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Already the sensation of the ground rocking beneath me had faded, and I reveled in striding forward, free of the restrictions of one small deck. But I couldn’t help glancing over my shoulder several times, straining to see some sign of a man and a fox disappearing from the dock.
I didn’t catch so much as a glimpse of Nik, however, and it was hard not to imagine him trapped below decks. I would have given almost anything to have him walking beside me, my hand held firmly in his. But instead I had to keep my head high and walk down the street between two equally treacherous men, both of whom wanted to control me like a puppet.
The town itself was attractive—clean and orderly with houses in neat rows. Most of the structures had been built with dark gray stone, but a different, unfamiliar stone—deep black and glossy—had been used decoratively, giving the whole town an elegant air. Combined with the green mountain rising ahead of us, the lush blossoms that poked from unexpected places, and the hint of moisture in the air, it was easy to believe we were no longer in Tartora.
The central street led us all the way through the town, gently sloping upward until we reached the lush grounds surrounding a house far grander and more extensive than any other buildings I’d seen. It was built of the same stone as the other houses in town, but the similarity ended there. It wasn’t a palace, like the one I’d heard tales of in Tarona, but it was clearly home to the leaders of the settlement.
Grey and my four companions looked around, exclaiming in delight at everything they saw. I did my best to mimic their behavior since I could feel the weight of Ignatius’s eyes on me at frequent intervals. I was sure I was doing a poor job, however, given I felt far more dread than delight at the sight of the luxurious mansion.
But when we reached the front steps of the house, I realized the true source of my dread. Someone must have come ahead to give warning of our arrival because a formidable line of people were waiting to greet us. The Constantines.
ChapterTwenty-Seven
Ignatius gave a loaded look to the people waiting for us. I half-expected them all to insist on shaking our hands themselves, but apparently there was some trust within the family, at least, because they settled for spoken greetings.
Grey stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
“Grandmother,” he murmured to the formidable older woman who stood in the center of the group. Her hair was stark white, but it did nothing to make her look soft.
However a glint of something sentimental entered her eye as she nodded her head in response. “Young Grey. I never thought to see my fourth grandson a grown man.”
Ignatius and a man who looked like an older version of him exchanged the briefest of glances, but I was sure I hadn’t mistaken their discomfort with the matriarch’s reaction. Did they see Grey as some kind of competition?
Seeing them all lined up, it was obvious why Ignatius hadn’t questioned the family connection claimed by Grey. Not only had Grey known the route to the island, but he also possessed the same striking green eyes as five of the people arrayed before me.
“It gives me great pleasure to have finally made it here to stand before you,” Grey said. “And I must thank you for your acceptance of my people. They have come seeking nothing more than a safe harbor.”
The white-haired woman nodded. “That much we can provide.”
“Here with me are my strongest elements followers. They’re the ones who brought our ship safely to your shores.” He gestured at the five of us, and I suddenly realized why he had chosen the other four. On the ship he had said that his ruse about my affinity would have to be communicated carefully, and this was his strategy. It was true that the other four all had an elements affinity, so his words would ring true. And it would only be a natural assumption for me to be lumped in with the rest of them.
The matriarch nodded graciously at us all, and the people ranged on either side of her followed her lead. Only Ignatius remained still, and I hoped I was imagining that his eyes lingered on me.
A round of introductions followed, with a notable lack of physical touch from anyone, including between the Constantines themselves. Did that mean their mutual trust had limits?
From what I could gather, the matriarch—only ever referred to as Grandmother—had three children. From the order of their introduction, her oldest son was Augustine, the father of Ignatius. It made sense since Ignatius carried himself like the oldest son of an oldest son. Second was Ambrose, along with his wife Kendry, and their son Barnabas. And, of course, third was the missing Chloe.
Barnabas seemed an unprepossessing man next to Ignatius, and from the flash of fire in his eyes when he looked at his cousin, he was aware of it. But his mother seemed the most genuinely warm of the group, her weak blue eyes a reminder that she was the only one of them without actual Constantine blood.
No one mentioned Ignatius’s missing mother, but a second younger man appeared, his late arrival rounding out their numbers to seven. He received mostly dismissive glances from his family, but someone hurriedly introduced him as Costas, another son of Augustine.
I gazed at the new arrival, wondering how Ignatius and his brother could have the exact same eyes and yet otherwise be so dissimilar. Not only was his coloring lighter, but everything about his bearing was as well. Even his expression displayed only interest and curiosity, without a trace of superiority.
I found myself wanting the chance to talk to him—preferably without the rest of his family around. But from the way he stooped to kiss his grandmother on the cheek, his smile affectionate, perhaps he was only a better actor than the rest. He certainly didn’t seem to bear them any animosity, despite their attitude toward him.
After a few more pleasantries, we were invited inside for breakfast. It turned out to be a formal meal held in an enormous dining room with a long wooden table, polished until it shone. Seeing the tapestries on the walls and the fine carpet underfoot, I was glad I had sent Phoenix off to hunt instead of attempting to bring him inside.
To my disappointment, I was seated between Ignatius and Grey—the two people I would have liked to be furthest from. And as the meal progressed, I grew more and more certain I wasn’t imagining the suspicion in Ignatius’s eyes when they rested on me. Any time now, he was going to decide to test me. I had to find a way to placate his concern.
I racked my brain as his eyes bored into me.
“How did you find the passage?” he asked.
I almost admitted to disliking sailing until I remembered that anyone with a true elements affinity would feel at home on the sea. And it was true my cross-influence had made me comfortable on the waves, without fear of seasickness, but I had found the ship itself restrictive and unpleasant.
“The sea is magnificent, of course,” I said carefully. “But I don’t appreciate being surrounded by dead wood.”
Ignatius smiled thinly. “I understand your sort prefer to be out in the elements directly. I suppose you would have rather swum.”
