“Why not?” Amerei asked, her tone sharper than her posture.
“Mother is Draekenra,” Gabriel replied, brow lifting. “They don’t intermarry. Xavien’s already breaking their rules just by looking at you.” His mouth curved in a dry smirk. “You should feel honored.”
“Hardly.” She rolled her eyes.
Issachar crossed the room with a heavy tread, setting a steaming mug of emberbrew in front of Viktor. The soldier inclined his head in thanks, though his gaze lingered on Amerei.
“I didn’t expect you to speak of marriage, Captain,” Issachar said.
Amerei laid her hand lightly on Gabriel’s forearm. The big elf shrugged, the movement rough, almost shy.
“The right woman will do that to you.”
Issachar leaned back against the wall, laughter rumbling low.
“Aye. And I thought my son would never marry.”
He jerked his chin toward Viktor.
“Now look at him—been grinning like a damn fool since he walked in my door.”
“The night’s still young, Father.” Viktor smirked into his mug.
Issachar leaned across, tapped Gabriel’s shoulder with the back of his hand. “He keeps this up, and I’ll put him to work. Nets in the corner need mending.”
Gabriel groaned, dragging his palm down his face.
“Dask, I’m glad I’m sleeping outside tonight.”
“Sleeping outside?” Amerei tilted her head.
“I’m not climbing in with you and Tory,” he muttered with a sigh. “And Issachar already said no.”
They laughed—dask, they laughed—and the sound spilled warm into the room, thrumming in Viktor’s chest like a forgotten song.
Issachar reached for his cane, still grinning.
“Speaking of which, we’d best hang your cot, Gabriel.”
Viktor set down his mug, leaning forward. The shift was subtle, but enough that his father’s hand stilled mid-motion.
“What is it, Tory?”
Viktor slid Storne’s letter across the table toward Amerei. The candlelight caught the wax seal, dark and waiting Slowly, she broke it open and unfolded the parchment.
“Father’s summoned us to Fort Sevrak,” she murmured, the words trailing into the stillness.
Gabriel’s eyes lifted to Viktor. “How long do we have?”
“The—” Viktor started to sayThe Midnight, but stopped. “My seer says three sunrises. Zeporah needs the full moon to complete the spell.”
Gabriel’s brow darkened.
“Why are we letting her finish? Is she still in Rhidian?”
“Oustinon.”
“Then we march on Oustinon.”
