Merek composed himself quicker than she’d expected, and relaxed back into his throne. Roselyn glanced at him, her concern for the Pirate Lord blatant. Her chest flushed as Merek met her gaze. He clicked his neck as he turned on Lily once more, “Where is he?”
She wagged her finger. Now who was back in control? “Uhuh, someone’s getting greedy. I told you something you don’t know – tell me who bought me. Then I’ll tell you everything you want to know about him.”
Merek leaned forward, his eyes glinting. Whatever he was about to say he was planning on enjoying Lily’s reaction. “You were to be a bed slave, to a rich lord in the Southern Lands.”
Lily didn’t even flinch. “His name?”
“It doesn’t bother you that you were bought to be a whore?”
“I’ve had similar offers before. I think he’d be disappointed.” She thought of the ugly scars that covered her back, “I’m rather more damaged than most men like. What is his name?”
“Lord Amer Ceruse. A member of the Topaz Court – he has quite the harem, he will be easy to find.”
“And if I kill him, you won’t bring me to justice?” Pirates were not supposed to get involved with those on land. It was part of the code.
“If you do as I ask of you, then no.” He nodded at Roselyn, “She will be going with you. Just in case you get any ideas. Now then, you’ve got your answers, where are mine?”
“He is one of the crew of The Shadow.” Lily began.
Merek hissed.
“Yeah, didn’t count on that when you decided to blow up our ship did you? He could have been on board.” She let that sink in for a moment, delighting in the conflicting emotions flickering across Merek’s face. “Tristan found him as a child, the only survivor of a shipwreck. He was six, or thereabouts. He can’t remember what happened, and can’t remember who he was. We call him Jim.”
“Jim?” he tested the word out in his mouth, rolling it around his tongue. His eyes narrowed, “How do you know he is mine?”
“Oh I don’t know for certain – a lucky guess. But the resemblance is there, he has your colouring, your eyes. He’s around eighteen now.”
“My son would be about that age.” He seemed reluctant to admit it.
Tristan grinned, caught her eye, and nodded back towards the door. Lily couldn’t agree more. Time to go. Merek had said his piece. They had to think on it now, and figure it out for themselves. She wouldn’t accept this contract until she’d removed every other possible route. Anything would be better than agreeing to be his dog. At least she felt a little more on equal ground with him now. He had his pawns, but so did she. “Much as I’d love to stay and chat, I believe I should check on the aforementioned crew now – they will be wondering what has become of me. I would certainly love to hear about the woman that could bear to have your child, but perhaps we save that particular titbit for another time.”
“Can I meet him?”
The uncertainty shocked her, but she wouldn’t let him see that. “I’ll let him decide that. For now, he stays with us.”
“Fine.” The word sounded as bitter coming out of his mouth, as it had done when she’d agreed to letting him have control over Jon and Kris’s education. “I shall have a ship prepared. In the meantime, do as you wish. Roselyn will find you when the time comes.”
Chapter 8
Dogs and deserters
Jon and Kris looked tearful when Lily kicked the door open, dropped her still damp belongings to the ground and grabbed them up in her arms. Irena, as usual, didn’t cry like the twins, though she smiled when Lily’s attention turned to her. Lily kissed them all, hugged them tightly, until their joyful shouts turned to moaning. Her eyes were wet when she turned to Chop. He grinned at her, and she smiled in return.
“No tears Lil, everyone’s fine.” He held his arms out for her and she slipped into his embrace.
Tristan leaned against the doorframe, tattooed arms folded over his chest, and smiled to himself. Lily hugged Chop tightly, before stepping out of his reach, and looking over the children again, pride and joy evident in her expression. She’d really believed she’d lost them all. Tristan thanked the gods that he’d found her on the beach – if she hadn’t seen him then he didn’t like to imagine the havoc she would have wrought on the Island. She wouldn’t have stopped at killing Merek – she’d have taken the whole castle and half of the town with him. Tristan had no doubt she’d have kept killing until it equated to the pain of losing them. He’d have done the same for her.
