Trusting her to be down here… Eira had only considered her captivity in terms of keeping her confined—tortured, in a mild way. She had thought Adela would put her with the crew becausethey could keep an eye one her. She hadn’t considered that she could be the one seen as the danger.
“May I ask you three something?” Eira asked, shifting in her hammock. It would be too easy to sink into the canvas and fall asleep. But for all she knew this might be her only time to get information.
“No,” Crow said.
“Absolutely,” Puck said nearly at the same time. He smiled when Crow rolled over, every movement exaggerated with frustration.
“What’s it like being a part of Adela’s crew?”
“You’re not becoming one of us and that’s that,” Crow insisted without facing them again.
Puck acted like she hadn’t said anything at all. “It’s the best life most of us could’ve ever dreamed of.”
“Why is that?” Eira asked.
“She takes the broken ones.” Zaila shifted and swung her legs over the lower edge of her hammock, holding on to either side like a swing as she kicked her feet. “Those of us that aren’t criminals, are orphans, or would be better off if we had been. We’re the outcasts from society. And that’s why it makes it all the more delicious to stick a thin, sharp blade right between that society’s ribs.” A glint to her eyes reminded Eira that they were still pirates. However lovely the sentiment was in some ways.
“Some of us came from fine families and don’t have warrants out for their heads…they were just called to the seas. To adventure,” Puck said more lightly. “Others have made their families among her ranks.”
“Like Ducot.” Even though Eira knew it was true, it was still strange to accept after being in the dark for so long.
“And myself.” Puck had a warm smile. “By the time we make it back to Black Flag Bay, I suspect my wife will be holding our baby in her arms.”
“Black Flag Bay?”
“Oh sure, tell herallour secrets!” Crow threw her arms in the air, rolling over in the process to pin Eira with a stare. “Aren’t you supposed to be recovering for tomorrow? Less talking, more resting.”
Puck continued to ignore Crow’s moodiness, something that irritated the woman greatly and only amused Eira all the more. “Black Flag Bay is well-known among sailors. It’s hardly a secret,” he said to Crow. Then he continued to Eira, “It’s Adela’s northern hideaway, ever since she abandoned the Isle of Frost.”
“The Isle of Frost was abandoned? I always heard the sailors in Oparium speak of it as though it’s still there.” Eira was grateful she’d grown up familiar with Adela lore now more than ever.
“Adela still holds it with her power,” Zaila said. “She keeps it frozen over—wrapped up in a massive glacier like a present for whenever we might be able to return south.”
“She…has a whole island frozen and is able to keep it that way from this distance?” Eira whispered.
“She is the strongest sorcerer to ever walk among us,” Zaila said proudly, as though Adela’s skill was her own.
Eira leaned back into her hammock, the information heavy. Throughout them working together, Adela exploring Eira’s power, she was also keeping an island frozen solid in the back of her mind. And a ship, as well, if the legends about theStormfrostwere to be believed.That amount of control. That power… “Crow.”
“What?”
Eira shifted enough to face Crow. She looked the woman dead in the eyes and said, “You were right. My power is nothing compared to hers.”
She’d been expecting Crow to snap back with some kind of snide remark. Yet, Crow’s expression softened some and shegave a small nod. “You’re right. It isn’t. But then again, none of our magic is. Now, you need to rest or else she will be cross with us.”
Eira nodded and closed her eyes. She felt a little dizzy, but it wasn’t from the rocking of the ship or swaying of her hammock. Nor was it from exhaustion or Adela’s spiced liquor.
Perhaps they all were right. And, Adela hadn’t been lying. She didn’t have any children. Because…if Eira had been her daughter, she would never have lost her magic. She would’ve mastered the ability to open and close channels without issue.
There was no way Eira was strong enough to be Adela’s daughter. But that wasn’t about to stop her from fighting to be worthy of her training.
Eira worked to catch her breath. It felt as though Adela was pulling out her soul through her fingernails every time she withdrew her magic. The morning had been spent much the same as last night. Freezing and thawing. Eira was all too glad to accept the small glass of warming liquor when it was offered, not caring in that moment for what hour of the day it was.
“You neglected to detail precisely how your channel came to be closed before the coliseum’s explosion.” Adela sat after giving Eira her drink.
“Ferro…he suspected I could close channels. But I also had reason to believe I could open them more. So I?—”
Adela lifted a hand, halting her. “Open themmore?”
