“I don’t know,” he said again. Kai paused. “What wouldyoudo?”
Al blinked at that, and Kai couldn’t blame him. Al was a dear friend, but this was normally the sort of conversation he would have had with Os, normally Os that he would have sought out for counsel. But Os wasn’t here right now, and maybe it was unfair of him, but Kai didn’t really want another opinion from his cousin at this particular moment.
Besides, Al was just as much a member of his court and kingdom. Just because he enjoyed a life of frivolity shouldn’t mean he had no say in the wellbeing of their people.
Al blew a gust of air between his lips, hands landing on his hips. “Adhlas save me, I’ve no idea Kai. What would be the plan? Find the settlement? Settle ourselves in the sea?”
“That’s an option, yes,” he hedged.
“Or stay here?”
“Or stay here.”
Al stared beyond Kai, at nothing, as though watching the pieces slot together in thin air.
“Well then, I suppose the obvious thing is to put it to a vote. I can see it going one of two ways, you know? Eisalaan may have changed, but it’s still the only home any of us have ever known, and I know some of us would want to be here just in case –”
He faltered, a rueful expression knitting his brow. It was unfamiliar on his open, laughing face, and the sight of it made something twist painfully in Kai’s gut.
“In case the Laune is ever recovered,” Kai said carefully.
“Yes.”
Kai reached out and squeezed Al’s shoulder gently. They’d never spoken about it; what might have happened to those encased deeper in the lake. But Kai knew that many of his people still held out hope. Al, it seemed, was among them.
“So we’ll hold a vote?”
Kai hesitated.
So much about this didn’t feelright.
Or perhaps it doesn’t feel right because you don’t want to leave either.
He tucked the thought away; he was having to do that a lot lately. It was becoming rather exhausting, tearing off pieces of himself and tucking them away for safekeeping. If he kept at it, what would be left of him?
“In due course. But before I bring this offer to the others, I want to be sure it’s genuine. Do you think you could ask around, discreetly? I want to know everything I can about the Empress Vanjir before we make any promises.”
Al grinned gamely, the beaming brightness of his smile melting away that uncomfortably sombre mask he’d been wearing. “The Earl’s daughters do love to gossip.”
With something of a plan in place, they parted ways. Kai had no sooner turned away from the privacy of his huddle with Al, than Adeline was suddenly upon him, eyes bright with laughter as her hand closed around his arm.
“Come on,” she urged, grinning, and of course he could not resist.
Gerard had apparently cleared a space for them all by flailing like an angry fish until the crowd around him stepped back by several feet.
“I’m not familiar with this dance,” he intoned to Adeline, eyeing Gerard’s rhythmic convulsions. “What are the steps?”
Adeline grabbed his face in both of her hands, pulling him down to kiss her. He could feel her smile curved against his mouth, barely suppressed laughter humming between them.
“That’s just Ger. There are no steps, you justdance.”
She took his hand and lifted it, twirling under his raised arm. Beyond her, Ceri had linked arms with Ger and the two of them spun in a wide and dangerous circle, given a generous berth by the other guests.
Adeline held her hand out to him now, a question in the arch of her brow. And maybe it was the wine, or the uncertainty that now hung above him, or maybe it was just the fact that Adeline had asked and he couldn’t bring himself to deny her.
Adhlas save me, why not?
He took her hand and drew her to him with one quick tug – and they danced.
