Chapter Fifteen

Staring around my room, I slid one last pair of breeches into my pack and fastened the buckles. It felt like I was saying goodbye to my life as Ivy Archer.

I took a deep breath, trying to ignore the hollowness that crept into my chest. What if I failed? Visions of Dorian’s corpse came to mind, and I fought to stay composed. Grabbing my pack, I hurried from my room and went downstairs to where Archer and Cook awaited.

“Took ye long enough.” Cook eyed my pack. “What’d ye do, stuff yer bed and dog in there?”

Archer moved to my side and handed me a dagger. His dagger. “I want you to take this with you,” he said. “It’s been in our family for centuries.”

Tears formed in my eyes, and I blinked them back. To hear him say our family made everything even harder. I didn’t know the king. I knew Archer. And I loved him. “But you never go anywhere without this.”

He gave a silent nod, then reached for my hand and pressed the weapon into it. “I want you to have it.”

The Archer family crest, a dragon’s head with daggers through the eyes, was etched into the handle and along the blade.

“Thank you.” I belted it to my thigh on the opposite side of where I had the sword sheathed. My throat constricted as I went into his arms. “You’ll always be my father.”

He stroked my hair, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “And you’ll always be my daughter, Ivy. Nothing can change that.”

Cook coughed, and I looked up to see her wiping the wetness from her eyes. “If it’s any consolation, ye’ll always be a pain in my arse.”

With a laugh, I left my father’s—or rather, Archer’s—embrace and went to hug Cook. “No need to get sentimental on me,” I said.

She patted my back good and hard, then released me. “Before ye head out, thought ye might want to pack some of this up for the journey.” Cook held out several bundles of food wrapped in cloth. “There’s dried pork, venison, bread, and cheese here. Don’t want ye going hungry out there.”

I had no idea where to put them. But with some help, I managed to get it all shoved into my bag. Now, my clothing would likely smell like a butcher shop. Meat perfume to attract the wild beasts, I supposed.

A knock sounded at the door. Cook hurried to answer it, then opened it wide to let Amos in.

“Evening.” He bowed first to me, then Archer. “The king wanted me to deliver this to you and see you safely to the docks.” He handed over a scroll with the king’s seal on it.

With trembling hands, I took it from him and slid my finger beneath the wax. Inside were directions and contact information for my mother’s sister, Lady Margaret Weathers. For long moments, I stared at the name, tracing it with my fingers. Finally, a connection to my mother.

I rerolled the scroll and glanced around at the circle of expectant faces. “The king’s arranged for me to stay on with my aunt when I reach the human world,” I said.

Archer gave me a sad smile. “Margaret’s a good woman. She’s the one who ensured you arrived safely to Gob Hollow.”

Hag, it was strange to sit here discussing my human family with my goblin family. Folding the parchment, I slid it inside my leather purse, then turned to the others.

Archer clapped his hands together and picked up my pack from the floor. “It’s High Moon. We best get to the docks so you don’t miss your ship. Remember, while you’re gone, you need to keep up the facade that you and Dorian are betrothed. The others can’t know that you’re really King Starshooter’s daughter.”

“I will.”

Grr sidled in beside me, and we stepped from the safety of the house. The streets were nearly empty of patrons. Most were probably down at the docks, waiting for our sendoff.

My stomach knotted, knowing their hopes lay in my success. My Mission. We made our way down the cobblestone streets, and each building and house etched itself into my mind.

Amos touched my shoulder when we reached the main road to the harbor. “This is what you’ve trained for, Ivy. Remember to look here.” He held up his dagger and touched it to his heart. “And you’ll never go wrong.”

I nodded. Once a soldier, always a soldier. At last, we breached the woodland only to find half the kingdom waiting on our arrival. No pressure. Just had to sail across the sea, journey to the Outer Realm and into the human world, and rescue my brother. Sweat beaded my brow. What if I failed? I would have to come home and face everyone.

Or what if I didn’t return at all?

