Damis downed the last of the wine in his cup with a grimace. It was bitter and burned his throat as he swallowed, but it warmed his stomach, and made the bitter winds a little easier to bear. It was a far cry from the sweet wines that he had tasted in Whitport, and it was much weaker than the ale from Hariin. Still, he had missed the fire wine that was only found on their barren island of a kingdom.
"How did her grace react when you told her we failed again?" a man asked, pushing over another cup of fire wine, taking a sip from his own as he sat down.
"Better."
"Do you truly believe that the princelings will be found?"
Damis took a long drink of wine to save himself from answering. If he was honest, he did not see any possibility that the boys would be found. Their bodies have never been found in the ruins of the tower, but there had been a fire, and both of the boys had been terribly small...
"Even if the princelings are still alive somewhere, we're not going to get anywhere with the rate that information gets here." the man continued.
"How so?"
The man snorted, "The only thing that this hunk of rock is good for is being isolated. It stands well defended by the Carrion sea from raiders and other kings alike, but it also stops any information getting here."
Damis stared at him from over the edge of his cup.
"By the time we get wind of where the princelings are, it would have been months since the news was fresh. Even if by some work of the gods, we got anywhere faster than a month, the princelings would have long since disappeared."
"Then what do you suggest?" Damis asked.
"It won't do any good, as long as her grace refuses to take her crown." The man shrugged, "It is better we have a ruler that believes she will be relieved soon, rather than another war between lords staking claim of the throne."
"Not everyone thinks so."
The man nodded in agreement, "The people call for a coronation. They do not want to take the chances for a war."
Damis sighed, "While the lords will bicker over a chair, it would be the people who suffer."
"All wars end up like that." the man said, scowling. He poured out the rest of the wine onto the ground, "This stuff is rancid." He complained, "The barrel of white arbor had to leak. If it wasn't for my vows, I'd take a ship and sail off to Whitport and remain there."
Damis smiled slightly, "And what would you do in Whitport? The people hardly ever look glad receiving us."
"That's because they fear your dour face and the bloody sword you have at your waist." The man waved him off, "I'd gladly bring a bag of silver and spend my days drinking with beautiful maidens."
"Drinking with whores, you mean."
"The parts between their legs are no less pretty." The man said, "You'd know, if you didn't have a sword up your arse so much."
"I have half the mind to leave you here when the Maiden sets sail again." Damis said.
"Oh, how cruel." The man laughed, "Although perhaps it'll be fair, seeing you love this rock so much that you look like worms crawled into your mouth every time we leave."
"Perhaps I'd enjoy it more if I wasn't searching for ghosts."
"Perhaps." A silence lapsed between them, as Damis finished the rest of the wine.
"There are talks of a war brewing beyond the sea." Damis mused, "It would be best if it didn't reach us."
"Another war between Lhir and Miiryn." the man said, "It is hardly worthy of calling a war. More like old disputes, to be true."
"Still, old disputes and new wounds had never stopped Lhir or Miiryn calling for support from other kingdoms." Damis remembered seeing a map of the mainland on Alynis's table, and it had only taken him a second to figure out what that had meant. She was preparing if someone was to call them to war. He head heard that Rhiys would be backing Lhir, sending supplies and troops in exchange for a corner of the land. Rhiys was a small kingdom in itself, and its king was weak and insignificant, but with Lhir rising to power, they would have no choice but to enter the dispute.
The war between Lhir and Miiryn had always ended with both sides too weak to continue, and neither side emerging victorious. But if one side was to conquer, their land wouldn't be safe for long as well. The treacherous waves of the Carrion sea could only defend their island for so long, and after, their land would be sacked, and countless men would be slaughtered.
"Her grace hasn't been called to war, has she?"
"Not yet."
"Would Lhir dare to ask for our men?" the man asked, an unseemly sneer on his face, "After the burning?"
"Her grace has no intention to fight." Damis said, "Especially not alongside Lhir."
"I would perhaps fight, if Miiryn called for us instead of Lhir. Many would." the man gave a small laugh, "I wonder what her grace would say if all our men sailed to side with Miiryn on the morrow."
"She would have your head." Damis snapped.
"Do not tell me you would not be with us." the man said, "I doubt there is a person who has more cause to want to wage war against Lhir."
"I will do as her grace commands me to." Damis said, standing. "You would do so as well, if you value your life any."
"An idea, nothing more." the man promised, "But something very likely."
Damis knew he was right. The land still held a resentment against Lhir for the death of their late king and queen, along with the disappearance of their heirs. The king's men would eagerly rise against Lhir, regardless of the cause, and he knew that he would also be one of them. But resentment and revenge wouldn't bring back the dead or find the boys, and more would be lost in war.
The world seemed colder than before when he walked out of the tavern, despite the wine that settled in his stomach.
