Page 34 of The Isles of the Gods
We were arguing, and I was pushing all the harder because I knew in my heart I didn’t have a lot behind me. It was the week before Mellacea abruptly accused an Alinorish captain of smuggling and confiscated her ship, imprisoning the crew.
That was when we realized things were worse than we’d thought. Back then, we thought we were having the same argument we always did, about me not living up to my responsibilities.
“I don’t care if you said you’d be there,” Augusta snapped. “You’re going to skip a damn party and go do your duty.”
“You could send Cousin Tastock,” I countered. “He’s looking peaky—a sea voyage would do him a world of good.”
“I can’t even tell if you’re joking,” she muttered. “I’m not sending a cousin.”
“It just needs to be a royal magician,” I pointed out.
“And it will be,” she growled. “So help me, it will be the best one we have. This only happens once a quarter century, Leander. Don’t you want todosomething?”
“What is there for me to do?” I snapped. “You’ll rule, Coria will be a good second daughter and produce a pile of babies so you’ll have plenty of heirs, and what? Baby brother will come off the shelf every quarter century to be the family magician?”
“When have you ever wanted more?” she asked witheringly.“Take on some real responsibility and it might get in the way of your social calendar.”
“Augusta,” Delphine murmured, leaning down to press a kiss to her cheek. She’s from Fontesque’s own royal family and doesn’t mind a fiery debate, but she spends more time than I’m sure she ever expected refereeing fights among Alinor’s.
Augusta took a breath. “You’re so powerful,” she said quietly. “You’re the greatest magician our family has produced in generations. And you’re charming. You get along with everyone. And yet all you care about is having fun. If you want to do great things, you have to risk failing at them. You couldbesomething, Leander, if you weren’t so busy proving to everyone that you don’t care if you are.”
“Hey, Prince?” It’s Selly’s voice, and I blink away the memory, shooting her a quick smile.
“My friends call me Leander,” I tell her.
“That must be nice for them.”
“You’re a tough crowd,” I inform her. “But I’ve got time on my side.”
“Ha, good luck.”
“Selly!”Her name’s bellowed from somewhere down the back of the boat—Captain Rensa’s voice. Surely we’re hidden from her by the mast, but I go quiet anyway.
Selly rolls her eyes, though, and turns to hurry away in response to the summons.
I wait a minute before I follow. The skies are blue, the water stretches forever, and the spirits play gleefully around the bow of the boat.
When I make my way back, Selly’s talking to Kyri at thewheel, and the captain’s heading for the steps that lead below. She pauses, though, and waits for me.
“Good morning, Your Highness.”
“Good morning, Captain.”
She sizes me up in a way that makes me feel like I’m back at school, but I know better than to squirm.
“Soon enough,” she says eventually, “you’ll be home to the palace.”
“Yes.”
“Selly’ll be here,” she says. “Where she’s always been happy. Don’t change that for her and leave her wishing life was different.”
“Captain,” I say, “I can assure you there’s absolutely zero chance she’ll be wishing that on my account.”
SELLY
TheLizabetta
The Crescent Sea
