The Crystal Mines

34 Ameer

Something was wrong. We should have been contacted by Emyr by now. I paced the deck, searching the docks below, knowing after the fourth day I would find nothing. Emyr had said the journey to her kingdom would take only slightly longer than half a day. Today was the fifth day without word from them. I only hoped that something didn't happen while they crossed through the slums. Emyr had made clear that it wasn't safe due to the slum lord running that side of the city under her father's nose.

"If you keep going like that, you'll wear a path in my ship." Josiah said from behind me. His voice was booming but was laced with a warm kindness. He had managed to sell a few of his wares to pay his men a few days ago, and even traded for a few new clothing pieces for everyone on board. I stopped my incessant pacing and took a breath. He was right.

"Aren't you worried? It's been five days!" I snapped at the man.

He watched me, his kindness never leaving his face and replied gently. "Of course, I am. But I know how well I trained my daughter to fend for herself. Your worry is not just for your friends though, is it?"

His calm tone brought me down a notch. "No."

He changed the subject, a knowing look in his eyes. "How fares your friend below? Last my wife said, he was in and out. It seems he wars inside of his mind."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Dath? He's not good. He is still bound to Erix. We fear that if he sees Alden, he will do anything he can to get to him. Rion said his last order was to keep hurting his brother when Erix wasn't around."

"Magic like that isn't unheard of, just not common enough to know how to counter." Josiah scratched the beard on his chin thoughtfully. "Will my daughter be researching how to free the boy too?"

Shit. Why hadn't I fecking thought of that? Guilt washed over me in a wave of hot and cold. I had been thinking of Nik. Without any regard to my friend below. There had to be a way to get word to Taury about researching the binding tattoo on Dath's arm and check on them too. Realizing I hadn't yet answered Josiah, I finally shook my head, ashamed.

"Listen, son." He put a firm hand on my shoulder. "The gods blessed me with a daughter, so I hope I go about this the right way. But if you let that guilt eat at you any more than it is, you will not be able to accomplish the things you wish to. What's more, you won't be able to help your girl."

My head snapped up. My girl? His words shook me. That was impossible. She was mated to another, my best friend, the Prince of Salvare. But, even if she never has a chance to find out, I was hers. Josiah was right. I had to do something. Anything. I had to... Gods. I knew what to do. I clapped the man on the back and took off at a run, his deep chuckle following closely behind.

I skirted around the corner of the hallway below decks and aimed for the door Kayanna was still tending to Lennox in. Three pars of eyes watched me in shock as I burst through the door. I winced in apology. Lennox was looking much better, able to sit upright and was eating a plate of fish. Talay had her fork paused midair. Clearly, I had interrupted their lunch. Kay, ever the calm one in a room. Placed down the cloth she was holding and walked the two steps to me. There, around her neck, was the solution to everything.

"What is it dear? It is Taury? Nik?" Her voice was worried, though her body remained resolute.

"No. No it's not that. I need the damn monkey," I spit out without any tact. I would curse myself for my rudeness later.

Kay gently tapped the sleeping nuisance on his head, and he had the balls to act as though he didn't just hear every word. "Trife. Wake up. Ameer is here to see you."

"No more trolls," He twisted onto his back, whining and stretching. His actions caused him to fall from his perch on her neck straight into her outstretched arms. I wish I knew what the feck a 'troll' was.

I snatched the sprite out of Kay's hands and brought him up to my face. "Nik told you to listen to me, right?"

The little thing wriggled in my hand and flopped forwards, draping his arms over my fingers. "Oh, my Nissa," he bawled, "I hope she is well." I fought the urge to roll my eyes at the sprite that had no problem lounging around with Kay for days on end. When he finally picked up his head, he wiped his eyes, then his nose. Then paused. He looked at his wet hand and, licked the contents off with one fell swoop of his tiny tongue. "Yes, Nissa said to listen to you as you were her. Though I don't know who in their right mind would listen to a troll."

Choosing to ignore his unwelcome mannerisms, I continued. "I need you to find Taury. Make sure her and everyone she is with are ok. And ask them to research Dath's tattoo." I thought for a second before letting him go. "And when you find them, Taury is in charge of you next."

Trife threw his little body backwards moaning in complaint.

"This is all for your Nissa. You hear me. She needs us, Trife."

Only after he sat up, looked me in the eyes and nodded very seriously, did I let him go. He jammed a finger up his nose, picked a particularly large booger, and flicked it at me. Kayanna was still laughing as he disappeared with a 'pop'.