“There he is.” Jonas nodded toward the thrashing tides in the distance.
The sloop’s bow ripped through the surface of the sea, bobbing in the surf until it righted again, and small figures of Nightseer’s crew shuffled over the deck.
I blew out a breath of relief. We could be free for a few weeks. Already, we had determined no less than a dozen alvers would join us on our forced return trip, perhaps several sea fae; my folk seemed to still hold a touch of fear for Bloodsinger and his people.
Jonas took hold of my hand and walked toward the end of the dock.
“Skadinia.” The king strode briskly from the trees, more disheveled than normal. He wore a simple tunic, no doublet or gambeson, and his circlet was not atop his head. Behind him, royal guards formed a line.
Jonas searched my features, as though waiting for a sign regarding what I wanted to do. I rose up on my toes and kissed him, then faced the water as Nightseer sailed alongside the dock.
“Skadinia,” Eldirard tried once more. “You will bid a proper farewell.”
I didn’t turn around and accepted Nightseer’s hand onto the deck.
“Thank you,” I said with a nod. “I’d like to leave with haste if possible.”
The old sea fae watched the elven king with a bit of trepidation. “At your word, elven lady.”
Jonas and Dorsan joined me on deck. There was nothing but unbending loyalty written on my husband’s features. He didn’t tell me to face my home, didn’t look over his shoulder. Where my eyes were aimed, so too, were his.
“Nightseer.” Jonas handed the sea fae a folded piece of parchment. “After we’ve returned home, will you bring this to your king and queen? I’ve included all the praise for your service at the end.”
Nightseer took the parchment greedily. “Aye. Many thanks, dark prince. Many thanks.”
Jonas glanced at me. “Felt the sea fae ought to be on their guard.”
Violence was brewing in the air, and I wasn’t certain a whole turn would pass before blood spilled between elven and fae again.
“Skadinia, look at me.” The king moved in the corner of my gaze, striding out on the dock. His voice lowered. “Granddaughter.”
My chin trembled. Jonas took my hand and offered a gentle squeeze. I didn’t turn around. Nightseer shouted for his crew to catch the wind and take us below the tides.
“This was always for your future, your kingdom,” Eldirard shouted, but when I did not turn, the last word was a soft, half-broken, “Please.”
I closed my eyes, letting my head fall to Jonas’s shoulder when heheld me against his side, bracing as the sea tumbled over the deck, drawing us out of the far seas, taking us home.
This was the dreariest I’d witnessed the Black Palace great hall.
The center table was lined with men and women who looked less concerned, and more murderous. The king slouched in the far seat, flicking a knife back and forth in his grip, eyes shadowed as much as his son’s.
Ash kept sharpening the curved blade of a curious knife with a hole at the end of the hilt. The rest of the Kryv were equally locked in furious rage. Tova rocked a sleeping Kåre with a strange collision of motherly comfort and bloodlust in her cat eyes.
Kase stood at long last. “This falls on me.”
“Daj,” Jonas started, but stopped when his father held up a hand.
“It’s true, but it’s done. No sense wasting breath blaming ourselves. We do what we always do, keep sight of our mark, and we watch their backs.” The king pointed toward us. “They will try to sabotage you.”
“Why do you say that?” I tightened my hold on Jonas’s hand.
“If Jonas retold the tale as it was, they said repeatedly it was only a matter of time before he failed. I urge you to be on your guard.”
Gods, a sickening burn turned my insides. If the elven clans succeeded, the alvers would lose their lands they’d fought for long before this alliance.
“Stop it.” The king’s rough rasp broke my spiraling thoughts.
I faced my father-in-law. “Stop what?”
