He stares back at me like I’m a bit crazy, but he draws his little book out of his jacket pocket and makes a note. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
I turn back to Francis. “Are you and the others willing to wait?”
“Yes.” But he doesn’t look happy about it.
I consider what Thorin said about the younger guards, about Saeth’s family. If they’re going to try to reach anyone, I can’t send them alone. They’re only two men, and the risk is too great.
Francis is right. I did say I was going to lead them. Maybe I need to start.
I look at the gathered people clutching their axes and hammers. “It might not be time to attack the sector,” I say, “but there are things to be done, if you all are ready for action.”
Francis nods. “We are.”
“Good. Come back tomorrow night.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Corrick
By the time the pirates come for us, Lochlan and I have some semblance of a plan. It’s rough, but well suited, because it won’t require a lot of lying.
I hate everything about it.
Six pirates stand outside our cage, including Lina. Four men and two women. They’re all armed, most with daggers and knives or crossbows, though one man has a sword. When they open the cage door, I expect them to charge in, to separate us and bind our hands, but they don’t.
The biggest one just nods at the doorway. His name is Mouse, and we’ve seen him before. It has to be a nickname, because he’s massive. He’s not overlytall, just packed with so much muscle that I think he could give Rocco a run for his money. He’s even bigger than Sablo, a man Rian had on theDawn Chaser. Mouse probably could have ripped the cage door right off its hinges.
On the night we were captured, when I tried to run, Mousecaught me by the ankle and held me upside down like I was a rag doll.
“Let’s go,” Mouse says, and his voice is very rough, very quiet. He’s always remarkably soft-spoken for his size. “Oren is ready for you.”
“Both of us?” says Lochlan.
Mouse nods. “Both of you.”
We uncurl from the ground and move to follow.
The pirates give us no warnings, and so many weapons hang within reach. With our hands unbound, we could go for daggers and fight back right now. We’re still in the woods, and there’s no one nearby to hear and assist. Two against six isn’tsoterrible. Mouse would be the biggest challenge. One of the men with a crossbow has it hanging along his back. Lina and the other woman are laughing behind us, distracted.
Lochlan glances at me, and I know he’s thinking the same thing.
But it’s too obvious. Too easy.
It feels like a test.
This wasn’t a part of our plan. I give a tiny shake of my head, hoping he doesn’t decide to attack them anyway. I sense that pulling Mouse’s hair would not end well.
Lochlan turns his eyes forward. We keep walking.
It’s hotter here than it would be in most of Kandala. More humid, too, reminding me of the summertime climate in Sunkeep, the southernmost sector—though we’re into autumn now. Once we break out of the trees, the sun truly beats down on us, and sweat immediately blooms under my tunic, the glare making me throw up an arm to cover my eyes. But then my boots crunch on gravel instead of the mossy softness of the woods, and I blink and look down.
We’re on a road. In the distance to my left, the road leads down a hill to the sudden appearance of squat buildings and homes and structures that seem to go on forever, people and horses and wagons milling about—a small town, or even a city. Straight ahead of me is a wide swath of long grass that stretches on for at least a mile, where it appears to drop off into the ocean. I see nothing beyond but glittering water, sparkling in the sun, a few small boats bobbing with the current.
For some reason, I’d assumed we were on a remote island with the pirates. Someplace hidden and nearly deserted. The city is a few miles off, but this is very much . . . ?not deserted.
That could be promising. If we could escape, it would be a lot easier to hide in a city.
“Which island is this?” I say to Lina and Mouse.
