The Siren's Last Song by Jordan Heikkinen

Author:Jordan Heikkinen [Heikkinen, Jordan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-11-26T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 14

ILEE

THE THIRD-FLOOR CORRIDOR

Ilee was rudely awoken at the crack of dawn. Her dreams of a tall precipice and a man too near the edge vanished as soon as she opened her eyes. She had been so close to seeing his face this time, but now it was Victoria’s face that loomed above her. Her cousin tore back the blankets, telling Ilee to get up.

“What are you doing? It’s so early.” Ilee yanked the furs up and covered her face, shielding her eyes from the candle in Victoria’s hand.

Victoria went to open the curtains—it was still dark out. “Have you forgotten we are to go down to the shore today? We agreed at supper to go soon, and it’s been a few days. I’m itching to be near the sea.”

You live above it. Ilee’s eyes watered at the glare of the candlelight. “No, but must we go now? The shore will be there in the afternoon.”

“Why not go now? The more hours we spend together on the coast, the better.”

Ilee sighed heavily. “Fine. I suppose I won’t fall back asleep anyhow.” She flung the blankets off and nearly bit down on her tongue as the cold castle air swept upon her.

“Hurry, then! Lawrence is waiting out in the corridor.”

“Well, why don’t you join him so I may dress myself?” Ilee said irritably. But Victoria didn’t seem to detect the anger in her voice, for she left the bedchamber looking quite pleased.

Ilee dressed quickly, not bothering to ask for Mary. She ran her mother’s old hairbrush through her hair, straightened her green skirts, pulled on a heavy cloak, and headed out into the corridor. Sir Hugh was not on duty near the door, as he had left for the guard’s apartments when the castle began to stir.

Ilee was already regretting that she wasn’t still warm in bed, even if she wouldn’t be able to fall back asleep. The shore would be bitter this morning.

“Finally,” said Victoria when Ilee caught up to her, tugging her forward by her elbow. Her cousin was dressed in all red again, though her cloak was an ugly yellow.

Near the door, one of her grandfather’s red guards was waiting silently beside an awkward Lawrence, who smiled upon seeing her.

“This is Sir Lain Grant,” said Victoria, gesturing casually to the trailing knight. “Grandfather asked him to accompany us.” Sir Lain had a smattering of freckles across his young face that would have been handsome if not for his sly, rather goofy grin. He bowed his golden head to Ilee and gave her a wink; she wasn’t sure if he meant it as a joke.

“I’m sure Sir Lain has something better to do than follow us down the shore,” said Ilee. “No servant or vagrant is allowed on the sands beneath the castle. And no sane man would go anywhere near the Gray Sea’s waters to swim with winter upon us…begging your pardon.”

Sir Lain made a sound like he was holding back his laughter. Ilee turned to smile at him, and her gave her another one of his roguish winks.

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