“More?” Lucas asked.
“You must accept punishment for your crime.”
They reached the stern. She gripped the railing and motioned for him to join her.
“The water is deep here, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“Water is very cleansing. Did you know that? I’m sure this nice, cold water will remove the taint of your misdeeds.”
He fretted. “I am not sure.”
She grabbed his chin and intensified her efforts. “You are sure.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Jump overboard and tread until sunset. Then, I will have the men throw you a ladder. From that point forward, you will serve in the engine room at the chief engineer’s discretion. Do you understand?”
He quickly nodded.
She snapped her fingers and pointed overboard. He climbed the railing, looked back at her once, then jumped as ordered. After a deep plunge, he surfaced, still looking at her for approval.
“You are a broken man, Lucas. But I have faith in your redemption.”
She went to the engine room and asked for the chief engineer. A sweaty man emerged from a complex of pipes with a spanner in his hand.
“What can I do for you, ma’am?”
“What is our current engine status?” she asked.
He pointed to the steam boilers. “We’re at one-eighth. Just enough to keep the generators going.”
“I need full speed for five minutes.”
He gave her a strange look. “Where are we headed?”
“Nowhere,” she replied. “I want to test the engines. We’ve been stationary for too long, and I want to make sure we’re in top shape.”
“Give us a moment and I’ll give you flank speed.”
“Perfect. Oh, one more question. You’ll have to forgive me. My knowledge of steam machinery is miniscule to say the least. Can we test the propeller, too?”
“Aye,” he replied. “We’ll have to recouple the drive shaft. The anchor should hold. Just keep the rudder in place.”
“I’ll inform the bridge.”
She returned to the bridge and ordered the navigator to hold steady for the engine test. She hurried back to the stern and saw Lucas still treading near the hull. She smiled, knowing the sea would soon wash away his sins. She waited eagerly to see the raw power offered by her flagship’s powerful steam engine.
Soon, the engine roared beneath her feet and large black clouds of smoke poured from the stacks. A loud metal clanking sound sent reverberations through the deck, and then a tremendous maelstrom formed below her from the rapid motion of the propeller. She enjoyed the marvelous display.
Soon, the drive shaft disengaged with a clunk, and the engine returned to its previous idle. She felt a familiar warmth on her chest. She removed her amulet from beneath her dress. It shone its usual brilliant yellow glow.
“I will not forget your sacrifice, Commander Lucas.”
Chapter 47
After tying Cadrin to a chair in the town hall, Niv, Shareis, Farius, and Lilly walked outside the building to converse, well out of earshot of Cadrin.
“I thought capturing him would give us an edge,” Niv said.
“He’s given us a lot of information,” Shareis said. “Trouble is, I’m not sure how much good it will do.”
“I refuse to believe the commander of their fleet would know so little,” Lilly said. “There must be a weakness—something we can exploit.”
“Looks like he is the weakness,” she said. “He’s unstable.” She immediately regretted her comment. “I’m sorry, Father. I know he was your friend.”
“Long ago, Cadrin was my friend,” Farius looked to the town hall. “It saddens me to say he is no longer the man I knew.”
Olivia approached on horseback. “We have a problem.”
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
Olivia tied the horse to a post. “Aiden and Marcus were attacked at the mine by two Steelcove soldiers. They’re alright, but Marcus was gravely wounded. I healed him, and Aiden and Frasie are with him right now.”
She tensed. “Then they’re here—in Ashmar. Did you see any more troops as you headed into town?”
“No,” Olivia replied.
“They may have been an expeditionary force,” Lilly said. “If an attack were imminent, they’d send more men.”
“True. But we should tell the mayor and militia about this,” she said.
Shareis nodded. “I’ll take care of that. We will increase patrols around the town perimeter.”
“We’ve been questioning Cadrin,” she said. “He told us a lot, but absolutely nothing of use. He said you tried to charm him.”
“It was of no use,” Olivia said. “It’s the verdic acid. Fortunately, it will be out of his system in a few days.”
She crossed her arms as she pondered the tales Cadrin spun for them. “If he’s under Morgan’s charm, how is she able to use magic against him?”
“It shouldn’t be possible. I assumed Morgan’s charm nearly worked on me because my dose of acid was wearing off. But now I’m not so sure.”
“Let’s table that for now,” she said. “How are their defenses?”
“Technically, they are incredibly superior,” Lilly said. “But their security, at least on the flagship, is terrible.”
“They think they have nothing to fear,” she said. “That may change after our abduction.”
“Could we teleport explosives aboard their ship?” she asked.
Lilly raised an eyebrow. “An intriguing idea. If we maintained adequate cover, and if we transported enough explosives onboard, it should work. Their ship is mostly made of metal, though, so a simple fire won’t be sufficient.”
“They use coal to power their boats,” Olivia said. “That should be ample fuel for a large explosion.”
“Many of their personnel are on the shore,” Lilly added. “We can’t do much about them. But their ships are vulnerable. Even so, I don’t see how we’ll be able to lug those materials across the burnt forest wasteland without being noticed.”
