Page 52 of Ballad of Sea and Sky

WhenCaspianhadtoldme about the hunting lodge, I had imagined two things.

The first was a pleasant, short walk into the island with the ocean breeze cooling me and the terrain rocky but not treacherous. The second was an actual lodge.

What I didn’t picture was the one-mile hike through the pits of the underworld, which involved scrambling barefoot up a rocky path that was determined to break both of my ankles, the frigid, biting wind blowing in from the sea to barrage the tiny island, and the small, rickety hut that awaited us at the end of the struggle.

“We…should…have stayed…in the cave,” I gritted out, my breathing ragged and the soles of my feet scratched and bruised.

I’d needed another day in the cave before feeling up to this trek, and I wondered if I had overestimated my own health as I tried to gather my strength and examine our new surroundings.

The hut was made of stones that looked like a violent wind could dislodge them, its form steadied by the sheer cliff face to its back and the mossy earth that rose to cover the roof in a cocoon of green. There was a good view of the beach and the sea from here, useful for hunters who sought the sea dragons that attacked our seals and our people indiscriminately in the summer. A single grown sea dragon could feed one hundred people for a week.

Another rocky footpath led away from the hut and into the hills at the center of the island, where something of a small forest seemed to grow from the stone. I wondered how hunters survived here. There must be a source of fresh water nearby, as most selkies couldn’t summon the water to them as I could. Or maybe a lack of freshwater was what made these islands inhospitable in the first place.

Caspian looked annoyingly unwinded and unpained, and I glowered at him as he rapped on the stone wall of the hut confidently. “Very sturdy,” he assured me. “And it has a hearth and a bed, so it will be more comfortable than your admittedly admirable cave.”

“Abed?“ I rasped, quirking a brow in annoyance. “Again?”

Caspian grinned. “There’s always the floor, Urchin.” He pushed open the wooden door, which moved with a horrible screech on hinges that clearly had seen a lot of weather.

The inside of the hut was dark and musty, windows having obviously been deemed unnecessary. There was a single small bed piled high with sealskins, a place over the hearth that was probably used to hang the pot that Caspian had taken, and a small table and stool.

“This is an improvement over the cave?” I asked, crossing my arms and giving Caspian the most withering look I could muster.

“We have no idea how long we will be stuck here, Princess,” Caspian pointed out, leaning casually against the door frame. “It will be at least until you can swim a great distance while carrying me, which seems unlikely, or until I can fly while carryingyou,which could take weeks.”

“I managed to drag you here, didn’t I?” I snapped defensively, irritated that he would throw my lungs back at me after I had saved him.

Caspian gave me an odd look and nodded, pushing himself off the frame. “You did,” he agreed, stepping before me and gripping my shoulders gently but firmly. In the tiny space of the hut, he felt too big and too close, and my breath caught a little as he looked down at me, studying my face. “But you were desperate and panicking, and who knows how far you had to swim. Could you make that journey again, Marina? Truly?”

“I—” I cut myself off. I had no idea how far I would have to swim to get to an inhabited island, let alone dragging Caspian with me. I looked at him defiantly.

“We could light a fire,” I suggested, pointing to the flint. “To signal for help.”

“A good plan if you want to get me captured and killed quickly,” he agreed with a wry smile. “No doubt your people are scouring the seas looking for you as eagerly as mine probably are for me.”

I made a sound of frustration in the back of my throat. “Then we could build a boat.”

Caspian grinned, which looked slightly terrifying in the dim light. “Also a commendable plan, Urchin. But it will take time. Probably long enough for my wings to heal so that I can send you sailing north while I fly south.”

“You—” It took a moment for his meaning to register with me, but instead of relief or joy at the prospect of going home, I felt cold dread. “You would send me home?”

Caspian frowned. “I thought youwantedto go home, Princess. It would be selfish of me to keep you a prisoner after you saved my life.”

I nodded, my throat a little tight. What was wrong with me? Of course this was the right course of action, and if he had suggested keeping me as a prisoner I would have railed against him.

So why did I hate the idea so much?

“Of course,” I said, stepping out of his grip. My voice sounded raw and scratchy, and I dearly hoped he thought it was the exertion, rather than whatever this absurd emotion was.

“You should rest,” Caspian said, still looking at me a little strangely. “I’ll go find more herbs and brew more of the tea. There must be a source of fresh water around here somewhere, too. No need for you to keep draining your magic.”

“I’m fine,” I lied, although the words were starting to sound as hollow as they felt whenever I said them.

Caspian chuckled, raising a hand to cup my cheek in a way that was both intimate and tender. I was surprised by the touch, but he caught my arm to stop me from pulling away, smiling down at me with just a glint of white teeth.

“No lies. Tell me something real, Urchin.” I scowled, which made him smile wider. “I’ll go first. I never wanted to be king.”

“You didn’t?” I asked, surprised to hear this. Stories of the fearsome Siren King had been told by everyone I knew since I was a child. It never occurred to me that that king mightnotbe Caspian, or that he mightnotwant the job.