Casper silenced him with a glare, and Jem ignored him, asking, “The little fishing village? I suppose that makes sense,given your occupation. We would be happy to convey you home. Right, Captain?”
“Of course.” Casper nodded. “Though we will wait until clearer skies. The rocks around that part of the coast can be treacherous, as you know.”
“I do,” Daland agreed. “My daughter and I keep the lighthouse there.” A look of worry crossed his face. “I hope she’s alright. Sienna can manage the light just fine on her own, but she likely started worrying herself sick when I didn’t return home.”
“She’s alone? No husband or brother to help her?” Jem’s voice was all sympathetic curiosity, but Casper could see the wheels in his mind turning.
“She’s my only child. She should have been married last year, but the faithless elf abandoned her when things got difficult. But not to worry—my Senta is just as capable of keeping the lighthouse as I am.”
“I have no doubt.” Jem looked to Casper, his eyebrows raised and wordlessly communicating, “Look! A young, unattached woman of marriageable age.”
Casper shot him a flat look and shook his head slightly.
It sounds like she’s already been abandoned once. She would be even less likely to promise faithfulness to a sailor who will leave after just a week.
He cleared his throat. “As soon as the skies are clear, we’ll take you to Nivem.”
Daland clasped his hands together in thanks. “You have my gratitude, Captain. There must be some way that I can repay you.”
“There’s no need.”
“But I insist.” The fisherman grew more animated. “I know! We will be hosting our Midwinter Festival next week. You and your crew are welcome to join us for the celebration.”
Casper opened his mouth to decline, but Jem was already answering. “Next week, you say?” He scratched his chin thoughtfully. “Captain could use the time ashore.” He shot Casper a meaningful look.
Casper gritted his teeth.I want this curse to be broken as much as they do, but I don’t think he understands exactly what it is he’s asking. Forcing my company on this fisherman and his poor daughter is not going to guarantee that anyone will be falling in love.
“Ah. Yes. Ashore.” Daland suddenly looked a little green, as if just then realizing that he had offered up his home as lodging for a crew of ghosts. “I don’t know that I have the space for all of you…”
Jem held up his hand. “Say no more, my good sir. We understand that our rather unsettling appearance might be more than you and yours bargained for. As my dear old Mormor used to say, ‘The spirit of kindness does not extend to all kinds of spirits.’ As it happens, we and our boat shall be able to shed these ghastly visages for something a little more solid once the hour of midnight arrives. But even so, we’ll be quite content to remain on thePetrel.Captain Helmrud is the one who should make the most of his time ashore.” He slapped Casper’s shoulder a little harder than was necessary.
The fisherman’s spirits revived. “Wonderful! It will be my honor to host you for the week.”
“Yes,” Casper echoed intoned dryly. “Wonderful.”
On the bright side, Nivem is one of the closest port towns to the breach, and the smugglers have to be going somewhere to unload their cargo. I don’t think this week will turn out the way that Jem hopes, but maybe it won’t be completely wasted.
Chapter four
An Unexpected Visit
Sienna
After a restless and anxious night spent agonizing over her father’s safety and tending to the lighthouse, the last thing on Sienna’s mind was entertaining the queen of the Winter Court.
And yet, after answering a knock on the door just after dawn and finding her childhood friend on the other side, that was exactly what she was doing.
The queen looked quite at home, curled up as she was in the large cushioned arm chair with her legs tucked up beside her. Celesta’s half-pixie blood was most noticeable in her small stature and the iridescent wings between her shoulders. Her simple, light green dress and matching dancing slippers wereperhaps not the most sensible wardrobe for traveling, but Sienna knew from experience that the ballerina preferred to be dressed for dance at all times in case her skill with magic was needed.
Her companion, an old, weathered, bearded man with dark, bushy eyebrows and keen eyes was seated across from her, balancing a saucer and cup of tea in his lap. The wizard Drosselmeyer was well-known throughout Faerie, but his position as Celesta’s godfather meant that Sienna had seen him more often than most during her childhood. His navy robe was open in the front, revealing a soft gray shirt and dark trousers beneath.
“I’m serious, Enna.” Celesta looked at her with a concerned expression. “You look exhausted. We can look after things here for a little while. Go take a nap.”
Sienna allowed her eyes to drift longingly for a moment to the closed wooden door that led to her bedroom, then quickly directed her attention back to her guests. She sank down into her mother’s chair, cradling her hot tea cup in her hands. “I’m fine. I won’t be able to sleep anyways until Papa gets back.” The knot of worry in her stomach tightened. “Besides, I’m far too curious to hear what brought you out so far. Where is Alex?”
At the mention of her husband, Celesta’s face transformed into a dreamy smile. “He’s at home with Clara. This trip was all rather last-minute, and we wanted to travel more quickly than a four-year-old would allow. She still doesn’t do well with going through the Waypoints.”
“Is something wrong?” Sienna looked back and forth between her guests.
