“Great,” Bri muttered. “That’s not what we need right now. We need to keep Cole close; maybe he can make it harder for the witches to See us.”

“Speaking of.” Carys tipped her head to the mop of blond hair cresting up the trail.

Cole heaved jagged breaths as he climbed the last steps onto the patio. His long legs were nothing compared to the fae’s strength.

“Let me help you with that,” Bern said, rushing over to him and lifting his pack off his shoulders.

“Thanks,” Cole breathed, his eyes snagging on Bern’s. He paused before holding out his hand. “I’m Cole Doledir. Head healer to the royal family.”

Bern’s cheeks dimpled as he shook Cole’s hand. “Bern Hemarr, right hand to the Queen and King of the High Mountain Court.”

Lina and Bri exchanged secret glances.

“How many rooms does this place have?” Carys asked, pulling their focus back to her.

“Seven,” Bern said. “They’re modest dwellings, but I managed to spruce them up before you arrived. Come on, I’ll show you.”

He waved them into the cliffside house. Bri stole one more glance out to the horizon, dread pooling in her gut. She prayed that the wrong blue witches hadn’t Seen them here. Coming with a smaller entourage felt like a mistake, but coming with the same Western guards who might be traitors felt like a misstep too. Maybe she could convince Lina to leave the Western Court until they knew who to trust, though she doubted the Princess would accept. She’d see it as abandoning her kingdom. Bri shook her head at the shimmering turquoise sea, unable to think of a single safe path forward.

Chapter 26

Chapter Twenty-Six

Bri took the room next to Lina’s on the southern side. It barely had space for the bed that Bern had crammed into it. Had Bern stripped his family home of chattels to furnish the house? She wouldn’t put it past him.

After splashing water from the basin on her face, she changed into a lighter tunic that didn’t smell like horse’s ass. It was crumpled from the ride, but at least they’d avoided the storm and her tunic hadn’t been drenched by the rain. Sniffing her armpit, she shrugged. She’d bathe after food and wine.

Bri eyed the thin trail leading up to the library as she ambled across the arched walkway to dinner. The copper-domed edifice sat beyond the eddies of harbor air that could dampen the books. Bri wondered what lay inside, but the library would have to wait until morning. Bern told them no candles were allowed and, given the arid surroundings, Bri didn’t blame him. If one twig caught fire, the entirety of the cliffs would alight.