Page 16 of Of Blood & Stone

“Orym’s ill and doesn’t know what he’s saying,” Elnok retorted.

“Don’t think we haven’t taken note of your comings and goings these past few weeks. We know something troubles you beyond Orym’s sickness, and we’ve all agreed we aren’t going to leave your side?—”

“This is not up for discussion,” Elnok snapped.

Their eyes grew wide as each of them lowered their weapons. Elnok’s head pounded as he dropped his shoulders. Nervesrarely got the better of him, but this day was never supposed to happen. Necessity overruled preference.

“Orym is dying and this could be his only chance of survival; I need to know you will follow my orders,” Elnok said. “I need to know I can trust my crew.”

A moment of silence was followed by a group of wary nods.

“I’ll issue my signal if I need assistance,” Elnok said.

Salt and wind filled his lungs as he walked the remainder of the gangway, meeting a lone guard at the ship’s entry.

“Away, scum,” the guard said as he blocked Elnok’s path, his grotesquely clean armor causing Elnok’s eyes to water. “Or your blood will join the stains on your village’s flimsy dock.”

Elnok grinned. “Are these the manners the royal guards are taught nowadays? A shame.”

“Watch that mouth, boy?—”

“Everyone today keeps calling me that:Boy.But I daresay I stand a good few inches taller than yourself, not to mention my arms are twice the size of yours. Are we certain you didn’t sneak on this ship to fulfill some boyhood fantasy of yours?”

The guard gripped his hilt as he stepped forward.

“One more word out of you and that mouth of yours will be wiped clean off?—”

Elnok raised his hand, the glint of the ring shining in the guard’s eye.

“And what exactly is this supposed to…” His voice trailed off, his eyes studying the ring. His pale skin turned sheet white. “You—You? But it can’t be?—”

“Will you continue to make a member of Vutror’s royal family wait outside his own ship?” Elnok questioned, “Or must it beyourblood I spill on this dock?”

The guard gulped, eyes frantically glancing from Elnok’s ring to his face. But the truth was as undeniable as his royal signet ring. The guard whispered a flippant apology as he stepped tothe side, welcoming Elnok, the long-lost Prince of Vutror, onto his family’s oldest and most prized of vessels.

“Now,” Elnok said to the guard, “Where’s my brother?”

The guard gave Elnok an unruly amount of apologies as he left him at the gaudy entrance to his brother’s quarters. Elnok spun the ring faster and faster on his pinky finger, clenching his jaw as he ground his teeth. Ten years since he’d last seen his brother. Ten years since he’d had anything to do with Vutror.

And yet, it still didn’t feel long enough.

Sucking in a deep breath, Elnok pushed open the doors, the large pieces of hand-crafted wood bowing before him.

Windows looked out over the rippling shore. Waxed candles lined the sills, dripping onto the floors and pooling around the metal legs of a telescope pointed skyward. A green velvet chair, placed behind a great oak desk covered in tattered parchments, bent quills, and countless empty glasses, faced the wide windows. Above the chair and against the wall hung a gold-laden frame with the unmistakable artwork depicting his brother. Dark hair, a wily grin, maroon clothes stitched with jewels, and the same pale green eyes as Elnok.

Tosh Rogdul, the King of Vutror.

“It’s been some time, brother.” Tosh’s grating voice echoed through the room.

Elnok tensed as his brother’s dark figure stood from the chair. Tosh’s back faced him, his oily black hair longer than that of the portrait. His silk tunic hung loosely off him, as if it were far too large for his frame. In his hand was a glass of wine.

Elnok spun the ring faster.

“So it has,” Elnok replied, his voice cold as ice. “You received my letter?”

A pause.

“I wouldn’t be here otherwise,” Tosh said, taking a sip of wine.

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