Chapter 30 Syrus #2
Ellis and Xan awaited them at the beach, sitting on opposite ends of a long blanket.
Since facing the queen, something had changed between them, but neither of them would say what it was.
It was a mystery Syrus had hoped to unravel before he left, but with both men refusing to cooperate and so much time needed to plan for their move, he’d had to let it go.
They both smiled when they greeted him and Eiri, at least, and he could only hope they’d work it out on their own.
As he’d hoped, the beach was deserted. This stretch of sand ran the length of Lodie Palace, but the palace itself sat high above them, at the top of a sheer cliff.
Ages ago, the land had given way, creating a natural barrier along the side of the palace.
Only a fool would attempt to climb the crumbly cliff, and anyone who somehow reached the top would be met with an array of warded traps.
They’d chosen a spot tucked up against the base of the cliff, giving them a clear view of the ocean while hiding the palace from sight. It also provided some protection from the brisk wind coming in off the water.
“I was starting to think you weren’t going to make it,” Xan teased when he and Eiri joined them, taking a seat on the ground.
“Just overseeing a few last-minute things.” Syrus put the basket of food in the middle, letting everyone serve themselves. He refused to admit how winded he was just from the walk down from the palace or how just bending to sit down made him light-headed for a moment.
For lunch, he’d brought almost the exact same food they’d had before the disastrous party, along with some sweet pastries he’d had made specifically for today.
Eiri had already warned him that many of the foods he took for granted here in Vaetreas were impossible to find in Canjir, so he’d decided to indulge while he still could.
“Everything is ready, then?” Ellis asked quietly.
He mostly picked at his food, his eyes downcast. He’d spent as much time as he could with his baby brother in the last few weeks, trying to make up for a lifetime of neglect.
While they were closer than ever, it meant that his upcoming departure would be all the more painful.
“It is,” he nodded. “The queen has finally lifted her travel restrictions, now that she’s called off the searches for Kien and Marsen.”
Despite their protests, Queen Delia had officially labeled Marsen Henschel a traitor to Vaetreas. He’d face the gallows if she ever found him, but Syrus had to hope that the man’s years as a spy had given him the connections he needed to disappear.
“I sent word to my mother about what happened here,” Eiri said. “If Kien tries to go back to Canjir, she promised she’d have him arrested.”
“Once we’re settled, I’ll send for you both, and you can come visit.” He glanced at Eiri, who nodded in agreement.
“I’d love to show you the island.”
“We’re going to become world travelers in no time, at this rate.” Unlike Ellis, Xan appeared to be at his ease, leaning back on one hand while he ate. Sometimes Syrus envied his cousin’s ability to hide his emotions.
“I think you’d need to travel a bit more than just visiting Canjir, no matter how much the nobility here likes to pretend that Vaetreas is the entire world,” Eiri teased.
“I can add Caranyvik to that list,” Ellis said, and all three of them paused to look at him.
“This is the first I’ve heard about this. You’re going to Caranyvik? When? Why?”
Ellis gave him a faint smile at the interrogation. “The queen is sending me as a representative of Vaetreas for the state funeral of Princess Alori. I leave in a week.”
Syrus ran through what he knew of Caranyvik, which didn’t amount to much. That name was one of the few he did know, though. “Princess Alori? Isn’t she married to Prince Kivenari? The king’s heir?”
“She was,” Ellis nodded. “She passed away recently, and the heir is now a widower. I’m sure the queen already has plans in the works to marry one of us off to him the second the mourning period has passed, but for now, I’m simply her representative.”
“Who is going with you? Have guards been assigned?”
“Do you still have the authority to assign duties? Maybe you can put together a group before you leave?” Xan suggested. He didn’t seem to like this anymore than Syrus did, his relaxed demeanor slipping away.
“I wish I could, but active military personnel can’t be ambassadors. By assigning me this role, the queen forcibly retired me from the military.”
Eiri’s hand settled on top of his, a quiet comfort.
That particular truth hadn’t struck home until recently, when he’d tried to go to his office to plan for his extended absence.
His lieutenant, a woman named Sonia, had quietly informed him of his new status and her new promotion.
While he was happy for her and knew she’d do well, it still hurt.a
“I’ll be fine,” Ellis assured them with a shake of his head. “It’s a long trip, but I’m looking forward to the time away, honestly. Prince Kivenari is quite a bit older than me, but I’ve heard he’s a good man. It would be nice to make some more friends.”
Syrus exchanged a quick glance with Xan, who nodded once in understanding.
One way or another, he knew Xan would find a way to be included on this trip.
Caranyvik lay to the east, across the Barenden Sea.
His brother would sail past the southern tip of Kargha, one of the largest trading ports in the world.
The island nation sat directly between the two continents, making it a hub for everyone traveling the ocean.
Their council maintained a heavy police presence to ensure safety, mostly to keep the flow of commerce moving, but the further away from the capital city one traveled, the rougher the ports tended to be.
He couldn’t help but worry, especially given his brother’s tense relationship with the queen.
After what had happened, he knew she was being watched closely by her council, but realistically, there was little they could do to check her power.
Without him here in Vaetreas, he’d have to trust Xan with this. He’d look out for Ellis, no matter what. That didn’t mean Syrus wouldn’t be sending a message to Sonia the moment he was back in his room, but he couldn’t let his concern cloud these last few hours with his brother and cousin.
“Once you return from Caranyvik, then, we’ll arrange for you to come to Canjir,” Eiri said. “I’d love for you both to meet my sister, Akari. Though the idea of you two being within five miles of my friend Laire does concern me. I’m not sure the island could survive all three of you.”
Ellis and Xan both laughed, and Syrus shuffled his worry to the back of his mind.
He’d have time tonight and during the trip to Canjir to worry about what came next.
For now, he just wanted to enjoy this time, sitting on the beach in the soft summer rain with the three people he loved most in the world.