What did he need? Not the journal. He couldn’t risk Cahira or one of her minions finding it. He stuffed it behind some books in the bookcase.
The Seer possessed only a few clothes, so they were easily stuffed into a linen bag. He donned the Seer’s hooded robe, hitched the bag over a shoulder, grabbed the old man’s staff, and headed out the door.
At the gate, he glanced back. Would he ever see this cottage again? His heart squeezed when he recalled all the tears and frustration he’d endured while adjusting to the loss of his family and his new life as an accursed shifter. But there had been good moments, too. Moments when he’d known that the Seer loved him.
The cat meowed and rubbed against his legs. The cat.
Brody winced. He couldn’t leave it behind. “You’ll have to come with me.”
The cat meowed again as if he understood, and when Brody opened the gate, Trouble darted through, then trailed alongside him as he strode toward the cove.
He would have to slow his steps, Brody reminded himself, once he was in sight of the soldier. He would have to fool everyone into believing he was a hundred-year-old man at death’s door.
The real test would be deceiving Cahira. And then somehow getting rid of her and the Chameleon so the Circle of Five would be gone for good. But could he do it?
Could he actually kill Maeve’s mother?
* * *
After leaving Lessa Castle, Nevis hurried down to the port to explain the situation to Captain Shaw, who was enjoying an ale at the local tavern where Nevis had rented his room.
The captain shook his head, frowning. “How can I return to Ebton Palace without Maeve? We should search for her ourselves.”
“I’m going with the queen’s ship to find her,” Nevis assured him. “You need to warn King Leo that the Embraced army may be on the Isle of Secrets. If it is, we must defeat it before the Chameleon can bring war and destruction to the mainland. Leo and the other kings need to rally their forces immediately.”
“All right.” The captain tossed a few coins on the table as he rose to his feet. “Send confirmation of the army’s location as soon as you can.”
“I will.” Nevis headed upstairs to his room and stuffed all his clothes into his knapsack. Then he wrote a quick note to Mother Ginessa. Back downstairs, he settled his bill and asked that a boy deliver the note to the convent.
He strode down the pier, looking for the queen’s ship. That had to be it with the blue-and-white flag. He halted with a wince. The damned thing was barely any bigger than a fishing boat.
Two men in uniform hurried down the plank onto the pier.
“The Isle of Secrets?” one of them yelled. “Is she trying to get us killed?”
“The queen can’t pay me enough to go there!” the other one added as they strode down the pier.
They were deserting? “Wait!” Nevis called after them. “You can’t just leave. Aren’t you in Her Majesty’s navy?”
“Not anymore!” The first man tossed his hat onto the pier. “Even our first officer has refused to go.”
The two men stalked off, grumbling.
Damn. Was there no one left onboard? Nevis dragged his hand through his hair. He was a soldier, not a sailor. He couldn’t sail the boat by himself.
“Sir?”
Nevis turned and discovered an older man, barefoot and dressed in ill-fitting clothes. His ruddy face was wrinkled and worried, and in his hands, he clutched a floppy hat.
“Is it true?” the old man asked. “Ye’re going to search for the young lady who was nice to me?”
Nevis blinked. “Lobby?”
“Aye, ’tis me.” He jammed the hat on his head. “I went to the convent this morning like the young lady told me to. They gave me these clothes and a haircut and a nice breakfast. But they were all talking about how she’s missing.”
Nevis nodded. “Maeve has gone in search of the Isle of Secrets.”
“Och, I told her not to do that.” Lobby made the sign of the moons with trembling hands.
The man was trying to withdraw from his dependence on liquor, Nevis thought. He rested a hand on the man’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, Lobby. I’m going to find her. Stay strong.”
Lobby’s chin wobbled. “But no one will sail with you. Everyone’s afraid.”
Nevis squeezed his shoulder. “I’m not afraid. I’ll find her.”
Lobby’s face crumpled. “I’ve always wondered why I was spared. Why all me mates died, and I didn’t.” He drew in a