“And the sea looks so beautiful in preparation for her holiday,” I said, waving my hand out over the view along the bluffs.
“I have spent far too many days of late on that courtyard,” he said, turning his head down the path. He was staring at Hinnom’s watchtower, the tallest and broadest of them, sitting on the bluff over that low-walled stone terrace.
“Why have you been in the king’s watchtower courtyard?” I asked.
He stopped our meandering walk and pulled me to his front, arms wrapping around me, drawing me to him. “There are some days where that is where he likes to hold his war councils. Even in winter. He says it keeps us sharp.”
Yet another peculiarity of the Shark King, I thought. I said, “How does one get up there? I have never seen symbols in the corridors that would lead to his chambers.”
There was a hesitation as if he did not believe he should tell me, but he replied, “There is a door behind the shark throne. Behind the large jaw.”
I leaned my head back. “Be careful. Please. In Sealmouth.”
“It will be a battle of brevity. Do not trouble yourself. Perpatane has a legion of men and we will descend by the thousands. They may even surrender.”
“Still,” I implored. “I need you to promise you will come home to Pikestully.”
“I will come home to you, Edith,” he murmured against my ear.
But he would not.
I relinquished him to his duties and joined my friends in the baths, looking at each of them, while I cleaned myself. River was babbling about some fish vendor who had been sued by a tavern for selling them rotted dogfish, telling the story to Quinn as if it was the most interesting thing River had ever heard. Quinn was watching her soon-to-be wife with such indulgence and love I had to look away. Catrin, giggling, was relaying to Maureen something complimentary Prince Peregrine had said to her the day before. Mischa chimed in saying Catrin could make herself princess if she played her cards right. Maureen was laughing at Catrin’s pretense of offense.
“I do believe,” said Helena next to me, passing a rose and clove soap to me from a basket on the lip of the bath, “we may find ourselves friends with a queen one day.”
“You think he will marry her?” I asked so that only my friend could hear.
She nodded. “I do. He seems smitten and he could do worse.”
“He could do no better,” I agreed. “Mischa told me that she overheard men in Jeremanthy’s office saying the king wanted his brother to betroth himself to some wealthy Sibbereen family’s girl, to secure alliance with them. Before Perpatane can buy Sibbereen. But the prince refused.”
Helena cringed. “I hate that Caleb will march on Sealmouth a week from now. Or any of these men. Some of them boys. This war is a disease and I worry it spreads.”
“I cannot speak of it,” I said, closing my eyes.
“Edie,” she said, caution in her voice. “I need to speak with you.”
Quizzically, I turned to her. “I have two ears and am right here.”
“In private. Can we sit on one of the turret’s landings after breaking our fast?”
I said, “Of course.”
“Is that rose and clove?” Maureen asked, walking through the warm water towards us, bending her knees to stay under the surface.
“It is,” I said and handed her the soap.
“I feel so bad for her,” she said to us. Her head tilted across the baths to where the Lady Vinia and her daughter bathed.
“And why is that?” yawned Helena, splashing water at the suds on her arms.
“Her mother is such a cold lady,” answered Maureen. “And makes her dye her hair.”
“She does what?” I asked.
“She must have some other color in her hair. Like her brothers have that white streak,” explained Maureen.
“How do you know this, girl?” asked Helena, eyes glancing at me.
