“For when the time comes, Princeling.” She gave me a small blue glass sphere wrapped tight in metal filigree, strung between two threads. “It was drawn from our holy spring after our plans were made. If our plans succeed, you’ll see what you must do to find your victory.”
“And if they don’t?”
Mother broke the silence. “Then this is goodbye.”
The sphere full of seer water hung heavy in my palm. A part of me wanted to drink it now, to know why my parents were doing this, and another part of me wanted to throw this sphere into the moons-lit waves.
My father closed my fingers over the sphere. “Promise me, son,” he said. “Promise you won’t drink until you are sure nothing will stop you from finishing.”
I met his eyes and nodded.
He pulled me tight, his scruff scratching my neck, his hand clasped around the back of my head. When he leaned away, his cheeks were wet.
Then they climbed into the boat, my parents touching their noses in prayer. The general gave me a salute, which Tomlinson copied, and I stood tall, trying to look like one who could accomplish this impossible task, not letting my doubt curl my shoulders or my spine. I slipped the necklace around my neck before I tucked it beneath my collar.
And I turned my back on the people who were turning their backs on me. Alone, I made my way through the courtyard toward the stables. Whispering servants ducked away from me while watchful eyes peered from windows. A Whirligig, a pumpkin-sized mechanical with fluttering wings, rose from the mechanical shop, carrying gossip in its spinning gears. The news had begun to spread, soft and slow like kindling catching. I needed to enlist my uncle to our cause, before the city turned ablaze with words of a king’s treason.
Uncle could help me douse this fire.
Or he could fan the flames.
I raced into the stables, after my mount. Sir Grigfen guffawed from a stall near mine. His foot was caught in the stirrup, and he was spilling coins and laughter as a servant tried to pull his boot from the metal.
The tension in my neck loosened for a second. Grig’s grinning eyes met mine. “Ryo! Sorry I’m late, pal. I had the Undergod’s own luck at the Fisherman’s Haul. I got twenty coppers before some chap decided I was cheating and tried to…” He trailed off as he took in my expression. “Wait. What’s gone wrong?”
I could give him no answer. “Nothing. I need to see my uncle.”
“I’ll go with you. I’ve just got to figure out how to get back on this horse. Were they always this tall?” The servants pushed him back up onto his saddle.
I didn’t answer him. I checked that the cleric’s leather bag tucked at my side still held the seer water and the contract, then I climbed astride my horse and kicked my heels.
“What’s the rush, Ryo?” Grigfen asked as he struggled to keep pace. He’d always hated riding with me; he said I either needed to push my horse to a full gallop, or walk. Still, he smiled—I could not recall if I’d ever seen his face not in the midst of a toothy grin. His shaggy blond curls hung over his eyes, and his vest was unbuttoned, stains on his cravat. “You look like you’ve got a prank on countdown. Should I fetch the feathers?”
“Har, har,” I muttered over the sound of our horses running at full gallop. “You don’t need to follow me.”
He held the reins tight as we rode down the cobbled streets toward the Abbey. He squinted at me, his face shadowed in the torchlight. “The fact you keep saying that makes me think I need to. You look all squirrelly so I know you’re either heading toward trouble, or you’re heading toward a lot of trouble. Either way I’m not going to miss it.”
He grinned and I almost smiled back. I’d like the company … no, I’d love the company, and I’d love to not be the only one who knew this secret; I also knew that word was going to spread, and once news broke … Mine was not the only father who had left.
“You need to be with your family when the news breaks.”
News was already spreading. Peasants stood at the edges of the road, calling out to us, but I did my best to ignore them. They’d find out soon enough.
We reached the Abbey gates, and I dismounted. The Abbey chapel was walled with bones, fused together with iron smelted from swords donated with the bodies of soldiers. A circle of painted glass reflected the moons-light in the grand chapel, but I wouldn’t find my uncle in the chapel. I ran past the glowing building and around the back to the catacomb tunnels where the high priests and my uncle kept their offices. Grigfen followed close behind. As a child, we used to play in the hallowed hallways of the catacombs. Now I rushed forward through the catacomb doors, a sealed cup in one hand, and the bound parchment with my father’s signature in the other, trying not to vomit on the holy bone walls.
My uncle would help me carry the load of this. Right now, we were the only ones leading this kingdom, and if we wanted to restore the rightful heir to the throne and protect our kingdom from the Savak, then my uncle and I needed to be united.
I turned the candlelit corner to a maze of skull-topped hallways. How could I find my uncle in this catacomb? I usually preferred to wait in the main chambers, or in the chapel, let Uncle come to me when he could. But my uncle’s office was back here somewhere.
Grig scratched the scruff on his chin and stopped me. “Oh. It’s serious, is it?”
“It is.”
“Then I’m not leaving.”
I sighed. “Grig.”
He folded his arms over his stomach. “You know, your pride is going to get you killed one day, and it’s my job as your best mate to protect you from your own self.”
“Are you certain?” The task in front of me was dangerous, but it would feel almost achievable if Grigfen was at my side.
He stepped closer. “You’re my friend, and this might be because I’m floating over my winnings at the Fisherman’s Haul, but I’m not ashamed to say you’re my hero, Ryo. Whatever it is, I won’t let you do it alone.”
The weight on my shoulders lightened. “It’s too dangerous. You should—”
“It doesn’t matter. You’re my future king, and I can’t leave you to your adventures without a squire.”
I offered my palm and he shook it. Torchlight brightened against the bones, and I must have squeezed too hard, because he winced.
“Light’s bosom, you are strong.” He shook out his hand and I laughed.
“You won big, then?”
He shook the coin purse at his belt. “Forty coppers in all. You?”
“Lady M took me for twenty-five golds.”
He whistled.
I lifted a shoulder. “She brought her granddaughter.”
Grig chuckled. “Poor fool Ryo. She found your weakness.”
I picked up my pace, and he matched my footing. “Where are we going?” he asked.
“To see my uncle.”
“Grrreeaat.” Grigfen had a way of saying things so I always knew exactly what he was thinking. “And what’s with the cup and the scroll?”
“I wouldn’t touch that.” I lowered my voice to a whisper. “It’s Seer Spring water.”
“You’re bringing your uncle…” Grigfen let out a rumbling giggle I tried to hush. “Oh, this is a mighty prank. I’m glad to see it.”