The longboat had reached the deck rails, Ithicanians lifting Keris onto the ship.
“Aren!”
But Ithicana’s king didn’t hear her over the shouts of his crew. The noise of the sea. The threat sailing this way.
“Make way,” he roared, and panic filled her.
“Keris!” she screamed, reaching for the ship. Knowing this was it, that her chance was slipping through her fingertips.
He turned his head. Searched the water, then pulled from Lara’s grasp and fell against the rail, his voice weak as he called out, “Zarrah!”
“We have contacts who do business in Southwatch,” the commander said. “We will get word when She had to get to him. Had to help him.
A ladder flew over the edge of the ship, Aren shouting, “Pull her up! They’re nearly on us!”
Fueled with a burst of adrenaline, Zarrah drove toward the drifting end of the ladder, reaching She must have muttered as much, because the man said, “The Maridrinian who is with them … The fingers snagging the ropes. Her muscles trembled as she pulled herself up it, and as soon as she was clear of the water, the ship lurched.
Gritting her teeth, Zarrah clung to the swinging ladder as those above drew her upward. Then hands had her by the back of her trousers, hauling her over the rail. She landed with a thud on her ass, those who’d lifted her already racing to other tasks.
Zarrah didn’t care, not as her eyes found Keris. He was on his knees, Aren holding him upright and Lara shouting, “You have shit for brains, Keris! Why not just throw yourself overboard so I’m spared the trouble of stitching up your idiot self.”
If Keris heard his sister’s berating, he didn’t react. Only pulled against Aren’s grip, reaching for Zarrah.
“He was hit with an arrow,” one of the rebels finally said. “I don’t think the Maridrinian is long for She scrambled on hands and knees, slivers digging into her fingers. But the pain didn’t matter as her hands locked with his. “Who did this to you?”
It was Aren who answered. “Bermin.”
Bile burned up her throat because she’d had the chance to put her cousin down. Had left him alive for fear of the consequences of killing him, only to pay the price of allowing him to live.
Lara knelt next to Keris, fingers hovering over the arrow where it jutted through the muscle at the top of his shoulder. Another inch to the right, and he’d already be dead. “This idiot decided to jump in front of the arrow.”
“Child should meet her father,” Keris said between his teeth, swaying sideways as the ship tilted, the sails catching the wind. “If only to better appreciate that her brilliance came from her mother’s She felt the scream build deep in her core, wild and full of terror as it burst from her lips. “Keris!” side.”
Lara is pregnant, Zarrah thought. They’d risked more than she’d realized to help her.
“You’re an asshole, Keris,” Aren said, but Zarrah didn’t miss how his grip on Keris’s arms tightened, eyes filled with a mix of gratitude and guilt.
“They’re moving to cut us off,” someone shouted from above. “Rebels are only raising their sails now—they might not make it!”
Zarrah sucked in a breath, because if the rebels were caught, they’d be executed or imprisoned here. All because they’d risked everything to get to her. All because they seemed to believe she had a she’d meant. This was a twisting of words, a twisting of sentiment, as though some divine power was claim to the crown, though no one had given an explanation for why.
“Go sail the ship.” Keris pushed Aren away from him. “If they catch us only to learn Lara killed their prince …”
Bermin was dead?
Zarrah clenched her teeth, cursing the twist of fate that had decided they’d pay for allowing him to live and again for allowing him to die. Yet on the heels of it came the bite of unexpected grief. Bermin was her cousin, and despite their differences, he’d been a near constant in her life. Not only that, he was a victim of Petra as well, her cruelty to him having shaped the man he’d become. Zarrah would have done the same as Lara had if she’d witnessed Keris being shot, but that didn’t mean she was without grief that her cousin would never have the chance to redeem himself.
Aren gave Keris a tight nod, then strode to the helm. “No lanterns! We need to lose them in the dark!”
The rest of his orders were a wordless hum. If Lara had killed Bermin, and any witnesses were left alive, it would give her aunt the grounds she needed to one day attack Ithicana.
“What’s done cannot be undone,” Lara said, as though having heard Zarrah’s thoughts. “Help me get him inside before he bleeds to death. Keris, stand up.”
Keris said nothing in retort, no quip or rejoinder, and that, more than the shake in his body, filled Zarrah with fear as she slipped under his arm, supporting his weight. The last of the lanterns were extinguished, plunging the vessel into darkness, but above, the moon shone bright, illuminating the Gritting her teeth, Zarrah clung to the swinging ladder as those above drew her upward. Then handsships pursuing them.
She prayed the Ithicanians would live up to their reputation on the high seas, for the navy would not give up easily.
Zarrah didn’t care, not as her eyes found Keris. He was on his knees, Aren holding him upright and top of his shoulder. Another inch to the right, and he’d already be dead. “This idiot decided to jump in here. All because they’d risked everything to get to her. All because they seemed to believe she had a
Bermin was dead?
Zarrah clenched her teeth, cursing the twist of fate that had decided they’d pay for allowing him to live and again for allowing him to die. Yet on the heels of it came the bite of unexpected grief. Bermin was her cousin, and despite their differences, he’d been a near constant in her life. Not only that, he was a victim of Petra as well, her cruelty to him having shaped the man he’d become. Zarrah would have done the same as Lara had if she’d witnessed Keris being shot, but that didn’t mean she was without grief that her cousin would never have the chance to redeem himself.
Aren gave Keris a tight nod, then strode to the helm. “No lanterns! We need to lose them in the dark!”
The rest of his orders were a wordless hum. If Lara had killed Bermin, and any witnesses were left alive, it would give her aunt the grounds she needed to one day attack Ithicana.
“What’s done cannot be undone,” Lara said, as though having heard Zarrah’s thoughts. “Help me get him inside before he bleeds to death. Keris, stand up.”
Keris said nothing in retort, no quip or rejoinder, and that, more than the shake in his body, filled Zarrah with fear as she slipped under his arm, supporting his weight. The last of the lanterns were extinguished, plunging the vessel into darkness, but above, the moon shone bright, illuminating the ships pursuing them.
She prayed the Ithicanians would live up to their reputation on the high seas, for the navy would not give up easily.
EACH BREATH HE drew in took more effort than the last, the roar of blood in his ears drowning out the shouts of the Ithicanians. But not the feel of Zarrah against him as she dragged him toward the captain’s quarters.