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“Maris!” As Valda’s steps echoed through the hall, she turned to face Valda beaming at her.

“Your Highness,” Maris replied, turning to find that Arwin was already gone.

Valda reached out for her, and Maris grabbed her large hand, giving it a firm squeeze.

“You are trembling,” Valda said, her hand moving to her forearm. “Are you cold? You don’t feel cold.”

Maris shook her head. Anger brewed deep within her stomach. She hated how calmly Arwin reacted to her questioning, how dismissive he was. He knew he was hard to reach, and more than anything, there was no evidence to tie him to her accusations. Still, him asking her if she was sure felt almost like some sort of confession, as if he knew who was truly responsible.

Her gaze flicked to Valda, who leaned over her with such concern it wretched her very soul. She shuddered in a breath and spread her fingers over Valda’s open palm. “I am sorry, can we go back inside your chamber?”

“Are you sure you are all right?”

She wasn’t, but letting Valda know wouldn’t fix anything. If anything, it would make things more complicated. Valda was the queen, Arwin was the General, and she was the help. Letting out a resigned sigh, Maris pulled Valda to her chamber.

17

The silence bothered Valda. She had been so excited to share with Maris what had just happened, but something was wrong. As the door closed behind her, Maris’s steps circled next to her. A sigh filled the room, joined by the sound of someone sitting on the sofa.

Cerberus’s welcoming chirps warmed her heart, but Maris’s silence made her uneasy. Using the strings Maris had tied around the chamber, Valda walked to Maris then took a sharp turn to where the liquor table was. She poured herself a drink and decided if she should pour Maris a drink as well.

“How... was your talk with Captain Hurley?” Valda asked, slightly hesitant, walking back to the sofa, and accidentally bumping her boot with Maris’s foot. After Valda waved her hand around, Maris ushered her to sit, trying not to spill her drink.

After a couple of minutes of silence, Maris told Valda about the details of the Sea Kingdom, things Valda already knew and had studied many times when she was younger. Valda listened attentively as Maris went over everything with contained excitement. Valda could pick up on the longing in Maris’s voice, in her need to visit the Sea Kingdom, regardless of how destroyed it was.

Valda felt as if it was her duty to show Maris her home kingdom. It wasn’t fair that the young woman’s parents denied her a connection with who she was. As she listened to Maris, she remembered the last meeting she had with Arwin and how there were Skylians moving into the Sea Kingdom, buying off the destroyed houses and buildings from the Sealians and rebuilding.

In theory, it didn’t sound so bad, but if there was going to be an exodus of Skylians, looking for cheap territory for their own gain, pushing Sealians off their very own land then… It wasn’t good. Sealians were losing what belonged to them not only because of the hurricane, but because they didn’t have the means to get it back.

“We haven’t talked about Arwin’s meeting.”

The observation cut off Maris’s recounting of the bridges connecting the islands. A tired sigh and a dip from the sofa signaled that she had stood up. Valda sat quietly, awaiting Maris’s words on the matter, instead the receding steps took her by surprise.

“Maris?”

“How many people are still in the Sea Kingdom?” she asked.

“It is hard to tell.”

“What about those in New Agenor? Are they allowed to move from here and back?”

“Yes, of course. They can use our ships and—”

“Why is taxation so high for the Sealians?”

Valda let out an exasperated groan before drinking what was left in her glass. “My mother set that taxation for the number of resources we used on them and the kingdom when the destruction happened. We are still spending a lot on them.”

“And on the army, according to Arwin.”

“I’ve already asked for a report to fix this. I will fix this, Maris. I know this is important.”

“Yes, as the ability for people to be resilient.” Maris sat back down next to Valda and took the glass away from her hand. “Which I am sure we are.”

“We?”

“The Sealians,” Maris clarified before touching Valda’s forearm, letting the queen know she was close. “Do you think it is fair for us to pay such high taxes when we can barely get a decent job in Skylian land?”

Valda frowned. “I get that. But, you are working in Oberon Castle. Is that not decent enough?” Valda didn’t want to sound harsh. She modulated her tone for that exact reason. Weeks ago, she wouldn’t have cared how she sounded. But she truly wanted to know what Maris was thinking.