The Darathi Vorsi Prince (Song of the Swords Book 0) (9 page)

“
You would do that? Oh, thank you, Myrddin
.”
She flung her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek
.“
Having you along will make the search that much easier. I confess, finding a suitable donor for the empress does have me a bit vexed. Where to look? What are the qualifications? Will he even be interested
?
”

“
My dear, you worry too much about these things. There is
n’
t a man alive who would decline the chance to bed Lliandra. She is the most powerful woman in all seven kingdoms. The question you should be asking yourself is
,‘
Who will provide the empress with the Eirielle
?’
Tha
t’
s the only qualification we need concern ourselves with
.
”

Myrddin ignored the fact the Eleri had not only denied Lliandra, but had publicly stated he would remain untouched until his true mate was found. Lliandra had been in a snit all that day, and Faelara feared for the princ
e’
s life. The man might have survived Ull
a’
s arena, but life at Lliandr
a’
s court required a set of skills the Eleri obviously lacked. Fae was determined to keep Rhoane alive long enough to find this elusive donor of Lliandr
a’
s heir. With the donor in her bed, and the Eirielle a reality, Lliandr
a’
s power would weaken.

Not that Faelara wished her empress harm, but a lesson in humility might be for the best. The woman thought she could play with peopl
e’
s emotions, as if she owned them. They were her subjects, not her source of entertainment. Faelara pressed a clammy palm against her racing heart. Her thoughts were treasonous and could never be spoken aloud. Yet she craved to see Lliandra on her knees, begging for mercy. The woman had stolen something precious from Faelara. It was
n’
t right she get away with it.

“
Where do we look for such a man
?”
Her voice came out no more than a whisper.

“
I have a feeling he will find us
.”
Myrddin took her hand in his
.“
The trick will be in knowing when he does
.
”

Three days later, with Lliandr
a’
s blessing, the small group left Talait
h’
s harbor aboard a fine vessel. Their good-byes had been brief, their saddlebags packed with only essentials. Faelara glanced at the crowd gathered along the docks, waving farewell to the sailors who manned the ship. Baehlon stood off to the side, his face like a storm about to break. H
e’
d accepted the empres
s’
s command to marry Micah without so much as an argument. It was his duty, h
e’
d said. He was the Lady of Ligh
t’
s Champion and Protecto
r—
how could he say no?

Faelara had
n’
t cried in front of him. Instead, she had steeled herself against the anguish his words caused. She knew he loved her, but he loved their empress more.

She would never forgive him.

Chapter 8

RHOANE gazed at the stranger
s’
faces without seeing them. The
y’
d come to say farewell to loved ones, but he had no one in the crowd who waved to him. Off to the side, he saw the knight h
e’
d first met at the gates of the palace, Sir Baehlon. His expression spoke of suppressed rage, and Rhoane wondered at the cause. The ma
n’
s eyes were fixed on a spot to Rhoan
e’
s left.

On Faelara. Her face was a study in restraint. She was being brave, but beneath her calm demeanor, he sensed a fury equal to Baehlo
n’
s.

“
Fine day for a voyage
.”
Myrddin clapped Rhoane on the shoulder and chuckled genially as he strode away. He bent to say a few words to Faelara, who nodded in answer, her glare never leaving the dock, and then the mage ambled off.

The ship lurched, and Rhoan
e’
s stomach did several flips. He left the railing to find a comfortable place to endure the horrors of the trip. Baehlon had said sailing was like riding a horse, but this was nothing like being on horseback. The sway of decking beneath on
e’
s feet, the constant shifting of water tossing the ship, it was a special kind of torture.

He climbed down the steep ladder that led to where they kept the horses below decks. His stallion nickered when he approached, a wild look in his eyes.

“
Easy, boy. They tell me this will get easier
.”
He petted Lu
c’
s muzzle and neck, smoothing out his fine grey coat
.“
You are a desert creature and I from the forest. This is unnatural for both of us. But we shall overcome, yes
?
”

He spent a good portion of the day with the livestock, grooming Luc and the other horses when he became bored. Their coats shone in the dim light of his drossfire globes. A lad arrived some time later to feed the beasts, and Rhoane assisted. Wordlessly, they tossed flakes of hay to the horses, dinner scraps to the pigs and goats.

When the
y’
d finished, the lad thanked Rhoane
.“
You best be getti
n’
upstairs. The ca
p’
n will get sure sore if you are
n’
t at the table when suppe
r’
s ready
.
”

On his way to the main cabin, Rhoane heard a scuffle down a darkened hallway, followed by the muffled cry of a woman. He turned toward the sound, his hand reaching for his sword, but it was locked in a chest in his room. Captai
n’
s order
s—
no weapons allowed on his ship.

He crept silently down the corridor, one hand traced along the wall, the other in front of him. A loud cry, followed by a slap, had him running blindly in the dark. A glowing orb filled with his ShantiMari sprang forth and bobbed before him, lighting a pace or two of the cramped space. He turned a corner, and there, a man tangled with a woman. Light from a nearby cabin lit his profile, but Rhoane did
n’
t recognize him. The woman, however, he did.

“
Faelara
!”
he called, and the man froze in his attack. He turned to face Rhoane, his cheeks reddened with scratches, his throat dripping blood. Sh
e’
d fought the man with the bravery of an arena combatant
.“
Get off her, you trollo
p’
s cur
.
”

Rhoane grasped the ma
n’
s shirt and tore him from Faelara. His fist smashed into the attacke
r’
s nose, and fresh blood poured over his lips. A knee connected with Rhoan
e’
s privates, which knocked him backward and gave the man enough space to run off in the opposite direction.

