Frederic examined him for a protracted moment and then relaxed, nodding his head. “Very well, we will await rescue here.”
The man let out a deep breath and bowed several times before retreating back across the sand. I surveyed the small beach. How long were we likely to be here? I could have sworn no more than an hour had passed since lunch, and yet the sun already hung low in the sky.
A shout sounded from the edge of the green behind us, and the searchers returned, each carrying handfuls of water cupped in large green leaves. The liquid burdens were all carefully tipped into Julian’s mouth. When they started back toward the trees, most of the group followed them.
Frederic sighed. “We must drink.”
Cassian nodded once. “We should check on Julian first, though.”
We moved as a group toward the still prone injured man, but when we reached him the rest of us hung back as Frederic dropped to a knee beside him.
“Are you well?” he asked.
Julian opened his eyes and stirred as if attempting to sit up, but Frederic placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
“I believe I will live, Your Highness.”
“What happened to you?” asked Cassian, behind Frederic’s shoulder.
Julian shrugged. “I had the misfortune of injuring my cursed ankle on a protruding nail. I went below deck to wrap it up at what turned out to be the worst possible moment.”
I frowned at him, waiting for him to say more, but he fell silent. His eyes, which had been focused on the princes, moved to me, and their message was clear. My frown deepened.
He had no more locked himself in that cabin than the catamaran had spontaneously sprung symmetrical leaks in both hulls causing it to sink rather than capsize. Someone had wanted it to sink, and that same person had wanted it to sink slowly enough to ensure their own escape. Why did he wish me to keep silent about it?
“I owe a debt of gratitude to Evie,” he said, and I was almost surprised to find he knew my name.
I chewed on my cheek. I had no great love for the viscount’s son, but he had aided me back there, just as I had aided him. He had even ordered me to swim for shore as he struggled to stay afloat. Perhaps I owed it to him to at least find out why he wished to keep the truth of the situation to himself.
“We will leave you to rest,” said Frederic, signaling to the rest of us to follow him. Together we followed the rest of the group toward the stream Marcus had found.
“What happened on deck?” I asked as we walked. “Why did none of the crew come searching for Julian?”
Cassian’s low voice was even. “It is exceedingly obvious that the viscount’s orders to Julian’s crew in the case of danger were to protect us at the expense of his own children.”
I frowned, but the idea didn’t particularly surprise me. As I had long ago discovered, the viscount was not a sentimental man. He would take his responsibility to the visiting royals seriously and expect his son to take care of himself.
Celine shook her head. “They basically threw the three of us into the water at the first hint of danger and commanded us to swim for shore. Frederic wasn’t too happy about it and would have climbed back on board if they hadn’t jumped in themselves to physically prevent him.”
“They would have ended up drowning me along with themselves if I hadn’t stopped resisting.” Frederic scowled. “Infamous for us all to abandon ship when some of our group were unaccounted for.” He glanced over at me.
I shrugged. “We all escaped in the end.” I hesitated. “Do you really think this was connected to the fire in Medellan? To the rebellion?” I had seen the ashes of an entire town with my own eyes, more proof than I could ever need that the rumored rebellion was more than just talk. And yet, the idea that it could have reached its insidious tendrils all the way out here to Catalie seemed somehow fantastical.
“Surely you do not think that catamaran sank itself?” asked Cassian.
I frowned. “No, of course not…” My voice trailed away. A different theory had started to take shape in my mind, but I couldn’t explain it without also explaining the truth of what I had found below decks. And I wanted more time to ponder it, to be certain before I accused anyone.
At least I now understood Frederic’s faith in the words of the crewman earlier. Their actions on the boat and in the water had demonstrated they were trustworthy in the matter of the royals’ safety, at least.
Plodding across the sand made my tired legs scream, but my thirst proved stronger than my exhaustion. We walked up the course of the small stream that trickled out onto the beach until we found a section clear enough to drink. Frederic gallantly stood aside for Delphine, who had obviously been left to drink last out of the previous group, offering her a large leaf he had just picked.
Something stirred in my stomach as she smiled at him gratefully. She had always been a kind girl, and in my absence, something had brought her out of her shell. Her features were attractive, and she belonged to the noble class. I remembered the way Frederic had rushed to support her in the water. Wasn’t this what Celine had wanted me to keep an eye out for? Shouldn’t I be telling Celine the good qualities of the other girl?
But I found I could not bring myself to do so. No more than I could bring myself to watch them laughing as they stooped to drink side by side. It seemed I had truly lost all sense of the appropriate.
I drank—blessed relief for my parched tongue—and stumbled back to the beach, unable to process anything more in my exhaustion. But as more time passed, I began to make mental preparations for a night on the beach. And then a sail was sighted.
Once more our small group formed up around Frederic, but the first person to hail us from the deck was the Earl of Serida, and I could feel both princes relax.
We were soon bundled in blankets, drinking from actual cups, and attempting to keep our eyes from the endless expanse of ocean as we sailed back to the manor with all speed. I wanted to curl up and sleep, but now that I had rested a little, my mind wouldn’t let me relax. Someone had put us all in danger, and I was fairly certain that I was the only one—with the exception of Julian—who knew who it was.
Part II
The Jungle and the Desert
Chapter 12
The viscount met us at the dock with a contingent both from the Tour and the manor. Gasps arose from the small crowd when Julian was carried off on a stretcher, the doctor who had accompanied the earl hovering over him. Our group straggled off after them, dispersing among the family and friends waiting. Except for Frederic who strode straight to the viscount.
“I want a full investigation.”
“It shall be done.” The viscount gave him a full bow, deep concern etched in the lines of his face. Only once did his worried eyes stray to his son’s face.
We were led up to the manor where I attempted to peel away from the crowd to slip into my tent. But a firm hand on my arm halted me. I looked up into Frederic’s face.
“Not tonight. You should be up at the manor with us.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but Celine spoke first, her words interrupted by a yawn. “You can sleep in my chamber. The servants can easily lay out a pallet for you.”
I reluctantly closed my mouth and nodded.
But I awoke abruptly from my exhausted slumber after only a few hours and could not return to sleep. Trying not to toss and turn in case I disturbed Celine only made it worse, so as soon as the palest hint of dawn appeared, I slipped silently out of bed, to pace the corridors instead.