“You seemed less than thankful last night,” I pointed out as a young elven woman slipped in to place platters with toast, eggs, and a zesty-smelling sausage before us. Plates were laid out then she left on silent feet.
“True, and I am still not wholly thankful or gracious for the news, but it is something I cannot overlook. Nor will I bury it as others sought to do for too long. I have sent a letter to the king…Aelir…the king.” He snorted in derision. “I do not know what to even call him.”
“He goes by His Majesty,” I said while Asdren stabbed a sausage with his eating dagger.
“I’m sure he does. I sent a letter to His Majesty telling him that I received his missive. I told him you did an admirable job and should be praised when you return.”
“You had me out at the front gates,” I pointed out, which made him chuckle then wince.
“That we did, but we’re incredibly suspicious. Comes with the territory.”
I nodded. I understood suspicion well.
“To that end, I told His Majesty that I would be arriving at the port of Celear in a fortnight, perhaps sooner, perhaps later, depending on how the sea witches favored us. I asked that I not be attacked or slapped into chains upon my arrival.”
“He will make it so,” I said, sure that Aelir would not act out against Cadere until his lineage was proven or disproven. “King Aelir is an elf of his word.”
“I do hope so. I’m putting a great deal of trust into this young king who claims to be half kin. I would offer you two passage to the capital if you wish it. I find that I enjoy your frankness and honesty, the both of you. Also, they would be less likely to attack my ship if I carried their envoys.”
Asdren glanced at me around his sausage. “Sailing would be faster than overland. No warring clans to avoid, no beasties to contend with, and no return to the mines.”
“If I can avoid being trapped under the mountains again, I would sail to Celear on the naked back of a horned whale,” I said with candor.
“I assure you that sailing with me will be more enjoyable than being on the back of a whale,” Cadere stated into his cup. “We’ll leave at high tide.”
“Today?” I asked and got a tender nod from the captain. I leaned over to whisper to Asdren. “I had hoped to get an hour abed.”
Asdren gave me a fast smooch with greasy sausage lips. “I wager we can eat fast enough to make that happen, Vol’ka Dor.”
I turned from my love to wipe the pork grease from my lips—but not the kiss, which seemed a silly notion—and then wolfeddown my fruit, hard-cooked eggs, and melon half in record time. While sailing on a pirate vessel was surely going to be exciting, it paled in comparison to being in the arms of the dwarf who held my heart.
