Fjords rose all around us as our boat snaked through the narrow channel between the rocky enclaves of the cliffsides. Now that we left the open sea, the wind stilled, but the bit that still whipped across the deck of the boat was bitterly cold. I sheltered Finn with a small energy shield and held him close to keep him warm.

"We should travel down here more often," I said, nudging Nash. "It's so beautiful."

He tilted his back looking toward the jagged tops of the fjords. "Our neighbors should invite us more."

I raised one brow. "Well, wouldn't that be nice. An invitation to sail rather than to battle."

When Nash glanced down at me, he hesitated and then nudged me in front of him so I was nestled between him and the edge of the boat. "You're freezing."

I nodded and cuddled Finn closer, relief filling me as heat drifted from Nash's body over mine. If I tried to warm us with my power, the fire within me always burned too hot. Nash used just the right touch with his power.

"Do you think this will work?" I asked.

"Probably not."

A long sigh released from my chest. "Piercey is so hopeful."

After a year of planning and tireless negotiations with each of the Prophets, Piercey finally arranged for our first annual Skia Hellig diplomatic conference. I told him it needed a much better name than that and that no one even understood what a diplomatic conference was, but this attempt at peaceful discussion consumed Piercey's world. He first started talking about this right after the birth of our kingdom and it took this long to convince the leaders in the peninsula to agree to talk.

"It's a start, though," Nash said. "We have to start somewhere. Peace doesn't simply come to us."

"Especially not with that stubborn asshole ruling the flatlands."

"Skia Hellig doesn't understand the meaning of peace, but if we don't force it, we'll war forever."

"It's been four years with no major battles." I bounced Finn when he stirred and let out a few sleepy cries. "Some might call that peace."

"What do you call it?"

"Not good enough." The baby nestled his face against me again, quieting. "I want true peace. I want a treaty."

"Theus is too stubborn for a treaty," Nash said. "He wants it to remain unspoken and unofficial."

"So that he can back out at any time. We need to force his hand."

"Then you do believe in what Piercey is doing."

I patted Finn's back. "I believe in what he's doing. I just know it won't work."

Nash chuckled at the contradiction, but I knew he understood. "Well, it's a start."

"A start is good enough for today."

Water crashed against the side of the boat, its mist sparkling in the sunlight. The air smelled so fresh out here.

"We should return to Piercey and Markus before they make decisions you'll hate." Nash tugged me back a step. "We'll come back out with Elsie before we dock."

"Where is Elsie?"

"Last I saw, trying to convince Markus's daughter to spar with her."

"Of course." I looked at the water again before turning to walk with Nash. We walked to the other side of the boat to descend the stairs to where the others conferenced when I noticed a long shadow falling across the deck of the boat.

Elsie stood upon the hull with her twin blades drawn and her braids tied upon her head.

With her knees bent, Elsie rode the rise and fall of the boat, striking the air with her twin blades. One step forward, and then she launched herself into a spin, landing on one foot before pivoting and thrusting the sword behind her. Mist from the waves sprayed over the side of the boat, sprinkling against her and splashing upon her swords.

"Hey!" Nash scrambled forward. "You get down right now!"

She kicked above her head and slammed the hilt of the sword against an invisible enemy, earning a round of applause from the sailing crew.

Nash whirled around and pointed at the men. "No clapping for her." Facing Elsie again, he raised his voice. "Right now or I'm taking your swords again."

She sighed. "Dad. Really? Come up here and spar with me. It's great practice."

"You could fall. I told you to get down."

She scoffed. "You think I would ever let myself lose these swords? I'm not going to fall."

"But if you did–"

Elsie tugged on the thick gold necklace that hugged her neck and softly tapped the black button at the center. "Then Ma would save me the instant I called on her."

Nash straightened, a knowing look coming over his face. I walked up slowly, keeping my voice low. "I would save you if you fell."

Elsie's confidence dimmed somewhat when she met my eyes and surely saw the indignation written across my face. "You always save me."

I tilted my head, glancing past her to the choppy, frigid waters. "You can't live your life putting yourself in danger expecting your father and me to rescue you."

"I don't need you to rescue me because I'm fine but if I did–"

I smiled stiffly. "I'd save you."

"Yes. Just tell Daddy I can train here. It's not every day we're out at sea. I know it's safe."

