Erich endured the light teasing with a ghost of a smile on his lips. Liane liked seeing this side of him. There’d been so many secrets between them, and then a few stolen moments, but no time to share anything about themselves. There was still so much about him she had to learn. And thank the stars for this second chance. That he was alive and with her. Tears pricked at her eyes, as she was overwhelmed by relief and exhaustion.
“Even if the ship is fast, the church will chase us anyway. They’re patient,” Ludwig said.
“They can sure try.” The captain laughed.
Ludwig rubbed his thigh where he’d been gored by a boar earlier that summer. She wondered if it had healed properly or if it had something to do with the magical speed he’d used back in the temple. That was something they’d have to discuss later.
“We’re flying the Sundland royal naval flag. The church won’t risk attacking us with that. We should be able to sail all the way to Sundland without incident,” Lord Endland assured them.
“The Church of Sol has no domain in Sundland. I thought you’d be safest there,” Erich told Liane.
“If you declare yourself at court, you could have the entire Sundland army at her defense,” Lord Endland said with a pointed look at Erich.
Erich gave his uncle a pointed stare, and Liane glanced between the two of them, feeling a bit lost.
“Care to explain that long story?” Liane prompted.
Erich rubbed a hand across his face. “I told you the truth when I said I was Prince of Sundland. My father, the king, is dying or may already be dead. The deal I made with my uncle to save you was to return and reclaim my birthright to the throne.”
The oracle’s prophecy to go north echoed in her ears. As did the cryptic title of shield. She looked up at the dragon on the flag flying from the ship’s mast and the shield behind it. These couldn’t be coincidences. Her heart wanted her to go straight home, to warn Aristea and try to prevent the prophecy Liane had set in motion. But her gut told her this was where she was meant to be.
“My mother will be thrilled when she finds out.” Liane laughed.
Erich rubbed the back of his neck, and Endland slapped his knee with delight.
“I like her a lot, Erich.”
“It won’t be easy,” Erich said. “And I’m not sure how much I can do. My uncles are powerful and ambitious, and they’ve been scheming for years to usurp me. Until recently, I was ready to let them. If the road ahead of us is dangerous, then I know I can’t keep running from my destiny. But I will not force any of you to take on this task against your will.” He looked at Liane, then Ludwig, before setting his gaze on his uncle.
“You know you have my full support,” his uncle said, hands turned palm up.
Liane grabbed Erich’s hand and squeezed. “I am the sword, and you are the shield. I think this was all meant to be. I don’t know the full scope of this, but if there’s a battle ahead, we must be destined to fight together.”
They both looked at Ludwig. She didn’t want to make him walk into danger on her account, not after losing Luzie.
“You don’t have to do this,” Liane said to him.
“I will always fight by your side,” Ludwig said. And she threw her arms around his neck. They’d had their ups and downs, but they’d always be friends.
Their plans settled, she felt a sudden wave of fatigue overcome her. And the swaying of the ship didn’t make it any easier on her. She let go of Ludwig, and the rocking of the waves knocked her over into Erich, who grasped her by the shoulders to keep her from falling over.
“We’re all exhausted. Why not rest a while, and we’ll reconvene later,” Lord Endland said.
Liane didn’t need to be told twice, and she leaned on Erich for support as he guided her below deck to a free cabin. There weren’t many rooms onboard, but as the only woman, she had a cabin to herself, while the men would share the bunks in the spare cabin. The swaying below deck was worse, and Liane thought painfully of how much Luzie had suffered on the trip from Artria. She’d never sail home again. Tears blurred her vision, and the swaying ship almost knocked her over. Erich caught her, again.
“You should lie down.” And rather than let her walk the two feet to her cot, he picked her up and laid her out on the bunk, smoothing the pillows and blanket over her.
“You don’t have to do all this,” she said.
“I want to.”
He lingered a moment at her bedside, and she felt the things left unspoken between them. She’d been so relieved to see him alive that she didn’t know where to begin. The last time they’d spoken, they were arguing, and their future still seemed uncertain.
“I have to apologize to you,” Erich said.
She looked at him wide-eyed, waiting for him to continue. Erich ran his hands through his hair and wouldn’t look at her at first. “It’s hard for me to form attachments. The thing I am, the curse I was born with, has harmed people. And the more time I spent with you, the more I wanted to be near you. To have all of you. But a part of me feared I’d hurt you as well.”
She nodded for him to continue.
