Page 27 of Seas and Scepters

We hurried back to the hidden door, slipping through it just as the voices grew louder.The passage seemed darker and more confining on our return journey, the weight of what we had discovered pressing down upon us as heavily as the stone above our heads.

"If we can reach the southern coast by tomorrow evening, we could perform the summoning at midnight, when the tide is highest," I said as we emerged once more into the city streets."I know of a small fishing village near Widow's Reef where we could obtain a boat."

"And if we succeed in summoning Morgana?"Selene asked."What then?"

"Then we ask her to break your father's curse," I said simply."To allow you to return to your true form without requiring my death."

Selene stopped walking, forcing me to turn and face her."Eirik, you need to understand something about sea witches.They never simply grant requests.There is always a price, always an exchange.And the price is never what you expect it to be."

"Whatever it is, I'll pay it," I said firmly."Gold, blood, years of my life—anything to free you from this curse."

Her eyes, green as the deepest sea, searched mine."You can't promise that without knowing what she'll ask."

"I can and I do," I insisted."Selene, I abandoned my kingdom, my crown, my duty—all for you.Do you think I would balk at whatever price Morgana might demand of me in the hope that we may be together?"

She looked as if she wanted to argue further, but the sound of a patrol rounding the corner forced us to continue moving.We reached the harbor as the sun was setting, casting long golden rays across the water.The docks bustled with activity as fishermen returned with their day's catch and merchant vessels prepared for evening departures.

I approached a weathered captain loading crates of spices onto a small, swift vessel.After some negotiation and a substantial payment from the pouch of gold I had brought, he agreed to take us south along the coast, no questions asked.His ship would depart within the hour, he assured us, as soon as the last of his cargo was secured.

As we waited in the shadow of a warehouse, watching the final preparations for our journey, Selene leaned against my shoulder."Are you certain about this?"she asked quietly."Once we leave, there may be no coming back.Your father might declare you a traitor, strip you of your titles, your birthright."

"I'm certain about you," I replied, wrapping an arm around her shoulders."Everything else is secondary."

She smiled, though there was a sadness in her eyes that troubled me."You may feel differently when faced with Morgana's price."

Before I could respond, a commotion erupted at the far end of the harbor.Royal guards poured onto the docks, stopping ships from departing and questioning sailors and dock workers.They had thought to look for us here sooner than I had anticipated.

"We need to board now," I urged, pulling Selene toward our ship.The captain saw the guards as well and hastily motioned for us to come aboard, sensing the increased urgency.

We had just set foot on the gangplank when a familiar voice rang out across the harbor.

"EIRIK!"

I turned, despite every instinct screaming at me to keep moving.There, at the edge of the dock, stood my father.King Aldric wore his formal attire, now rumpled and stained—the clothes he had donned for my wedding.His face was a mask of fury and something else, something that might have been grief.

"Father," I said softly, knowing he couldn't hear me from this distance.

"Eirik, please," Selene tugged at my arm."We must go now."

But I remained frozen, watching as my father pushed past his guards and strode toward our ship, his regal bearing unmistakable even in his disheveled state.

"Is this how a prince of Vaelthorne behaves?"he shouted, close enough now that his words carried clearly across the water."Abandoning his bride at the altar?Fleeing his responsibilities like a common criminal?I raised you to be better than this!"

The pain in his voice cut through me more sharply than I had expected.This man had been my exemplar, my teacher, my king.And I had betrayed him in the most public, humiliating way possible.

"Your Highness," the captain murmured urgently at my elbow."We must cast off now if you wish to depart."

My father had reached the edge of our dock, his guards forming a perimeter around him."Return to the palace immediately," he commanded, his voice dropping to the dangerous tone I had heard him use with enemies of the crown."We can still salvage this situation.Princess Astrid may yet be persuaded to forgive this...indiscretion, if proper apologies and explanations are made."

"It's not an indiscretion, Father," I called back, finding my voice at last."I cannot marry Astrid.I cannot fulfill the future you've planned for me."

"Because of her?"He pointed at Selene, who stiffened beside me."Some common whore you've become infatuated with?You would throw away your birthright, your duty to your people, for a passing fancy?"

Anger flared within me, hot and sudden."She is worth a thousand birthrights," I said, loud enough for all to hear."And my duty to my heart outweighs any crown you can offer me."

My father's face darkened with rage."Then you are no son of mine," he snarled."Guards!Seize them both!"

The ship's crew sprang into action, casting off lines and pushing away from the dock as the royal guards rushed forward.Arrows whistled past us, thudding into the wooden deck or splashing into the water nearby.I pulled Selene down behind the bulwark, shielding her with my body as the captain bellowed orders and the vessel picked up speed.

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