The Siren Princess

by Lichelle Slater

  “It’s not night yet?” I groaned, deciding right then I hated snow. There was nothing about it one could possibly enjoy. It was cold, covered everything, and made everything wet when it melted. I was positively miserable. It was bad enough James and I didn’t get to enjoy the fire properly. We were forced to get back on the horses and move.

  I was grateful when we arrived at the nearest town. By the time we reached the inn, my hair was soaking wet, the snow had seeped through the blanket and penetrated my clothing, and therefore my skin—even the horses—were drenched. None of us was in the best spirits.

  But if there was one thing a pirate knew how to do, it was make the best out of the given situation. Lord Tomblin had his men take care of the horses for the night, and we went into the inn to warm up. Unlike the inns back home, there was no music playing, gambling, or rowdy drunk men about to be thrown out. Everyone appeared to be a weary traveler, warming up their bellies with food and drink.

  “I want a big mug of rum,” I said as soon as I collapsed in a wooden chair. “And a warm bath. Do they have warm baths here?” I asked, looking at Ulrich.

  He looked like a drowned cat and was trying to rectify his hair by combing his fingers through it. “They have running water here and enchanted tubs to make the water always warm. It helps in these winters to prevent the water from freezing completely. I hear they got the enchanted objects from a wizard.”

  Gerard scoffed. “Why would wizards enchant a bathtub?” Gerard had been so quiet on the journey I’d completely forgotten he’d joined us. Of course, I was mildly distracted by cozying up with James, so that didn’t help either.

  I reached into the small bowl on the table and picked up one of the nuts to peel at the outer layer of skin.

  Ulrich looked at Gerard. “Why wouldn’t they? If they have the power to enchant things, why shouldn’t they want to better the world for those who don’t have magic?”

  Gerard snorted. “The gods didn’t bless them with magic. They shouldn’t have access to it.”

  Ulrich leaned back and rubbed the back of his hand against his nose. “I don’t have the gift of enchantment to that scale. I am rather skilled at potions, though.”

  Gerard’s brow twitched.

  “Magic is restricted in Zelig,” Ulrich warned. “I wouldn’t dare use it without permission from the queen if I were you.”

  The round innkeeper made her way to our table with a tray of drinks, soon followed by a tray of stew and fresh bread. I’d never tasted bread so good. Of course, as pirates, we rarely got fresh bread, as it spoiled too quickly for long journeys.

  “What are we going to do about the clothing?” I asked, wiping my face on my damp sleeve. “We’re all soaked to the bones. We aren’t going to be able to dress in these in the morning. Unless there is an enchanted way to dry them.”

  James leaned back to the next table, where Lord Tomblin and his men sat. “Are there any shops open we can purchase additional clothing? Or is it too late in the evening?”

  Tomblin grunted. “There might be one shop open. Go out to the road, take your first right, and it’s about three stores down.” He picked up his mug and took another long swallow.

  James nodded and got to his feet. “Come along. I can’t carry everything on my own.”

  “Your coin purse will be rather empty by the time we leave,” I pointed out as I stood to follow him.

  “If he has enough in his coin purse,” Ulrich slurred.

  I glanced at him to find his cheeks rather flushed. “You’re a lightweight.”

  “Am not.” He giggled. “Maybe.” He took a sloppy sip and dribbled some down his chin. He wiped at it with his fingers. “My father would be ashamed.” He frowned.

  I rolled my eyes and looked at Sky. “Keep an eye on him.”

  Sky scowled. “I’m not a babysitter.”

  I grinned. “You’re not a first mate either.”

  Sky glowered at me, but a mischievous glint came to his eye. “I think I can keep him safe.” He patted Ulrich on the arm.

  “Just don’t get us kicked out.”

  Gerard frowned. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t.”

  I followed James outside. And immediately regretted it. The frigid wind cut right through our damp clothing, making things a million times colder. Luckily we soon found the shop, and James loaded my arms with blankets and cloaks.