Nash ran his hands over his face. "Elsie, you didn't ask first. You didn't get either of us to spot you. It's irresponsible, so the answer is no. Next time you want to act grown enough to do shit like this then you have to actually act grown."

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"I know you want you to swordfight up here! I can see it in your eyes!" Elsie released the battle cry of a vexed teenage girl. "You're just being stubborn." Her voice lowered to a harsh whisper. "And you're embarrassing me."

"I'm embarrassing you?" Nash chuckled and climbed onto the wall with her. "Me?"

"I'm sorry, okay? I should have asked and I shouldn't have argued."

"That's exactly right because if you had asked, I would have said yes. Max could have spotted you while we sparred."

Regret darkened her gaze. "Really?"

Nash nodded. "Yeah, really. This is a good training exercise and you were doing really well. Obviously I want to spar with my kid on the edge of a boat. Why wouldn't I?"

Elsie's shoulders slumped and her swords fell to her sides. "What can I do? I'll do anything."

"You can give me your swords for three days and go to your room until dinner."

Her jaw dropped. "Wait–"

"You are not a warrior yet. If you can't be safe with your swords, you don't get them."

"I have plans. You can take them after tomorrow. Please, I've been planning this competition. That's why I needed to train today."

"You should have thought of that before you climbed up here and embarrassed yourself."

"A week." Tears filled her eyes. "I'll give up my swords for a week if you just let me compete tomorrow. It's for our honor, Dad. This idiot insulted our swords. I have to put him in his place."

"Elsie."

"Please, please, please."

I passed the baby to Nash and then climbed up onto the wall behind her. "Your dad might reconsider if you spar with me instead."

Nash's brows twisted as they both looked at me.

"Really?" Elsie asked.

"Really?" Nash mouthed, his look questioning.

Elsie hesitated, looking as though she debated whether to walk into this trap. Straightening, she raised her swords and nodded. "Okay."

"Don't lose those blades, and remember your necklace if you need help."

She repositioned her footing, looking far less confident than she had jumping around alone when we'd come aboard.

I held her gaze and waited for her to move. Nash watched from behind, still looking uncertain.

I climbed onto the edge of the boat with her and surveyed her. The giddiness couldn't hide her nerves. Elsie likely didn't want to lose in front of her audience and most certainly knew there was no hope of her winning.

The girl snapped forward with her blades testing the space between us. I leaned backward as I drew my sword from its sheath. Her brows twisted and she pursued with greater speed this time, sliding forward in a beautifully smooth strike.

Very nice. It impressed me to see her hold her footing so well on the choppy waters.

When I evaded her hits, Elsie growled in frustration, raised both blades above her head, and swung with all her strength.

I slammed the edge of my sword against hers close to the hilt, the strength of the hit knocking her first sword into the other.

Both swords flew from Elsie's grip and clattered upon the wooden deck of the boat. The strength of the hit nearly threw her onto the deck of the ship but she recovered. I watched her, always keen to see how a young warrior reacted the moment they lost.

Her lips puckered as she stared at her fallen swords and I thought she might cry, only her eyes narrowed as her gaze shifted back to me. She sprang forward and ducked beneath my blade, raising her palm to strike my stomach.

I smiled as I blocked with my knee.

"Don't forget I still have a sword."

Both of her hands clasped mine and she twisted her whole body to try to wrench my weapon free. "I didn't forget!"

I ripped backward to free myself and then sheathed my sword. "Show me what you can do without those swords."

The words hadn't even finished leaving my lips when Elsie kicked for my side. I caught her leg and shook my head. "I'm stronger than you, Elsie. You have to be more creative than that."

When I freed her, she sprang back so fast I almost instinctively caught her. But Elsie kept her balance, even when she flipped forward to spring off her hands and drive her knees down against the tops of my shoulders. I couldn't believe she managed the attack on the side of a boat.

I caught her knees and shoved her backward. Elsie twisted her torso, just barely landing on her feet.

"Careful," Nash said.

"How's that for creative?" Elsie asked. Her dexterity and her ability to manage this fight while balancing seemed to flood her with confidence now. She charged me and I clearly saw the folly of all talented warriors who still needed to hone their skills. Elsie was too confident. When she attacked, I caught her by her sides and threw her overboard.

