My brows felt like they were up at my hairline. “You could have gotten me killed that first day. What if the king hadn’t found it amusing that I wore the clothes of his enemies?”
Ottoh laughed. “Doubtful. I saw you behead that karl. There was no way you’d let a dress stand in your way.”
“As if I’d have a choice if the king wanted me dead.”
“Many want you dead, and yet here you still stand.” He bumped his shoulder into mine. “You literally chose the two people who might have been the most dangerous to you and made them your iron-bound. One your second.”
“It’s not like you have a crowd following you either,” I teased. “You had to pick your sister as your second.”
Ottoh twisted his lips. “I’ve never strived to be popular. Not like Ivren.” He leaned over the railing, watching as the water licked the hull. “I think you and I have that in common. That we are truly only here to shoulder our parents’ legacies. Maybe even make them better.”
Stars filled the sky, peppered across itlike the freckles on my nose and shoulders, and as the night deepened, a velvet blue arched over the sea and the two ships breaking the waves. Ahead, snow-covered mountains began reaching toward the darkness, and I rubbed my arms against the freezing wind filling the white sail behind us.
“What was it like growing up on Sjomarks?” I asked.
“Hard.” The smile on Ottoh’s face was strained. “More and more of the land is being swallowed by the sea, so we’re mostly relying on trade nowadays. All this warmongering Gustief has us doing lately is making that challenging. The past few years we’ve had to decide between starving and risking our and our people’s lives in battle. I’m grateful the gods gifted us scarlet oak so that we might try to return to some of our old trading grounds without losing so many men every time.” A sad chuckle echoed over the water. “My parents might actually think I’ve done one useful thing in my life.”
“I’m sorry,” I said, sliding my hand over the wood and touching his.
“Don’t be,” Ottoh replied. “I’ve always had Vero to make up for my parents’ disappointment in me. Besides, no one could miss your mother at the trial of wood. You seem to know what it’s like to grow up with parents who think they can do everything better and who don’t wish to hand over the reins.”
I gave him a crooked smile. “I’ve always had Lika.”
Something in Ottoh’s face tightened.
“What?” I asked.
“I just wouldn’t think it’s easy growing up in Lika’s shadow.”
“Why?”
“He…” Ottoh seemed to debate with himself. “If you think I was bad, some of the things Lika and his friends did over the years weren’t exactly appreciated by everyone.”
“Like what?” I demanded, something deep within me tugging, and not in a good way.
Ottoh leaned his elbow on the railing, turning away from the sea. “Why do you think it was so easy for people to hate you?It’s not like you were that bad. I mean, being unwilling to fight the karls was stupid—you must have known they would hate you for that—but they all thought you were like Lika, and for those who haven’t gotten to know you, I’d venture they still believe that.”
“I mean…” I pressed my tongue against my cheek. “Lika is ruthless, but you must be in our world. Especially as a warrior.”Or as an heir.
“There is a difference between being ruthless and being evil,” Ottoh said cautiously.
“Evil?” My voice was emphasized by the sail lashing the air. “Lika isn’t evil.”
“All right.” Ottoh raised his hands, backing away a step. “I’m sorry.”
I clasped my hands as I turned to the water again, listening to its whispering song. When I didn’t say anything else, Ottoh did the same. More cool air blew over us, sweeping my hair away from my face and making my eyes tear as the wind picked up. Goose bumps raced across my skin, and when I shuddered, folding into myself, Ottoh started to unclasp his cloak.
“Here,” he said quietly. “Take this.”
As I reached out a hand, the planks beneath my feet shifted. A curse flew from my lips when I fell backward, landing hard on my ass, then sliding even farther away from the heir as the wood tilted.
“What was that for?” I hissed.
Darcke’s deep voice rumbled across the ship. “It’s time to sleep, heir.”
My eyes remained narrowed when I lifted them to my second. I at least expected him to try to look innocent, but his face was all hard lines and pursed lips and a dark gaze, not an ounce of guilt marring his chiseled features before he spun and headed down into the sleeping quarters.
A knowing crease appeared by Ottoh’s eyes as he buckled his cloak again.
