by Cait Marie
“I think I figured out how to find the island.”
That stopped him.
“What?” He slowly turned to face her.
She quickly explained the clues she figured out. Unlike Shane, Phillip didn’t brush it off. “You heard my father, there isn’t anyone out there strong enough to stop him. But what about a group of immortal warriors?”
“Ada…”
“He has to be stopped.” She stepped closer. In the flickering light, she looked up into his eyes. Growing up, they’d bonded over the Nihryst. If anyone was going to believe her, it would be him. “Please,” she whispered. “We can’t just let him destroy all those people and go to war with the world.”
Phillip closed his eyes briefly and inhaled. “You really think you can find the island?”
The corner of her mouth lifted, and she nodded.
“And if you do miraculously find them?” he asked. “What then? You think they’re going to help the descendants of those who cursed them—the kingdom that took everything from them?”
“I have to try,” she whispered.
He sighed, then reached out a hand and wiped the tears from her cheeks. “All right, let’s get your book.”
They reached her room, and, to their relief, it was empty. The sun had started to rise while in the tunnels. It lit up the bedroom, making it easy to retrieve the book. Adalina told Phillip where to find it while she quickly changed into leggings and a sweater, then shoved a couple extras into a small bag with a coin purse. As she laced up her boots, he sat beside her and opened the book. He looked through the cards, shaking his head.
“I can’t believe you figured it out.” They stood and walked back to the secret door behind a bookshelf. “We’re actually going to look for Cyfrin.”
Adalina whirled around and placed a hand on his chest. “We’re not doing anything. I’m going to look for help. You’re staying here.”
“Like hell I am!” he said a little too loud. They glanced at the door then quickly moved to the safety of the tunnels. He took her hand and led her through the hidden walkways down to the ground floor. They reached another door near the kitchens, and from there, she could get to the service entrance. They were certain none of the kitchen staff would stop her, even if spotted.
Before he could open the last hidden door, she grabbed his wrist. “Phillip.”
“No, I’m going with you.”
“Phillip,” she started again as she pried the book from his hands. “They didn’t see you.”
“That’s not the point.”
“It is though.” Adalina reached up with one palm to his cheek to make sure he met her gaze. “I need you to stay here with Shane.”
He cursed under his breath. She knew she had him with that—he would do anything to protect her brother. Shane couldn’t be left in the dark. Standing on her toes, she kissed Phillip’s cheek.
“Protect him,” she said, her throat tightening. “Tell him I love him and that I’ve gone for help. Keep your heads down and pretend you don’t know anything.”
Phillip pulled her into a tight hug. “Be careful, Ada.”
She could hear the pain in his voice but quickly detached herself and slipped out the door and to the streets beyond. People came and went, preparing for the day. No one paid her any attention as she headed to the docks with a plan forming in the back of her mind.
The sun broke the horizon and set a soft glow over the ships and boats by the time Adalina reached the water. She walked the length of the dock and back, inspecting each vessel. Crew members loaded supplies onto several. Passengers boarded some. But she needed something more private, smaller. People shuffled past her, and she walked back and forth between a few ships near the end. She found a handful that suited her needs, but she had to figure out a way to convince one of them to take her where she needed to go.
“You look lost,” a voice called out.
Adalina turned to see a woman leaning against a post, her arms crossed over her chest and her legs crossed at the ankle, as if waiting for someone. One of the ships Adalina had considered was tied to the posts behind her. Adalina took a deep breath and walked over.
“What are you looking for?” the woman asked. Her dark hair hung in tight curls down to her shoulders. She wore pants lined with dozens of pockets and a simple black shirt. There was an aggressive air about her, and Adalina wondered if it was her ship. It was rare for a woman to captain a ship, but it wasn’t completely unheard of.
“Someone to hire.” Adalina stood taller, trying to exude confidence. “I need to get to Tugora and then to an island nearby.”
“Tugora?” Shock filled the woman’s wide hazel eyes. Not many asked to go there unless in some kind of trouble. “Why does a pretty thing like you want to go there?”
“Private business,” Adalina said, refusing to give more information than needed.
The woman narrowed her eyes. “Well, we’re not for hire.”
She unhitched herself from the post and turned to leave. Adalina reached out to grab her shoulder. As she did, the grip on her book started to fumble, and a couple of the cards fell to the ground. She quickly kneeled to gather them and found the woman helping her.
“Where did you get these?” she asked.
“I bought them.” Adalina didn’t know why she lied. It would not have mattered, but she thought it best to hide the truth of her identity and mission as much as possible. “They’re used to tell the future. Well, that’s what they’re supposed to be used for, I just thought they looked neat.”
The woman nodded, still looking at one of the cards. “What did you say your name was?”
“Ada. Please, I can pay you in gold. Plenty of it.”
“We have no need for that much gold.” She handed Ada the card back. It was of Briar, Loxley’s righthand man. “However, I’ll take those cards as payment.”
“The cards? Why?”
“They’re the cards from the myth about the Nihryst.”
A group of royal guards rushed the dock and began questioning people.
“But they’re fake.” Ada’s pulse quickened. This needed to be settled quickly. If the guards saw her, it was over.
