Page 9 of A Spell of Bones and Madness (Nostos #2)

Chapter Six

Katrin

I t had been an uneasy journey since the attack.

The crew worked in larger shifts and The Nostos was on the constant move.

They didn’t dare venture to one of the small coves along the isles for a rest. Instead they sailed full speed toward the shores of Nexos.

Toward their only true ally in the isles—if Nikolaos could even be considered an ally.

Blackened waters and rotting shoreline would meet The Nostos as it approached the isle of Nexos. At least, that was what Katrin had always been told, what others had seen from a distance, not daring to cross the shoals that surrounded the isle to make port.

What lay before her now, though, were only crystal clear seas, much like those shimmering waters that circled Skiatha, birds squawking above as they circled and darted to the water’s break for fish.

Deep red clay cliffs towered up from white sandy beaches in the distance.

A castle that was meant to be crumbling to the ground was cut into a portion of those cliffs; its sturdy alabaster and glass walls glimmered in the sunlight, reflecting rainbows across the sky.

Waterways snaked between opalescent arches with enough room a rowboat or small sailing vessel could make its way through and straight into the heart of the castle.

It reminded Katrin of the temple at Olympus in her stories, where the Olympi might live and rule, nothing like the stories of Nexos she was told.

Hidden. Everything Nexos was, King Nikolaos had shrouded and kept from the other isles.

The God of Sea and Shadows lived up to every portion of his name.

Katrin could not blame him for keeping the beauty that was in front of her from the rest of the world.

She wished she had done the same with Alentus.

That she could have protected her lands and her people from the treacherous and traitorous men who now roamed her halls, sat on her throne.

Approaching the edge of the isle, The Nostos would need to drop anchor in the cove overlooking the palace, too big to bring through the winding waterways.

Instead they would need to row two small skiffs in, unprotected from the guards that lined the entryways.

Katrin could only hope that the guards and King Nikolaos recognized their spy on one of the small crafts. Recognized Ajax.

It was hard to fathom how Ajax had remained a spy for Nexos that long.

She wondered if he had come to Alentus for that very reason, or if he later met the people aboard this ship and turned.

Heard the horrors that were occurring in a seemingly sacred place, and knew that he had to stand up for all that was good in this world.

There were so many things she didn’t see coming.

So many things that would not have made sense only months before.

Reality was daunting, but Katrin would face each twist and turn that was thrown at her with force.

She would have to if there was any hope of rescuing Ander, if there was anything left to rescue.

Water circled around the small craft as they entered through the first alabaster archway, the guards giving a curt nod as they passed.

The crew was welcome, at least this far into the stronghold.

It was all Katrin could ask for at this point.

Wind and sea seemed to guide them—more than Ajax’s rowing—through the winding channel, around marble posts and sculptures of what looked to be the Olympi described in Ander’s book collection.

The largest of which was a tall man with a beard cropped short, hair waving down his back, a trident held across his body, two half-horse, half-fish creatures flanking his sides.

Poseidon. God of Sea and Storm and Destruction.

I think he would have favored you . Katrin could only hope that the little piece of the vengeful Olympi that would have favored her passed on to Nikolaos.

A delicate figure stepped down winding marble stairs to the side of the dock as the row boat approached.

Deep navy velvet trimmed a black cloak that flapped in the wind while the hooded person turned toward the dock.

Eyes so piercing blue they looked like cracked ice shown from behind the shadows of the hood.

Long, stick-straight pieces of black hair hung from the hood, but no other features except a sinful, white, toothy smile could be seen. A shudder went down Katrin’s spine.

The person’s—girl’s—boney hand drifted up to her hood, pulling the velvet cover back, displaying pale skin that glittered in the sunlight.

Her hair was a shimmering silver, except for those front two black strands framing her face.

She was beautiful, in the way that the Nexian queen, Giselle, was beautiful—cold and terrifying.

Soft breath escaped Katrin’s lips. Chloe—it had to be.

Although not much was known about the youngest Kirassos, Katrin just knew it was her.

Beside those chilling blue eyes was the same crinkle that Ander always made when he smiled—his, usually natural.

