Page 160 of The Queens and the Kings
The dragul settled on Pedr’s shoulder. His affection and warmth slipped through Pedr with reassurance and love. Despite the innate threat and instinct that reared up in protective older brother irritation, he calmed it. Denerfen seemed to like Henrik, and the quiet soldat had given Pedr little reason to fear.
Still.
He didn’t like her attentiveness for Henrik.
Pedr turned his full attention to arcane, sea, and secrets. No more secrets, only revelations. Arcane to feel. Without the restriction of the curse, he felt more access to arcane. It stirred with greater truth. Itwantedto flow.
He was ready to discover.
The Siren Queens had held him back in more ways than one.
Pedr planted his feet and reached for the ropes. Arcane met him halfway. He only had to tug. “Let’s go, Denerfen. We have soldats to track down, arcane to understand, and a sister to catch up. It’s been fifteen years of hidden secrets, and Mila, at that.”
Chapter Forty Four
HENRIK
Stenberg appeared in a dark mist,silhouetted against a spray of clotted stars, three days later. The land was thin, spread out, like clay against a flat rock. Henrik had seen it appearing from the horizon hundreds of times in the past, but it never looked this gaunt. Stenberg had been his home, for all intents and purposes.
Not anymore, and maybe never again.
He regarded the approaching island with a low curl of purpose that underlay so many of his confrontations. Their voyage had passed in record time thanks to good winds and steady speed, or maybe thanks to Pedr.
Could an Arcanist wield his authority from a distance? If so, Arvid should have also arrived well in advance. If Arvid hadn’t, they’d all likely die.
Einar clapped him on the shoulder. “Get your pack. The Captain is anchoring here, and the fleet is spreading out around the island. In an hour, you, me, and Nils are packing into the rowboat and heading for Stenberg.”
Henrik nodded once. His pack, ready at his feet, provided a steady weight against the uncertainties ahead. When nothing else had been in his control, he almost always had his pack.
After Einar strode away, Selma materialized at Henrik’s side with her usual calm smile. With several days tucked behind them, she’d proven to be a quiet, inquisitive person, content to listen and absorb information. He admired her pluck, and had the distinct feeling she understood beyond what she pretended.
Even by starlight and a thin, crescent moon, the anxiety in her features lay blatant. “You will be careful?”
“Of course.”
A hint of relief softened the tense corners of her mouth, tucked in near her cheeks. She whispered, “I’ll be waiting here for you when you return,” and squeezed his wrist.
He steeled himself for the most important battle of his life.
Night cloaked Henrik, Einar, and Nils as their rowboat approached the northern edge of Stenberg, surrounding the island with her dainty cloak, shielding them from His Glory’s searching eye. Somewhere beyond immediate sight, other mainland vessels spread like seeping blood, tightening around the island.
Stoic Nils, with his lips drooping in an impressive frown, gripped the oars and tugged. For a wizened old man, he had sinewy shoulders that testified to a life of hard work. Einar removed a knife from his hip, slid it into a sheath on the inside of his boot, and returned his focus ahead.
The moment the prow hit sand, Henrik unsheathed his knife and leaped out. Water surged around his ankles as he advanced in front of the rowboat. Two cloaked figures approached from the vaporous mist like roaming shadows. Henrik crouched.
A familiar voice growled, “Stay quiet, you stupid bastid. Otherwise, you’ll call His Glory to your side for a snuggle.”
Henrik grinned, sheathing his knife.
Old Man.
“All is well?” asked a calm voice. Arvid. Henrik nodded as Einar leaped out. Nils nimbly hopped over the side of the boat and into a low wave. Pedr’s rowboat beached itself with the scrape of sand on the hull.
“When did you arrive?” Henrik asked.
Arvid put a hand on Henrik’s shoulder. Moonlight illuminated his gaze, casting a bright glow. “Within a day.”
Einar’s mouth dropped. “So fast?”
