Book 2 - Chapter 25

Noah sat on the floor beside Ciri in the cramped cabin of the Fae ship. Both of them watched Ken as he slept in the narrow bed, his chest rising and falling in slow, steady breaths. They knew he would make a full recovery, but the close brush with death had rattled them both.

Noah reached over and squeezed her hand. “He’s going to be okay.”

“Yes.” She nodded, though her eyes never left Ken. “But he will be upset when he learns where we are.”

“It was either that or get killed by the Corrupted.”

“I do not fault your choice,” she clarified. “I would have made the same one. I am simply stating a fact.”

Noah’s mind drifted back over the last hour as he absently stroked a sleeping Piper curled in his lap. Waking to Mara’s guards had raised a dozen questions, and the sudden appearance of the Corrupted raised even more. As he mentally constructed and discarded theories, a thought surfaced.

“Ciri,” he said quietly. “Right before the battle, there was a bright light in the sky.”

“Yes. I saw it too.”

“Any idea what that was?”

“No.” She paused. “Which is… concerning.”

Before he could respond, the cabin door swung open. Lady Frostwing stepped inside, her gaze flicking from Ciri to Noah before landing on Ken. Her brow furrowed—then her eyes widened.

“Come with me. Now.” She fixed her stare on Noah.

Piper woke at the sound of her voice and growled, but Noah shook his head. “Stay here until I get back. No mauling faces. Got it?”

The griffon narrowed her eyes, then bobbed her head.

Noah stood, gently lifting a now‑grumpy Piper off his lap and setting her beside Ciri. When he turned back, he saw two guards behind Lady Frostwing, hands resting on their sword hilts. Slowly, deliberately, he set his coat and knife on the floor beside his backpack, bandolier, and crossbow, then raised his hands.

“I’m unarmed.”

Lady Frostwing’s eyes narrowed. “Come.”

He gave Ciri and Piper one last look before following the imposing Fae woman out the door. The guards fell in behind him, their stares drilling into the back of his skull. He kept his hands raised the entire walk, certain that any unexpected movement would earn him a blade between the ribs.

When they reached the top deck, he couldn’t help glancing out into the night. They’d been underway for nearly fifteen minutes, but Crownspire still burned brightly off to the right. The fires had spread, and an armada of boats streamed away from the city.

I hope more people got out.

“Move,” one of the guards said, nudging him forward with her knee.

He complied, stepping into the captain’s cabin. It looked exactly as it had before—the same bed, couches, and furniture. He scanned for the strange Fae device on the table, but froze when the door slammed shut behind him.

“I was lenient with you before,” Lady Frostwing said. “I see now that I shouldn’t have been.”

Noah turned. She had left her guards outside. “What do you mean?”

“You didn’t tell me you’re traveling with Oubryaeth.”

He blinked. “I didn’t know you knew Ken.”

Her expression twisted. “…Ken?” she repeated, incredulous.

“Yeah, Ken,” Noah said. “That’s how he introduced himself.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Do you have any idea who he is?”

“He’s Ciri’s father, and the Watcher of his tribe.”

“And?” she pressed.

“And I know he has a past. But he refuses to talk about it. To me or to Ciri. I could tell you what I think I know, but it’s all conjecture.”

“Do I need to remind you of the penalty for lying to me?” she asked coldly.

“Do I need to remind you I’m on a ship surrounded by your soldiers?” Noah countered. “I’m not nearly dumb enough to lie about that.”

“No, but I’m concerned you may be clever enough to.” She began pacing. “Do you have any idea the position you’ve put me in?”

“Not really,” Noah admitted.

“Oubryaeth—Ken—is a politically sensitive figure within the empire. Some believed him dead. Some wished they had killed him themselves. Others think he’s a hero.”

“I see,” Noah said.

She stopped pacing abruptly, moved to the table, and reached behind it. A hidden cabinet clicked open. She pulled out a bottle, popped the lid with practiced ease, took a long swig, and set it down.

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“Sit.”

Noah, sensing she wasn’t about to kill him yet, crossed the room and sat. “What’s in the bottle?”

“Glamour‑infused Fae wine.” She sat beside him. “I think I’m going to need it for this conversation.”

“What conversation?”

She locked eyes with him. “You are going to tell me who you really are. Everything this time. Griffon be damned. And if you lie, I will kill you, the Fae girl, and the snake you just dropped into my lap.”

I hope Piper’s assessment of her was right, Noah thought.

“I’m a traveler,” he began.

She studied his face for any hint of deception, then took another swig. “Okay.”

“I came from humanity’s original world. The portal dropped me in the forest near a wild Fae tribe. Ciri found me and brought me back. They taught me… everything.”

“Go on.”

“In exchange, I helped them. I built non‑magical tools.”

“Like your weapon. The one my guards say you used to kill at least ten Corrupted by yourself.”

“I’m hoping that buys me a little goodwill.”

“The fact that you saved several of my guards is the only reason we’re having this conversation. Otherwise, I would have killed you already.”

He swallowed, then continued. “For the record, I didn’t just make weapons. I made all sorts of tools. The weapon was just one.”

“I see.” She took another drink. “That still doesn’t explain how the three of you got here.”

“Remember the camp I mentioned? Where I found Piper’s egg?”

“Yes.”

“We found something else. Humans experimenting with magic. Corrupting their own people. All at the request of Rookhaven’s new leader, Lord Malrec.” He hesitated. “With help from the Iron Lord of Ferrum Vale.”

She set the bottle down with a loud thunk. “What did you just say?”

