Page 110 of Kingmakers, Year Two

The path winds and spirals. Sometimes we traverse an almost flat tunnel, and other times we descend stairs so steep that my quads burn.

“How far down does this go?” Ares sounds somewhat nauseated. I understand: picturing the hundreds of tons of rock and castle on top of us is not particularly pleasant. Especially when you remember that limestone is porous, and can degrade as water seeps through. Still, I like to think that any castle that stood for seven hundred years is unlikely to fall on my head tonight.

“Almost there,” I tell him, with slight exaggeration.

Ten minutes later, we do indeed arrive at the Chancellor’s own private sea cave. The boat bobs on the water, its pointed nose rising up and down like a horse tossing its head, anxious to be free to run. It’s at least sixty feet long, sleek and shining, painted graphite black with darkly tinted windows.

“You could be ten feet away from this thing and not see it on a night like this,” I say to Ares.

Ares stares, shaking his head slowly.

“I’ve never piloted anything like this…”

“I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it.”

I toss him the keys. Ares catches them easily, left-handed.

“See. Those are the kind of reflexes I’m counting on to get us through the currents.”

Taking a deep breath, Ares starts to cast off. I can tell he knows what he’s doing, just by the way he handles the ropes. I’ve already jumped on deck, impatient to be on our way.

Ares joins me a moment later, throwing one last nervous glance back toward the doorway.

“Relax,” I tell him. “You’ve never noticed the Chancellor leaving any other night. Why should anybody see us?”

“I wasn’t paying attention,” Ares grumbles. “I was sleeping in my bed, like I should be right now.”

“Come on,” I grin. “Do it for Zoe. And for the fantastic leverage you’ll have over me. I can’t wait to see what you’ll make me do. Streak the Super Bowl? Assassinate the president?”

Ares ignores me, refusing to have fun while we’re risking our necks.

He starts the engine and carefully steers us out.

I thought this would be the tricky part, navigating the narrow stone passageway.

But once we’re in open water, it’s much worse. The waves batter us from all sides, without rhythm or reason, as if intent upon lifting us up and smashing us against the rocks like the boat is a piñata and the ocean a gang of rowdy partygoers.

Ares has to gun the engine hard, then pull back, steering us in and out, timing the gaps to shoot us forward again, always maneuvering the boat so we aren’t hit broadside and flipped.

It doesn’t help that it’s a black, moonless night. Several times rocks seem to rear up out of the water like sea monsters. Ares misses them by mere feet.

My heart is in my throat. All I can do is call out warnings, while Ares strains against the wheel, every muscle standing out on his forearms.

At last we’ve made it through the worst of it, and we’re out in open ocean, heading in a swift and regular course toward the unseen shore. Ares stands pale and silent, not wanting to celebrate with me.

“That was fucking insane!” I shout, clapping him on the back.

“We have to do the same thing on the way back,” Ares reminds me, “with the waves pushing us forward instead of holding us back, which might be even worse.”

“Don’t worry. If the Malina kill us, we won’t have to come back at all.”

Ares turns to glare at me. “Don’t joke. Don’t even think about trying to be fucking funny with these people. The only thing that would make them laugh is cutting your throat.”

“Hey…” I’m serious now. “You don’t have to worry about that. I’m not going to let Zoe down.”

Ares looks at me, reading the truth in my face.

“I know,” he says. “That’s why I agreed to this.”

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