Daughter of Wolves

by Stephanie Anthony

  Irena staggered to the edge of the bed, perching there. She was struggling to remember how to breathe.

  “He was always good at hiding his true intentions. At least he failed.” Her mother crouched before her, stroking Irena’s hair back behind her ear, “Hold it. Now breathe out. Again.”

  Irena obeyed, calm slipping over her once again as her lungs took their fill. Her mind cleared.

  Her mother’s hazel eyes stared back at her. “That should be the worst of it, even so I insist you have a guard for the rest of the night. You,” she stood up, pointing at Tyler.

  He saved Irena the task of introducing him. “Tyler, Captain Tigerlily.”

  “Tyler, you are to stay here for the remainder of the night to keep watch over your captain.” She ordered.

  Irena opened her mouth to argue but was silenced by a shake of her mother’s head.

  “Not a topic up for debate. You need your rest for tomorrow. Tyler is obviously a loyal crew member, who respects his captain. He was quick witted enough to recognise someone who was up to no good.” She kicked the body with the tip of her shoe. “Tristan, you dispose of him. Irena, we’ll see you in the morning.”

  Her father nodded and picked up the body, hauling it over his shoulder. Her mother kissed Irena on the forehead, a gesture which struck Tyler as perfectly motherly, followed him out, and closed the door behind them.

  Tyler breathed out. Rubbing at his chest – it had throbbed when he’d thought of mothers – he swiftly curled his hand into a fist and forced it to fall to his side. “Your mother isn’t how I imagined her.” He laughed nervously, not completely at the awkwardness of the situation. He was in her bedroom again. Albeit not under their usual circumstances.

  Irena steeled herself. “Why are you here?”

  “I spotted him wandering around, thought he looked suspicious. Your parents were the first ones I bumped into. Then we heard you scream.”

  Irena remained silent, staring at the blood drying on her hands.

  “Let’s get your hands washed.” She didn’t respond, so he poured out a basin of water and carried it over regardless. He at least didn’t have to coax her to put her hands into the water, or to rub at the worst of the blood. The water went red. Tyler took the bowl away, then brought her a towel.

  “Now you’d better get some sleep.”

  Her eyes met his as he stood over her. Tyler was shocked to see that they were filled with tears, which escaped as he watched.

  “I’ve never felt like I was going to die,” she revealed. “Not even in raids, or fights. But I thought –.” She lost control of her voice.

  Tyler felt a prickle go up his neck, though he tried his best to hide his discomfort. He had never seen Irena cry, nor thought she was capable of such emotion. He wanted to comfort her, so much, but he couldn’t think what was appropriate. He reached out and his hand landed on her shoulder. He patted it a few times. “You’re alive. He lost.”

  She nodded weakly. Silence fell, during which Irena’s hand crept towards Tyler’s and gripped it.

  “Your mother wears some high ass heels.” It was the first thing that sprung to mind.

  “I know – she always has. Well, since Mrs Beets anyway. I don’t know how she even walks in them. If I ever wore anything like that I’d topple over. I guess she’s used to it now. You should see her fight in them.”

  “I bet that’s pretty impressive.”

  Irena glanced up at him and released an uneven breath, as if she’d been holding it back. Her hands weren’t shaking anymore at least. “Hold me?”

  Tyler tensed. It was the one thing he couldn’t trust himself to do. Because if he held her, if he comforted her, it would just drag up all the feelings he’d tried to bury. “I…can’t.”

  “Yeah. No, you’re right.” She smiled, snaking her hand from his grip. He watched it curl back in her lap, ignoring the jab of jealousy, concentrating on the sliver of blood that had stuck in the edge of her nail. “What is your real name Tyler?”

  He didn’t bother to look up. “You agreed to no back stories.”

  “So did you.”

  He stood then and marked a slow path across the floor, anything to distract him, to stop him from saying something he’d regret later. She wasn’t the sort to love. He kept repeating it in the back of his mind. He twisted and his back found the wall, he pushed against it a little harder than he had to. “It wasn’t in the watch records?”

