“I guess this is what we’ve trained for,” I said, trying to quell Darcke’s vicious emotions, which barreled into me so hard I struggled to draw regular breaths.
We will get him, I tried to communicate with a pointed look over my shoulder. Darcke refused to acknowledge it, his tense body turned to the chiefs as if he contemplated attacking them for passing along the king’s orders.
A leaden silence followed.
“You are to leave immediately,” Ivren’s mother said after sharing a long look with her son. “You may take my?—”
“My ship is ready,” Darcke interrupted. “She’s right here, and we can sail now.”
I turned my head down so the fear over how he addressed these people wouldn’t show. If I was going to find a way to save him, it would help if he didn’t get himself murdered by one of the chiefs or their spouses first.
“I don’t think—” my mother started, but it was Ivren’s turn to interrupt.
“That sounds perfect.” He waved toward the longhouse and the tents where a crowd had gathered before he spun on his heel. “I hope the king has other heirs in mind, because at some point our luck is bound to run out.”
“Ivren—” His mother tried for a smile when her son stormed off. “Well.” She clasped her hands as she turned to me, Ottoh, and Geord. Rakkel had moved to the side, holding an urgent, whispered conversation with her mother. “I’m sure you will all be fine.You’ve only lost one heir this year so far, which is very impressive.”
Ottoh scoffed under his breath, and I could only agree. That wasn’t the most encouraging speech as we got ready both to fight enemies we wouldn’t have if the king hadn’t forced us to expand his borders until his kingdom was the largest in all the realm, and to be presented to the gods to see if we’d earned their runes.
I turned to Kilia and Ilse, who were talking with Fedic and Ottoh’s iron-bound, but before I could call for them, my mother placed a cold hand on my shoulder. “Your third and fourth are to stay here.”
“Why?” I demanded. “Isn’t it better if there are more of us? Less risk?”
“I’m sure they have their reasons,” Darcke said snarkily.
My mother gave Darcke a look that would have made a lesser man cower. “You’re not bonded with them yet. They will not be welcome into the gods’ halls if they call before you return. Besides, fewer of you allows for an element of surprise.”
Darcke’s low laugh was so menacing my rib cage tightened.
“Let’s go,” he said. “I don’t like people on my ship when I’m not there.”
I hesitated for a second, but when my mother only turned and Geord, Rakkel, and Ottoh followed my second, I started walking as well.
I guessed this was how it was going to be from now on.
Darcke’s ship was quiet when we sailed out of the harbor again. There was none of the cautious excitement that traveled over the sea before the last trial, nor any poor jokes about cursed islands or blades or glory.
A heavy weariness settled over the ship instead. When not even Geord quipped as Darcke snarled something and stalked offto climb to the crow’s nest at the top of the main mast, I walked on tired legs to the port, where I watched the harbor grow smaller.
“Hey.” Ivren didn’t look at me as he set his elbows on the railing.
I gave him a weak curl of my lips before turning back to the small fires flickering on Nordoen, to the smoke twirling above the thick forests.
I wondered if I’d see it again. If I’d truly get to know Envis and take one of the command positions when the Hird began in a few weeks.
“You’re going to be all right,” Ivren said.
I grimaced. “Am I that obvious?”
He shook his head with a smile. “I’m just going through the same thing.”
I hummed.
“He will do anything to keep you safe.” Ivren studied his hands. “Lika would be happy.”
One of my brows arched without my permission, and Ivren chuckled.
“That might have been a stretch,” he continued. “He is Darcke A’lian, after all. Lika would have thought you’d lost your mind.”
