Page 32 of The Endless War

“It smells like wet dog, but suit yourself.” She flipped her long hair over her shoulder and gave her husband a measured glare. “The worst part isn’t that he’s trying to manipulate you, but that you are considering doing exactly what he wants.”

“I said nothing, committed to nothing,” Aren protested. “And this wine is from one of the finest wineries in Amarid. It cost a bloody fortune.”

“And you brought it out of the cellar just forme?” Keris examined the bottle, which was indeed an excellent vintage. “I’m touched.”

“I brought it out forme.”

“Of course you did, Your Grace. Nothing like a bit of wine to calm your nerves over hosting a king with a bigger palace than yours.”

Aren’s eyes bulged. “You think I care … Why would you think … Piss off, Keris.”

Amusement rose in Keris’s chest, but he caught his laughter before it could escape.You’re drinking fine wine in a palace with all the food you can eat while Zarrah starves on a barren, frozen rock. Focus.

Lara drummed her lacquered nails on the table. “A passenger ship, Jor.”

“Ain’t got one.”

“That’s not entirely true.” Aren shifted in his seat. “What about the Cardiffian ghost ship?”

Unease prickled Keris’s stomach at the mention of Cardiff, for it made him wonder what Lestara was plotting. All he could do washope that Sarhina kept her in check.

“No.” Jor scowled. “That ship has a hex on it. It’s full of ghosts.”

“It’s not,” Aren answered, then looked to Keris. “We found it floating in our waters, all the passengers aboard dead in their beds, crew missing. Nana said they’d all consumed poisoned wine, but Jor here is convinced a Cardiffian witch hexed the ship. It’s nonsense.”

Keris’s unease tripled at the mention of witches. It reminded him of Lestara’s prophesy. But it didn’t sound like they had any other options. “How soon after the storm can you retrieve it?”

Every Ithicanian looked at him in confusion except for Aren, who chuckled. “This isn’t a storm, Keris. Just a bit of rain. But there is a typhoon brewing, and we’ll want to get out ahead of it.” He nodded to Jor. “I want it ready by morning. You handpick the crew, and keep in mind that we need to pass as Cardiffians, so a bit of sun-deprived skin wouldn’t be remiss.”

The old Ithicanian rose. “We’ll just have His Grace here patrolling the deck. His lily-white ass should do the trick.”

The jab went in one of Keris’s ears and out the other, his eyes on the contents of his glass.Tomorrow.He mentally calculated the days it would take to reach the island prison, the number like a vise around his chest, denying him breath.Too long.

The room around him fell away, his mind descending into visions of what Zarrah was enduring at this very moment. Cold. Hunger. A fight for her very life.

“Keris?”

Everyone was standing, Lara holding rolled maps under one arm, her eyes shadowed with exhaustion. “We’ll leave at dawn.” She hesitated, then added, “I don’t suppose there is any chance of convincing you to leave this in our hands? After all, if something happens to you, Ithicana will be blamed.”

“Will you do whatever it takes to save her, including sacrificing your own life?” he asked.

“No.”

“Then you have your answer.”

Shaking her head, Lara exited the room, the other Ithicaniansfollowing so that only Aren remained. “Take what you want,” the other king said, gesturing to the platters of food. “I’ll have someone wait outside to show you to your rooms when you’re ready.” Aren hesitated, then added, “Get some sleep, Keris. If your mood stays this bad, Lara is likely to murder you within a day of setting sail.”

Keris snorted softly. “She wouldn’t be the first to try.”

Silence stretched between them, and then Aren said, “She died, Keris. On the heels of the battle, when we were trying to get her past the gate your father had half pulled out, she drowned. We got her back again, but those minutes she was lifeless in my arms were the longest in my life.”

Keris sucked in a deep breath, having heard no rumors of this.

“Even then, she’d lost so much blood from her injuries, it was nothing short of a miracle that she lived. Roused long enough a few days later for me to declare her queen, only to fall prey to an infection. Days upon days of fever that stole her strength. That left her gasping for breath, and everyone told me that she was going to die.”

“And yet …”

“And yet she lived.” Aren’s hands fisted, then flattened against his thighs. “Lara told you that she won’t risk her life for Zarrah, but in the moment, she’ll change her mind. She can’t keep dodging death forever. So please use this journey south to ask yourself just how much you’re really willing to lose.”

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