by Ashley Nixon
“Pretty impressive, eh?” Leaf came to stand next to Larkin, arms crossed, a look of pride on his face.
“I hope that’s your sarcasm,” she replied, glancing at him.
“You haven’t seen anything yet.”
“You’re right. I haven’t.”
“You will be impressed,” Barren smiled, his eyes focused on Sanctuary. “You should know not to underestimate us. Slack the sails,” Barren called. “Let’s come to port.”
Barren’s ship moved forward fast, cutting off Edward’s. As they made a sharp turn, a part of the mountain seemed to give way, creating an entrance large enough for several ships to sail through. As they passed through the opening, even Barren had a hard time taking his eyes off the magnificence of the port at Sanctuary. The ceilings were tall and the walls were made of strong steel, shaped to form simple archways. Lanterns had been strung on a moving line high above. The waterway was congested, and as Barren’s ship made an appearance, he noticed how several of his brethren stopped to stare at him. They were here to attend his trial, and by their gazes, some had already made up their minds about him. His heart fell.
He exchanged a glance with Leaf who seemed just as uneasy. Unconsciously, Barren’s hand rested on his blade. He caught Larkin’s gaze and knew she hadn’t missed the movement as her eyes burned.
They’d barely dropped anchor when a group of men came forward.
“Brothers,” Barren greeted with a nod.
“Barren,” A man he knew as Knightly nodded back. “We’ve come to escort you to the Chambers.”
“I’m very much aware of how to get there,” Barren replied.
“You do not have an option,” Knightly responded. They stared in silence at one another for a moment. Barren watched the men, taking in their gazes, trying to guess their thoughts. Knightly seemed a little remorseful, but the others, men he knew, appeared harsher, and that frightened him.
“Has Alex McCloud arrived yet?” He needed to know that he had strong supporters here other than his crew. Alex had been like a father to Barren since the day his own had been murdered.
“No,” was Knightly’s only response.
Barren exchanged a glance with Leaf before moving down the gangway. The men he called brethren immediately surrounded him. Being lead from port in this fashion was an insult to the oath he’d sworn to the code. It insinuated he was not loyal.
The halls of Sanctuary were crowded with pirates—men and women alike, and their children—waiting for the trial. As Barren passed, the conversation quieted to a murmur, and people whispered, casting glances at him but never making eye-contact. What had changed since he’d been in Silver Crest only three months ago? This had not been his welcome then.
They came to a set of metal doors. Barren knew these doors led to the Chambers where all trials for pirates of Silver Crest were held. Designs had been worked into the surface, and the raised edges revealed a gold sheen. Barren might have considered the doors beautiful if he didn’t think they were glaring at him, just like the people assembled here.
Two of his brethren moved forward and pulled the doors open. They stepped aside and allowed Barren to enter.
The room was dim like the rest of Sanctuary, except for a circle of light that poured like a waterfall from the ceiling at the center of the room. He knew people hid in the shadows around him and even more were filing into the open doors behind him. The air became heavier and hotter.
He stepped into the light, and as it spilled over him, he shuddered. At the very brink of the light sat the Elders in their carved wooden chairs. It was said the chairs were custom made for each Elder and depicted their triumphs throughout their lifetime. Barren knew those triumphs, and he knew the Elders by name. Sully, Ranger, Tristan, Sal, Eva, and Tobias. Light streamed down upon them, illuminating their harsh, unsmiling faces. Together, they’d worked to provide not just a haven but a home for a people placed in exile by the world at large.
And Barren had threatened that.
He waited, feeling like a pariah among the only family he’d ever known. He was eager to learn the charges against him, and he was eager to fight those charges. It might not be for the best, because arguing with the Elders was looked down upon, but Barren figured being summoned to Sanctuary meant things couldn’t get much worse. He hadn’t been eager to express that reality to Larkin. She would find out soon enough.
