Blake ignored my comments and looked at Marshen with piercing eyes. “Then why are you here, Marshen? Has Silch not already forsaken us?”
“When King Ryvar was appointed as the new ruler of Silch, he sent his shifters to search for potential survivors from Ilma, tooffer them shelter in his kingdom. But it was too late by then—no one was found, including you.”
“And when was Ryvarappointedas king?”
“Around six years ago.”
“And your king decided to send you here now? Why?” Blake surprised me with his astute questions. He was no more than fifteen, but the answers he demanded, the questions he asked, were careful and calculated. A man trapped in the body of a teenager.
“I am not in a position to question my king. He sent me on a search and rescue mission, and here I am, already partially successful,” Marshen answered.
“And you believe that King Ryvar would accommodate us with open arms if he ever finds out about us?”
“Yes. He kept the search party going for years. I’m sure it was because he planned on taking you in.”
“Yet he still doesn’t fight for us. Doesn’t go save our people from Naar.”
“There’s no talk of a rebellion, no.” My gaze lowered, lest my face give me away.
“Fuck him, then.”
“Language, Blake! This young couple is the first to set foot on this forgotten land in over ten years, and they are here to help. King Ryvar clearly has a different vision from his parents. They brought a speck of hope with them…we haven’t had that in a very long time.”
I was about to correct her, to tell her that we were not a couple, but Blake’s next words made me swallow my own.
“What about Dad, huh? Would you rather he remain a slave if he isn’t already dead? It doesn’t sound any better, does it, Ma?”
The room fell silent, awkward.
Marshen spoke. It surprised me, how the company of a blabbermouth had its advantages sometimes. “Has anyone ever tried to leave this place?”
Alma’s voice was soft now, slightly raspy, as if she was tired after losing a bone-breaking battle. “Yes, two of our men are craftsmen. They were the first to start building boats. They taught the craft to other young men over the years.”
“Boats? I’m pretty sure no boat would make it in the Depths,” I remarked.
“No, of course not. But at the base of the island, the sea is calm. Our men built their boats there. They sailed south to avoid the currents, then followed the coast of the Brim Sea. But the journey towards the Florentine Port was too long…and without their powers. Some made it back on the brink of death; most never returned at all. We lost so—”
“Boats wouldn’t make it in the Depths, no,” Blake interrupted, repeating my earlier statement. “So tell me, how is it that you two survived the Depths? The strongest of currents, especially coming from near the Falls.”
Marshen spoke over me. “Sheer luck—though perhaps my Fae strength also proved useful. I never swam harder in my life. She barely made it,” Marshen added, tilting his head my way and pointing at his forehead—at the same spot where my cut was.
Fae strength? Not animal form? Regardless, I kept his…secret?
“You said six hundred of you crossed here?” I asked, looking at Alma.
“Yes, six hundred twenty-three to be precise. All from Nerithia. But we are at five hundred seventy-two now.”
“So fifty-one never returned?”
“More than sixty. Another four were lost to accidents. Without our abilities, we couldn’t rewrite their fates. But we were blessed with a few births during these ten years—twowomen were already expecting when we crossed.” Marshen was going to say something but Alma interrupted him. She seemed tired, somehow appearing older than she did earlier today. “It’s rather late. Blake will show you to your hut. We’ll show you the rest of the village tomorrow.”
CHAPTER 47
Marshen was deep asleep. He was sprawled on the bed I’d made him move to the other corner of the small hut the night before. I tiptoed my way out.
I appreciated the sunrise. My face, my arms, willingly absorbed the warm rays that made their way through ruffling oak tree leaves. I basked in it as I stretched my stiff muscles, then went about my routine, using a piece of log for added weight. Eldric’s voice guided me throughout. Bittersweet. Just like the fresh, cool breeze kissing my exposed skin—the memory of it.
I stifled all of it, finding solace in the steamy bath.
