Chapter 11
Confession of a princess:
Boats are outstanding! I want one of my own!
While the reason for these adventures is horrid, I am seeing so much of the realm and experiencing new things. There’s light within the dark if you squint hard enough.
To sail the ocean is a dream come true.
Irubbed at my sore back and watched my Fae-gift fly back in the dying light of day to the elven royal estate, her sire next to her. With my caster-spelled waterproof satchel of traveling accoutrements hanging bulkily over my shoulder, I pressed my feet down into the white, sandy beach of Sugar Cove and grumbled, “Father, this journey hasn’t even begun yet, and I am exhausted.”
King Traevon wrinkled his nose in my direction. “There is a reason for that, my daughter, and I do not want to hear about it.”
He had been a bit…crabby…since I’d returned home.
Sighing grandly, I waved a hand in front of him. “What if you become a grandfather? What say you then? Or will you be upset every time I go into heat? There is a reason behind it, you well know. It can’t be helped.”
Father ground his teeth together and growled, “Trixie, I had to clean up his Fae damned mess after he flew away. He almost killed King Elon. The rulers were understandably confused and upset. You should have seen the Gorgon King. He was bloody shredded.Literally.”
I snapped my gaping mouth shut and mumbled, “What did he do?”
“Which one?” King Traevon snorted. “Your soul mate tookoffensewhen King Elon pulled him back from the bridge troll—saving him from a deadly bite, I might add. When I arrived inside and found the chaos he’d caused, King Elon was lying in a puddle of his own blood, with his chest clawed open. And heir and trial be damned, he wanted King Athon’s head. It took much talking to calm him down, nothing that I enjoy doing with that self-centered gorgon.”
“How in the Fae did you possibly explain that away?” I shook my head and rubbed at my back again. “There is no feasible excuse for that behavior right now.”
“Other than the truth, there was one excuse I could use.” Emerald eyes narrowed. “And King Athon will not like what I said.”
I groaned in exasperation. “Dear Fae. What is it?”
Father straightened and cleared his throat. “I said it was rumored that he had lingering issues with his father’s past abuse. That it was said he’d harmed a few shifters who had touched him when he wasn’t aware.”
“Oh…fuck,” I mumbled. “That is awful, Father.”
“I know. But it was believable. His king was that awful, my daughter.” King Traevon sighed quietly. “And I also sent a messenger this morning to King Athon. To warn him of what I said.”
I squinted hard at my father. “You sent amessenger? You did that so you wouldn’t have to look him in the eye when you told him. That is not very kingly of you.”
“Quite so. It was moment of weakness. I was ashamed of what I had to do to fix the problem, and took the coward’s way out with the outcome.” King Traevon wiped sand off his hands and looked out over the deep, blue ocean. “I am not perfect, my heir. No one is. You would do well to remember that. We all make mistakes, no matter our age or station in life.”
I sniffed down my nose at him. “You will apologize to him. Privately, of course.”
“Yes, yes, I know.”
As I stretched my tired arms, I asked thoughtfully, “What of the Fae in our home, Father? We will be gone for days.”
“It is worrisome. I have guards watching them, but that isn’t as reassuring as it should be when I can only be in one kingdom at one time.” Father instantly perked and waggled a finger in front of us. “There is my boat. It’s coming.”
My attention caught on the vessel under a quickly darkening sky. “Oh my. She is beautiful. Well done, my king.”
A large, red square sail hung by its rigging across the mast, puffing round with the wind and pushing the long, well built boat faster. There were seven massive oars each on larboard and starboard swooping and slicing through the ocean as strong, abled-bodied elves rowed. Another two elves stood at the starboard stern and steered the side oar, piloting properly in our direction.
King Traevon’s chest puffed proudly. “Thank you, my heir. I had it commissioned recently to add well-appointed seating on the bow. We will be quite comfortable on our voyage.”
“I do hope so. I am in need of a cozy place to lay my head tonight.” I pulled my large fur coat closer around me. “Will there be blankets, or will I need to use the one I packed for emergencies?”
“Fine blankets, my daughter. Very fine, indeed.”
We walked toward the pier where the boat would stop to grant us access, our shoes digging down into the soft, white sand until we landed on the wooden slats. When the boat docked, King Traevon nodded to the captain, who was standing at the bow, and helped me to board safely.
