“Possibly.” Vi’s eyes had never left Eira. “If they’re still on our side.”
“Vi,” Vhalla said with a scolding tone, stepping forward.
Vi stopped her mother with a straight arm. “We can’t be too cautious.”
“Darling girl, that is Lord Cullen Drowel.” Vhalla’s smile could’ve lit up the night sky. “He would never betray me.”
Cullen had dismounted. He staggered toward the Empress and collapsed to a knee. Even in his profile, Eira could see how relief crumpled his features, folding his brow.
“Your Majesty, it is a relief to see you well.”
Eira fought a smile and lost. Cullen had been more worried about the Empress than his own father. She had been better to him, more consistently, than his own father ever had been.
“We have not acted against the interest of Solaris. In fact, the contrary.” Cullen’s voice had shifted back into the lordly tone Eira could recognize from their days at Court. From when she knew him as nothing more than the lofty “Prince of the Tower.” Her smile fell as an invisible knife twisted in her gut.
Olivin already had talked about the life of etiquette and nobility that had been taken from him. There had been enough longing in his voice that part of her yet worried she could lose him to it. Would Cullen fall prey to its siren call as well?
“Is that so?” Vi seemed to pose the question directly to Eira.
So she answered, “We have secured aid from Qwint, sent a ship back to Solaris with word to bring fresh aid, and have worked to clear the seas of the Pillars’ stolen armada. This way, there is a path for help to arrive.”
“Truly?” Vhalla asked, looking between Cullen and Eira.
“She speaks true.” Cullen stood his ground. “Eira has organized it all.”
“And how haveyoumanaged to clear the seas?” Vi knew. She was too smart and too connected not to.
“Oh, before I forget,” Eira said hastily, shifting focus to Vhalla. “Fritznangle is on his way to Solaris as we speak as well. If not already there.”
“Fritz?” Vhalla clutched her hands over her heart, face lighting up. A smile cracked even the Emperor’s usually stoic facade as he wrapped an arm around Vhalla’s waist. “I knew he’d make it. The Charem blood is strong, as evidenced by you.”
“The seas.” Vi wasn’t about to be dissuaded.
Eira shifted in her saddle and adjusted the grip on her reins, ready to bolt if need be. “Adela has graciously agreed to lend her aid to the cause.”
Vi barked laughter. “That old bitch.”
“Vi, that is no way for a princess to speak.” Vhalla’s mothering tone had returned, aghast.
“Or a future Empress.” Aldrik joined in.
Vi seemed unbothered by them both, her focus solely on Eira still. “What does she want in return?”
“She told me to tell you that she is only here to lend a hand. Nothing more or less.” Eira did as Adela had asked of her months ago—put in a good word with Vi Solaris. The arrogant smirk that Vi’s face fell into, eyes alight with pride, affirmed all of Eira’s suspicions. Vi was, in fact, the one that had somehow sent Adela away from Solaris and Meru. But how? The question burned Eira to the point that she almost demanded answers.Almost. “Though…I also imagine she’ll keep any ships she can salvage, or loot she can find.”
“Of course.”
“We can’t be working with pirates.” Aldrik scowled. “Adela least of all.” Considering Adela had admitted to Eira that she’d murdered the Emperor’s grandfather, she didn’t blame Aldrik for his tone or feelings on the matter.
“Right now, we can’t be too picky.” There was a begrudging tone to Vi’s words, but, for some reason, Eira suspected it to be inauthentic. Her eyes shone like laughter. She was deeply amused with this turn of events. “We can deal with the PirateQueen, as is necessary, when the dust settles. But for now, the enemy of our enemy is our friend.”
Eira heard the subtext loud and clear—this fragile alliance would be over the second the Pillars were dealt with. Eira included among it.
“Why would Adela be the enemy of the Pillars?” Vhalla still wasn’t convinced.
“Adela has a personal grudge against Ulvarth,” Eira answered simply. There was too much wrapped up in Adela’s motivations to explain more than that. But fortunately, judging by Vhalla’s expression, it seemed that was enough of an explanation.
“For what it’s worth, I have found Adela to be surprisingly trustworthy,” Cullen encouraged Vhalla.
