Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 140462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 702(@200wpm)___ 562(@250wpm)___ 468(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 702(@200wpm)___ 562(@250wpm)___ 468(@300wpm)
Lepearl sighs and gets to her toes to kiss his jaw… just as she reaches for Kick’s hand.
I feel very confused. And uncomfortable.
“Wouldn’t that be a bit too easy? Sometimes, your captain wants to see you’re willing to put in the effort,” Lepearl says as her fingers entwine with Kick’s.
The kelpies share a glance, and Bite growls before letting out a low snort.
“Fine.”
“Fifteen minutes,” Kick adds, walking off toward the boat of bone.
I bow to him as if he deserves such a courtesy. Nothing is beneath me to get what I want. As the kelpies walk off to prepare the ship, I watch their pale, muscular bodies, long black hair streaked with seaweed, and I have to admit they are quite fine men. But it’s confusing to even think of them as people when I’ve been riding a royal kelpie so many times. I suddenly feel self-conscious about it.
I clear my throat as I stand next to Lepearl who is stuffing her pipe with adora.
“If you don’t mind me asking… are they not dangerous? They’re not from the Nocturne Court, so they must be wild kelpies. Even if they wear elven skin, are you not worried about their violent nature?”
She glances my way and rubs two of her rings together, creating a spark to light the herb. “Oh, there are ways to tame wild kelpies. I’m surprised they’re not known at court, considering what I heard about royal… exploits.”
My cheeks heat up at the suggestion, but in truth, the kelpies have only ever been a means of transport for me, and I never spent excessive time at the stables.
“I’m not sure I understand the meaning. Are you saying there is a way to break them?”
Lepearl scowls, watching her crew set up the ship. They rush around, almost as if they were in competition with each other. “Break them? Such an ugly way to put it. They are amazing creatures, the kelpies, extremely loyal once they bond. Like with many things, you’ll get more with sugar than with salt.”
His philosophy is definitely not what I’ve been taught all my life, but I can see its merit. “Please, let me clarify, are we talking sugar cubes, or—”
Lepearl stares at me like I’m stupid and inhales some adora smoke. “Fucking, Your Highness, I mean fucking.”
My ears twitch, turning as hot as my cheeks. “Oh, and… um… both of them?”
She smirks. “Yes, both. How is that so shocking? I’ve heard of royals at the Nocturne Court who have both a spouse and a Dark Companion.”
It’s not something I am interested in pursuing, but I have to admit she has a point. “I suppose I was taught I need to dominate others to command respect.”
Lepearl spares me a glance telling me all she thinks about an elf my size dominating anyone, but I’m not offended. Thanks to what I’ve been through with Hawk, I know my worth isn’t tied to the force I can exert.
“I used to be part of a big crew, worked my way up by proving I can be as ruthless as anyone else on board. But then I met my match, and it wasn’t even in a brawl. Instead, someone whose name doesn’t even deserve mentioning, rallied others against me with lies and shit talk. I got left in the middle of the ocean in a boat no bigger than a bathtub. When Bite and Kick appeared, I tried to fight them at first, but every time I hit them with a paddle, they’d come back, curious about me. Instead of dragging me to the bottom of the ocean, they brought me food, and hauled my boat to an island. When I stopped trying to exert dominance and befriended them instead, I realized that so far I’ve been going about my life wrong. So no, I didn’t need to ‘break’ them. If anything, it was them who showed me I don’t always need to be cruel to get what I want. Just like in the ocean, you have to follow the waves. Sometimes, you have to surrender to reach your destination.”
I ponder her words as the kelpies drag a little boat to shore. If it were just me, they’d probably make me wade through water to get to the ship, but since they want to treat their captain, I’m lucky to also step aboard with dry shoes.
As much as I see Lepearl’s point, and I’m more open to making friends than I used to be, I can’t justify the risk of letting guards take me to Lord Kyran and throwing myself at his mercy.
Once I obtain the Umlaris Band and save Hawk, I’ll consider what to do next. Until then, my plans must remain carefully concealed.
I know an entrance into the palace, but I cannot just break into the vault. If I obscure myself with whatever shadowcraft I possess and reach Lord Kyran’s chambers, I might use the Cerulean Puffball spores I have collected before reaching the tavern to put him and his Dark Companion to sleep. With the human as my hostage, I should convince Kyran to hand over the Umlaris Band without much fuss.