Chapter 22
Each nightI fall asleep wrapped in Jasce’s arms. Every morning, we linger in bed. During the day, Jasce shows me the different gardens surrounding the villa.
On the third evening after we arrive in Narhavva, I step into the library with Jasce.
Jude lounges in an oversized armchair near the hearth, while Arian sits cross-legged on the floor next to him, her brow scrunched in concentration as she pores over a thin book of poetry.
Jude glances up as we enter, a lazy smile spreading across his face. “There you two are. We were starting to wonder if you’d gotten lost.”
A faint blush colors my cheeks as Jasce guides me over to the sofa, and I sink down beside him.
“Not lost.” Jasce shrugs. “Just busy.”
A mischievous look crosses Jude’s face as he looks between us. “I have no doubt you two were very busy.”
More heat rises to my face, and I duck my head, suddenly finding great interest in a loose thread on my sleeve.
Instead of responding to his brother, Jasce wraps his arm around my shoulders and pulls me against him.
Arian shifts to look at me. “What do you think of Narhavva, Lady Annora?”
“It’s lovely, and please call me Annora.”
She nods. “This is where I grew up.”
She grew up here deep in House of Crimson territory?
How is that possible?
Seeming to sense the questions swirling through my thoughts, she adds, “I was an orphan and forgotten after my village was raided when I was a baby. One of the men from House of Crimson took me and raised me in Narhavva.”
“That’s incredible,” I say, thinking about the type of man who would be willing to take a baby from a House of Silver village and raise her.
A smile spreads across Arian’s mouth. “I was very blessed to be raised by a man who didn’t care about the bitter rivalry between House of Crimson and House of Silver. He taught me to be open-minded, to judge people by their actions rather than their house colors.”
“How do you divide your loyalty between the houses?” I ask after a moment.
She shrugs. “By caring about both houses. Some people might not see it that way. They might see me as a traitor instead, but I know my heart, and my heart longs for peace.”
I glance at Jasce as he converses with Jude. Maybe he has a point about us bringing peace to our houses. If people like Arian are willing, surely there are others who feel the same way.
“So,” I say as I focus back on Arian. “You and Jude?”
She smiles again and nods.
“How long have you known him?” I ask, wanting to know more about her relationship with Jasce’s younger brother.
“Ten summers. Jude discovered his love for fishing during one of his visits to Narhavva. It’s a rare spot in crimson territory where you can reliably catch a decent haul.”
As I listen to Arian, I find it difficult to picture Jude waiting for a fish to take interest in the bait dangling from his line. The image seems at odds with what I know about Jasce and his brothers. They’re all warriors. All fierce. All capable of leading armies of thousands.
“Do you have any hobbies, Annora?” Arian asks, drawing my attention back to her.
“I enjoy collecting seashells.”
Her eyes widen. “Have you ever seen the ocean?”
“Once, when I was a child.” The bittersweet memories rear up in my thoughts, painting images of that day with my father and Asha. He had been so caring, so loving, then he had just disappeared, leaving us without any trace.
Grandfather had called his son weak and cowardly. My mother never spoke my father’s name again. But I did in my bedchamber with Asha. We talked about him a lot, though our hearts never quite mended.
“Oh, that’s fabulous. I have only ever seen drawings,” Arian says. “Though, I have heard how lovely it is. I should go there soon.”
“The ocean is wonderful,” I say, a wistful smile tugging at my lips. “The way the waves crash against the shore, the salty breeze tangling your hair, the endless expanse of blue stretching to the horizon. It’s like standing on the edge of the world.”
Curiosity sparkles in Arian’s eyes as she leans forward, as if anticipating my next word. “It sounds like a place where possibilities are endless.”
“Precisely.” My hand tightens around my shell necklace. “There’s something about the ocean that makes you feel small, yet somehow connected to something greater.”
Jude laughs. “Connected to something greater, huh? Like the time eight summers ago when I got tangled in my fishing net and nearly became one with the fish?”
“I remember that.” Jasce smiles. “You were thrashing around, screaming for help.”
Merriment twinkles in Jude’s eyes as he speaks. “Those hooks are sharp. I could’ve been seriously injured.”
My brow lifts. “Aren’t you supposed to avoid becoming the catch of the day?”
He clutches his chest in mock offense. “You wound me, Ani. I’ll have you know that I’m an excellent fisherman. That was just a minor setback.”
Arian giggles and covers her mouth with her hand. “A minor setback that had you screaming like a banshee.”
“I did not scream like a banshee,” Jude argues. “I merely expressed my displeasure at the situation in a vocal manner.”
“Of course,” Arian says. “How foolish of us to misinterpret your vocal expressions of displeasure.”
“Maybe next time you should consider using your vocal expressions to lure the fish. They might be so startled by the noise that they’ll jump right into your boat,” I say.
Jasce laughs, and it does something to me—hearing him, seeing the levity on his face.
Jude wags a finger at me. “Careful, Ani. I might just take your advice and then I’ll be known as the fisherman who sings to his catch.”
“Singing fisherman?” Arian giggles. “I’d pay to see that.”
