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Calista sighed. “Don’t be stupid. That’s what I said.”
Kase snatched the thin piece of parchment from the girl. He looked to me, and I understood. He wouldn’t want to attempt to read it in front of the others.
“The beacon of a crown beckons you through. Step from darkness and take back what has always belonged to you.”
“I hate riddles,” Kase murmured and shoved the piece of parchment into a pocket on his trousers.
When Calista attempted to hand Thorvald a piece of parchment, he snubbed the gesture. “I do not need land magic telling me my fate.”
“I’d heed the missive,” Stefan said.
“It is already given,” Calista added. “There is no avoiding what fate has in store. But it would be less painful if you give thought to the warnings.”
“No.” Thorvald’s red eyes flashed with a bit of malice.
Calista shrugged again. “Fine. Act rashly in anger, do not befriend new allies. Let us see how your fate unfolds.”
She glared at Thorvald, crinkling the strip of parchment, and tossing it into the sea before he could change his mind.
“I have one more.” The last strip of parchment hung between her fingers. Calista’s eyes were trained on Ari. “Stand-in King. This is for you.”
With a touch of hesitation, he took the parchment from her, reading silently. His eyes widened and red tinted his cheeks.
“Heed or do not,” Calista warned. “You have seen the power of fate. Fight it or accept it.”
“What does it say?” Elise asked.
Ari cleared his throat, tucking his parchment away. “Forgive me, My Queen. I’d rather not say. It has nothing to do with anyone but me.”
Elise shot Ari a bemused look but honored his request and kept quiet.
“That is all I have left to write.” Calista stood and packed away her supplies. She looked weaker, a little more frightened, but she fought to hide it all through grins and smart words. “We’ll sail home from the East’s shores. I’m afraid I’m out of trust for the sea fae and do not wish to travel with him.”
Thorvald snorted. “Suit yourself, little witch.”
“Offensive,” she said and turned her back on the sea king. “Care to ferry us to the docks?”
“It’s not safe to travel from the East. You should stay with us,” Halvar said.
“We’ll be fine. We know how to get around.”
“Calista—” Elise started, but went quiet when Stefan held up a hand.
“It’s no use. She’s leaving because her mysterious teacher would not want her to be far for too long.”
“You do not believe he exists, but he does,” Calista said with a bit of a pout to her lip.
Halvar rubbed the back of his neck, uneasy. “I suppose we do have a small longboat we can spare.”
Once it was settled how to get the girl and her brother back on the sea for the West, Thorvald began pulling back the plank.
“You’re not joining us?” Kase asked.
“What good would it do if we are sending in the invincible, cursed king?” Thorvald glared down at us from the tall deck of his ship. “Bring me my heir alive and in one piece, and we shall leave. We’ll become nothing but a bad memory with a vow never to join your enemies.”
Pompous ass. What did it matter if Valen would lead the way into the ruins? Any father I knew would be one step behind to ensure his child’s rescue was successful. What little I knew of Thorvald, I’d concluded he cared a great deal more about the future claim his son had to the throne than he did for the actual boy.
We bid a tense farewell to the sea king, vowing to send word one way or the other about his son within two nights.
