Page 43 of The Shadowed Throne (Midlife Fairy Tale #4)
S waying side to side with the movement of the water, Ro stood near the bow of the boat and sipped the searzin tea Ecclesia had made for all of them.
A ward against seasickness, she’d told them, thrilled to have found the spice in the palace kitchen.
It had been another gift from the Wyvern, mostly because Ro enjoyed the biscuits made from it.
She was glad to know the spice had other uses. With honey in it, the tea was delicious, and so far, no one seemed about to hurl their breakfast over the side of the boat. Always a nice side effect.
Staring toward Tenebrae, she breathed in the salty air and tried to enjoy the moment for what it was. Hard not to think about what awaited them, though.
Inside the main cabin, Gabriel was talking to JT. Ecclesia sat by herself and seemed to be meditating. Denwood was in deep conversation with the boat’s captain, standing with him at the helm.
Denwood hadn’t drunk the tea. He’d spent time in the Summerton navy and, according to him, had his sea legs and didn’t need it. He’d served with the man who was their captain, and the two seemed to be reminiscing about the old days.
Raphaela, who’d come as JT’s security, was at the stern of the boat, keeping an eye on things.
Ro tugged her coat closer. The wind was picking up, and now and then, a band of rain passed over. Just sprinkles, really, but the weather seemed to understand that today was not a day for bright sun and beautiful skies.
She’d opted for thick, legging-style pants and boots so that her Silversmith dagger would be easier to wear.
So far, not a hint of heat from it. She’d paired the leggings with the same military-style jacket she’d worn at Willow Hall, and over it all, an open coat of marula wool in a beautiful shade of deep teal.
It almost matched the color of the Whistling Sea at the horizon.
She glanced at the water, thinking about the creatures that lived in its depths. A bit unsettling, if she was honest.
Gabriel appeared next to her. “How are you doing?”
She nodded. “Good.”
“It’s not too late to turn back.”
She gave him an understanding smile. “I think it is.”
He shrugged. “Tenebrae is still a ways off. It’s not like she’d see us turning around.”
“Maybe not, but this meeting needs to happen.”
He sighed and stared at the island. “I know. Just wishing that wasn’t the case.”
“Same here, but all of this with Anyka will come to a head at some point. I’d rather that point be today and be done with it. Whatever the outcome.” She shook her head. “I don’t mean to sound cavalier. I obviously care about the outcome, but enough is enough.”
“I understand.”
“Understanding doesn’t stop you from worrying, though. I know. I’m worried, too. There’d be something wrong with me if I wasn’t.” She sipped the last of her tea but held on to the cup until she could take it back inside.
Another band of showers passed overhead.
“Let’s go in,” Gabriel said, already moving toward the cabin door. He yanked it open, and she ducked inside. “I can’t help but wonder if Anyka created this weather just to irritate us.”
“Sounds like her.” Ro put her cup in the galley sink before joining the others in the lounge area. “How’s everyone doing?”
“All right,” JT said.
Ecclesia opened her eyes. “I’m fine, your highness. How are you?”
“I’m good. Not a touch of seasickness, thanks to your tea.”
“I am pleased to hear that.”
Gabriel took a seat on one of the padded benches that lined the lounge. He patted the spot next to him.
She sat, and as she did, Ro’s elbow knocked into the hilt of Merediem for the third time that day. She wasn’t used to wearing the sword and felt like it was trying to remind her of its presence. Not necessary. She was very aware that it was on her hip.
The sword was the thing she was least worried about. If Anyka did take it from her and grab the hilt, the magic imbued in it would cause it to vanish, sending it straight back to Summerton and the plinth of rock that held it secure.
Ro didn’t believe there was any magic, old or new, that could prevent that from happening, regardless of what Anyka might have been led to believe. Ro was far more worried about JT being hurt.
Ecclesia had set a protection spell on him this morning, three layers of magic meant to shield him from any attacks Anyka—or anyone—might launch at him. At regular intervals, Ecclesia whispered words in JT’s direction, renewing and strengthening the magic.
Ro had decided against the protection spell for herself. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Ecclesia’s skills. She did. But she wanted them focused on JT. Ro had another form of protection, thanks to Gabriel’s trip to the mortal realm.
