by Eve Langlais
“Jorah, the good news is whoever put Tanzie to sleep is gone.”
“And da bad?”
“Ghouls. Curious ones, too. Light up the Avenger. I want it to be like daylight on deck.”
“Aye, Cap’n.” Jorah didn’t salute. He went for Tanzie first and shook her gently awake. “Woman, stop sleeping and light some torches, would ya?”
Tanzie took a groggy moment to catch up and then cursed. As Jorah teased her, Tanzie blustered and lights began to illuminate his ship.
He could see Shereen clearly, despite the pouring rain. She looked beaten. And cold.
Darius snared her hand, and she followed as he led them back to his room. She didn’t protest. She said nothing at all.
With the danger now past, shock clung to her. It roused that odd guilt again, as if he had failed her. Not his fault she had enemies. Enemies who’d managed to attack her on his ship. Never mind he couldn’t have known she was susceptible to mind tricks. He should have done better.
“Get undressed and dry off,” he said gruffly, tossing her a dry towel before grabbing one for himself. Only as he turned did he see the towel on the floor at her feet. He strode to her, snapping his fingers. “Princess. Wake up.”
She blinked.
“Dry off.” He pointed down.
Shereen stared dumbly at the towel.
He sighed as he grabbed it and draped it around her shivering shoulders. “You need to get rid of your wet things and warm up.”
Her only reply was to clutch the towel and stand there shaking, dripping, and forlorn.
“Why me?” he said to the heavens before taking matters into his own hands, briskly rubbing the towel against her, doing his best to soak up the moisture. But it could do only so much. She needed to strip. “Get undressed, or I will slice the clothes off you myself.”
That finally got a reaction.
“Excuse me?”
“You can’t stay in those wet things. Strip.” He turned from her and headed for his wardrobe, where he found a shirt. It would cover most of her. He turned and saw she’d not removed a single thing but rather clung to the towel. He dangled the shirt. “Take it all off. I’ve got something dry for you.”
“I can dress myself.”
“Maybe you can. But given recent events, I’m not keen on leaving you alone.”
“I thought you killed the mental psion attacking me.”
Not exactly. The ghouls might have given him a claw, but he could say with honesty, “The mind mage is dead.”
“But the storm bringer isn’t.”
“Storms happen. They’re not always wizard induced.”
“You’re right. Could be a sorceress,” she stated stubbornly, finally showing a small sign of life.
“Yes, it could.”
“How are they following us?” she asked, a question he’d been wondering himself.
He shrugged. “I don’t know. But given they probably know your destination, they’re trying to get ahead of us.”
Her lips turned down. “I’ll never be safe.”
“Your uncle will provide protection.”
“Meaning you expect these hunters to follow me there, putting him and his family, his people, at risk. The attacks have to stop,” she stated firmly.
“Then you’d better learn how to fight.” He threw the damp towel strung around his neck over a chair. His shirt followed then his wet britches as he stripped them in favor of a dry pair. He almost fell over, one leg in, one leg out, when she said, “Don’t turn around. I’m getting changed.”
Now if there was a surefire way of fueling a man’s imagination it was with the sudden realization that a woman was stripping mere feet from him. Some pirates might have peeked. Darius wasn’t that kind of pirate. He finished dressing and only when he heard her say, “I’m decent,” did he turn around.
By decent she meant decadent with her lithe legs peeking from the long hem of his shirt, the fabric clinging and yet billowy. Her hair was tucked atop her head in the towel, showing off the fine lines of her neck, the pointed perfection of her chin, the largeness of her eyes.
“I need to go to the Lazuli capital,” she said.
Distracted by her appearance, he took a moment to grasp her words. “Excuse me? I think I misunderstood.”
“I need to visit the Lazuli capital.”
“Are you insane?” he blurted out without thinking.
Her brows drew together. “No. It’s the only place that can help me.”
“You don’t want their kind of help.”
“I don’t have much of a choice,” she hotly retorted.
“Your uncle—”
“Could end up hurt if I go to him. And not just him. What of my cousins? What if the bounty hunters follow me there and…?” She trailed off. “I have to stop this, and the Lazuli might be able to help me.”
“Find another way,” he said through gritted teeth.
“Don’t you understand? There is no other way.”
“You could disappear. There are dozens of islands you could hide on.”
“You think I’m a coward.” Her lips twisted. “And you’re right. But I don’t want to be. I want to fight back. To take charge of my life again.”
“Whereas I am trying to help you stay alive.” He sighed. “When I said fight, I meant learning to protect yourself against attack, not starting a war.”
“What’s the point of being alive if I’m always looking over my shoulder?”
“It keeps the blood flowing. And I say this as a man who sails these seas knowing any day could be my last.” He’d already had a longer career than most.
“I don’t want to live my life like that.”
“What exactly do you think the Lazuli can do for you?” Because everything he’d heard painted them as sadistic types who thought nothing of sacrificing people in the name of science. Not to mention, he’d seen some of the inhabitants who’d emerged from that kingdom. Barely human, and a sobering reminder of how breeding programs and science could go wrong.