His sister’s, however, seemed forced. Chloe walked toward the end of the dock, each step one of predatory grace.

Mykonos hissed from beside Katrin, loud enough that the Nexian princess grinned ever wider, flashing her sharp teeth.

Ajax stepped off the small boat in front of Katrin and the others, but still Katrin gripped the hilt of her sword, ready to draw.

Although Chloe had looked unarmed, she could not be sure that the girl did not possess some other way of attacking them, if she was of age.

“Jax,” Chloe’s breathy voice echoed off the marble arches of the castle. The accent was so much like Ander’s it numbed Katrin to her core. Then Chloe turned to the southern princess, that faint smile fading. “Farah, I didn’t expect to see you ever step on these shores.”

Farah stepped up to Chloe. Her golden eyes smoldered and a grin flashed across her face as she bowed deep. “I finally cut off my father’s leash, but you already knew that. Didn’t you, little wolf?”

Katrin had to choke back a laugh. She had always liked Farah, at least with the limited interactions they’d had over the years.

But she never got to see the playful side of her, not under the close watch of King Athanas.

Katrin was glad Farah had seen her father for the vile and deceitful man he was and decided to join them in the fight.

A little piece of her wished Kohl had the wherewithal to do the same.

“I know many things.” Chloe pointed one of those long fingers at Thalia and Mykonos. “Like the fact that my brother would eat this one as a snack.” This time it was Thalia who hissed through her teeth, violet eyes lit with vengeance at the threat to her psychí .

Dimitris. Katrin had never met the younger brother before. His reputation, on the other hand, preceded him. Lethal assassin and rumored to have the same shifting ability as Giselle. Descendant of the Olympi Apollo. Master of torment and trickery.

“What brings you to my isle?” Chloe spoke with an ice cold tone, even with two spies she knew in front of her. Predator indeed.

All bark and no bite. That voice filled Katrin’s head once more. The hallucinations got worse and worse each day, but it made her feel better—feel safe—to picture Ander speaking. She could all but feel him murmuring the words under his breath while he cocked a brow at his sister.

Katrin cleared her throat, sucking in a long breath before she spoke. “We seek aid and supplies to return to Alentus and rescue your brother. As a fellow royal in Odessia, I wish to speak to your king and queen.”

Chloe’s brow arched up and she floated her hand through the air toward the stairs. “Well then, Your Majesty, who am I to stop you?”

Sparkling crystal lined the throne room, the sun refracting off, spreading a multi-colored hue about the marble floors.

A light scent of lemon and mint lingered in the air, mixing with the salt of the sea.

The castle smelled of Ander, or perhaps those soaps and lotions on The Nostos were a tribute to his home.

A way to remember a place he could no longer see.

The hall was stunning. No crumbling dark gray stone, no leaky walls from the stream that still snaked its way through the castle.

It was light and airy and intoxicating to all who entered.

King Nikolaos sat perched on an equally grandiose marble throne in garb that resembled the Olympi.

A large black wolf lay curled up by his feet, its coat shimmering blue in the sunlight.

Icy eyes matching Chloe’s stared back from behind tufts of fur.

The wolf stood up, padding down to the crew of The Nostos .

Neither Farah nor Ajax seemed fazed by the prowling creature, but Thalia picked up Mykonos into her arms and Ember stuck her hand in front of Katrin.

A damning grin displayed a row of threatening teeth that would no doubt tear limb from limb if threatened.

The wolf stopped in front of Katrin, cocking its head to the side, as if taking in the heightened pace of Katrin’s heart, the light film of sweat that began to coat her skin, the curious look in her eyes as she assessed the beast.

Ember’s hand went straight to her sword as a cloud of shadow began to swirl around the beast, and in the blink of an eye, the Goddess of the Moon stood before them, dressed in a thin, gray gossamer gown.

“Easy there, Prytan, I mean no harm to this one.” Giselle reached out a delicate hand to point toward Katrin.

The queen sniffed the air as she drew closer.

Flickers of silver danced in her eyes as a wry half grin spread across her lips.

