“Do you think my father is a good man, Locke?” I sat down on his cot while he remained standing.
He looked down at me, face sincere. “I think your father is a very complicated man.”
That wasn’t a yes. I wasn’t sure I wanted to push for more of an answer than that. Wasn’t sure I really wanted the answer at all.
“Thank you,” I said again, standing up to go. “I know it couldn’t have been easy, going from the position you held to being stuck guarding a moody teenager.”
“A grieving young woman, you mean. No, it wasn’t always easy, but allow me to clear up one misconception. I was never stuck guarding you. I volunteered. Some might say I insisted.”
“Why would you do that?”
“I suspected your father’s dealings were not always above board. You needed protection in case someone tried to get at him through you. But primarily, you needed someone on your side.”
My eyes burned with tears I wasn’t sure I was even capable of shedding anymore. I owed this man much more than I had even known. He had saved my life, my sanity, and my dignity, well above and beyond the call of duty. There were no words for that.
“Thank you.” I could barely get the words out through my hoarse vocal chords, but he deserved to hear them again, ineffectual though they may be.
“Any time, Ms. Kensington.”
I padded back down to the main deck, but still wasn’t ready to go downstairs. Instead, I sat with my feet dangling under the railing, staring out at the endless sea of stars. It was cool and calm here. I wasn’t sure I even cared about getting back to Ceithre. Footsteps sounded behind me, but I didn’t turn my head. I knew who it was.
Glasses clinked, and the steel of a sword clattered against the planks of the deck as Clark sat down next to me.
“So, there’s no whiskey on this boat, but I did find some sailor’s rum.”
I finally turned to look at him. “It’s worth a shot, right?”
He grinned, teeth white in the moonlight. “My thoughts exactly.” He poured us each a generous amount.
I wondered if he, too, was remembering a night on a different boat, a world and a lifetime away from this one. I took a tentative sip, and nearly spat it back out.
“This is terrible,” I choked out. It did nearly numb my raw throat, though, so I took another sip.
“Not any better the second time, is it?” Clark asked.
“It really isn’t.”
We both laughed, then his expression turned serious.
“You need rest, Addie.”
“I know.” I looked back out at the water. “But I can’t.” Admitting that felt so much like failure, but here on the mostly dark deck, that didn’t seem to matter as much.
“I know the feeling.”
We didn’t say anything else for a while. We didn’t need to.
The Protector
“I wish I could say I was surprised the threat to my brothers came from you, again.” Xav was shaking with anger and his own self-disgust when he faced the man he had once called Father.
Addie was still knocked out from the blow Xav had delivered. He hated himself, but not quite as much as he hated the general, or Master Yomi, or whatever the man was going by these days.
“You’re the only one not surprised.” The older man was breathing through flared nostrils, a clear sign of his ire. “Why, pray tell, did you bring me an injured girl attached to the necklace.”
Xav’s brow furrowed.
“It’s stuck on her. I thought you knew.”
Xavier had never heard the general curse in nearly a decade of being raised by the man until that moment.
“Bordel de merde.” Then, he turned to look at Xav. “If you care at all for the girl’s life, you’re going to need to stay.”
Chapter Fifteen
CLARK
I sat with Addie for hours, until a rainstorm chased us below. She could be prickly and frustrating, but I remembered a time not long ago when she had done the same for me. I knew as well as anyone that sometimes you just needed someone to be there.
She had insisted she wanted to go to bed. Mine and Gunther’s cabin shared a wall with hers, so I jolted awake every time she cried out in her sleep. I debated going to her, holding her while she slept so she might feel safe. But then I saw her heiress face, that pride that was just so Addie. Somehow, I knew she wouldn’t welcome the intrusion. She would want to pretend in the morning that she’d slept like a baby, that she was just fine. I didn’t know if she was ready to accept the fact I was okay with her not being okay. I didn’t know if she’d believe me if I told her I didn’t think her actions reflected weakness. And I felt that her pride was important to her survival at the moment.
So, I stayed, and I barely slept. When morning came, I hauled myself to the kitchens. Xavier was there, too, something I wasn’t entirely thrilled about. We each made our breakfast in silence. I was eating mine in the galley, glaring at my oldest brother, when Gunther and Locke walked in.
“Our fuel levels are low,” Gunther announced. “The time we would lose by stopping to fill up would be negligent compared to the hours we would gain not having to rely on the winds.”
That sounded reasonable enough. I nodded. “How far is the nearest island? And who is going on shore?”
“Are we stopping somewhere?” Addie’s voice was even more gravelly in the morning, and her face was pale. The purple under her eyes accentuated the bruising along her cheekbone.
I tightened my hold on my spoon, willing myself not to throw it at Xavier.
She made a vain attempt to clear her voice. “I would kill to be on solid land. You know, walking freely.” She exchanged an awkward look with Xav, who looked guiltily at the floor.
“I could stand to stretch my legs, too. I’ll go with you,” I volunteered before I could stop myself. It was fair, though. I knew my way around marketplaces.
Locke narrowed his eyes at me, and Gunther smirked.
