by K Hanson
Devrim guided her effortlessly around the dance floor. As she settled into the rhythm, Nereyda asked, “So did I mess everything up for us?”
“No, I had him laughing about it after a couple of drinks. He admires your spirit and just isn’t used to someone doing that to him. Don’t beat yourself up over it. He needed to hear what you had to say, even if it ruffled him a little. And I’m sorry I got angry with you. You shouldn’t feel bad about speaking your mind, especially when you’re right.”
Nereyda smirked at him. “When I’m right? Generally, assume that I am.”
Devrim laughed. “So far, I think that’s true.” He surprised her by spinning her around, and she giggled. It had been a long time since she had had this kind of fun with anybody.
After a couple of songs, Nereyda felt warm, either from the dancing or how her heart raced when she was with Devrim. “I’m going to step out onto the balcony to cool off for a minute.”
“Sounds good. I’m going to take a look at the food table.”
Nereyda climbed the stairs and drifted out onto the balcony, finding a spot with nobody else around. The fresh air on her face refreshed her as she caught her breath. She closed her eyes and inhaled the cool air.
“Hello, pirate.”
Nereyda spun around to find a sword pointed at her chest. Her gaze followed the blade to its owner. She gasped as she recognized him. “Erhan. How the hell did you get in here?”
“I have an invitation.” He gave her a smug smile as he reached into his jacket with his free hand and pulled out an envelope, then held it out at arm’s length.
Nereyda kept her eyes on him as she took it and flipped the envelope open. Just as Erhan had said, it contained what looked like a legitimate invitation. “How did you get this?”
“I have friends. You don’t need to know the details. What you do need is to start moving.”
“Somehow, I don’t think people are going to let you shove me out of here at the point of a sword.”
“Let me worry about that. You turn and walk that way.” He pointed toward a door that led into the main house, rather than the ballroom.
“Fine.” Nereyda dragged her feet as she moved toward the door.
“I know you can move faster than this.”
“I’m in a dress. It slows me down.”
“I don’t care. Pick it up.”
She lengthened her stride and picked up the pace. After a few steps, she feigned tripping on her dress and rolled onto the ground.
“Get up.” Erhan grabbed her left arm to haul her to her feet.
With her right hand, she punched Erhan in the face, then wrenched his sword from his grasp.
“My turn to tell you what to do,” she said with a snarl. Nereyda paused to snatch Erhan’s invitation from where it had fallen on the ground and tucked it into her bodice. Then, she grabbed Erhan by the collar and shoved him into the ballroom with her sword digging into his back.
Spotting their host, she marched toward him.
Nereyda threw Erhan down at the feet of Volkan, then grabbed Erhan’s invitation from her bodice and shoved it into Volkan’s hands, all while holding Erhan’s sword at the ready.
Erhan tried to scramble away, but Nereyda stomped down on his ankle before she returned her gaze to Volkan.
“Want to tell me how he ended up getting invited to your party? Seems like quite a coincidence that someone who wants to kill me managed to get in.”
“I swear, I’d never let a guest be harmed under my roof. I have no idea how he got an invitation.”
“Why should anyone believe you? You clearly do anything for a profit, no matter who gets hurt along the way. You’re trying to play both sides by selling me out to the Empire.” She sprang closer and pressed the tip of Erhan’s sword against his chest.
The crowd let out a collective gasp.
Devrim and Limbani pushed through the crowd. “What’s going on here?” Devrim asked.
Nereyda ignored him. “Limbani, make sure this one doesn’t go anywhere,” she said, pointing at Erhan.
Limbani nodded.
Nereyda glanced around at the crowd, who stared at her with wide eyes and open mouths. “What? Is it rude to threaten the host even after he probably tried to kill me? I’m sure the rest of you are tired of living in his shadow. If you actually care about the rebellion, join us. Don’t do it for money or position, because if you do, I think you’ll be sorely disappointed and quite likely find yourself on the wrong side of the next revolution. Either stand with us and be prepared to make some sacrifices or get the hell out of our way because we’re coming for you one way or another.”