  “I think you know the answer to that. Though a particular name did catch my eye – Crimson? I knew the thieves went by colours, but really, I don’t see it suiting you.”

  Tyler grinned then, he couldn’t help it. “Crimson was what most knew me by, particularly within the thieves and amongst the watch. It wasn’t a choice, it came with the title. The units of the thieves are divided by hue, I was under Red. It’s just how we did things.” He brushed his fingers over the mark on his inner wrist. His tell. He could flash that mark anywhere in the rougher side of town and be guaranteed safe passage, information, whatever he asked for in fact. It was a powerful brand, the mark of a Master Thief.

  “So is there a new Crimson now?”

  He shook his head, his teeth gritting involuntarily. “No one would dare take on my name, not even him.”

  “The one who turned you in?”

  “I’m going to find him one day and make him regret uttering every syllable of his betrayal.” Not by his own hand. Too messy. But he knew plenty of assassins who owed him a favour or two and would be perfectly capable of making it look like a complete accident. His eyes brightened again, his fists unclenching, “Loyalty is important.”

  “It’s the same for pirates.”

  Tyler paused for a moment, sucking at his cheek. “You got the first part of it right.”

  “Huh?”

  “Tyler, it is my real name. You guessed right from the multitude of titles that were probably on my records. Or they did, I guess it is the one I use the most. Bad habit I suppose. My real surname,” he paused, “I doubt it ever came up. I’ve not used it since I went into business. But, no harm in spilling now I suppose. It’s Anleydon.”

  “Tyler Anleydon?”

  Tyler winced slightly. If she recognised it she didn’t let on.

  “It suits you.”

  “Names don’t belong to people. It’s the other way round. But, thanks, I suppose.” He sighed, let himself perch on the edge of the bed again. Irena pulled her feet back to make space for him. “If this was Clarke, do you think it’s retaliation?”

  “No, it’s politics.”

  “You pirates and your politics. I still prefer the way thieves do things, at least there you know where you stand. You know when someone hates you and why.” Their lives were underhand enough without lying to each others faces. Tyler looked at her then, her black eyes dark and unreadable. “You really should get some sleep.”

  “I doubt I’ll be able to now.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure not to take my eyes off of you.” He wasn’t quite sure why he’d said it like that, his mouth was working ahead of his brain again.

  She cocked her head, no smile appearing on her lips, but her eyes had glazed. He knew that look. “You used to be willing to do more than watch me.”

  “No Irena.”

  “I’m only engaged. Does it really change anything?”

  “It changes everything.” He snarled.

  “Don’t you want me any more Tyler?”

  “Goodnight.” Tyler stood, and dragged a chair over to the door, facing it away from Irena.

  Irena covered herself in her blankets once again, and rested her head on the pillow. She watched Tyler’s back in the dim light from the candle. His shoulders moved up and down heavily, although she couldn’t hear him breathing. His hair was untidy, as usual, he had missed a patch of stubble just under the line of his jaw when shaving, and the white collar of his shirt protruded at intervals from the back of his jacket collar. A pack of cards on the table earned his
immediate interest, and he shuffled them swiftly before dealing out a game of patience. He turned his head slightly, facing his gaze to the open window.

  Irena could now see his face in profile. She suddenly wished he would look at her like he had done in the past, before he knew she was taken, that she had deceived him. He used to look at her with longing and passion. What she wouldn’t do to see him looking like that again, in the bedroom, between the sheets…Her imagination took over and her heart rate accelerated. She turned over to face away from him, blushing and ashamed of the thoughts that had entered her mind. Their little game was over now.

  Tyler drew another three cards and looked over the lines he’d already made. Still missing an ace, but he’d played this enough to be able to win it with two. She’d taken a while to fall back asleep, understandably. Her breathing was even now, barely a whisper from the sheets. He’d resisted the urge to look at her up to now, partly because he wanted to be sure she was definitely asleep, but mainly because he knew it would hurt. He did it anyway.

