Page 18 of The Twisted Throne

“War has been on the horizon for two decades.” James folded the page, shoving it into a pocket of his still-damp trousers. “We’ve flirted with it as much as Amarid, but this…This wasbold.And on the surface, foolish, given that we have an army double the size of Katarina’s, and her navy has not recovered from the losses it took when Silas attacked Eranahl. Yet Katarina is no fool, which makes me think there is more at play here than can be seen on the surface.”

There were few alive as clever as Queen Katarina of Amarid.

“Will Ithicana deny them access to the bridge?”

“Not according to Ahnna.” James tucked in the shirt and refastened his belt. He glared at his image in the mirror. “This is a mess.”

“Just as well. You hate speeches, but you like to fight.” Georgie clapped him on the shoulder. “Let’s go get the farewells over with. Be careful not to lift anything heavy, or you’re going to burst the shoulder seams on your shirt.”

James would give a thousand speeches if it would bring back the men who’d died, but he only nodded. “I need your sword. Mine is at the bottom of the Tempest Seas.”

Georgie sighed, then extracted his own and handed it over, hilt-first. “I want it back.”

Hefting the blade, which was a Cavendish family heirloom, James grinned at his friend. “We’ll see. I’ve always liked the weight of it.”

Together, they strode back on decks, which were thick with activity as the crew loaded trunks belonging to the passengers, along with supplies to make up for what had been lost on the other vessel. Ahnna was nowhere in sight, but James marked Hazel escorting one of the crew, who was carrying a small trunk, in the direction of the princess’s stateroom.

Descending the gangway, James approached Ithicana’s monarchs, who stood waiting, a group of hardened soldiers behind them.

“Your Majesties,” he said, bowing low. “By your leave, we will depart.”

Aren’s hazel eyes skipped past James, searching the decks, then he huffed out an irritated breath that sounded a great deal like,Have it your way, Ahnna,then added in a tone devoid of emotion, “Deliver my sister safely to Verwyrd.”

“Her comfort and well-being are my utmost priorities, Your Grace,” James said. “The princess will be shown every courtesy.”

“Good. Safe travels.” Aren turned on his heel and strode up the pier, half the guard following him and the rest remaining with their queen.

Lara watched her husband with an unreadable expression, then turned her distinct Veliant eyes on James. Though she was head and shoulders shorter than him, slender, and very pregnant, there was something about Ithicana’s queen that screamed danger, and the desire to rest a hand on the hilt of his borrowed sword tested his willpower.

“Ahnna kept Ithicana alive despite everything my father threw at her,” she said. “No one in the kingdom is more beloved, but our loss is Harendell’s gain. I hope the ties of marriage will bring our nations close, and that both our peoples will reap the benefits of our alliance.”

James inclined his head, lying through his teeth as he said, “I hope for this as well, Your Grace.” He hesitated, then added, “Amarid is up to something. If your spies discover anything, we’d appreciate it if you shared what you’ve learned.”

All the queen said in answer was, “Safe travels.”

Taking three steps back, James then turned and walked up the gangplank, joining the captain on the quarterdeck as the man gave the order to depart, Georgie remaining on the main deck to give orders to the soldiers on watch.

The ship was well away from the pier when Ahnna appeared. Weaving around the crew and soldiers, she went to the rail, staring back at Northwatch. Queen Lara lifted a hand in goodbye, but Ahnna did not so much as twitch in response. Bad blood between them, though clearly it was one-sided, which was understandable. Gathering information from Ithicana was always a test of Harendell’s spies, butallknew Lara Veliant’s role in the Maridrinian invasion. Just as all knew her part in ending it. Yet ending it had notbrought the thousands killed by the Maridrinians back to life, and while Aren had forgiven his wife’s sins, it appeared that Ahnna had not. Though at the cost of her relationship with her own twin brother.

Being not of a forgiving nature himself, James respected Ahnna’s defiance even as he cursed it, because in the face of that sort of stubbornness, what hope did he have in convincing her to go back?

Ahnna remained at the railof the ship as the sun slipped low in the sky, pulling her spirits with her as they left Ithicana’s waters.

As she left her home forever.

The roughest storm wouldn’t make her seasick, but the anxiety building in her stomach had her ready to spill her guts overboard.

A cough broke her reverie, and Jor came up next to her, resting his elbows on the railing. “The captain is hosting dinner in his quarters,” he said. “They’re waiting on you.”

A dinner that was sure to include every officer on the ship, as well as James, which meant it would be the first step she’d take in securing their favor, but all Ahnna wanted to do was watch the waves.

“Did you have a look around?” she asked Jor. “Thoughts?”

“Good ship. Solid crew. Experienced soldiers.” Jor pulled the toothpick he’d been chewing out of his mouth. “Though they’re all rattled. Harendell and Amarid normally gnash teeth withpolitical posturing, embargoes, and discreet assassinations. This is an unexpected escalation, and it has them all worried that worse is to come. If there are infiltrators aboard, I couldn’t pick them out at first blush. Even so, you’ll want to be on your guard. You armed?”

“Always.”

“Thatta girl.”

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