“Even in the summer?”
“Yes. Even in the summer,” she huffed, pulling a strand of hair out of her eyelashes. “Can we go back to the castle now? I’ve seen quite enough, and the wind is messing up my hair.”
“If you insist,” I answered flatly. “I could sit here for hours.”
“Well, I would never sit on that sand, and I can’t bear the smell of the ocean. I don’t know how you stand it.” She pranced across the beach, pausing near the docks at port to pour the sand out of her shoes.
Rolling my eyes, I took my time catching up to her.
“How can the ocean be deep enough for ships here?” she asked as I approached.
“The shore is less sandy and rockier in this section, and the hulls of Galder ships are shallower than the ones in most kingdoms. Some of them can be sailed directly onto shore. The quarters below deck are tight, but it’s safer.”
Her mouth twisted. “Our ships are far grander.”
“You’ve been on a ship?”
“No,” she hesitated, and then set her fist on her hip. “But I’ve seen them up close.”
Given how much she hated the ocean, there was no way Mina had actually seen the inside of any of Waverly’s ships. She was the sort of person who thought everything she had was better than everyone else’s, even if it wasn’t.
As we walked past the ships, a familiar shade of pale blue caught my eye. Raya was on board Cap’s ship, Carden standing close by. Her head was tilted back and she laughed whole-heartedly. Carden noticed me and nudged her arm. She gave a little wave, her smile melting away.
I held my tongue as Mina began gossiping about Raya. “She was dressed like a commoner yesterday!” she alleged, scandalized. “I’ve never seen anything so strange in all my life. A princess should never look that way. But I guess she isn’t really a princess, after all. I mean, her kingdom is dead.”
We were close enough for Raya to hear Mina’s cruel words, and her callousness stopped me in my tracks. “Would you still be worried about fashion if everything from your kingdom, your parents, siblings, and home were gone?” I accused. “If everything in your life crumbled beneath your feet, would you still be concerned about what you were wearing?”
“Of course, I would,” she sniffed. “I would never cave to misfortune the way she has. Why, you can tell by the way she looks that she’s all but given up. If we weren’t here, the girl would be in pauper’s clothing again this moment. I’m sure of it. But maybe she’s planning on leaving. She seems awfully familiar with the sailors aboard that ship.”
My heart thundered. Raya wouldn’t leave. Not without telling me. Would she?
By the time we arrived back at the castle, we learned that the representatives from Halron had arrived. Mina asked me to see her back to her chamber, even though she knew exactly where it was. Making the trip as quickly as possible, I left her there and went in search of my father. Had Ray spoken with him?
The thought of her leaving Galder gutted me.
Father was busy somewhere with the Halron delegation, and no one knew exactly where to find him. The guards at the front door hadn’t seen them, nor had those stationed at the back. The kitchen staff hadn’t been asked to prepare any special meals for them, but were instructed to have dinner served promptly at six.
The door to Father’s study was closed, and Noam, father’s personal guard, stood outside. “He’s not to be disturbed,” the man cautioned.
“I need to see him,” I protested.
Noam stepped in front of me, effectively shielding the door. “I was given specific orders to keep everyone out, even you.”
“Is the party from Aelawyn inside with him?” I questioned. Why would Father lock me out of a meeting with Asher and Ella?
“No, but I’m afraid that’s all I’m at liberty to say.”
I could hear voices behind the door, but they were muffled and unclear. Father had never placed a guard at his study door before today.
“Is he in danger?”
Noam stood his ground. “No, Prince. I assure you that your father is well.”
There was nothing I could do. Noam answered only to my father, and he was hell-bent on following the King’s order. I had a feeling my father had given strict instructions, including the ones that barred me from the room, but I couldn’t understand why.
Were Prince Vincent and Emily inside discussing a possible union between me and Mina? I refused to marry her.