When the doors closed behind him, he turned. His crew was the last to enter the room. None of them were happy. Leaf kept his arms at his sides, within reach of his weapons, as did Sam. His large frame was intimidating and it was no surprise that people seemed to naturally gravitate away from him. Seamus and Slay kept their arms crossed, casting unfavorable glances around the room.
Then his eyes landed on Larkin, and he drew in a breath. He was still getting used to certain things. The first was having a girl on his ship. The second was having to tell her things about himself. The third was having to answer to her.
He’d noticed something unfortunate about himself in the last few weeks: his resolve weakened when it went up against hers. Even now, the stern mask he’d crafted in preparation for this moment faltered when he beheld her. He’d always thought she was beautiful, but the sea had done nothing but accentuate that beauty. Her skin was slowly darkening. The sunburn upon her high cheekbones made her emerald eyes even brighter. Her long hair was windblown and framed her face wildly. While he wasn’t so sure she could be frightening, he was certain she could command. Her very presence demanded attention. He’d known that from the moment he’d met her, but he was much more aware of it now.
“Barren Hawthorne Reed.” Tobias’s voice rumbled deep in his throat. Barren turned around to face the Elder, knowing he’d already made a bad impression. “You are charged with kidnapping.” Of course he’d begin with that one. “Recklessly endangering your brethren.” Barren rolled his eyes. No one, not even these Elders suspected Tetherion’s treason. “And culpable and reckless conduct.” That has to be the same as recklessly endangering your brethren. Barren knew if they wanted to, they could find more charges, so he kept his mouth shut.
“You are here because you are careless,” Eva’s voice was sharp like glass. She had shrewd eyes and a thin nose. She stared down at Barren, and he got the sense that her dislike of him did not come from his most recent exploits. “Your trust in Tetherion and his sons has compromised the location of Silver Crest, and as a result, you have threatened Saoirse.”
Barren was shocked. These were heavy accusations—threatening Saoirse was breaching the code. These were accusations that could get him stripped of his captainship, or worse, exiled.
“We fear the manner in which you will take your revenge against Tetherion will destroy us,” Tobias continued.
“What?”
“We can’t be any clearer than that,” Sully said. “You stalked the coast of Maris to get revenge for your father, went as far as kidnappin’ a young lady from her home. It scared people. It made people focus on all of us. When one of us does somethin’, we’re all considered guilty of it.”
“So I’m here because you’re afraid I’m going to kill more people in the name of revenge?” Barren’s voice was flat, but he knew he’d done this to himself. He’d taught these people to expect this from him.
“We’re treading a thin line here. We’re one step away from full war at sea. There have been more battles at sea in the last two weeks than in the last two years. We do not have the numbers to withstand such a thing. Do you want to see our children at the noose? Piracy does not discriminate in the eyes of those people.”
“I have no plans to kill anyone,” Barren said through his teeth. “I just plan to keep an eye on Tetherion’s actions.”
“For what purpose?”
“To do what my father did.”
The Elders exchanged looks, and Tobias’s gaze told Barren he did not approve.
“And what was that?” asked Tobias.
Barren was surprised by thei
r reaction; he didn’t have time to hide it. Didn’t they know already?
“If Tetherion attempts to extend his rule, I want to stop him.”
The silence that followed told him none of them liked the sound of that.
“Pirates should not meddle in politics,” said Eva.
“If we do not meddle in politics, how do you expect to protect Saoirse?”
“If you need proof, only recall the fate of your father,” she replied harshly.
Barren glared.
“Your father might have sworn an oath to the Code, but he was always a prince to his people. It seems not even his son can escape that royal blood.” She spat the words as if she despised everything about him.
Barren could hear Leaf’s voice in his head. They’ll try to make you angry. They want to demonstrate the behavior they seek to punish. They want to give your brethren a reason to mistrust you.
“My father believed in Saoirse,” Barren argued. “His meddling had nothing to do with his blood.”
