I’d forgiven his past. Allowed him to tug at places in my chest. Allowed myself to tip over that edge I’d been toeing for so long, andthiswas all it got me. A shipload of confusion, and a man who was hot one moment, suggesting things with his words and his actions, and entirely cold and closed off the next.
If the people knew how complicated and wavering Princeps Harthon could be, they wouldn’t find him nearly as terrifying.
I washed, dressed, and made my way to the deck, making a point tonotseek out that man. Instead, I found Stefano and Joris standing by the side of the ship, illuminated by the faint sunlight that had decided to break through the clouds. They were watching the land in the distance, deep in conversation.
Their conversation halted as I approached. “Don’t stop on my account,” I told them.
Joris waved his hand dismissively. “We were discussing naval tactics and battle strategies. Nothing important.”
Because what else did warriors talk about?
“Thank you again for being here with us,” I told him sincerely. “I know you recently had another child. You’re leaving a lot at home.”
He smiled kindly. “I know what you’re here to do. The best way for me to care for my children is to support you and this quest.”
I knew the fate of this world depended on my ability to bring us into the Domus, but to hear someone I hardly knew acknowledge it—and stake themselves on it—was both moving and unsettling.
Talk about pressure.
Beside Joris, Stefano appeared bright-eyed and well-rested.
“How are your injuries?”
“Took the sutures out this morning. I’m good as new.”
My eyes narrowed. “Weren’t you supposed to leave them in until we reached the city center?”
Shrugging, he said, “I felt fine, and they were getting itchy. Besides, what difference will a day or two make?”
“Enough for the healer to tell you to wait.” Apparently, being able to kill trained men made him think he could also defeat infections.
“You’re awfully bossy.”
Why did people keep saying that? “No, Icare.” He opened his mouth to rebut, and I lifted a finger. “And I’m older than you, and I’m themagvis, in everyone’s eyes. So if I want to be bossy, I can be.”
“She has a point, kid,” Joris said.
Seeing he was outnumbered, Stefano rolled his eyes, setting them back on the land.
The coastline here was different from the one we left. Towering, rugged cliffs connected land to sea, jagged rock faces as dark as the water. The soft sunlight filtering down did nothing to soften them, instead accentuating their sharp edges and intimidating size.
They were magnificent in a deadly way. A commanding, striking feature created by nature, back when it had power.
Before the Domus took it all away.
But even then, the cliffs still stood—just like the mountains and hills I’d discovered the last few weeks—as if to tell the Domus it couldn’t takeeverything.
A shrill, piercing screech cut through the sky. Our heads jerked at once to see a mottled gray bird soaring toward the ship, feathers spread as it sailed the wind. It was skinny and ratty-looking, some of its feathers missing, but it was unwavering in its course.
A course pointed directly at me.
I flinched as it swooped onto the railing in front of me, perching gracefully on webbed feet, one of which was torn. It cocked its head, snapping left and right, then settled two beady, gray eyes on me.
It was so close, I could touch it.
If I was still in my village, I already would have snapped its neck and roasted it for dinner. For some reason, that thought riddled me with guilt now.
Cautiously, I lifted a finger, waiting for the bird to scamper away. It was prey, and I was predator. But all it did was open its pointed, sharp beak and release another ear-piercing screech.
