Page 17 of Unseen Lord

Callie stands, giving Duke one last rub, and covers her head again. "When you see my heart-sister, tell her I love her and will be back when I can."

I stand with her and she pulls me into a brief hug, then slips a small bit of parchment into my hand. "Move forward with caution. And remember what I've said."

I nod and watch her leave, wondering how she came into this world and how she will travel from it. Callie always has her ways.

Once alone, I study the paper in my hand. It's coordinates. This must be where Iris is. I can feel it.

I wake Aya and Uncle Asher and we meet in the family quarters, a private part of the castle that's a bit less formal, as far as castles go. It's a large room, but broken into sections for easier conversation, with a huge hearth in the center of the room that's always blazing with a fire. Food and wine have been left on tables and the three of us take chairs near the fire as I share the news of my knowledge, without revealing how I came into it. "I have sources who prefer to remain anonymous," I say.

My uncle accepts that well enough, but Aya looks put out. It doesn't really matter. We know where to go and so we must leave. "How soon can we have the ship ready? Has Uncle Ace finished that contraption of his?"

Aya's eyes light up at that. She loves new gadgets to play with. "Yes! We can leave immediately I would think. I'm certainly done with all the parties and dress-up here."

Uncle Asher clears his throat. "It would not be a good idea for the new queen to leave right now, especially to engage in battle and risk yourself and your brother, the next in line."

She purses her lips. "It's my ship. Of course I'm going. Being queen never stopped my mother from adventuring."

"That was a different time," Asher says. "Things are in turmoil here. Our world needs stability."

She sighs. "My ship has a mirror. I have a mirror. You have a mirror. If anything happens, come get me. Simple. This shouldn't take long. They'll hardly know I've left. And you can manage things well enough without us I would imagine. You've practically been running the kingdom since my parents disappeared, haven't you?"

"That's true enough, but I still feel like this mission is best taken by Elias alone." His tone belied his words, as I could tell he was already caving in to my sister's argument, as everyone is want to do eventually. Once she has something in her mind, you'd be hard pressed to turn her away from it.

She claps her hands and smiles. "Excellent. I'll prepare the ship and my crew. Elias, be ready to go by high noon."

I nod and watch her leave. "The people seem to love her," I say, somewhat wistfully.

Asher turns to me, setting down his goblet of wine. "I'm glad I have a moment alone with you. There's something I've been meaning to tell you."

"What is it?" I ask, curious.

"While it's true, the vote favored your sister from most of the realms," he says slowly.

I nod. "Yes, I figured as much."

"Not all the realms voted for her."

That surprises me. "Really?"

"Your realm voted for you. You are still loved here, despite how it might feel to you. And you are missed. More than I think you know. There is a life waiting for you here if you ever decide to walk a different road."

I'm surprised by how deeply this knowledge affects me, and I blink away the excess emotion building in me. I've always assumed I was hated, especially by my own realm, which I saw as a punishment for not living up to the perfect ideal of a prince. To know that they would have me as their king… it is something significant.

"Perhaps one day, when this mess is over and I'm no longer on the Most Wanted list, there will be a place for me here."

Asher smiles. "That's a start, dear nephew. That's a start."

I take my leave, as there are only a few hours left to pack and prepare. The kitchen is in a flurry, putting together meats, breads, cheeses, fruit and wine for our journey. The servants are helping Aya polish and prep the boat. I excuse my servant to pack for myself. I do not need much.

I look at the coordinates again. We searched a map of Avakiri, but this looks to be in the middle of the ocean. I trust Callie, though. Iris must be there.

At high noon we all gather around Aya's boat, her crew at the ready. I do not like the men she has chosen to follow her. They are hard, cruel and turned by gold more than loyalty, but they are competent and get the job done.

Ace joins us, going over the details of the modifications he made to the Waystone one more time with Aya.

The sun is high in a very blue sky when we set sail. Aya walks the decks barking orders at her crew, though we won't reach any real turbulence until we're off Inferna. These waters are mild and can take a boat through all the seven realms without ever touching land. It's the most efficient way of travel between realms, if you don't have a mirror.

It doesn't take us long to reach the Waystone near Uncle Ace's realm. He has modified it so that the water reaches up to the entrance, giving us easier access on a ship.