Chapter 42 #2
A heavy weariness settled over the ship instead. When not even Geord quipped as Darcke snarled something and stalked off to climb to the crow’s nest at the top of the main mast, I walked on tired legs to the port, where I watched the harbor grow smaller.
“Hey.” Ivren didn’t look at me as he set his elbows on the railing.
I gave him a weak curl of my lips before turning back to the small fires flickering on Nordoen, to the smoke twirling above the thick forests.
I wondered if I’d see it again. If I’d truly get to know Envis and take one of the command positions when the Hird began in a few weeks.
“You’re going to be all right,” Ivren said.
I grimaced. “Am I that obvious?”
He shook his head with a smile. “I’m just going through the same thing.”
I hummed.
“He will do anything to keep you safe.” Ivren studied his hands. “Lika would be happy.”
One of my brows arched without my permission, and Ivren chuckled.
“That might have been a stretch,” he continued. “He is Darcke A’lian, after all. Lika would have thought you’d lost your mind.”
“Was he evil?” I blurted out.
“What?” Ivren’s face fell. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve just…” I pursed my lips. “I don’t know.”
“Lika was tough, Elvara. But not evil. He did what he needed to do.”
I twisted my lips. Something still didn’t sit right with me about what I’d found out about Lika.
Ivren tilted his head. “You’re bonded to the most lethal man in Skagerik, and you still aren’t sure?”
“He’s not that bad,” I mumbled.
Ivren bumped his shoulder into mine. “You need to be careful.”
“Why?”
“I see the way he looks at you.”
My hackles rose at the wrinkle between his brows.
Ivren lifted a hand. “I’m happy for you. Truly. But if I see it, others do too.”
“I don’t care about my mother,” I said. “She can’t say anything.”
“She’s not the problem here, is she?” Ivren asked. “The king is.” Ivren’s gaze snapped to my hands when they fisted, and he lowered his voice. “He’s tied to the king as well, Vara. They’ve already taken his magic and his people. What else is left if they find out?”
A haunting feeling swept through me, and I felt Darcke stiffen.
“There is nothing to find out,” I said sharply.
“I believe you. I only hope everyone else does too.”
“Is that a threat?” I asked casually.
“It’s a warning.” There wasn’t any remorse in Ivren’s face. “I don’t want you to get hurt. Or worse.”
My teeth ground together. “Everything comes back to the king.”
“Yes.” Ivren’s hands went white as he gripped the side of the ship. “He’s causing a lot of fucking problems.”
My head twisted to the mast, but Darcke was nowhere to be seen.
“Even our parents are worried,” Ivren continued quietly. “My mother was trying to keep it together, but she’s rattled. What comes next? We’ll all be sent out to lead a war before we’ve even begun our training at the academy?”
“I could see that happening,” I replied.
What would that look like? If I was at the Hird next year? If Darcke was here?
Would we go to war together? Me with whatever power the gods bestowed upon me, and Darcke with nothing but that mind that felt like it might implode?
“We have to do something,” I said slowly.
“What?” Ivren asked.
“I don’t know, but we’re all at risk now. This isn’t how it used to be. This isn’t what being a Viking means. Sure, we dabbled in battling for borders, and it’s not like we’re a gentle folk, but we were also pioneers in trade and shipbuilding and adventure. We can return to that.”
“You mean…” Ivren shot a look over his shoulder. “Getting rid of the king?”
My heart stuttered. “I’d thought more along the lines of standing up to him—demanding change.”
“Does that sound like something he’ll agree to? His soldiers can take us all, Vara. You might have Darcke on your side, but who will the king’s men choose if the king asks them to? Who will Darcke choose if the king tightens his leash?”
I closed my eyes when the gilded fetter that the water had revealed invaded my mind.
Darcke wouldn’t have a choice.
I searched the ship again, but my second was nowhere to be seen.
“What can we do?” I asked when I turned back to Ivren.
He pushed at a raven strand of hair stuck to his forehead. “I don’t know… If we even entertained it, we’d have to be ruthless—make sure there isn’t any room for mistakes—because if anyone finds out we even talked about this…”
“We didn’t talk about this.”
“Talk about what?” Ottoh asked as he came up on my other side.
My heart had never pounded so hard in my chest as when Ivren turned on his bright smile.
“Whether Elvara would leave her second for me,” Ivren smoothly joked.
Darcke’s interjection came from the captain’s wheel. “She might be an heir, but she doesn’t have that fucking bad taste.” His quip sounded calm enough, but my hand twitched toward my gut when a bitter, bile-inducing jealousy spread there.
Darcke was bothered by Ivren. Really bothered.
And it was immature, but I liked it.
When I felt Darcke’s scowl in my mind, I locked down any trace of a smile.
Ivren saw it on my face because he mouthed, “I’m sorry,” before clearing his throat, speaking the next part out loud. “Let’s talk later. I need to think.”
Ottoh stared between Ivren and me, a question weaving along his features.
“I would never consider him,” I said.
“Why?” Ottoh asked.
Darcke was eavesdropping, and I knew Ottoh was only asking on his behalf, but I indulged the poor man.
“Because even if it was well meaning, he betrayed me,” I said. “I could never forgive that. I need a man I can trust by my hearth.”
I met Darcke’s eyes as I spoke, and though his face remained stony—as if he hadn’t heard a word—he dipped his chin the slightest inch before turning around again.
Ottoh and I were quiet for a while as the ship took waves that were becoming increasingly tall, the sea unnaturally wild for summer. It was a comfortable silence, one that reminded me of my father, the way he used to say so much more when he withheld words instead of speaking them out loud.
When Ottoh placed a hand on my shoulder to return to where Vero was resting on one of the benches on the side of the ship, I stopped him. “Do…” I closed my mouth, gathering whatever bravery could be found within me. “Do you think we should do something about the king?”
Ottoh went still. “Like what?”
“Like… unseat him?”
I held my breath as Ottoh placed his hand atop mine.
“You shouldn’t speak like that,” he whispered. “Not with who your second is.”
But it’s because of him I’m doing it.
Ottoh used his other hand to tap his fingers against my temple. “Leave those thoughts in here. It’s not safe, Elvara.” His hand dropped again. “Let’s focus on surviving the next few days.”
I tried for a laugh, but it was mostly air rushing out my nose. “Almost sounds like you don’t want me to die.”
Ottoh gave me a slow wink. “I’d be fine if you stayed around for a little while longer.”
When he squeezed my hand, I nodded. “Same to you.”