Fedic stepped up behind me when the two men whirled, and judging by the flash of brown in the corner of my eye, Viljan was also on his way. Angry or not, he’d not risk leaving me alone in whatever this was becoming.
“It’s enough,” I repeated. “I’m bored.” I waved my hands at the karls, who were frothing at the mouth for the heirs to challenge each other. “Get out of my way or I’ll throw you off the ship.”
Disappointment cooled the air when I barged forward, but thankfully the people moved without me having to risk them learning about the emptiness in my veins.
I prayed the karls would believe my unsteady gait was because of anger and not because I was terrified of the men towering around me. My fingers cramped around the cup I held in my hands as I walked down the brow, and I didn’t dare look up until I reached the forest again.
When the shadows from the tree crowns covered me, I jammed my back against the rough bark and closed my eyes.
“You’ve really made a mess, haven’t you?”
I sighed as I opened an eye to Rakkel, who leaned against another tree, her body hidden from the glen. “Seems I’m not the only one who’s hiding, so maybe that makes two of us.”
“I’m only hiding from my guard,” she said. “He’s nice, but a little overbearing sometimes.” She looked me up and down. “I’d ask who you’re hiding from, but I’d venture the better question is, Who are younothiding from?”
“Touché.”
I didn’t have the energy to come up with some quick retort. Instead I started walking through the woods.
“You should really not be alone,” Rakkel called after me.
“Not the first time I’ve heard that,” I said.
“I’m not surprised.” Her tongue teased her lower lip as she motioned to the ship. “I am surprised, though, youwantto keep such a handsome man away. I’d be all over that if I were you.”
“Go for it,” I said.
I didn’t think she was Viljan’s type, but I also had never seen him with a woman. I was the one who sneaked away to secretly meet up with men my mother would never approve of.
Or at least I used to. Back when who I’d marry was my biggest problem.
“My my,” she mused. “Afraid of our father, are we?”
I turned the huff of pain into laughter.
If I’d ever been afraid of either parent, it had been my mother who commanded my dread.She’d thrown a fit when my father suggested we rid ourselves of the custom that guards could not touch us nor speak to other heirs, arguing that they heard and saw everything and it would be in our best interest to ensure their discretion didn’t drown in the bottom of a cask.
I was surprised my father had even managed to bend her to his will and allow Viljan to be my guard at all. She’d fought to have one of her uncles look after me—a man older than my father, seasoned in the old village ways and loyal to a fault.
Rakkel raised an inquisitive brow.
“My father doesn’t dictate my life,” I replied, refusing to give in to the painful truth of those words. “I am capable of making choices for myself.”
“It seems that way, since you’re here and not Lika.” She tilted her head. “Does he know you took his spot?”
Heat shot up my neck. “Of course he?—”
Rakkel laughed, but there was something strange behind it. “I’m only jesting. Lika would have to either support you being here or be dead.”
It was like being punched, but I forced a grin back across my face.
“Exactly.” I cleared my voice from any thickness. “Lika knows what I can do, and why it’s better for me to take on the responsibilities of the Sweengard heir.”
She blinked for a second, but her smile didn’t waver. “I hope for your sake that’s true.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked.
She shrugged. “Making enemies of the karls wasn’t your best move, but also, with some, it’s unavoidable. I mean… they’re going to try to come for all of us heirs at some point. You only made yourself a target earlier.” Rakkel cocked her head. “But making enemies with Darcke A’lian? That was your true mistake.”