“I have no desire to be anywhere on land over here,” Gunther offered.
“I will stay to guard the ship,” Locke finally said. He shot Xavier a mistrustful look that I could hardly argue with.
“I’ll ask Nell,” Addie walked out as quickly as she had appeared, Shensi at her feet, leaving me alone with Locke’s weighty gaze.
“You will ensure no harm comes to her,” Locke said.
I swallowed a lump of bread, leaving my mouth dry. “Of course.”
Locke stared at me for several more uncomfortable moments before nodding once and leaving me in the galley with my brothers.
As it turned out, the nearest island was only a couple of hours away with favorable winds. Nell had decided against coming on shore, which Addie seemed unreasonably irritated by. I tried not to be offended by that.
We navigated into the small harbor right on the tail of one of the flying ships. I gazed at it longingly, and Gunther shook his head next to me. I couldn’t figure out why my creative, engineering brother wasn’t excited about the fantastical ships.
Addie was still more reserved than usual, but her eyes were lit up with something close to wonder when she took in the giant balloons. She was being swallowed by Nell’s flowing clothing and her shoes had seen better days, but she was unfazed by that in her desire to leave the boat.
I couldn’t blame her. Even having spent most of my life on a ship, the last few weeks had made me long for solid land underneath my feet. We docked, and I hopped down, ignoring another of Locke’s pointed looks.
I offered her a hand to disembark, and she took it without looking at me. She had barely looked at me all morning.
Though the water here was the same sickly green as everywhere else, the people appeared somewhat healthier than those on Hobatsi Island. Their faces were fuller and less wan, their eyes less haunted. This spot was nestled between several larger islands. The business must have kept them well fed.
Considering the mild weather, it was surprising to see heavy cloaks and coats carried over the arms of s
everal passersby. Perhaps the next nearest island was more like the climate we had just left.
Being on these small trade islands always reminded me of travel with my father. I tried to swallow the memories. I had thought the worst thing was losing him to death and the sharp pang of grief that accompanied every memory. But now, knowing he was alive but responsible for so many terrible things, I couldn’t sort through the feelings that accompanied his memories at all. Even the good ones felt tainted, and that was infinitely more painful than when I believed him dead.
I went in and took care of the fuel business, pushing thoughts of my father firmly aside. Addie stood at my side, imperious expression daring the lean, mustached salesman to comment on the state of her face. He wisely refrained.
There was a two-hour wait, which wasn’t unexpected given the traffic in the harbor.
“Do you want to wait on the boat?” I offered.
“Decidedly not.” Addie had been overly formal all day, likely to make up for the tiny moment of letting her guard down the night before.
I sighed, but I couldn’t get too aggravated, what with the prospect of a new sword dangling before me. The one I had stolen from the Red Sons was fine, but not really my style. I had noticed swords on the hips of every man and some of the women we passed, so I knew there had to be a shop somewhere nearby.
“I need a new sword.” I gestured down the road.
Addie nodded, the barest dip of her proud chin. I bit back a comment about no one forcing her to come on shore with me today, and I quickened my pace. There didn’t seem to be any automobiles on this island, but horses and motorbikes zoomed past us, some of the latter holding entire families. A few people did doubletakes at the bruises on Addie’s face, but seemed to dismiss her as a victim as soon as they saw the expression she was wearing. Little did they know.
Where Hobatsi Island had felt like a melting pot, no one style more prominent than another, Toredo Island felt more like a smorgasbord. Even in my travels with father, I had never seen so many different kinds of people in one place. A man with hair even brighter orange than Gunther’s walked by, wearing a full suit of armor. At his heels came a woman with deep bronze skin in a gauzy dress and matching head scarf. Ceremonial tribe wear, like that of the outer islands, was no more out of place than my leather jacket on this island.
The main street was lined on either side by a narrow walkway and a series of wooden buildings, squashed so close to one another that they resembled one long storefront. A large carved sword directed us to what could only be the weapons shop.
The reedy blonde man behind the counter gave us a friendly greeting when we came in before returning to his current customer. Addie perched on a chair that faced the far wall. Since we were in no hurry, I took my time examining the wares. The shopkeeper wisely let me peruse without interruption. I fully expected Addie to complain about being bored at any moment, but a glance told me she was lost in her thoughts, staring at a wall of broadswords.
Half an hour later, I made my selection. It had been years since I trained with a cutlass, but the small learning curve would be worth the impressively-made weapon. I was counting out my money for the shopkeeper when something else caught my eye. A curved dagger with a comfortable leather hilt hung near a slim, adjustable leg holster. The blade had a jagged edge, and there were amethysts set into a swirling design on the cross guard. It was a fierce weapon, but undeniably feminine. I glanced back at Addie. She was still facing the other direction.
“That, too,” I said, pointing.
I wasn’t an idiot. I had seen her face yesterday when Gunther brought up a dagger, but she needed a way to defend herself. We all had demons to work through. Besides, the weapon reminded me of her. He started to wrap both up, but I stopped him on my sword and leather holster.
“I’ll wear that out. Thanks.”
