“To keep Vero busy,” I replied as I swatted at the arm he tried to wind around my waist. “I need a drink to catch up with the rest of you.”
Ivren’s eyes swam, like the gazes of most of the people spread out across the decks.
I giggled when Vero squealed as he lifted her up and spun her around. For a second, I hesitated between going to the barrels where Rakkel, Stefen, and Geord were chatting, and walking over to Ottoh to apologize.
After dancing away the cup of wine I’d drunk, my mind was clear—albeit tired—and I believed Ottoh when he said he wasn’t the one who’d told Kilia about the tree and what had happened during the trial. But Viljan’s face snapped up as soon as I took astep toward them, and I spun again, heading to wet my throat instead.
If I was going to have a conversation with him, I needed more than one drink.
Evening had fallen while we danced, and someone had lit torches that were fastened around the railings of the five ships, their light spilling out onto the dark water and the people on the decks. The music was also darker now, with a sultry, dangerous edge to the melody that made people move closer and the air fill with unspoken promises.
I rubbed my hand over my neck as I avoided Torden’s ship and the man I was so aware of it felt like my blood lit on fire every time I felt him watch me. I’d been successful so far, and I counted the swirls in the black wood of the deck to keep me busy while making my way over to Rakkel and Ilse, who stood beside her.
As I took a cup and started filling it up from one of the small barrels, I listened to the conversations around me, and instantly regretted it.
“Golden oak… Can you believe it?”
“What does it even do other than predict the future?”
“Nothing, and only living trees predict the future. Not whatever this ship is.”
“Her parents must be so disappointed.”
“Did you hear her mother slapped her in front of everyone? The king had to stop it.”
“Did you see her try to run over her second? Can you believe how lucky we are that she didn’t choose us?”
I bent my neck, fidgeting with the tap.
“Ignore them.” Rakkel sat on the railing, her feet bouncing against the hull. “They’re jealous.”
“I doubt that,” I mumbled.
“They are.” Ilse placed a hand on my back while she gave me a full cup she already had in her hands, since I’d failed to fill mine with a single drop. “I’m glad yousurvived.”
I offered her a weak smile. “The trials weren’t fun. I’m sorry you’re going to have to go through them in the fall.”
“Oh, I meant the dancing.” Ilse winked. “Vero has endless energy.”
She’d intended for me to laugh, and it was impossible not to when I turned and Vero and Ivren were engaged in some type of complicated steps that made them slip, falling into a heap atop each other. But my shoulders hiked up when more whispers floated our way, the jabs in them meant for my ears to pick up.
“Look at that,” Ilse said, a low chuckle following.
I pivoted her way when the whispers snapped, expecting Darcke to be there with his glare and sharp tongue. Instead Kilia stood over the crowd, not a word leaving his lips but his intention clear when he brushed them aside like insects, leaving the stern empty and Envis alone.
“What did you do to him?” Rakkel asked.
“We just… leveled our interests,” I replied.
Kilia shot a look my way, and while I wouldn’t describe his face as friendly, when I nodded, a small part of that murderous glare he’d been walking around with the past weeks softened.
“You earned his respect.” Ilse sipped on her wine. “He’s from Sjomarks, and from what I’ve heard from others from there, that’s difficult to do.”
One side of my mouth lifted. I wasn’t sure if what Ilse said was true, but at least it seemed one of my problems had been resolved. For now.
Rakkel’s thudding feet drew me her way.
“Are you all right?” I asked.
