Kull opened a narrow door, and I followed him above deck. Sea spray wetted my cheeks, and the bright sunlight bathed my skin as we crossed the deck. The fog had burned away, leaving a cloudless sky overhead. We stopped to stand at the railing as the ship sailed from the harbor and into the open sea. Crewmen unfurled the sails, and the canvas caught the wind, making the sails billow.
Underway at last, I finally felt as if I were getting somewhere. I had the orb, and I felt as if I were headed in the right direction. Although the exact location of where to put it was a mystery, at least we were getting closer.
Kull pointed to the jagged green peaks rising over the horizon.
“Those cliffs are the last we’ll see of land for quite some time. Once we reach the open ocean, we’ll have no safe harbor.”
I peered at the cliffs. The vertical shadowy mountains appeared as tall silhouettes against the bright sky. My insides squirmed with apprehension as I watched the cliffs pass by. Would I ever see land again? Would we make it to the outer isles? I tried to ignore the statistics of all the voyages that had ended in disaster before they made it to the isles, yet it was hard to focus on anything else.
Kull took my hand and squeezed it gently. “We’ve made the right decision,” he said. “The gods will protect us.”
“Let’s hope so.”
Waves lapped against the ship’s hull, echoing the call of sea birds soaring above us, perfectly balanced on their wings of white-and-gray feathers. Several vessels, laden with loads of sea-faerie pearls or casks of fae-brine, passed us by. The sunshine reflected off the water and warmed my face. I leaned my head against Kull’s shoulder. Despite my nagging worries, I did my best to enjoy the moment.
Faythander’s ocean was as diverse as its mainland. While some creatures resembled those found on Earth, most had evolved with their own unique magical characteristics. Even the sea plants were unique. Some species, like mermaids and sea unicorns, fascinated me—perhaps because I’d never seen them in person. I’d never spent much time at sea, and I felt as if I’d entered a new world.
The sun began its descent as the wind picked up, blustering with a gale force as we left the harbor’s shelter. In the distance, I spied the black fins of some unknown sea creature moving with grace through the water. The ship sped away from the creature, and soon it disappeared from sight.
“Shall we go inside?” Kull asked. “I hear they’re serving fae-urchin stew in the mess hall.”
I hesitated.
“Aren’t you coming?” he asked.
“Should we enter the mess hall together? Won’t your father be there?”
“What does it matter?”
“We’re supposed to be keeping our distance, aren’t we?”
“Of course. But I see nothing wrong in eating a meal together. My father cannot dictate every aspect of my life.”
“You don’t think he’ll get angry?”
“Do not worry so much. My father has bigger problems to attend to. It’s doubtful he will notice us.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
“Fine,” I conceded, “but you know we have to be careful. I’m not really in the mood for getting thrown off the boat.”
Chapter 21
As we entered the mess hall, the first person I spotted was Kull’s father. Of course. He sat with the Wults of the Northland tribe, and his face soured as he watched us cross the room. Kull wrapped his arm around my shoulder and gave me a roguish grin. I politely moved his arm away, but King Herrick’s glare remained.
“What are you doing?” I whispered to Kull.
He only smiled.
The thought occurred to me that Kull was purposely challenging his father’s authority and I was caught in the middle of it. I searched for a table as far away from the king as I could find, refusing to be a part of their power struggle.
The mess hall was a modest space with a low wood-beamed ceiling. Kull barely fit as we weaved our way through the maze of tables and chairs. Oil lamps were spaced unevenly through the room, making some areas dimmer than others, which worked to our advantage.
I chose a spot near a back wall, away from the lamps and away from the king. I spotted a few familiar faces in the room. My father sat with a group of elves, as did Euralysia. I found Ket sitting amongst the Wults. King Herrick sat beside the princess, seemingly absorbed in their conversation. I couldn’t be sure, but it seemed she’d earned the respect of the king. I wondered how she’d done it, although I suspected it had more to do with her ancestry than her character.
Heidel appeared at the doorway and stalked into the room. Her heavy boots echoed on the wooden-planked floor. She wore a fur-lined cloak over a metal breastplate, though why she needed to wear such clothing on this ship was a mystery. Did she intend to go to battle?
She caught sight of Kull and made her way toward us.
“Brother.” She swept her cloak aside as she sat between us. “You have recovered, I hope?”
“Yes, for the most part. Although,” he clutched his hand to his stomach, “it was a raw bout. I feared the intestinal cramping was sure to be my end. I’ve endured many agonizing blowouts, but that was one I never care to run into again. I do not wish that fecal infirmity on my worst enemies.” He paused. “Well—perhaps one or two, but no more than that.”
I covered my face with my hands. Heaven help me, I would die if he didn’t stop.
“Then I am glad you are recovered,” Heidel said solemnly.
Thankfully, servers appeared from the galley, distracting Kull from imagining up more poorly mishandled puns.
The attendants passed around trays filled with steaming bowls of fae-urchin stew. Kull snatched a few dishes from the servers and distributed them around our table. I took small bites of the broth. It was supposed to have the