And the hard truth was, Ro needed physical evidence of Anyka’s attempt to kill her, and if a protection spell was going to prevent that, it wasn’t going to help. Ro had to be able to show proof of Anyka’s hatred and murderous ways. There had to be no question in the eyes of the realm.
Ro wanted Anyka locked up for as long as possible. If necessary, she was willing to undergo a little injury to make that happen. Hopefully, that was all it would be. A little injury and not the kind that left her bleeding out on the grounds of the prison.
She knew that wouldn’t happen. Gabriel would come to her rescue. Ecclesia would use magic to fix whatever damage had been done. The guards she’d brought would subdue Anyka, if Gabriel hadn’t already killed her. It would all be fine.
Maybe the Wyvern guards, who had been circling over Tenebrae since yesterday, would even come to her aid. They’d dealt with three royal Malveauxian guards, all of whom had been taken into custody and were being held inside the prison.
If those guards were meant to check in with Anyka when she arrived, she probably knew something was up.
There was no way Anyka wouldn’t have gotten to Tenebrae early.
That worried Ro a bit, thinking that they might have alerted Anyka that Ro was on to her scheme, but the Wyvern had been right to deal with them.
Ro couldn’t very well let an ambush happen. She sighed. This was all so complicated. If only Anyka was … well, normal.
The rear door of the cabin opened. Raphaela was silhouetted against the sky. “We have a visitor.”
She held the door open, and a mottled black and gray bird hopped through. Raphaela followed behind and closed the door. The air shimmered, and a young neph man stood before them.
He bowed. “Ryz Anders, your highness.”
Ro smiled. “Pleasure to meet you, Ryz. I am so grateful King Khamsin sent you and your fellow guards to us.”
“We are pleased to assist our new allies, your highness. I have news of the Grym queen.”
“Tell me.”
“She arrived about an hour ago. She has nine in her party. She wears a sword and a dagger at her hip, but another of us heard her talking to her daughter about hidden daggers, indicating at least one up her sleeve and one secured beneath her gown.”
“As far as you can tell, does she know the three guards she sent ahead have been taken into custody?”
“She’s shown no indication.”
“And the wizard who’s with them? How is he doing?”
“He seems fine, your highness.” Ryz smiled. “He recognized us. It’s an ability we all have when shifted.”
“So he knows you’re there? That’s good.” She glanced at Gabriel.
He nodded. “It is good. Now Uldamar knows we’re prepared.”
“Anything else, Ryz?”
“Just that we will be there when you need us, your highness. May victory be yours.”
“Thank you.”
He shifted back into bird form. Raphaela opened the door, and out he flew.
Ro exhaled, her spirits lifted. “Having the neph help us out like this is huge. We owe them. And I will be eternally grateful to Khamsin and Perza for making it happen.”
“Anytime she and Ghylla want to come visit again, I’m all for it,” JT said with a smile.
Ro laughed. “I’m aware.” Her son had mentioned the princess at least ten times since her visit. It was clear he was interested in seeing her again.
“We are repaying them,” Gabriel said. “Our teams are there now, building portals for them.”
“True. But they’ve sent their guards into an unknown situation. My gratitude for that action, without hesitation, is pretty big. I feel like it needs something more.”
“You could send them a gift basket, Mom.” JT laughed, clearly amused by himself. “I could deliver it.”
“You’re in an awfully good mood considering what’s about to happen.”
He shrugged. “We have great protection with us, the neph will already be there, as Uldamar will be, too. I’m not worried.”
That made one of them.
Denwood opened the forward door and leaned in. “We’re almost there.”
Ro got up, along with everyone else, and made her way outside to see for herself.
Nothing but fog and mist filled the space ahead of them. “Where?” she asked.
“You’ll see,” Denwood said. “Any second now.”
He was right. The fog broke, and a dark wall of rock appeared before them, the jagged cliffs of the island like steps no being could climb. On top of them sat the prison, a bleak monument to bad decisions.
She felt the place as much as she saw it. There was weight to it, and it settled over her, ominous and foreboding in a way that made her close her eyes for a moment.
But Tenebrae was still there when she opened them. And there was no turning back now.