“She had vowed to come back but broke her promise.” A voice from behind us causes the atmosphere to shift. Rolley emerges from a backroom. “Nice to have been invited today. Since I’ve been kept out of the loop most of this trip, I’ve done some searching myself.”
Rolley has been more like a shadow during this trip. I knew he was with us but didn’t pay attention to him, not once. I was meant to find out information about his family but compared to other things, his history keeps getting pushed further down my priority list.
“Fraya was a wild soul. And a gambling one as well. After she found the flower, she brought part of it back with her. With the help of an enchantress and blacksmith, she took the poorly drawn images she had mapped of the island and secured them in that device. As payment she promised Kala’s great-grandfather immortality.
“A few days later, when she was supposed to meet with the blacksmith, she ended up at one of the nearby taverns with a winning hand and endless drinks laced with lorice. My great-grandfather was not so morally sound and took advantage of her drunken state. They played a round of cards and he bet a deed to land he just acquired in exchange for everything in her pockets.”
“Spare us the rest,” Deean says. “Your ancestor took it for himself and became immortal and I’m guessing the blacksmith went out looking for his cut and in return got the anchor back, which was later stolen from him. Sound, right?”
“Aren’t you a clever one, Eli,” Rolley mocks.
“So, what do you want out of this?” I ask.
“I want to remind you of the deal made between me and your father. I want to be included from now on.”
“Or what?” Deean says. “No offense, but what do you have to offer us that we don’t already have?”
Rolley’s grin curls upwards. “You have strong opinions for a servant.” I catch the wink he throws to Deean and hope Ariah didn’t pick up on it. “I have more power than you think. Tomorrow, after the ball we leave for Farella. Oh, and Kala here will receive part of the prize once we find it. Thanks to all of her help, I was able to piece it all together without aid from any of you.”
I hold out a hand in surrender. “Alright. We hear you. Kala will be given what her family is owed and you as well. We came to end a feud not start another.”
“Sounds good to me,” Kala says. “I’ve always wanted to live forever. Or maybe I’ll sell it to the highest bidder and live out a life away from this grungy place.”
“Is there anything else we need to know?” I direct my question to Rolley.
“There might be some rather useful information you need to know. But I will only share it after we depart. Consider it my assurance that you don’t leave me behind.”
“Are we done here?” Benny asks, caught in the middle of it all. “Bad blood is never good for an expedition, particularly one that takes you out to sea.”
“No bad blood,” I say. “We’re done here.”
“Of course.” Rolley stuffs something into the inside pocket of his coat. “Thank you for your time, Kala. You’ll see us again.”
Rolley takes his leave and Kala distracts herself with work.
“I would like to check out something in the apothecary across the road, if you’re okay with that, Your Grace,” Benny says.
“Of course. We should get going.”
The crowd has completely dispersed by the time we come out of the blacksmith’s, and though some catch glimpses of us, no one stops and lingers.
Rolley is by our carriage waiting. Apparently, he’s coming back with us. I should make him walk for that little stunt he pulled. In time, and I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but I will get the papers he shoved into his pocket and find out every secret he’s been hiding.
“I’m going to start walking back,” Ariah says looking up to the graying sky. “I need some fresh air.” She curtsies and heads in the direction of the castle.
My body flies forward as Deean shoves me. “You’d be a fool not to escort her. You two can go back and we’ll catch up when Benny is done. Rolley might be missing though.”
I chuckle at his teasing and just as I start to move toward Ariah, he stops me. From the carriage Deean pulls out an umbrella. “You might be needing this.”
“Have fun.” Benny bows, matching Deean’s humor.
For the first time in a long time, I don’t think twice. There is no hesitation, no contemplating the right or wrong move. I obey my heart and chase after the woman who I may never see again.
It doesn’t take me long to catch up and maintain her speed. “May I walk with you?” I try breaking some of that tension. I want to apologize but for some reason I hold back.
“You may do as you like.” Her words are sour but there is something stronger there. Her mind is on other things.
We walk in silence and our leisurely pace allows me to see more of the town. There isn’t much. Not too different from Saden—nearly the same shops and stalls as any other kingdom.
