Page 64 of The King's Weapon

Dani slammed her cards against the table. "All right, Fynn. You're cheating."

"He has to be cheating," Kallie said in agreement as she tossed her cards face down on the table and crossed her arms.

Terin snorted and Fynn's expression was smug, not a single ounce of innocence to be found in the slight curve of his mouth. "Believe what you want ladies. I am many things: a friend, a brother, a future king, a passionate lover—"

Kallie pretended to gag and Dani laughed beside her.

Fynn ignored the interruption, and continued, "But I am not a loser." He set his last card down on top of one of the piles.

Upon seeing it, Terin reached across the table and slapped his twin on the shoulders, nearly knocking over the glasses. Dani and Kallie scrambled to prevent them from spilling all over the cards as the men laughed, rejoicing in their suspicious victory.

Sitting back down, Dani spat on the floor. "Honest man my ass."

Between laughs, Fynn said, "Come on. All's fair in love and war. It is not my fault Kallie's mind is so wide open."

Dani scoffed. "She doesn't know any better!"

Kallie wanted to defend herself, but she had nothing to say. The walls she had built around her thoughts of the game were not sound.

"You should have picked a better partner then." Fynn winked.

"Oh, and split you two up? You two would cry to your mother if I ever did that." Dani laughed as she gathered the cards. "By the gods, if you two are ever divided, I don't know what you will do."

"Good thing that is not happening any time soon," Fynn said, squeezing Terin's shoulder.

Dani rolled her eyes and chugged what rum remained in her glass. "Clearly."

Kallie could not tell by Dani's tone if the woman was joking or if there was more to it than that, but the captain's booming voice pulled her focus away from them.

"Prepare yourselves!" Squires shouted from the wheel. "The waters around these parts can be tumultuous as we make to land!"

The threat of a rocky ride made Kallie's palms sweat. Having sensed her trepidation, Fynn ushered Kallie forward toward the ladder to the cabin below the ship. Dani and Terin followed.

Kallie scanned the sky. "It doesn't look like there is a storm coming.”

"Not now, but these waters have a way of turning the tide before you know it. If you're not prepared, you will not survive it."

Kallie began to descend the ladder after Fynn. "No wonder you all tend to stay on your island. Dangerous, mythical sea creatures, brutal waves."

Fynn stopped halfway down the ladder and looked up at her. "The kraken is no joke." The look on Fynn's face told her that she had made a grave error in her sarcasm.

"Sorry," she mumbled, hoping the apology would suffice.

Fynn sighed and jumped down to the floor.

"According to the legends, the Kraken was placed in the sea to guard our island and as an added defense, Pontanius makes the sea rage to thwart any enemies from landing."

As if to prove Fynn's point, a wave crashed against the boat and Kallie hugged the ladder. When the ship stopped rocking, she hurried down.

"It was one of our many saving graces during the Great War. The waves on the Red Sea were so tumultuous that it was nearly impossible to pass. Large militaries couldn’t manage to traverse the Red Sea. Even if a ship or two were lucky enough to pass the waves, the land was surrounded by cliffs. Only those who knew where the entrance was could land. Pontanius is always watching and knows if an enemy or ally sails these waters. He adjusts the strength of the storm accordingly—though, as you can see, the waters are still tricky to navigate even for an ally."

Fynn pointed to a spot against the wall and she sat on the floor while he helped the others tie down any loose objects. She should have felt insulted that he did not want her help, but she knew if the ship rocked again she would be useless.

The others finished tying down tables, chairs, and anything else in danger of rolling around. Then a few of Squires' crew headed back up to the dock, Graeson among them, while the rest stayed below.

Dani sat in the open spot on one side of Kallie and Terin took the spot on the other side. As they all settled, the crew began sharing stories of their travels. But their stories were loose words that held no weight in Kallie's mind, for the treacherous waves only meant one thing: Pontia was near.

Kallie didn't know if she was ready to face everything she had been avoiding: this new family, the lessons to strengthen her gift, and her mother. Her mother who was alive and ruled her own kingdom. Part of her was proud that she was the sole ruler of a kingdom since it was a title Kallie wished to acquire one day. But another part of her was jealous—no, that wasn't quite right. Envious? Outraged? That her mother did not risk that same title to protect Kallie, to save her. Surely, the queen had the resources. So why had it taken her so long to send someone? The questions only furthered Kallie's confusion.

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