stop him.”

The weight of the world seemed to fall on Denmir’s shoulders, and he slumped in disgrace. Silence lingered, and Kai watched the man battle his internal demons before clearing his throat and continuing. “Fenia, my dear wife, is not ready to face the truth. She still blames everyone but us. Our choices put our daughter at risk, not Rayna’s love for you.”

“Set me free,” Kai interrupted. “If you care as much as you imply, let me go. I must warn Katori before Diu and Milnos retaliate. I have to stop this war before it starts. I must protect Rayna.”

Denmir shook his head and sat quietly in the corner. “I am not here to free you; this is my shift. I am to keep an eye on you. Keegan rules us—get used to it.”

Kai shook the bars, desperate to get free. “Please Denmir, I can stop what is coming if I can get free. With each passing hour, we near the point of Diu—Fort Pohaku is my last chance to escape.”

Denmir returned to shadows unwilling to respond. And Kai continued to rattle around in his cage.

When the next guard thundered down the stairs, Denmir left. A man with rust-colored skin and emerald eyes towered over Kai, a head taller than the steel cage. The blue crystal dangling around his neck marked him a Beastmaster. He unlocked the cage and pushed Kai toward the stairs. “Come, Keegan has something to show you,” the man insisted.

On deck, Kai was nearly blinded by the bright afternoon sunlight. Before him, the Katori Weathervanes, Kodama, and Beastmasters stood at attention. Their eyes were fixed behind him, and Kai turned to see Keegan standing by the railing.

“Time to embrace your new life, son.” Keegan eyed him with pleasure. “I believe it is time for you see the effects of our power and the decisiveness of our methods. For now, you watch, but soon you will join us in battle.” Keegan motioned to the Weathervanes, and he took possession of the helm.

Under their magical influence and Keegan’s direction, the ship came about and surged through the water. Waves broke against the ship’s prow. Worry swelled in Kai’s chest. A sense of dread consumed his heart. Something terrible was coming; he could almost taste it.

Around him, he saw the others flex their muscles in preparation. Kai studied the sun and their new direction. If his assumptions were correct, they were sailing toward land. Would they make landfall? He could not help but wonder what Keegan had planned. On land, Kai had a greater chance to escape; the possibilities rolled around his head. This could not be what his father hoped to show him. No, they were not going ashore—and he did not have to wait long to learn their purpose.

At breakneck speed, Keegan’s ship cut through the ocean waves. Along the horizon, a ship came into view. “Trade routes, my boy. You must learn them. Know when and where to strike. While we could take on an entire fleet, there is no use declaring war on ourselves. Instead, we need to create chaos and implicate the Katori if we hope to further incite war.” Keegan explained. “Our purpose today is to send a message and drive a wedge between their two nations.”

Listening to Keegan tell stories of conquest and death made Kai wonder if he would ever escape. This was not the life he wanted, but he saw no means of escape even with his crystal. For now, he would need to gain this man’s trust and possibly find the opportunity to run.

The Diu pennant, a silver wolf on a field of blue, flapped in the wind above the trade ship’s white billowing