A Usurper's Cause (Book #4)

Chapter Fifty

"Your Majesty, we should be arriving in Occidentis Caelum by tomorrow morning," said a crew member. "We apologize for the delay. The weather has been quite unpredictable. Nonetheless, we are back on track. Only two days late."

Udolf thanked him, but he waited until he was alone to raise his head and stare out into the sea. They were forced to make an emergency stop on a small island when the waves had risen too high, and rain poured down on them. It seemed strange for such weather during this time of the year. As the crew members explained, the weather was not the same everywhere. As a matter of fact, Occidentis Caelum hardly had a gelid—at least not one like Aristol. The nights turned bitter, and the wind grew a little strong, yet snow did not exist there. How odd.

It simply reminded him how far they were now, entering a land he'd never dreamed of. The thought both terrified and exhilarated him.

"I can't wait to get there," Eldon said as he came up and stood beside him.

Udolf sighed. "Eldon, you must do something about your voice."

"Godwin said no one's gonna hear it 'cept for us."

"They'll hear how you're pronouncing your words." Udolf glanced Eldon up and down. "This is maddening. How are we to believe this is truly going to work when we only see our true selves?" He looked over his shoulder at the crew members wiping down the deck. "They've referred to me as King Maximus, so that brings me some comfort."

"No one's gonna have reason to think we ain't... aren't who we say we are." Eldon furrowed his eyebrows. "Unless you give 'em reason."

"I won't!"

"And I ain't either."

"Eldon, your words," Udolf hissed. He checked behind him again, ensuring no one was listening, before adding, "I believe it will be best if you don't speak at all."

"Fine by me. Yer gonna do all the talkin', anyway. Yer the one who needs to get her to trust Maximus. I'm just the knight." Eldon patted the sword sheathed to his side. He'd almost thrown a fit because Godwin refused to let him take his own sword. However, Udolf had also rolled his eyes when he was given Maximus's sword and told to put his scimitar away.

"You will need to play the role perfectly if you don't wish for her to suspect anything," Godwin had said.

Udolf moved away from the railing and retreated to his cabin below the deck. By tomorrow morning, he would be face-to-face with Elouise again. He had no idea how he would look her in the eyes and resist his anger. He couldn't fathom how he would be able to smile like they were friends.

Then again, he honestly couldn't say how he was going to feel at all. He'd been struggling to eat and sleep the past few days as he imagined their first encounter. In some scenarios, Udolf couldn't hold back and would immediately confess who he truly was. In others, she was elated to see Maximus after so long, and Udolf wouldn't know what to say.

It was absolutely pathetic.

Udolf sat on the edge of the bed and ran his fingers through his hair. He was stronger than he was in both of those scenarios. He had to be. He wouldn't have gotten this far if he was still the same frightened boy from before.

So, why couldn't he quit his heart from hammering in his chest?

Udolf lay back and closed his eyes. I just need to rest and clear my head.

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"Udolf... Udolf," Eldon hissed as he gently shook him.

Udolf slowly blinked open his eyes and groaned when he saw Eldon hovering over him.