by Bex Hogan
Great. Though her warning doesn’t scare me, the last thing I need is another problem.
I thank her for her time, then guide the woman and child towards the inn.
Before we enter, I squeeze her arm. ‘Does the name Raoul ring any bells?’
She shakes her head; she’s like a rabbit caught in a trap.
‘Don’t worry. Just let me do the talking.’
I’d rather not venture into a tavern, which is likely to be as full of bandits as it is sailors. I hope I look as far from the Viper as I think I do.
No one glances up at our entrance and I feel some tension slip from my shoulders. I scan the room for someone who might be a captain that commands such respect and fear. Seated in a far corner are a group of men and women who, while laughing and drinking, are alert. One man stands out from the rest. From the way he holds himself and the way the others act round him I can tell he’s important – and dangerous. His skin is as black as his clothes, thick hair runs like ropes down his back, and the fire in his eyes blazes so fiercely I can see it even from this distance. Raoul.
‘Stay here,’ I say to the woman, who’s hovering nervously by the door. ‘If anything bad happens, run.’
This is possibly the wrong thing to say because she looks ready to flee right now, but I give her arm a pat and then head towards the table where the group is sitting drinking.
When I approach, several of the men stand up, hands on the hilts of their swords. Raoul waves them down, deeming me no threat.
‘Gentlemen, that’s no way to greet a lady,’ he says, flashing me a smile that has no warmth in it. ‘What can I do for you?’
‘Are you Raoul?’
‘Seems to me if you’re asking, you already know the answer.’
‘Does this mean anything to you?’ I hold out the letter and watch as his face changes, real emotion replacing his façade for a moment.
He’s on his feet with his knife at my neck in a heartbeat.
‘Where did you get this?’
‘Let’s all just calm down, shall we?’ And I press my own blade firmly at his guts, just so he knows I’m no pushover.
He releases me and we both hold our hands up to show willing.
‘Tell me where you got that.’
‘It belongs to my friend.’ I gesture towards the door. ‘Do you know her?’
Raoul’s face lights up now, and I see a look I recognise. Love. He starts towards her. ‘Lilah!’
But the woman, whose name is apparently Lilah, steps back, cradling the baby close to her. Raoul hesitates, turning to me with uncertainty.
‘She’s had an accident,’ I say, and gesture for Lilah to join us, which she does with some reluctance. When we’re quietly seated, with Raoul’s crew surrounding us, I resume the story.
‘And you don’t remember anything? You don’t remember me?’ Raoul sounds hurt as Lilah shakes her head.
‘I don’t even know the name of the baby.’ Her voice trembles.
‘Bay,’ Raoul says. ‘Our child is called Bay.’
Oh, this is messy.
Raoul turns to me. ‘She was supposed to meet me here this morning. We’ve been waiting for her.’
‘She’s your wife?’
‘Not yet. She’s running from her family. They don’t approve of me.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘How do I know you didn’t do this?’ It’s all too clear Raoul wants to make someone pay for hurting Lilah, and though I suspect she’d be dead without me I’m hardly an innocent in what’s happened to her.
‘She saved me,’ Lilah says, her voice soft but firm. ‘I wouldn’t be here without her. And she’s the only person I know.’
The look Raoul gives Lilah almost breaks my heart. It would destroy me too if Bronn looked at me like that, like he had no idea who I was, like all that bound us together was lost.
The thought of Bronn is unwelcome. I don’t want to be distracted by him right now. Did he locate the stranger from the wedding? Does he know I’m alive? Is he searching for me? Or has he been seduced by the role of Viper as I was seduced by magic?
One of Raoul’s men has been staring at me a little too closely, and now he leans down and whispers into Raoul’s ear.
His gaze lifts sharply towards me, his eyes narrowing. I think he’s about to ask me something when the tavern door opens once more, only this time it’s half a dozen of the King’s Guard. I lower my head and Raoul smiles.
‘So it’s true then? You’re our treasonous princess?’
I shrug. ‘Something like that.’
‘You looking for a way off this island?’