Rhoane wheezed a moment, his head dizzy with pain. Faelara gasped as well, her hands clinging to her torn gown. Rhoane pushed aside his discomfort and rose to face her
.“
Are you hurt
?”
He scanned her face and body, noting bruises around her neck, scratches to her chest and arms.

“
Nothing a bit of salve and wine wo
n’
t cure
.
”

“
He did no
t—?
”

“
No, thanks to you. Had you been but a few minutes later,
I’
m afraid he migh
t’
ve succeeded
.
”

Rhoane glared at the darkened hallway
.“
What are you doing here, alone
?
”

“
I came to fetch a shawl. I have no idea where he came from. One moment
I’
m unlocking my cabin; the next, he was on me like a starved crellion and I a tender doe
.
”

“
Get changed, and I will escort you to dinner. After we dine, I will find this man and make certain he does not bother you again
.
”

“
Thank you, Rhoane, but
I’
m fine. Really
.”
Her rapid pulse beating beneath the fragile skin of her neck and the slightly acrid smell of perspiration gave away the lie.

“
We must tell the captain
.
”

“
Please do
n’
t. He did
n’
t want to take us on his ship. He said women were bad luck, and if you tell him one of his crew attacked me, h
e’
ll believe I seduced the young man. H
e’
s of the old way and thinks women belong on shore servicing their husbands, not out adventuring
.
”

“
He is a fool
,”
Rhoane grumbled.

“
Agreed. Wait here. I wo
n’
t be a moment
.
”

She returned wearing a different gown with a high neckline, a shawl wrapped tightly around her shoulders. None of the scratches or bruises could be seen. By the time they found the main cabin and their seats at the table, soup had already been served. The captain gave Rhoane a saucy wink but reserved his contempt for Faelara. Throughout the meal, he made lewd comments about a woman being aboard his ship and how best they could make use of her services.

Myrddin met Rhoan
e’
s glare and gave a slight shake of his head. After dinner, the men joined the captain in his private quarters to dice and play cards. Faelara was not allowed to accompany them, so Rhoane chose to stay with her above deck.

On their way out of the cabin, Rhoane pulled Myrddin to the side
.“
Faelara is not safe aboard this ship. She was attacked, and only by the grace of our gods did I find her before the cur took her maidenhead. Either you or I must guard her at all times
.
”

Myrddi
n’
s blue eyes held none of the mirth they usually did
.“
I was afraid of something like this happening. Leave it to me.
I’
ll put a ward on her. If someone so much as touches her, you and I will know
.”
He took Faelara by the elbow and led her up the stairs to the main deck. Rhoane followed.

They argued briefly before Faelara gave her acceptance. The hair on Rhoan
e’
s forearms rose when Myrddin placed the ward. Myrddi
n’
s ShantiMari was ancient. Much older than any Eler
i’
s. It prickled against Rhoan
e’
s skin and scratched against his own power. Myrddin gave them both a command to be alert and cautious, then left to join the captain and his men.

Tears glittered in Faelar
a’
s eyes when she finally turned to face Rhoane
.“
How could you tell him? H
e’
s my fathe
r’
s closest friend. Once he learns of the attack, h
e’
ll insist I come home
.
”

The ship pitched slightly, and Rhoane gripped the railing like a man clinging to the side of a cliff
.“
Be angry if you will, but I cannot live with myself if you are harmed
.
”

The ship tilted again, and his stomach churned violently.

“
You are positively green, Rhoane. Have you never sailed before
?
”

“
Never. Nor had I seen the ocean before reaching Talaith
.
”

“
May I
?”
She reached toward his forehead and he blanched
.“
And now yo
u’
re white as a snowdrop. Honestly, are you always this fidgety around women
?”
Her hand hovered close to his face
.“
I only want to ease your seasickness. Nothing more
.”
She snorted in an unladylike manner
.“
Trust me,
I’
m not looking for a beau at the moment. If ever
.”
He gave a quick nod toward her fingers and she lightly touched his cool skin. Instantly, warmth spread through him, settling his stomach and calming his anxious pulse.

Her ShantiMari was infused with caring, like his mothe
r’
s had been
.“
Thank you, Lady Faelara
.”
He took a half-step back, to end their connection.

Her eyes narrowed and she tapped a finger to her lips
.“
You do
n’
t trust women, do you
?
”

“
Some yes, most no
.
”

Her spontaneous laughter bounced across the empty deck
.“
I appreciate your honesty. I meant what I said. I do not want a lover, a husband, a tryst. I know you are committed to the Eirielle and I will respect that. I do hope someday you will trust me
.”
She took his arm and skillfully changed the subject
.“
I suppose this trip is new for both of us.
I’
ve been aboard ships going from Talaith to Paderau, but never on the ocean. It helps if you keep your knees flexible to sway with the rocking
.
”

“
I will endeavor to remember that. Thank you
.”
He squeezed her fingers as they rested upon his sleeve. Nothing more needed to be said. He relaxed, knowing he and Faelara would be friends.

They passed several bells in genial conversation. Rhoane told Faelara about his trials with the Ullans; she entertained him with tales of her childhood. Her mother had died when she was very young, and Brandt raised her alone. Curious by nature, Faelara often helped her father with his odd experiments, even adding to a design h
e’
d made to study the stars. Sh
e’
d gotten the idea from Myrddi
n’
s magnifying spectacles. Her father spent bells upon bells studying the stars, always asking what was beyond the glittering swaths of sky.

Rhoane stared at the twinkling lights. H
e’
d never wondered whether anything lived beyond them, believing everything he knew and loved lived among the trees of the Narthvier. H
e’
d been n
aï
ve then, an innocent boy, but no longer. If there were ships that could sail upon the sea, and giants who fought because their laird ordered it, what else was there to discover? The stars gave no answers, but opened up the possibility of many more questions.