A Queen of Ice (A Trial of Sorcerers Book 5) by Kova Elise

Author:Kova, Elise
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Silver Wing Press
Published: 2024-11-20T18:30:00+00:00

The next morning, Eira was one of the first up in the entire crew. Not the first—there was always someone who wasn’t sleeping, because there were always duties to be attended to on a vessel as large as the Stormfrost. But she was among the few to greet the dawn.

She wanted to find a moment with Olivin to talk—apologize for the firm note she’d left things on the previous evening. But he was still fast asleep and she didn’t want to wake him. Tensions had run high last night; they’d be okay again soon enough though.

She went to Adela’s cabin bearing the gift of a hot meal. It was odd to see a pirate other than Crow stationed outside her door. But Eira was grateful to have the woman, whom she’d begun to look to as her first mate, on Winter’s Bane. It hadn’t occurred to her until that moment that perhaps such had been Adela’s plan all along. If Crow could grow accustomed to Eira, and Eira to her, it was one less transition.

The pirate stationed didn’t stop her, and Eira wasn’t surprised to see Adela up as well.

They talked plans over breakfast, aligning on the next steps. The pirate queen didn’t fight Eira’s intentions with her uncle—save for Crow being the one to captain Winter’s Bane. Even though the woman was one of the few Eira would trust to take the little vessel, she couldn’t argue too intensely when her focus needed to be solely on the Stormfrost. And, to that end, it made more sense for them to keep someone as trusted as Crow near. Then their conversation shifted to Ulvarth, and reclaiming Meru.

The sun was above the horizon, though still golden with gentle early light, when Eira emerged. Adela was a step behind and they parted ways. Eira started for belowdecks, stopping short when she saw Cullen coming up, hands laden with his pack.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Eira tilted her head. Had Olivin mentioned her plans about sending Fritz back to Solaris when he’d returned before her last night? Had Cullen heard?

Was he leaving her?

The thought hit her with a force stronger than her magic being ripped from her, leaving her just as breathless. Of course he would leave. He might not have taken the opportunity when they were in Qwint, too much was left unsettled then. This would be the perfect time for him to return to the lands he knew—his home.

Frankly, he would do more for them back in Solaris. His note had gone ahead of him, so they knew he was alive. But the man himself? He could turn the Court in their favor. The protégé of the Empress triumphantly returned. Eira could already see the gold and white pennons of the Solaris troops, Cullen at their head by Romulin’s side, coming to reclaim Solaris’s glory.

She swallowed thickly, hating how perfect it all seemed. And how, all at once, they were leaving her. One by one. Olivin no longer trusted her.

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