She said nothing more, before returning to the dais and sitting on the twin to King Nikolaos’s throne.

“I think an apology is owed,” Nikolaos’s booming voice filled the hall. Both Chloe and Ajax rolled their eyes, Farah just shifted on her feet.

“My sister doesn’t need to apologize for anything,” Ember spat. It would take a lot more than learning Nexos was not a threat to ease the distaste of the king, and apparently her sister felt the same. Katrin put a hand on Ember’s shoulder, giving her a curt nod.

“I can speak for myself, Ember, it’s alright.” Her shoulders shrugged down a bit, a breath of defeat leaving her lungs. “We have come here because there are no other feasible options. We need your help and supplies to rescue Ander. He was—”

“He was taken captive? He now resides in the dungeons of your fair and just court? I know all this, Princess .” The king’s lip curled up in a snarl, his hands gripping the sides of the throne, knuckles turning white against the shade of his deeply tanned skin.

“Although you were not invited to attend, I am queen now, Nikolaos, and you will address me as such.” Katrin’s eyes narrowed, she would not be bullied by this man, even if he was right .

“As you wish, Queen .” His tone was short, mocking. “How exactly do you plan to save my son when you left him for dead? When you betrayed him?”

“I did not leave him for dead.” Though her voice was steady and sure, Katrin’s heart hitched.

But she did leave him. She tried to go back once she saw whose ship was there to take her to safety.

Tried to claw her way back to the dungeons.

“I am trying to do everything I can to get Ander back. Twice he saved me, and now it is my turn to do the same. We were set to sail here before—well, before I tried to send The Nostos to the depths of the sea.”

“Curious…” The king folded his hands in his lap, scrunching his white and black flecked brows together, exchanging a glance with his queen.

“What is curious?” Katrin asked.

“Did you know my son was cursed after what he did those years ago? What he sacrificed for you?” Nikolaos asked.

Katrin's sight filled with stars and her head began to spin. “I—he never said anything.”

“When he went for you, King Athanas cursed him to sail the seas until the victim fell in love with the captor. He then spewed lies about the isles that I was responsible for holding you against your will. How could the most powerful future queen fall in love with the son of the man who committed such vicious acts against her? Finally, to make it even harder, he tipped off his own son to rescue you. Prophecy fulfilled, was it not? But if Alexander was able to sail home, the curse must have been broken.”

“But I was not in love with him.” Katrin’s teeth rolled over her bottom lip. “At least, not then. ”

“Perhaps. Or perhaps you were lying to yourself, torn between two men. The one who had pretended to be your savior and the one who had sacrificed it all from the shadows.”

Farah whistled from the side of the room and Katrin’s stomach sank to the floor. What must Kohl’s sister think of her?

Katrin went to speak, but instead the soft yet vicious voice of Ander’s sister filled the room.

“They are not here for an inquisition, Father. I, for one, think we should help them. It is your heir after all.” The last few words were harsher than the kind ones that came before.

Chloe’s jaw clenched as she locked eyes with her father.

Then Giselle spoke. “You may take what supplies you need, although I will require an ambassador to journey with you.” She turned to her daughter and lowered her voice, so much that Katrin barely heard her.

“Chloe, go wake your brother, you’ll probably find him still piss drunk in his room.

Maybe this journey will teach him some responsibility. ”

“But, Mother, do you really think Dimitris is our best option? If you would let me go in his place—”

“My word is final. The wolves will be alright under my guidance through the changing moon. I am an elder, they will report to me as such.”

King Nikolaos stood and approached the Alentian sisters on the floor below the dais.

“I can offer you weapons and men when the fight is brought to these shores.” Giselle elbowed him in the side.

“I can offer you minimal supplies, enough to cover your time sailing to one of the smaller isles surrounding your shores. Your crew should be able to take it from there. But Aikaterine, the only person who truly knows how to stop all of this is your father.” Katrin felt like she took a fist to the face.

“My father? What does he have to do with any of this?” she asked, swallowing down the tangy taste that coated her tongue.

“Everything,” King Nikolaos whispered.