“Then we do as I say.” Taavin put his back to her and stalked away.
Vi glared at his back, her eyes burning with frustrated tears.What was the point?She wanted to ask. What was the point of any of it if they weren’t willing to take risks?
Clearly, she didn’t have an answer. She fell into step behind him, and didn’t speak another word about the crown.
Chapter Fourteen
Vi should be exhausted.After being up half the night and sneaking back onto theLady Black, she’d only managed a few hours of shuteye. But she was up and tending to her duties, more alert than ever.
Her spat with Taavin was still mostly unresolved. At least, it felt unresolved. They hadn’t spoken for the rest of the night.
Vi finished swabbing the deck and looked out to the cliffs. The crown was there. It had to be. She took a deep breath. One more week, and theLady Blackwould leave without her. She would go get the crown, and then…What?
Her path forward seemed murky and uncertain. Taavin was the only person in the world who could shake her like this.
“Drop the rope ladder!” the guard on the deck called up, distracting her from her thoughts.
Another of her shipmates looked at her and Vi gave him a nod, a non-verbal,I got this.Hopefully this would be the head of the city guard here to make his check. He would find out that everything matched up, since theLady Black’s illegal cargo had been offloaded days ago.
She crossed over to the railing, adjusting her braids to look over at who was coming to call. All the air in the world vanished.
Three men stared up at her: the young prince Baldair, Erion Le’Dan, and a familiar set of dark eyes that Vi would have known anywhere. She knew them as well as her father’s because another version of this man, in a lost world, had been like her father. Tears stung her eyes as emotions bubbled up that Vi couldn’t contain.
Jax.
“Don’t just gawk, girl. This is an Imperial prince who’s waiting on you,” the guard scolded, jostling Vi from her shock. She knelt down and tossed the rope ladder over the side of the ship.
Vi rushed over to Cole’s cabin. “Prince Baldair is here,” she said hastily.
“What the—oh, by the Mother’s love,” he grumbled. “All right you lot, all hands on deck,” Cole commanded. The crew lined up in their usual places for greeting Twintle.
Vi fidgeted as the three men tipped over the railing, landing on the deck with small bounces. She forced herself to stay still, pushing her emotions away.
“They sent a prince to inspect my goods?” Cole tilted his head to the side.
“It should be an honor to have the attention of an Imperial prince,” Erion retorted. Even though Vi had only met his father briefly in Norin, she could see so much of Richard Le’Dan in him. But his blue eyes were that of a Southerner. She’d told Richard he’d learn to love the South. It looked like she’d been right.
“Oh, I’mhonored. I just don’t want to waste your time.” Cole chuckled and spread out his arms. “I’m Captain Dower, and it’s a pleasure to meet you, Prince Baldair. Let’s settle this matter behind us. My cabin is this way. I’ll let you review my logs and written inventory, complete with signatures all the way from Norin.”
“My prince,” Erion started as Cole was leading them to the cabin. “May I propose we go with the good captain while Jax goes directly to the hold? We can check at the same time.”
“Good suggestion,” Cole said, knowing he had nothing to hide.
“I leave it to you.” Baldair passed the papers he was holding to Jax.
“Jax?” Cole stroked his scruff thoughtfully. “Unique name, that. I heard of a man named Jax a few years back. Did something monstrous, somehow didn’t lose his head, and became a dog of the crown instead.”
Vi bit the inside of her cheek. She saw the flash of hurt in Jax’s eyes at the horrible brand he couldn’t escape, not even in the South. Yet he grinned, pushing the pain away and pulling a mask in place.
This was certainly the start of the man she’d known as her uncle. But he was rougher, less polished and confident.
“You caught me! Though you’re a little late, as the crown got me first.”
“This matter has long been decided and need not to be discussed further,” Baldair said with a firm tone.
“I don’t know if I want such a man—”
“If Jax isn’t endeared to you, you only have yourself to blame,” the prince said sharply. Vi barely resisted cheering. “I trust Jax to do the right thing more than any other guard in this city.”
