I put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed like I had earlier that day. “You’re worth following and defending. Whatever you decide to do concerning us, I will support you.”
That smile he gave in response stretched across his face and lit his eyes. “Thank you, Lady Isa. It means so much to hear you say that.”
“You’re welcome, my lord.”
We both turned back to the horizon.
“Sire,” I said carefully, “I don’t mean to pry, but have you considered Kalea?”
“Considered her how?”
I made a strange sound, something between a laugh and a scoff. “Surely you would prefer marrying a friend over a complete stranger. If it’s an heir your counselors want from you, wouldn’t it be more comfortable and convenient for you to have Kalea carry your child?”
The king furrowed his brow. “Me marry Kalea?”
“Why not? She’s beautiful and smart. You obviously care about her, and as the daughter of your most trusted advisor, doesn’t that give her some measure of status? I doubt your counselors would disapprove.”
Torvald considered this for a moment before shrugging. “I’ve never thought about her that way to be honest.”
“Perhaps it’s time you started,” I said.
“Perhaps…” The king stared out at the open ocean. “I respect Dagmar, but I’m a grown man. One day soon I’ll go sailing.”
I knotted my skirt around my knees so that I wouldn’t have to keep holding it. The documentation plaque slid out from the collar of my blouse and swung before my face. “I’m glad to hear it.”
“I’d be interested to learn more about this list of things a person must do at least once in their life,” Torvald said. “Perhaps my people won’t think me too strange or foolish if I were entertaining my Lady Warrior.”
I laughed, standing upright once again. “It isn’t a list well known by all. My sister and I made it up two summers ago.”
“Was she older than you, your sister?” Torvald asked softly.
I watched the sea foam cover my toes. “Yes. She was the beauty of the family with my grandmother’s red hair and green eyes. All the girls in our town envied her.” I gave myself a little shake and met his eyes. “It was she who started us thinking about the list. She had gone with an aunt of ours to a fashion show in a neighboring country and had loved the experience of meeting people she hadn’t known since she was small. She announced that I should travel out of the country at least once before my life was through. I in turn said she had to hike up a mountain at least once in her life and so on and so forth.”
“I must admit I have never hiked up a mountain before,” the king said.
“Well, after I’ve taken you sailing, we’ll go hiking. Slowly but surely, we’ll accomplish everything on the list.”
“For your sister,” he said.
I swallowed hard. “For Sylvi, yes, but for you also. You’re the king. You shouldn’t be so restrained.”
He chuckled and began walking back to the horses. “You sound like my father.”
I followed him. “Oh?”
“He was the only ruler in my family who openly and regularly disagreed with his counselors. He didn’t care what the people thought. He just did what he thought was right and sensible in his own eyes. I’ve heard contradicting opinions about his method of ruling, but our people never starved and those living on the hill were happy.” Torvald bent down to gather some fallen fronds from a palm tree and arrange them over the sand. “I suppose that means he did well.”
We sat on the fronds and watched the repetitive motion of the sea.
Suddenly self-conscious, I tucked my exposed legs under me. “Do you remember much about him?”
The king shook his head. “I was so young when he passed. And when he was alive, I hardly saw him. He traveled a lot and kept himself busy when he was home. Dagmar said it was because he missed my mother. He could no longer sit still and spend time with his son as he used to. The few memories I do have of him include sitting beside him during meetings with the counselors, or when I stood beside him while the people gave their petitions, or when I dined with him during the island’s anniversary celebration. Always when there was a lesson to be learned and a multitude of people.”
He leaned back on the palms of his hands. “My grandmother only ever speaks well of him, but I can hardly expect her to be honest about her son’s shortcomings, can I? She insists he cared for me right up until the end. Rakim says my father was too ambitious and arrogant for his own good. Dagmar once said he was a good man up until my mother passed. Grief turned him into something harsh and sinister. My grandfather refuses to speak ill of him, but he doesn’t praise him either.”
“You’re close to your grandfather?” I asked because I had never met mine.
Torvald nodded. “My mother’s father, Makoa. He, Rakim, and Dagmar taught me everything I know. I suppose you could say the three of them are my parents. Speaking of Grandfather, we should probably go back. He and I have lunch together twice a week. He’ll scold me if I’m late.” The king smiled at me. “I’m sure he’ll be happy to meet you.”
“I know you have much on your mind, sire,” I said. “If you would like to speak to your grandfather in private about all that has happened today, I can patrol the outside of the building while you eat. I won’t be able to unintentionally eavesdrop from that distance.”
Torvald rose and held out his hand to assist me. “Thank you, but we’re partners now, you and I. I don’t want there to be secrets between us.”
Once standing, I opened my mouth to object and paused. Over the king’s shoulder and along the plateau-like top of the cliff, something glittered in the sunlight. Then I heard the unmistakable sound of an arrow slicing through the air.
“Look out!” I shoved the king aside and was struck in the chest.
Torvald shouted as I fell. “Isa!”
I hit the sand and rolled onto my side, biting my tongue to keep from crying. Pain traveled across my collarbone and shoulder, making it hard to breathe. I crawled behind the palm trees, whimpering when a new wave of pain came with every movement.
The king’s face was wild with fear. He came to my aid, skittering across the sand on all fours. “We have to get you to a doctor immediately!”
A second arrow grazed his shoulder and embedded itself into the earth.
“Make for the rocks,” I gasped. “To the crevasse!”
He ducked in time to avoid an arrow that was meant for his head. “But you’re hurt!”
“Get yourself to safety, sire,” I said through my teeth. “Now!”
Torvald cursed, but leapt to his feet and sprinted to the crevasse in the rock. I flinched as I watched his progress but, before I could advise him to duck, he began to swerve and spin.
I nodded. Good man.
I rolled onto my back and gripped the shaft of the arrow protruding from my chest. Despite the pressure weighing over my lungs like a rock, I forced myself to take three quick breaths. Then I yanked the arrow out. My scream made the king falter. He made it to the safety of the rocks and whirled around, anxious to see if I’d been shot again. I pressed the palm of my hand against my gushing wound and turned over onto my stomach. Several more arrows hit the palm trees with enough force to make them shake. Then the assault was over.
I blinked hard to clear my head and vision. Our attacker knew the king was still alive. The archer could be coming down the cliff to finish the job or he could be well on his way to retreating. I squinted up at the cliff from the base of the trees. The object glittering in the sun was moving across the flat crest of rock. Retreat it was then. I pushed myself up and sprinted to the horses.