Page 16 of A Spell of Bones and Madness
Chloe shook her head, knocking up half a grin. “No, Alexander just liked to steal my lines.”
Staring aimlessly back at the frozen shores, Katrin gripped the rail firmer. Even under Chloe’s embrace, tears stung the rims of her eyes, but she would not let them out. Not yet. There was too much hope left in the world. Hope for the good she could bring, lives she could save. Ander had called her that once—hope. A single tear escaped its hold and that was the last she would allow to leave. Not until she saw him—alive or otherwise.
“Do you think he will hate me for this? For leaving him? For what they are doing to him down in those dungeons? If he’s even still in the dungeons…” Katrin’s voice was low and could almost be lost in the wind if Chloe did not have her heightened sense of hearing. She almost wished the young princess hadn’t heard. It ate away at her—if he might not forgive her for abandoning him when he’d never abandoned her. That he sacrificed his will, his family, his home to make sure she was safe and she—she only fled like a coward.
“Katrin?” Chloe’s brows knit together. Katrin snapped her attention back to the princess, out of the hazy gaze she had let drift out to sea. “I know what I said earlier, but he would have hatedhimselfif you had stayed. If you had lost your life trying to protect him. Ander might not have my mother’s genes, but he was born to protect. God of Shield and Storm, it’s right there in his name. Fiercely loyal to the ones he loves. Little but retribution for the ones who try to harm them. That includes you.”
“But is he not deserving of that same protection, that same undying loyalty?” Katrin asked, her voice cracking in the chilled air.
“He does not think so, but he is also a self-loathing fool. That is why you have me. If I waltz in and ruin his plans at being a martyr, he will only ruffle my hair and tell me I’m being a reckless child, but he loves me anyway. The perfect distraction.” Chloe bowed.
Everything about the princess reminded her of Ander. Her kindness and clarity of the bigger picture. How she looked past darkness in people and only saw them for the light they could bring to this world. Admiration and a twinge of jealousy swirled in her gut. But also regret. Regret that she had hated this family with such fury and malice without ever knowing them, letting the rumors and lies fed to her take hold, rather than making judgments herself.
Salty air swept up Katrin’s nose once more as she took a deep inhale, letting the cooling wind and kind words of Chloe calm herrage and need for revenge. She needed happy thoughts and a steady mind if she was to lead them into the storm they would encounter in Alentus.
“You know, I’ve been meaning to ask, which of your romance books onboard is your favorite?”
“Myromance books? Oh no, Katrin, those are all my brother’s.”
Katrin let out a laugh, a shoulder-shaking, heaving breath, undiluted chuckle. Not Thalia’s. Not Chloe’s. Ander’s. She should have known.
The markets of Xanthia were less putrid than those of Lesathos. Warm, raging fires and crisp autumn air hung in the breeze rather than the smell of rotten fish and burnt cloth asThe Nostosdocked at port. Even with the missive Leighton had received, it was still risky to be arriving at the smaller isle. Spies were everywhere, especially this close to the northern continent, Voreia. Both King Edmund and King Athanas no doubt had their oily men patrolling the streets, searching for their missing queen. Or maybe, Katrin wondered, this had been their plan all along. Not to kill her—but rather run her from her home, take root in the leading isle in the Mykandrian Sea. Use its turned forces to attack Nexos or some other kingdom.
Still, the crew would need to be safe, especially Katrin since her likeness was known. The crew ofThe Nostoshad a reputation, but not many knew their faces, only the stories of their adventures andfear of the port they hailed from. And Chloe—well the princess had never left the shores of Nexos. If she had, the distinctive multi-hue of her hair and lupine features would no doubt be spotted and flagged at least as a curious individual to watch.
That left Farah, and being the Princess of Morentius, she would surely be caught. Especially since Xanthia was known for their jewel trade and Morentians loved nothing more than their lavish ruby and golden jewelry. Katrin informed Farah she would need to stay hidden underneath the deck. The princess had not taken kindly to that, although she did eventually give in and resigned to one of the rooms with a rather large bottle of expensive wine.
Katrin had a few of the crew go ahead with Leighton’s uncle, Kristos, the others remaining until nightfall. Moonlit shadows would aid them in sneaking through the markets to a small townhome where the soldiers were staying. From there Katrin hoped they could smuggle both men and more weapons aboard. They would need as many of both as possible if they dared to return to the shores of Alentus in hopes of rescuing Ander.
