“If you insist,” she said.
“I do. I intend to hold you to every day of my contract.” Dilys stood a little while longer, as if waiting for her to say or do something, then gave a wry smile and clapped a fist over his heart. In Sea Tongue, he said, “Until the seas bring me home to you, or we meet again in the presence of Numahao.” And, with that, he turned and began walking up the gangplank.
Summer stood where she was. Her fingers squeezed tighter and tighter. Her jaw clenched. He was halfway up the gangplank. A few more steps, and he’d be aboard his ship. And then he’d be gone. Her hands started to shake. There was a strange buzzing in her ears. Everything faded except for the reality of Dilys walking up that gangplank... walking away...
“Dilys!” His name burst from her lips. “Wait!”
She didn’t care that everyone was watching. She ran up the gangplank. As he turned to face her, she threw herself into his arms and slammed her mouth against his. She kissed him passionately, fervently, pouring everything she was into that kiss. Her arms wrapped around his neck. His arms pulled her tight against him. She kissed him, and it was... perfect.
When the kiss ended, Dilys lifted his hands to cup her face. He smiled, great, golden eyes gleaming. “Thank Numahao,” he laughed softly. “It’s a miracle.” He kissed her again, long and deep, robbing her of breath. When he finally pulled away, she was dizzy. That made him laugh again, the sound rich and warm, and she realized that all he had to do was laugh, and her heart lightened.
“Be safe and don’t do anything stupid,” she told him sternly.
“You have my vow,moa haleah.I shall do no stupid thing.”
“I mean it.”
“As do I. Have you not just given me the greatest of all reasons to return to you safely?”
She rolled her eyes. “It was just a kiss.”
“Ono,it was much more than that.” He smiled and tenderly stroked the back of one knuckle down her cheek. “You just gave me hope.”
Her throat tightened, and she had to blink against the sudden burning in her eyes. She turned her head to brush her lips across his caressing hand, then gave him a shove. “Go.” Her voice came out rough, a little scratchy. “Your men are waiting.” She hurried down the gangplank before she could give into the urge to throw herself back into his arms.
A few minutes later, the ships weighed anchor. The massive sails unfurled. Summer lifted a hand and summoned an easterly wind to speed them on their way. The sooner they were gone, the sooner they would return. Already her heart was aching at the thought of not seeing Dilys for weeks, possibly even months.
“I’m going to miss them,” Autumn announced, staring after the departing ships. “They were such good company.” She turned away. “I’m heading back to the palace. Do you two want to come with me?”
When Summer didn’t answer, Spring said, “You go on. We’ll head back in a while.”
Autumn hesitated then stepped over to give Summer a hug. “He’ll be all right, Gabi. Don’t forget he fought the armies of a god and won. What’s a few measly pirates compared to that?”
Gabriella nodded and somehow managed to shape her mouth in the form of a small smile. Autumn meant well, she knew. And Summer wasn’t being particularly adept at hiding her worry.
“You care for him very much, don’t you?” Spring murmured, after Autumn departed.
Summer watched Dilys’s ship sail down the Llaskroner Fjord. “Much more than is wise.”
“Do you love him?”
The ship rounded the bend and disappeared behind the slope of the mountain. Summer sighed and turned to meet Viviana’s softly searching gaze. “For all our sakes, I hope not.” But she knew, even as she said it, it was already too late. That was her heart that had just sailed out of view. And if it didn’t come back to her safe and sound, they were all in trouble.
As the remaining Calbernans completed their final preparations for departure, Calivan Merimydion summoned the ten warriors who would be remaining behind in Konumarr to guard Summer Coruscate.
“Calbernari,” he greeted as the ten joined him in his chambers. “Close the door, please.”
Once the door was shut, Calivan veiled the room with not one but five layers of insulating water to capture all sound before it escaped the room. After making certain the veils were seamless and impenetrable, he turned to the assembled warriors.
“I have discovered how the Shark has managed to capture our warriors and drown them. He is using a very powerful spell, and at the request of theMyerial,I have spent the last several weeks devising a countermeasure. A protection rune that, with your permission, I will ink into your skin.”
“You think the Shark will come here?” That came from Synan, the member of House Merimydion whom Dilys had left in charge. “Forgive me, Lord Chancellor, but aren’t you expecting him to go for the wedding treasure?”
“I am, which is why Dilys and his men have already agreed to the procedure. But you ten will be protecting the future daughter of House Merimydion. Dilys insists that you be protected against enemy spells.”
Synan gave a sharp nod of assent. “Of course, Lord Calivan. Whatever you and theMyerieluarequire.”
“Excellent.” Calivan withdrew a pot of specially formulated red ink from his bags, and used it to draw a circle of runes behind the right ear of each warrior. When he was done, he carefully repacked the pot of ink and the bespelled golden quill he’d used to apply it, then turned back to the gathered warriors and summoned his magic.