  James walked to the counter. “How much?”

  “Well . . .” The old woman filled her cheeks with air and started rattling off the price of each item.

  James cut in. “I don’t need to know how much each is individually. I need to know how much total.” He raised a brow, studying the woman.

  “Why, it’s three gold pieces, plus four silvers.”

  James blinked at her. “What, are these made out of silk from a Sloth Toad’s nest? Or silk and diamonds?” He narrowed his dark eyes.

  “Things here are clearly more expensive than where you’re from.” She sniffled.

  He dropped his coin purse onto the counter. “You’ll take what I’ve got there and nothing more.” He turned to me. “Come, Odette.” He reached out and took the blankets from me while I carried the cloaks.

  “How much money was in that coin purse?” I asked as soon as the door jingled shut behind us.

  James rolled his eyes. “The equivalent of three gold pieces. I barely shortchanged her, and I still feel it was too much. Normally I would have continued to argue with her, but I’m rather exhausted and looking forward to some sleep.”

  When we pushed the door open, we both froze in the entryway.

  The pointed tip of a sword poked between my shoulder blades, and from the corner of my eye, I saw James frozen in the same manner. A soldier finished locking Ulrich’s wrists behind him. A couple of soldiers had their swords drawn on Gerard, who stood with both hands up. At first, I couldn’t see Sky but then discovered him unconscious on the ground with a soldier’s foot on his back.

  Lord Tomblin was speaking to an equally high-ranking officer—I could tell because he also wore a phoenix plume in his helmet—in a language I couldn’t understand.

  “What is the meaning of this?” James interrupted loudly.

  Lord Tomblin turned to us. “Someone sent for the royal guard. Claimed there was an individual impersonating Prince Ulrich”

  “And is lies,” Ulrich slurred, still tipsy. “You know it’s me. I’m me.”

  “The party you travel with are not known friends of yours,” the royal guard stated flatly.

  “They want us to deliver all of you to the castle immediately,” Lord Tomblin added.

  “So much for getting sleep,” I muttered to James from the corner of my mouth.

  “Why are my men chained and unconscious?” He gestured to Sky.

  Lord Tomblin opened his mouth to answer, but the other man spoke first. “He attempted to attack us, and so he was taken care of.”

  “How much damage could a drunk boy do?” I threw in.

  The man didn’t even acknowledge me. “As for this boy”—he gestured to Ulrich—“we need to ensure that he is who he claims to be. Impersonating royalty is a horrible crime.”

  “And imagine how embarrassed you will be, mister high and mighty, when you discover I speak the truth! And then you will answer for humiliating the crown prince of Terricina! Asides . . .” Ulrich smacked his lips. “You can see through me.”

  “Not while you are drunk. If you do not close your mouth, I’ll have my men close it for you. Now, we will escort you immediately to the castle ourselves.” He nodded to the men behind James and myself, but neither of us was going to allow whatever that nod meant.

  Both of us ducked under their arms. I dropped the pile of cloaks by the door, rolled, snagged one of the chairs, and threw it with all my might at the captain of the royal guard. He easily stepped aside, a
disappointed frown on his face. If he thought we were going down without a fight, he was wrong.

  Then again, if I thought I was going to be able to take on the castle guard, I was wrong as well. The soldier nearest me drew his sword and stepped forward. I had only my boot dagger to defend myself, giving me quite a disadvantage. But I jumped back from his first movement. I slid closer to a table—whose patrons now stood pressed against the far wall—and snatched one of the candlesticks. I stabbed the hot wax end into the soldier’s face.

  He cried out and clutched his face.

  I used his moment of distraction to draw my dagger, and when he attacked again, I locked my dagger up and under the soldier’s hilt, grabbed his wrist with my free hand, and rolled inside. Without warning, I leaned up and kissed him on the lips.

  He froze, eyes wide in confusion.

