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His gaze sharpens as it meets mine. “Even if I’m forced to keep you alive, you mortals are so very fragile and always find a way to die. Disease, drowning, falling—you drop like flies.”
“Don’t worry about me.” I pat my satchel. “I have plenty of potions to ward against disease. And I am more than capable of casting spells to save myself from drowning or falling. It’s best not to get your hopes up. You’re stuck with me.”
“Even if disease, drowning, and falling won’t kill you, there are thousands of other ways you mortals can find to die.”
“And that’s precisely why I ordered one of the most powerful demons in the Abyss to protect me. Really, I’ve never felt so safe.”
The Void Prince glowers at me.
I turn and start out of the dining room. “Now, come along, Void Prince,” I call back. “And don’t make me issue that as an order.”
The Void Prince snarls.
Once outside, I stop at the bottom of the chipped steps and gaze out at my ruined gardens. Long ago, my mother would plant every flower by hand and loved her gardens so very much. After Arluin’s father murdered her, I vowed to tend to her flower beds and preserve her memory inside our gardens. But it seems I’ve failed at that, too.
Maybe one day, if I survive vengeance, I’ll restore our gardens to their glory.
I tear my gaze away from the plucked pansies and march to the gilded gates. Zephyr drifts behind, his wings whispering against the wind.
The enchanted gates swing open as we approach and clatter shut once we’re on the other side.
I don’t look back at my manor. Or the Arcanium, when we pass that. I keep my eyes on the path ahead and pick my way through the debris littering the shattered streets.
If I stop for even a moment, I fear I’ll never be able to leave Nolderan.
Soon we reach the Lower City, and the hardest part is over. I’m less familiar with this half of the city and have even less to leave.
Nolderan’s docks come into view, and the ocean’s brine fills my nose.
It’s so quiet here. Until today, I’ve never seen the docks as anything but bustling. I didn’t think Nolderan’s harbor was small, but it feels enormous without all the dockhands and sailors and merchants hurrying about their business.
And the stench is worse than I remember. It must come from the barrels of freshly caught fish, which are no longer smelling fresh after being left out all day. At least it isn’t Summer, or the stench would be worse.
At the center of the docks, I stop and scan across the vessels anchored here. There are galleons, their enormous masts towering high above, and also little fishing boats bobbing around. Then there are vessels of all sizes in between.
Aside from teleportation, there’s only one way off Nolderan, and that’s sailing. You could try to swim, but the currents are strong along the channel between us and Talidor’s western coast. Unfortunately, my sailing experience is limited to rowing around the coast with Eliya one Summer. I only tried it once and hated it, so I never tried again.
The Void Prince’s expression hasn’t brightened since we left my manor, but I’m not surprised. He seems to be perpetually in an abysmal mood.
“Do you know how to sail?” I ask.
“No.”
“Would you rather swim?”
His jaw tightens. I decide that’s a no.
“Let me rephrase that,” I say, placing a hand on my hip. “Either you think of a way for us to sail to Lenris Port, or else I will order you to swim me there. The choice is yours, Void Prince.”
His nostrils flare. “Choose a ship and let us get on with it.”
I return to the ships. One to my right catches my eye. It looks small and fast but sturdy enough it won’t fall apart on our way to Lenris Port. A winged lion perches at the front, and its mouth stretches into a ferocious roar.The Sea Lionis painted across the bow’s arch.
“We’ll take that one,” I say, pointing at it.
I don’t wait to hear his response and stride over toThe Sea Lion.The plank leading from the pier to the ship’s main deck is rickety and wobbles as I ascend. I try not to look down into the water below and ignore the waves surging up to grasp me. Hesitation will make me look weak, and I can’t afford to show this demon any weakness.
The Void Prince marches onto the main deck and waves his hand. The plank disintegrates behind him. He flicks his wrist, and the capstan turns. Metal grinds as the anchor hauls itself from the seabed. The sails billow out, freed from the ropes securing them in place, and shadows envelop the ship’s hull. The dark magic is so dense it shrouds the surrounding water. Then we’re rushing forth, sailing over a pool of black ink.
