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“We should go by boat to Tafeld, pick up some horses, and make our way to Amsbrook. Once there, we can discuss how we get to Ljosa,” Gunnar suggested.

Herrick and Hakon nodded in agreement.

Finding the paper and ink he had been searching for, Herrick wrote out a short letter to his mother about their departure, including the instructions he had left with Svend about the Flame Assassins breaching their walls. Herrick made no mention of Hakon joining them again this time. He sealed the paper into an envelope, addressing his mother and father, and left it on Hakon’s bed.

Eydis emerged from the washroom in a similar garb to Liv and Maude: tight-fit leather pants, boots, and a long-sleeved linen tunic with a leather vest over the top. Belted on her hip was the knife from Maude, and in her hand was the long staff she had fashioned for her. Unsure, she looked over to Hakon, who gave her a wide smile. She relaxed and walked over to Maude, who handed Eydis a long strap to tie the staff to her back.

Herrick nodded to his friends, saying that they were all ready to leave. Liv stopped them with a hand, peering around the corner.

“The Queen’s soldiers are heading this way,” she warned.

Hakon peered out to the dark balcony that looked out over the ocean and then at Herrick. He shrugged before addressing everyone else.

“Looks like we are scaling down the wall,” Hakon said, motioning for Eydis to come to his side.

Gunnar went over first, then Hakon and Eydis. When Liv had swung her legs over and climbed down, Maude moved to follow. Herrick grabbed her arm and spun her toward him quickly, mimicking their dance just hours before, and brought her close. He reached to pull down her hood, exposing her beautiful face to him again.

“We’re not finished with our conversation from earlier,minn eldr,” Herrick said, a smile pulling at the corner of his mouth.

“Now really isn’t the time, Herrick,” she deadpanned before looking over his shoulder at the door.

“I know,” he said. “But I forgot to tell you something.”

Before she could respond, Herrick quickly leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her soft mouth. He felt Maude’s surprise tense her muscles and then loosen as she moved into the kiss. Maude fit perfectly into his arms this way, and he damned the gods who put them in opposite kingdoms, unable to commit to the feelings he knew they both shared.

She tasted like the darkest part of the night and smoked cedar. Her lips were as soft as Herrick had always imagined, her movements sharp like her tongue and just as sinful. She sunk into him, pressing her tall form against his. For one moment, the world around them dropped away to nothing.

Feeling himself hover on the edge of his minimal restraint around her, Herrick pulled back just as quickly.

“I’ve been wanting to do that since you dragged me to Engate through the desert, half dead, but I knew Ineededto when your anger caused you to detonate, sending your fire cascading out of you. You may not believe it, but your rage matches mine,minn eldr, and it is beautiful.”

Surprise lit up her features, but she remained silent. Herrick released her and gently guided her to the balcony railing when Liv was almost halfway down to the ground.

“We have to go, or you’ll get us caught,” he jested, kicking a leg up over the rail.

Maude stared at him for a moment in disbelief before she rolled her eyes and followed him.

They scaled down the wall swiftly to find Gunnar already leading them to the small boathouse behind a hill that they utilized for these secret flights. Making it to the small boat before his mother’s soldiers could spot them in the dark, Herrick let out a breath of relief as they all climbed into the boat.

Similar in shape to their navy’s longships, this vessel was longer than it was wide and had two curling dragons at the bow and the stern, like the dragon that was inked into his chest. Dotting the sides were the holes to put the oars, which were currently withdrawn, and no sails, as this boat was used to ferry goods from Veter to the small villages down the river.

Gunnar and Hakon were preparing to push off from the boathouse when Herrick finally hopped in. Maude had settled herself at the bow of the longboat and eyed the dragon before looking at him.

“This is your boat,” she commented, no evidence of the short kiss they shared lingering on her face.

“Yes,” he responded, just a short.

“This is what is tattooed onto your chest and arm.”

“Again, yes.”

“Why? You are not the Heir,” she said, eyeing his chest like she could see through to his skin.

“I understand that the dragonhead ships are designated for the King and Queen of each kingdom, but I had it inked into my chest surrounding my fatemark so that they may work together,” Herrick explained.

Eydis turned to them both, curious at their conversation.

“What is your fatemark?” Eydis asked, curious.