Arrows flew down around them as they wove between ships, most striking water but two finding flesh. Yet the Ithicanians sailed on, teeth clenched against the pain of their injuries as they raced to save those on the sinking ship.
They came alongside it, and James searched the deck for Ahnna’s face, not finding her among the Ithicanians aboard. Screams of those trapped in the ship filtered through the hull, and as he watched, an older woman he recognized as one of Aren’s commanders unlatched the hatch before sprinting to join her fellows.
With ease, they leapt down onto the craft, though it sank deep beneath the weight of so many people.
“Mara!” Taryn said to the woman. “What’s going on?”
“Where is Ahnna?” James couldn’t keep the panic from his voice, because she’d been on the ship moments before. “Where is she?”
“On theVictoria,” Mara replied, pointing. “We were going to sink it, but Lestara has the baby. She’s using her own child as a shield. Ahnna went after her.”
Alone.She’d gonealoneonto a ship full of soldiers who wanted her dead.
“We need to go!” one of the Ithicanians shouted. “She’s going down!”
Going down, and all those who had been trapped in the hold were trying to escape. Lifting longboats and hurling them into the water, many men falling in, and below, James could see the flash of gray fins.
But on the other side of the sinking ship was theVictoria.
And his wife.
James jumped, catching hold of the rail of the ship, then dragging himself up the tilted deck toward the stern. It was rising higher and higher, barrels and ropes and stars knew what else sliding down, some of it striking him, but James didn’t stop. He made it to the back of the ship as the bow dipped fully underwater, the ship bobbing like a top and then beginning to sink.
From this vantage, he saw that a fleet flying Cardiff’s colors was sailing in from the north, the flagship moving away from the rest. But his uncle’s arrival didn’t matter—Lestara didn’t need her father to win this. What mattered was that James could see Ahnna on her knees, restrained byfucking Archie,while Lestara gestured toward Ornak.
Getting his footing on the slick wood, James broke into a sprint and leapt off the side of the stern, landing hard on theVictoria’s deck. He rolled, then came to his feet with no less than three arrows leveled at his face.
“James!” Ahnna’s voice filled his ears, and it was like music, because he hadn’t thought he’d hear it again.
“Hello, cousin.” Lestara looked at him as though he were vermin. “I wish I could say this was a pleasant surprise.” Raising her voice, shesaid, “Seize Prince James. He’s a traitor and will be dealt with once we’ve won the day.”
“Don’t count your victories so soon, Lestara,” James snapped as hands shoved him to the deck. “A united fleet of Maridrinian and Valcottan ships has arrived. I suspect we’ll see smoke rising in the south soon enough.”
Lestara’s cheeks blanched. “That’s not possible.”
“And yet there they are.” He jerked out of a soldier’s grasp and glared at him before adding, “What do you think the chances are that they’ve discovered Alexandra was behind the infected cattle and worsening famine?”
His cousin’s lips parted ever so slightly in shock, and James scoffed. “What? Alex didn’t tell you?”
“I know nothing about this.” Lestara roughly jiggled the crying baby in her arms, then looked around at the stunned soldiers. “He’s lying.”
“You can plead innocence as they chase Harendell’s fleet north,” James replied. “I can only imagine Empress Zarrah and her consort have joined their fleet, and we all know what they think of you. What is it they call you in Maridrina? Butcher of Babies? Queen of Carrion?”
“Gag him!” she shouted. “I am the queen mother and you will not allow this traitor to speak to me so!”
Calling Lestara a mother was the worst abuse he’d ever heard of the word. She held the baby with as much affection as a block of wood, his nephew nothing more than a tool she’d use to hold power.
“She murdered William,” he shouted. “Lestara was the poisoner! You’ve allowed her to lead you into this nightmare of a battle, and for what?”
“For the bridge!” Lestara shrieked at him. “My son, the king of Harendell, will be Master of the Bridge, and all its wealth will belong to Harendell! That is why we are fighting! Every one of you will be wealthy as a king!”
James gave a bitter laugh. “Is that what you think?” He jerked his chin south. “You think that Maridrina and Valcotta brought warships to negotiate trade? The only thing they came for is retribution. Lestara promises you the wealth of kings, but she will make you bleed like pawns. There is no victory to be had here!”
The men around them shifted uneasily, because this had become a harder fight than they’d bargained for.
“He’s a liar and a traitor,” Lestara shouted. “He’s fallen prey to this Ithicanian snake.” She kicked at Ahnna, nearly losing her brocade slipper and stumbling. “He’s betrayed his kingdom and family to do her bidding! Do not listen to him!”
James’s lips parted to retort, but Archie kicked him in the mouth. “Gag him!”
