“My quarters are here.” He paused, waving to the first door on the right, then the left. “Lord Lorant sleeps here when he’s not loungingon the deck.”
“Lounging?”
“Visiting with the crew.” He grunted. “While it’s probably not my place to speak of such things, many believe Lord Lorant is entirely too comfortable with those . . . How shall we put it?” He huffed. “Those who are less fortunate than us.”
“What do you believe?”
He blinked as if no one had ever asked him something like that before. “That the amount of power a person can wield doesn’t define them.”
Interesting answer; it warmed me to him already.
“Are you referring to the powerless?” Did they use them as crew? No, I’d seen some sailors using magic.
“There are distinct classes of people at Evergorne. High lords and ladies with the most power, lessers who can wield, though not much, and a few without any power at all. I assume it’s the same where you come from?”
I didn’t see myself as someone better than anyone else, but others at Evergorne might. “Therearemany with less power than us.” I was basically powerless myself, though I’d been assured I had considerable potential. Perhaps by the time I’d gone gray, I would figure this out. “Lord Lorant visits with the crew?” I prompted, curious despite my determination to forget about him.
Shadows flickered across Lord Briscalar’s face. “Some would say that he should remain among those of his station.” He continued down the hall with me trotting behind him. The nyxin, who needed a name, studied everything. Probably looking for escape routes, though he was stuck on the ship until we made port in Evergorne.
I’d always enjoyed hanging out with the villagers during my down time at the fortress, so I could understand why Lore did too. I wasn’t snooty, but I assumed that would be my new role in life.
Could queens hang out with those considered below their station? I wasn’t going to avoid anyone solely due to their ability to use magic.
“I don’t know anything about boats,” I said brightly, to change the subject.
“A ship, my lady. Please refer to it as a ship.”
I winced and stretched for a polite smile.
He stopped again. “Allow me to help you in this. It’s important that you don’t appear . . . How shall we say?” He sucked in a breath. “Unworldly.”
“Oh, I’m anything but.” Right.
His gaze traveled down my frame. “Once we arrive at Evergorne Court, we’ll replace what you brought with you with clothing befitting our future queen.”
“I can’t wait.” Ugh. I didn’t mind wearing gowns on fancy occasions, and it was fun having my hair arranged every now and then, though I abhorred anyone fussing. But how could I defend myself in a flouncy skirt? “I prefer pants. Tunics. I brought some with me.” At least three complete outfits.
He gasped. “Our queen never wears tunics and pants.”
“Never?”
“Never,” he vowed.
We’d see about that. “Can’t I wear them while we travel, not when I’m at Evergorne Court?” I lifted a smile. “I insist.”
“I see. Allow me to continue.” He pivoted. “The front of theship is called the bow and the rear, the stern. There are three levels on this ship, the deck that you’ve seen, this level, plus the lower one where the crew has bunks.”
“Where’s the cook?”
“Our cook, who crafts everything exquisitely from simple ingredients with a magical touch I haven’t found anywhere else, has quarters on the lower deck as well. His kitchen is located there, though the food we dine on is brought up to this level.” He nodded to the door at the end of the hall. “The captain has quarters through there.”
I appreciated him sharing this information with me. “How many crew are on the ship?”
“The captain.” He ticked them off on his fingers. “Three mates who oversee operations and navigation, the boatswain supervises the ten deckhands, our delightful cook, plus me.” Pivoting, he continued down the hall, stopping at the last doors on either side. “King Merrick’s suite is on the right, and yours, my lady, is on the left.” He swept that door open and gestured for me to step inside, closing it after we’d entered.
I lowered the nyxin to the floor and after looking up at me with concern, he locked his nose on the floor and started exploring.
I looked around too.
