“Good luck, Pirate Queen,” Adela said.
“Good luck, no one,” Eira replied.
A wicked smile, unbridled, crossed Adela’s lips. As if the idea of being “no one” was both a liberation and a challenge. As much of an invitation into the vast unknown as what Adela had given her.
She stepped into the skiff and the water swelled, carrying it out to sea. Eira remained still. Watching as the mightiest woman she’d ever known went alone to a vessel that would otherwise require a crew of ten to twenty, at least, to man. But Adela would do it on her own.
Eira watched as the skiff rose to the side of the vessel. As the currents carried it farther out to sea. As the first pirate queen disappeared over the horizon.
There was an immediate vacancy left in the wake of that ship. One Eira knew she had to fill. For the crew that now counted on her, for the legacy of a woman who had put tremendous faith in her, and for herself.
Pebbles crunched under her boots as she ascended the beach back to where Crow remained perched at the foot of the path that led back up the cliffs.
“I’m surprised you didn’t go with her,” Eira said after a long stretch of silence.
Crow met her eyes and held them. “My place is with theStormfrost, and the Pirate Queen Adela.”
A smirk curled the corners of Eira’s lips. The twinges of sorrow were giving way to excitement. To all the potential that now lay before her.
“Good. We have work to do.”
“Cast off!”
“Dog hatches!”
“Sails, now!”
The crew was a chorus, preparing theStormfrostfor departure from the Isle of Frost. She’d stayed long enough to ensure the other pirate leaders had properly kissed her frosty knuckles. To ensure they knew of the new missives from their pirate queen.
A few had to die, unfortunately. But wasn’t that always the way when it came to transitions of power? All things considered, she was pleased with the relative lack of bloodshed.
Behind her, Crow was perched. Eira stood at the bow, magic swelling with the tide to help glide theStormfrostaway from its mooring in the bay of the Isle of Frost and out to sea. Despite the shouts of the crew, the creaking of ropes, and the snap of the sails as the wind filled them, Eira could hear the familiar footsteps approaching on the deck and knew who was approaching without needing to turn around.
“Where are we off to, Captain?” Ducot came to a stop at her left-hand side.
“I think that Solaris has been quiet for far too long.”
“Are you sure it is wise to return there?” Crow chimed in, taking a small step forward. Her tone was informative rather than questioning. “There was a sort of fragile peace that was being honored.”
“Therewas.” She placed emphasis on the past tense. “But every peace eventually runs its course. And I think Solaris has felt a little too comfortable uttering the name Adela Lagmir of late.”
“The Senate will have something to say about this.” Cullen took his perch at her right hand, looking rather amused. The sun and sea loved him. They tousled his hair and tugged at the loose ties of his sleeveless shirt. He’d hammered muscles into his body that she’d never seen before from laboring on the deck. A physique she appreciated more by the day.
“Oh, I certainly hope so.” She flashed him a wild smile. “I recently learned of a passage through the mountains of Solarin—one that goes straight into the castle proper. We’ll give them something to talk about.”
Perhaps Cullen would find his father again along the way. Perhaps he wouldn’t bother. She’d give him the opportunity, and what he did with it would ultimately be up to him.
“Your heading, Captain?” Crow dutifully asked.
“Norin first. We’ve matters to attend to there.” She glanced in Ducot’s direction; in his hand was a worn pouch. Pirates weren’t often known for returning jewels. But there was a debt to the dead to be paid before anything else. “Then, to Oparium.” The closest port to the capital of Solaris, where her parents lived.
“And after that?” Cullen murmured. But what she heard was,What awaits us when every matter is settled in the life we once knew?
“After that…everything.” She turned, walking to the back railing that overlooked the main deck. The Pirate Queen known as Adela Lagmir addressed her crew. “Stormfrost!” All eyes turned to her. “Let us catch the wind and the currents. Let us chase gold and glory. The world is ours for the taking!”
EPILOGUE
The tunnels and passageways underneath the city of Risen were mostly abandoned these days. There were a few cutpurses who had begun operating out of them. A few with murderous glints in their eyes who had taken to the safety of the grime and shadows.
