Page 44 of The Crown’s Temptation

"First Mate."

"Aye, Captain."

"You have command."

The first mate frowned.

"For how long?"

Junis looked toward the sea.

"Until I return."

He removed his coat, handed it over without ceremony, and climbed onto the rail.

Then he stepped into the ocean.

The sea swallowed him without a splash.

No one aboard the ship spoke.

The Reinforcements

COLSAR

Rathmor Palace

They arrived before dawn.

He was already dressed. He had not slept.

He watched them come through the gates from the window. Thousands of Avanki moving through the outer courtyard.

Uralish was at the front.

He dismounted and looked up at the palace.

Beside him Syle dismounted without sound. Enovar stepped out of Syle an instant later. He looked at the palace. Then up at the window.

Colsar went downstairs.

He had been performing grief long enough that it required almost nothing now. He wore it down the stairs and through the corridor and into the small council room where Iavis was already standing near the far wall. He had never guarded him or attended council meetings. Iavis typically held the responsibilities of a high-ranking soldier. But with Asharin gone, he had suddenly been in every room with Colsar. Colsar did not know if it was out of worry that Colsar would be attacked, or that Colsar would attack someone else.

Either way, it did not bother him.

Uralish walked in and looked at him. Then he sat down and Colsar sat across from him.

Syle sat beside his father. Enovar stood near the wall, his eyes on the door.

Uralish looked at him for a long time before he spoke. "How are you holding up?”

It was not really a question.

"I am managing," Colsar said.

Uralish reached for the flask at his belt and set it on the table without opening it. "The Avanki are stationed along the dock. I wanted them there before I came to you."

"Why the dock?"