Page 128 of The Keeper of the Kingdoms

So we gathered the required fungi and made our initial plans.

FORTY-EIGHT

KIERA

Jaxus had been summoned back to the council of elders to debrief on the threats beyond these lands, so I was supposed to be ‘settling in’. Our movements were all about keeping up appearances. I was going to be assisting Emrys, where my skills could be of most use.

So I was confused when Jaxus landed us by the dock on his way to the council and dropped me off to meet Faolan.

“I thought I was spending the day with Emrys?”I asked mind to mind.

“I will see you there later. For now, go with Faolan. He will explain.”

I trusted him. So I dismounted without argument and headed down the jetty to Faolan and the waiting boat.

“What is all this?” I asked asI walked up.

“Today, we are going sailing.” Faolan put a leather hat over his long blond hair and bowed. “My lady.”

“Don’t you start.” I laughed in spite of myself.

“Start what? Should I not make you laugh while we work?” He wiggled his brows.

“Why are we sailing?” I asked, ignoring his question because I felt Jaxus’ eyes on me. He took off once he saw I was safely with his friend.

“Because if you’re going to be seen with me, it has to be while I’m on my best behavior. If we’re seen skulking around together, they will assume the worst.”

“Are you really watched so closely by the elders?”

He side-eyed me. “So Jaxus hasn’t told you?”

I shook my head. “Told me what?”

He tossed a rope at me. “What do you know about sailing?”

“I understand the theory.” I caught the rope.

He stepped onto the deck and offered his hand. “I’ve been forced into the guard so they can keep an eye on me. Mandatory service. My duty this afternoon is to patrol the harbor and make sure the fishing fae don’t run into dangerous tides.”

I took his hand and stepped on board. “Are there dangerous tides?” I offered him the rope back when I got my footing.

He shook his head. “Keep a hold of it. I’m going to attach it to the anchor when we are out there.”

“Anchor?”

“For safety.” There was a glint to his eyes that said he wasn’t fully telling me the truth. He moved around the deck untying the boat while checking things.

Before long, he shoved off, opening the sail only a little. It wasn’t long before we were out in open water.

He lifted his chin towards the mountain range in the distance. “The best fish are over in the deeper cold water that runs off the mountain. But the storms that come over the rage are deadly. Wehave to have a watch vessel out at all times to warn of the weather and whirlpools.

I glanced at the path of the sun, working out the direction. “Is that the Storm Kingdom in that direction?”

Faolan lifted his gaze to the sky. “Maybe? I guess. The borders of your kingdoms don’t really hold much weight here. We only need to know what to expect by our borders. It would make sense for you to call it a Storm Kingdom, though, because that’s what it sends us.”

He stood behind the ship’s wheel while the wind whipped his hair around his head like a halo. There was more to Faolan than anyone knew. His magic was strange. He was different. Like no other fae I’d ever met.

“So what am I doing here with you?”