Chapter 34 #2
His question had more of an edge to it than I expected. It didn’t seem like one he had planned.
“No, I don’t. The Gods are too selfish for that.”
“You never really spoke of the Gods when we first met, but it seems that has changed. Why?”
“I am angry with them now. It was easy to ignore them when my life was simple. Once you need them, you realize how little they listen, how rarely they answer, and how eons of existence have made them cruel.”
There was no one to discuss this subject with as of late, but it had been weighing heavy on me for a while now.
Every time something bad happened, I found myself cursing the heavens for it.
Ever since being called to the Offering, I had felt betrayed by them; but perhaps my silence and lack of acknowledgement induced their indifference.
“Do you?” I asked back, not caring that in some small way I was engaging in his game.
“With every waking minute I have in this lifetime, I hope to the Gods there is another waiting for me,” Trace answered earnestly.
For him, I guess, I hoped that to be true. So much of his life he wished to erase. Perhaps, even meeting me.
All of a sudden, a burly male at the front of the boat began to shout, garnering the cramped passengers’ attention.
“No Fae can claim the sea, as no Fae can grasp every grain of sand. We shall sail the Endless Tides and meet the North at their doorstep and repay them in kind for their vicious deceit.”
Cheers began all around us as he roused the crowd. Trace and I joined in the jeers just to blend in appropriately.
“They have slain your queen!”
More angry shouts erupted.
“They have maimed and slaughtered our people!”
The inspired crowd heaved their fists and stamped their feet in agreement, jostling the boat.
“They’ve burned your homes and villages!”
I fought to suppress my feelings toward these falsehoods, as each bold claim demanded a rallying cry.
“Some say they defiled the innocent and most gifted amongst us!”
His claims had me swallowing the lump in my throat as I held back tears, utilizing every ounce of restraint in my body to not burn this entire ship with them all trapped inside. I felt Trace’s hand on my shoulder, trying to quell the rage I’m sure he could feel emanating off of me.
“To Cambria!” the man shouted, and in answer everyone responded, “To Cambria!”
In that moment, I knew the lies had fully corrupted the people of Artume.
Their motivation, though borne of deception, made them no less dangerous.
There wasn’t time to undo the ignorance that incensed such riotous emotions within them.
The ship began to shift indicating we were beginning our journey, and I felt Trace lean in to whisper in my ear.
“I’ll be back; I’m going up top to assess as best I can. Stay here.”
He stood and tiptoed his way through the pervasive mob to make his way above. I disagreed with his decision, but kept it to myself and tried to trust his instincts.
While Trace was away, I stayed quiet and monitored my surroundings.
I was seemingly surrounded by untrained commoners.
Many of them bickered amongst themselves, trying to keep their courage and spirits up by sharing stories of how terrible the Northerners were.
I closed my eyes and listened intently. No one uttered a single word of moonstones or any sort of organized plan of attack. I sent a message down the bond.
“We’ve set sail, and you?”
“Yes,” Varro replied quickly. “We’ve seen no signs or mention of moonstones. Have you?”
I confirmed the same for him. No luck in identifying the whereabouts of the stones.
The sway of the ship intensified as we left the bay and headed out into open water.
“Any signs of Zarif?” I asked.
“None. I don’t believe he’s on our ship. This one is full of commonfolk and very few Kingsguards.”
“How’s Cairis holding up?”
“Well enough. I think he would have preferred to trade spots with Saryn.”
I felt his amusement along the bond, like a joyful tickle, and it made me smile.
Trace had been gone for what felt like too long, and I was on the verge of seeking him out myself until I witnessed him squeezing past everyone to make his way back to me at the end of the ship.
“What did you see?” I whispered, eager for any information.
“It’s pretty dark out, I can’t be sure how many other ships sail with us, but I don’t think it’s as many as we thought.”
“Well, that doesn’t sound so bad,” I replied.
“Maybe. But you’re not going to like the next part.”
My stomach sank.
“We’re sailing directly into a storm. I hope you’re ready to get your sea legs, since you always claimed you were meant for this.”
Trace’s warning caused a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. But not because troubled waters were ahead.
“Storms are a bad—”
“Omen amongst my people,” he cut me off. “Yes, I know. But you don’t believe in that sort of thing.”
My silence conveyed my worry, because the last time he’d said this, the mission at the Canary Veil went off the rails and two of us almost lost our lives.
“Don’t worry about the storm. You should be more concerned with how many seasick Fae we are about to be surrounded by.”