Cheers rang out when my feet met wooden planks. I scanned the crowd for Pudge and found him standing between Councilor Wayfarer and Margenta, his mother. His eyes were large, forehead wrinkled with worry lines. He had a turkey drumstick fisted in his left hand like a battle-axe.

The crowds parted to let me through, some tossing flower petals at my feet, others hollering out well-wishes and encouragement.

I glanced toward the sky, wishing the Hag would show herself or speak to me with some words of wisdom. Soon I stood in front of the king, and he offered me his hand.

“I wish you a safe journey, Lady Ivy. I know my son’s life will be safe with you.”

I squeezed his arm. “I’ll come home with him. You have my word.”

With a nod, he released me, and I progressed down the line, shaking hands and exchanging words with the council. Archer better be proud of me for being this polite.

“You will bring him back,” Birdie’s mother said, pasting a fake smile on her face. “He is, after all, the Starshooter heir.”

Why did it sound like she didn’t really care if he lived or died? Of course, the council would benefit more if there were no Starshooter heir, although they had no idea of my true identity yet.

Pudge stood at the end of the line, next to Vane. Hag, I wished he’d waited for me before going through the line. We stopped in front of the Girts, and Vane smirked, falling in step beside us. “Barthe and I get to go with you to make sure you don’t fail.”

Pudge bumped into him, sending him staggering back. “Yeah, it’s our bad luck.”

I stifled a laugh, glancing up in time to see Honour watching us from the deck of the four-masted galleon. He winked, lowering the wooden plank for Pudge, Grr, and me to board, along with Vane, Barthe, Beaurick, Percivious, Cray, Captain Bushwell, and other soldiers.

The ship swayed gently when I stood on the deck, staring at my family and friends. I waved as the crew hurried to get the boat untied. Clink-clink, came the sound of the anchor being raised.

Honour shouted orders to his crew, and the sails were hoisted. Slowly, we moved away from the harbor. Pudge wobbled next to me, gripping the rail.

“You okay?” I asked, glad that he was coming along. There was no way I’d be able to do this without him, especially with Vane and Barthe around.

He gave me a shaky smile. “Yeah, just got to get used to the boat is all.”

Honour chuckled, taking his place behind the ship’s wheel. “Don’t go vomiting on my deck, little brother, or you’ll be swabbing it.”

Pudge snorted. “I’m not sick.”

Honour waved me over, and I moved to join him. With his free hand, he caught my arm. “If there’s anything you need, anything at all, just let me know, little sis. The king also said we are to keep a close eye on you, given that you are his son’s betrothed.”

“I should be all set, thanks. And for future reference, I can take care of myself.” I glanced around at all the deckhands. “Where are Vane and the others?”

“I had Captain Bushwell take them below deck for now.”

“Thank the Hag for small blessings,” I teased.

Honour smiled at me. “I’m glad you’re on my ship, Ivy. It will give us a chance to get to know each other better. It’s been awhile since we’ve seen each other.”

“I look forward to it.” I backed up. “I think I’ll just stand over there.” I pointed to Pudge, near the railing. “So I can give a final goodbye.”

When I stood beside Pudge again, he turned to glare at his brother. “I hope he’s not trying to pursue you. I don’t think I could stomach it if he did.”

Grr laid down at my feet, and I laughed. “Yeah, I don’t think so. He did call me ‘little sis.’ He’s being really polite for once. Don’t forget—as far as everyone else is concerned, I’m engaged.”

“Polite?” He raised an eyebrow. “Do you not know my brother? The same goblin who gambles and drinks and beds strange females.”

Okay, he had a point. But those were rumors. I mean, he didn’t really pirate or gamble or have ladies draped all over him, did he? One look at his face and I knew he was trouble. A trouble I definitely wasn’t ready for. If I was being honest, he’d been nothing but my best friend’s brother since I was little. And that wasn’t about to change.

I turned back to watch Gob Hollow drift away on the horizon. So many emotions rolled through me. Excitement. Fear. Worry. Everything depended on my decisions. A Mission I’d prayed for but now dreaded because of what was at stake.

Our journey had begun.