Defend the Dawn (Defy the Night #2)(53)

He glances up in surprise, and I withdraw my hand.

“I didn’t mean to be so forward,” I say.

“You’re not being forward. You’re being kind.” He studies me a little too intently, so I swallow and look back at the map.

He follows my lead, and his finger shifts to the southern space of ocean between the countries. “The winds here can be very strong, easily fifty knots on a calm day, and the currents coming from Silvesse Run—which you know as the Flaming River—flow fast into the ocean. It’s the toughest part to navigate, especially compared to what you’ll discover once we come out of the Queen’s River. Off the southern point of Sunkeep, the water is so clear and smooth that you could swim alongside the ship for miles. But here—” He points to a spot in the ocean where there’s a small square drawn on the map. “This is the hardest part. On Kandalan maps, it’s Bedlam’s Berth. In Ostriary, it’s Chaos Isle. The winds can be intense, and storms come up quick. The water gets shallow unexpectedly, so you can find yourself on a sandbar if you’re not careful. Between the wind and the currents, this is where many ships turn back—or wreck.”

“And you have no trouble?”

“I won’t say it’s not a challenge.” He shrugs, but there’s no arrogance to it. “Calm seas don’t make sharp sailors, Miss Cade. I’ve done it before. I can manage it again.”

I just watched him climb a thirty-foot mast in the wind when the sun had barely crested the horizon, so I believe him. “You really can just call me Tessa,” I say.

The side of his mouth turns up. Half a smile, but half not. “If I did that, I’m worried Prince Corrick might try to put a knife in my back.”

Mention of Corrick makes my temper sit up and pay attention. “He’d better not,” I say hotly. “He’s not in charge of my name, Captain Blakemore.”

“He’s not in charge of mine either.” His smile turns a bit more genuine. “You really can just call me Rian.”

He says it so equably that it eases some of my anger. “Oh,” I say. “Forgive me.” I hesitate. “Rian.”

I expect him to call me Tessa, but he doesn’t. “Why are you awake so early?” he says. “I usually have the deck to myself at this hour.”

“Oh—I’m an early riser.” After his comment about Corrick, it feels dangerous to say anything about the doubts that kept me awake for many hours last night.

Rian smiles. “I’ll look forward to your company, then.” He glances down to see no drink in front of me. “No coffee?”

He says it so casually that it almost startles a laugh out of me. “Coffee is quite the delicacy in Kandala, so I couldn’t quite tell if you were being serious.”

He blinks as if he’s appalled. “I never joke about coffee.” He moves away to take two heavy ceramic cups from a low cabinet. “And it’s not a delicacy in Ostriary. I have barrels of it.” He takes a small cloth and lifts the cast-iron pot from the stove, then pours. “Here.” He extends the first to me.

I take it, inhaling the steam. It does smell a bit like dirt, but in an earthy way. It’s not a bad scent. The color is a deep brown, darker than any tea I’ve ever seen.

I venture a sip, then make a face before I can help myself. “Ah—forgive me.”

Rian notices, and he smiles. “It’s definitely an acquired taste by itself.” He finds a few stoppered bottles. “Here. Cream is a bit hard to come by on a ship, and we usually make do with powdered milk. But we do have sugar.” He gives me a wry glance. “Gwyn was able to stock the galley when we weren’t being interrogated by the Crown.”

I wince and take the bottles he offers. “You have to admit—you did show up with quite the story.”

“I knew we would be doubted,” he says. “I’m sure we still are.”

That sounds like a prompt. I stir the milk and sugar into my coffee, and I keep my eyes on the cup. “I won’t be a source of gossip about the royal family,” I say.

“I don’t expect you to be. I don’t need you to be. Secrets never last long on a ship. You don’t think I noticed the way that man Lochlan was looming over you in the hallway? The way he faltered once the prince arrived?”

He’s so forthright that I forget that I don’t have to look for prompts and hints, the way I would with anyone in the palace. Heat rises to my cheeks, but I say nothing.

Rian speaks into my silence. “When I asked His Highness if his people were going to be a problem, he immediately said it wasn’t his people who were causing trouble. That’s very telling.”

“Why?”

“Because Lochlan is one of his people, is he not?”

I frown. He’s not wrong. It makes me think of everything Lochlan said last night. He might be boorish and aggressive, but the rebel leader showed hints of kindness, too. Tell Karri I loved her.

When I asked Corrick about whether he intended for Lochlan to fall overboard, he said, I wouldn’t shed a tear if it happened.

Right this instant, they’re both being so pigheaded that I don’t feel compelled to defend either of them. But it still stings a bit to hear the captain’s criticism of my countrymen.

I’ve been silent too long. The room is warm, and while the windows don’t make the space seem small, there’s a bit of intimacy here that I didn’t expect.