Matthias flew up.
‘What’s that?’ I cried, standing and clutching his arm.
‘MATTHIAS!’
Ifan and Asher, surrounded by a blurred collection of guards, broke through the rain, tearing towards us.
Matthias placed a hand over mine. ‘That’s the invasion warning.’
‘A ship,’ Ifan cried. ‘A ship’s washed up.’
My heart hammered and I gripped Matthias’s rain-soaked hand.
‘It’s not big. It was spotted washing up earlier. Could have been a storm,’ Asher said, all the mirth gone from his face. ‘A fisherman found it. Said it was empty bar a few broken crates and barrels.’
My grip on Matthias loosened. It certainly didn’t sound like an invasion force.
‘Then why the alarm?’
Matthias nodded in the direction of a tower I couldn’t see.
Ifan and Asher exchanged a dark look as the first rays of the late afternoon sun shattered through the storm clouds.
‘The flag on the ship. A coiled snake, crossed swords?’
‘Carush,’ I whispered.
CHAPTER 21
Asmar, as your brother spent his formative years as my ward, I offer you an opportunity. An offer born of kindness and one I strongly suggest you accept. Asmar will be the first to fall – and fall it will. Allow me entry, act as my gateway to the Shuteran continent, and I’ll grant you figurehead status. A teeny, tiny bird winged his way to me, whistling a happy tune. He sings of your bride! I’m certain you must be deliriously in love. Stand aside, or her pretty little throat shall be the first of the very many I shall slit when my boots trample Asmaran soil.
— A DECREE FROM THE EMPRESS OF CARUSH, SENT IN SECRET TO KINGMATTHIAS OF ASMAR
‘Why’sshecoming?’ Ifan’s horse stamped her hoof, as he glared at Skye.
‘And why wouldn’t Skye join us?’ Asher’s bay mare whickered as he brought it closer to Ifan’s.
The twitch in his jaw was severe enough for me to see it. I clutched the reins tighter, wondering if it’d be wrong of me to persuade his horse to canter off in the opposite direction.
‘Surely one of us should stay behind. If something goes wrong at the beach then the entire Elmswood line will be wiped out.’
‘Good point,’ Matthias said, reaching over to me and squeezing my fingers. ‘Perhaps you should stay then, Fan?’
His dark gaze bored onto his king; his horse pulled against her reins as though her rider unnerved her.
‘I see why you’ve brought your wife.’ He moved his horse off, glaring over his shoulder at his brother and king. ‘It wouldn’t really matter if anything happened to her. From what I’ve heard there’s no chance she’ll produce an heir anytime soon.’
Matthias kicked his horse forward, while Skye threw hers between them.
‘For Evella’s sake. There’s an enemy ship on our shores andthisis what you’re doing?’ she cried, while Asher settled close.
‘You’re all spooking your horses,’ I said. ‘I don’t have a good track record using my gift on them, so I suggest we sort this out later and get ourselves down to the shore. How long will it take?’
Matthias rode back, every muscle on his grim face taut. ‘About an hour, but the wet ground will slow us. It gives anyone who might’ve been on the ship plenty of time to get away and hide. Let’s move.’
We rode in an awkward silence. I followed towards the rear, aware I’d no ability to defend myself were we to be ambushed. Though with Pablo at my side, it wasn’t something I worried about.
He leapt across the land, his exhilaration matching my own, and I harboured a pang of guilt for containing him within thelibrary. Some people mistakenly referred to him as my pet, ignoring my rebuffs. The wolf chose to stay. He was feral, dangerous, with the ability to turn at any point.
