Page 26 of A Wrecking of Salt and Fire

Still nothing stirred inside Katrin’s chambers. A sickening feeling settled low in Ember’s gut, her intuition pulling her inside, telling her to open the door.

“Maybe I should just check inside, see if she is just asleep.”

“Do you think something is wrong?” Ajax’s brows furrowed and creased his forehead.

“I don’t know, I just have this feeling. A tether of sorts, pulling at my mind.”

“Ok, but I am going to stay with you.”

Ember tried the door and saw it was indeed unlocked. Her sister never left her door unlocked unless the guards were stationed outside, and no guards lingered in front of her door. The living chambers were glowing with the early morning light, no lanterns were lit around the room. She began to step in when Ajax grabbed her arm. He shook his head, pointing at himself. She let him go inside first and she followed closely behind.

“Katrin?” Ember called with a weary voice.

No response. The door to the bedchamber was cracked open just slightly, Ajax peered in, his lips peeling out into a thin line.

“She’s not there.” He said, his voice low.

Ember let out a long breath, peeking around him. There was indeed no one in the room. Katrin’s bed was still neatly made, no sign that someone slept there the night before.

“Like I said, she was probably just with Kohl. Making sure he was recovering.”

“Yeah…you’re right. I’ll go check his chambers.” Ember said, her voice trailing off.

“Take it from someone who has interrupted your sister and the prince many times—when they are together, it is best to leave them alone. Go change, come to the banquet and we can eat before everyone else arrives. I’m sure Katrin and Kohl will join us shortly.”

Ajax put his hand gently on Ember’s cheek. It was the closest to an endearing gesture he ever gave her. It made her breath catch and the hair on her arms raise as his eyes met hers.

“She’s fine, Ember. I promise you that.” She could tell he meant it. That he really believed she was alright, almost like he knew.

“Ok, I’ll meet you in the courtyard then. Don’t eat all the pastries before I get there.” She smiled warily.

“Now that is something I cannot promise you.” The corner of his lips twitched up as he ruffled her hair. “I’ll see you soon, Drakos.”

Ember rolled her eyes as Ajax walked off toward the courtyard, but that wary smile—now it grew.

All the dresses in Ember’s wardrobe seemed too bold for the breakfast banquet, their lavish silks and glittering sashes meant for fancy balls and dancing, not gorging herself in sweets and fruits. She needed one that would not pinch her in the waist enough to make her pass out.

Flipping through the ones that were made for her more recently, she landed on a simple navy gossamer gown lined with a thin silk chemise. It was casual, but delicate, and would give in the right places if she decided to eat her weight in bread and pastries.

She switched out her leather boots for golden lace up sandals and combed out her hair from the braid she’d put it in earlier, her long blonde locks falling in waves halfway down her back.

A thin navy box lay on her dresser. She did not dare open it yet. Ember already knew what was inside. A simple golden crown, one she would wear to the Acknowledgement. Nothing like her sister’s, which would be tall and spiked and decked with diamonds and topaz. This crown had no gems, only a single carved star in the center, its sides formed in the shape of lightning bolts.

The crown of the Prytan. One she would wear not only to the Acknowledgement, but everytime she would go into battle. One her uncle Machius wore until his death.

Her legacy.

She could only hope to make her uncle proud. To show her mother and her sister and her people what she was made of. That she could—and wanted to—protect her people, protect the peace.

Today she could only worry about her sister. If she was alright. If rumors of what happened in the mountains circled around the castle. Gods forbid if the rumors spread to their guests from the other isles.

King Athanas seemed to do everything to quell those whispers. To blame the incident on Nexos. No person would think he was lying. They were a threat. An attack like this so close to a sacred event was expected from a kingdom as disgraceful as theirs.

Ember noted the sun fully in the sky, realizing that she better hurry to the courtyard before the guests began to stir in their chambers or come in from the ships anchored in the harbor.

She took one last look in the mirror, smoothing out her dress and hurried out of her chambers. As she hurried down the hall to where the banquet was being set up, she took a turn too fast and slammed into someone.

“Apologies!” Ember gasped. She should not appear rushed or anxious, not when there were so many people around to question why she might be that way.

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