“Your Graces, I present to you the Sealord Dilys Merimydion, son of theMyerialAlysaldria I, Lord Protector of Calberna, Keeper of the Golden Isle of Cali Kai Meri, Admiral of the First Fleet, Commander of the Seadragons, the most celebrated battlegroup of the Calbernan Navy, and Captain of theKracken,flagship of the Seadragons.”
Dilys stood proud as his titles rolled off the tongue of the Winterman announcing him. When the introduction was concluded, he put his right fist across his left breast and bent slightly at the waist, keeping his head high, his gaze fixed on the Winter King. To bow deeply was to expose one’s neck, to offer vulnerability in a gesture of both trust and submission. Dilys and his men bowed that way to no man.
“Sealord Merimydion.” Wynter of the Craig, the White King, returned Dilys’s greeting with a nod of his own. “Six months ago you came to these shores as invaders, but today, my queen and I welcome you and your men to Wintercraig as honored guests. It is our hope that this day should mark the beginning of a long and prosperous friendship between our two nations.” The Winter King’s ice-blue eyes were cold and steady. A flurry of white swirled in those eyes, and the air around Dilys grew instantly frigid.
Most men—especially those dressed as lightly as Dilys and hisCalbernari—would have turned blue with cold and begun shivering. But Calbernans, who lived and swam in all the depths of every ocean on the planet, were arguably the hardiest race in all of Mystral. They could regulate the temperature of their blood, and beneath their bronze skin grew a thin layer of insulating flesh that kept them cool in summer and warm even in the iciest depths of the sea.
So, as the temperature around him plummeted, Dilys’s body reacted instinctively, blood heating to counteract the effects of the cold. All the while, he held Wynter Atrialan’s gaze without fear. A small smiled played at the edges of his mouth.
He understood what was going on. The Winter King was just making sure Dilys knew that, though the Ice King had been defeated, the infamous power of the Ice Gaze was still Wynter Atrialan’s to call upon.
He inclined his head in acknowledgment of the warning. The snow faded from the Winter King’s gaze, and the air warmed again swiftly.
“Peace and friendship between our lands is my hope and the hope of theMyerialas well, Wynter of the Craig,” Dilys replied. His gaze fell upon the small, dark beauty standing beside Wintercraig’s king, and his small smile spread to an open grin of appreciation. She was resplendent in pale buttercup yellow, the mound of her advanced pregnancy clearly in evidence.
To her, he bowed deeply, an elegant, respectful, admiring sweep, and bared his neck. “And you, Queen Khamsin. Love and motherhood suit you even better than bravery and battle. You are exquisite.Doa akua,your husband, is a lucky man.”
“Thank you, Sealord Merimydion.” Wintercraig’s young queen smiled, even as the husband at her side gave Dilys a dark, suspicious look and edged closer to his wife.
Just to prick the Winter King in retaliation for his earlier icy warning, Dilys held his warm, deeply admiring glance a few seconds longer. Then he drew back, becoming all business as he introduced his fellow captains and their first officers.
“This handsome fellow is my cousin Arilon Calmyria, descendant of the greatMyerialSiesulania V, Keeper of White Bay and the Sister Isles, Fleet Commander of the Stormriders, and Captain of theOrca.” Dilys and Ari could easily have been twins, they looked so alike. The only truly notable differencebetween them, besides Dilys’s slightly more impressive collection of tattoos, was that Ari stood three inches shorter than Dilys.
Ari bent slightly to Wynter, then gave a full, sweeping bow of Calbernan respect to Khamsin. As he rose, he met her gaze, his eyes sparkled with even more deep admiration and masculine appreciation than Dilys had shown for her womanly gifts.
“It is my pleasure indeed, Queen Khamsin of the Storms, to make your acquaintance.” Ari spoke in a sensual purr, his voice set on full simmer. “My cousin’s considerable praise these last months did not do you justice.” In last winter’s invasion, Ari had remained with the ships just off the coast of Wintercraig, protecting the beachhead and the invaders’ flank while Dilys and his men met up with Falcon; thus Ari had not fought the Ice King nor met Khamsin.
