“Under the presumption of Adela being on it, I would assume,” Lavette countered. “Escort us in and we will speak to the Hall of Ministers and clear up this whole misunderstanding.”
The soldier frowned, eyes settling back on Eira skeptically.
Eira sighed dramatically. “Fine, if it suits you, take me in chains.”
“What?” Olivin hissed at her side.
“I assume you have some?” Eira arched a brow. Sure enough, the knights glanced back into their boat. “Good. Take me to your ministers in them.”
“You’re sure about this?” Olivin whispered.
“I never said anything about putting the rest of you in chains,” she muttered with a slight smirk.
“I still don’t like the idea ofyouin shackles,” Olivin murmured under his breath.
Eira ignored his defensive tone and continued addressing the knights. “But you’ll have to let us dock first, and my friend repair the ship. If you remove my connection to my channel now, then our vessel will sink.”
“You want us to let you into the bay with your power?” The knight was aghast at the idea.
“Surely my word means something,” Lavette chimed in again. “She is no risk to you and is being more than fair.”
“Ride aboard the vessel, knife at my throat.” Eira shrugged. “Between that and all the cannons you have lining the wall, you should feel well protected.”
There was a brief discussion. Then, the knight whom they had been negotiating with called up, “Fine.”
“Fen, please lower a ladder for our new friends.”
The pirate glanced at Eira skeptically from the corners of his eyes, but complied as the soldiers maneuvered their boat close enough for the leader to board with the shackles thrown over his shoulder. But, before getting to Eira, he paused at Lavette.
“It is truly a relief to see you.” Raw emotion was heavy in his words. “After the news of?—”
“There will be time for reunions soon.” Lavette rested a gentle hand on his elbow. “First, I want to step foot in the city of my forefathers and ensure my friends’ safety.”
“Yes.” With a nod, the soldier moved to Eira. He was clearly still skeptical that she really wasn’t Adela. Eira knew her appearance wasn’t doing her any favors as his eyes roved over her face several times.
“I won’t hurt you.” She offered him an encouraging smile. But somehow that made him flinch, even more nervous. It was as if murder and piracy hovered in the air around her like frost, and this soldier could sense it.
He bristled, offended by her platitudes. “Keep it moving.”
She did as she was commanded and the ships lurched forward toward the glistening city.
4
The harbor within the walls of Qwint was packed tightly. Ships of all shapes and sizes bobbed in the waves. They slowly maneuvered through them and headed for a secluded section of dock, reserved for official business, just as Lavette had said.
Eira remained still as a statue as Alyss was allowed to use some basic supplies at the docks to patch up the side of the vessel. It was by no means seaworthy, but it’d float after Eira pulled back her magic. Then, she offered her wrists to the shackles.
The second they closed around her flesh, runes flared and her channel went quiet. The normal hum of power was gone. Everything from the sea to the ambient moisture in the air was…normal. Dull.
They wasted no time in escorting her off first, leading her away from the vessel as other soldiers closed in around her. She glanced over her shoulder. Her friends moved freely, unbound.Good, that meant the soldiers had believed her. There’d be no way they’d allow the true Adela’s crew such leeway.
It also meant that, should the worst come to pass and theyhadto fight their way out, they could.
Her focus landed on Cullen and he held her attention. A slight, sly smile played on his lips, as if he was as amused as a part of her was with this whole charade. Something about the look filled her with confidence, a rush that went straight to her head. There wasn’t a trace of doubt in his eyes.
Feeling significantly more confident, Eira turned her focus to the city ahead, and the gathered crowds. Word must’ve spread quickly among the populace of Qwint. Men and women were packed tightly on either side of the street, heeding the orders of soldiers and staying out of the main path, but eager to get a look at the alleged pirate queen.
Eira kept her chin high, an easy smile playing on her lips. She glanced at them from the corners of her eyes. Children shrank closer to their mother’s skirts and clung to their father’s necks. Sailors stared with a mixture of horror and awe. Noblemen and women had eyes gleaming with fascination, and hate.