“And I suppose you’d say the same thing?” Sal asked, and then he laughed, and Barren felt the sting of his insult. “At least your father knew what Saoirse meant before he started his campaign.”
His father, the infamous Jess Reed, had known what it was to fight for Saoirse. So had all the Elders who sat before him. Around the time of the Ore Wars, the pirates had their own problems. A split had occurred between the pirates of Silver Crest, those who believed the Elders had too much power and those who felt they were upholding the code by defending the Elders. They referred to it as the Barbary Wars. The war had ended with those who had begun the war being exiled to a place called Avalon in the Octent. Their leader, a man named Dominique Esqueviel, started his own order of piracy, and they called themselves Corsairs. By the way the Elders were talking right now, Barren thought he might agree with them.
“Perhaps you feel your cause is noble, but you must understand our worry. Not only do we fear your future actions, but your choice in alliances is also concerning.” Barren was confused for a moment.Was Tobias referring to his crew? “Emmalyn Levianth and Devon Kennings have been wanted by this court for years. I’m very interested to know why, of all the people they sought to help, they found you.”
Em and Devon had never mentioned that they were wanted by the court. Come to think of it, Alex hadn’t, either.
“And what did they do to deserve your punishment?” he asked, almost mockingly.
“The whole lot deserved punishment,” said Sully, and Barren suspected that included his father.
“This involvement in magic,” Eva cut in. “It must stop at once!”
There were so many voices. Shrill judgment sounded all around. He wanted to cover his ears and beg for it to stop. “We weren’t…involved with magic! We destroyed the bloodstone. We kept Tetherion from becoming invincible. Shouldn’t you be praising us?”
“It is just like the son of Jess Reed to expect praise for irresponsible actions,” Eva spat. “But we don’t know what you are…what you are capable of, either of you.”
Barren was confused, but he followed Eva’s gaze and saw it fell on Larkin, whose green eyes flickered like flames in the dim light.
“You are of mixed blood. How do we know you don’t wield magic?”
Barren couldn’t believe it. They were suggesting that because his mother was Lyric, an Elf born with magic in her blood, that he might have magic, too.
Barren spat laughter. “What are you talking about? Of course I can’t wield magic. I’m mortal.” But the words fell weakly from his tongue. When it came right down to it, he was half-Lyric, and while he wasn’t so sure half-Lyrics could wield magic, that didn’t matter. Fear ignited their prejudice.
“You’re half-Lyric. Half of the most powerful Lyric to ever exist. And she,” Eva nodded toward the girl. “She is a danger as well. She’s half-Lyric! How do we know she is free of magic?”
“Trust me, I’d would know if she had magic!” Barren said. He felt angry and desperate. This was unfair. They were making assumptions, and they’d offer their verdict based on these assumptions. This trial was no longer about the code.
“You may not even know if you have the ability to wield magic yet.” Barren could not argue with that, but if there was a chance that they could, it wasn’t Barren or Larkin they should be concerned with—it was Datherious and Natherious, who were also sons of a Lyric mother.
“What are you so afraid of?” Barren asked, careful to keep his voice level.
Eva hesitated for a moment, and then her eyes became more severe. “Magic does not belong in this world. Your father dragged the pirates of Silver Crest into the middle of a war they couldn’t win. If it is magic against mortal flesh, there is no advantage. There is only death.”
“Yet you’re still alive,” said Barren. “And my father is not.”
Eva lifted her head. Her lips barely moved as she spoke. “You’ve already shown you cannot be controlled. We’ve presented the list of charges to you as proof.”
Her words were drowned by voices rising to object Eva’s words.
She looked at Tobias, and Barren suddenly understood that they had already made a decision. There would be no deliberation. His defense would not be heard.
“While destroying the bloodstone was a courageous feat,” Tobias looked at Barren and his crew. “We feel you are a danger to all of us and it is best to send you into exile.”
The clamor of voices rose, but Barren heard Eva’s voice loud and clear.
