Kingdom of Ash

him in the least.
But it was still a ridiculous notion. One the
prince seemed to think was the only course for
their future. He’d staked his crown on it, had
told his father that if being prince meant not
being with her, then he’d walk away from the
throne. The khagan had offered him the title
of Heir instead.
Before they’d left, his siblings had not
seemed angered by it, though they’d spent
their entire lives vying to be crowned their
father’s Heir. Even Hasar, who sailed with
them, had refrained from her usual, sharp-
tongued comments. Whether Kashin, Arghun,
or Duva—all still in Antica, with Kashin
promised to sail with the rest of his father’s
forces—had changed their minds about
Sartaq’s appointment, Nesryn didn’t know.
A flutter of activity to her right had her
steering Salkhi after it.