“They told my father they could activate any dormant powers I have.”
“And you believe them?”
“Why would they lie?”
He snorted. “Why does anyone lie?”
“I don’t see why they would in this case.”
“How do they activate it?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. My father wouldn’t discuss it at all. Claimed he was worried about side effects.”
“In other words, he was worried they’d make you into a monster,” he retorted.
“A monster wouldn’t have to worry about the Enclave wanting to wipe her out.”
“You can’t be fucking serious. You’re a beautiful, healthy woman. Find an island. Settle down and become a new person.”
“If I do that, then they win.”
“They already did,” was his blunt reply.
Her eyes flashed with anger. “The duke killed my father. He and the other crooked people forming the Enclave are trying to rid themselves of me. It has to stop.”
“Give it some time. As soon as the Enclave figures out who’s going to be the new ruler of the city, they’ll forget all about you.”
“And if they don’t? Or worse, what if it’s the Duke? His cruelty is well known. Can I really hide knowing what he’s capable of?”
“How will you stop him?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “But I’m beginning to think giving up and hiding isn’t the answer, which is why it’s imperative I speak with the Lazuli. What if they really can help me?”
“If you’re hellbent on this stupid idea, then you’ll need to find another captain because I am not risking my life, or the lives of those on this ship, by sailing into their territory.”
With that, this time he was the one to slam the door shut and stomp away. He entered the bridge and found Jorah and Tanzie fiddling with things. “Are all the lights lit?” He already knew the answer, having seen them blazing on his stomp here.
Yet what else could he say? He couldn’t rant about the princess who had him all fucked up.
“They are, Captain. And the crew has woken from the mind mage’s sleep compulsion. I apologized for succumbing.” The words soured Tanzie’s expression.
“Not your fault. They were after the princess.” And almost got her.
“Maybe we shoulda installed dem bells,” Jorah rumbled.
“Not those damned bells again,” Darius groaned. They were being sold in the marketplace by a peddler who claimed it scrambled mental commands. Probably some scam. “We could also lock her in her room. Might be simpler all around.” Since she’d obviously never learned to shield and lacked even a basic amount of power to prevent anyone from getting inside her head.
“How did they get ahead of us?” Tanzie asked.
A good question since they’d not even known they were coming here until the day before. “Crime of circumstance?” he hazarded. “Perhaps it wasn’t targeted at the princess specifically, just anyone susceptible to the suggestion.”
“So they just happened to make everyone else sleep?” Tanzie queried.
Jorah snorted. “Dat’s a load of shit, and ye know it.”
Darius sighed. “Okay, so they were probably looking for her. The mind wizard is dead.”
“But there is still a storm one,” Tanzie reminded.
“Maybe.” He hedged.
“Meaning?”
Darius shrugged. “Storm had a natural feel to it.”
“’Twas a wild one, though,” Jorah agreed.
“It was. And even if there still is a storm mage, we need to get moving. We don’t want any more bounty hunters catching up.”
“There has to be something we can do to help the princess,” Tanzie muttered.
It was then he told them the crazy thing she’d suggested. “Can you believe she asked to go see the Lazuli? The princess foolishly thinks they can help.”
“What can they do?” Tanzie asked.
“Turn on her magic, supposedly. Which is nuts. Either it happens or it doesn’t.” The Deviant gene that inhabited humanity since the Fall could be unpredictable. Sometimes it was active from birth. Only rarely did it turn on after a person reached adulthood. And some people never got it at all.
“If she had magic, she could defend herself,” Jorah noted.
“Maybe. If it was the right kind and she learned how to wield it quickly. But the bigger issue is, can the Lazuli even do that kind of thing?”
“Only one way ta find out,” Jorah noted.
Tanzie nodded. “The mouth to the Crocanile River, which goes right to their capital, is in this bay, meaning we don’t even need to detour.”
“You can’t be serious.” He stared at his crew. “The river runs right through the Deep Crevice.”
It was one of the many crevasses dotting the continent that was home to the Enclave kingdoms. It was said the Lazuli lived at the end of it, where the water fell over a cliff into a hole that came out on the other side of the world. He wouldn’t know. He’d never visited their capital, not since he heard the stories about travelers disappearing.
And this was where the princess wanted to go.
It made him wonder at something else she’d told him. “Why would the Lazuli have contacted her father offering to help? I didn’t think they were allied with Sapphire or anyone for that matter.”
“Not that I know of,” Tanzie replied. “But then again, it wasn’t open knowledge that the king had a verbal truce with Roark.”
“Da real question is why her daddy said no,” Jorah interjected.
“Because it’s insane and dangerous.” That seemed obvious.
“And it still is, but now that her father is dead and she’s being hunted, if she could inherit some power, it would solve most of her problems,” Tanzie argued for the princess.
“How do you figure that?” Darius riposted. “She’s the king’s daughter. Power or not, that won’t change. The Enclave wants her dead because her existence might encourage rebellion with the citizens in the city. She could become a rallying figure with little effort. Making her into a psion, an Aunimaa like them, with an actual claim to the throne, will make things worse for her, not better.”
