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“It’s a spyglass.” Brighton showed Kaerius how to look through it to see the promontory in the distance and the ships just visible beyond it.

The frigid wind tasted of salt and freedom, and Kaerius sucked in a deep breath that stung his lungs. He coughed and doubled over. How inconvenient it was to need air so desperately! His vision blurred for a moment with the force of his coughs, but the icy wind brought clarity to his mind. He turned so that the wind off the sea blew into his face and leaned against the stone wall for support. The cold cut through his jacket and bit at his skin, and he felt the pain with relief, for it helped him focus.

At this moment, there was a sound behind them, and Ralph strode out of the palace toward them with an entourage of Boravian soldiers. “Good morning, Your Highness!” he said in a jovial voice. “What a magnificent view!”

“It is beautiful,” Marin said. Her smile was not exactly kind or friendly, but it was polite.

Kaerius wished she would be rude to the Boravian. Ralph deserved her rudeness and disdain; he did not deserve her courtesy. But it was not in her character to be unkind, and when he looked at her pale, troubled face, he felt only admiration for her sweetness.

Marin reached for the spyglass, which Brighton surrendered. She looked through it again, biting her lip, and said finally, “I do see the ships, Lord Ralph.”

She handed the spyglass back to her cousin.The tall guard looked through the glass, his mouth grim. Finally he said, “I count at least twelve now, all well out of range.”

Marin said quietly. “It’s a show of force, even if they haven’t attacked yet.”

Ralph had found his own position at the wall some distance away, leaning casually upon the stone with his elbows and looking through his own spyglass at intervals.

“So you see I have been exceptionally patient,” he said, as if continuing a previous conversation with the princess. “Boravian naval forces will be here by nightfall. It will go much better for you if we are married and can receive them peacefully. If you insist upon resisting, we will raze this pathetic city to the ground, keeping only this palace as an interesting example of primitive architecture.”

Brighton straightened and took a deep, slow breath. He opened his mouth and then closed it again, letting the princess speak for herself.

Marin said, “I want to know that you will honor the promises you made during negotiations. Safety for my guards and staff, mercy toward my people, everything.”

Ralph shrugged one shoulder carelessly. “I really don’t think you’re in a position to negotiate, princess. I have been patient. I am finished with that.

“These are your options: You will marry me right now, in the sight of all my witnesses, and you will rule as my obedient and dutiful wife. Or I will kill your staff in front of you, starting with your pathetic father, followed by your precious guard, and so on, until you learn the futility of defying Boravia.”

The princess recoiled. “And what of your honor and the promises you made? Do you throw them aside so easily?”

The Boravian shrugged again. “Why should I make allowances for your people and your staff? If you would marry me easily and without force, I could do what I wanted afterward. But you are determined to make this difficult and time-consuming, and I have run out of patience. When the ships arrive, I will either be married to you and ruling this salt-crusted little backwater, or I will be tragically widowed, with no obedient little Elerian wife to restrain my harsh rule. Which would you prefer?”

Brighton drew his sword and stepped forward, pale and swaying and resolute. “Eleria does not bow to Boravian threats,” he said in a low voice.

Ralph rolled his eyes and drew his own sword. “Idiot,” he muttered. “Princess, call off your dog or watch him die.”

Brighton’s nostrils flared in suppressed fury. “Your Highness,” he said. “Give me leave to kill him.”

“With pleasure,” said Marin, her voice low and shocked, as if she had not expected to ever hate anyone as much as she hated Ralph.

One of Ralph’s servants lunged at Brighton without warning from one side. Steel glinted in the man’s hand, and Brighton drew up his sword in a quick defense.

The blade sank deep into the attacker’s chest, and only Brighton’s considerable skill enabled him to pull his sword clear fast enough to defend against another servant.

Ralph’s direct attack would have overwhelmed him.

Except for Kaerius.

The Mer prince drew his knife and deflected Lord Ralph’s blade just as it would have skewered Brighton. The Boravian had advanced so quickly he nearly lost his balance, and he drew back with his face twisted in fury.

Kaerius advanced toward the foreign lord, forcing him a few steps away from the others and closer to the wall at his back.

Ralph lunged at the prince, snarling, and Kaerius grinned and clicked his teeth. He avoided the lord’s first attack and parried with the knife, and then parried again, surprised by the speed of Ralph’s recovery. Movement in the air was much different than in the water.

“Imbecile,” cried Ralph. He lunged again, and Kaerius, inexperienced in swordplay and footwork, misjudged the Boravian lord’s reach.

A bright, searing pain bloomed in Kaerius’s chest, and he lost his breath. Ralph yanked at the sword, and Kaerius stumbled forward. He slashed wildly at Ralph, who screamed in shock and horror, and then, with desperate fury, Kaerius fell upon the larger man.

Ralph had another knife, and he plunged it into Kaerius’s side.