“Ferrum Vale has been meddling in Therondale—experimenting with magic, creating Corrupted. We destroyed the camp, but we’ve found evidence of others. That’s why we came to Crownspire: to present the evidence to the king and queen.”

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“Honestly? I was afraid you’d tell your military and burn Rookhaven to the ground.”

“We still might.”

“Not everyone there is guilty,” Noah said. “And doing that would probably start a war between the winter Fae empire and Therondale.”

She scoffed. “A war? More like a slaughter.”

“Yeah, well, I live here now,” Noah said. “So I’d prefer not to be slaughtered.”

“Do you think there’s a connection between that camp and what’s happening now in Crownspire?”

“I don’t know.” He shook his head. “My instincts tell me there is, but I don’t have any evidence to back that up. The fact that Corrupted are involved in both events is suspicious, but circumstantial.”

She took another swig. “Is there anything else you haven’t told me?”

“I mean, I glossed over a lot—”

“You know what I mean. Anything significant. Now is the time to be transparent. Otherwise, I can’t help you.”

He hesitated. “I’m… in love with Ciri.”

“I said significant. That much is obvious.”

Noah’s eyes widened. “You knew?”

“Of course. The way you looked at her? The way you said her name? Obvious.”

“I thought that sort of thing was frowned upon with winter Fae.”

“Oh, it is. But I’ve become more… lenient in my old age.”

She doesn’t look a day over forty, Noah thought.

“That’s it,” he said. “At least the essential parts. The whole story would take a lot longer.”

“I will fetch you paper. You can write the entire thing for me while we sail.”

“Where are we going?” Noah asked. “And what are you going to do with us?”

“Skatrith,” she answered, standing. “And I haven’t decided yet. Come with me. I need an answer you can’t give me.”

They moved through the ship again toward the cramped cabin, Lady Frostwing leading the way. As she reached the door, she pulled a grimoire from a hidden pocket in her coat and rested her hand on the handle. When she opened it, Noah saw Ciri seated on the bed beside a now‑awake Ken.

“Oubryaeth,” Lady Frostwing said.

“Vera,” he replied coldly, eyes narrowing. “You’ll forgive me if I don’t stand.”

Vera?

“I’ll allow it this once.”

“I assume you’ve been interrogating Noah.”

“I have. He was quite forthcoming.”

Ken glanced at Noah, then back at her. “Then I’m assuming you’re here to kill us.”

“Perhaps. I have enough evidence to justify doing it thrice over.” She paused. “But I find myself in the unenviable position of needing something from you. An answer.”

“To what?”

“Did you do it?”

Ken was silent for a long moment. “I’m afraid you’ll have to be more specifi—”

“Do not play games with me, Oubryaeth.” Her voice sharpened. “Did. You. Do. It?”

He met her gaze without flinching. “No.”

The tension thickened until Lady Frostwing finally looked away, exhaling. “What am I supposed to do with you?”

“I’m not going to pretend I understand what just happened,” Noah said carefully, “but… can I offer a suggestion?”

Every eye in the room—including Piper’s—turned toward him.

“Yes?” Lady Frostwing said.

“I did a favor for you. Unprompted.”

“You saved my people’s lives, yes. You’ve mentioned that. That is why you’re on this ship to begin with.”

“No, not that.” He shook his head. “I just gave you valuable intelligence. Things you never would’ve known otherwise. Things that might save Fae lives. And unless you want it interpreted as a romantic gesture…” He let the implication hang.

He could practically see the gears turning before she replied. “Fine. What do you want in return?”

“You’re going north, right? Along the western coast?”

“Yes and yes.”

“So you’ll be passing Braemont?”

“Not directly, but yes.”

“Let us off there.”

“We can’t. Given what you’ve told me, we can’t make stops. We need to return to the capital as quickly as possible.”

“You don’t have to stop,” Noah said. “I saw rowboats stowed on the top deck. Lower one into the water with us in it, and we’ll row to shore as you pass.” He nodded toward Ken. “It also saves you the trouble of deciding what to do with him.”

She considered that, nodding slowly. “If I do this—and I am not saying yes yet—then I need a full written report of everything that’s happened to you before we reach Braemont. From start to finish.”

“I can do that.”

“There will be follow‑up questions. The empire’s leadership will want to question you themselves.”

“Once this is over, I’ll head up to Skatrith myself,” he promised.

“Noah,” Ken growled in warning.

He turned to him. “I can do this.”

Lady Frostwing looked between them, then nodded. “Then we have a deal. Do you still have the clasp from when we met?”

Noah glanced at his backpack, then at Ciri. “Did you grab it before we left?”

“Yes. I thought it important.”

“Do you want it back?” he asked Lady Frostwing.

“No. Keep it. It is a seal of passage. It will allow you—and those with you—to pass through the wards protecting the winter Fae empire.” She locked eyes with him. “I expect you to honor your promise, or die trying.”

“You have my word,” Noah said.

“Then I will take my leave. I expect the report written within the hour. I will send for pencils and paper,” Lady Frostwing said. She turned, paused at the door, and added, “Should the worst come to pass, I hope that Donn sees fit to welcome you into his home.”

“Thank you,” Noah said.

“I was talking to Oubryaeth,” Vera clarified before stepping out and closing the door behind her.

The moment the latch clicked, Ciri shot to her feet and leapt into his arms. She squeezed him tightly, then pulled back just enough to scan him for injuries. Finding none, she pressed herself against him again.

“We’re going to be okay,” Noah murmured, running a hand up and down her back.

“I think you have some explaining to do,” Ken said, pushing himself upright on the bed.

Guess it’s time to face the music.