“That is my limit,” she snaps, waving a flippant hand. “It feeds off of my magic, and anything more weakens me. I don’t care to deteriorate my energy for people who voluntarily risk their lives. Use it wisely. Whether you make it off that dreaded island alive or not, the sphere will find its way back to me.Eventually. Now leave my cave,” she demands with a sniff. “I’m ready to rid myself of this disturbance.”
…
I feel nothing but pure relief when we make it out of the stuffy darkness of Frevella’s home. Thane is now carrying the sphere in one hand and studying it thoroughly, as if he’s trying to figure out how a simple glass object like that can hold so much power. When the others outside the cave see him with it, they huddle together for a closer look.
“Wow,” Rynthea marvels. “Glad you didn’t fuck it up for us, sorcerer.” She always says that word like it’s a dirty one, which really makes me wonder again what she has against sorcerers in general. Surely, Thane isn’t the only one she doesn’t like.
To my surprise, Thane doesn’t react at all to Rynthea’s comment. Not even one of his habitual grimaces makes an appearance. Instead, he tucks the sphere into the pocket of his trousers while sticking out his other hand. “Give me my weapons.”
Rynthea gives him the vest. Algar gladly returns the sheathed swords and daggers.
“You know”—Kelrean smiles as he looks at each of us—“I was thinking I should journey with you all to the shores, at the very least.”
Still, Thane doesn’t react. Not even to Kelrean deciding to be around us longer? Now he’s scaring me.
“You couldn’t even save yourself from drowning,” Rynthea counters. “Just take your royal, spoon-fed ass back to the castle. We can handle it from here.”
“First of all, I was achild,” he retorts. “Secondly, I am amanperfectly capable of traveling to the shores. You won’t have to worry about saving me.”
“We have orders to return you to Bernwood once the sphere is obtained, Your Highness,” one of the Bernwood guards states.
“I’m well aware, but this is something I’m choosing to do for our friends,” Kelrean asserts. “Something tells me this crew will need my assistance along the way.”
Thane scoffs as he laces his vest. At least there’s finally a reaction out of him, albeit a weak one.
“Tell my father I will return soon.” Kelrean is already walking away from the guards. “I’ve done missions in Ruvain, for Orvena’s sake. I’m certain I can travel around a mountain and take a gander at the Gadonian shores without issue.”
Rynthea follows after him. “I’ll only end up saving your ass again.”
“Or perhaps I’ll settle the score and save yours.” Kelrean grins. “Then you can stop hanging your little badge of glory over my head.”
Rynthea falls into step next to the prince. Algar and I join them. The guards hesitate as we march past. They blink at each other with apprehension, likely torn between following the prince and ignoring the instructions of their king. Neither outcome seems wise, especially the latter, because that would mean returning to Bernwood and explaining to the king why they left his only heir unguarded.
“They’re following us, aren’t they?” Kelrean settles the upper handle of his ax on his shoulder, giving me a lazy smile as he moves closer to my side.
I look over my shoulder at the disgruntled guards trailing a few steps behind Thane. “Yep.”
Kelrean groans, tossing his head back. “I’m so tired of being treated like a child.”
“They treat you that way because youarea child,” Rynthea chides. “An annoying, spontaneous child in his twentieth year who can’t stop playing with his own penis.”
“Shadows! She’s so mean, isn’t she?” Kelrean winks at me.
I can’t find it in me to smile as wide as him. My mind is still racing with thoughts from Frevella’s hot and dark-ass cave. I glance at Thane again. He’s staring off to his right, gazing at the lower peaks of mountains and forest tops. I slow my pace, feeling the need to check on him, but Rynthea slows her stride as well, taking up my right side as Algar flanks the left.
“What happened in there?” Rynthea asks in a low voice.
“Secrets,” is all I can manage.
She’s quiet for a moment. “Are you okay?”
I meet her eyes. She studies me with her eyebrows drawn together, seeming genuinely concerned.
“I’m okay. Thanks for asking.”
“What about him?” Algar cocks his head, gesturing to Thane.
“I’m sure he’s fine. Nothing bothers him, right?” I try to divert the question. I want to ask Algar if he knows about Thane having a brother. It didn’t come up in the conversation we had during the fete. Now isn’t the time, though.
