A’bbni flushed a bit at that. “I would be eternally grateful to you, my lord. But I do not wish to put you out.”
Kella waved his hand. “Not at all. We have a large house. Obviously, your identity will have to remain a secret to all but my husband, but it is no trouble.”
A’bbni knew the Arvay family had dual citizenship with Hanenea’a and Kendarin, which meant that they were subject to law under both countries’ rules and regulations. Harboring a fugitive member of the goblin royal family could be considered not only an act of treason against the Emperor, but could be considered a break of the treaty between their two nations without the elven High King’s permission. He wondered if the High King and Queen knew about the death of the Regent and the disappearance of his sons yet. It would take a messenger many days, if not weeks, to travel across Hanenea’a, over the isthmus, and into Kendarin, and from there, arriving at the elven royal court.
A’bbni took a sip of tea, letting the warmth soothe the tension in his chest, before replying, “I do not know if that is a good idea, my lord. I do not wish to cause an international incident.”
Kella’s mouth quirked a bit at that. “I am pretty sure I have already violated a dozen laws in both countries just by having you on my ship and being a member of a potential goblin rebellion. I would not have offered if I was not willing to accept the risk.”
The thought of trying to find his way in Csereth with nothing but the clothing on his back was nerve-wracking. A’bbni took another swallow of his tea before replying, “I will accept your gracious offer, my lord, if you will promise me one thing.”
“What is that?” Kella asked.
“Should someone discover me and come to arrest me, you will say it was my idea that I stay with you. I do not wish to put you or your family in any more danger than necessary.”
Kella laughed softly, shaking his head. “You are much too altruistic, my lord.”
A’bbni gave him a small smile. “My Father used to say that about me, too.”
Kella nodded. “As you wish. Hopefully it will work in our favor that neither the goblins nor the elves are all that eager to try to enforce anything with our family.”
“What do you mean?” A’bbni asked curiously.
Kella gave a small smile with just a hint of a smirk in it. “Of course, you know the Arvay family is very rich. But we are also rich elves in a goblin nation. The goblin enforcers would rather not create, as you said earlier, an international incident, and the elvish enforcers would rather not be on our family’s bad side. And there are fewer of them on this side of the Coral Sea than in Kendarin. So, unless we murder someone in the street, it is likely that we will just be left alone. At least,” Kella’s eyes dropped down into his teacup, “that is how it was under your Uncle and your Father.”
A’bbni could hear the uncertainty in Kella’s voice. “My Cousin is unfortunately not like my Father, or even my Uncle. I... I am very worried about the future of Hanenea’a under his rule.” He had not said those words out loud in a very long time, and never not in a whisper.
“As am I,” Kella said, setting the cup aside and settling his hand under the swell of his baby bump. “I do not wish to see slavery return to these lands.”
A’bbni nodded slowly, feeling a shiver go through his own body at the memory of En’shea telling him that he would become a slave to Hi’jan. The thought that anyone might experience that fear again made him feel sick. “I do not know what the future holds for us,” he said softly, setting down his own cup and digging his fingers into the knees of his pants to stop the shaking. “But I will do everything I can to ensure that does not happen.”
“I am certain that you will,” Kella said with a small smile. “And I think you will find that others support you in that.”
“I hope so. I’m terrible at fighting,” A’bbni said, returning the smile.
Kella laughed softly, then tipped his head to the side. “I could be mistaken, but isn’t today your majority day, my lord?”
A’bbni blinked, then nodded slowly. “Yes,” he said softly.
“I’m sure this whole situation has been a shock to you, not the least of which is not getting to celebrate such a special occasion with your brother,” Kella said softly, pouring himself another cup of tea. “I hope you will excuse my forwardness, my lord, but as a parent myself, I hope it is not inappropriate of me to say that I believe your Father would be very proud of you.”
Heat burned in A’bbni’s face, then his eyes. He gave Kella a grateful nod. “Thank you, my lord. That is very kind of you. I… I feel the need for some air.”
“Of course,” Kella replied, standing to give him a bow, which A’bbni returned before leaving the office as calmly as he could. He made his way back to his room, managing to shut the door before the tears began to fall.
Chapter nine
Shi'chen
Themorningdawnedcloudy,and Shi’chen prayed that it would not rain. The last thing he wanted was rough seas.How ironic,he thought. At the palace, any time it rained in the central part of Hanenea’a was exciting. Here on the ocean, it was something to dread. Deana’nen had assigned him to mop the upper decks. It was not difficult, and it kept him mostly away from the railing, so he was able to pretend that he was on solid land. His stomach still dipped every time the ship rolled beneath his feet, but at least he had not thrown up this morning.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the little puppy.” Shi’chen felt the skin on the back of his neck crawl as he turned around to see the large goblin that he had smacked into the other day. He felt a cold pit in his stomach but forced it down. He moved back to swiping the mop across the planks, though he kept the corner of his eye on the man and heard the creak of wood as he stepped closer to him. “What’s the matter, pretty boy? You had a mouth on you before.”
Shi’chen bit his tongue to stop the retort forming in his throat, continuing to ignore him.
The goblin’s meaty hand reached out and grabbed the top of the mop, jerking it to a stop. Shi’chen turned to face him but said nothing. The man pulled the mop from Shi’chen’s hand, and he let it go, waiting for the other man to make a move. The man dropped it to the deck with a clatter, giving Shi’chen a smirk. “Better pick up your stick, puppy.”
“Hey now,” came a voice behind him, and Shi’chen heard Lai jump lightly down from the rigging nearby and cross over to them. “He’s not worth your time, Jaa’jen,” Lai said in his accented Hanen-shii, giving the large goblin a small smile.
