Page 108 of Seaborn and the Seven Seas

“Come.” The Priestess led us to the back where a map had been lain across the table, edges worn soft from years of use.

I’d never seen a map of our world before. All seven kingdoms spread across the parchment, the seven seas named in faded ink between them, and there in the north, set apart from the others, the Seelie queen’s castle.

I found Jeju first. Small. Coastal. The kingdom I’d never got to explore, except the castle when Jina, Minha, and I faced the king and queen. It looked so small on the map.

Then I found Caelum, larger than I expected, stretching along the northern coast, the kingdom of the winged people. Varen sat above it, cold and remote, the ice kingdom pushing into the far north where the map’s ink had faded. Solara spread wide across the east, all desert and distance. And Auris nestled west but closest to Caelum, the merchant kingdom whose ports touched both worlds.

“We need a plan.” Calroy leaned over the map. “And we need one that doesn’t get anyone killed walking through her front door.”

“I know every stone of that castle,” Rowhan said, his finger tracing the castle on the map. “I helped design it. I can tell you every entrance, every weakness in the walls, every passage she thinks no one else knows.”

“Then start talking,” Fraya said, the tone the kind used on a child rather than a god.

Rowhan glanced at Calroy, who gave the smallest nod.

“The castle sits on high ground,” Rowhan began, tracing a finger along the map. “One road in from the south—heavily guarded. But there are two passages beneath the eastern wall, built for supply carts. The queen never used them. She considered them beneath her dignity.” His jaw tightened. “They lead directly to the lower cells.”

“Where she’d keep hostages,” Ranis said, inching toward Jina beside me.

When they exchanged a warm smile, Jina blushed, and so did Ranis. How did I not see their connection before.

“Yes.” Rowhan’s fingers stayed on the map.

“And the onyx?” Calroy asked.

“Embedded in every outer wall. But the passages beneath, they were stone and mortar only. I ran out of onyx before we reached them. She doesn’t know.”

Calroy studied the map. “So we go under.”

“A small group,” I said. “While others draw her attention from the front.”

“I can distract her army.” Palto spoke from the other side of the table. “I can send spirits into the land of the living, unsettle her soldiers and drive fear through the ranks. It will buy you time.”

“How much time?” Ranis asked, and I caught his sly finger hooking with Jina’s.

“As much as you need. You can’t kill the undead, but it goes both ways.”

Calroy’s gaze darted around the table. “Here is what we do. Fraya takes my ship north and positions it off the coast near the castle. We need it there when we draw the queen out. She cannot face us on her own ground.” He looked at Ranis. “I need you to ride for Varen.”

Ranis stiffened. “You’re asking me to go home, then?”

“I’m asking the Crown Prince of Varen to remind his kingdom who he is and bring his ships to Caelum for battle. The Seelie queen will be prepared on all fronts. Can you do that?”

“I will.” Ranis ran a hand over the back of his head, releasing a long, defeated sigh.

Ranis straightened, shoulders back, chin up, something settling into place that hadn’t been there before. He’d left Varen because he didn’t want the title. But I had a feeling there was more to his story. Perhaps his father thought him worthless or not man enough. But he was going back with a purpose and perhaps he would see his worth.

“The rest of us go in through the passage.” Calroy’s finger moved across the map to the eastern wall. “We get Nam and the girls out before the queen knows we’re there. Then we fall back to the coast.” He looked at me, tenderness in his eyes. “And we draw her to the water.”

“Where she’s vulnerable,” I said.

“When your power returns.” He held my gaze. “Not if. When.”

“It will return,” The Priestess said, her voice stern. Her colorless eyes found mine across the table. “When the moment requires it, it will come.”

I hoped she was right.

I hadn’t said anything about my power aloud. I glanced at Jina and Fraya, bracing for questions, but…