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“I have thought of little else but that night,” he says, pulling away. “If this ship sank, I’d have died a happy man, Hilla.” His hands cup my face so gently, tis difficult to imagine he is the same man I traveled with, the one so quick with his sword and so reticent with his words.

“I came to talk,” he says, stepping back. “But you are a difficult woman to resist.”

“Tis such an odd thing to kiss an Elderman.”

The way he looks at me, I know Aiken is thinking about more than kissing.

“I am no Elderman, Hilla. As well you know.”

“But you appear as one nevertheless.”

He makes a strangled sound, as if walking away from me is painful. Then, pouring two goblets of wine, he hands one to me.

“There are more barrels of Sindridge wine on this ship than passengers,” he says, sitting on the small wooden chair. “A fine ship, it did well in the storm.”

Taking the goblet to the only other seat, the bed where we made love two nights ago, I sit. And sip. Waiting for I know not what. It seems odd to speak of such mundane things after what we shared. But then, the experience of making love to a man who is not my husband is a new one for me.

Who shall know, precisely, how one should act? Not I, certainly.

“As have you, Hilla.”

At first, I do not understand. Until I think on his last words. Aiken knows so little about me, and yet, I can see by the way he looks at me, he truly believes it.

“I’ve weathered no fewer storms than most.” I take a long sip, glad this particular storm is over.

Aiken doesn’t answer. Instead, he stands. Removes his belt and sword, then, laying it on the ground next to him, lifts his robes over his head. After draping it across the back of the chair, he sits back down.

“Better?”

In a linen shirt and breeches, he looks like any other nobleman now. Well, perhaps not precisely like just anyone.

“Aye,” I admit, realizing I had been staring at his robes. “I’ve many questions, Aiken.”

“Some I cannot answer.”

I think of my own secrets and nod.

“How did you come to serve Father Silvester? And in his inner circle, no less.” The steady sway of the ship, so much calmer now, is almost comforting.

“I can tell you I came to him an Elderman already. Or supposedly so. My skill with the sword earned me the right to join his personal guard.”

“The Shadow Warriors.”

“As others call them, aye.”

“But you cannot tell me who you serve?” I know the answer before he gives it.

“Nay.”

Despite having lain with him, I know Aiken as little now as always. And tell him so. “You’ve so many secrets.”

“As do you, Hilla,” he says softly.

He looks directly into my eyes, and though I should not do so, it is my story to tell, so I find my mouth opening. In spite of his secrets, there is no one I trust more, save my sister, than this man. I’d not have given myself to him otherwise.

“Lord Bowes was not a nice man. Nice to look at, perhaps. But he cared little for anyone save himself.”

Aiken sits up and leans forward, listening.