I decided what I really needed to do was talk to Raya. She could calm me down when nothing else could. I needed her. I set off to find her, jogging out of the castle to Cap’s ship. Gill was there.
“Have you seen Raya?” I inquired, clutching his arms.
“She was here earlier with Carden. He’s still here, but I haven’t seen her in a while.”
“Where’s Carden?”
“Below deck. I’ll take you to him.”
As we took the steps below deck, I saw Carden with another sailor. They were moving crates of supplies, stacking them and using ropes to tie the stacks down. “What are you doing, Carden?” I asked, befuddled.
His back stiffened and he turned around to face me, wiping his brow on his forearm. “What does it look like I’m doing?” he snapped.
“I knew you were leaving; I just didn’t know you were going with Cap. When will you set sail?”
“At dawn the morning after the Ball. Cap’s sailing south, and I’m going with them.”
“The Southern Isle is dangerous,” I cautioned. “The kingdoms are untested. They say the Fae run rampant in that land.”
He rolled his eyes. “You think I don’t know that?”
Deciding to try another route, I asked, “Do you think William still holds the grudge your father bore against you?”
He braced his hands on his hips. “I have no idea how William feels about me, nor do I care. He’s the King of Tierney now, and that means there’s no reason for me to stay in this place. I don’t want to live the rest of my life hiding on the outskirts of Aelawyn to avoid being beheaded. I’m young. I want to fall in love… often,” he added with a wink. “And I want to see the world, even if the Fae are real.”
I’ll be damned. He actually cared. “Did you want the crown?”
“Of course, I wanted the crown!” he stormed. “But now my younger brother has it. The fact of the matter is, I’m not going to hide anymore. I’m sick of it. I’m leaving, and when this ship leaves port and takes to the sea, I won’t look back.” A fierce determination glittered in his dark eyes, proving that he’d made a decision and wouldn’t back down from it. I was sure he’d already argued with himself over every possibility, every reason not to go, and decided it was the best course of action. I had to respect him for that.
“Is Raya going with you?”
He dipped his head and gave a mirthless laugh. “You know her better than anyone, Trevor. What do you think she’s going to do? Do you really think she’d leave you behind for me? You think very little of her, if that’s the case.” He braced his hands on his hips, shaking his head. Sweat-soaked strands flicked across his forehead.
“In Aelawyn, I thought you’d grown into your own,” he commented. “You were a good king. You were fair and honest and did what was best for everyone, even me, when I know I didn’t deserve it. Aelawyn – what should’ve been a broken nation – healed, and not only that, it thrived under your rule. You brought that kingdom back to life, Trevor. I wish you would apply the same careful judgment to your relationship with Raya.” Carden looked up and met my eyes. “Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe you aren’t as close with her as I thought. Because if you could even think she would board this ship and sail away from you, you’re a complete and utter fool.”
“I love her,” I admitted.
He snorted. “You love her? Well, you sure as hell aren’t acting like it. That girl would turn herself inside out to make you happy, and what did you do? You paraded a girl like Mina around, instead of proclaiming to everyone in Galde
r how you felt about Raya. And don’t get me started on Mina. That girl makes me wonder if the witches from the south haven’t overtaken our land, after all. She’s nothing like Raya,” he chided. “Trevor, if you can’t see what’s standing right in front of your face, you don’t deserve her, and she’d be better off without you.”
With that, he turned his back to me and went back to his chore.
Chapter thirty
RAYA
When I left Carden with Cap and Gill, I met one of King Yurak’s most trusted guards on his way to find me. It shocked me to see him walking briskly out of the castle, since I’d never seen Noam outside of the King’s presence. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end as he approached me.
“Princess Raya,” he announced with a formal bow. “King Yurak requests your presence in his study immediately. It’s very urgent.”
The two of us jogged toward the King. “Is Prince Trevor okay?” I asked, breathless.
“Yes, Princess.”
“And King Yurak? He’s well?”
“Yes.”
“What’s this about?”