‘Honestly? If it wasn’t for Lilah, I’d already be gone.’
Raoul clenches his jaw. ‘You put yourself at risk for her?’
‘Look, I know no one believes me, but I became the Viper for a reason. I wanted to help people. And though that plan is going spectacularly wrong, I couldn’t leave her and the baby for dead.’
The guards are getting closer now, searching every table, and my instinct to flee intensifies.
‘Say nothing.’ Raoul has apparently made a decision about me, because he turns his chair so that he more or less blocks me and I lower my head down away from prying eyes.
‘Good evening.’ Raoul greets the guards as long-lost friends. ‘To what do we owe the pleasure?’
‘Looking for someone,’ the tallest guard says and thrusts a piece of paper with my likeness scrawled on it towards Raoul. ‘Seen her in these parts?’
Raoul blows air out of his mouth and makes a display of thinking. ‘Can’t say as I have.’ He turns to his crew. ‘Any of you seen her?’
The men follow Raoul’s lead and shake their heads.
‘You sure?’ The guard is insistent. ‘There’s a price on her head.’
Raoul tilts his chin up. ‘How much?’
I hold my breath, wondering what sum he’ll sell me out for, furtively looking around for an escape route in case it comes to that.
‘Enough crystal to keep a man like you happy,’ the guard says.
Raoul’s eyes narrow slightly and his pretence of friendliness is gone. Perhaps he doesn’t like the guard telling him what kind of man he is. ‘Afraid I can’t help you.’
‘We’ll be posted here for a few days,’ the guard says, realising this is a lost cause. ‘Find us if you see anything.’
Raoul tips his head but as they leave he spits on the floor. He turns to his men. ‘Think we’re ready to leave, don’t you?’
Lilah looks scared as everyone gets to their feet. ‘I don’t understand.’
‘I’m going to take you home,’ he says to her, and I see her eyes flick over to me. ‘She can come too,’ he adds before looking at me. ‘If you want.’
I consider him closely. ‘Where are you going?’
‘Does it matter? It’s not here.’
He has a point, but I’m not going to go blindly with these people.
‘It matters.’
‘Fine.’ And he flashes a wicked grin at me. ‘Ever been to the Third Isle?’
The Black Nightshade is a stunning ship. Made entirely from the same nightheart wood as the Maiden’s figurehead, she truly is a daughter of the Black Island.
Though she’s a relatively small trading vessel, a two-masted brig, our journey is quick and smooth, and I wonder how I’ve never seen her like before.
When I ask Raoul what waters he favours, he gives me a sly smile. Like he knows what I’m really asking.
‘She’s special, isn’t she?’ He’s clearly very proud of his ship. ‘Built her myself. With the help of my brothers.’
I’m impressed, but not surprised. I’m fast realising Raoul is a man of mystery.
We slipped unnoticed from the tavern to the harbour, and once we boarded the Nightshade, which was camouflaged so well as to be almost invisible against the black water, we were soon underway. Lilah and I were taken to the hold, which was serving as makeshift quarters, but, not one to trust easily, Raoul h
ad men positioned on the other side of the spare sail strung up for privacy. ‘To show you around,’ he’d said, but we both knew it was a precaution. I was, after all, on the run for attempted murder and treason.
But despite the distance growing between me and the King, the mass of worries crushing my chest isn’t easing.
I continue to feel sick with fear for Torin. And guilt for leaving him behind at the mercy of his power-hungry father. Maybe I shouldn’t have left the castle without trying harder to help him. Was I selfish to run? The fact is, though, it’s too late to go back now, and so I can only hope the healer is gifted enough to keep Torin alive, and the King is smart enough to let him.
My other problem remains the same. The Eastern Isles are no closer to peace than before, and the King is a far greater threat than either Torin or myself had anticipated. The trial demonstrated one very important thing to me. He has strong allies throughout the Six Isles. With Torin out of the picture the Fleet will once more answer to the King, and I no longer command anyone. The war has never seemed bigger and my army never smaller.
I’m going to need more help.
