A slow, devious grin spread across his face. Jax scratched small circles into his short beard, considering something about me that he evidently found hilarious.
“You may have a pen, ink and paper,” he said, “provided you only use them in my presence and return them each night. But you’ll have to earn them.”
I sat up sharply. “I don’t care for that look in your eye, pirate.”
“Relax, sorceress. All I ask in return is a secret for each. There’s nothing to worry about—unless you have something to hide.”
My jaw was tightening so much it ached. “What do you want to know?”
“Why do you fairy godmothers have so much magic when most humans can barely cobble together a simple spell?”
I snorted in derision. “That’s like asking why the best swordsmen are faster and deadlier than everyone else who’s ever picked up a blade. Talent, practice, dedication, and proper instruction. Next question?”
Jax chuckled, then took on an exaggerated expression of surprise. “Oh, did you think you were making the rules here, my dear? That answer won’t suffice.”
I rolled my eyes at his term of endearment, and curled my fingers as if considering making a fist. My arms lay outstretched, my body prone and a little vulnerable. I was almost used to it now.
Sharing a cabin with Captain Bluebeard wasn’t the most comfortable experience. So far, though, he’d kept his word on staying away from my side of the room and giving me privacy when needed. My request that he not leave his clothes and things around had taken a bit of reminding, however.
So while he was starting to earn my trust in practical, daily matters, it was still unwise to let my guard down around him. Jax was much bigger and stronger than me physically, and on this ship, he commanded all. He’d taken my freedom, my contact with the outside world, and only the old gods knew what else, all with well-rehearsed ease. I wasn’t keen on him knowing my mind, too—nor anything about me.
“Fairy godmothers don’t have a great deal of magic,” I told him despite myself, and almost immediately regretted it. I didn’t like having to explain myself, and especially not to him. “Not compared to those who came before the old gods vanished and magic grew untamed. We simplyspecializebetter than the rest of the magic-using populace, and hone what powers we have.”
He nodded, taking in this information. I had no idea what was going on in his mind, or what he wanted this knowledge for.
“Then for your second question,” he began, “what do you specialize in, wife?”
“Curses, obviously.”
“Curses,” he repeated, then turned back to his ledger with a resigned heave of his shoulders. “No, I will not buy what you’re selling. Partial truths with not do if you want your prize.”
I sat up, face heating. “I answered your question, pirate!”
“You disclosed commonly known information—information that is freely available on your own wanted poster, no less. That is not the same thing.”
I had a wanted poster? I swallowed through the tightness in my throat. The royal family of Endergeist had moved quickly indeed. When we’d docked to take on water and supplies a few days ago—during which time I was not allowed to leave the ship—Jax and his crew must’ve seen them. Between that and a peculiar series of events in which fireworks were deployed in the center of town and the crew came running back to the docks with jingling pockets, I’m sure I was better off remaining aboardValiant Strider—which Jax had recently renamedBlue Moon.
I had no idea where we were now, other than heading towards the southern parts of the Prevarian Sea. It made me wonder if anywhere would be safe for me other than Aegle and Dewspell.
“Curses are what I specialize in!” I protested.
“It’s what youdowith the magic you have.“ He turned back to face me, batting his dark lashes at my twisted, angry face. “Do you think me a fool?”
“If I answer that honestly, can I have paper and a pen?”
Jax rumbled a brief laugh. “How I treasure these conversations with you. And no. We’ll resume when you’re feeling more…expressive.” Again, he turned back to his work, leaving me seething.
As I searched for something to say that might sway him, the heat drained from my face, along with, I’m sure, much of the color. Therewassomething Icouldsay:
The truth. For he knew more about magic than he had a right to. Enough to know what I was hiding. But how? Had he been educated before turning to a life of piracy?
“You once said there are other places to learn magic besides Dewspell, didn’t you?” I attempted to pry. Thankfully, I sounded awkward rather than pushy. “Did you study?”
Jax looked up from his book, lengthening his neck as if searching for patience in the broad stretch of sky visible through the cabin window. “I’m not the one answering questions here.”
“You did, didn’t you! You know magic.”
His voice was gruff. “I know enough.”