Khamsin’s cheeks turned a dusky rose as Ari focused his considerable charms on her. “The... ah... pleasure is mine, Sealord Calmyria,” she replied in a somewhat breathless voice. A faint growl rose in Wynter’s throat, which only made Ari’s warm smile widen and grow warmer.
Dilys gave him a subtle kick in the ankle as he moved to introduce the next Calbernan nobles who had accompanied him up to the terrace. “And this fine son of the sea is my cousin Ryllian Ocea, descendent of theMyerialKailuani III, Keeper of Silversands Isle, Fleet Commander of the Wavedancers, and Captain of theNarwhal.” Ryll was as dangerous and fearsome a Calbernan as they came, as well as being a master sailor who could steer a galleon through rocky shoals in a dense fog without receiving the tiniest scratch on the hull of his vessel. He had an uncanny sense of waves and currents and exactly how they would react at any given time. Dilys could control the seas, but Ryll could become them.
Though Ryll could be every bit as provocative as Ari or Dilys, he’d obviously decided they’d pulled the wolf’s tail enough. He bent his spine to Wynter, bowed deeply to Khamsin, but kept his considerable masculine charms under tight wraps as Dilys continued to introduce the rest of their fellow captains and first officers.
“Welcome, Sealords,” Khamsin said with a smile when he was done, “and it is my pleasure to introduce you to my sisters, the Seasons of Summerlea. Their Royal Highnesses, the Princesses Spring, Summer, and Autumn Coruscate.”
“Myerialannas,” Dilys let his expression show his profound appreciation for each of them. “It is with great joy I greet you.” He tried—and failed—to catch the little honeyrose’s eye, but the other two met his gaze and nodded their acknowledgement of his greeting.
“Sealord,” said Spring, her tone as cool as a frosty morning.
“Sealord.” The exotic Autumn arched one haughty brow and looked down her slender nose.
He grinned at them both.
“Sealord,” whispered Summer, her eyes fixed upon his Adam’s apple.
She really wasn’t much smaller than her other sisters, he realized. She was just so slender and slightly built that, coupled with her timid demeanor, she seemed much more delicate and fragile. And he clearly made her nervous. The pulse in her neck was fluttering like a trapped bird, and she was doing everything in her power not to attract his attention.
Taking pity on her, he turned his attention back to Wintercraig’s young queen. Now here was a woman who had proved her mettle in every way possible. Had she not already been wed and to a man she loved when they first met six months ago—he would not have left Wintercraig without her.
“It is our pleasure to welcome you and your men as our guests for the next three months,” Khamsin said. “Sealord Merimydion, as we discussed in our previous communications, we have prepared accommodations in the palace for you and your officers. Are you certain you prefer the rest of your men to remain quartered on your ships?”
“I do.” It seemed wiser. His men had, after all, last come to Wintercraig as invaders. Keeping them aboard ship at night seemed the safer course, in case any of the Winterfolk held a grudge. He did not want violence to mar this opportunity for him and his men to findlianasand forge ties with Wintercraig.
“Very good. The folk of Konumarr have prepared a celebration to welcome you and your men to Wintercraig. Sealord Merimydion, if you will come this way to help us start the festivities.” She turned to her husband and held out her hand. Together, with Dilys beside them, they walked to the edge of terrace overlooking the city.
They looked out over the gathered throngs of Calbernans, Winterfolk, and Summerlanders, and in a carrying voice, Wynter began to speak. “Six months ago, Sealord Dilys Merimydion of Calberna and the men accompanying him today came to the shores of our kingdom. They came as invaders, unaware that Rorjak the Ice King had arisen. But Queen Khamsin, wise and brave beyond her years, convinced the Sealord and his men to fight with us rather than against us. Thanks to our queen’s wisdom, courage, and weathergifts, the bravery of our own people, and the Calbernans’ renowned skill in battle, the Ice King was defeated. Together, Winterfolk and Calbernans—led by Queen Khamsin and this man, Sealord Dilys Merimydion—saved me, saved Wintercraig, and saved the whole of Mystral.”
A raucous cheer went up, and this time there was no doubting the genuine enthusiasm sent up by Winterfolk, Summerlanders, and Calbernans alike.