She wiped the last of the tears away, breathed deeply, and turned to Tristan. “Gather the crew. We need to fill them in.”
“Now?”
Lily nodded, stroking Saff’s belly as she flew up to perch on her shoulder, “Now.”
“You wait here. Chop and I will get everyone rounded up. I’ll come grab you when we’re done. Kids, keep an eye on your ma okay? – don’t let her slip off again.” Jon and Kris laughed and Lily glared at him as he waved from the door.
Chop slipped into step beside him as they made it out onto the street. “Is it true – The Shadow’s gone?”
Tristan nodded grimly. “Merek wanted to remind us who’s in charge.”
“Kilo came to tell me – but I didn’t know whether to believe it.”
Tristan ignored the sea-kissed wind that tugged at his shirt and avoided looking at the harbour. Seeing the empty space where The Shadow should have been was too much. He directed his route to the main street, quickening his pace. The faster they got this done the better. “Does everyone know?”
“I’m not sure. Kilo heard it from Eli – I think he’s been trying to spread the news this evening, but how far he got I don’t know.”
Chop stopped at the door without need for a verbal order to do so, he knew how this worked by now. Tristan strode into the main room of the tavern – the Kiln Hut this one was called, the biggest tavern in the area. The main room would be plenty of space for them all to gather. However, first it had to be cleared of unwelcome ears.
Tristan drew his sword.
There was the clattering of chairs being pushed back, the hisses of withdrawn breaths. The landlord glared at Tristan from behind the bar. “What do you want?”
“I require the use of this room for the next hour or so. I’d advise you all to vacate the premises.”
“Who the hell are you?”
He raised his head a little, letting the light catch his face. “I’m so glad you asked. I’m Captain Tristan Wolf.”
Tristan’s hat near flew off as people sprinted past him to get out. He smirked at the landlord – the last remaining person in the room, sauntering up to the bar and stabbing his sword into the wooden top. He left it there as he rummaged in the pockets of his longcoat, near laughing at the way the landlord’s eyes remained locked onto the blade, the way all colour had drained from his face. He jumped as Tristan tossed the bag of money onto the surface, although he perked up at the unmistakable sound of coins hitting the counter. A lot of coins. Heavy coins.
Tristan grinned. “We can serve ourselves I’m sure.”
The landlord ran without a backwards glance, but not before scooping up the bag of gold. There wasn’t much left now, only what the crew hadn’t spent out of their earnings. But he’d got by on reputation alone before. It didn’t matter. Tristan twisted, and looked over the room. It would do. He grabbed a drink that had been left on the bar and drank deeply from it, before yanking his sword back out of the bartop, and striding back outside to where Chop waited for him.
“They left rather quickly. What did you tell them?”
“My name.”
Chop grinned darkly, “That’ll do it.” He glanced at Tristan as they made their way back along the street. “What now?”
“Round them up, and tell them to meet at the Kiln Hut in fifteen minutes. Open bar, my treat.”
“Prepare for a stampede.”
~
Lily surveyed the room. Every corner was packed, every seat t
aken, all of them her crew, hers and Tristan’s. The inhabitants of The Shadow. Up till now. Unlike Tristan she had taken it upon herself to learn every single person’s name, every backstory, every family tree, every homeland. Tristan seemed to be happy with knowing there were enough people to run the ship. He took the view that a pirates life was too flexible to learn everyone’s names, despite the fact that their own crew changed very little over the years. Still, he argued that you’d learn one and the next moment they’d leave, or they’d get a nickname. He kept track of faces, and of course he knew the regulars, the ones who never left and never intended to leave, and that was enough for him.
The current crew were about to be tested, and no mistake. They’d come here out of curiosity – to see if the stories were true – The Shadow was gone. Once they discovered the truth, would they even stay? Would they wish to remain their crew? Lily wasn’t sure.