  It was hard to hate her, even after everything. She’d had a pretty tough night. And she looked adorable when she was asleep, exuding a pure innocence that her practiced smiles concealed. She was stubborn and damn maddening at times. But he couldn’t help the rush of butterflies, the desire to lay beside her now and just hold her. That crown of bright red hair had spilled across the pillows, making her look like some princess from a fairytale. One who’d slice your throat clean open before you could wake her with a kiss. Tyler dragged his gaze away, rubbing his knuckles against his chest, his fingertips coming to rest against his brow. He couldn’t keep this up much longer.

  ~

  Tyler took up his position along the wall of the council chambers. Most were already there, save for Irena, Tigerlily and Tristan. Jim pushed his way through to stand next to Tyler.

  “I heard about what happened last night.” He whispered.

  Tyler nodded. “Captain Wolf mentioned Captain Clarke, which one is he?”

  “Third along the table facing us. Beard, dark brown hair.”

  Tyler gritted his teeth as he spotted him.

  “Don’t try anything Tyler, I’m warning you now. What happened last night is common within pirate politics, it’s expected. That Irena defeated the assassin will aid her more than you know, to take action against him would only hurt her position.”

  Tyler gripped his hands into fists. “No promises.”

  The doors were thrown open and in strode all three of the Wolf Captains, Tristan and Tigerlily first, hand in hand, followed by Irena, in her usual jacket tucked into a corset belt, and tricorn hat, rather than the formal dress she’d chosen to wear the previous day. Tyler found he preferred to see her in her usual clothes, she looked more like herself, more comfortable. All three took their places at the table.

  The council came to a hush, and Tristan stood to address. “Last night, an attempt was made to harm something very dear to me; my daughter Captain Irena Wolf.”

  Tyler noticed Tristan’s eyes boring into Captain Clarke’s slightly longer than would be considered a normal glance, though whether others noticed he wasn’t sure.

  Tristan continued; “As you can all see my daughter gave the assassin more than he bargained for, taking his life rather than allowing him to steal hers. I do not deny there is an art to assassination, as many of you know my two sons are celebrated assassins themselves, masters of disguise, deceit and secrecy.

  “This lacked art however, being simply a crew member who had drawn the short straw. I refuse to name names, but I would have the one responsible know that I do know who is to blame. What I ask is that no other offence is made on my family name. We have all proved ourselves more than qualified to lead, not merely a ship full of faithful crew, but armadas of them.

  “I therefore give you my daughter, as our next Lord, if you so choose. She is a Wolf – daughter of Tigerlily, and myself, Captain Tristan Wolf: both of which names are famous, not only in the pirate community, nor solely in the oceans, but across the entire world!” Irena stood as the council cheered and clapped, some less vigorously than others. “A vote!” Tristan called.

  Chapter 19

  Fate

  It was all going quicker than he’d expected. They were talking it out now, the pirates. Irena and her consort had been sent away while they deliberated. When they were called back in, that would be it, a decision will have been made. She’d either be the Pirate Lord or not. Tyler would bet confidently on the outcome. But it made things a little simpler for him at least. He traced the pattern on the inside of his wrist with the tip of his fingernail. The strip of fabric was wrapped about his fingers. There were things he had to do, things he’d been putting off for too long. It had been a nice escape. That was all it could ever really be, he’d never been the sort to turn away from his problems and expect them to disappear. Land was calling, his true nature was calling. Irena sat down on the bench, her shoulders hunched, her hands gripping the edges of the seat. Tyler glanced up but didn’t say anything, or move away from her.

  “How did you get to your position?” she asked.

  “The usual way.” Tyler began to wrap the fabric about his wrist again. He couldn’t risk going back into council with it on show.

  “You’re young to get that high up amongst thieves.”

  He tried to smile, “Get in enough trouble and it’s bound to attract attention.”

  “Do you regret joining us?

