“Now, what can we do for you, your majesty? I assumeyou’re not here to check trainings already?” She leans back and studies me with an arched brow.
“You would be correct. But is Boudicca here?” I look around at the other diners for a shock of red hair. “I need to speak with her as well.”
Cynane shakes her head. The long silvery white strands catch the light and shimmer as they wave side to side.
“Nae, Boudicca prefers to train at night,” she rolls her eyes, “what she can see at night, she can see even better in the light.”
Lachlan chuckles, the rich timber of it tugs the corner of my lips up.
“I forgot that about her.” He looks at me, still grinning broadly. “Boudicca is more lethal blind and one handed than most of our guards are at full strength.”
My mind instantly flashes to Tane. We might need her help with more than one thing, then.
“Alright then, we’ll have to meet with her afterwards.” I clear my throat and lean forward. “We managed to restore magic to part of the realm.” Cynane’s eyes widen and she glances at her still damaged hand. “But we haven’t restored magic to the entire realm. We need to find quartz that has an odd green color to it. The quartz we found was fashioned into my throne so it could be disguised as something important or?—”
“The Wayfinder,” Cynane blurts out, interrupting my explanation, as she slams a palm on the table.
“The what?”
“Odessa had a large quartz obelisk erected on the west side of the island in the fjords. She said it was so passing ships could see the light at night and not run into them, but fish and even the birds won’t go near the thing.”
I look hopefully at Lachlan, who nods.
“That sounds like what we’re after.”
“How big is it?” I ask, concern about another accident washingthrough me.
Cynane tilts her head and squints. “It’s about the size of a very tall man.” She gestures to Lachlan.
“And how long does it take to get to the stone?”
“Not long by boat, but you’ll have to come in when the tide is out. During the high tide, the water almost covers the obelisk completely.”
“Seems like a pretty useless thing for a ship spotter to do?”
Cynane works her jaw from side to side. “Exactly.”
Imelda places two massive plates of roasted pork and leafy greens in front of us. While a younger woman places two large horns of mead next to our plates. I smile gratefully at both of the women.
“Thank you so much.”
Imelda drops into a low curtsy, but when she notices the young woman staring open-mouthed, she elbows her lightly in the ribs. She drops into a curtsy, her cheeks blooming with color before dashing away. Cynane snorts and I turn back towards her, not quite understanding what has happened.
“Everyone has eyes for your captain, Lena,” she mock whispers, leaning over the table.
Lachlan merely shakes his head, rolling his eyes heavenward before picking up his fork and diving into the food.
“It appears they do.” I chuckle, making eye contact with several women still staring at him.
“I wouldn’t be too worried about him abandoning you and his duties anytime soon. We haven’t had a mating bond settle in years, probably something to do with the magic.”
Cynane takes another swig from her mead. I glance sidelong at Lachlan, admiring what the young barmaid no doubt enjoyed.
If I restore magic, would there be a mating bond between us?
I hadn’t thought about what the venom would do to all magic, not just the restoring or healing kind, but the magic that allows for mating bonds.
She sets her mead down and leans back in her chair as she steeples her fingers in front of her. “So what are you going to do with Wayfinder?” Her question has me pulling my eyes from his handsome face and forcing the idea of mating bonds far from my mind.
