Kingdom of Sea and Stone

I nodded.

“Very well. When will you need these by?” The man began to scribble notes on a piece of parchment.

“Within the hour,” Talin replied.

The tailor’s eyes goggled. “I’m afraid that’s impossible, sir.”

“Then find whatever you have ready-made that’s as close as possible to their size. Perhaps something for a young lad. We are in the greatest of hurries, I’m afraid. I’ll pay double for your best quality. We’ll be back soon.”

With that, Talin strode out, looking every bit the prince he was, as Zadie and I hurried to keep up.

We visited several other stores, purchasing the essentials for a week-long journey, as that was the most we could carry. It took everything I had not to stare slack-jawed at the sights around us. Riaga reminded me of the port market, only it was far, far larger. The streets were wide enough to accommodate two passing carriages, and people in all manner of dress crisscrossed the streets, hardly seeming to notice the horses rushing past them. Zadie gripped my arm as if she was afraid of getting swept up in the current. I didn’t blame her.

As promised, within an hour, we were back in the tailor’s shop. The man was wiping his bright red face with a handkerchief as a shop boy darted frantically around the cramped space, pulling various items off shelves.

“I believe these will fit,” the tailor said with a bow. “Would the ladies like to try them?”

Talin shook his head. “We don’t have time, unfortunately. We will take your word for it, sir.”

The man looked relieved. “Very well. Shall I wrap them up?”

“No time for that, either.” Talin pulled another sack of coins out of his tunic, dropped it on the counter, and asked the boys to gather up the garments. Zadie and I each took a pair of boots in our hands and followed Talin outside, where Grig and Osius waited with the horses and other supplies.

“We need to get out of the city as fast as possible,” Osius said when we joined them. “I saw several of Ceren’s guards patrolling the streets. They must be waiting for the ship to come back.”

I grabbed Talin’s arm. “Wait. We should see the kite seller before we go.”

“There’s no time—”

I leveled him with my sternest glare. “If you think I’m not going to take every opportunity to search for Sami now that I’m on land, you clearly don’t know me at all.”

Talin’s eyes darted to Osius, who looked like a fish caught in a net.

“Very well,” Talin sighed. “Grig, see if you can find out where this kite seller lives.”

Within a few minutes, Grig had learned of the kite seller’s address from the tailor, who seemed happy to oblige after being paid so handsomely. We made our way to the outskirts of the city, where we stopped in front of a small house set back from the street. There were kites dangling from the eaves on fishing line.

“Nor, Zadie, do you want to go in?” Talin asked. “We’ll stay outside and keep watch. Please, be quick.”

We nodded and handed our bundles of clothing to Grig and Osius, then made our way up the stone walkway to the front door. As sure as I’d been that the rose and song were a sign, my stomach was twisting itself in knots. If I was wrong, if Sami hadn’t made it...

Zadie took my hand and looked at me, and I could see in her eyes she was struggling with her own fear and doubt. I squeezed her hand and knocked on the door.

A moment later, it opened as if on its own. It wasn’t until I glanced down that I realized a small girl had opened it.

“Who are you?” she asked, glancing between Zadie and me.

I leaned down to look her in the eye. “I’m a friend of your father’s. Is he home?”

She turned and moved into the house without a word, then returned a moment later with a man who looked to be my father’s age. “Who are you?” he asked, in the same mildly curious tone as the child.

I blushed, realizing my mistake. “I’m sorry. I believe I know your father,” I said to the man. “The kite seller?” I added hopefully.

“I see.” The man shook his head and motioned for us to follow him inside. “My father is full of surprises lately.”

Zadie pressed closer to me, her nervous energy radiating through our linked hands. “What do you mean?” I asked.

He shrugged and held the door wider. “You’re the second stranger to show up at our door this month.”

7



The kite seller sat at the head of a long rectangular table, his family members clustered behind our chairs. I could feel them pressing in closer, clearly curious about us. There were a dozen of them all told, including seven grandchildren, living in a house not that much larger than my family’s home. Yet, somehow, it didn’t feel crowded. It felt warm and safe, and I wondered what it would be like to have a place where you could be completely yourself.

“I was wondering when you would come,” the kite seller said. His name was Rollo, and he was nearly eighty years old, though he looked as old as Varenia’s centenarians. “I know my message wasn’t entirely clear, but I had to protect our friend.”

“So Sami is alive?” Zadie asked, her face lit up with hope in a way I hadn’t seen since I returned.

“He was when I saw him last, but that was weeks ago.”

“But he made it to land,” I said to Zadie. “That’s what we were most worried about.” I turned back to Rollo. “Did he say where he was going?”

Rollo smiled. “I had hoped you might guess from the song.”

Of course, I realized suddenly. A song about horses would have come from the place we talked about most as children. “He went to Galeth!”

Rollo patted Zadie’s hand. “He was with a Galethian when I saw him last, yes. But I can’t say for certain that’s where he went.”

“Then we’ll start by going to Galeth,” I said to Zadie. “And if he isn’t there, we’ll search the entire continent until we find him.”

Zadie looked like she didn’t know whether to smile or cry. “But...Galeth? Isn’t that far away, in the north?”

Rollo nodded. “It is. And you’ll need to be very cautious. It’s not safe for two young ladies alone on the road, even when the kingdom isn’t preparing for war.”

“We’ll be careful, I promise. Thank you so much for your help.” I glanced at Zadie. “We should get on the road as soon as possible.”

Rollo stood, and his family members parted to let us cross the room toward the door. “Oh, one more thing.” He went to rummage in a trunk for a moment and came back bearing a crimson cloth neatly rolled.