Chapter 2 #2
“Cheers, everyone, and thank you for doing this for me.” I lift the glass toward the sky. “You sure know how to make a girl feel special on her birthday,” I laugh, and we clink our glasses together in unison.
“Cheers.” Silas’s eyes meet mine. No worry is evident, just a gentle happiness finally peeking through.
We grow quiet for a moment, the waves the only sound around us.
The past few days have felt strange between us as our nerves heighten the closer we get to our destination.
Darcy, the captain of the ship, announced this morning that we have just one more full day of sailing before we arrive.
Silas seems more on edge, but I know he’s putting on a brave face tonight for my birthday.
“We will be arriving tomorrow,” Oak says, as he cuts the silence.
Maines’s smile fades. “That’s what I heard, too.”
“Silas, what should we expect upon arriving?” Oak asks.
A sinister smile spreads across Silas’s face. “Should I keep it a secret or would you prefer I stress you out now, Oak?”
“A fight? Daggers at our throats? Creatures ready to attack?”
Silas chuckles and places his hand on my knee under the table, gently squeezing it. “Tomorrow will be interesting, to say the least. I don’t think they will try to kill us upon arrival, but I’ve been wrong before.”
Maines takes a long drink and drops the glass on the table with a thud. “Who is going to greet us?”
Silas sighs. “That’s one thing I’m not certain about.
This ship will look familiar to them, so the men at the port will probably recognize me and send word to my father.
That is a plus. Outside ships aren’t welcome in Andorwood.
” He narrows his eyes toward the sea, as if imagining our arrival.
“For example, if Oak were sailing in on a ship from Brinkym, they would likely kill him on sight.”
Oak grimaces.
A dry laugh escapes Silas’s throat. “I’m kidding.”
Oak adjusts his seat, shooting Silas a sarcastic grin. “Very funny, Mr. Nastronde.”
“So, your father could be on the pier when we dock?” I ask, wondering how much I really want to know.
Silas turns his face to meet mine once more, the candlelight dancing off his scar.
“It’s possible,” he takes a drink, “although it would be out of character for him to be there. Whoever greets us will take us to the castle.” Silas brushes at a piece of hair that has fallen out of place.
“It won’t be safe for us to linger around the port as it’s near the town center, and that’s not where I want to be at dusk. ”
“Why?” I ask.
Silas doesn’t respond.
Glancing toward Oak and Maines, who are now in their own hushed conversation, I take a sip of wine, basking in the sensation of the warm liquid sliding down my throat. Silas squeezes my knee once more.
He leans toward me. “It’s going to be okay,” he assures me, placing his hand against my cheek. “They are going to take you seriously and listen to you—to us.”
“I appreciate your kind words, but you can’t know that for certain.”
“I know.”
“Rumors travel, just like we have, and I fear what they’ve heard about Daramveer could cost us everything. And it would be my fault.”
He leans closer, pressing his forehead against mine. “Then, I will personally handle anyone who doubts you, questions you, or tries to harm you. You might feel like you're in unfamiliar territory, but I can assure you, I am not.”
I lower my gaze. “Do they fear you?”
“Yes.”
My gaze remains low as I let the world around me sink in.
“Right now, you need to believe in yourself—just like we do.” He lifts my chin with a single finger, forcing me to meet his eyes. “Don’t doubt your shadows; you need to embrace them.”
I lean into him, not wanting Oak or Maines to hear me. “I want to run from my shadows, Silas, but I don’t feel safe, even now. In the light she hunts me, but in the darkness she haunts me.”
He grabs my jaw, hard. “Bury her. You know how to control her. She hasn’t fully taken over after all these years, which is a testament to your strength.” He relaxes his hand and kisses my forehead. “Keep holding on for a little longer, and we will figure this out.”
Silas’s finger traces my jaw, pulling me to him until our lips meet.
In this moment, my worries vanish, and I let him kiss me deeply.
His soft lips take their time, as if he wishes to freeze this moment forever, too.
My eyes roll back as I savor this brief moment of intimacy before all hell inevitably breaks loose tomorrow.
He pulls back, and I wipe his lips with my thumb as he playfully bites it. “More of that later. Whatever you want from me tonight, my love.” He winks with a smirk, and my cheeks flush, a thrill running through me as his hand slides up my thigh.
Maines laughs from across the table. “Oak, what are you going to get me for my birthday?”
“Oh, Maines, darling, you won’t be able to handle what I will give you,” he responds, his voice stern, but with a joking lilt.