Spending the time until nightfall taking in her surroundings, Katrin took directives from Leighton. Trade was different here than Alentus, an even starker contrast to what the crew usually saw in Lesathos. It was easier to blend in there, where pirates were a frequent sight and most men and women were too drunk to notice the markings the warriors from Skiatha bore, even when they lay in the brothels.
In Xanthia, secrets were traded like coins. For jewels. For people. For alliances. It was why it was so risky for them to be there—to venture past the shops in the market, bars lining every window to keep thieves and marauders from stealing the sparkling gemstoneseach held. There had to be a high price on their heads and it was a lucrative isle, but one with little authority, especially now that the Spartanis had fallen. They would need to be careful, blend with the shadows cast from the moon. Stick to the extremely specific route Leighton laid out. Move in small groups over the course of the night, hide weapons in carts to bring to the ship in the morning.
“You’ll need to wear this.” Leighton chucked a brown cloak at Katrin.
“I am already wearing a cloak,” Katrin replied, fanning her hands down her body. Chloe snorted at her. “And why do you think that’s funny, Chloe?”
“Because you look like you just stepped outside of a castle—the expensive fur, the thick velvet lining. To wear that caliber of clothing here, you would need to be one of the elite jewelers and everyone would know who you are. Otherwise, you’re just a target, someone that can be used as a bargaining chip. We did not come here to lose someone else.”
Katrin snapped her jaw shut. “Fine, I’ll wear the ugly cloak. Just hope I don’t freeze to death.”
Rolling his eyes, Leighton handed over a thick bandana. “We will need to wear these as well. No one will think twice if they see us when the temperature is this low—and Chloe, you understand you cannot shift back into your human form, not until we are at the safe house.”
“Well you’re no fun. But fine, I’ll stay turned.” Chloe clacked her nails against her lips hiding a devilish grin. “Just because you asked nicely, Nauarch.”
Leighton led Katrin and Chloe, and gods, Katrin was grateful for the silver-furred creature that padded next to her, its eyesframed each with a black streak. Blending in was nothing if not imperative. If they were caught—Katrin could not think of the consequences, and having a fierce creature escorting them would help if they encountered anything nefarious. They wound through the streets, past boarded up shops and busy taverns, mapping through the shadows and alleyways. Katrin glanced over her shoulder around every turn, unease creeping up her spine. This wasn’t Lesathos and she wasn’t alone, but the reminders of those men haunted her in the dark.
A firm arm flew in front of her, pinning Katrin against the wall of a home in the alley they passed. Leighton’s finger went to his lips, urging her not to make a noise. His eyes flicked to the right, nodding his head in the direction of a figure making its way down the street they had just come from, edging from side to side like they were also avoiding being caught. Or maybe the stranger was stalking them, trying to scare them back to the ship, hurt them even. Katrin’s mind flashed back to the alleyway on Lesathos, where Ander had arrived just in time to rescue her beaten body.Hewas the reason they were here—why she had to stop at nothing to get to the townhouse, meet with the Skiathan spies and sail swiftly back to Alentus to rescue the captain.
The stranger would just need to pass them and then they could continue on. And if not, then she would use whatever means necessary to make it to the townhouse, even if it meant fighting whoever lurked in the shadows. From what Leighton had said, the townhouse was not deep into the winding port streets. They were close. Too close to turn back now.
A small crack came from the street where the stranger had just appeared to step on some sort of glass or object. Chloe sniffed theair in her wolf form, padding in front of both of them, peering out from the darkness. A deep growl left the wolf's throat as she took off toward the stranger and leapt into the air, tackling them to the ground.
Leighton nodded at Katrin and they both took off after Chloe, to where she loomed over the stranger, fangs bared by their throat. Byherthroat—the hood of the cloak was down, revealing a long dark braid of hair and piercing features.
“Stand down, little wolf,” the girl purred. Not a girl—Farah.
“What in the bloody stars are you doing here, Farah?” Katrin hissed through clenched teeth, grabbing her hand and tugging her upright. Chloe circled around, still in her wolf form. Her icy eyes shot daggers at the princess.
