“They’re building something,” I said, the memory popping into my head. “High General Dracles moved the newer army units from Calimber to Pravara, stationing his own elite soldiers at the mine instead. They’re guarding something important.”
“Where did you get this information?” Aiden asked stiffly, still facing the glowing horizon.
I swallowed. “My sister, Delysia. She... corresponds with one of the army captains, Henry.”
Aiden shook his head. “Of course she does.”
Fucking Four, he made me want to scream and commit violent murder.
I tried to breathe evenly through my nose. “It’s the truth. If you don’t believe me, there’s a really easy way to find out.” I stabbed my finger at the weakening sun.
Aiden was silent. Skelly waited for an order with white knuckles. Nikella simply stared at me as if she could divine the truth from each shift in my expression.
But every moment, the gentle breeze carried us farther north.
I threw one last blade at my target. “You underestimated Renwell in your attempt to assassinate my father. Do it again, and you might lose Rellmira forever.”
Aiden twisted his head to look down at me, his eyes like glowing peridots. “It wasn’t the first time I underestimated him.” Before I could respond, he glanced at Skelly. “Turn west. Make for Calimber. Alert the crew to snuff the lights and remain silent when we get close.”
My victory felt hollow as I watched Aiden stride off the back deck and disappear down the hatch.
Skelly grumbled curses under his breath, but slowly turned the wheel. Bone-rattlers’ heads popped up around the ship to stare at Skelly.
“Sundown silence and shadow! We sail for Calimber, so shake your bones and pray to Myn!”
A chorus of “Aye!” with the clatter of bones filled the air as we chased the fleeing sun.
I pivoted to find Nikella still watching me. “You think it’s a reckless plan?”
She shook her head, her long black braid swaying. “No. My brother thrives on secrets and having no weaknesses. I understand your need to find one.”
I blinked, taken aback. She might be the only person in the world with such insight on Renwell. Other than me, perhaps. But I’d been just as duped as Aiden.
Never again.
Nikella rubbed her thumb over the smooth wood of her walking staff. “But be careful, Kiera. You will never make him understand the betrayal you suffered. You mustn’t let vengeance steal your good sense.”
I huffed. “Like it did with Aiden?”
To my shock, her mouth twitched, as if trying not to smile. “I think there was more than one thief at fault for that.”
Then she also walked away, leaving me gaping at her back.
That was thelastthing I expected Nikella to make light of. Let alone that she made light of anything. I’d thought perhaps whoever had carved up her face had also carved out her sense of humor.
“I hope you know what you’re bloody doing, lass,” Skelly griped at me from the wheel.
“Me too,” I said grimly as we both glared toward Calimber.
Chapter 3
Aiden
That woman would bethe death of me.
“Fucking Four,” I muttered to myself as I descended back into the belly of the ship.
I’d followed Kiera out of the infirmary to demand answers, desperate to know if she’d really given us up under duress, trying to save Maz.