“What do you want from me?” Volkan asked in a shaky voice.
Nereyda turned back to him. “I want you to open your treasury to us. You’re going to fund this rebellion with every last bit of gold you have. You accumulated it on the backs of the lowest people in the Empire, and now it’s time to give it all back to help make it right.”
“You want everything? I refuse.”
“Really?” She pressed the sword harder against his sternum. He winced at the pain. “I could kill you in front of your guests, take what I want, then let your other guests pick over the scraps. Cooperate, though, and you’ll at least get to keep the house.”
Sweat dripped down his face as he stared at Nereyda with gritted teeth. “Fine,” he spat. “Take whatever you need, then get the hell out of my house.”
“Perfect. We’ll probably have to wait until the morning to get started on hauling away what we need, though. In the meantime, I want to use your quarters.” She gave Volkan a nasty smile, then winked at Devrim. “Let’s go.”
After making sure that Volkan and Erhan had been properly secured for the night, Nereyda retired with Devrim to the lord’s quarters.
As she pulled open the gold-inlaid double doors, she gawked at the interior. Everything seemed over the top. Between the extra-large mattress, the painted tile floors, and the intricately carved furniture, their host hadn’t spared any expense.
“Well, he definitely knows how to waste money.”
Devrim laughed. “His tastes are definitely . . .”
“Gaudy?”
“I was going to say opulent, but yes.”
As Devrim pulled the doors shut, Nereyda paced around the quarters, looking into the spacious washroom and the lady’s bedroom that attached to the main bedchamber.
“Hmm, I guess if I was married to that bastard, I wouldn’t want to sleep in the same bed as him, either,” Nereyda remarked.
“Reyda, I have to say, you were remarkable down there. I never expected tonight to go the way it did.”
“What can I say? I know how to get what I want.”
“You certainly do. I don’t think I could imagine tonight going any better.”
“Really?” Nereyda asked with a wry grin. “There’s nothing else that would make it better?” She let her hips swing as she glided up to him.
His eyes glanced down then back up to her face, and he smiled. “I suppose there might be something. Are you sure you want this?”
She leaned into him and teased his earlobe with her teeth before she whispered, “Oh, I’ve been sure since before we left the ballroom. And, as we both know, I know how to get what I want.” She started undoing Devrim’s shirt, deftly moving from one button to the next.
“This is going to be quite the scandal, the two of us.”
“I don’t care.” As Devrim’s shirt fell from his shoulders, Nereyda ran her hands over his bare chest and bit her lip as she felt his firm muscles, her heart hammering in her chest. She took a deep breath of his pine scent. “This, though—this I do care about. Your turn.” She pointed to the laces on the front of her bodice.
He pulled the laces loose and, after tossing her bodice to the ground, pushed her dress off of her shoulders. “You know this is completely improper.”
“And you know that makes me want it even more.” Nereyda let the dress fall to the ground an
d kicked it to the side, then let Devrim undo her corset.
He started working on the laces, but his hands shook, and his fingers fumbled. “Sorry, I should be better at this.”
“As long as you’re better at using your fingers for other things, we’ll be just fine.” Nereyda took over and undid her own laces, then let the corset fall to the ground, stepping back to let Devrim gaze at her bare body.
His eyes devoured every inch of her. “You’re even better than I imagined.”
Nereyda put her hands on her hips. “So you’ve been imagining me, huh?”
“Of course, though I didn’t quite know what to expect.”
“Then shut up and let me outdo your imagination again.”
Nereyda dropped to her knees and undid Devrim’s breeches. Finally, she got Devrim to stop talking.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Erhan sat in a cell below the mansion, with Volkan on the ground next to him. The dungeon around them was small and gloomy. A lone guard sat dozing in a chair at the base of the stairway that led to the house above.