  He finished a neat knot, leant back against the hard wood of the bench. There was more missed dust on its arms. He thought about it before giving her an answer. “I’ve got to admit it was a shock, to be back at the bottom again. To have to work my way up, prove myself to people. But I was ratted out by one of my own. If you hadn’t come I was to be hanged, there was no doubt about that. They had enough evidence to get me this time. At best I’d have been left in that cell until old age claimed me. As it was, your option was the best on offer. But that’s not the only reason I chose you.”

  “Tyler –”

  He didn’t let her finish whatever she was about to say. From the look on her face she wasn’t quite sure herself where that sentence had been headed. “Besides, it’s kind of nice to be able to be back in the action, rather than delegating it to other people. Nice to be able to blame someone else when things go wrong.”

  “If the watch records were correct, you weren’t exactly caught sitting behind a desk.”

  Tyler smiled humourlessly, “You pirates certainly talk more than I’d have thought. The thieves settled things with fists.”

  “Words can be powerful when they need to be.” Her fingers tapped out a pattern against the edge of the bench. She was nervous. She had every right to be. They were deciding her future behind those doors, deciding who she was going to be. “Do you believe in ghosts?” Tyler said nothing, but cocked his head to show he was listening. Irena continued, “I used to see them when I was little. A few followed my mother around. There was a girl with blue hair, with a bruise around her neck. I liked her, she was always smiling. Then there were three captains. They didn’t appear as often as the blue girl, or I didn’t see them all that much. When Ma was angry they’d be at her back, when she was fighting.”

  “I heard rumours she was possessed by a demon.”

  Irena nodded, “She probably started them. Ma used to call it the red mist. We had to keep away from her when she was like that, she’d go too deep to recognise anyone. To her mind if you got too close you were an enemy. I forgot once, she cut my cheek open.” She stroked a finger across the thin scar that traced her cheekbone. He’d noticed it before. “It was nothing really, just a scratch. But she fell apart. She locked herself below deck. My father had to break the door down.” She clasped her hands in her lap, “I wasn’t afraid of any of the ghosts. Except one. An old lady. She was tiny, ancient. And she never did anything, but she was always looking at me, like she wanted something from me.”

  “Did you ever figure
out what she wanted?”

  Irena hesitated, “I think it was this. I think she knew this would happen.”

  “Fate.”

  “I know it sounds crazy.”

  He didn’t think she was crazy. He’d lived in the shadows enough to know that there was plenty that went on in the world that couldn’t be explained.

  “I’m a ghost. Or at least I’ve died before.” Tyler stood and leant against the wall. “I was out on a job one night. A big one, we were hitting a mansion on the east side. Some politician or other, load of money. I was supposed to open the safe, but some upshot decided there was a change of plan. I spotted the powder just in time. I jumped out of the window, right through the glass. And then the bomb went off. I woke up on the ground to a warzone. Bits of masonry, bricks. Bodies. The mark had kids. They’d fucked up the ratios completely, and they’d ripped half the house apart. Everyone else died.” He kept cutting off, short sharp sentences trying to hold off the memories. He wasn’t looking at her, he wasn’t looking at anything. He took a breath and carried on, “But by some bloody miracle or irony, I was absolutely fine. I got back to base, I still don’t remember how. I don’t remember walking away from all that. It wasn’t till everyone went silent that I even realised the state I was in. Blood pouring from my ears, covered in dust. Bits of glass in my arms and knees. They were talking to me, but I couldn’t hear anything. Just this ringing in my ears.”

  He pushed back his hair, holding his hand to his head for a minute, the pressure helping him root himself. “I realised then that I should be dead. That anything from that point was a bonus. When I came to I felt like I’d come from a lot further away. I was supposed to die that night but I didn’t.”

  “The guy that did it...did he?”

  “Not that night. I sent someone after him. I believe in fate, I believe everyone has a time. And if it doesn’t end, then it’s not the end.” He sighed through his teeth and decided it was time to make a gamble. “Look, cards on the table. I’m raising the stakes. If I asked you not to marry him what would you say?”