“As would I,” Jasce adds, his voice rich with amusement. “Imagine the looks on the other fishermen’s faces when they hear Jude’s off-key singing echoing across the water.”
“You mock me now, but just wait until I have the most bountiful catches in all of Narhavva.” Jude puffs out his chest in an exaggerated display of confidence. “Then, you’ll be begging to know my secret.”
The image of Jude serenading a school of fish is too absurd to ignore. “I’m sure the fish will be lining up to be caught by the famous singing fisherman of Narhavva.”
“Exactly.” A grin pulls at Jude’s mouth as he snaps his fingers. “I’ll be a legend in no time.”
Torchlight catches on Arian’s chestnut hair as she shakes her head. “I think the only thing you’ll be legendary for is your ability to spin tales, Jude.”
“Storytelling is an art, my dear Arian.” Jude leans back against his chair and fastens her with a long, playful look. “One that I happen to excel at.”
Brotherly mischief gleams in Jasce’s eyes as he speaks. “Is that what you call it? I thought it was more akin to exaggeration.”
“Exaggeration?” Jude scoffs. “Never. Every word that comes out of my mouth is pure, unadulterated truth.”
“If your fishing tales were any taller, they’d be scraping the clouds,” Jasce says.
Jude gasps in mock indignation. “How dare you question the veracity of my fishing exploits? I’ll have you know that I once caught a fish so large, it nearly capsized my boat.”
Arian raises an eyebrow. “Really? And where exactly is this mythical fish now?”
“Well, you see,” Jude begins, “it was so massive that I had to release it back into the water. I couldn’t possibly deprive the ocean of such a magnificent creature.”
“How very noble of you, Jude.” I slip my hand into Jasce’s and continue. “Sacrificing your legendary catch for the greater good of the sea.”
“It probably snapped his line before he could reel it in,” Jasce says.
“Details, details.” Jude waves his hand dismissively. “The important thing is that I had an unforgettable encounter with a true leviathan of the deep.”
Arian shifts to sitting in the chair next to Jude. “And what did this leviathan look like?”
Jude strokes his chin thoughtfully. “Picture a fish the size of a small island, with scales that glimmered like polished silver in the sunlight. Its fins were as wide as the sails on a ship, and its eyes held the wisdom of the ages.”
I can’t contain my laughter any longer. “Jude, I think you’ve been spending too much time under the sun. The heat must be getting to your head.”
Amusement glimmers in Jasce’s eyes as he grins at his brother. “Either that or he’s been sampling some of the local tavern’s strongest ale.”
“I resent that accusation,” Jude says, feigning offense. “My mind is as sharp as ever.”
Sympathetically, Arian pats Jude’s knee. “Of course it is. We wouldn’t dream of questioning your mental faculties.”
“Although,” I add, “perhaps next time you should invite us along on one of your fishing adventures. I’m sure we’d love to witness these legendary catches firsthand.”
“Oh, no, no, no. I couldn’t possibly subject you to the rigors of the open sea. It’s a treacherous place, not suitable for delicate constitutions.”
Jasce snorts. “Delicate constitutions? Have you met Annora and Arian? They’re tougher than you give them credit for.”
I nod in agreement. “Absolutely. We’re not some fragile flowers, Jude. We can handle a little adventure.”
Arian grins. “Who knows? Maybe we’ll even out fish you.”
A scoff escapes Jude as he shakes his head at us. “Impossible.”
“You know…” I wag my hand at him, “…impossible is a word used by those lacking a keen imagination.”
“Imagination without experience is like a ship without a rudder,” Jude says, showing off his more insightful side. “It may sail, but it lacks direction.”
I shift next to Jasce and smooth my surcoat. “But experience without imagination is like a rudder without a ship. It may provide direction, but it has no way to get there.”
Amusement plays across Jude’s face as he smiles at me. “Well played, Ani. It seems we’ve reached an impasse.”
As the evening wears on, I find myself more and more at ease in the company of Jude, Arian, and Jasce. The conversation flows effortlessly, punctuated by laughter and good-natured teasing. It’s a welcome respite from the weight of my guilt.
Jude regales us with more of his fishing tales, each one more outlandish than the last. Arian and I exchange amused glances as we listen to his wild exaggerations. Jasce occasionally interjects with a witty comment or a playful jab at his brother’s expense.
As the night grows later, a comfortable silence settles over the room. The fire in the hearth has died down to glowing embers, casting a warm, wavering light across our faces.
I stifle a yawn as Jasce stands and looks down at me.
“Shall we retire for the night?”
“Yes.” I rise next to him. “Thank you for the lovely evening,” I say, my gaze drifting from Jude to Arian. “It’s been wonderful getting to know you both better.”
“The pleasure is all ours, Ani,” Jude says.
As Jasce and I bid them goodnight and make our way back to our bedchamber, my mind swirls, but one memory rises above the rest: Arian’s heartfelt declaration that she cares about both houses.
I know the path ahead will be fraught with challenges, but I also know that I must summon every ounce of courage and determination within me to walk this path of peace alongside Jasce. It won’t be easy, but nothing in life worth fighting for ever is.