“Who knows?” Her eyelids fluttered as she tried and failed to open them all the way. “Distract me from my boredom, Ruby. I’ve been cooped up here for weeks. Tell me about Sudesia. Is it everything you’ve ever dreamed it would be?”
“In some ways, I suppose. The island is more beautiful than I imagined. But nothing else has gone as expected.” I gave a brief account of my efforts to become a Fireblood master, including the part about stopping the lava in the first trial. I played nervously with the hem of my tunic, feeling strangely shy as I said, “And from that, they seem to think I’m the queen’s lost niece. If you can credit the idea of me being royalty.”
She closed her eyes and shook her head with a low laugh. “Of course you are. Because you weren’t special enough already.”
She sounded bitter, which stung. I couldn’t help but feel a little defensive. “It’s not as if I’ve been rewarded for my gifts before. Not in Tempesia, at least.”
“No, not at all,” she said drily. “Only with the infatuation of two kings.”
I inhaled sharply. Now she sounded… jealous. “I didn’t know you felt that way. You know I never wanted Rasmus to—”
“Stop, Ruby. You don’t need to defend yourself. I don’t really feel that way. I mean, I didn’t. Maybe only to a small degree, but I never blamed you.” She moaned as if in pain. “These past weeks… I’m finding myself dwelling…” She put her fingertips to her temples and pressed. “I just… I’m not myself.”
“Marella, we need to get you some help.” I leaned forward urgently. “A healer. Medicine.”
She laughed, a bit more like her old self, but cut with bitterness. “No healer can help me.”
My stomach flipped with worry. “Why do you say that?”
“Hmm? Oh, I only mean I can’t get help here. Hostile territory and all that.”
“You need to get home, then.” I scrubbed my hands over my face. When Arcus had said Marella was seasick, I’d had no way of knowing she’d be this ill. Clearly he’d overestimated what she was capable of right now. She was barely lucid. “Unfortunately, Arcus has been captured and the queen seems rather reluctant to let him go.”
“He was captured?” She huffed. “Well, of course he was. He couldn’t stay away from you, could he?”
My cheeks warmed. “Frost doesn’t show up in these parts too often anymore. You’d have thought a plague had just been unleashed.”
Her lips curved. “I’m sorry I missed that.” She paused, staring dully at me. “You’re the only person who makes him do that, you know. Lose his temper. He never does with me. Or anyone else for that matter.”
She made it sound like I brought out the worst in him. While she brought out… something better, at least.
When I didn’t reply, she asked, “Where is he now?”
“In the north tower of the castle. I don’t know what the queen will do to him. She’s convinced he has a fleet of Tempesian warships bearing down on her.”
“That’s what we should have done. Brought some warships. Made her think twice about defying us.”
“How can you say that? You never wanted Firebloods to be hurt.”
She waved her hand and I cringed at how bony it appeared. “Don’t listen to me. I hardly know what I’m saying.”
I heard the frustration and the hint of shame. Marella, for all her pretty smiles and fancy gowns, was as tough as tempered steel. She prided herself on it. This illness must feel like the worst kind of weakness. Concern and pity were not emotions I’d ever felt for her, but I felt them now.
Her lids fluttered. I sat on the chair next to the bed and went to take her hand, but she drew it away.
“When I get Arcus back to the ship,” I said, “can you haul anchor and get away from here?”
“We’ll be gone before you can blink.”
TWENTY-THREE
THE QUEEN SENT A MESSAGE TO SUMMON me first thing the next morning. My heart took up a rhythm somewhere between panic and terror. Had she heard about my nighttime visit to the ship? But no, there was no way I could have been followed. And if she had somehow found out, she wouldn’t have waited until morning to confront me. Perhaps she just meant to chastise me for daring to visit her captive the day before.
The moment I left my room, Kai’s door opened, as if a sixth sense told him I was passing by. He fell into step beside me.
“Do you realize,” he asked, “that tomorrow we’ll be Fireblood masters?” A smile lit his face, so wide and genuine that I couldn’t help but return it. He gestured with his hands as he spoke, all fizzing energy and excitement. “I have the perfect place to celebrate tonight. A little tavern on the wharf. It gets a bit rough after midnight, but don’t worry, half the people there are former crewmates who will back us in a fight. The ale is surprisingly…” In lieu of a description, he kissed the tips of his fingers to show his appreciation. “And the music is—”
“I’m sorry, Kai, but I can’t. I’d love to, but I need to rest tonight.”
I hated to say no, but there was too much at stake to consider carousing in a tavern with Kai. As soon as I took my vows as a master, I had to find out the location of the book. Once that was accomplished, I could focus on breaking Arcus out of the north tower and getting him safely onto his ship. If I was lucky enough to have the book in hand by that point, I would go with him.
“Rest?” he scoffed, not seeming to notice my abstraction. “Please. You—”
“Really, Kai,” I said, gently but firmly, to prevent a lengthy argument. “I mean it.”
As we stepped into the dim stairwell, he idly created a ball of flame in his hand, the warm light carving shadows under his brows and cheekbones. I sensed a thread of hurt hidden under the surface, and I felt an urge to comfort him. But what could I say without revealing the plans I needed to hide?
“Hmm.” He gave a careless shrug. “After our initiation, then. You can’t argue we deserve a celebration.”
“Sounds… perfect.” At least that wasn’t a lie. It did sound perfect. I just wouldn’t be here to join him.
Maybe he heard the longing in my voice. He gave me a sidelong look and said, “I know you probably don’t feel like celebrating. You’re worried about him.”
I stopped. “You mean Arcus? You don’t have to dance around it, you know.” And yet, I couldn’t meet his eyes.
He extinguished the flame with a snap. “Maybe I’d prefer not to say the bastard’s name.”
“He’s never done anything to you.” I resumed my descent of the stairs.
He caught up to me and put a hand over his heart, gazing skyward dramatically. “Except steal your affection.”
How I hoped that gesture wasn’t genuine. The thought of hurting Kai made me sick. Covering my worry, I slid him a mocking glance. “Are you sure you should be covering your heart? Maybe you should cover your coin purse instead.”
“How insulting. But perhaps you’re right.” A mischievous smile curved his sculpted lips. “There are some things I value more than my heart.”
“I don’t even want to guess what part of your anatomy you’re referring to.”
He laughed heartily, and I relaxed, glad my attempt to diffuse the tension had worked.
He took my hand and tucked it into the crook of his elbow as we reached the south tower. A few courtiers passed, looking at us curiously and whispering as we disappeared around a corner. I could only imagine the gossip we inspired. At least no one was sending me hateful glances or trying to trip me as I passed. This wasn’t the Frost Court.
“I just want you to be happy,” Kai said with a note of sincerity that touched my heart. “As I am right now, knowing we’ve passed our trials. And instead, you’re moping over your Frostblood…friend.” His tone had taken on a bitter tinge.
I was sure he’d intended to use a different word. His censure raised my ire. “Forgive me for having feelings.”