Page 101 of Shrine of Fire

The impressive array of food was barely touched. I sat down and made myself a plate. “What’s going on?” I looked at Duke Antu. “I’m sorry to be so direct. But we don’t have a lot of time.”

Duke Antu cleared his throat. Maruis gave the man an angry glare and looked away.

“Oh, a lover’s spat?” Hashir slid in next to me, “accidentally” brushing his fingertip over my bondmark. I shuddered.

I looked between the two men. Maruis must be worried I was going to take Antu away. “Duke Antu. You seem very honorable. But I have no interest in adding you to my pack.”

Duke Antu sighed, relief washing over his face. “I am not supposed to want Maruis. He is below my station and doesn’t make the important trade agreements that bonding into the Royal Pack of Ember Island would.”

“But you love him.” I smiled.

“We can work on trade agreements with you anyway.” Stefan smiled. “We enjoyed our stay here, and we would love to open more dialogue. You don’t have to bond into the Royal Pack to be our friend.”

Maruis smiled for the first time since we’d seen him. “You are truly honorable.”

“Life is too short,” I added. “Tell your family you’re in love, and they can figure out the rest. We will write an ironclad contract, so they don’t say you botched this chance for them.”

Duke Antu put his arm around Maruis. “I would like that very much.”

We returned to the palace. In the next few days while we prepared to sail to our last stop, Stefan, Lord Baylin, and Duke Antu worked on a generous trade agreement with so many clauses and failsafe it would hold up better than a pack bond, because it would last as long as both parties continued to renew it. Vicente spent a little bit of time with us, but mostly made his preparations to leave his home country.

I spent time resting and enjoying my new packbond with Hashir. It was nice not to worry about an impending heat, but now that we were so close to the end of the voyage it was hard not to let doubt creep in.

I used the mirror glass to have a quick conversation with Zara, to tell her about Vicente, and she noticed my bondmark. After a lot of squealing and congratulating, my friend let me go, promising to catch up with me when we made it back to the Ember Islands.

We considered skipping the Floating Island of Rannois, but Admiral Xilas was on the King’s list of suitors. If we could work out a trade agreement like we had with Duke Antu, then it would be worth the extra week and a half added to our sailing time.

We weren’t sailing to the country of Rannois but meeting the fleet of ships at their current location in the middle of the Delvas sea. The fleet was over two hundred ships, all of them massive vessels over four hundred feet long with nine masts, twelve sails, and four decks. Admiral Xilas’s fleet oversaw acquiring treasure and resources for the might of the Rannois Empire.

Ember Island was far smaller, with a lighter fleet. I could see why the Ember King would want to lock in a peaceful negotiant with the traveling fleet.

As we approached the massive fleet, Captain Lin watched from the main deck. I approached her, breaking away from the cluster of my pack. She had a hard expression on her face. I still didn’t know her very well, but weeks at sea meant I was used to gauging her mood by her expressions, and she didn’t look happy.

“Troubled?” I cocked my head.

The captain shook her head. “We’re making good time, Princess.”

She was back to being very formal. She had referred to me as Nova several times.

“Why do you look put out?” I glanced behind us. Everyone else was either involved in a task or talking elsewhere, so we were as safe as we could be from eavesdroppers.

Captain Lin gritted her teeth. “Be on your guard. Don’t be without your pack, preferably two or three of them.”

“You think we won’t be safe?” I tried to hide my shock.

“I have had fair exchanges both in Fairuin and Tolaga. I cannot say the same for the Rannoian fleet.”

“Thank you for your wise counsel, Captain.” I gave her a sideways glance. “I am weary from these travels. Perhaps we could be ready to sail sooner than we have needed to be in the previous ports?”

I caught a ghost of a smirk on the captain’s face. “As you wish, my Princess.”

I headed back to the main deck, and Lady Pelissa intercepted me.

“How are your travels so far?”

“Wonderful.” I smiled. “Have you enjoyed seeing more of the world?”

She blinked, some of her courtly mask slipping, before she put on a bright smile. “Yes, I have. More than I would have guessed.”

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