So I Married a Sorcerer (The Embraced #2)(82)

“We were talking belowdecks,” Rupert said as he strode toward them.

Brigitta blinked. Why was Rupert wearing his old disguise? “Is everything set?”

“Yes.” Rupert handed her his spyglass. “Would you like to use this?”

“Oh, aye!” Brigitta pushed aside all worries about the upcoming dangerous adventure as she focused the spyglass on her sisters. “I see them!” They were like a rainbow, each one dressed in a different-colored beautiful gown. “There’s Maeve and Sorcha! And Luciana!”

Sister Fallyn tsked. “She shouldn’t be traveling so soon after childbirth.”

“Traveling by barge is fairly easy,” Brody said. “I’m sure she was resting inside the cabin for most of the trip.”

“Oh! There’s Mother Ginessa!” Brigitta continued to look through the spyglass. “And she’s holding the baby!”

“Let me see!” Sister Fallyn reached for the spyglass.

“Wait!” Brigitta stiffened. “Oh my goddesses, Gwennore is holding a baby, too.”

“Oh, right,” Brody said. “Luciana had twins.”

Brigitta lowered the spyglass to stare at him. “Now ye tell me?”

“Are they healthy?” Sister Fallyn demanded. “Are they both girls?”

Brody shrugged. “They’re loud. I suppose that means they’re healthy.”

“One boy and one girl,” Rupert added.

“What are their names?” Brigitta asked.

Brody gave her a blank look. “I … didn’t ask.”

She gave him an incredulous look, then turned to Rupert.

He shrugged. “Is it important?”

With a huff, she exchanged a look with Sister Fallyn.

The nun shook her head and muttered, “Men.”

“Here.” Brigitta offered her the spyglass.

“Oh dear goddesses,” Sister Fallyn murmured as she looked at their friends. “I was afraid I’d ne’er see them again.”

“Ye can stay with them if ye want,” Brigitta whispered. “Ye don’t have to come with me.”

Sister Fallyn handed her the spyglass with a tearful look. “I know, lass, but ’tis the right thing for me to do. We’re both Tourinians, so we should go together. And from now on, we should only speak in Tourinian.”

Brigitta nodded and switched languages. “You’re right. Thank you.”

“I see you’re ready to go,” Rupert said.

“Yes.” Brigitta returned his spyglass. At her feet, she had a small bag stuffed with their meager belongings—their convent gowns, several nightgowns and shifts, two toothbrushes, and a hairbrush. The last items had all been gifts from Rupert. “I’m going to miss you.”

He gave her a sad smile. “I’ll miss you, too. I should arrive in Lourdon the day before the competition begins. We’ll have to pretend not to know each other.”

She nodded. “I understand.” And she would have to watch him risk his life in the competition without showing how terrified she was.

Tears burned her eyes. Their ship was now close enough to Ebport that she could easily see her sisters at the bow of the barge. Luciana’s father was with them. Off by himself, Leo stood at the back. As far as Brigitta knew, only Luciana could touch him and live. Did that mean the poor man was unable to hold his own babies?

Luciana broke off from the group of women and walked toward her husband. Leo took her in his arms.

Brigitta blinked to keep from crying. She’d always written her overly dramatic stories with happy endings, but now she feared there was no such thing as a perfectly happy ending. As much as she wanted Rupert to gain the throne that was rightfully his, it would mean the death of her brother. How could she continue to love Rupert if he committed a cold-blooded murder?

“Are you all right?” Rupert asked.

She wiped her cheeks. “I-I think I’m going to miss being at sea with you.”

He nodded. “I’ve been at sea since I was fourteen. And the Golden Star has been my home since I was nineteen.”

“What will happen to the ship?”

“Tucker will sail her west to meet up with the rest of the fleet. Then Ansel will be in charge. They’re going to sail north and be close to Tourin in case we need them.”

In case something went awry and they had to escape? Brigitta took a deep breath.

A loud noise filled the air as the anchor was dropped, and the ship groaned and shuddered as it came to a stop.

Stefan joined them by the railing as crewmen lowered the dinghy and a rope ladder.

“I’ll go first.” Brody climbed down to the dinghy.

As Sister Fallyn and Stefan each descended the ladder, Brigitta watched her sisters crossing a wide plank from the barge to the pier. At the end of the pier, a troop of soldiers waited.

“Your turn.” Rupert helped her over the railing, and she slowly descended to the dinghy.

She settled on a bench next to Sister Fallyn, who took her hand and squeezed it. Stefan sat across from them and caught her bag when Rupert tossed it down.

Rupert joined them in the dinghy and pushed them off from the Golden Star.

A part of Brigitta wanted to jump back on board with Rupert and sail away to live happily ever after. But how could they be happy if they ran away from their destiny?