“Yes, but the favors I could get from pretending otherwise…”
Ada thought about it. This woman clearly wasn’t going to accept anything else. She couldn’t hand them over—they weren’t just clues with the map. She would need them to help break the curse.
“Get me everywhere I need to go, then they’re yours.”
The woman squinted, contemplating. Ada bounced on the balls of her feet, willing her to decide quickly. After a moment, she thrust a hand forward. “The name’s Brienne. Welcome aboard.”
Brienne led them up the dock and onto the ship. Ada looked around in wonder, hugging the book closer to her chest. The ship wasn’t the biggest she had ever been on—it was half the size of her father’s navy boats, if that. It was big enough to do the job though. She watched as crew members ran about, preparing the ship to leave. As soon as she set foot on the wooden deck, they stopped to stare.
“This is Ada, she will be joining us,” Brienne called out loud enough to be heard by the dozen sailors.
A large man walked over, towering Ada, and asked, “What about Captain?”
Apparently, this woman wasn’t the captain.
“Let me worry about him,” Brienne cut the man off quickly. She grabbed Ada’s elbow and dragged her to what appeared to be the captain’s quarters. “Stay in this room until I tell you otherwise. You’ll be safe here. I just need to persuade the captain to go along with our plan.”
Ada nodded and clenched her jaw to stop from asking questions. When the door clicked shut, she released a breath. She looked around at the bookshelves lining the room, the large table bolted down in the center, and the bed in the corner that looked to be built into the wall. Despite it being on a ship, the cabin was almost cozy. Dark navy curtains hung on either side of the large window that faced the dock. Lant
erns hung around the room, with only a couple lit. She sat in one of the tall leather-backed chairs, trying not to worry. Placing the book on the table in front of her, she began wringing her hands. It was hard to believe this was finally happening. She had dreamed of this moment her entire life. She just wished she was going under different circumstances.
A commotion outside startled her. She ran to the door but stopped with a hand on the knob. Remembering what Brienne said, she sat back down and waited. People moved about, shouting commands beyond the cabin. Soon, the ship began to rock, and she saw the dock grow smaller out the window as they set sail. Footsteps stomped toward the door.
“—tell you something,” Brienne finished saying as the door banged open.
Ada stood and whirled around. A man stood in the doorway, looking as shocked as she felt. A sense of déjà vu had her looking closer. It was his eyes she finally recognized.
“You!” she exclaimed at the thief from a couple days earlier.
“Brienne,” he said through his teeth.
Brienne moved past him and stood in front of Ada with hands out. “Just hear me out.”
“We don’t pick up strays.” He slammed the door hard enough that the opaque glass pane shuddered before he moved to the captain’s chair behind the table. Both women turned to keep an eye on him.
Brienne stood beside Ada and explained, “She’s paying us to take her somewhere.”
“No,” he said, his tone flat as he looked down at the map painted on the table.
“You’ve already set sail.” Ada finally worked up the courage to speak. “Are you just going to throw me overboard?”
His green eyes snapped up to hers. “Not a bad idea.”
Her heart pounded at the thought. She quickly said, “I will pay you a handsome amount.”
“She has these cards too,” Brienne continued. She looked to Ada, then nodded to the book. Ada pulled them out.
He glanced at the cards in confusion. Flipping through them, Ada could sense his curiosity as Brienne told him about trading them for favors. Everyone knew the stories. Though these two didn’t know they were the real cards, Ada was hoping their rarity would convince him.
“And where are we taking…?”
“Ada,” she responded. “To Tugora and then a nearby island. I will tell you how to get there after the first stop.”
“Tugora.” He let out a breathy laugh, shaking his head. With a nod to Brienne, she left them alone. “Fine, we’ll take the cards and gold.”
“Fine.” She didn’t argue that Brienne had said just the cards. At this point, it didn’t matter. “But I keep the cards until you get me to my final destination.”
He sighed and handed the cards back over. “Fine. But if you’re joining us, you’re working as part of the crew.”
“All right.”
“How much do you know about sailing?” When she hesitated, he tugged a hand through his dark hair. “Seriously? Then how are you supposed to tell us where to go?”
“I’m not an idiot,” she argued. “I can read a map. And I’m a fast learner, so just tell me what to do. I’ve spent time on my father’s boats. I’ve seen what needs done.”
She decided he didn’t need to know that those ships were massive in comparison and so advanced they didn’t need as much manpower.
“I don’t want to hear complaints because you’re not used to working with those hands.”
“You won’t.”
He sighed. For a moment, he stared at her, tapping a thumb on the table. “My name is Lee, I am the captain, and this is my ship. What I say goes.” He moved to stand closer. The scent of the sea and something unnamable hit her. It was almost overwhelming, and she couldn’t tell if she wanted more of it or to step away. He didn’t look as old as she’d initially thought. He looked maybe a few years older than her, but there was something in the way he held himself—like he had already seen a lot in his young life—that aged him.
“Fine.”
“Stars, you’re a stubborn one, aren’t you?” he said.
Ada crossed her arms in response, refusing to move one way or another.