“I can’t believe I’m being held captive in my own home. That pirate’s ruined everything.”
“Oh, I’m familiar with that feeling. That’s why I chased her down to your party.”
“Don’t try to be friendly with me. You’re part of the reason I’m here. I don’t know you, and I certainly don’t know how you got an invitation.”
Erhan had no shortage of disdain for Volkan. He had been one of the Emperor’s strongest servants and had grown absurdly wealthy as a result. Yet, he had tossed aside his loyalty to support the rebels who would burn it all down. However, he resisted the temptation to argue and instead focused on escaping. “I have my ways. But now we’re both in the same predicament. Do you know a way out of here?”
“Out of the cell? No. But if we could get out of the cell, there is a secret way out of the dungeon. Though, as I said, we’d need a way out of our cell.”
“Don’t you have a wife? Shouldn’t we bring her with us?”
“Ah, yes. They put her up in one of the servants’ rooms. She should be comfortable enough for the time being,” he said in a bored voice. “I’ll get out and return once they leave my house.”
“Is that guard one of yours?” Erhan nodded toward the sleeping man.
“He used to be. Who knows right now?”
“Try asking him.”
Volkan stood up and peeked through the bars on the side of the cell closest to the guard. “Hey, Haluk, wake up.”
The guard’s head jerked up, and he squinted as he overcame his disorientation. “What is it, sir?”
“Can you let me out of here?”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.”
“And how long have you been a member of my household guard? How long has your family served me?”
“I’ve served for five years, and my family has served yours for generations. But I’m afraid the other nobles are quite insistent that I watch you. I’m trapped as much as you are. I’d let you out if I could, but they’ve made it quite clear that they know where my family is.”
“If you let us out, I’ll make sure they’re unharmed.”
“I’m sorry, sir, but I can’t take that risk.” Haluk gave a regretful smile, then pulled a small figurine out of his pocket, drew his dagger, and started whittling.
Volkan whispered into Erhan’s ear, “Any other ideas?”
“One, but you’re not going to like it.”
“If it gets us out of here, do whatever you need to.”
Erhan inhaled deeply, then raised his voice. “If a traitor like you didn’t host a party like this in the first place, I wouldn’t be stuck in a cell with a damn rebel.” He hauled his fist back, channeling his disdain for the traitorous noble, and struck Volkan across the jaw with an unnecessarily hard hit.
Volkan staggered back and gazed at Erhan with wide, disbelieving eyes.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” called Haluk. “Break it up.” The guard jogged to their cell and fumbled with his keys.
Realization dawned in Volkan’s eyes. “How is this my fault? If your Imperial ass hadn’t crashed my party, I’d be up in my own bed right now.” He charged Erhan and shoved him into the wall.
The cell lock clicked open, and Haluk hurried into the cell. As soon as he was inside, Volkan and Erhan tackled him to the ground, taking his sword and key ring.
They rushed out of the cell and Volkan locked it behind them. “I’m sorry, my friend,” said Volkan to the stammering guard who was still processing what had happened. “I hope they don’t punish your family for this.”
“Come on,” said Erhan. “Where is that secret passage?”
###
Nereyda smiled to herself as she lay curled up in bed later that night, with Devrim’s arms wrapped around her. It had been a long time since she had had that much fun in bed. She had especially enjoyed surprising Devrim with her willingness to do things he’d never tried before.
A knock sounded at the door.
Devrim snorted but kept sleeping. Nereyda ignored the sound.
It came again, more insistently.
“Go away,” Nereyda yelled.
“It’s me, Limbani,” came a voice through the door. “It’s about Volkan and Erhan.”
“Fine, just a second,” said Nereyda.
She shook Devrim awake. “Get dressed. Limbani needs to talk to us.”
He grumbled as he rolled out of bed and tossed on a shirt and pair of pants. Nereyda sprang out of bed and found a robe that must have belonged to Volkan’s wife. As she tied it around her waist, she rushed to the doors. She pushed one open. “Come in.”
