In Deeper Waters F.T. Lukens (acx book reading txt) 📖

proving Dara and the villagers wrong. His family were concerned with their people, and they were doing their best to effect change at a high level, but Tal could understand how that might not come across to the common folk. He’d help change that today.

Finished, Tal bent to retrieve his book from where it had fallen from his hammock, and that’s when he heard footsteps. The back of his neck prickled, and he spun to find one of the sailors observing him.

Unnerved, Tal cleared his throat. “Is there a problem?”

The sailor—Tal didn’t know his name—stalked forward. His skin was tanned from the sun, evidence of many voyages, and he squinted at Tal, studying him.

“You may act like a prince,” he said, his voice grating like the drag of wooden crates over the stone pathways near the castle. “But I know what you really are.”

“And what am I?” Tal was proud his voice came out calm and even, despite the shiver of fear that wound its way down his spine.

The sailor’s lips pulled back in a sneer, revealing rows of yellowed and broken teeth. “A perversion. You’ll destroy us all.”

Tal blanched. “How dare you address me in such a way. My brother will hear—”

The sailor closed the distance between them and pressed an arm across Tal’s chest, a short dagger, no longer than Tal’s thumb, clenched in his fist. Tal’s heart slammed against his ribs. His magic swelled and burned, and he lit up from the inside. Struggling, Tal tamped it down and instead drew on the training the castle knights had given him as a child. He remained still and looked for an opening to escape. The edge of the knife grazed Tal’s cheek, rasping across the stubble he hadn’t shaved, and the man’s fetid breath washed over him, setting his head spinning.

“You don’t frighten me,” Tal said.

“You should be frightened. The blood of your family line should not be allowed to continue, let alone pollute the other kingdoms. All of you should be dead, but especially you. I’ll not allow you to—”

“Tally!” Garrett’s voice drifted from above. “Your self-imposed ten minutes are up.”

The sailor’s gaze flickered toward the stairs. His distraction was the opening Tal needed. He lashed out and kicked the man in the knee. The knife nicked his cheek, but it was enough for Tal to get away. He ran for the stairs, yelling for Garrett as he went.

Shay met him at the top and took in his distress. She grabbed his upper arms.

“What happened?”

Tal pointed down. “There’s a man. He attacked me with a knife and—”

Shay shoved him toward Garrett and drew her sword, just as the sailor sprinted up the steps and toward the ramp to the port. Shay lit after him, chasing him to the dock, and overtaking him with her superior speed.

Tal turned his head away when she engaged the sailor, knowing the bloody outcome.

“Are you all right?” Garrett asked, tilting Tal’s face up. “He cut you.”

“I’m fine,” Tal said, chest heaving. “I don’t think he was going to hurt me. He wanted to scare me.” He wasn’t sure that was the truth.

“What did he say?”

Tal gulped. “He said I was a perversion and that our whole family should be dead, especially me.”

Frowning, Garrett wiped the blood away with a handkerchief. “Tally, that doesn’t sound like he only wanted to scare you.”

“He knew. He had to have seen or—”

“He probably heard about our plans for the day and didn’t approve of you sowing your oats with the townspeople.”

Shaking his head, Tal hid the trembling of his hands. “No. That can’t be all. He said I’d destroy everyone. He said my blood would pollute the other kingdoms. He knew.”

Garrett pulled Tal into a reassuring embrace. “Rumors,” Garrett said. “They’re rumors. No one knows for sure.” Garrett didn’t sound convinced. “No more sneaking off, though. Shay will stay with you at all times.”

Tal nodded. As much as he hated to admit it, pressing his face into Garrett’s shoulder was comforting. His pulse slowed, and he only slightly startled when Shay reappeared, wiping blood from her sword with the handkerchief Garrett passed her.

“Report.”

“I wounded him while in pursuit, but he threw himself off the dock into the sea. He didn’t resurface. The blood trail was significant.”

“Dead or will be soon,” Garrett said with a nod. “Food for the fish.”

“Are you okay, Tally?” Shay asked. She cupped his chin and turned his head, gazing hard at the cut. “That must have been frightening.”

With a breath Tal regained his composure. He pulled away from Shay and Garrett and straightened his shoulders. His cheek stung, and he swiped his palm over the cut. “I’m fine. I wish to continue with our plans.”

“Are you sure? You don’t want to find a tavern and hole up for the day? Rest?”

“No,” Tal said. “The day has only started, and I am not going to waste it because of a miscreant with bad breath.”

Shay smiled, and Garrett laughed. “Okay, brother. Where do we start?”

Tal led them to Dara’s house, losing his way only once. He waved them back when he knocked on the door, unsure of his reception. The door swung inward on creaky hinges, and Dara appeared, hair pulled back under a cloth and cheeks smudged with ash from a cooking fire.

“He’s not here,” she said. “He left last night.”

“I’m not looking for him,” Tal said, blushing hotly as her gaze swept over him. She crossed her arms in the doorway. “I’m looking for you.”

That caught her by surprise, and Tal reveled in it. She looked over his shoulder, and her eyes widened at the sight of Shay and Garrett.

“Why?”

“You know what items will best help the people affected by the sickness in this part of town. I’d like for you to tell me, so I can buy them and hand them out to those who need them.”

She looked around. “Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

“Oh,” she said, then narrowed her eyes. “This won’t endear you to me or to him.”

“That’s not my goal,” Tal