Page 312 of The Priory of the Orange Tree

TheReconciliationwas a colossal man-of-war. Except for theRose Eternal, which had been lost in the East, it was the largest and best-armed ship in the Inysh navy.

In the royal staterooms, Ead lay beneath a pile of fur coverlets. Sabran drowsed beside her. It was the first time in days that she had looked peaceful.

Ead nestled into the bedding. The cruel sister had left an imprint somewhere inside her, and it chilled her to the bone.

Tomorrow night, they would be in sight of the other ships. The thought of seeing Loth again was not quite enough to stop the ache in her chest when she thought of his sister. Margret would be in Nzene by now.

Before they had left Ascalon, the Southern rulers had asked Sabran to send willing Inysh with healing skills to the Spindles. Though she was a Lady of the Bedchamber, Margret had asked Sabran for her leave to answer the call.I’ll only get in the way on the ship, she had told her.I cannot use a sword, but I can mend the wound it leaves.

Ead had expected Sabran to deny the request, but she had finally held Margret tightly and ordered her to be safe, and to return. In another break with protocol, she had commanded Sir Tharian Lintley to escort his betrothed and lead the Inysh soldiers. Even her Captain of the Knights of the Body could not protect his queen from the Nameless One. Lintley had not left her willingly, but he could not refuse an order.

Sabran stirred. She looked over her shoulder as Ead pressed a kiss to it.

“You said once that you would take me away,” Sabran said softly. “Somewhere.”

Ead traced the high slope of her cheekbone. Sabran turned to face her.

“I want you to,” she continued. “One day.”

Sabran slid a leg over hers. Ead drew her in, so they shared their warmth.

“We said our duties would be done,” Ead murmured, “but we both knew it was an airy hope.” She sought her gaze. “You are a beloved queen, Sabran. A queen Inys needs. You cannot give up your throne tomorrow, whether or not the Nameless One falls. And I cannot give up on the Priory.”

“I know.” Sabran shifted closer. “Even as we both whispered in the snow, I knew. We are both wed to our callings.”

“We will find a way,” promised Ead. “Somehow.”

“Let us not think of the future this night,” Sabran said softly. “It is not yet dawn.” She cupped Ead’s face with a faint smile. “We still have time for airy hopes.”

Ead touched their brows together. “Now it is you who speaks the comely words.”

It was a distraction, but Ead welcomed it. As the candle burned to nothing, she slid her fingers between their bodies, and Sabran kissed her with abandon and tenderness by turns.

Soon they would face the Nameless One. In the light-headed comfort of their joining, with Sabran in her arms and her flesh ablaze with desire, Ead let herself forget it. The arch in her back brought them closer together. Closer to that elusivesomewhere. She quaked at the gentle touches on her skin, unable to foresee them in the darkness, and savored the shivers that coursed through Sabran as she gave them in return.

After, they both lay still, intertwined.

“You can light another candle,” Ead said to her. “Light does not keep me awake.”

“I do not need it.” Sabran slid a hand to Ead’s nape. “Not with you.”

Ead tucked her head under Sabran’s chin and listened to her heartbeat. She prayed that sound would never cease.

It was still pitch-black when she woke in the same position, to knocking on the cabin door.

“Your Majesty.”

Sabran reached for her bedgown. At the door, she conferred in a low voice with one of her Knights of the Body.

“The crew has rescued someone from the water,” she said to Ead when she returned.

“How could anyone possibly have swum this far into the Abyss?”

“He was in a rowing boat.” She lit a new candle. “Will you come with me?”

Ead nodded and rose to dress.

Six Knights of the Body led them across theReconciliationto the captain’s cabin. At present, it was occupied by one man.

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