Chapter 5
A month later, they sailed into the harbor at Helargir, capital of the Kingdom of Chernavog, flags snapping in a brisk north breeze.
Kitiara stood at the railing as Delania’s Hope lowered her sails, coasting slowly towards the docks. Under the expert eye of Captain Seltan, the sailors unshipped their oars and guided the ship into its berth.
She smiled happily. Getting out of the palace had been like a bracing breath of fresh sea air. Not needing to watch her every move, her every word, had been an indescribable relief. She hadn’t realized, until that day when she and Lady Eleanora and an attentive contingent of servants and guards had ridden out of the palace, how incredibly stifled she had felt there.
“Merciful Millagra, it’s hot,” Nora said, emerging from the cabin they had
