Free City in Ruins by R.K. Ryals Page B

past two
years embroiled in war and rebellion. I’d forgotten what it felt
like to converse with a stranger about something other than
politics. Strangely enough, SeeVan reminded me of the scribes I’d
visited and worked with at Forticry growing up. I’d enjoyed
watching them scribble on parchment while they told me
stories.
    “I’d like that, V,” I replied, holding up the
book, “and I’ll take the position. You can tell your captain I did
not refuse.”
    Inclining his head, he backed away before
turning, his feet thudding across the deck.
    “You make friends in odd places, rebel,” a
female voice called.
    Glancing up, I found Princess
Catriona waddling toward me, her herrnos guards flanking
her.
    She stopped at the ship’s railing, her fiery
hair flying away from her face as she inhaled the breeze. “I was
worried the baby wouldn’t take well to the sea, that I’d be as sick
as your rebel friends, but he seems to be thriving so far. Only a
half day out, but that’s a good sign.”
    I clutched the ship’s ledger, my nails digging
into the leather. “He?”
    Catriona grinned. “It’s customary to hope for a
boy when you’re a royal. Mayhap it’s a girl, but words carry
weight, so it’d be nice if the fates listened.” She
winked.
    The fates were the Henderonian gods, a group of
female and male deities who controlled Henderonian lives. There
were more gods in Henderonia than there were in
Medeisia.
    “Aside from your gods, do you want a boy?” I
asked.
    She glanced at me. “It would make my life
easier,” she answered.
    I fell quiet, my gaze following hers to the
sea. The waves were rough but not vicious, the grey skies from
earlier slowly melting away, sending occasional patches of light
down to the ship’s deck.
    “Your curiosity makes you good with people,”
Catriona blurted. My gaze swung to her profile. She was watching
me, occasional glances thrown in my direction. “SeeVan has been
Cadeyrn’s Quartermaster since before my sister’s death,” she
revealed, shrugging. “Beatrice wasn’t always warm with him. He
intimidated her, and the fear made her coarse.”
    This was the first time I’d heard anything
unfavorable about Cadeyrn’s deceased wife, and I leaned against the
railing, weighing my words. My flaws were many, and knowing
Beatrice had them, too, created a kinship with her. It made her
more human, more accessible rather than a paragon. It made me
understand Cadeyrn and her better. Because love couldn’t exist
without flaws. Flaws gave a person a chance to prove they loved
someone, that being with them wasn’t about them being
perfect.
    “Fear makes us do and say things we wouldn’t
otherwise say or do,” I said finally, smiling.
    “Fear doesn’t do that to everyone,” Catriona
murmured. Catching my eye, she gestured at me. “Are you in love
with my husband, rebel?”
    Her question threw me, and I inhaled, my gaze
flying to the sea. We’d had a similar conversation months before,
but things had changed drastically since then. The pregnancy for
one. Even if she didn’t love Cadeyrn, she was tied to him now. She
was tied to him by the child and by alliances.
    I chose my words carefully. “I respect
him.”
    Her eyes narrowed, her head lifting.
“Things are awkward between us now, aren’t they?” she asked, her
hand dropping to her rounded belly. She was dressed in a
lightweight blue gown, the material suited for the heat.
“ This ,” she rubbed
her stomach, “makes things awkward. I never wanted that. The
Medeisians fascinated me. You fascinate me; your spirit, your powers, and your
choices. I admit, I am more selfish than you.”
    Her words stunned me, robbing me of
speech.
    Catriona chuckled. “I rather enjoy surprising
you.” She glanced over her shoulder at the deck, at the crew as
they scurried about. Across the expanse, Cadeyrn stood with SeeVan
and Gryphon, their gazes on a map held by my brother. “I want
love,” the princess whispered. “I don’t