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“Nah, I am calm. I am sorry, though. Really sorry.” He sniffled loudly, probably wiping his nose into his sleeve. “I had to do it to save you two.”
Uros breathed out. “What are you talking about?”
“They wouldn’t let us go without disanointing me,” he mumbled, then let out a loud snore.
“What?!”
“Uros?” Roy shot a glance over his shoulder. “Let him sleep.”
“But—”
“I understand, but whatever he says now might be just a hallucination. You can interrogate him tomorrow, okay?”
“Fine,” Uros bit out.
Heavy silence fell on the cramped space of Roy’s truck, interrupted by Adria’s innocent question. “What’s dis—anointed?”
“It’s a very hurtful thing priests can do to a prince,” Uros’ voice trembled. “They take his crown and his right to rule.”
Chapter
Nine
Breakfast porridge bubbled on the stove, filling the kitchen with a heavy toasted oats aroma. Humming a tune, Roy poured four bowls, leaving the last one near the warm pot. Void knew when Cal would wake up. He’d been exhausted since the surgery, never waking before midday over the last couple of days.
Seated at the table with eyes wide, Adria grabbed a spoon. “Does it have the chocolate nibs?”
“Not yet,” Roy said, reaching for the top shelf. The jar was already half-empty. Making a mental note to buy some more at the market, he poured a generous amount onto Adria’s breakfast. “Where’s Uros?”
“Still in bed.”
“Those two must be brothers.” Roy chuckled. “Let me see.”
He glided over to the living room, knocking three times before he dared to enter. The couch was unfolded, and Adria’s new plush panther lay on her pillow, tucked under her blanket. Uros was on his side, smiling into the holographic display flickering over his wristband.
“Breakfast?” Roy asked, smothering his smile.
“Huh? Oh. Yeah.” Uros slapped his wrist. The display vanished, unlike the redness on his cheeks. He trudged to the kitchen, bare feet slapping on the cold tiles.
Roy poured himself a cup of coffee. While craving the caffeine kick, he needed to eat first. He wasn’t particularly keen on getting heartburn again. “Any plans for today?”
“Not really,” Uros mumbled with his cheeks full. “You?”
The porridge coated Roy’s throat, almost making him choke in his haste to answer. He’d expected the usual—Uros muttering something evasive, then staying quiet for the rest of the meal.
“I’ll need to set sail soon.” Glancing out of the window, Roy rubbed his beard. “Seems like it’ll be cloudy today. Good weather for a harvest.”
Uros shovelled the last bits of porridge into his mouth. “Why’s that?”
“Well—do you really want to hear about boring seaweed?”
Clicking his tongue, Uros replied, “Why else would I be asking, my man?”
Roy’s eyebrows jumped so high it hurt. “Okay. Well, with no direct sunlight, the kelp tends to float closer to the surface. It’s easier to spot, and you can scoop it with a rake. Also easier to work on the deck when you don’t have three suns frying you alive.”
“Will you see the pretty mermaid today?” Adria asked.
“She usually comes along, yeah.”
