Salt Storm: The Salted Series: Episodes #31-35 Galvin, Aaron (classic fiction txt) 📖

“She failed, then,” said Rupert quietly.

No. Sydney thought to herself. She showed me what I really am. Who I am.

Rupert cued on her silence. “Why would you need to escape, Sydney? It’s your mother the king wanted to embarrass. Not you.”

“Rupert, you don’t understand.”

“Help me in understanding, then,” he said. “Tell me what I am to take away from this entire situation, Sydney. Aye, why my friendship, our rides and time together . . . what am I to take away from your leaving me behind, other than I meant nothing to you?”

“Rupert—”

“Do you know what the people are saying, Sydney?” He interrupted. “The rumors flying across the whole of New Pearlaya and beyond?”

How could I? Sydney wondered. I’ve been locked away in an oubliette all this time.

“No . . .” she answered his question.

“They’re saying your mother is a traitor to not only the crown and the king, but to her father in the east and the whole of our collective people too. They say your mother has betrayed all Merrows, Sydney.” His lip curled in disgust. “They’re accusing her of betraying the king and their marriage in favor of fornicating with a Nomad. And not just any savage stalker, I don’t mind telling you. Worse, that your halfling, bastard brother is the true reason why the queen did not bring the supposed prince back to the Salt with you and her after having sworn to leave forever in favor of swallowing the anchor instead.”

Jun. Sydney thought of her brother then, wondering where in the world he might be in that moment. Thankful, at least, that she had received no news of his whereabouts. Oh, Jun, where are you? Sydney wondered. Is everything they’re saying true? Are you like me too? Half Merrow and half Nomad?

Rupert studied Sydney close. “Still others are saying worser things, Sydney. They claim that perhaps your mother birthed the king not one alone, but a pair of savage bastards . . . that their marriage has been meaningless all this time.”

Sydney stared back at him, hurt lingering in her eyes.

Rupert scoffed at her continued silence. “All those claims against your mother and you have nothing to say?”

“What would you have me say?” Sydney asked.

“Deny it, Sydney,” he cried. “Tell me it’s not true. That none of these cursed rumors are true!”

He doesn’t know. Sydney understood by the cracking in his voice. The pain with which he uttered the words. He doesn’t believe that I could be part Nomad.

Rupert blinked, his voice softer as he spoke to her again. “Deny it, Sydney.” He came to her, reaching for Sydney’s hand and taking it in his. “Please . . . tell me the rumors are not true.” Rupert squeezed. “Help me to understand why you ran away, or else why I should decry all these rumors for falsehoods. As your betrothed, I swear that I will believe you.”

Betrothed. Sydney cringed at the word and the secret that Yvla had revealed to her in the stables during she and Rupert’s last meeting. She looked up at him once more, meeting his questions with some of her own. “Why didn’t you tell me that we were arranged to be married? That I was to be given to you like . . . just like Roselani was given to me by the king?”

Rupert frowned. “Sydney, it’s not the same. A seahorse is not a princess.”

“It’s exactly the same,” she said, pulling away. “And you knew all along. Even before you met me. Just like you knew that my mom was going to be taken prisoner that night at the play too.”

Rupert’s face reddened. “Sydney, I didn’t know about your mother,” he said. “I told you as much in the stables before you fled and left me behind.”

Sydney shook her head. “You knew. Why didn’t you tell me the truth?”

Rupert had no answer for her, at first. Then, his shoulders sagged. Despite his glimmering armor, Sydney swore he had the expression of a shamed boy rather than the cocky façade he otherwise promoted in his daily dealings. “I didn’t know about your mother. Truly, I didn’t. As for the other bit concerning our engagement, I . . . I wanted to see if I could earn your love,” he said. “I’ve seen how arranged marriages go wrong from the start. My parents have fought with one another for as long as I can recall for just such a reason.” His gaze softened. “Much as you may doubt my intentions now and before, I have always hoped to make a better beginning for us.”

But there is no us. Sydney thought. And there never will be . . . especially not now.

Rupert sighed. “Tell me what to do, Sydney. Please? Tell me what I can do to make this right between us?” He took a knee that he might look up at her instead. “I see now that earning your love might well be beyond me, but tell me what I might do now to win back your trust, at least.”

“Why would you want my trust?”

“Can you truly not know?” He scoffed, a hint of his infamous, handsome smile dawning once more. “If I cannot have your love, Sydney, I would at least have your friendship again. A true friend, rather. Not the sort my father bought and paid to accompany me, or else those others budding up to me in the hopes of winning some title or favor from my parents, or even the king. Aye, for whatever you may think of me now, Sydney, you never looked to me with such things in your eyes as others have done all my life. In your gaze, I felt a true kinship from the start when we swam and rode together with Roselani and my Kampos. So, again, I say that if I cannot win your love, I would have your friendship again and your trust, at least.”

Sydney blushed at that, her eyes glazing