  I promptly stomped on his foot, kneed him in the groin, then slammed my dagger across his cheek with all the strength I had in me. I didn’t watch him slump to the floor. I turned to see James fighting two soldiers at once. His footwork had always been far better than my own.

  I ran and leapt on the back of the man nearest to me.

  Lord Tomblin heaved a sigh, and his voice rose over the noise. “Enough of this, Lord Wilfred. I already told you these men aren’t a threat to the crown. You will have to pay any damages if you allow this to continue.”

  Lord Wilfred didn’t seem too happy about ordering his men to stop.

  They backed up, but James didn’t dare put his sword away.

  “They began the fight. My men were protecting themselves,” Lord Wilfred said haughtily. He twitched his nose side to side in an arrogant manner. “What, with Selina showing up out of the blue, the queen is worried about keeping everything in order.”

  “Selina is here?” Gerard asked.

  Lord Wilfred looked down his wide nose at Gerard. “Yes.”

  Gerard lowered his arms and rolled his eyes. “Take us to her immediately.”

  “And why should I follow your orders, boy?” Lord Wilfred sneered.

  Gerard narrowed his green eyes. “Because I am Gerard Tovan D’Prei. Grandson of Madame Selina.”

  seventeen

  Lord Wilfred’s face slowly paled as his smug expression fell. Whoever this “Selina” person was, if she made Lord Wilfred stop at the mention of her name . . . then again, who was Gerard? To be able to throw his name and his relation to this woman around, he must have been far more important than I realized.

  I looked at James for an answer, but he only glanced sideways at me and lifted his shoulders in a faint shrug. Apparently, even James didn’t know about Gerard’s heritage—whatever it was.

  Lord Wilfred swallowed hard. “As you wish. Men, give each of them one of these cloaks or blankets and get them on the horses. We leave immediately.”

  James finally put his sword away and walked over to Gerard’s side.

  Gerard, however, held up his hand to stop James’s question. “Now isn’t the time to explain all of this. When we get to the castle.”

  “I shared intimate details with you,” James quipped. “The least you can do is return the favor.”

  “And I shall, when there are not ears to hear.” He nudged his head toward the terrified patrons huddled to one side of the room. “You understand the importance of being discreet.”

  James was clearly displeased, but with the soldiers ushering us out, he didn’t have a choice other than to accept Gerard’s request.

  I snatched my cloak from the soldier I’d momentarily knocked out and glared at him.

  “Easy, miss. We’re just doing our jobs,” he said with a nod of his head. He handed another to James and then stopped at Ulrich to tie one around his neck.

  “You truly aren’t going to unchain me?” Ulrich chided. “I am the crown prince of Terricina, in case you forgot.”

  “I’m following orders, Sire.” He finished tying the cloak and adjusted the hood over Ulrich’s head.

  “You could at least chain my wrists in front of me so I can be of some use if my hood falls in the wind.” He narrowed his eyes.

  “I would have to agree with you.” The soldier unlatched the key from his belt and unlocked one shackle from Ulrich’s wrist.

  “Florian,” Lord Wilfred warned.

  Ulrich didn’t complain as he brought his wrists forward and allowed the soldier to re-attach the shackle. He mumbled a low, “Thank you.”

  The soldier nodded and hooked the keys back on his belt. “He doesn’t pose a threat, father.” Florian turned to his leader.

  The rest of the men guided us back out into the still-blowing snow, though it didn’t seem that snow came from the clouds now. Our breath puffed out before us, making us look like little chimneys in the dark, frigid air.

  “Each of my men will accompany one of yours.” Lord Wilfred adjusted his gloves. He then covered the lower half of his face with material.

  “No, they won’t,” James quipped. He motioned for me. “Odette will ride with me.”

  “She can ride with me if it makes you feel any better.”

  “It doesn’t.” James slid his arm around my waist and guided me in front of him, then to the side of the horse. “I don’t trust you. Or your men. What sort of man ambushes others in an inn while they eat supper?”