Olivia looked at her. “We can conjure the explosives.”
“Conjuring magic is incredibly taxing on the caster,” Farius said. “You cannot do that and teleport.”
“We can help her,” Olivia said to Farius.
“Druidic magic is nearly useless in the art of conjuring. This is the realm of human and Skilla magics.”
“I’ve never conjured anything,” Olivia said. “But I can try.”
“We would need to be close,” Farius said.
“And we’ll need plenty of cover,” she added. “Aiden’s going to need more help making bullets.”
“I have experience working with metals,” Lilly said.
“Aiden’s house is but a few minutes flight from here. I will apprise him of our plans and ensure our teams are in constant communication.”
“Excellent. We all have a lot to do…and possibly little time left. Olivia, we should practice conjuring magic.”
“Ready when you are, Niv,” Olivia said.
“Good. Let’s get to work.”
Chapter 48
Lilly helped Aiden produce more bullets while Frasie concentrated on improving their stockpile of arrows. Farius brought them an update on Cadrin then helped her with fletching before he and Lilly returned to town.
After topping off their ammunition, Frasie and Aiden checked on Marcus. They were relieved to find him awake and with a hearty appetite. She warmed him some bread, then she and Aiden went outside to clean his bedclothes.
Aiden poured a kettle of boiling water into the wash tub. “I haven’t thanked you for saving us.”
She poured some soap into the tub. “You don’t have to thank me. You saved my life, too. It’s what we do for one another.”
Aiden flashed a half-hearted smile. “We are good partners.”
“Why do you say it like that?” she asked. “It’s almost as though that disappoints you.”
H
e dumped the dirty sheets into the tub. “Not at all. I just wish we were more than good friends.”
“About that…”
He shook his head. “I’m done talking about it. You feel how you feel.”
She stopped and looked directly at him. “I didn’t know how I felt because I was too busy worrying about how I’m not up to the task of being your wife.”
“I said I didn’t—”
“No, Aiden, hear me out. I know I’m a decent hunter.”
“You’re an excellent hunter.”
“And I can grow the most productive garden you’ve ever seen. But I’m terrible at romance…”
“Now that’s not true.”
“I don’t know what I’m doing. And as for being a housewife, my mom tried to teach me how to cook and sew. But I just wasn’t interested. I preferred to be hunting with my father or rooting around in the garden. Sure, I can cook meats, make tea, and repair a tear in fabric, but beyond that… I’m clueless.”
“I’m not looking for a maid,” Aiden said. “I’m looking for a wife.”
“And I don’t know the first thing about raising a child. In fact, I didn’t know much about how one was conceived until I read some of Nivvy and Shareis’s book.”
“You learn all of that as you go,” he said.
“And when Kytis manipulated me with his smooth words and magic drawings, I finally felt like a real woman.” She hung her head. “Then I learned that was all a lie. That’s why I’ve been so insecure about us, myself, and my own woman—ly…ness… Or whatever that’s called.”
“Kytis manipulated you, but he didn’t have to invent something that wasn’t there. You are a beautiful, sensual woman who has a lot to offer any lover.”
“After you rejected me this morning, I thought long and hard about everything. I talked to Nivvy, and she helped me see how silly I’ve been.” She grabbed his wet hands. “Meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me. I have treasured your friendship. I am lost without you. And even though all that happened clouded my judgement, I now completely understand how I feel.” She swallowed her nerves. “I love you, Aiden.”
“I love you too, Frasie.”
She could now exhale. She reached over the wash tub, spilling some of the water on her trousers, to kiss him.
“Aiden, I know this is a lot to ask, but can you promise me something? Well, several things. I’m not sure exactly how many things, precisely, but—”
“What is it?”
“I need you to promise me that if I need to go curl up in Nivvy’s bed and we talk about things you’ll be fine with that.”
He slowly nodded. “Alright.”
“And I need you to promise that you won’t ever make that disgusting noise again that you made at dinner this evening.”
“I had to clear my throat,” he protested. She glared at him. “Alright, fine.”
“And I need you to promise you’ll help me find my parents and won’t let me give up on them.”
“Of course.”
“And that you’ll never leave me for some completely normal woman. Someone else who doesn’t talk too much and isn’t so painfully awkward.”
“That’s just one of the many reasons I love you.”
She blushed as she stammered with the lines she’d rehearsed in her head. “And promise you’ll spend every night in my bed. And with me, by my side, for the rest of our lives.”
Aiden smiled. “Always.”
Her heart leapt into her throat as she knelt in front of him. Her knee landed in a soapy puddle of water. She did her best to repress making a face as the sludge swished under her weight. “Then, Aiden, would you do me the tremendous honor and marry me?”
He joined her on his knees. “The honor would be mine.”
They kissed passionately, then embraced one another. “Please forget all my foolish wavering over your proposal.”
“It was difficult,” he said. “But I never gave up hope.”
“Oh… And I need one more thing.”
“Anything, love.”
“Some dry clothes. I’m soaking wet.”
