“Whatever you say,” Oak responds.
Silas slides a cup of dark liquid my way. “Shall we get back to this celebration instead of poking fun at Briar, please?”
“Cheers, everyone, and thank you for doing this for me.” I lift the glass toward the sky. “You sure know how to make a girl feel special on her birthday,” I laugh, and we clink our glasses together in unison.
“Cheers.” Silas’s eyes meet mine. No worry is evident, just a gentle happiness finally peeking through.
We grow quiet for a moment, the waves the only sound around us. The past few days have felt strange between us as our nerves heighten the closer we get to our destination. Darcy, the captain of the ship, announced this morning that we have just one more full day of sailing before we arrive. Silas seems more on edge, but I know he’s putting on a brave face tonight for my birthday.
“We will be arriving tomorrow,” Oak says, as he cuts the silence.
Maines’s smile fades. “That’s what I heard, too.”
“Silas, what should we expect upon arriving?” Oak asks.
A sinister smile spreads across Silas’s face. “Should I keep it a secret or would you prefer I stress you out now, Oak?”
“A fight? Daggers at our throats? Creatures ready to attack?”
Silas chuckles and places his hand on my knee under the table, gently squeezing it. “Tomorrow will be interesting, to say the least. I don’t think they will try to kill us upon arrival, but I’ve been wrong before.”
Maines takes a long drink and drops the glass on the table with a thud. “Who is going to greet us?”
Silas sighs. “That’s one thing I’m not certain about. This ship will look familiar to them, so the men at the port will probably recognize me and send word to my father. That is a plus. Outside ships aren’t welcome in Andorwood.” He narrows his eyes toward the sea, as if imagining our arrival. “For example, if Oak were sailing in on a ship from Brinkym, they would likely kill him on sight.”
Oak grimaces.
A dry laugh escapes Silas’s throat. “I’m kidding.”
Oak adjusts his seat, shooting Silas a sarcastic grin. “Very funny, Mr. Nastronde.”
“So, your father could be on the pier when we dock?” I ask, wondering how much I really want to know.
Silas turns his face to meet mine once more, the candlelight dancing off his scar. “It’s possible,” he takes a drink, “although it would be out of character for him to be there. Whoever greets us will take us to the castle.” Silas brushes at a piece of hair that has fallen out of place. “It won’t be safe for us to linger around the port as it’s near the town center, and that’s not where I want to be at dusk.”
“Why?” I ask.
Silas doesn’t respond.
Glancing toward Oak and Maines, who are now in their own hushed conversation, I take a sip of wine, basking in the sensation of the warm liquid sliding down my throat. Silas squeezes my knee once more.
He leans toward me. “It’s going to be okay,” he assures me, placing his hand against my cheek. “They are going to take you seriously and listen to you—to us.”
“I appreciate your kind words, but you can’t know that for certain.”
“I know.”
“Rumors travel, just like we have, and I fear what they’ve heard about Daramveer could cost us everything. And it would be my fault.”
He leans closer, pressing his forehead against mine. “Then, I will personally handle anyone who doubts you, questions you, or tries to harm you. You might feel like you're in unfamiliar territory, but I can assure you, I am not.”
I lower my gaze. “Do they fear you?”
“Yes.”
My gaze remains low as I let the world around me sink in.
“Right now, you need to believe in yourself—just like we do.” He lifts my chin with a single finger, forcing me to meet his eyes. “Don’t doubt your shadows; you need to embrace them.”
