No royal adviser or Kers waiting to greet me and whisk me away to meet their bachelors.
If I didn’t know any better, I’d think the island had no idea I was arriving today. But I was there when Mother made the arrangements; this isn’t something she’d overlook.
I recognize one of the Kers training as the boy we first met upon coming to Kerost—Armin. We’d spent hours hammering beside him, after which Ferrick had healed the boy’s aching hands. Armin doesn’t see us, but the older woman observing him from a sea-slickened rock above the shore does. My heart skips a beat as her bitter green eyes pierce through me. For a moment I stand still, fists clenched, because I remember her last words to me.
The next time you come here, it better be with an entire fleet.
The moment I took the throne, I sent her just that.
The woman holds her chin proud, and it’s with a start that I catch sight of the shimmering gold emblem on the shoulder of her amethyst cloak. She’s Kerost’s adviser; the one who didn’t show up for the meeting on Arida. And she’s waiting for me.
“Wait here,” I tell the others, though Casem’s quick to respond.
“You’re not to be left alone, Amora. It isn’t safe.”
I flash him my deepest scowl, but Casem’s unfazed.
“She’s their adviser,” I argue.
“And I’m your guard.” His arms fold as his eyes flicker away. “Something here isn’t right, and it’s my duty to protect you.” The heat in his voice is enough for me to read between the lines, and with the dawning realization comes a pit in my stomach.
Casem’s father, Olin, was my father’s most trusted friend and protector, until Olin betrayed him. I’ve no resentment for Casem, who had no idea his father had teamed up with Kaven until it was too late. As someone who is also indirectly responsible for the deaths of too many, I can only sympathize.
“You’re not your father.” My voice is soft as his shoulders deflate. “And I am not mine. I’m here for my people to get to know me. They need to feel like I’ve dropped my guard around them, and that’s not going to happen with you as my shadow. I’ve been sparring with you for years, Casem. Do you think you’ve taught me well?”
His face retracts with confusion. “Of course I have—”
“Then stop worrying about me. Magic or not, I can take care of myself.”
Casem grinds his jaw, but eventually bows his head in defeat and steps back with the others. With his blessing, I stalk through the shore and up a sandy cliffside until I reach Kerost’s adviser. In the time it’s taken me to climb, she’s scooted herself over so that I might have a spot beside her on the large rock. Silently, I take it.
“So you’re our queen, now,” she says after a moment, still observing the boy I can only assume is her grandson.
“I am.” I’ve no idea why my words feel so grating, or why nerves eat the lining of my stomach raw. “And it looks as though you’re the new adviser.”
The title causes her lips to twist so fiercely I nearly flinch. “It wasn’t my choice, but a decision made by those who remain here on Kerost.”
My own lips sour now. Like the Montara family, advisers typically come from the same lineage. But I don’t need to ask for it to be clear that whoever was the adviser must have died in the most recent storm. Kerost must have improvised by choosing their own ruler.
This woman, at least, is a good fit.
“It would’ve been nice to see you at the council meeting.” I’m careful with my words, understandably on thin ice. “I never even got your name.”
“Ephra Tost,” she says stonily, still looking ahead.
I’m painfully aware of how slow Ephra’s movements are. The last time I saw her, she’d been using time magic to speed up her body. Now, each of her movements appears deliberate, slow and pained. Though she’s an elder, her hair has grayed and her skin has wrinkled well beyond her years. Looking at her, I can’t help but recognize that while Kerost finally has a chance at stability, I was still too late. So much time was taken from too many people, and they’ll never get it back. No matter how hard I tried, I’ve still failed them. But as I’m about to apologize, Lady Tost extends a shaky hand and sets it atop my lap, taking hold of