War Queen

Chapter 6: Debra

*I would just like to say that the next chapter in the story is a little weird, I just felt that I was focusing too much on Krissa and we didn't get to learn a lot about Debra, so this is just another twist in this already twisted story.*

"What do you mean you couldn't get any information from the queen about her plans?"

My husband is pacing along the docks, his hands are waving about as he tries to explain to the captain of the lead ship from the Palmako armada that we couldn't get any information about the queen's plans. Or if we were to be talking literally, I couldn't get any of the information that we needed.

Once again I had failed my mission, not that I really cared that much, this time they didn't give me enough time to prepare. One month to befriend a notoriously 'paranoid of others' queen was nowhere near enough.

"Debra, the captain wants to talk to you"

My husband calls to me then hands me the small bowl of water.

"Debra, Debra, Debra, that was your last chance"

Before I can even say anything the captain starts talking, his perfect white pearl teeth are the only things that I can see, and as per usual I have no idea who he is.

"I have given you multiple chances, I've even let you do this job but for half price and yet what happens? You fail, again."

The captain is yelling down the line but then it all goes quiet.

"SHIT!"

The captain swears and a moment later we hear a boom from the direction of the Great Sea.

"Shit!"

I swear as well, he probably wanted this information.

"Debra! What the hell was that?"

The captain is back but this time I get to see his whole face. His blue eyes; blonde, sandy hair; the scar that runs from his forehead top his mouth cutting through his eye; the stubble that lines his chin. This isn't just any captain, this is Prince Marco of Palmako, heir to the throne.

...

I stare at the princes' face, one that I had seen a thousand times before, a face that I had once loved and cherished, the one that I had given my heart to. Marco is staring right back at me, his eyes are wide with shock, his mouth has fallen into an 'O', probably similar to my own.

"Marco?"

"Debby?"

"Debra!"

My husband calls from behind me and I look up, tearing my eyes away from my once beloved. He is pacing, his hands crossed.

"What was that? What was that loud bang Debra?"

I stare at him, not processing his words.

"Um...loud band?"

He narrows his eyes and lifts his hand up, I flinch instinctively, and my instincts were right. My husbands hand comes flying down and he slaps my cheek then backhands across my other one.

"You're a bitch, an imbecile, a worthless whore!"

I flinch back, hunching over, still holding the small bowl of water.

"The fact that I saved you"

He shakes his head.

"My family told me not to, but I took pity on you, I saved you from your meaningless, worthless life, I gave you something to live for and you can't do anything!"

Tears start to run down my face and I do my best to hide them but he sees them. His hand raises again but before he strikes another boom is heard.

"What is that? Tell me?"

I struggle to find the words in my terrified mind.

"It's uh... it's a uh... it's a moonlight barrier"

"A what?"

My husband leans in close and I lean back trying to keep as much distance as possible from him.

"Moonlight Barrier"

He leans in further but as I try to move away he grabs my wrist and pulls me back.

"What is a moonlight barrier?"

He hisses in my ear and I flinch.

"I don't know"

He slaps me hard.

"What is a moonlight barrier?"

"I don't know"

I start crying again and he slaps me harder before pushing me away. He stalks to the other side of the dock.

"Bitch! Tell me!"

"I don't know"

I sob out loud and crouch to the floor, miraculously no water has spilled from the small bowl and Marco had already disconnected from the talk stream. 

...

As if I had called him, Marco reconnects back to my water bowl. When our eyes meet I can see concern and worry emanating from his, his mouth is set in a grim line.

"Debby, are you okay?" 

I stifle a sniffle and turn away to look at my husband.

"Did Eric do something to you?"

"What's a Moonlight Barrier?"

Marco looks at me in shock for a moment while opening his mouth like a fish.

"Is that what the boom was about?"

"Marco, what's a Moonlight Barrier?"

He turns away for a moment then turns back but this time he is looking through something that I can't see. I hear the rustle of paper come from the water bowl so I figure he is probably looking through a book.

"Moonlight Barrier, Moon...light..."

He is mumbling to himself as he flips pages. He looks up to me then back at the supposed book he is looking at.

"Debby, are you sure that it's a moonlight barrier?"

"What?"

I try to see what he is reading but I can't; now I'm scared because Marco is scared and Marco is never scared.

"Are you sure it was a Moonlight Barrier?"

"Yes, I watched Krissa create it, I was confused and she explained what it was"

Once again I try to look at what Marco is holding.

"Captain!"

Someone who I can't see starts to talk to Marco in a low whisper. I can't catch what they are saying but I know it is important because Marco's face goes whiter and his mouth sets into an even grimmer thin line. He turns back to me.

"Debby, what do you know about walls of fire moving through the air over open water?"