Page 75 of Princess of Air

Chapter thirty-nine

Spring in Ceraun doesn’t feel much like spring at all. There’s an unseasonable chill in the air—or perhaps it’s me.

I wouldn’t have thought I slept, but alertness comes over me with a jolt when my eyes open and Jamys is before me, preparing the horses. Reality makes my stomach turn. I can’t believe I told him about Tomas. Not that I was giving him any new information. When and how he found out seem like unfair questions for me to ask. They don’t matter much anyway.

He turns to see me awake then focuses his attention back on the horses as he speaks to me. “Are you still going to help Dockerly?”

“Of course.” I rise and creep over to him. “Jamys, I—”

“Please. I don’t want to discuss any of it.”

My heart sinks, but I only nod and walk away to ready myself for the day.

Jamys leads the way, and I sulk behind him. There wasn’t any good way to have that conversation, I suppose, but all I can do as we ride along is think about how poorly it went. He must be mortified after I rejected him that way. His desperation to do anything to win me over… My conscience will hold that against me forever.

The distraction is so complete, I don’t realize Jamys has stopped until my horse stops behind him. I shake myself into the present and come up to his side. We are on top of a hill overlooking the city, the entire walled expanse visible from here, bordered by the coast on the east and thousands of soldiers on the west.

Penum’s black and burgundy banners wave from the encampment, and multiple towers are up or in progress of being built. Dockerly is under siege.

Highbluff’s fleet will arrive soon to save the city, but there would be casualties. No number of deaths would sit well with me, not to mention the potential of who could fall.

Jamys tenses as a cannon fires over the wall. I reach out and catch it in a flexible band of wind. It slows as the shield stretches with it, then it bounces back toward the camp, careening into a gathering of tents.

Jamys gapes at me. “From this far away?”

“I wasn’t entirely certain I’d be able to, honestly.”

“Now they’ll know you’re here.” At least imminent danger is a distraction from all that’s brewing between us.

“Good. Perhaps they’ll leave before more people get hurt.”

“Can you get us into the city?”

I don’t need to be in the city; I’ll be more productive over it. “I’ll get you into the city, then I’ll go to the top of the wall.”

“You can’t take on an entire army yourself.”

“I never do anything by myself. I’ve got the air on my side.”

He head tilts in an exasperated look. “That’s not the same as someone to help you.”

“You’re correct—it’s quite better. Are you afraid of heights?”

“No.”

“Good.” I lift us both, and he grabs my shoulder to stabilize himself. We stay low to the ground then near the surface of the water. Waves brush against the bottom of our translucent, moving floor.

“Could you have flown all the way here?”

I shake my head. “I’ve never tried to go that far. It didn’t seem like a good time to try and possibly end up stuck in the middle of nowhere without horses.”

We rise as we approach the waterfront fortress, and a lookout gapes at us before he gets another guard to witness our arrival. I amplify Jamys’ voice to let them know who we are. Still, an archer keeps us in his aim. How quaint. They stare as we land alongside them on the wall.

“Prince Jamys, it is you. But how—” The one is cut off by a nudge from the other, and they both bow.

“This is Princess Arabella of Alchos.” Jamys’ introduction is explanation enough.

“And I must be going,” I say. “You have a bit of an army at your gates.” Before they can question me, I take to the sky.

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