Gwanydd

The High Governor watched from his balcony as a ship sailed from Aeolia's port. His eyes narrowed.

"I want a small cutter to follow that ship. Don't dare let it out of sight."

Men nodded and went to follow his orders. Soon, a cutter sailed out of the port, following Liana's ship, the White Wave.

~~~

"Damn man! He sent a ship after me. Well, let's see how he likes it when I sink his ship."

She turned around and used her magic to summon a tsunami that turned over the High Governor's ship and sunk it beneath the Phrygian Sea.

~~~

"Damn mage," Preston growled. "I won't underestimate you again. Mikhail!"

"Yes, sir?"

"Follow her, discreetly. She's powerful, strong-willed, and calculative. Do not underestimate her."

"Yes, sir."

Mikhail left the Governor's mansion. He headed for the far side of the island where a small dingy boat was hidden. Climbing in, he started to row towards the White Wave.

~~~

Meanwhile, Liana let down the sails to full sails and raised the flag of Sonic, the two black and white crossed scepters of the last King and Queen of Sonic against a red background.

~~~

Back at Shipwreck Cove, Vander saw the White Wave flying the Sonican flag. He quickly stood up.

"No, no... where the hell is she going?"

Telepathically, he reached out to her, 'Liana, where are you going?'

'Away from here. I, I need to do something,' she responded.

Vander watched as the ship sailed away.

'I hope you know what you're doing, Liana.'

'I hope so too.'

Then, he sensed her cut off communications so he couldn't reach her any longer.

~~~

After the broke off from Vander, something hit the hull of the White Wave.

"Ahh! What was that?"

"Help, help!"

She tied the ship's wheel in place, went to look over the side of the ship, and saw a man in the water, waving frantically at her.

"Hold on!" she called.

Liana used her magic to swirl him up and out of the sea. He landed on the deck, soaking wet.

"Thank you for saving me."

"Of course. Let me go get you a towel."

He followed her into the captain's cabin where she handed over a towel.

"What's your name?"

"Mikhail. Again, thank you for rescuing me."

"You're welcome. But how did you end up in the Phrygian Sea anyways?"

"I fear I'm the sole survivor of what you did to the ship that was tailing you."

Liana winced visibly.

"I'm terribly sorry. I just didn't want to be followed. Though I'm not returning to Sonic for a while, so if you want me to drop you off at the nearest port, then I suggest Helissus in Salenica."

"You seem to know your way around the mainland. Or at least Salencia."

Liana sighed, "Well, I used to live there, for some time. But that's in the past."

"Hmm. Where are you headed?"

"Umm, a certain place. But I need to make a stop in Helissus first."

"Helissus would be perfect," Mikhail said. "I'm Salencian, actually."

"Oh, really? Well, I'm happy to take you back to your native land."

"Yes, umm, thanks for the towel. I think I'm pretty much dry now."

"Oh, yes, of course. You're welcome, again. Er, if you want to help out on the deck, I would be very grateful."

"Sure."

They walked out of the cabin and headed back onto the main deck. She climbed the stairs to the quarterdeck and took to the wheel. Mikhail saw tot he ropes and sails and masts.

~~~

As the finally docked in Helissus, she thanked him for helping her. Once the ship was tied down, they both departed the ship.

"This is where we part," Liana said.

"So it is," Mikhail said.

"Goodbye, Mikhail."

"Goodbye, Miss."

"Raevyn, Raevyn Blaisdell."

He nodded.

"Goodbye, Raevyn."

Liana walked away and he began to tail her. He followed her through the streets of the port city.

"Where the hell is she headed?" he muttered to himself.

He followed her, on foot, out of the town and up the road towards Salencia's capital, Dressna. She continued walking, never stopping.

"What the hell? Where is she going? Am I going to have to follow her to the end of the world and back?"

Soon, she came upon a tavern and entered it. After a few moments, he entered too. Mikhail watched as Liana disappeared into a back room.

"What?"

He walked over to the door and listened closely.

"I need it."

"No."

Mikhail didn't know who she was talking to.

"Oh, please. You think I haven't been keeping up with Salencian news? I know the years long war on Salencia is taking its toll. Give it to me, and I'll end my little skirmish on Sonic sooner rather than later."

"I'm not giving it to you, Liana."

Mikhail thought, 'Liana? Like the Mage Queen?'

"Technically, it's mine. You're just keeping it safe for me. So, I want it back now."

"Until you tell me what you're going to use it for, I won't hand it over."

"Always so impossible," she clicked her tongue.

"Me? Impossible?" the mystery man asked incredulously. "What about you, Liana? You're the one who insisted on going to Sonic. Father didn't want you to leave. You just wanted to learn more. Your obsession with being the best will be be your downfall someday, sister."

Pure confusion crossed Mikhail's features. 'Sister?'

"Perhaps. But then it will be my own doing. And why did Father send Vander with me? I could've handled myself. I didn't need my younger twin to be my babysitter. Instead, I had to die saving his own damn ass from getting killed!"

"The orders were for neither you nor Vander to get hurt. We didn't mean for it to happen."

"I asked for the invasion of Sonic so that the mages would stand behind me one hundred percent. I need them for what I have planned."

'She organized the war?'

"Yeah, well, the other kingdoms weren't too happy when we asked to interfere on Sonic. they'd rather just pretend the island doesn't exist."

"Harmon, you know I plan to revolutionize Sonic. I just needed a reason, but now it's completely botched. That's. Why. I. Need. What. I've. Come. For."

Harmon completely ignored her last remark.

"What happens if Vander learns the truth?"

"He'll probably hate me forever. But that's a risk I'm willing to take."

"You really need the mages?"

"Yes. They need to believe I'm their Savior. The only one who can free them from the tyranny of the Council of Kings. Then, they'll back me completely and do anything I say. Which is exactly where I want them."

'The High Governor was wrong. She's not just ambitious and stubborn. She'd downright wicked and manipulative,' Mikhail thought, horrified.

"This is dangerous, sister. If they learn you've been playing them, then they won't hesitate to kill you."

"I know, Harmon. But I've died once already. I have no desire to do so again anytime soon."

Crown Prince Harmon sighed. "Very well then. It's yours."

Liana chuckled.

Mikhail heard something click and then Liana's sharp intake of breath.

"Ahh, my beauty."

Liana picked up her weapon that Harmon had brought. It was a heavy sword that would flick open into a double-edge sword. But it also had the ability to harness pure lightning.

The weapon felt familiar in her hands as she twirled it around. She smiled at her brother.

"My beloved Gwanydd."