“And the girl, she will be returned to her father. She has no place here.”
The room erupted, and weapons were unsheathed. Barren turned to see his crew arming themselves. He raised his hand, directing them to put their weapons away, but the voices were still rising, some in protest, others in favor, as they argued among themselves about Barren’s fate. The Elders shouted, requesting calm, but the root of the problem wasn’t their decision, it was the way they’d come to their conclusion. The rules of the Code specified that Barren would have a defense, and that his defense would be considered.
It was then that the doors burst open, and for a moment, Barren thought a riot had begun, but the room hushed. Barren turned to see who had entered the chamber. A figure cloaked in black came forward. There was a familiarity about the way he moved. Behind the figure, Alex McCloud lingered. He did not enter but stood near the open doors, leaning heavily on his cane. He hadn’t changed much in the time they’d been away from each other, but his features were clouded with anger.
The man in black paused before Barren. “It seems you’re in a bit of trouble,” he said. Barren could hear the smile in his voice.
Barren grinned, suddenly comforted by the new arrival. “Trouble would be an understatement, Albatross.”
Albatross had helped Barren reach the bloodstone before returning to Arcarum where he was better known as Ambassador Cove Rowell. If anyone could get Barren out of this mess, it would be Cove. Albatross had leverage with the Elders. It was only today that Barren had discovered his own powerlessness.
“What is this?” Tobias demanded.
Albatross moved around Barren. Throwing his hood back, he bowed his head. “Elders,” he said. “I have news.”
“You didn’t have to sail all the way here to tell us. That’s what the Network is for,” said Tobias.
It was clear the Elders didn’t want him here. They were aware of Barren and Cove’s friendship and knew the ambassador wouldn’t approve of their ruling, much less the trial itself.
“I needed to deliver this message personally,” he said. He looked about at all the bodies in the shadows. “You should all come into the light. What I have to say affects you all.”
Slowly, people moved into the light at the center of the room.
“If you will look around, you will notice some of your brethren are not here. While many of you were sailing here last night, one of your brethren’s ships went down, and three of our own were captured and hanged in M
aris this morning.”
There was that silence again, except this time it was heavy with shock. A pirate of Silver Crest had not been hanged in Maris in years, not since Cathmor’s reign.
“Who?” voices demanded from all around.”
“Gregory Mills, James Alaster, and Fredrick O’Neil,” Cove said. “It is no secret to any of you that Tetherion has flooded our sea with privateers since his return to Maris.”
“And what of the rest of Gregory’s crew?” Tobias asked.
“As of now, not recovered,” Cove’s words were like a weight, and it fell heavily upon everyone in the room.
“This is your fault!” Eva exploded at Barren. “You drew their attention to us!”
The zing of Cove’s blade sounded as he drew it and pointed it at Eva. The air was thick with tension. No one drew a blade against the Elders. By the code, that was a challenge.
“It is foolish to challenge us, boy,” Tobias said carefully, raising his chin.
“So you’re upholding the code now that it comes to your own well-being?” asked Cove. “I never thought it would be necessary to demonstrate to the Elders the meaning of Saoirse, but exiling a man who’s done nothing but protect you from a tyrant king is not Saoirse, even if you fear his actions.”
“This is about…”
“Your inability to control Barren?” asked Cove. “Because that isn’t Saoirse, either. If you are placing him on trial, you must place me on trial, as I accompanied him to D’Avana to destroy the bloodstone. Tetherion is not ignorant of the place I hold in this world or the other. I am a danger to my crew and to Silver Crest.”
“Come now, Cove,” Tobias began. “This is ridiculous—”
“Your fear of Barren will work against you. If you push him away, you lose all advantage. He knows Tetherion best, and if it is magic you fear, you must know that the bloodstone could only be destroyed by Barren and Larkin, because they are of Lyric blood. What if you were to encounter something like that again? You’d have pushed away the only people who could save you.”