Page 84 of The Cradle of Ice

“Me? I barely speak Klashean, let alone ancient Klashean.”

“But you know someone who is far more fluent than even Pratik.”

Kanthe backed a step.

Oh, no …

Pratik explained. “Ancient Klashean is said to be the language of our thirty-three gods. Only a handful of scholars at the House of Wisdom are fluent. It is a language reserved for imri royalty, so they can commune with the gods during rituals, reciting passages in that language. It’s why I know so little.”

“But Rami is fluent,” Frell stressed pointedly.

“As is his sister,” Pratik added. “Despite appearances as a pampered daughter of the Imri-Ka, Aalia is well studied, even brilliant.”

Frell faced Kanthe, his eyes desperate. “You must convince them to help us.”

37

KANTHE PLACED A palm on the prisoners’ door, readying himself for the storm to come. So far, he had tried four times to broker peace with Rami, to offer his solemn oath that he did not know Llyra would orchestrate the kidnapping of his sister. But Rami remained deaf and unmovable.

The prince loved his younger sister and would protect her with his life. Whether Kanthe knew of the betrayal or not, it had still happened under the guise of getting them free of the palace. To Rami, it was all bundled together.

Down deep, Kanthe knew the prince was not entirely wrong.

I do deserve a share of the blame.

Kanthe suspected part of the reason he needed Rami’s forgiveness was to assuage his own guilt. Aalia did not deserve to be dragged—literally—into this situation.

“Are you going in or what?” a guard asked, leaning on a wall and picking at his teeth with a dagger.

With no other choice, Kanthe knocked to announce himself. He had left Frell and Pratik back in their cabin with the infernal pages. The best chance of gaining the others’ cooperation was to go in alone.

An inarticulate response came from inside. Kanthe unlatched the door and waited. He refused to barge inside after being scolded soundly before. After three breaths, Loryn opened the door for him. The Chaaen’s role aboard the ship had been reduced to a manservant.

Loryn scowled at Kanthe. Likely, he had been expecting a crewman at the door with a midday platter.

“If I may…” Kanthe waved to the room.

Loryn turned and inquired in Klashean. Rami’s gruff voice responded with irritation. The prince clearly had had enough of Kanthe’s prostrations. Still, Loryn stepped back and invited him inside with a wave of an arm, as if he were welcoming a guest into a set of private quarters versus a prison cell.

Kanthe entered, struggling with how to win over their cooperation.

The cabin was identical to the others, with two bunked beds along one wall. A thin mattress had been dragged in for Loryn. The only notable difference to this room was that it was slightly larger and had its own privy closet. Still, it was a far cry from royal quarters.

Rami hopped off the top bunk. The lower had a makeshift drape drawn across it, made from a blanket. It sheltered the Illuminated Rose of the Imri-Ka. Aalia had remained hidden during each of Kanthe’s prior visits. He had yet to set eyes upon her after seeing her dragged out of the map closet.

Rami stepped before him, blocking the way into the rest of his cabin. He stood bare-chested, his skin glowing with a sheen of sweat from the stifling heat. He wore a pair of ragged leggings cast off by a crewman.

“What do you want?” he demanded.

“Your help.”

Rami cocked an eyebrow high, his face darkly amused. “My help?”

Kanthe waved to the draped bunk. “Both of your help.”

That brow dropped and joined the other into a deep furrow. “Truly, this must be some jest.”

“I know you’re angry. Our trust broken. Again, I’m deeply sorry. But I came here at the request of Alchymist Frell and Chaaen Pratik.”