Chapter 32 Odessa
Thirty-Two
Odessa
“Wow,” Evie whispered, resting her head against my shoulder.
She was too little to see over the ship’s bow, so I’d propped her up on the railing, holding her close as we sailed across the calm waters of Roslo Bay.
The city’s lights twinkled and shimmered over the waves. The gold castle, lit by lanterns and torches and the unfiltered light from the twin moons, was aglow tonight.
Evie’s gray eyes sparkled with its reflection as she stared in wonder at the Quentin capital. For a moment, I saw my city from her perspective. Grand and marvelous. Glitzy and alluring, especially for a little girl. It was a world apart from the Turan fortresses and treehouses.
Roslo was said to be the finest capital city in all of Calandra. Ransom might disagree, since he’d actually seen every capital city. Maybe I’d change my mind if I ever saw Allesaria. But even I was awed by the city of my birth.
The gold plating on the castle was my grandfather’s doing. He’d been prone to spending Quentis’s wealth on extravagance. There were nobles who still spoke of his indulgent parties and galas, some with longing, others with contempt.
My father was a more practical ruler. He used Quentin resources wisely, and during his reign as king, he’d amassed a fortune for our kingdom. Enough to earn his moniker.
The Gold King of Quentis.
But Father always grumbled at the nickname. I’d heard him gripe more than once over the excess in the castle, from the gold utensils he found beside his plate at every meal to the myriad of jewels inlaid in the banister of the staircase that led to his private chambers.
The castle was excessive. Magnificent. It was intimidating in its splendor and beauty. It was home.
Home.
That word didn’t fit Roslo the way it used to. Maybe if we’d arrived during the day, if my cliffside had been more than shadows, I would have felt more at home.
Behind us, the crew hurried around the deck, preparing us for port.
The closer we came to the city, the tighter my stomach twisted. I’d been a jittery mess for days thanks to Brother Dime’s magic, and now that we were fast approaching the city, I was about to lose my roast chicken and potato dinner overboard.
How was Father going to handle this unplanned homecoming? Would he be angry when he learned that Ransom and the Guardian were not only the same man, but that the Turans had fooled us all during my wedding? Would he be willing to help me find a cure for Lyssa?
Would he finally tell me his secrets?
Shades, I wasn’t ready. We were supposed to have another day on this ship before we arrived in Roslo, and damn it, I could use another day to bolster some courage.
Brother Dime always seemed to thwart my plans. Bastard.
The evening we’d crossed paths, he’d left his ship for ours. Then he’d used his fluid magic to manipulate the water and wind to send us speeding through the ocean. The entire ship seemed to vibrate with his power, setting me completely on edge.
What little I’d eaten earlier churned in my gut. I’d barely slept since he boarded.
The priest had taken Evie’s room, and the flimsy wall between us hadn’t been enough to block out his magic. Not to mention the bed in our chambers was not designed for three.
Evie had slept between Ransom and me. Her wiggling combined with Faze’s never-ending protests from his crate and the constant sting of Voster magic had rubbed me raw.
Still, I’d take another sleepless night on this smelly ship if it meant avoiding my father for one more day.
Ransom’s arm slid around my waist as he came to stand by my side. While I’d been with Evie on deck, he’d been stowing our things and saddling Aurinda. “Ready?”
“Nope.” I looked up and found eyes of swirling silver.
The color matched the circlet he wore over his brow. The band was simple, a twist of metal threads woven together, its ends disappearing into the dark strands of his hair.
No more pretending.
Tonight, he was Zavier Ransom Wolfe, the crown prince of Turah. He’d walk into my father’s throne room much like he had months ago, cold and commanding.
Ransom’s eyes had been silver since Brother Dime boarded the ship. There was a barely contained fury simmering beneath his skin.
He’d confronted the priest about abandoning Evie and me in Turah, and had Dime not apologized profusely, promising Ransom he’d had no idea that Skore would leave us, my husband might have murdered the Voster.
Brother Dime had offered me the same apology, and while it had sounded sincere, I didn’t trust it or the brotherhood.
“Wolfe,” Jodhi called. “You’re needed below.”
Ransom growled. Then he slid his hand around my hip, letting it drop and caress the full curve of my ass.
I rolled my eyes, and while the color of his didn’t soften, I caught a smirk before he walked away.
“Let’s go rescue Faze from his crate,” I told Evie, helping her down from the railing. With her hand in mine, we crossed the deck for the stairs just as Brother Dime emerged, his burgundy robes lifted to reveal his bare feet and bony ankles.