Chapter 49
Lilly snuck up behind Cadrin and put her hands on his shoulders. He jumped and turned to see who touched him.
Cadrin chuckled. “I didn’t think I’d seen the last of you.”
“You have good instincts.”
“Are you going to leave me in this chair all night?” Cadrin asked. “I’ve got to sleep sometime.”
She brought a lamp and set it on a table next to him.
“I know how the game is played. You’re going to threaten me, right?”
She looked down at him. “I’ve already done that.”
“I’m not scared of you.”
“Yes, you are.”
“Your friends don’t want you to hurt me.”
“You’re right,” she admitted. “Do you think that’s enough to save you?”
“I’m counting on it.”
She drew her dagger, admiring the way the cold metal rang as it emerged from her scabbard.
“Have you ever taken a good look at a Proctor’s dagger?” she asked.
“Can’t say I have.”
She carefully ran her fingers along the fuller. “They’re exquisite works of art. Each blade is made to exacting standards.” She held it to her chest. “It is a part of me.”
Cadrin shifted in the chair. “I’m not a fool. I know that if you hurt me unjustly, you are injured as well.”
“You are sadly mistaken, Cadrin. You should brush up on your Proctor lore. If I am injured while unjustly hurting you, the wound can be fatal. But, you see, I don’t plan on being injured.”
“A single bite or scratch from me could kill you.”
“I don’t think so,” she said. “The keyword is unjustly. Extracting information from you, a homicidal madman bent on destroying a continent because you weren’t as good a lover to your wife as Olivia, would be justice.”
“That’s not why I’m doing this!” he yelled.
“I have witnessed enough humanity to know males like you—that is, the emotionally weak and depraved—seek two things: power and sexual conquest. You obviously can’t have power again. Your city is gone. And since it took the entire town to please your wife—”
“How dare you!”
“I saw Olivia’s reaction when you accused everyone of adultery.” She drew closer and lowered her voice. “Let me guess—Olivia and your wife were…friends?”
“Anger is not a good torture strategy,” Cadrin said.
“Fear is better, I’ll admit. Don’t worry, I’ll get to that. I just want to get the blood pumping.” She tipped her blade to him. “Now, as for me, even if you injure me, and let’s say the universe plays a cruel joke and decides to take my life. Don’t you think it’d be worth it? I’d still have time to tell them what I found.”
“You’re insane.”
“I am a soldier. A veteran of the Proctor Wars. I know what it takes to get the job done. I do the difficult things so that good people like Niv and her friends can sleep at night. And, let me tell you… I will sleep well tonight, too.”
His voice broke. “What are you going to do?”
“I thought about it. I’d love to rig up some elaborate mechanism that causes you great pain but leaves no permanent mark. But I don’t have the time, and my associates would know I’m up to something.”
“I could yell,” Cadrin said.
“Oh, you will. I am counting on that.” She produced the cloth she had previously used to gag him. “Remember this? Your old friend.”
He nervously chuckled. “How am I supposed to spill my secrets if I can’t speak to you.”
“I’m glad you asked. Here’s how it’s going to work.” She took her blade and lightly brushed it across his knuckles. “You have twenty fingers and toes. That gives you twenty chances to speak. But then I thought… No, I can do better than that.” She demonstrated with her dagger. “Each finger has
two joints. That gives you ten additional opportunities to speak the truth. Now, how many do you think it will take until you talk?”
Sweat glistened on his forehead. His color drained. He struggled against his bindings. He started to scream, but she quickly gagged him.
“We’ll have none of that, mayor.”
He tried to speak.
“I’ll remove the gag—temporarily—if you promise not to try to scream like that again. Do we have a deal?”
He nodded. “Morgan will kill me if I tell you anything.”
“Then you have a choice to make. Die by her hand, or never pick your nose again. If you tell me what I want to know, I might let you live. I might even persuade Niv to protect you. Perhaps, with time, you may even earn redemption. Or… You could return to the skirt of yet another Skilla. Which will it be?”
“I… I can’t.”
“Very well.”
She slammed the gag back in his mouth then took her dagger and cut through the tip of his right pinky finger. Her sharp blade sliced through the flesh and bit of bone with little effort. The cloth kept his agonizing screams to a dull roar. Blood poured from the stub, so she took a small strip of cloth and tied it above the wound.
She pointed to a small pouch. “Don’t worry, I have plenty more.”
He shook in anger and pain, straining at the ropes tying him to the chair. His eyes filled with terror.
“I will now let you speak. Answer my questions, or I will continue. Do you understand?”
He nodded, then cried in pain as soon as she removed the cloth.
“How many officers and men do you have aboard your ships?”
Tremors made it hard for him to form the words. “About five hundred.”
“Excellent. How many days of food do you have stored in your holds?”
“Two months. We planned on raiding supplies as we went.”
“Are more ships coming?” she asked.
“No. Not that I know of.”
“Are there plans for an Ashmar attack?”
He hesitated. “I…”
She moved her blade closer to his hand.
“I don’t know!”
She placed the cold metal on his skin. “That is not a satisfactory answer.”
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