“I will take responsibility for this decision,” the young sailor said, as he put his hand on the admiral’s shoulder.
Seawater rose above Elea’s ankles. The ship was sinking. They were running out of time and the illegitimate prince smelled of uncertainty.
At last, the admiral bowed. “If you would come with me, Your Majesty?”
Nora nodded regally and walked toward the admiral.
Her whole life, Elea had wanted nothing more than to be separated from her stronger cousin. To no longer be compared to her. To never have to see her again. But not like this. Not with Nora takingherplace and becoming a prisoner.
Elea grabbed her cousin’s hand to pull her back. “No.”
Nora’s opposite hand slapped Elea hard against the cheek, making her head turn. She let go of her other hand and stumbled back in surprise, splashing with every step. No matter how terrible the provocation, her cousin had never struck her before.
Nora pointed her finger at Elea. “For once, you will do asIsay.”
Her cousin walked toward her and Elea flinched in preparation for another hit. But it didn’t come. Instead, Nora pulled her into a tight, bone-crunching hug and whispered into her ear. “Trust no one.”
Nora released Elea, who nearly fell to the wet floor, her face still stinging from the strike.
Her cousin stabbed her finger into the young sailor’s chest like a sword. “If any harm comes to my cousin, I swear on your father’s life that I will track you down and dismantle you piece by piece, illegitimate prince.”
“You have my oath, Your Majesty,” he said, putting a hand over his heart. “I will see that your cousin is safely returned to Urka.”
Nora nodded and walked out of the room, every inch of her a queen. The admiral followed behind her, both of his hands shaking, leaving Elea alone with the prince, who was rubbing his neck. Elea could see a purple mark for each of Nora’s fingers.
He held out his hand. “Please come with me, Princess.”
Elea shrank from his touch.
He smiled at her reassuringly. “You have no need to fear. My name is Captain Gerard Batard, Your Highness. I will see you safely home. But we must hurry. This ship will be under water within the hour.”
“Do not pretend to be kind,” she snapped. “You are a man without honor. I am not your guest. I am your prisoner. You sank the ship I was on and killed the entire crew. Now you’ll give my cousin to your father, the King of Kaul.”
Captain Batard cleared his throat. “I am only doing my duty, Princess.”
“That excuse may balm your damaged soul, but it does nothing for me. You are a kidnapper. The worst kind of villain. The kind who traffics in human souls.”
“Then, you will not come willingly?”
It was a challenge, and for once, Elea wished to be brave. “Only a fool would walk willingly into their cell.”
Without a word, the burly young man grabbed her legs and threw her over his shoulder like cargo. “Zagre, fetch her trunks.”
Elea’s head bobbed up and down ignominiously as he carried her up the stairs, over the gangway, and onto the deck of his ship before tossing her onto the bed in the captain’s quarters. He locked the door behind him and she finally let herself sob.
2
NORA
Being a prisoner on the Kaulish naval ship had not been too bad. The entire voyage, Nora had been treated with respect, but now she was on her way to see the King of Kaul, who was rumored to be both power-hungry and mad.
Wiggling in her carriage seat, she couldn’t help but wonder if her note had been received. And ifhewas coming to help her. She licked her lips; he’d asked her to stay . . . but she’d left. There were no promises between them. No obligations.
The carriage ride to Haute-Rhône Palace took over an hour. It was not in Drennes, the capital city, but in the country. Rumors of Haute-Rhône Palace had not done it justice. Nora had never seen a larger building or a more beautiful one. The exterior stone looked golden in the sunlight and rose to three tall stories. There were too many arches and windows to even count. The center building came forward in majesty, flanked on both sides by even larger buildings set back but still exquisite.
They passed the ornately scrolled wrought-iron gates and then traveled over a mile of perfectly perpendicular, manicured gardens, with fountains on each side. On every fountain, there were carved people, larger than life, with water spraying from them. But nothing in the park could compare with the palace. Nora couldn’t help but wonder how many of the king’s people had starved so that he could live in such grotesque opulence.
A line of servants wearing matching black livery stood waiting for the carriage to come to a stop, flanked by a squadron of soldiers. One opened the carriage door and the admiral stepped out. Nora followed him, not waiting for or wanting him to offer her a hand. If the servants were surprised by her disheveled appearance, they were too well trained to show it.