His magic hit me like an icy wind, forcing me back a step as it drove into my skin.
It was nearly impossible to gauge the Voster’s expressions with their solid eyes, but something about him seemed harder tonight. As if he, like Ransom, was preparing to face a foe.
I shuffled Evie backward and to the side, making room for him to pass.
Except he stopped, blocking the stairs. “The old language. Did you learn it?”
“Yes.”
“Did you finish reading the book?”
“Not yet.” There wasn’t much left to read in Luella’s journal, but ever since Jodhi questioned the book, I’d left it in my satchel.
Brother Dime nodded once, then moved to walk away.
“What is it?” I asked. He probably wouldn’t answer, but it was worth trying. “There are stories in that book that came true. They unfolded before my eyes. It’s impossible. What does it mean?”
“It means you’re on the right path.”
That answer wasn’t helpful in the slightest. Well, at least I wasn’t surprised.
Did that mean Thora was the warrior Skore had intended for me to find? Did that mean I was supposed to be in Quentis for the migration?
I didn’t bother asking Dime, instead helping Evie belowdecks and down the narrow hallway to our room, where Faze was clawing at the slats on his crate.
Ransom had already taken our bags to Aurinda, so I strapped on the harness for my sword and slung my satchel over one shoulder, Faze’s carrier on the other. Once he was tucked away, Evie and I returned to the deck just as the ship came to a slow, floating stop.
Ropes were thrown to tie us to the dock as a wide plank bridged the gap. The access closure to stowage was opened so Ransom and the Mavins could lead out their horses.
Not a single fisherman or the captain bid us farewell as we walked off the ship.
It took the length of the docks for my body to stop expecting the motion of waves as I walked, and as we reached solid ground, Ransom lifted Evie into Aurinda’s saddle.
My hands were shaking, and I was too nervous to ride, so I walked beside Ransom, leading our small procession through the streets.
The city was quiet, most people tucked in their homes. It was impossible to tell with doors closed and window curtains drawn, but it didn’t seem like anyone in Roslo was preparing for the migration.
Had anyone started packing? Did they know the crux were coming? That the horde could arrive any day?
If I had to go door to door while I was here, I would give these people a warning.
We continued past familiar buildings and homes until we were standing before mine.
Ten guards were stationed at the entrance. The ornate golden gates were open, which meant there was an event tonight. Normally, they closed at dusk.
Two of the guards stepped forward, both tall, hulking men. One held up a hand, looking right at me as he spoke. “Off you go. Nobility only.”
I blinked. “What?”
“You heard me. Nobility only.”
He didn’t recognize me. None of them did.
I opened my mouth to tell him I was quite noble, but Brother Dime emerged from the shadows first.
The guards all shied away, their eyes wide as they remembered their courtesies and waved the Voster inside the castle’s grounds.
“Send for a stable boy,” Ransom ordered, giving the guard a withering glower.
“Of course, sir.” The guard offered a quick bow as we passed.
Ransom lifted Evie down from Aurinda, urging her my way. “Why don’t you both wait inside? We’ll be right behind you.”
Brother Dime stayed with Ransom and the Mavins while I took Evie’s hand, leading her up the wide cobblestone path that led to the castle’s imposing staircase.
“Wow.” Evie’s eyes were wide as we climbed the steps toward the arched, gilded doors. When we reached the top, her mouth was hanging open. “This is where you live?”
“This is where I used to live.” As we crossed the threshold into the grand foyer, I waited for a feeling of peace to hit me. I waited for my nerves to settle. I waited for the exhale that came at the end of a long journey.
But my breath felt lodged in my throat. The castle was familiar.
Yet I felt like a guest in my own home.
The marble floors were polished to a shine. The intricate gold filigree on the pillars and gables reflected the light from the crystal chandelier.
“Miss.” A guard marched to us, his bushy gray eyebrows pulled together in a frown.
“Good evening.” I couldn’t recall his name, but I knew this man. He’d been a part of the guard for years, with enough decorations and medallions on his uniform to indicate a high rank.
“How did you two get in here?” he barked.
Wait. Was he joking? I arched my eyebrows. “We rode on the back of a lionwick.”
“Do you expect me to laugh, girl? Off you go. Nobility only.” He took my arm to escort me outside, but I didn’t move.
“Let me go,” I snapped. “Now.”
“Outside.”
“I’m not leaving until I speak to my father.”
The guard huffed. “And who exactly is your father? The king?”