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“Let’s go.”

I questioned the nobleman on the way to Marek’s ship, one he very reluctantly allowed us both to board. Convinced Gavric had little else to share, and as confident as I could be that he had no plans to follow the queen’s instructions, we sailed to Corvi, a courtesy, according to Marek, for his loyalty to Nerys.

When the noble walked away from us, disappearing from view on the busy dock, I waited for Marek to untie and push us off. Instead, he began to tie off ropes.

“What are you doing?” I asked, already suspecting the answer. He was securing the ship to remain docked.

“What does it look like I’m doing?”

He was still angry. Fair enough.

“I could not risk getting caught.”

Marek finished, glaring at me. “He will tell others. That is no longer a secure spot for me to…”

“Aye?” I tried not to laugh as Marek screwed up his expression so it appeared less guilty. “When she is queen, you cannot continue your… less scrupulous activities. Not without putting Nerys in a difficult position.”

“‘When she is queen,’ being the operative phrase. These past two days have not gone well. Nerys is furious, not being able to leave. Whispers of her instability spread. And if men like Lord Gavric are giving credence to the queen’s rantings, I worry her challenge will not be upheld.”

I had not yet thought to ask. “Is such a thing possible? Is a legitimate challenge not within Thalassari laws?”

“Legitimate, aye. But there was a man once, well before my time, who challenged the king. All knew him to be mad and the king refused to entertain the challenge. It caused a temporary unrest, but ultimately, it was ruled that the king had been within his rights given his challenger’s state. He did himself no favors by marching into the palace, claiming the king, one well-liked and respected, was an imposter, and demanded the throne as his own.”

“None who know Nerys would believe the same of her.”

“Hence”—Marek waved his arms—“the queen’s current campaign.”

“Surely, you have a plan?”

Marek stepped onto the dock, smiling from ear to ear. “Rowan, my dear human, I always have a plan. And you are the most integral part of it.”

32

NERYS

Aneri’s courtyard, a place that had been my sanctuary for so many years, was no comfort today. It felt more like a gilded cage as I paced around the fountain, trapped here while rumors continued to spread. Only Caelum came and went, Aneri as much a captive as me.

“You will wear a path into the ground that reaches Elydor’s core,” Aneri said, handing me a lemon-flavored pastry with custard. It was one of my favorites, as she knew.

Stopping long enough to take a bite, I might have moaned just a little bit. “It’s still warm.”

“Sit,” she said. “Take your mind from the challenge.”

I did, but corrected her. “My mind is on how useless I am, hiding here while the queen demolishes my reputation. A traitor and a coward,” I said, only stopping to take another bite.

“A coward would not be preparing to challenge the Queen of Thalassaria, as well you know.”

“Hmm,” I responded, my mouth full of pastry. “Has Caelum returned?” I asked when I finally finished chewing.

“Not yet.”

I knew that look. “You’re worried she will discredit me before the festival?”

“Nay,” Aneri said. “Marek and Rowan have been busy. While you were out here pacing, before he left, Caelum said their efforts in Corvi are bearing fruit. Marek has apparently been working the Pearl Market, meeting with influential traders and merchants, and with guild leaders at the Navigator’s Guild. He said both have been holding court at The Driftwood Inn, countering the queen’s narrative by emphasizing your dedication to Thalassaria’s traditions, and highlighting the queen’s manipulative tactics.”

Rowan.

I could not think of him without recalling precisely what he asked me to remember in the Deep Archives.