Just before I could slam the cabin door shut behind me, I heard his voice one final time.
“You deserve better than to be their villain.”
I shut the door before he could say anything else, then tromped across the deck, pulling up short only when I saw the three faces that greeted me.
“Dean Andaren, Professor Elkin—Lis!”
All three smile brightly. Lis touched the front of her cap. “It’s Harbormaster Lis now, Sofie. Welcome home.”
I ran forward, pulling my friend into a huge embrace that was equal parts relief and congratulations. As soon as I released her, Professor Elkin offered me a cordial half bow, and Dean Andaren patted the top of my head.
“Nice to have you back, Dar’Vester,” Andaren said, flashing one of his brilliant but mischievous smiles.
I wasn’t even on the quay yet, and already I felt at home.
But as I turned toward the ship’s rail, ready to follow them down the ladder, a high, keening wail stopped me.
I spun, only to find Safira pleading with Violet and several members ofTemerity’screw. They were carrying Omar and Oasis from below deck.
“What are you doing?” I demanded. “They shouldn’t be moved!”
A hand was on my arm again. This time, it belonged to Lis.
“It’s alright, Sof. It’s part of the bargain. Captain Bluebeard wants us to heal his injured crew in exchange for giving you back to us. Do you know them?” she asked of Omar and Oasis as the crew ferried them across the deck on stretchers.
But I didn’t. Not really. No one on the ships ofCarabosseallowed me to be truly close to them, maybe because they thought I would fail. Because they thought there was no point in getting close with another doomed bride.
“I’ll take it from here,” Professor Elkin said, lifting a palm to stop the stretchers’ progress. His brow barely twitched as he summoned air magic to lift Omar and Oasis from their stretchers, ferrying them toward the side of the ship.
“Stop—you can’t take him!” Safira shouted, trying to grasp Omar’s arm. It was stiff at his side, wrapped in invisible bonds of air.
I slipped away from Lis so I could face Dean Andaren, not daring to break Professor Elkin’s concentration. “This woman is his wife,” I said. “She has to go with him.”
Dean Andaren gaped back at me, puzzled. “Dear girl, that wasn’t in the bargain. I don’t think Captain Bluebeard would take kindly to us stealing a capable member of his crew.” He lowered his voice. “I’m also not in the habit of admitting unvouched-for sirens onto Dewspell grounds.”
“I’ll vouch for her,” I said, straightening. “Please.”
“She cannot stay.”
“Then at least let her see him settled in the infirmary.”
Dean Andaren’s furrowed brow smoothed. “Alright, Sofie, if that’s what you wish. But be careful. We cannot compromise the terms of this bargain and risk losing you.”
Why?I wanted to ask.Afraid no one else will do this realm’s dirty work?
But that was my bitterness talking. It was for the best that I kept my mouth shut.
I hurried to Safira’s side to tell her the news.
Watching Safira walk away from Omar was the most heart-wrenching thing I’d ever witnessed.
Stealing her through the halls of Dewspell, meanwhile, was probably the stupidest thing I’d everdone.
I broke the enchantment on my old rooms without a thought—keys were for novices—and whisked Safira inside. With a flickof my hand, my lanterns and candles sputtered to life. There was no time to fuss with the heavy draperies over my window, which were coated in dust by now.
So was my desk. I sneezed once and began pulling apart the threads of the locking enchantment on the kneehole mahogany desk, trying each drawer as I fumbled through my memories.
I knew exactly what I needed.