“I’m not privy to such information,” Noam explained as his fellow guards swung open the castle doors for us. “But I do know that everyone is well.”
As we entered the study, I saw Yurak seated behind his desk with his hands steepled over his stomach. He gestured toward one of three chairs across from him. “Please sit, Raya.”
I slid my sweat-slickened hands down the skirts of my dress as I settled into the farthest chair.
“I apologize for sending Noam in search of you, but I’m afraid there’s an urgent matter to discuss.”
“What’s that?”
“The party from Roane just arrived, including the King and Queen. We weren’t expecting them today, but their King asked to meet with you privately. You’re welcome to use this study.”
“What’s this about?” I repeated.
Yurak shook his head. “He refused to explain himself further, but I imagine it has something to do with Paruth, and anything related to Paruth certainly involves you.” He stood and straightened his jacket. “They’ll be here any moment. If you need me for any reason, please tell Noam. I’ll leave him stationed outside the door. He will make sure you’re not disturbed.”
I swallowed thickly as he walked around the desk. I wished Trevor was here with me, but since he wasn’t... “Would you stay?” I asked tremulously.
Yurak stopped. “Are you certain?”
“I am. I’d really appreciate it if you stayed in the room.”
“There’s no need to be afraid, Raya.”
“I know, Sire, and while I know you aren’t overly fond of me, if this is about Paruth or my family, I’d rather not hear the news by myself. Please.”
“Raya, it seems I’ve misjudged you on every level. You should know that I respect you very much.” He gave a gentle smile and bowed slightly. “I’d be honored to stay by your side.” The King moved back to his seat and we waited in silence for several long moments.
On his desk were piles of parchment, several ink wells, and scattered quills, the ends dyed black from use. A matching set of candlesticks sat at either end. A map of the seven kingdoms hung on the wall to my right, and the entire wall to my left was covered with shelves full of books. Volume upon volume. My eyes trailed the spines. Yurak read these. Trevor may have read them, or at least some of them.
When I was first summoned, I honestly believed he was bringing me to his office to tell me that Trevor and Mina would soon be wed. So whatever my neighbors from Roane came to say, it couldn’t be worse than that.
Light footsteps sounded on the other side of the door, followed by the door swinging open. A richly-dressed older man and woman strode into the room, looking strangely familiar. I rose to greet them, taking in the twin, silver crowns on their heads. I quickly surmised that Roane’s King and Queen were now standing before me.
Two burly men entered the room carrying a large chest, their muscles straining through their pressed jackets. I glanced toward Yurak, who waited patiently until the two men left. When the door was closed, he rose and locked it behind him, and walked around the room to stand at my side.
“Raya, I present King Sivik and Queen Iliana of Roane. And may I present to you, Your Highnesses, Princess Raya, sole survivor and heir to the throne of Paruth.”
Queen Iliana embraced me, and I awkwardly patted her back as her husband smiled from behind her. When she pulled away, her fingers trembled as she pushed away her tears. “Your mother was my very best friend,” she started. “She was also my cousin. We grew up together in Roane.” She looked to the ceiling, blinking rapidly to clear the tears. “You look so much like her.”
King Sivik pulled a silk handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to his wife, wrapping a hand around her waist comfortingly.
“We had no idea your parents managed to get you to safety,” Queen Iliana admitted. “We didn’t find your body among the dead, so we had hope that you’d somehow survived. But we had no idea where to even begin our search. We had no choice but to listen in case someone heard of your whereabouts or if you came to us yourself. If we’d known where you were, we would have come for you right away. I want you to know how sorry I am that you spent so long on that island by yourself, Raya. I don’t... frankly, I don’t know how you managed on your own for so long.”
“It wasn’t as bad as you might think,” I tried to calm her, but my words only made her cry harder. Tears stung my eyes. Maybe she saw the truth on my face. Before Trevor got there, it was bad. It was horrible, terrifying, and lonely, but I didn’t realize how awful those times were until Trevor’s presence gave me hope. Being with him genuinely made me happy. Sometimes you couldn’t tell how much you didn’t have until you received something precious. He was a gift from God above.
