“It wasn’t yours either.”
He nods once and lets out a long breath. He knows it’s true, but it may take some time before he believes it.
“How’s Yancey?” he asks.
“Grumpy.”
“Oh, good.” Avery turns and actually smiles. “He must be feeling like himself. I’d worry more if he were sociable.”
We stay in each other’s company for a few more minutes, both of us quiet. We linger in our between state—more than friends, and yet, less than more. Eventually, he takes my hand, brushes his lips over my knuckles, and tells me to get some rest.
I agree without argument.
***
I’ve just rolled Flink’s ball across the ship for the hundredth time when the man in the crow’s nest yells, “Land!”
I look up, beyond relieved. We’re almost out of illegal waters.
But then he says, “Captain! You need to see this.”
Every man on the deck does exactly as I do—we all swing our heads toward the front though we have no spyglasses, and therefore no way to see what the man is yelling about.
Avery climbs the rigging for a better look.
“What is it, Captain?” Gregory hollers up.
“Ships. At least a dozen of them.”
They know. The king’s men have found us.
What was the point in all of this if we’re just going to be tossed in the king’s dungeon?
Avery hands the spyglass back to the man and grins down. “His Majesty is right on time, gentlemen.”
***
No one is as concerned as they should be. I pace the deck, waiting for Avery to come up with some kind of plan to escape, to sneak away.
Finally, when I cannot take his nonchalant view on the matter anymore, I grab Avery’s sleeve and haul him into his cabin. “What is wrong with you? Surely you cannot think they will excuse you for breaking the law just because you happen to be Captain Greybrow?”
He smirks for the first time in days. “It’s always worked in the past.”
“You have to do something.”
“You want me to evade the king’s men as we sail out of illegal waters, Lucia?” He crosses his arms and gives me a chastising look that’s laced with a smile. “I thought you were an upstanding citizen of Kalae.”
“Avery,” I warn.
He leans close, looking me right in the eyes. “It will be fine.”
“Do you swear it?”
“I swear.”
I follow him out the cabin door. He turns toward the helm, but I make my way to the bow to count the ships. There are seventeen lined up on the other side of the outer archipelago, and four are positioned farther out. The king has practically sent a militia to meet us, and Avery says it will be fine.
My heart rate kicks up another notch when we grow close enough to see that there are not only ships, but ships lined with hundreds of archers. And they’re all armed and ready.
And what does Avery do to prepare? He pulls on a doublet and his captain’s jacket. On his orders, our crew lets the wind out of the sails, and we come to a steady stop.
“Captain Greybrow,” a man in the king’s colors calls out from the ship closest to us. He’s middle-aged and wears the look of a man seldom trifled with.
Avery steps forward. “I am here.”
Expressionless, the archers keep their aim, but the man grins. “Was your mission a success, Captain?”
Avery smirks in that familiar, cocky way I’ve come to know so well. “It was.”
“And the sirens?”
“There are three less in the world.”
The king’s man gives the order, and the archers drop their weapons. A great cry of victory rises from the ships, filling the sea with noise. A few migratory waterfowl are startled from their perches on the shore of the closest island, and they wing their way farther down the line.
I wander closer to Avery, dumbfounded. I have no idea what’s going on, but it’s obvious we’re not being boarded and bound with ropes and chains.
“And Master Gregory? Is he well?”
The mage comes forward. “I am, sir.”
“You witnessed the exchange with the duke?”
“I did.”
“Excellent. We will escort you to Mesilca, hanging back before we reach the cove. At that time, Arthur will board the Serpent, and you will take him to witness the delivery. After, Eldemyer will be arrested. Do you have any questions?”
About a hundred, but he’s not talking to me.
“No, sir,” Avery gives him a crisp bow.
“Excellent work, Captain. And congratulations on your successful return.” The man nods to me and then turns back to his ship.
Completely befuddled, I watch as three ships break away from their partners. The rest prepare to return to Kalae.
After Avery finishes yelling his own instructions to the crew, I march up to him. “What was that?”
“I think you mean ‘who’ was that.”
So help me, he wears the smuggest expression known to man.
I shake my head, unsure whether I want to slap him or kiss him. “Fine. Who was that?”
“Earl George Render of Tanrith, Captain of the Trident.”
He’s being obtuse on purpose. “And who is he?”
“The king’s dear uncle, and one of my father’s closest friends. He’s also the man King Harold appointed to wait at the border in case the sirens took over the Serpent with plans of attacking Kalae.”
“How did the king know?”
With the Serpent on course, and the crew manning their positions, Avery takes me into his cabin. With little ado, he pushes on my shoulders, plopping me on the bed for what I fear is a long conversation.
“When I found out Duke Eldemyer put a bounty on your head, I went to King Harold to explain—”
“You’re in the position where you can make an appointment with His Royal Majesty of Kalae?” I interrupt, far past incredulous.
Avery grins and chooses a chair at the small table. “I’m important, Lucia. How many times do I have to tell you that?”
“Fine, continue.”
“The king was very interested to hear of our plight, and he offered a solution that would benefit you and himself. He knew of the Duke’s mania—knew he’d been attempting to hire merchants to sail through the restricted waters, past the sirens, for years. But he hadn’t been able to prove it.”