“For some reason, I don’t doubt that, Hombern,” she chuckles, shoving his broad shoulder as he flashes a wide grin.
For the first time in a long while, tonight feels normal. Tonight feels happy. I glance over the ship's edge, the dark sea surrounding us—as if the darkness is trying to suffocate me. I quickly shake off that thought as Rose appears from the narrow staircase leading below.
“Happy birthday, my shadow,” she says, her calming voice helping to ease my nerves.
Rose has been busy on the ship; she and Captain Darcy have grown closer, and she’s taken a role in the kitchen. According to her, cooking is the only thing that keeps her sane most days. Now, she carries a small dish of pastries with a candle sticking out of the center of the plate.
“Make a wish,” she whispers as she places the plate on the table.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath of the salty air.
A wish.
Silas’s words replay in my mind—bury Kalix.
When I open my eyes to find that the candle has already been blown out by the breeze, as if I wasn’t allowed to make that wish, I see everyone’s eyes on me again. Friendly smiles spread across their faces as they study me, and I know they are checking to see my current mood.
“Let’s do presents,” Maines says, taking another drink of her wine. “We all know what Silas is getting you for your birthday, but we wanted to get you something to open, too.”
I glance toward the box, which is now sitting on the floor. “When did you all have time to get me a present?”
“Don’t worry about what we do in our spare time,” Oak winks.
“Gods help us if it’s something from this old ship,” I mumble.
“Watch it.” He huffs in offense. “This ship is beautiful and mine; don’t speak ill of her,” Oak says, clearly irritated. Silas laughs.
Maines picks up the box and sets it in my lap.
The weight of whatever is inside presses against my thighs, sending butterflies dancing in my stomach from anticipation. I carefully lift the top of the box to reveal tan, crinkled paper covering something near the bottom. I glance at Maines, whose smile could brighten the darkest night.
Focusing back on the box, I remove the paper to see a golden point peeking through, and my heart leaps.
My mother’s crown.
The familiar black crystals resemble vines swirling around the points, and the bright gold glimmers in the night sky. I take a deep breath as I remove it from the box, and tears start to well up in my eyes. "Where...” I stammer. “How did you all get this?”
Maines nods at Silas. “Well, I can’t take all the credit. It was his idea, and Oak retrieved it.”
I glance between the four of them.
“I’ll be honest, I didn’t have a choice,” Oak slurs, taking a sip of his drink. “Silas would have killed me if I messed this up,”
Silas laughs into the rim of his drink.
“I can’t thank you all enough,” I say, fighting back the emotion welling in my throat. I snap my head in Silas’s direction. “What made you think of this?”
“You are a queen now, traveling to Andorwood. Not that you need anything to prove yourself, but I thought… Well, we thought this would come in handy—really make a statement.” Silas smiles widely and continues, “Plus, it’s your mother’s. I told you I’d do anything to protect the things you love.”
My hands tremble as I touch each crystal, feeling the smooth, firm stones against my fingertips.
Memories of my mother swirl in my mind, and for just a moment, I swear I hear someone softly calling my name.
She loved this crown. My mother wore it even on the most casual occasions.
Every painting in the castle depicted her wearing it; she always told me it would be mine one day.
I always dreamed of the moment I would wear it, but now it feels heavier—almost sour—like the weight of the entire kingdom will rest on my head.
“Thank you. Thank you all so much.” I can’t stop the tears streaming down my cheeks. “This means more than you will ever know.” I smile through the tears, and Silas takes my hand.
“And,” Maines chimes in, “you’re going to look like a total badass wearing that in front of these unruly men.”
We all share a moment of laughter.
"Well, I’m going to disappear for the night,” Rose says, patting my shoulder. “You crazy kids behave yourselves. Especially you, Hombern.” Oak raises his glass toward Rose as she continues, “We have important things to do tomorrow.”
I stand, my chair sliding backward, and embrace her tightly. She is the closest thing I have to a mother, and when she’s around, I feel as if my mother is here, too.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
She offers a gentle smile and moves to the narrow staircase, heading below deck.
While the others engage in a new conversation, I take a moment for myself and walk to the ship's edge.
Though we are close to Andorwood, all I see is darkness ahead.
The black night resembles a wall of shadows, pulling me back to the pier in Daramveer—the chaos, fear, and ancient power haunt me.
What are we going to do? How can we save Daramveer and our realms…