Page 146 of The Queens and the Kings
Pedr nodded.
“Is it dangerous?”
“Not for you,” he managed to rasp.
Jordaire’s gaze drifted to the horizon, which he stared at for ten seconds, mute. Finally, he said, “I’ll help. What do you want?”
Chapter Forty One
HENRIK
Henrik stoodat the prow of the lead ship, a small, fast little thing compared to the fleet behind him. Almost two dozen large vessels bobbed in the early light, waiting to leave Klipporno bay. Arvid had left immediately, speeding impossibly fast through the water.
The sight of the gathered armada caught Henrik’s breath. It spoke to the Ladylord’s desperation and the size of their Siren Queen enemies in the Westlands. He pushed them out of his mind. There wasn’t time to deal with future problems.
They had other context to build now.
Two sailors pushed the capstan, hauling up the anchor, as Einar joined Henrik. The last rowboat that carried messages from the back of the fleet to the flagship had arrived before final launch. Four people rode inside. Two military gentlemen, a ragged messenger, and . . . Selma.
Seeing her, Henrik started forward. Her gaze devoured the ship until he came into her line of sight. She beamed with the radiance and relief of a mother as she rushed to meet him, stopping a few paces short with an uncertain smile. She breathed out his name.
“Henrik?”
He wanted to reach out a hand, but withheld. Wanted to saySelmabut wasn’t sure if she preferred the traditionalmaymayfor mother. That didn’t fit either. They barely knew each other, and too much time had passed for that intimacy.
So he said, “Selma, I didn’t expect you. Is everything all right?”
She smiled, ignoring his awkward stumble. As if both of them weren’t pinwheeling through this experience, elated to have it, but terrified by the latent power. Selma tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. It fell long and silky to her waist, swishing around her hips.
“Everything is fine. I wanted to return with you to Stenberg. The Ladylord gave her permission, but there wasn’t time to ask for yours.”
The majority of these ships wouldn’t be in immediate danger. Only the one that he, Einar, and Nils approached Stenberg with had a chance of problems.
“We’d love to have you on the ship, but it won’t be safe on Stenberg.”
“That’s fine,” she said quickly.
He swept a hand behind him. “Then, yes.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind?” Selma searched his eyes. “I don’t want to be a nuisance, but I want to see my old home. Before . . .” She swallowed. “Before I hear there’s a chance it may be gone.”
He frowned. “The Ladylord told you?”
Selma nodded.
“You’re welcome to join us for my part, Selma. It will be good to spend more time together.”
His quick response earned another smile. Einar stepped up next to him, questions in his eyes, as the two halves of Henrik’sworld clashed together. Selma gasped, a hand covering her mouth. Tears sparkled in her eyes.
“Noah?”
Einar glanced from Henrik to Selma and back again. His brows lifted in silent question. “Selma,” Henrik drawled, “this is my best friend, Einar. My brother,” he quickly corrected. “The one I told you about.”
“Oh,” Einar breathed. “This is . . . it’s . . .”
Laughing through her tears, she whispered, “Yes, I already know who this is. Oh, Noah. You look just like your father.Justlike him . . .”
Before Einar could whisper a single word, a shout rang through the air. They whipped around as the Captain reached for a cord, attached to a bell high on the mast.