Addie turned around just in time to see me unbuckling my belt. It seemed to pull her out of whatever trance she was in.
“Didn’t realize this was that kind of place.” She raised an eyebrow.
I threw her a half smile. “Well, I didn’t want to offend your feminine sensibilities by mentioning it.”
“How very thoughtful of you.”
I finished sliding my new sword and holster onto my belt and thanked the man while I took the other package.
“Two swords? Some might say you were overcompensating.”
I shook my head. So much for her feminine sensibilities.
“That might be a fair point if this were another sword. Alas, it is not. I suppose you’re forced to conclude I have nothing to compensate for.” I grinned at her, flexing my muscles a little. It was almost a relief to see her being obnoxious again.
“I’m sure you think so.” She shook her head, a hint of a grin tilting her lips. “What is it, if not a sword?”
“I’ll show you later.” If it was going to upset her, better that occur on the boat. I was wondering how we would fill the remaining hour and a half when Addie pulled me toward the far end of the street. I was momentarily distracted by her slim hand on my bicep and the way she walked closer than was strictly necessary. Then, I looked up and froze.
A pay-by-the-hour motel nestled between two ordinary shops was on our side of the street. My mind went blank. Surely not.
Addie’s grip tightened, and I belatedly realized she was tugging me across the street, away from the motel. Which made infinitely more sense, of course. I was so focused on keeping the redness from my cheeks and hoping Addie hadn’t noticed where my mind had gone that I missed where we were going until we stood inches from the shop window.
Fortunately, she seemed to be singularly focused on her target rather than my reaction. I looked through the enormous windows to see mannequins decked out in a variety of fashions.
A women’s clothing store?
I groaned. We’d be lucky to be out of here by the end of the week.
The Protector
Xavier did his best to avoid Aegis on board. It wasn’t hard. The man kept to himself, somewhat in disgrace for his son’s behavior. Jayce had apparently been left behind for his insubordination in taking off his mask and revealing the group’s name. Xavier couldn’t say he was sorry about either of those things.
What he was sorry about was Addie. She was strong, but she was wasting away, and it was all his fault. He could barely stand to look at her during the twelve-hour shifts he took guarding her cell.
He wanted to do more, to do something to help her, but the general, Master Yomi, had warned Xav to be cautious. The men they were on board with were not like those that they’d lived with on the naval ship. There was honor amongst them on the military vessel. Respect, for each other and for women. Back then, the general would never have allowed a woman to be treated this way. He would never have allowed anyone to be treated this way.
The rules were different here. Convincing them that she needed to be alive to use the necklace had been difficult. But that didn’t stop the men from leering at her in a way that made me fear for more than just her life...
Listening to them talk about what they wanted to do to her was enough to make him physically ill.
Then, there was the matter of her other guard. He had been given the guard shift as punishment for an unknown infraction, and the general insisted he could not be replaced without calling undue attention to Addie. Though, why the man cared at all was a mystery to Xav.
He was secretly glad, even when she was hurling insults at him, because it showed her spirit hadn’t broken. Try as he might, he couldn’t see a way out of this mess he had thrown them both into.
Chapter Sixteen
ADELAIDE
I nearly laughed out loud when I saw Clark’s expression at realizing we were in a clothing shop. The inclination surprised me, and I covered my mouth.
This whole outing had been Nell’s doing, or at least the fact that we were here alone. She wouldn’t admit it, claiming she was merely tired and needed to rest. I felt a small stab
of guilt. She had looked a little pale, and I knew she was still recovering. Still, there was something in the gleam of her eye that told me I was correct about her orchestration.
For that matter, my own bruises were aching with every step we took. I took care not to let any pain or fatigue show, though. Clark would likely cart me back to the ship, and I planned to enjoy every moment of our two hours on dry land. Also, if I had to wear those wretched shoes and too-large clothes another minute, I would go insane. I just wanted to feel like myself again, as much as that was possible.
Clark settled himself onto the front bench, clearly expecting this to take a while. I rolled my eyes. I wouldn’t take half as long picking out clothes as he did his sword.
I did a quick circle around the store, taking in the inventory. The shop girl asked if I needed any assistance. I pointed out the items I had picked out.
“Would you be liking me to take you into the dressing room as to take your measurements?” Her dialect was spoken with a robust burr. The curvy girl glanced uncertainly at Clark. I almost laughed out loud. Really, the sensibilities of some places. What was immodest about having a measuring tape around your waist?
“I think he’ll survive the experience,” I said.
The girl looked scandalized, but the changing room was in the back of the long shop and my energy was flagging. Besides, there were mirrors in there. If the looks I was getting were any indication, I really didn’t want to see my face. I stared her down until she took my measurements, clacking her teeth.
Clark smirked. Thinking of indecencies, I had spotted an hourly motel. It occurred to me that maybe Clark had more than one reason for wanting off the boat, for being clearly irritated with my presence.
“You know, I’ll be fine on my own if you have…” I paused, searching for a way to phrase it that wouldn’t make the prude shopkeeper kick me out entirely, “… other things to attend to.” I finished up, conveying the meaning in my expression and looking pointedly across the street.
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