The crazy thing was that he always told everyone how I saved him, when the opposite was true. Or maybe, we saved each other. That was why we were so close. It was how I came to love him.
“I know how she did it!” the Queen whispered, her eyes flashing with recognition. “It was Hildegard.” King Sivik consoled his wife while she regained her poise. When she did, she placed both hands on my shoulders. “We waited several years before allowing our soldiers to enter Paruthan lands. It took months, but I want you to know that we gave everyone in Paruth a proper burial – including your mother and father. Afterwards, we secured the castle, removing all the valuables we could find to guard against theft.”
She gestured to the large chest behind them. “This was one of many chests we took from the treasury. They have been kept secure in our palace since that day, but they are rightfully yours. We wanted to return them all to you, in the event that you truly had survived.”
“Why would you risk your safety, and why would you safeguard these treasures for so long?” I asked, my voice wavering.
“Though we didn’t need it, it felt wrong to leave it behind; it felt like a betrayal of your mother. People would have eventually become brave enough to venture into Paruth, especially once word spread that the dead were buried and the plague buried with them. We knew it was only a matter of time before the vultures descended and thieves got brave enough to enter the castle. We couldn’t let that happen to your birthright. So with hope that you had made it to safely and would one day return, we kept it safe for you.”
King Sivik scooted the chairs out of the way as Queen Iliana opened the chest. I collapsed onto my chair, hand over my mouth, when I saw my mother’s crown shining on top of mounds of coin and jewels. The hammered gold was exactly as I remembered; the top of the crown was scalloped, each tip capped with a gray pearl. Just like the one that sat on my bedside table…
I sobbed as she brought the crown out of the chest and held it out for me. “This is yours now, Raya,” Queen Iliana intoned solemnly. “You have your whole future in front of you. Whether you decide to return to Paruth and rebuild, or stay here,” she glanced at King Yurak for
a long moment, “this crown belongs to you. You are of age. Traditionally, there would be a coronation, but you are the only living Queen of Paruth, and you deserve to wear your mother’s crown, just as you should receive the treasury of your kingdom.”
I nodded my head quickly, unable to form coherent words to thank her properly. Tears welled and fell, sliding down my cheeks one after another. Queen Iliana pulled me in for another hug. “Your mother would have been so proud,” she whispered.
Wiping my tears, the only thing I could think was that I wasn’t so sure she would be. Now, it seemed I had an enormous decision to make. Should I leave for Paruth and try to rebuild what the plague decimated? Or stay here, in the tower, alone?
King Sivik looked between me and Yurak. “There are many more chests. Where should we tell our men to bring them?”
“The guard outside the door, Noam, will see that they are brought to Raya’s chamber,” King Yurak advised. “For now, I will position a guard outside her door to make sure they are kept safe, or until she instructs me otherwise.” He turned to me and put his hand on my shoulder. “Is that okay?”
“Yes,” I croaked. Turning to the King and Queen of Roane, gripping the hammered gold circle in my hands, I offered a modest, “Thank you.”
“Your mother and father would have done the same for us if the situation had been reversed,” Sivik claimed, pulling his wife into his arms and holding her tight to his chest. He kissed her hair as she cried. When she was calm, they told us they would see us at dinner that night.
I held my breath until they left the room, and then I lost it. I couldn’t breathe. I sobbed so hard, I couldn’t catch my breath.
Yurak patted me on the back crouched down beside me. Over and over again, he assured me that everything would be okay in time. But I wasn’t sure if it would. When I finally calmed down and stood up, he stood with me. He opened his mouth like he wanted to say something, but then closed it and walked me to the door. “I’ll see that all the chests are brought up to your room.”
Unlocked Page 20