Page 85 of The Queens and the Kings
“It’s a bad strategy.”
“From their perspective, not really.”
“The challenge in overcoming His Glory revolves around cohesiveness,” Henrik countered. “The new leadership, ourattack, the approach. We can’t decide this without Arvid present.”
“True. Otherwise, we risk the mainland choosing the next leader or killing innocents.”
“Success depends wholly on us getting a hold of Arvid in time. We still don’t know if there are enough people on our side to justify a full rebellion or not. We’re at the mainland making our own assumptions, aren’t we? We’re all bastids, in the end.”
“He’ll reply,” Einar said. “Soon.”
Henrik hoped so.
The dream of revenge cankered Einar’s smile. “Assuming, of course, that there are enough willing citizens to justify a rebellion. I can’t fathom a world where there wouldn’t be. Our plan will work. His Glory will die and we’ll?—”
He cut off.
Live the life we’ve always wanted,hung in the air between them.
Einar lowered to the dock, legs over the edge, one hand on his knife hilt near his side. A handful of people loitered near the dock, awaiting runners before they returned to their ships in the bay, anticipating the incoming storm. Most fled into their homes and battened down windows and doors.
Yet the storm didn’t approach.
Not really. It skirted the western edge, consuming sky.
Henrik remained standing. He didn’t like the thought of sitting in a crowded place, rife with unpredictable and instant drama. Einar’s devil-may-care approach to life didn’t surprise him. Not with Agnes gone.
Einar squinted up at Henrik. “Are you upset you didn’t meet Selma today?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I had no real expectation of it being today. I assumed we’d have to prove worthwhile before she released the dangling carrot.”
Einar growled in his throat. “The Ladylord left.”
“I noticed.”
“She’s stringing you along. She’s trying to act dicey, I think.”
“Doesn’t make sense.”
“We ticked her off the other day! Wechallenged her power.”
Henrik shrugged.
Einar snorted. “Well, she can get used to it.”
Henrik ran his tongue over his teeth. Of course he wanted to see Selma, but . . . not yet. Not after a day dealing with the constant security risk that the mainland posed, and Nils. Everything about the bustling city with too many eyes inspired exhaustion.
Einar leaned back on his palms. “Where do you think Pedr went? The ship has always been right out there, in the bay.”
“No idea.”
Soon enough, the sun would sink beneath the storm, casting an early darkness.
Einar smirked. “You’ve always been a man of few words, Henrik, but today is something else entirely.”