If I’d hoped that might come from Raoul and his men, the thought is quickly extinguished when he invites me to his cabin for dinner. I expect that Lilah will be there, but apart from his guard positioned at the door, we’re alone.
When I ask why the privacy, he hands me a mug of rum. ‘Because I think we need to have a chat, and I don’t particularly want anyone else privy to that.’
I take a long swig of the golden liquid, and nod my head. ‘I see. So what can I do for you?’
‘I want you to fix Lilah.’
I suddenly feel so tired. Rubbing my face, as if somehow that can wipe away all the responsibility, I say, ‘And what makes you think I can do that?’
Raoul gets to his feet and starts to pace the room. ‘Do you think I don’t hear things? Whispers of what you once did?’
I’m not entirely sure what he’s referring to, so say nothing.
‘Is it true that you summoned water raptors? That magic flows in your veins?’
How the hell does he know that? No one on my ship would have betrayed me. Unfortunately the same can’t be said for my face, which gives Raoul his answer.
‘So it is true.’
‘It was a lot more complicated than it sounds.’
‘But you do have magic? Like the Mages?’
I can hear his desperation. How much he wants this to be true for the sake of the woman he loves. And so I answer him as truthfully as I can. ‘Yes. But I have little control of it, and I lack the skill to do what you ask.’
‘Or perhaps simply the motivation.’
And taking a step towards me, he raises his pistol and points it at my forehead. At the same time his man moves behind me and presses his pistol to my back.
‘You will fix her,’ Raoul says, and his tone leaves me in no doubt he’ll kill me without a second thought if I refuse.
‘I told you, I can’t.’ My voice is equally forceful. ‘Threatening me won’t change that.’
He pushes the barrel hard against my skin. ‘I’ve heard all the rumours about you. You say you want to help, but you’re no different from the father you murdered. Or pretended to, depending on who you believe. Vipers are all the same – violent, cruel and selfish. I’m giving you a chance to redeem yourself.’
Doesn’t anyone have anything good to say about me?
I’ve had enough of this. With lightning reflexes I strike Raoul’s hand and snatch the pistol from it when his grip falters. Instantly I spin round and thrust the pistol to the other man’s throat, while simultaneously grabbing his wrist and pulling it to my hip, so that his pistol is now aimed directly at Raoul. I’ve disarmed them in the time it took them to blink.
‘You shouldn’t believe everything you hear,’ I say to Raoul, enjoying the look of disbelief on his face, as I slowly manoeuvre my prisoner so that I’m in front of them both.
‘And perhaps some things I should pay more attention to,’ he says, raising his hands in surrender.
Cautiously I lower the weapons.
‘Get out,’ Raoul says to his companion, who is more than happy to flee the room. I don’t offer to give Raoul his pistols back.
‘I told you,’ I say. ‘I can’t help Lilah. I wish I could. I’ll talk to her, but once we reach the Third Isle, I can’t stay.
‘Oh, you’re not coming to the Third Isle.’
I frown. ‘I’m not?’
Raoul considers me closely. ‘What do you know of my island?’
‘Very little,’ I say. ‘It has beautiful forests, and its people are reclusive – present company excluded.’
‘Have you ever been there?’ he asks, and it feels like a loaded question.
‘Once.’
‘And what did you think?’
In my mind I see Adler standing over the hooded figure, demanding I kill him to complete my Initiation. I remember my fear. I remember my decision. I wouldn’t become an assassin, not for him, not for anyone. That day changed my life for ever.
I meet Raoul’s expectant gaze. ‘I think it felt deserted. I didn’t see one inhabitant. In fact, you are the first person from the Third I’ve ever met.’
I’m not sure what answer Raoul hoped for, but mine seems to please him, because this time his eyes light up. ‘All right, Viper Princess.’
‘Marianne will do.’
He raises his eyebrows, but nods. ‘Marianne. It would seem I was wrong about you. And so, I’m going to tell you a little something about my people that they wouldn’t want you to hear. What do you know about the Seers?’