“We just proved it.”
“We did.”
“The king was your source,” I mutter, overwhelmed. “You didn’t steal the diary. He gave it to you. Why? Why would he trust you to sail through such a dangerous area?”
Avery leans forward and rests his elbows on his knees. “Because I’m the best.”
I sit, processing the information. “Now wait a minute—then why were we worried about the king’s patrols finding us when we crossed over the first time?”
He waves his hand. “It’s not like a message was sent out to all of His Royal Majesty’s ships. If we’d been caught, we’d have been hauled back to Kalae and lost a considerable amount of time. Plus, we were harboring Yancey. It had to look real.”
“What happens to Yancey? Will he be arrested?”
For the first time since we entered the cabin, Avery’s expression dims. “I don’t know.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I finally ask.
“To start with, I didn’t think you’d believe me considering the events of last summer.” He leaves his seat and kneels in front of me. “And I selfishly wanted to see the look on your face when you realized I’m not the pirate you think I am.”
“Oh, you’re still a pirate, Captain Greybrow. You just happen to be the king’s pirate.”
“That’s probably fitting.” He takes my hands. “He’s going to want to meet you. You are the adventuress who singlehandedly killed three sirens. I’ve never heard of such a thing. You’re going to be famous, Lucia.”
“Does famous mean we get paid?” I as
k—not because I’m greedy, mind you. Just curious.
Avery laughs under his breath. “Yes, it usually does.”
“Now what do we do?”
“Now, we sail to Mesilca, and we give Duke Eldemyer his ruby. The duke will be arrested and relieved of his position, and you will no longer have a bounty on your head.”
“Or Adeline.”
“Or Adeline,” he agrees. He looks up, meeting my eyes. “And then we’ll find a church and sort things out.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
A Duchess and Her Dagger
Of all the three times I’ve sailed into Mesilca, I dread this one the least. But I should dread it the most, because there, standing on the pier with his arms crossed and a familiar surly expression on his face is Sebastian.
My Sebastian.
What’s he doing here?
Avery tenses beside me. I’m sure he’s wondering the same thing. I wasn’t supposed to deal with the two of them together. We were going to figure the mess out on our own—I was going to have time to think.
Adeline’s next to my business partner, bouncing on her toes, looking as lovely and alive as ever. She waves when she sees us, and she’s so excited, I’m afraid she’s going to fall in the cove.
“It looks like he came for you after all,” Avery says. His tone is off, harder than usual.
“Avery…”
He smiles like all is right with the world, but it’s a facade. I wonder how many times it was last summer. I’m better at reading him now.
We drop the anchor, and the dinghies are prepared. I have the infamous sea fire ruby in my satchel. Gregory, who I learn is the king’s second cousin twice removed, is ready to leave the ship with us, and so is Arthur, the man who will make the arrest.
With the assistance of Avery’s always-eager-to-assist ship’s boys, I climb into the dinghy, and within minutes, we’re rowing toward shore—toward Sebastian and my freedom.
Sebastian is the first to greet us. He gives Avery a cool, indifferent look, and doesn’t bother with a greeting of any sort—probably because he’s too respectable to yell in front of this multitude.
“Hello, Lucia,” he says as he stretches out his hand, ready to assist me.
I let him pull me out, all the while thinking how much different his hand feels than Avery’s. Not bad, just not the same.
His green eyes look me over, and he frowns. “Are you well?”
Faking an easy smile for appearances, I say, “I am in one piece, if that’s what you’re asking.”
He shakes his head, lets out a frustrated sigh, and then pulls me into an embrace so tight, I almost can’t breathe. Into my ear, he whispers. “I missed you, Lucia. Swear you will never do something so foolish again.”
I hug him back because he is my dearest friend, and he is here, and I missed him more than I imagined possible. But there’s something missing.
I pull away first. I’m barely out of Sebastian’s arms when I’m accosted by another pair—these ones perfumed.
“Lucia!” Adeline squeals. She holds me back at arm’s length and frowns. “You look awful.”
“I missed you too.”
“Sebastian paid off the duke, and he lifted my bounty. Isn’t that absolutely without honor? Greedy old man.” She leans close and lowers her voice. “We’ve been waiting here for a month. Sebastian tried to hire a ship to take us past the sirens, but everyone refused.”
I glance at Sebastian. “Is that true?”
“It doesn’t matter now,” Sebastian answers.
Adeline chatters about their voyage, about new dresses she’s designed—about anything and everything, really. When we pull away from each other, I find Avery and Sebastian trying very hard not to acknowledge each other’s existence.
“Lucia, we need to go. They have a carriage waiting for us,” Avery says, but he doesn’t look my way.
I nod.
“We should go too,” Adeline says as if it makes all the sense in the world. “I mean, we were part of this mess, after all. And we’ve waited all this time for you to arrive.”
Sebastian agrees, though I believe it’s just so Avery and I won’t have another moment alone.
It’s a tight squeeze in the carriage with all six of us. Introductions are made, and we find our seats. Sometimes the world is simply unfair because I end up between Sebastian and Avery. Fortunately, it’s a short ride to the castle.
