Chapter 99

  Present Day

  Tillie watched the ink-dark waters around the ship anxiously, listening for the sound of oars striking water, for the rise and fall of familiar young voices. When a rowboat cut through the darkness, the relief almost caused her knees to give way, but it was not Elorshin with the boys, but rather another arrival of refugees.

  Many of the men around her looked familiar, but their dishevelled states and the filth that covered them made it difficult to place names to the bearded faces. They greeted her respectfully, bowing in attempts of courtly etiquette before collapsing in exhausted heaps.

  The ship’s crew moved amongst them, offering blankets, food, and water.

  The wetnurse was unhappy, weeping in the corner as she nursed Sterling. “This was ill done, miss,” she complained. “The Lord will be angered that you have taken the babe…”