I’d seen them mentioned occasionally in the old books back in Torin’s library on the Sixth, but to be honest I’d been paying far more attention to the magic side of things. ‘Not much.’
Raoul sits down at the table, and gestures for me to join him. After a moment’s consideration I do – after all, I’m still holding two pistols and he has none.
‘The role that the Seers played in our islands’ history has been forgotten by everyone beyond the Third Isle.’
Raoul reaches for his rum and drinks before he continues. Perhaps he isn’t as comfortable sharing his people’s secrets as he claims. ‘Because they don’t want anyone to remember. You see, all the Seers came from the Third Isle, and long ago they used to pass their knowledge gained from foresight to the Mages, who would then, in their great wisdom, advise the royalty. The Mages rarely gave the Seers any credit for disasters that were averted. When it was prophesied that a war was coming, one that would either unite the Isles for ever, or bring about their permanent destruction, the Seers decided they’d had enough. They wished only to protect their people, and preserve their trees. And so they removed themselves from society, leaving the remaining five Isles to their fate.’
‘That’s why no one ever sees the Third Islanders?’ I don’t bother disguising my anger. ‘Because of a war they saw coming? The one I’m losing now?’ And he had the nerve to call Vipers selfish. ‘Who are you, Raoul? If your people are in hiding, why aren’t you?’
He doesn’t answer for a moment, but then seems to make a decision. Reaching into his pocket, he removes a small pouch and pulls it open, scattering stones on to the table between us. Small and perfectly round, they have engravings scratched into their surface, lines and patterns that hold no meaning for me, but mesmerise me nonetheless.
Raoul takes the stones into his hands. ‘These are rúns. My father taught me to carve them, my mother to read them. For years they’ve given me a prophecy of my own.’
I look at him expectantly.
‘To live,’ he says simply. ‘I don’t agree with my people’s decision to hide in isolation, which is how you find yourself on my ship. I didn’t want to hire couriers to move my precious cargo round, I didn’t trust anyone, and so I disobeyed my father and built the Nightshade.’
An interesting story, but I’ve become good at hearing lies buried in the truth.
‘So you’re a courier?’ I don’t hide my scepticism. ‘A simple tradesman delivering goods?’ I snort. ‘You’re a smuggler, aren’t you? Let me guess, the Third Isle grows more than just beautiful trees.’
The smile returns to his eyes. ‘You’ve seen the black flowers that carpet the forests? Well, let’s just say they have a pleasing effect when dried and burned.’
I raise an eyebrow. ‘I imagine the tax would be high on such goods too, am I right?’
Raoul shrugs. ‘Such luxuries shouldn’t only be for the rich.’
‘You’re quite the hero.’
He ignores my sarcasm. ‘I don’t think the Viper has any authority to judge my morals.’ He sighs as he puts the stones back into the pouch. ‘Recently the stones are saying something different to me, though. Not just to live any more, but to fight.’
‘You want to join me?’
He laughs. ‘Not even a little bit. No, I’m prepared to fight – to the death – for one thing only. My family. To protect them, keep them safe.’
And just like that everything starts to make sense. ‘The problem is Lilah doesn’t remember you.’
‘Exactly. Which is why I asked you to help her.’
Now it’s my turn to laugh. ‘If that’s you asking, I’d hate to see you demand anything.’
Raoul simply shrugs, saying, ‘Don’t know why you’re complaining. You’re the one with the pistols.’
‘I was telling you the truth. I don’t know how to help Lilah. Yet.’
Raoul looks up sharply. ‘But you want to learn. That’s what you’re doing?’
I nod. A plan has formed in my mind since leaving the First Isle. A way to win this war. A way to save Torin. It’s far-fetched, dangerous and highly unlikely to work, but it’s the only plan I have. I think there may be one person left in the Eastern Isles who can help me, if she’s still alive. And I have a feeling she is. ‘I can’t make you any promises. But if I’m able, when I’m able, I’ll come home and do what I can for Lilah.’
He bows his head, and presses his hand to his heart. ‘You are nothing like the rumours would have me believe. Apart from perhaps one of them.’