“Can they really be any worse?” Tanzie declared.
“Yes,” Darius hissed. “You haven’t seen some of the things that have been coming out of the Lazuli kingdom. The shit they’re doing…” He shook his head. “I can’t allow it.”
“Shouldn’t it be her choice?” Tanzie stated.
Jorah agreed. “Her uncle canna protect her. She needs ta protect herself.”
He glared at them both. “You’re advocating we turn her over and let them experiment on her? What if she doesn’t have the gene?”
“What if she does?” Tanzie said softly. “There’s something about her, Darius. Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed.”
Actually, he’d noticed all too much about the princess. It was part of what annoyed him. “You think we should sail her into the Lazuli heartland, then fine, we will, but if this turns out badly…”
“Yeah, yeah, you’ll make us walk the plank.” Tanzie rolled her eyes.
“Smartass,” he grumbled.
“Er, Cap’n, we might wanna move da ship,” Jorah said, face pressed to the viewing slit.
“What now?” he grumbled.
“I sees movement up top.”
“The ghouls won’t come after us down here,” Tanzie scoffed. “Especially not all lit up.”
They didn’t usually stray far from their dark hiding places. But these ones hadn’t been bothered by the light in the crypt. Why take a chance?
“Tether us in the middle of the bay. If they want us, they can damned well swim. Have us ready to move into the river at dawn.”
“Aye, Cap’n,” Tanzie snapped. “Where will you be?”
“Sleeping in my bed!”
Chapter 9
The pounding on the cabin door didn’t sound happy. Not in the mood to deal with it—not with her fragile head still ringing with the whispers—Shereen chose to use the viewport, unclipping it and swinging it free from the thick rubber edge.
The captain of the ship stared back. His snarl was quite clear as he said, “Let me in.”
“I’d rather not.”
“I am getting mighty tired of being locked out of my room, so either open that door or I’ll get a torch and cut my way in.”
She doubted he’d do that. Still, she opened the door. The only reason she was shutting him out was because she was—
“…not be pouting.”
She blinked at him. “Excuse me?”
“I know that face. It says, ‘I’m in here pouting because I can’t believe I listened to the voices inside my head.’ Which, yes, was dumb, but we’ve all been there and done that a time or two. Especially after too many at the tavern.”
“If you’d not come along, I’d have died.”
“You don’t know that for sure. Aquata thinks the pricey bounty is from a suitor, as it does indicate he wants you untouched.”
Her nose wrinkled. “Is marriage to someone who would have me kidnapped supposed to make me feel better?”
Why did her disgruntlement make him smile? “If you don’t wanna marry strange blokes, then next time ignore the voice in your head.”
“Easy for you to say. I have no magic.”
“Neither do I.” He winked. “But what I do have is common sense. Some things you just don’t do. I also don’t step on cracks.”
“Why not?” she couldn’t help but ask.
“Everyone knows the monsters live in them and wait for unsuspecting ankles to snare their victims and drag them underground.”
“Through skinny cracks?”
“It’s painful, or so I would imagine.” He said it with such a straight face.
“If you’re trying to make me laugh, don’t. There is nothing amusing about the situation.”
“You’re right, there isn’t. You al
so made a valid point about your problems following you and perhaps affecting your family.”
“Way to point out the hopelessness of my life. Maybe instead of your crew walking the plank, I should give it a whirl.”
“And here I thought you said you weren’t a coward.”
“I’m trying to not be scared, but I am running out of options.”
“You haven’t even tried my hiding idea yet,” he said.
She glared. “I’d rather find a way to fight.”
“Speaking of fighting, my crew thinks I should take you to the Lazuli.” He obviously didn’t agree.
For a second her heart stopped. “I’d be grateful if you would.”
“Your gratitude doesn’t fill my pockets.”
Was his disgruntlement about being paid? “While I have no funds at the moment, I promise, once I regain my status with the Enclave, you’ll be amply rewarded.”
“Are you completely delusional? Even if the Lazuli succeed in making you Aunimaa, the Enclave won’t let you return to the city. You’ll be killed the moment you set foot on Sapphire land.”
“I won’t live at all if I do nothing,” was her hot retort.
“So you do want to live?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I had to wonder, given you seem really keen on having the Lazuli experiment on you.”
“It’s not an experiment. They claim to have a procedure to activate the gene that will make me Aunimaa.”
“Let’s say it works, and you get some kind of power. Do you really think that will make the duke or anyone else decide to ignore you?”
“They might think twice if I can defend myself.”
“What if the procedure does change you but you become Deviant instead?” The Enclave derogatory term for those that had external changes rather than the internal psionic kind.
“If I am Deviant, then I’m no threat to them.” She shrugged. “Seems like a winning situation.”
“I am not taking you anywhere to get injected with medical garbage,” he declared with all his male arrogance.
So she slapped him with her own privilege. “I’d say what I do is not your choice to make.”
“Not my choice? This is my ship,” Darius reminded, looking over her, his presence too big for the small room.