Chapter 17
Seventeen
Five ships were tied together, and on each Guner and his men had created a makeshift training ring, marked by four barrels and a rope tied in between.
Their hulls cast into shade the dock we walked on, and my muscles coiled when warning whispers reached my ears as we approached Torden standing at the end.
“That’s the ship we were on that night on the lake,” I observed quietly.
Viljan turned from me to the beautiful oak ship floating farthest away, where the elaborate dreki figurehead in the bow stared at us as if it would either eat or extinguish us in the blue flames dreki were rumored to spew.
He didn’t respond, though, his expression fixed in a severe mask.
After Darcke and the others had left last night, I’d also sneaked out, and even though Viljan had called after me, I’d disappeared between the trees.
I’d needed to see that he was alive, but as those karls, with Geord egging them on, inched closer, I knew I needed to go back to keeping him at an arm’s length.
“Do you think it’s his?” Rakkel limped up my side, cocking her head to Torden.
The warrior with the long brown hair and the kind blue eyes kept a possessive hand on the vessel, and when he noticed me, he only patted the hull, giving me a strange smile.
“It must be,” I replied slowly.
A vibration went through the black wood of the ship closest to us, running through the entire vessel until the dock shivered as well.
I looked up at the tall stem. It was Darcke’s ship, and I couldn’t tell if it was still amused after our venture out on the water or if it had finally sided with Darcke and was furious that I’d dared sail it without its master.
“Hello again,” I mumbled when the ship creaked.
Darcke’s ship hummed with recognition, but I shuddered as it lifted atop the waves that rolled in under the dock and hid the sun entirely. An unsettling wind blew through the group of initiates walking around me, quieting even the most hushed whispers with its strange chill.
The other ships groaned in response, a rhythmic beat thrumming through the air. I wasn’t the only one who made sure to remain in the middle of the dock as we continued forward.
These ships were not the polished ones floating in the king’s harbor, with the heavy gilded figureheads, shining decks, and spotless sails. They had seen battle and death and blood—knew the cost of war intimately.
A deep wound I hadn’t seen last time ran down the port side of Darcke’s ship, and when the vessel remained still, I reached out a hand to touch it. A wave of fear and desperation and urgency rushed over my skin, making me retract my fingers as if I was the one who’d been cut.
“Careful,” Rakkel said quietly. “He’s watching you.”
I didn’t need to look up to know who she meant. Darcke had taken up a spot beside Torden together with three other warriors—each as rugged as the ships floating around us. The scarred man on Torden’s other side turned, showing off the tattoo of a rune that was inked where his left eye should be.
“It’s the rune for betrayal,” Rakkel said. “Someone he trusted took that eye. He’s warning others not to make the same mistake.”
My throat seized, and I couldn’t stop the jolt running through me when Darcke captured my gaze. His eyes narrowed when I fought to continue the steady pace with which we’d been walking.
“That’s Borje, Darcke’s right-hand man.” The girl with the white, almost violet hair came up to my side. “From what I heard, he hadn’t been back here since he lost that eye. He doesn’t like people.”
“Do any of them?” I responded, keeping my head down to avoid the warriors’ scowls.
The girl gave a short laugh, and despite every warning beating the air, my lips twisted as she overtook us.
Pretending to adjust the clean leather tunic I’d switched into, I peeked at the five men.
It was strange how many of these warriors who were supposedly critical to holding our borders now gathered at the Hird.
I hurried to keep up with Viljan. “Can you send a letter to my mother?” I breathed. “I want to know what they’ve found out about what happened before we left.”
Viljan was quiet for a second, but finally curiosity won over his anger. “You think it’s connected.”
I bounced my head forward. “Why would they be here otherwise? The Hird doesn’t need the king’s best men. Something is going on, and it doesn’t seem like Gustief or his men are going to tell us.”
“I’ll talk to your father’s guards to see if they know anything.”
“Thank you,” I replied, slowing down again until Rakkel was by my side once more. A quiver running through the wood beneath my boots was the only warning before the five men began walking through the crowds, looking at the arm rings all initiates wore.
“They’re dividing us into groups,” Rakkel said.
“Show me yours,” I demanded.
Relief flooded me when the mark on Rakkel’s silver band was the same as mine: five lines to represent the five heirs and the waves with which we rode the five seas surrounding our nation.