Limbani slipped into the room and averted her gaze as she took in Devrim and Nereyda in the bedchamber. A professional, she composed herself quickly. “Erhan and Volkan have escaped. I don’t know how. Their guard was locked in their cell and said they didn’t use the stairs, but he didn’t see exactly where they went.”
“Bastard must have another way out,” said Devrim.
“And you’ve searched the estate?” asked Nereyda.
“Entirely. No sign of either of them.”
“Where do you think they’d go?” asked Devrim.
“Did Volkan know about our plan to attack Goremia?” asked Nereyda. “If so, he’s probably told Erhan by now. We need to make our move now.”
“Yes, Volkan knew.” Devrim shook his head. “But we’re not ready to attack them there yet. We need at least another week.”
“We don’t have that long. We need to get ready and hit it as soon as possible. Erhan’s already going to beat us there and rally a defense, and we can’t afford to give them any more time. Especially if Volkan still has some other noble friends who might join them.”
“Very well. Limbani, send a message to have the army assemble as soon as possible.”
“Yes, sir,” Limbani answered before running out of the room and down the hall.
“We might still be able to capture Goremia if we move quickly. I hope the two of you can come up with a way of taking the city.”
“We haven’t let you down yet,” said Nereyda with a cocky smile.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Brynja slumped in her seat next to Ilker in a spacious audience hall, where they had gathered with a large number of Imperial officers and others, including some who sat with the same lack of enthusiasm she did and had people next to them in gray jackets who wore rings inscribed with eyes.
“What do you think this is all about?” she asked.
“You’ll have to wait and see,” said Ilker, looking sideways at her. “The admiral himself called this meeting.”
“Why did he pull us off of the sea?”
“I’m sorry, did you want to keep attacking helpless boats? I thought you hated it.”
“I did, but it was easy.”
Ilker scoffed. “Do you think Admiral Mansur really cares about fishing boats and cruise ships? This is part of a larger game.”
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“Do you know what that game is?”
“I do, but it’s not my place to tell you. Wait a few minutes, and you’ll find out for yourself. But remember what happened the last couple of times we attacked ships.”
“You mean the frigates that almost caught us?”
“Exactly. That didn’t happen at first. Stalsta has changed its strategy. That’s the most I’ll say though. Besides, it looks like our admiral is about ready to reveal what’s next for us.”
Admiral Mansur marched onto the short stage so he stood where the seated assembly could see him. “Hello everyone. I’m excited to see the western fleet assembled all in one place. It doesn’t happen very often, but we have good cause to gather here today. I know many of you crave revenge for the vicious attack that the Stalsta Federation launched on us not long ago. It has left our mining operations crippled and our people hungry for justice.”
Brynja frowned as she remembered a drifting orange ball. Is it justice to leave children to drown?
Mansur continued with a voice of measured and practiced confidence. “Some of you have confided in me your frustration that our only response has been to send privateers after tiny fishing boats and ships hauling goods from city to city. I’d like to remind you that any dead Stalstan is worth the effort.” He let out a dark laugh. “Still, you’ll be happy to know that this was only the first stage in our plan. I couldn’t share it with you before, because if it leaked to the wrong person, it never would have worked. While the work of our privateers has inflicted some damage on the Stalstan economy, the true achievement has been to draw out the full Stalstan Navy. It’s kept itself hidden ever since the attack on the mines. While we do not have any desire to invade the Stalstan lands, we do want to destroy their ability to attack the Cambisian Empire for the foreseeable future. To that end, our entire western fleet, including both our official mainline ships and our privateers, will sail out to engage their main fleet. We believe that we can catch them off guard and cripple their navy.
“I know some of you might be hesitant to face the Stalstans while we face a rebellion within our own empire. There are even rumors of a purple-eyed pirate who can destroy ships with lightning.”