He smiled at the portly fellow opening the butcher shop, trying to hide the confusion swirling in his mind. He wanted to belong among them.

A breeze whipped through the streets, carrying the odor that told of a proximity to the sea. They called Madra the gateway kingdom. Goods passed through between Bela and Gaule and the Kingdoms to the North. The docks were their point of entry and an impressive one at that.

Outside the city, one could find spots to gaze out at the sea, but the docks themselves sat in the widest part of the river.

Long wooden piers stretched as far as he could see to the left and right. Some were empty, but most housed merchant vessels, their sails flapping in the wind like the beat of a familiar drum. A few war vessels were in, but most had carried their troops to the various fronts ordered by the king.

Sailors called greetings to Dell. In their eyes, he was no different from them. They worked their fingers to the bone every day with no chance for respite.

Dell’s feet took him to a row of ships belonging to the Tenyson family. Grant, his stepmother’s most favored captain, spotted him and jumped his thick frame from the rigging, landing on the deck with a defining thud.

“You’re late.” He scowled.

Dell wasn’t late, but Grant said it every time.

Grant walked toward the rail where a mop leaned next to a bucket of muddy brown water. “Galley needs cleaned.” He walked away.

Stretching his neck from side to side, Dell reached for the bucket. He wrapped his fingers around the mop and kicked open the door before descending into the darkness.

Dell worked tirelessly until dark—Grant didn’t allow breaks—and when he finally decided it was quitting time, Dell found his brothers waiting for him at the side of the ship.

Setting his hands on the rail, he leaped over, stumbling from exhaustion as he landed.

Ian let out a low chuckle and stepped forward. Reed hung back. It was how it always was with them. Ian led and Reed followed.

“Where have you been?” Ian asked.

Dell brushed a hand through his sweat-soaked hair. “Right here.”

Ian shoved him back. “Before today. You’ve been missing.”

“Aw.” Dell leaned close, a smirk planted on his lips. “I’m touched you care.”

He saw the punch coming even before Ian lurched forward, so he ducked out of the way. Ian lunged again, but Dell was quick. All the time he spent boxing paid off. He shifted his feet and the next time Ian’s arm shot out, he grabbed his wrist and twisted it down before delivering a blow to his brother’s cheek.

“Reed,” Ian growled.