Viljan turned, lifting his band in the air, and while I still needed to stay away from him, I couldn’t help being glad when the same five lines marked his silver band.
“Let me see.” Torden waved for my wrist when we reached him. As I gave him my hand, allowing it to rest in his, he chuckled before stating, “You’re with Darcke.”
“Of fucking course.” Darcke shook his head as he gestured for Rakkel and Viljan to head up on the brow leading to the ship with the deep gash. “That way.”
“You could at least be civil,” I said.
“Why?” His drawl swept over my skin like a freezing winter storm. “I don’t pretend to be something I’m not.”
Torden squeezed my wrist before letting me go. “He bites as hard as he barks, so just… don’t steal his ship again, and stay out of his way.”
“It’s hard to stay out of someone’s way when he keeps getting in mine,” I replied, ducking under Darcke’s arm.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t fast enough for his other hand. My legs dangled in the air as he dragged me back by the collar of my jacket, bringing my face so close to his that the musky scent of salt-stained skin and driftwood baked in the sun all day folded around me.
“If you’re going to be on my ship, you will respect her,” Darcke said, his tone so low I doubted anyone else could hear him.
“I have all the respect for her.” I tried to keep my chin up, even if it was challenging when only my toes touched the wooden brow leading to the ship he was defending. “It’s you I’m struggling with.”
Viljan froze at my reply, and when he spun and fear etched itself across his features, guilt made me wince. I shouldn’t have attracted more attention. Darcke hated me, and from what he’d seen of me, could I really blame him?
He was right in that I’d acted spoiled and lied and made reckless decisions. I had none of the honor our people—and especially us heirs—were expected to.
My toes curled in my boots. We were so close to the bonding—so close to ensuring Viljan would be able to lead our people when I inevitably angered the gods enough that they had me killed. I couldn’t risk it because a man got under my skin.
“I’m sorry,” I forced out through my teeth. “I will respect you both.”
Darcke’s brows drew in, their darkness contrasting with his pale hair, as foreign as his accent.
“I mean it,” I added. “I won’t talk back.”
His eyes went between mine, and I held my breath until he set me back down on my feet.
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” he said as I started walking toward Viljan.
Turning my head over my shoulder, I gave him my most fake smile. The one-eyed warrior walked up to Darcke as he took a step toward me again, and I couldn’t read what crossed the man’s face as he whispered something to Darcke that made me whirl forward.
“I know,” I hissed when Viljan opened his mouth. “I know I shouldn’t rile him up.”
“You really fucking shouldn’t,” my guard said as he stormed the few steps up until he reached the deck. “He wants you dead, Elvara.”
I turned my faux smile to my guard instead. “He’ll need to get in line.”
Shaking his head, Viljan stalked off. My sigh rumbled through my chest, and instead of joining the initiates standing around the fighting ring, I walked up to the railing.
“I can’t seem to get anything right,” I whispered as I spread my hands over the railing, where the wood was so dark it could have been stained with the blood of Darcke’s enemies.
The wood pressed against my palms.
“I’m sorry I stole you,” I said. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
Even if she was the one who’d technically taken us out to sea, she’d only done it because of how desperate I’d been. A soft chatter filled my ears, almost like a child’s laugh on the wind.
“I had fun too,” I whispered.
Beneath me the warriors were still dividing the initiates into groups of five, and Fedic and Ivren raised their hands when they noticed me watching.
After waving back at them and waiting until they each walked up a brow to different ships, I was about to spin around when someone sidled up next to me.
Kilia towered over me, and somehow his distant gaze was more threatening than when he’d been intent on snapping my neck.
“Why did you not save him?” he asked roughly.
“What do you mean?” I searched the ship for Viljan, and when he noticed, he shoved several initiates out of the way to get to me. He was on the far side of the ship, though, so I needed to distract this man, who was so angry the air around him grew stifling.
“I keep going back to it,” Kilia said. “You wanted to save him. You could have used your strength to take down those wolves. I’ve heard all about your family—your father’s rune makes you stronger than anyone here. You could have easily killed those wolves and saved his life, so why didn’t you?”
“I—”
Kilia stepped into my space, his body pressing against mine as he pinned me to the railing. Viljan still had about half the ship, and although he was rushing now, the ship was too packed, and initiates kept holding him up.