Tristan jumped up beside her, sitting on the bar, his legs dangling – even his didn’t reach the floor. His sudden appearance startled Saff from her spot on Lily’s shoulder, causing her to flap her wings haughtily before settling again. From here you could see the whole room, and they could see you. He nodded at her, and she returned the gesture.
“To me!” He shouted.
The entire room went silent. Even Jon, Kris, and Irena watched him silently, if sleepily. Lily hadn’t been willing to leave them on their own – all of the crew had to be here for this. They were as much a part of the crew as anyone else. They hadn’t complained when Lily had awoken them. She’d carried Irena, Tristan had carried Jon, while Kris gripped Lily’s hand, and they’d made their way here together, as a family. Her whole world was in this room right now.
“By now most of you have heard about The Shadow. It’s true – the ship has been destroyed.”
There was an uproar of grumbles, shouts of anger, dismay and sadness. Lily blocked them out. She’d felt this pain already today, she wasn’t willing to feel it again.
“By whom?”
Lily’s head snapped to the direction of the voice. It was Carlos - an Eastern Territories sailor they’d picked up in Crescent Bay two years ago. Lily doubted Tristan knew his name.
“It’s not important.”
So he wasn’t going to tell them. Interesting. Lily showed no surprise on her face.
There was another uproar but Tristan raised his hands for silence and they quietened down again, “The Pirate Lord has agreed to give us a new ship in light of our loss, and in return for some favours.”
“What favours?” It was Kilo who had spoken this time, he was leaning against the back wall, arms folded, his bright blue hair grey in the poor light of the tavern.
Lily adjusted her position – the swords at her back were digging into her, she wasn’t used to wearing them. But they too had been too important to leave in their room at the inn, she had so few belongings left, and she’d promised Marco she’d take care of them.
“For starters we will be taking on a fleet that threatens his shores. We will be calling on our entire Pack, and we will face the enemy force for the Pirate Lord. When we beat them, we are to return to the Island. That may prove enough. Lord Merek will decide that.”
Clearly Tristan had decided they didn’t need to know everything. He didn’t mention the agreement they were expected to sign. That they had to offer up their own children in order to clear their own names. That they were to be his dogs, at the beck and call of the Pirate Lord. Maybe imprisonment would be better. She choked the thoughts that threatened to overwhelm her.
Tristan was still speaking. “Your allegiance is tied to the ship – not to us. Since it is now gone you all have a choice. If you decide to leave I will not hold it against you. None of you will be berated, none of you will be judged. Just don’t expect us to welcome you back with open arms if you change your minds.” He hesitated, “Leave now, if that’s what you want.”
There was an expectant pause, broken by scraping screeches as a few chairs were drawn back.
Lily forced herself to find their faces, to remember who had abandoned them. Tristan may be willing to take them back, but she would not be so lenient. Carlos, Jake, Squeak, Peg, Liam and Aidan all slipped out of the door. They had the decency to look guilty at least. Maybe there was something to Tristan’s way of not learning names; maybe it stopped it hurting when people left, maybe it stopped it from feeling so personal. Her heart skipped as her gaze passed over a face she knew would be there. Roselyn. She was at the back, sticking to the shadows, once again in her assassin black. Lily refused to look at her again
Tristan’s expression was blank. He waited a few more moments before he cleared his throat. “Nobody else?”
No one moved, they barely breathed.
“The ship is being readied. I don’t know how long it will be. You will be told when it is done – in the meantime do whatever you want. Just be ready when I call upon you.” With that he slipped off of the bar, and strode to the door. He didn’t look back as he left, but Lily knew he’d find her later.
The rest of the crew looked to Lily, expectantly. She steeled herself, “We go to war – anyone who leaves from this point on will be marked for desertion. I’ll hunt you myself.” She allowed a hint of that demon that lingered within herself to escape into her expression. They’d know she wasn’t joking. “You’re dismissed.”