As her body flew through the air for the ocean, her bewildered eyes found mine. I teleported right behind her, my arms coming around her as we both fell into the frigid ocean waters.

The cold dug its claws into my chest and I couldn't help but release my air from crying out. Elsie fought against me, surely panicked. I dragged us both up the surface where we gasped for air. Kicking, I managed to keep both of our heads above water

"What the hell?" Nash screamed from the edge of the boat, standing on the edge now, looking ready to jump in until he seemed to remember he held Finn. "Max!"

I made no apology, but tightened my hold on Elsie. "Do you see?" I asked. We both convulsed with the shocking cold. "Never feel confident against a stronger enemy."

"Wh-why d-did you throw me in?"

"Use your necklace," I said.

"What?" Elsie trembled so badly I wasn't sure she'd have enough control of her limbs to to actually touch the stone.

"The necklace." I jerked her hand up to it.

Elsie grabbed the stone and I sensed the alert immediately.

I teleported back onto the ship and released Elsie. She collapsed onto her hands and knees, coughing.

"Why didn't you use your necklace?" I looked down at her as she trembled with cold.

"I didn't have time!" Her voice hitched. "You threw me into the ocean."

"I thought it didn't matter if you fell in when your dad and I will always be here to save you."

Elsie lowered her head, silent now as she wrapped her arms around herself.

"You'll be more careful next time," I ordered. "Or you'll never be accepted as a warrior. There are rules to follow. You live like you don't have that necklace or me or your dad. You live like you're just another warrior. Otherwise, you cannot be trusted in battle."

Such official talk gave Elsie pause. She raised her head up to me, water dripping from her face, her eyes full of both anger and understanding.

"Is that clear?" I asked.

She wiped her face and sat up on her knees. "Yes."

"Your dad and I will spot you next time you want to train like that."

A sailor ran up holding thick blankets in his arms. He laid one over Elsie's shoulders and then turned to offer one to me, dipping his head. "Prophet."

"Thank you."

Nash stepped beside me, eyes on Elsie. "Go change into dry clothes."

"I'm sorry, okay?" She barely glanced at me.

"I accept your apology."

The girl waited instead of leaving to change.

"Oh, you want me to say sorry?" I asked.

"Obviously." She sprang to her feet, her teeth clattering. Mine would too if I didn't hold my jaw so tight.

"I'm not sorry. If you fell while I wasn't around, you may have hit your head and died. Or the shock of the cold and the waves might have kept you from activating your necklace. You understand the danger now, so I'm not sorry."

Elsie looked to her dad now, but when he didn't soften his expression, she turned and ran inside.

Everything was quiet for several seconds while Nash stared at me and I stubbornly refused to act like I noticed. When I finally did, I shrank back from his look.

"It had to be done," I said.

"Of course. I understand." He patted Finn's back. "Would you like to throw our baby in the ocean next?"

"I might like to throw you."

"Between you and Elsie, I'm not sure how I'm supposed to sleep at night."

I pulled the blanket tighter around me. "Trust me. I was a thirteen year old girl who loved to fight once. Elsie needed to feel the pain of the cold water. More than that she needed to feel the pain of losing in front of the people she wanted to impress."

"I trust you." Nash nudged me toward the door Elsie ran through. "You need to change too. It's way too cold for a swim."

My shoulders fell some. "Are you mad at me?"

"Yeah, I'm a little bit mad at you." Nash laughed and gave me a small push this time. "You threw our daughter into the freezing ocean. Now go change. Maybe tell me next time so I don't have a heart attack." He tapped his temple. "We can talk without her hearing."

"Right."

Nash sighed. "What am I supposed to do with you two?"

I smirked and disappeared inside, walking to Elsie's room before changing. At first, she didn't answer when I knocked on the door. It opened to her using the towel on her wet hair.

"I'm sorry," I said.

"Are you really?"

"I don't like throwing you in the ocean. But I'd do it again."

"That's not much of an apology then."

I took her cheek in my hand. "I love you, baby girl."

Elsie glanced down, her expression softening. I thought she wouldn't say it back, but then she muttered, "Love you too, Ma." When I backed up, she opened the door wider. "Wait."

I stopped and looked at her.

"I really won't do it again. You're right." As if saying that took more humility than Elsie could manage, she slammed the door shut.

I laughed and left to change.