  “The kind of man who is aware the daughter of the pirate queen is in our midst, as well as a pirate captain.” Lord Wilfred arched his brow.

  I felt the hand on my hip tense as I asked, “How would you know?”

  “I make it my business to know.” He straightened.

  “And it’s a gift of the phoenix feather, remember?” Ulrich added.

  “Stupid enchanted items,” I grumbled.

  “Just get on the horse,” James said in a low voice.

  “I already said she would ride with me.” Lord Wilfred reached his hand down toward me.

  James didn’t move.

  I didn’t move.

  The man stared us both down. “We don’t want to cause any further trouble tonight. Do we?”

  Neither of us answered, and silence settled over the group. The lack of white clouds told me everyone was holding their breath.

  “Very well,” Lord Wilfred conceded. He reached behind him into the saddlebag and produced two sets of shackles. “You shall wear these. Captain.” He tossed a set toward James, but James allowed them to hit the ground.

  I understood, then, what was happening. He was testing James. Testing to see how hard he could be pushed.

  James slowly turned, guided my foot into the stirrup of his horse, and then hoisted me onto the saddle. He had turned his back to Lord Wilfred, showing he didn’t view the man as a threat at all, but my stomach climbed up in my throat.

  James climbed into the saddle behind me. He looped the reins around the hook on his hand, then nodded to Lord Wilfred. “Lead the way. Sir.”

  For once, I didn’t mind James being a little pushy or possessive. I didn’t mind keeping my mouth shut either. I reached my hand up to touch James’s.

  Lord Wilfred didn’t look too pleased, and I believed in my heart that if Lord Tomblin and his men hadn’t been there, the second general—or whatever he was called—might have reacted more aggressively to James’s defiance.

  Lord Wilfred snapped his horse into movement with an aggressive tug and began leading us into the night.

  My stomach finally settled, and I swallowed. I leaned back against James. It was then his body released the tension it had been holding, and he slid his hand across my stomach.

  “That was frightening,” he whispered in my ear.

  I laced our fingers. “Thank you,” I replied in an equal tone.

  I checked on the others. Ulrich had been seated in front of Florian, Sky was flung over the back end of a horse, and Gerard rode with a third soldier
. His jaw was set, and I wondered what he was thinking. If his grandmother was here, surely he would stay. Especially if he could get the stone from Ulrich before I had a chance.

  The snow had stopped, but the wind continued to kick the flurries up from the top layer of snow on the ground and from the trees. I kept my cloak tight around me and couldn’t help but feel I had an advantage, being shielded by James’s body.

  Out of the blue, James said, “I kept a secret.”

  I turned my head, holding the edge of the cowl from my face so I could see his expression.

  He looked down at me, bags under his eyes. “That’s how I lost my hand.”

  I turned the other direction to glance at the metal hook holding the loop of leather to control the horse, though the horse didn’t need much encouragement or direction.

  “How did keeping a secret lead to losing your hand?” I made sure to glance at the others to make sure none were eavesdropping. If they were, they gave no indication. Of course, it was the middle of the night, so everyone was likely too tired to care what we were talking about.

  “The person I kept the secret from put a hook through my hand.”

  I flinched.

  “It was a hook used for whaling, rather like this one I now wear.”

  “Why would they do that?” Bile crept up the back of my tongue.

  “They wanted information.”

  “Did they get it?”

  His silence was enough to tell me they had, and for a brief moment, I was able to imagine James hanging from one hand, feet on the ground enough to give him balance. But the weight of his half-conscious body pulled at the hook protruding from a bloodied and ruined hand. I could taste the tang of blood in the air and feel his warm, damp skin on my fingertips as I brushed the hair from his eyes.

  Just as instantly as the image came, it was gone, and my head pounded as if someone had punched me upside the head. I massaged my forehead. “Was . . . I there?” and then my stomach sunk as saliva seeped across my tongue in disgust. “Was-was I the one who did that to you?”