The Earl of Tanrith waits just beyond the cove. After the ruby is delivered, the king’s men will move in, and Duke Eldemyer will no longer be duke of anything.
***
The duke is much happier to see us than he was last time we graced this room. He’s so eager for the ruby, he’s sweating. He wipes his brow over and over, and he twitches with anticipation.
If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was taking one of the narcotic concoctions the caravans in Kalae sell after a certain time in the evening.
“Do you have it?” he leans forward in his seat, which he sits in like a makeshift throne.
Avery gives him an easy smile. “I do. Again, I ask you, are you willing to forgive our crimes, and lift the remaining bounty on Lucia’s head?”
“Yes, yes.” He waves his hand as if that is a trifle he can’t be bothered with now. “All will be forgiven as discussed. Where’s the ruby?”
Arthur and Gregory silently watch the exchange. They say nothing, but they must catch the duke’s eye. He cocks his head to the side. “Do I know you?”
“No, Your Grace. We have not met.”
“Were you here before?”
Arthur smiles. “No. I was on my ship.”
Of course, that ship is not the Greybrow Serpent.
“I feel I’ve seen you before.” The duke narrows his eyes, and for a moment, I begin to worry this may all fall through.
“Lucia, the ruby,” Avery reminds me, raising his eyebrows to alert me that we need to draw the duke’s attention back.
Immediately, I pull it from my pouch. It’s a beautiful specimen, large for a mineral of its kind. I cup it in my hand, admiring the blue glow from within, and flash a peek to the duke. “It’s lovely, isn’t it?”
That’s all it takes for him to forget Arthur. “Bring it to me, girl. Bring it now.”
Avery nods, and I step forward.
The duke snatches the ruby from me and clutches it like it’s precious. He laughs with unbridled glee. I glance at his duchess, wondering if she’s embarrassed by the scene her husband is making.
She appears to be, poor woman.
“Apparently, you are as good as you’re rumored to be, Captain.”
Avery looks in my direction as if saying, “See? What did I tell you?”
I grin, giddy that this whole ordeal is almost over.
Arthur steps forward. “I do think it’s time we’re formally introduced, Your Grace.”
Duke Edelmyer glances up, obviously not wanting to be bothered. He waves him away. “Another time.”
“I am Sir Arthur Venson, and I am His Royal Majesty, King Harold the Third’s High Keeper of Laws and Statutes, and you, sir, have willfully broken no less than three laws.” He draws his sword just as the door bursts open, and the king’s men flood the room. “I am here to relieve you of your ruling duties, and escort you to Kalae for a personal audience with the king.”
The poor duchess screams, but the duke rises. “You have no jurisdiction here! We are a province under our own rule, and the king can keep his wretched nose out of my business.”
Believe or not, Arthur doesn’t take the duke’s words well. Eldemyer is surrounded and restrained, all while he curses the royal family, Captain Greybrow, and most vehemently—me.
I stand back, joining Adeline and Sebastian, out of the way. For once, I know my assistance isn’t needed. Avery moves to the side as well, smiling grimly as the duke is hauled out of the room.
The duchess falls on the floor, begging Arthur to leave her husband be. She sobs and wails, and her cries fill the r
oom. Usually, blubbering acts of female emotion make me uncomfortable, but there is true anguish in her pleas.
Hesitant, I go to her.
“Get away from me,” she snarls as the tears roll down her face. She calls me every name known to man—none of them complimentary—and my empathy quickly wanes.
Just as I shake my head and back away, she grabs me by my belt and pulls me back. I don’t see the dagger when she draws it, don’t realize she’s about to attack me until I see the glint of steel in the light.
Shocked that she even carries a dagger, I gape at her. Surely this fool woman isn’t going to attempt to stab me?
Avery must think she will, though. He lunges across the room and pushes me out of the way. I hit the floor hard, and the wind is knocked from my lungs. The duchess’s dagger clatters to the ground. I reach for it before she can grab it, and roll over just in time to see her pull another from a sheath on her leg. Before I can yell a warning, she drives it into Avery’s stomach.
“NO!” My scream echoes through the entire room, and time slows.
Avery stumbles back, his expression more baffled than pained. I crawl to him, still gasping for breath from the fall, as he crumples to the ground.
The duchess is gone—whether she escaped or was arrested I don’t know, and I don’t care.
“Avery,” I cry, shaking as I watch the blood pool from the wound. “No, no…”
He’s dying again, but this time I can’t do a thing about it.
“We need a healer!” I scream.
“Lucia,” he says, his voice weak. “I…” He sucks in a jagged breath, unable to finish.
Tears stream down my face, and I clasp his hand. This isn’t happening—this is a nightmare. We’re not here, we’re back at the island, lost in our own world.
More people enter the room, and hands pull me back. I fight them, push against them. No one will take me now.
“Lucia, stop!” Sebastian practically yells. “Give the healer space.”
Gregory’s over Avery, working his magic.
“Gregory,” I sob, holding onto the door as Sebastian drags me from the room. “Please.”
Greybrow Serpent (Silver and Orchids Book 2) Page 19