It’s…incredible to be riding through a harbor. The dry space is around twenty feet wide and leads to the black rocks at the end.
Gods, that’s like the isle in the Sol.
As soon as I think it, Royo looks over at me. He rides beside me, guarding me, but also staring up at the water towering far above our heads. The prow of a sunken ship sticks out of the water over to the left. We pass lost traps, nets, and other debris, including rusted swords stuck in the muddy sand.
I have stopped time, but I have never experienced anything this amazing. I reach out and touch the wall of water. I can’t help but smile as my hand comes away wet. The sea is constantly flowing fifty feet into the air, yet the only drops that land on our heads are from the monsoon.
I force my wonder aside and remember that I can’t swim. I swallow the lump in my throat. If this goes wrong, I die. Again.
How in the three realms does this keep happening?
I vow to learn to swim if I live through this. It doesn’t look like swimming lessons are in my future, honestly.
We ride toward the rocks where five other people wait—two from Yusan and two from Wei and one other. Although I see their clothes and robes, I can’t make out their faces from this far away. The seafloor dips down. We had a better view from the shore.
Once we reach the rocks, we dismount and scale the twelve-foot boulders of the isle. Royo gives me a boost. My hands slip on the wet stone, but I make it to the top. The first two people I see are General Salosa and Bay Chin. Salosa wears his armor, and Count Bay Chin is in a suit with his noble collar over it. They stand under the banner of Yusan.
Shit.
Short of my father himself, Bay Chin is the worst possible person to stand in this parley. My stomach turns, my fingers icy—Royo’s going to kill him.
Royo reaches the top, and I put my hand against his chest for him to stay a step back. He looks down at my fingers, but then he stiffens when he sees Bay Chin.
Two people also stand under the Weian flag. I don’t know who they are. One wears white-and-blue robes, so I assume he’s a priest, and one wears elaborate armor. The last person on the isle wears gray robes—a priest. I look at his face and his red hair. It’s Luhk! Joy fills me that he survived. He must be here to record this moment and translate.
“Generals,” Vikal says in Khitanese. “And others unwelcome at our shore.”
“Vikal,” General Salosa says.
The Weian person in armor bows with a hand to their torso. They are a mix of genders. Mikail said some people in Wei are not male or female and instead go by xe.
“Vikal,” xe says.
What comes next is a mess of ritual and translation. Everything needs to be spoken in all four languages, despite no one being Gayan on this rock.
I’m not sure why I’m here, and that is a problem. Quilimar had a purpose in sending me, but I haven’t figured it out yet. I would think Vikal was supposed to murder me, but then Royo would not have been allowed.
No, from the way Bay Chin and Salosa eye me, Quilimar wanted them to see that I have the Golden Ring of the Dragon Lord and yet I am on her side. She wants them to know we have chosen to ally with the queen rather than give my father the ring.
As the men stare at me, I realize we won. We did exactly what we had set out to do. Quilimar is on our side, allied with us against Joon. But Euyn is dead, a war of the realms has started, and apparently, I’m going to have to choose between loves.
We won, but at the same time, we lost.
My father stands on the prow of his ship, wearing the Immortal Crown and watching the parley from sixty yards away. The priest king of Wei, however, sits on his throne in the middle of the imperial warship. I can just make him out. I think he’s ten years older than my father, and he’s being served grapes. Snacking as all of these lives are about to be lost.
“No terms can be reached,” Luhk finally says in Yusanian. “Return to your armies and prepare for war.”
I’m many things, but I’m not surprised. Bay Chin turns to leave.
“Bay Chin,” Royo says.
My eyes volley to Royo. He can barely contain his rage, the muscle in his jaw ticking. General Vikal notices as well, coming a step closer as Royo begins to pull his sword. He can’t do this right now. Not when we’re trapped on this rock in the middle of the harbor floor.
“There is to be no violence at the parley,” Luhk says.
Royo hesitates, but he lets go of his blade. “I will smile at your corpse before this is over, Your Grace.”
Royo issues a mocking bow.