They started to get up, downing the last of their drinks. Roselyn had disappeared. Lily caught Jim’s eye, “Wait for me. I need to speak to you in private.”
Jim nodded, looking confused. He had every right to do so. She hopped off the bar and kissed Irena’s brow. Her daughter had looked uncertain at seeing that expression on her mother’s face. Not scared, just uncertain. Lily reminded her that it wasn’t directed at her. Jon and Kris were both asleep, Kris slouched in his chair, Jon’s head propped on his lap. Lily smiled down at them.
“What has happened?” It wasn’t Jim’s voice, as she’d been expecting, it was Daley.
Lily turned. He looked furious. She’d not seen Daley look like that before. “We’ve told you everything you need to know.”
“Really?”
“Daley, just trust us.”
“I trust you to my grave, Tigerlily. I don’t trust men like the Pirate Lord. And neither should you.” His words were sharp.
Lily nodded, she understood the reasons behind his anger. “Don’t worry – he so much as breathes wrong and he’ll find my sword at his neck. I’m not swayed by titles either.”
“Good.”
She reached out and took his hand, squeezing it once. Lily didn’t know what else to say. She wanted to tell him, she wanted him to understand. But Tristan had decided to keep it to themselves, and Lily would respect that. She shook Jon and Kris awake and, though they grumbled, they stood sleepily and allowed her to shepherd them to the door. Jim awaited them there.
~
Once she had got the children back in bed, Lily perched on the end of it. Jim had sunk into one of the rickety chairs. It wasn’t a huge room, but it would do. There was a cot which Tristan could sleep on, and there was room enough in the bed for Lily and the children. Jim raised his eyebrow and Lily realised she’d been staring. Staring at his honey eyes, so similar to the Pirate Lord’s.
Now she’d seen them again there was no doubt in her mind. She twisted her head to look out of the window. Saff had perched herself on the sill, looking down on the figures in the street below, her black eyes judging every person that passed.
“What did you want to talk to me about?”
She still wasn’t used to his deeper voice. He was not a boy anymore. Lily hesitated. “Jim. Tell me honestly. What do you remember of your past – before The Shadow? Anything?”
He looked so bewildered that she cursed herself silently for not coming up with some better way to open the conversation. “Not much. Snippets of things. Why?”
“What exactly?”
“A woman’s voice, I think my mothers, singing to me. Laughter
, a deep booming laugh, and a smell – like the sea but more intense, musky.”
“Your father.”
He shrugged, “I suppose. Chop told me that after trauma the mind can shut down, you forget things, forget who you are – it is relatively common. Sometimes memories come back, sometimes they don’t.”
“Jim, I think I know who your father is.” It went so silent that Lily could hear her heart pounding in her own chest.
Jim paled. “What?”
“The Pirate Lord, Merek – he’s your father Jim. I suspected it the moment I looked at him, and now, seeing you again, I have no doubt. You have the same eyes, the same hair, the same face. You’re his son.”
Jim rubbed at his chin, his fingers cupped around his mouth. He let them fall and spoke again, “I don’t know what to say.”
“He’d like to meet you but I told him I would leave it up to you. It’s your decision Jim, you don’t have to do anything if you don’t want to.”
Jim shook his head slightly. “I don’t know. I can’t be –” he took a shaking breath, “I’ve been nobody for so long. The boy with no past. I don’t know how –”
“Don’t try to decide anything now. You have plenty of time to think. Go out, drink, find a woman, whatever you want – just promise me that when you make your decision you come and tell me. If you do want to meet him then I will be right by your side. I won’t let you go on your own.”
Jim nodded slowly, still staring into space, still pale.
Lily stood and walked over to him. She crouched before him, resting her hands on his knees. “Jim, this changes nothing okay? You will always have a place at my side, at Tristan’s side.” She reached up and cupped his chin, gently tilting his gaze to meet hers, “I love you Jim. You’ll always be my little brother.” It was her nickname for him, just a little joke between them, but it conveyed everything that she felt for him.
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