Page 71 of Feathers and Thorns

War is coming, and I am hoping to meet you on the front lines as friends and equals to fight for us all.

Jaideep Ashwood of the House of Drekar, Prince Regent of Patrivah

Without his father’s signet ring, Jai decided to use his turquoise ring to seal the folded piece of parchment. Using the ivory wax from a nearby candle, he pressed the smooth stone into it until the engravings around the stone embossed the seal. Before the wax fully dried, he proceeded to borrow Adaryn’s smaller signet ring and pressed it into the center. Then he looked upon the parchment, pleased with himself. If they survived, he would have a proper seal made. For now, he would settle for the melding of their two rings to match the melding of their hearts.

With the letter complete, he walked over to Everett and handed it to him. “Make sure the boy has the fastest mount,” he said sternly.

“Are you sure?” Everett asked, knowing well that King Otis’s steed was the fastest of the royal horses.

“Yes, I’m sure. Amadeus will ride true. We are running out of time.”

“Can do, Your Majesty,” Everett said, bowing with a flourish that had the rest of the group stifling a laugh.

“Yeah, yeah,” Jai said, giving his shoulder a shove. “Get out of here.”

They watched him go, sending a silent prayer to the Maker that the boy would relay the message in time.

In the week that followed the attack on Edras Mora, Jai had ordered a grouping of other messengers to gather the troops from all around Patrivah. Callan and Saoirse, along with the twins, parted ways to reach out to the other provinces, spreading the word of what was to come. Jai could only hope that some of the smaller military groupings across Entheas had survived.

Within the first few days, every available soldier in Patrivah, and anyone else willing to fight, was loaded into the wide array of ships in the south harbor to make the crossing to Stelonbriar. They had decided it would be faster to travel by water than to attempt traversing the mountains of Braexmirth. Jai had to trust that Erick would have followed his instructions and started setting up in the farmers’ fields.

He looked around at the inhabitants of his larger ship and guilt settled in his stomach like a bowl of rancid meat. They had numbers, sure, but he did not relish the idea of sending young women and boys to their deaths with little to no combat training.

The ships were filled to capacity with packs, bedrolls, canvas sheets, weapons, targets, armor, and as much food and water as they could scavenge. Luckily for them, the larger food stores were not located in the city’s capital but evenly dispersed around the province.

He laughed when he noticed Enara rubbing Baz’s back as he leaned over the railing. They hadn’t even started moving yet, and the poor guy was already fifty shades of green. Jai hoped for his sake that he had eaten a light breakfast.

“We are ready to depart when you are, Your Highness,” the captain barked from the helm.

He was still not used to people referring to him in such a formal way, but he did not correct him. “Onward to war, then,” he said, and the captain gave the order to unmoor from the dock.

* * *

“I still can’t believe he’s back,” Adaryn said to Soren, her gaze locked on Jai from across the deck.

“I’m surprised you let him off that easily,” Soren poked. “You know, besides his whole handsome, saving-the-world bit, two years is a long time to disappear without a word.”

“I thought you two were friends,” Adaryn said, eyes flashing defensively. “Besides, two years is nothing in comparison to knowing him my whole life. I wanted so badly to be mad at him, but when I saw you two in the kitchen, all I could think of was how much I missed him.” She paused to give Soren a side smirk. “And how much I wanted my knuckles to meet your face.”

Soren chuckled again. “I mean, that’s fair. You should know that nothing happened. I thought I wanted to kiss him, but he let me down easy. He has only ever had eyes for you.”

Adaryn blew out a breath. “Well, I can’t really blame you, now can I?” she jested, her gaze drifting to her lover. “I mean, look at him.”

The girls giggled as though they were school-aged again, chatting about their most recent flames.

“I hope you know I have all the respect in the world for the two of you,” Soren started, needing to clear the air. “I was lonely, and he was there. There was never anything real between us.”

Adaryn held up her hand. “Do not worry; Jai already told me everything. You two have been there for each other. I understand, and I harbor no ill-will toward you.”

The knot around Soren’s heart loosened a little. “Friends?” she asked.

“Friends,” Adaryn replied with a smile. “Now, I am going to go see if Mrs. Ferndale needs a hand below. We have many mouths to feed, and I don’t see how this boat will stay on course with two hundred hungry soldiers.” She turned on her heel and disappeared below deck with Soren smiling after her.

She gazed out over the dark water, wondering if this would be the last time she would look upon its large expanse. She could make out the dock in the distance, and her heart clenched when she was reminded of all those they had sailed away from. She had watched as fathers said goodbye to their babies, children said goodbye to their mothers as their injured fathers cried silent tears. Her sadness crested as teenagers left home for the first time with no guarantee of coming back. The whole scene had been absolutely heartbreaking.

Oddly enough, she found comfort in the fact that all of her closest friends were with her, even if they were sailing toward death.

She clutched the ring at her neck and thought of her father. I love you tons, Daddy. Please watch over us all. I miss you. Say hi to Mom for me.

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