The celebration on the banks lasted a while longer, even after Alun finally took Ceri by the hand and tugged her into the depths with a final joyous wave. There was drinking and laughter; there were toasts to the Merrow, to the Sealgair, to the Drown’d Clan. Retellings of a story they were all still living; a tale that did not yet have an ending in Kai’s mind, with characters he only faintly recognised. When the sun began to sink, the brisk, spring dusk drove back many of the revellers to the warmth of their taverns and homes.
Adeline’s little court outlasted them all, gathered on a spread of overlapping blankets laid out on the grass. Though they didn’t swap retellings as the others had, they shared mundane anecdotes and plans for the future over a small flask of cooling spice wine.
Jack was enjoying newfound efficiency in the kitchens as he came to grips with his power, and Gerard was enjoying boasting about that fiery new talent to anyone who would listen. Mareda and Imogen had been kept busy with the slow process of making their home in the Capital, bickering over paint colours and furnishings.
“And flower arrangements?” Adeline asked slyly.
Imogen paused to give her a funny look, and Mareda simply raised a brow.
“I swore they’d have made it official by now,” Adeline murmured to Kai.
“Made what official?”
“Theengagement. I caught Marry looking through our mother’s ringsmonthsago. She had me pick out the prettiest one and slipped it into her pocket. She has to have asked by now, don’t you think?”
It was rather unfortunate that Kai had been mid-sip as she spoke; it would have soured the mood of the evening if he’d choked to death at Adeline’s side. But Gerard snatched the flask from him with one hand and merrily smacked the breath from his lungs with the other.
“Oh,” Kai wheezed, as he batted Gerard away from his back. “Maybe.”
When the flask was drained, Mareda and Imogen were the first to peel away. It seemed they were eager to head home for a lengthy beauty regime of various pastes and lotions, which Imogen had explained in fine detail while Mareda looked on with amused adoration. The princess had held Kai’s eye for a long moment before she finally turned away, and as she retreated he found himself reaching into his pocket for the small round bulk she’d entrusted him.
Still there.
Gerard was less subtle in his departure, as in most things. He’d stood so abruptly that Jack nearly tumbled off the blanket they’d been sharing.
“Well, I’d best get this one back to the palace,” he announced heartily.
Jack glanced around, looked up at him with a furrowed brow. “Me?”
“Yesyou,” said Ger, then to Adeline; “He’s exhausted.”
“I’m alright, actually.”
“Look at you,” Ger boomed, while Kai fought to remain unmoved by the theatrics as he stared fixedly at the sunset. “You’re practically unconscious.”
“He said he’sfine, you big bully,” said Adeline. “Go home yourself, if you want to go.”
Ger ignored her.
“Look at him, falling asleep sitting up. Wouldn’t be surprised if I had to carry him home myself.”
Jack and Adeline exchanged bemused looks, to which Jack shrugged and snorted.
“Suppose that’s an offer I can’t refuse.”
And if Adeline weren’t already simmering with suspicion, the hearty clap Ger delivered to Kai’s shoulder might have done it. Kai closed his eyes.
“Good night, Gerard,” he said tightly.
“Night, you two,” Ger sang.
Honest to Adhlas.
All Kai had said was that he’d appreciate some time alone with Adeline come nightfall. Either Ger wasn’t quite as obtuse as he pretended, or he’d somehow caught sight of the trinket Mareda had slipped to Kai. He reached for it again, smoothing a thumb over the velvet case in his pocket—then releasing it with a jolt when he felt Adeline’s eyes on him.
“He’s being weirder than usual,” she noted.
Kai simply hummed, unable to draw the breath to speak a full sentence. It was a little easier when she shifted closer and curled into his side, though his lungs still shook in his ribcage.
