Chapter 13 #2
Snorting, Vox ushered us both toward the training ring.
It was time for artillery lessons, and I was fairly sure they were going to try long-range weapons today.
“Only the normal threats. You’ll be glad to know that he isn’t attending the tournament personally.
However, he is sending Yaron to ensure that I don’t embarrass the Line. ”
I could feel the tension vibrating off Hayle at the mention of Yaron Vylan.
The First Heir of the First Line had a reputation of a different kind to his father, but he was still capable of cruelty.
He knew there was a power imbalance between himself and the rest of his Line, and he was more than happy to take advantage.
Hayle’s fist flexed at his side. “He has to be kept from Avalon at all costs.”
Vox nodded. “On this, we entirely agree.”
A week later, there was a crowd of Boellium conscripts from all Lines on a ship, heading toward the Port of Eaglehoth.
Although there must have been close to twenty people on the deck, plus the ship’s crew, not one person looked over at the small armada of boats docked in open water off Boemouthe.
It was like the Second Line had shrouded their ships in an invisibility cloak.
It was impressive and terrifying in equal measures.
Master Proxius had given dispensation for all Heirs, and close family of Heirs, to attend if they wished; either to participate if they were a spare Heir, or to cheer on their kin if they weren’t.
Lierick had suggested that he was the favored cousin of the second Heir of the Eleventh Line, and who was going to contradict him?
Shay and Lucio had remained behind, but unfortunately, both Eugene and Ephily—plus several of their sycophants—had managed to attend.
I’d been excited that Acacia was also with us; I’d learned she was the granddaughter of Ingrid Uhlson, Baroness of the Twelfth Line, though she said they had a more democratic process rather than going through bloodlines.
Whoever she wanted to succeed her just got adopted into the family to maintain the prerequisite that an Uhlsen had to sit as Baron of the Twelfth Line.
It made more sense to me.
Acacia leaned on the rail beside me, looking out disparagingly at the ocean. “I don’t like it.”
I raised an eyebrow at her. “The ocean?”
She nodded. “It’s too big, too vast. Too much unknown both out there and down there.” She pointed to the horizon, then to the waves. “So much undrinkable water. And I don’t know how to swim.”
Patting her arm, I smiled. “Don’t worry. We had big glacial lakes around my home. I can swim well enough to save us both.” I lowered my voice to whisper, “And if that doesn’t work, Vox will fish us out.”
“Relying on the Heir to the First Line to save me is not as reassuring as you think it is.”
I gave her an understanding nod. My Vox was the man who loved the stars and me in equal measures, but that didn’t mean he didn’t have a reputation of his own. I couldn’t blame Acacia for being wary, when she’d never seen the softer side of him.
Someone from the Eleventh Line threw up over the side of the ship’s rail, and Acacia sighed. “It’s fortunate I brought a supply of ginger tablets.” She strode off toward them, already fishing the tablets from a pouch she had fastened around her waist.
Hayle slid up beside me, wrapping his big body around mine. He kissed behind my ear, and I could hear Ephily making a gagging noise.
Glaring over at her, I was going to say something, but Acacia beat me to it. “Do you need a ginger tablet, Ephily? Or perhaps some kind of lubricant to pull your head out of your ass?”
I snorted out a laugh, and Ephily hissed, “Shut your fucking mouth, dirt dweller, and remember your place. Just because some of us have decided to slum it”—her eyes slid to Hayle—“doesn’t mean you get to talk back.”
Hayle’s warning growl made all the hairs on my arms stand up. “You better remember your place, Ephily Ingmire, before I remind you in a way you won’t find pleasant.” His voice was rough and dark, sounding far more beast than man in that moment.
I stepped further into his body, a reassurance to him that I was okay, and also because I liked to bask in his strength when he was like this. Something inside knew that nothing could hurt me when I was in Hayle’s arms.
Lierick came to stand beside us, his arms resting lazily on the deck rail too.
“Ephily wasn’t so picky about slumming it when she offered to blow me behind the training ring yesterday,” he said, loud enough for everyone to hear, despite the wind blowing off the waves and the pretense he was speaking only to me and Hayle.
“I told her that I didn’t fuck desperate. ”
Soft laughter spread around the boat, and Ephily’s cheeks went bright red. She made a choked little noise, then turned and fled below deck. I kind of felt bad, despite the fact she deserved it.
“How much longer are we stuck on this boat?” I asked.
Lierick gave me a soft look. “Another hour or so. We’re almost there. In a few minutes, you should be able to see West Ebrus in the distance.”
His arms tightening around my waist, Hayle looked over my head at Lierick. “You seem to know a lot about the seafaring around Boemouthe for someone who’s never been here before.” He kept his words low and light.
Lierick just looked out into the expanse of blue. “Who said I’d never been here before?”
Had the Second Line just been sailing around, bending minds and hiding in plain sight for longer than we could’ve ever thought?
Silence settled over us, and I stared at the horizon until I saw land once more. I was ready to be back on solid ground.