Mouse nods, and I swallow, because I’m wondering if Corrick should have given more qualifications. But then the rowboat draws near, and I see that itisRian . . . ?and Olive and Erik as well.
I lean over the side, heedless of danger.
“You survived!” I cry. “I’ve been worried all night!”
Olive looks up at me as she climbs, and her smile is bright. “I’ve been worried aboutyouall night.”
Her smile tells me that her little boy must be safe, but I have to hear it anyway. “Where’s Ellmo?”
“It took us forever to find him,” she says. “Because he and the other children hid in the palace—and then Oren’s cannons kept blasting through the walls.”
“He’s a smart little devil,” Erik says behind her. He looks pale, and I’d bet he’s reopened his entire wound. “He goteveryonesafe.”
Then they’re climbing over the railing, and they’re on the deck.
And Rian still hasn’t said a word.
He’s glaring at Corrick, however. The emotion seems mutual.
Especially when Erik gives Olive’s hand a squeeze, then leaves her side to come stand at Corrick’s side.
I suddenly feel like new battle lines have been drawn.
“You’rewelcome,” Corrick finally says.
Rian scowls. “You helped him enact a plan that killed more of my people.”
“No.Youdid that. I never intended to double-cross you. From the very instant I got on your ship, my motives were to work with the king of Ostriary to barter for Moonflower in exchange for steel.”
“I will never trust anyone from Kandala,” Rian says. “I know what you’ve done to your people.”
Corrick is glaring back at him. “I’m going to have a rather hard time trusting anyone from Ostriary. I’ve learned enough aboutyouto know that any deal I make would be subject to trickery and deceit.”
“Kandala is the one guilty of trickery and deceit,” says a groggy voice near the railing, and I look over to see the older man has spoken. “As I’ve said before, Your Highness, your country is not known for fair dealings.”
Rian crosses his arms and regards Corrick. “I told you there was a reason I wasn’t forthright with you when I came.”
Corrick looks between the two of them. “I can’t answer for the actions of my father or my grandfather when I don’t have any proof of what they’ve supposedly done.”
“I have plenty of proof,” says Ford Cheeke. “My records go back for decades. Your country reneged on deals trading lumber for steel, and when we tried to make a claim, you sent ships to kill our people.”
“Exactly,” says Rian. “And you can’t even deny it. Your own consuls have tried to assassinate the royal family on more than one occasion.”
I gasp out loud and look at Corrick. “More than one?”
He shakes his head, but his expression is locked down now, revealing nothing.
Rian hasn’t looked away from him. “You know I’m not lying about this. You know your country is overrun by sedition and sabotage.”
A muscle twitches in Corrick’s jaw, but he doesn’t say a word to deny it. He can’t.
The sad thing is that I can’t either.
“I still won’t negotiate with you,” Corrick says to him. “And Harristan certainly won’t, once he learns of what you’ve done.”
Rian smirks. “Good luck getting back to Kandala then.”
Olive huffs and smacks him in the arm. “Ugh,honestly. This is why I’ve been on the point for so long. If Oren is out of the way, I’ll sail you back to Kandala myself, Tessa.”
