Chapter 28
Richard hummed as he scurried around the room. He’d changed into a plain grey tunic, its wool itching at his collar. A leather pack sat open on the bed. Into it went three tunics, breeches, a warm cloak—
He stopped before his cabinet, considered a fourth tunic, and flung it onto the bed. Why not? He was going on an adventure. An adventure with Kaelen, and his heart would not stop hammering.
The door creaked.
Richard paused mid-fold. Elara entered in her nightgown, her hair loose and her eyes red-rimmed. Corwin hovered behind her in only his trousers, a purple bruise blossoming along his cheekbone. They stared at the pack, at the pouch of coins, then at Richard.
Elara frowned. “Where are you going?”
“Estara.” Richard returned to his folding. “With Kaelen.”
“What?” Corwin blinked. “You—You cannot—”
“What in all the hells is this I am hearing?” Dain’s voice preceded him, booming down the corridor, and then the man himself barrelled through the doorway in his night robe.
He jabbed a thick finger towards Richard.
“My boy has just told me that the king of Ardenia is riding out into Estara, and I said to him, ‘Boy, you must be mad, you must be drunk, you must have taken a blow to the head, because His Majesty is not—is not—dabbling in such dangers while I draw breath—”
“Father.” Kaelen was suddenly there, arms folded, leaning against the doorpost. “Pray, lower your voice. The whole castle will hear you.”
“Lower my—” Dain whirled on him. “You impudent whelp. You are dragging the bloody king along—”
“Aye, I am,” Kaelen said calmly. “If anyone can enter a deadly island, it is him. My king—” Kaelen peered past Dain with a smile. “Do remember socks.”
Richard blinked and dove for the chest of drawers.
“You can’t—” Corwin brandished a wild arm. “Kaelen, you can’t possibly—”
“He’s coming with me, Corwin,” Kaelen said.
“You can’t simply whisk Brother off, you dolt!” Corwin yelled. “He—he has responsibilities! He has—he has just had a fight with us and we must—we must talk—”
“This place is drowning him.” Kaelen’s voice hardened. “Galdran loosed those secrets to hurt him, and you’re all set to give that monster what he wants. So I am taking him away.” He shrugged. “You may deal with it however you wish.”
Dain spluttered, glaring at Kaelen. Whatever he saw in his son’s face only seemed to infuriate him further.
“Bloody buggering hells, boy!” He threw his arms up and stormed out.
Kaelen rolled his eyes. “Ignore him, my king. Are you ready?”
“Almost.” Richard crossed to the desk and withdrew the orange tracking gem from the third drawer.
It prickled hot in his hands—Briony’s bedroom was next door.
He passed it to Elara. “Briony wears the sister gem on her necklace. The closer they come to each other, the warmer they grow. If she wanders off, that will find her. Keep it safe.”
Elara gaped down at the gem, then at him. “I—very well.”
“Wait,” Corwin burst out. “Brother, you cannot leave now, not after—after tonight. It isn’t fair—”
Richard joined Kaelen at the door and swung his pack over a shoulder. He slid the signet ring from his finger and lobbed it to Corwin. “You may handle my administrative duties while Elara governs in my stead.”
His siblings made for a funny sight—mouths ajar, hair dishevelled, barefoot—and Richard would have laughed but for the bitter taste lingering on his tongue. Kaelen lunged to embrace a pouting Corwin, murmured something to Elara, then seized Richard’s pack.
“I’ll carry that.” He stepped through the door, and Richard followed. Behind him, he heard Elara hiss to Corwin, and Corwin grumble something in reply.
Selwyn stood by the far door in the hallway. A shawl wreathed her night shift, and shadows clustered beneath her eyes.
“Mother.” Kaelen hugged her.
“Return to me, boy.” Selwyn thumped him twice on the back. Kaelen chuckled, kissed her cheek and left, headed for the stables.
Richard’s mouth went dry as Selwyn’s gaze landed on him next. “My lady, I—I will be going with him.”
She cocked a brow. “I gathered as much from my husband’s bellows.”
Richard glanced over his shoulder. Down the hallway, Elara and Corwin lingered by his chamber door. They just stood there, Elara rubbing her nose, and Corwin fiddling with the signet ring. And Briony was likely fast asleep. He hadn’t even said goodbye.
“My lady.” Richard turned to Selwyn. “I—I am being selfish, am I not? Running off like this, after—” He exhaled shakily. “Tell me to stay, and I will.”
Selwyn’s hands clamped onto his shoulders, her grip as stern as her glare.
“Boy,” she snapped. “If you turn back now, I swear by all the gods, I will knock you senseless and sling you over Kaelen’s saddle myself. Do you hear me?”
“I—”
“Go.” She gave him a shake. “The castle and your siblings will be standing when you return.”
The grin that split Richard’s face twinged his cheeks. He wrenched her into a hug, burying his head in the crook of her neck.
“Pray, tell Dain I am sorry,” he mumbled. “I know not if he can ever come to forgive me.”
Selwyn huffed a laugh into his hair. “Your first word, boy, was that old man’s name.
Came out clear as a bell one morning when he walked into your nursery, and by the gods, Haldric never forgave him for it.
” She drew back and cupped his cheek. “He’s cross because he loves you, loved your parents, and because he is a grizzled bear with more pride than sense.
Give him a few days to stomp about, and he’ll be right as rain.
Now, go.” She knocked their foreheads together. “That’s an order.”
Richard beamed. “Yes, my lady.”
He sneaked one final look at his siblings, and prayed to Eirwen of winter—
Keep them safe. Keep them whole. I will return.
Then he was through the door and walking—sprinting—to join Kaelen.