Raewyn muttered something under her breath.
“Well, Your Most Exalted Druidship, that would be me. Iama privateer,” I confessed and watched in some amusement as the two druids gaped openly.
“As I said, there is much to relay,” Aelir slipped in softly. “Our most pressing matter is that the three sisters expect a temple to be built on the shores of Renedith, the lands my brother has inherited.”
Kenton’s pale green nose crinkled. “That will be a lengthy ordeal. It took several seasons for the church to allow a small druidic chapel in Celear.”
“We have seven moons,” I supplied just to see the druids’ reactions. It was as I thought it would be. The same as Aelir’s and the others. Utter shock and dismay.
“Yes, you see our problem,” Aelir said after the two newcomers to the chaos of this damned realm shook off their shock.
“I feel that even if we were to lay a foundation of stone in the time allotted, that would appease the sisters,” I offered before taking another sip. The cold still lingered in my marrow. “If they see that we are earnest, and if your druids and others who fish the coastal region offer tithes and homages to them, then they might not bring forth an eagre so massive it will sink Melowynn into the ocean.”
“I may need to sit,” Kenton blurted out before dropping to the floor to rest on his heels. The man with him stood behind him so he could rub the slimmer elf’s tight shoulders. Oh, so another couple. How lovely. Romance was budding all over Avolire. I did not look at Le’ral, for our situation was not a love match. We had both agreed to that, so that was what it would be.
“The church will protest, as will the nobles,” Le’ral chimed in, which fired off a long, tiring discussion that I drifted in and out of as exhaustion pulled at me. The snap of my chin hitting my chest flung me back in time to glance about as everyone in the solar was staring at me. Fukkate. Was it my time to speak?
“Sorry. I’m quite fatigued. What was said?” I asked and was presented with a new cup of red tea and a kind smile from the mahouk. Kind man. Handsome. Not as commanding as Le’ral, who was watching me intently, his brow furrowed. “Paying court to sea witches is draining,” I joked, but got no titters. Tough crowd. No wonder the traveling minstrels were always ducking rotted fruit.
“I was asking if you felt the witches would allow us passage to Light’s Keep. The cures are nearly completed once I donate again,” Raewyn explained with strained patience. She did appear haggard now that I looked closely. Being bled daily to make tonics for the sick would drain an elf. Respect for her giving nature welled up inside me.
“A mercy mission for those who ensure ships sail safely. Aye, I am sure they would smile on such a gesture from the navyand the crown. My worry is not the sisters but the roaming privateers that have not replied to my missives.” Raewyn cocked a brow. Lady Merrilyn sat at her side on a settee, hand resting on the queen’s knee. “I’ll accompany you.”
“But you would need to take the cure as a preventive. It might cause some scales to grow on your back or chest. I would not ask that of you,” Raewyn replied.
“You didn’t ask, I volunteered. As for scales, it’s a small price to pay to save the lives of the villagers of Light’s Keep.” I sipped my tea as the queen regarded me with something that may have been respect. A thing mutually given, it seemed. “I’ll need time to get to Renedith to begin the work on the temple before we go.”
“Agreed, nothing comes before ensuring the witches are mollified. To that end…” Aelir said before taking a seat next to me in front of the fire. His blue eyes held mine. “…I will insist we read the proclamation that the dewraiths’ arrival interrupted. Then we shall have a small fete here in the castle to officially introduce you to the nobles that you will be interacting with once you take up residence at Castle Willowspirit.” My face must have given away my thoughts on a fancy dinner with uppity cockers wearing goose dust on their tightly puckered arses. “As a newly crowned,” his gaze darted to the coral crown resting on a side table, “prince of both realms, the people and the nobility will wish to welcome you. We can get things ready for tonight in the seafarer’s ballroom. The gala will not be as grand as we would have liked, but—”
“We in the royal we?” I asked over a richly scented cup of tea. Aelir tipped his gold head in confusion. “You say we would have liked, but to be honest, I never wished for a gala in my honor.”
“But you’re a prince of the realm. A newly found brother of the king, the ruler of the vills of Renedith. Surely you wish to take your seat on the council of vills owners and the court of—”
“No, Aelir, no, I don’t wish to take those seats. I never did.”
The room fell into stilted silence. Not even the gulls were noisy outside, even though the storm had abated to gift us with blue skies.
“Coelum, you…you never said a word to disagree. I thought you wished to leave the life of a pirate in the past. That you would sign on to sail for the navy, to be a spokesperson for the privateers and the lowly fisherfolk as you joined in the negotiations with the Sandrayans on the ports projects.”
My sight flew to Raewyn, who gave me the slightest of nods, thick dark hair sliding over her shoulder. Mahouk Nouradi graced me with a smile. Fukkate. Had they all planned this out already? Of course they had. My brother was nothing if not eager to pin me down on land at his side. I wanted to be angry at him but found I couldn’t be, not really.
“That is…I’m not a diplomat,” I argued weakly. “Nor am I a man made to bow to the rigid dictates of the imperial navy. Your Majesty.” I placed my mug on the floor then offered him my hands. He slowly slid his between mine. “Aelir, I never disagreed because I wanted a brother. And a sister and another brother and sister and a niece and nephew. So I let you steer me along into unfamiliar waters, even though I had no wish to sail those seas.” I gave his smaller hand a squeeze. “I came here to find my brother. I have no need for the frippery of the rest of it. I came here foryou. For this family that you have grown. That is what I wish. No jewels or riches or titled lands. Just family.”
His blue eyes grew dewy. “I understand. That is what I wish for as well. A sibling who I can lean on when the weight of this crown becomes too heavy. A brother to drink with, sing with, play games with. I never had that as a child. Umeris stole you from me. Ihdos knows the joys we could have had as young boys.”
“Aye, we would have driven that old bastard mad,” I teased. Aelir smiled. “So, no crowns or galas or lands? The twins would grow to hate me if I took Renedith.”
“The twins adore you already. And Alfina will inherit the kingdom, as she was born ten minutes before her brother. The vills would have gone to Al’fur, but as you are the eldest, it is rightfully yours. There are several lodges on crown lands he may settle on if he wishes to leave the castle. As for the other issues, we need to make the announcement and entertain the nobles lest they grow irritable.” I glanced at Le’ral, who nodded. By the witches tits, there was no escaping this courtly bull-wallow, it seemed.
I inclined my head. Knowing when to fight versus when to concede was the trait of a good captain. “Fine, read the damn paper and throw this gala. Then I shall leave on the morrow for Renedith.”
“I would have Asdren ride with you, as he is a dwarf and will command the respect of the masons and stonecutters of Renedith. The druids should go as well, for their input will be invaluable. Also, a royal contingency will accompany you.” I blinked at my brother. “The new ruler of the vills would not arrive without ceremony. A raven will be sent to the seneschal and the staff at Castle Willowspirit to ready the keep for you.” I may have rolled my eyes, for my brother snickered. “You will do well. Le’ral will be by your side tonight in case of any gaffes. Most in attendance will be eager to speak to you.”
“Most will want to see me run through with a rapier,” I mumbled before tossing a look at the queen. “Speaking of which, I would ask that my crew be signed on to sail to Light’s Keep.”
Raewyn’s eyes rounded.
“Truly, you are not serious? We are not sailing with cutthroats who have bounties on their heads,” she replied with vigor.