“You know,” he smirked and took a step forward, “when someone offers to act as a personal chauffeur, most people usually just say thank you.”
She glared at him for the echoed words of their previous encounter, which caused him to laugh again. He stepped back and pointed to the bed.
“You’ll be more comfortable up here. You can stay as long as you’re out of my way.”
Ada looked at the single bed, then back at him.
“Don’t worry, Princess, I’ll find a bunk down with the crew,” Lee said, winking as if he read her mind. Her breath caught at the title, but she quickly realized he was using it as an insult to her assumed status.
“It’s Ada,” she corrected. She placed the cards back in the book and moved to sit in on the edge of the bed.
With a huff, he stomped toward the door and called over his shoulder, “Well, come on. I’ll introduce you to the crew, then we can see how dirty those hands get before you quit.”
She lifted her eyes to the ceiling before walking past him as he held the door open. Just as he had a couple days earlier, she muttered a thanks under her breath. She heard a deep chuckle behind her in response.
Shane knocked on Adalina’s bedroom door for the third time. When she still didn’t respond, he opened it to find an empty room. He turned back to the hall. The guards on duty hadn’t seen her leave, so she must have had trouble sleeping again and left early. He worried about her, despite her never complaining. Approaching footsteps made him turn toward the stairs. Instead of his sister though, Phillip appeared.
“Have you seen Ada?” Shane asked as his friend drew near.
“No, I haven’t. She’s not in her room?”
“No,” Shane replied. “She must have left early this morning. She’s probably in the library.”
“Probably.” Phillip laughed. When he stopped beside the prince, he asked, “Can we talk?”
Phillip’s tone sounded normal, but something in his eyes didn’t match. He glanced at the prince’s door cautiously. Shane moved toward his room. “Of course.”
When Shane turned around after closing and quietly locking the door, Phillip faced him with a finger to his mouth. Shane nodded, then followed as Phillip led him to an old tapestry along one wall. He pulled it aside to show a small hidden door, and Shane’s mouth dropped open. Were it anyone else, he would have been wary of entering the dark tunnel beyond.
“Phillip,” Shane began once sealed inside, “What is this pl—"
“Ada’s gone,” Phillip interrupted.
“What are you talking about?”
They stood in the quiet tunnel, barely lit from torches along one wall. His voice echoed against the stone. He took a step back and looked around as if he expected his sister to pop out of the shadows.
“Ada left.” Phillip then recounted the morning’s events. The king’s plans, Adalina figuring out the clues and leaving in search of the Nihryst for help, and how they needed to go on as normal.
The world tilted beneath Shane. He took a few steps until his back hit the wall. The cold from the stones seeped through the thin fabric of his shirt.
“I promised to protect her,” he finally whispered, scrubbing his face with one hand.
Phillip sighed and moved to stand beside his friend. He crossed his arms and braced a shoulder against the wall to face the prince. “I know. I did too.”
“She tried telling me about the clues a few weeks ago,” Shane said. “I told her to grow up and stop believing in fairy tales.”
“You and I both know it’s a lot more than just a fairy tale. Especially to her.”
Shane nodded and tilted his head back. “She shouldn’t have gone alone.”
“I tried—”
“No,” Shane interrupted with a soft chuckle. He put a hand on Phillip’s arm. “I know you did. Believe me, I know how stubborn she is, and
she was right; you needed to stay here to tell me.”
Phillip leaned his head against the stone wall. “I still don’t like that she went off on her own.”
“Me either.” Shane turned to mirror his friend.
“All right, so what do we do now?”
“Just as Ada suggested.” Shane pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. There was too much to take in and no time to do so. “We go on as normal. Keep an eye out for anything but don’t let my father suspect we know. We act concerned for Ada’s whereabouts as we would naturally.”
“That won’t be hard,” Phillip said. “We need a plan to stop the ball, if possible.”
“No, if we cancel, it will draw too much attention. My father will come up with another excuse to attack.” Shane lowered his hands. “He’d probably use the cancellation, claiming the breaking of the betrothal as the reason for war.”
“Shit.”
Shane let out a low laugh. “Yeah. Maybe we can get it postponed some to help give Ada more time, but there’s no way to even tell her if we do.”
He headed back to the hidden door with Phillip on his heels. Once in his room, he adjusted the tapestry back in place. He stepped back and stared in awe, wondering how he’d never known about the hidden passageway.
“How did you know about that?” Shane asked with a nod toward the completely hidden door.
Phillip’s hand went to the back of his neck. “Your mother.” At Shane’s confused look, he sighed and dropped his hand. “When we were boys, she showed them to me. They lead just about everywhere in the castle. She told me that someone needed to know about them, someone who would keep you both safe. I didn’t promise to just protect Ada… Your mother…”
His words trailed off. She had been like a mother to him too. Shane stepped forward and gripped his friend’s shoulder.
“Your mother,” Phillip continued at a whisper. “I think she knew. It was right before she died, and I think she knew one day we’d need it.”
“Just like she knew to give Ada the book…” Shane shook his head. “I think my mother knew a lot more than she let on. I wish I had paid more attention, listened to her stories. Do you think they were true? That the Nihryst are still out there?”
