Page 34 of The King’s Commander

“How do you know it?” She is right, of course, but I still wish for her to understand the danger.

“Though a Southerner and a noble, you are also an honorable man.”

She says it with such disgust, as if she wished it were not so, and I laugh.

“You believe so?”

“Aye.”

Aedre doesn’t explain the basis for her judgment, but since her words are indeed accurate, I’ve no argument to give.

Instead, sitting beside my belongings, I say, “Tell me of the Elderman.”

Aedre moves toward me and hikes up her skirts as she takes a seat, giving me a brief glimpse of her bare legs before I look away. When I imagined this journey, not once did I consider the possibility of finding myself trapped in a seaside cave during a raging storm with a beautiful Garra.

“Father Beald is a hateful man who wishes to establish a church here in Murwood.”

“He does not know your history well, then.”

When the kingdoms split, a group of men and women who disagreed with some of the views of King Onry of Meria’s second son came here. Determined not to allow the Prima and his army of religious men to control them as King Onry had, they took to the sea for trade. Only years later, when both kingdoms accepted they would not be able to claim Murwood End as their own after many failed attempts, did they open once again to trade with those who inhabit their own island.

Voyagers were born. Their ties to Meria, Edingham, and certainly to the church, were severed.

“He is a fool. But a dangerous one.”

“How is that?”

It strikes me this is the first time I’ve seen a look of hatred on Aedre’s face. She’s never looked at me this way, not even when we first met.

“He has the ear of the Prima.”

Father Silvester.

From humble beginnings in Galona, he rose through the ranks of the church like an arrow, once even managing to convince the king to award him the port town of Avalon, now the seat of the church in Meria. The man’s ambition is endless. Galfrid dislikes him but is forced to tolerate him. The church’s involvement in both kingdoms has caused more tension than not throughout the years.

“I will speak with him.”

Aedre startles. “Why?”

For a simple reason. “Because he scares you.”

She opens her mouth to argue but then shuts it again. The truth of my words is evident to us both. I’ve no need to ask the reason. Though it’s been some time since the Garra were openly persecuted, their history of harassment at the hands of the church is long and storied.

“I commit no crime here.”

“Nor would you be considered a criminal if you were in Meria. But that does not stop him from harassing you.”

She does not deny my words, which means I am due a stern discussion with this Elderman. While Galfrid is still king, Silvester’s men are not to torment our people. Even the Voyagers of Murwood, who do not recognize any authority beyond their own.

“You cannot do such a thing.”

“I can, and I will.”

As we speak, the rain begins to slow. The beauty of the moment strikes me. Aedre is beside me, framed by the opening of the cave: a wall of water, only sand and sea beyond it.

When I look at Aedre, she is gifting me with a rare smile.

“You think highly of your skills.”