Page 154 of Of Rime and Ruin
What if she hasn’t changed her mind?
“I see,” I grunt, carefully choosing my next words. “And are you still trying to run away, Sunfish? Do I need to chase them off?”
Because I would. I’d fight that giant paddledrake if I had to—as unlucky as my odds may be. I size up its mouth and swallow hard. It would end me in one bite, one smack of its flipper, or one lash of that barbed tail.
Her eyes glint with mischief. “No,” she says, ducking to kiss my cheek. She tugs my arm, pulling me out of my chair. “Come on. Winona’s going toloveyou.”
***
TheBrineQueenstaresat the severed head mounted on a pike before my gate. Hoarfrost has mottled the healer’s skin, frozen his blood around the iron post, and formed a crust over his stringy hair, giving him an eerie blue cast. Her guards eye it warily, keeping proximity to their queen. The older companion ignores the head altogether, instead inspecting me with the intensity of a mother pikewhale. A smug smile tugs the corner of his mouth.
I posted Lucas here in retribution for his damage to the kingdom. Now each time one of my subjects passes by, they spit at the stones beneath him. I didn’t consider how a severed head would look to anoutsider. It must be intimidating.
“Thanks for making the journey all this way, Your Majesty.” I dip my head and touch my gills in the sign of respect.
With a bland look on her face, she returns the gesture.
The queen tugs her travel robe tighter and crosses her arms, the stones clacking as she shifts her weight. The family resemblance is obvious—she has Nahla’s fierce brown eyes and matching hair, the same slant to her jaw. I’d recognize that stubborn pout in her bottom lip anywhere. It’s like the goddessAudrina formed them from the same sheet of ice. And when she speaks, her voice rings with a matching alto timbre.
“Nahlani,” she says, glaring at Nahla where she’s tucked under my arm in her frostcat cloak.
“Winona,” Nahla echoes in the same flat tone. I squeeze her shoulder, rubbing my thumb in soothing circles, and she leans into my side.
“You know, when Keen translated the message from Ramona, I thought this was a rescue mission.” She flicks her gaze over my form, to my arm slung around Nahla’s shoulders, then to the castle behind us. “A land-bound nation. What an interesting choice for a getaway.”
“Look, Win, I’m sorry,” Nahla mumbles. She curls in on herself, her shoulders sagging by the minute as if caving under her sister’s reprimand. I grit my teeth, not liking that one bit.
The queen’s expression sours. “Yes, well, we came all this way at your request, so why don’t you come on board and we cancatch upwhere it’s not so…”
“Cold?” I offer with a smirk.
“I’d prefer not to impose on Your Majesty’s hospitality.” Her gaze flicks once more to Lucas’s severed head.
“Understood,” I say, squeezing Nahla’s arm.
“Excellent. We’ll see you for dinner then.” The queen whirls on her heels and moves toward the surf. She drops her cloak, which her guards hurry to pick up and store within a transport satchel as she dives into the water. Her green tail flicks and submerges with a splash.
The older male shrugs. “I believe she means now. Which is a pity. I would have enjoyed gleaning from your hospitality, if it meant getting the story behind the poor headless fellow,” he says. He touches his gills and bows before me. “Keen, lead way-maker of the Brine, and very pleased to make your acquaintance, Sire.”
Nahla laughs. “I’ll tell you all about it on the way over, Keen.”
The male brightens and spreads his arms in welcome. “Splendid, my girl.”
Nahla drops her cloak and steps toward the sea with the way-maker, preparing to dive.
She means now.I swallow hard as a flurry of nerves batters my stomach. As in, swimwiththem to that colossal paddledrake. What will Nahla’s family think of me when they see the Beast? What will mykingdomthink, as I swim right through their celebration?
Not even the plump curve of Nahla’s bare ass can soothe my anxiety.
She splashes into the water, then breaks the surface with a timid smile as she looks back at me. “Let’s go, Beasty,” she says. My resolve crumbles at that name alone. “Don’t make me do this without you.”
How can I say no to her?
With a brisk inhale, I step forward, drop my cloak, and submerge.
Chapter sixty-five
Nahla
