by Caitlin Seal
“I have some good news,” Delence said after a moment. “In light of the information you handed over, and your timely intervention in the assault on her life, Queen Lial has agreed to dismiss the accusations of your trespassing on academy grounds. The official reports will state that claims of a wraith spotted on the grounds could not be confirmed and that, after investigating, the Crown lacked sufficient evidence to prove you were there.”
“That’s a relief,” Lucia muttered.
“Yes,” Delence said, lowering his voice. “So far it seems your little experiment has gone undetected.”
Naya shifted uneasily. “Do you think the queen knows?” There were at least a few people among her soldiers and staff who would have heard her admit to the break-in. She wondered what they would think of the official report.
“She’s smart enough to suspect there’s more going on. But at least for now I think she’s decided that you aren’t a threat and that she has bigger problems to worry about. Even if the Endrans don’t attack, the mere fact that they were so easily able to slip spies and assassins into her palace is a serious issue. I heard there’s now a small army guarding the prince and princess, and the queen is making plans to move them in secret to one of her country estates.”
“Has there been any word about Bargal?” Naya asked.
“Some. The assassin we captured in the garden isn’t talking. But spy reports say a group matching the description of the ambassador’s party was spotted boarding a ship on the northern coast. Nobody saw Francisco or Miss Jeden, but for the moment our best guess is that Bargal and his people are retreating back to Endra via the northern passage.” Delence’s aether was black with a bitter mix of anger and helpless frustration. He paused before continuing.
“Queen Lial is sending a regiment of Talmiran forces toward Tel Ver Pass to demand an explanation from the Endrans, or to hold the pass if they try to march troops that way, but it will be at least a week before they can even reach the base of the mountains.”
“Surely it would be faster to send a ship?” Naya asked. She didn’t know anything about Talmiran troop deployments, but she guessed it would take weeks to assemble supplies and get through to the nearest Endran city-state on the other side of the mountains.
“The queen doesn’t want to risk any ships on the passage, not this late in the year and not to go after an ambassador’s daughter and an undead, or so Palrak tells me. I’ve sent word to King Allence via the longscribers requesting a ship, but most of our fleet is stationed south of the Talmiran border. It would take days for them to get even this far north, and with that much of a lead, Bargal will likely already be inland by the time they make the passage.”
“So send us,” Corten said smoothly. He was still wearing a set of Francisco’s clothes and looked strangely out of place in the cabin. His dark eyes were intent when they met Naya’s. She shivered. The memories the shadow men had given him had left him changed in a way she still hadn’t been able to pinpoint.
“You?” Delence asked.
Naya turned back to Delence. “Yes. Starting from here we won’t be so far behind Bargal’s ship.”
“You can’t be serious,” Delence said.
“Why not?” Naya asked, taking a step toward him. She knew why Corten wanted to go. He’d been obsessed with the shadow men’s warning ever since they’d filled him with strange memories. Naya couldn’t deny what had happened in the fringe, she just wasn’t sure what the shadow men expected them to do about it. Perhaps if they traveled to Endra, they could at least find proof of whatever dark magics this new queen had uncovered. And while they were there, perhaps they could rescue Mel and Francisco.
“You said yourself, there aren’t any other ships you can send,” Naya said, thinking quickly. “Who knows how long it will take for Queen Lial’s troops to make it through the pass or what information the queen will decide to share with you when they return? The Powers have ignored Endra for years while they focused on their own struggles. Right now, more than anything, we need information. Ceramor needs information, and I’m the best person to send. Give me funds for supplies and to pay my crew. Captain Cervacaro has made the crossing to Endra before. We can go after Mel and Francisco while pretending to be a trading vessel.”
“This isn’t the first time you’ve considered this,” Delence said, crossing his arms.
Naya nodded. It was her fault Mel and Francisco got captured. And while Corten’s new intensity frightened her, she knew the shadow men’s mission wasn’t something they could ignore. “I can do this. Give me a longscriber and I’ll send back whatever information I find. I’ll get your son back, and I’ll help you make sure whatever the Endrans decide to do won’t be a surprise to Ceramor.”
Delence rubbed his fingers over his mustache. “With the charges against you lifted, it shouldn’t be any trouble getting you permission to depart. But I doubt you’d be able to hire any new crew here in Lith Lor, and you won’t have time to sail south. You’ll have to convince Cervacaro and the rest of his men to stay on. From what I know of them, I doubt they’ll be keen to make the journey.”
“Give me the funds to pay them, and I’ll figure out the rest,” Naya said. Her father hadn’t taught her to sail, but she knew how to outfit a ship. She’d have to move quickly if she was going to get the holds stocked and still have any chance of catching up to Bargal, but she’d manage it somehow.
“Very well,” Delence said after a long moment. “It seems we’ll be working together again, Captain Garth. Convince your crew to stay on and we have a deal.” He held out his hand and Naya took it.
Delence hesitated after letting go of Naya’s hand. “There’s one more thing. Ambassador Jeden requested a meeting with you this afternoon. If you’re willing, she’ll be at a restaurant called the Gentle Crossing in the dockside district.”
“Why does she want to talk to me?” Naya asked, more than a little surprised.
“I believe it’s about her daughter. Given what you’re planning, I’d suggest you accept the invitation.”
“You don’t think it’s a trap?” Naya asked.
“I doubt it,” Delence said. “That isn’t her style.”
Delence left soon after that, and Naya went to speak to Captain Cervacaro. He was standing on the deck, staring out at the shore. He nodded to her as she approached. “Well, Miss Garth, looks like those warships have finally stopped pointing their cannons at us. I take it Lord Delence came with good news?”
“Yes,” Naya said. “And I wanted to talk to you about your offer.”
Cervacaro raised his eyebrows. “Oh? Have you finally seen the sense in selling the Gallant then?”
Naya shivered. She wanted to tell him no. This ship was her home. Even with the dark memories of her father tainting it, she still didn’t want to give it up. Naya drew in a breath of aether. “Yes,” she said softly. “Under one condition.”
“Oh?”
“You let me hire you for your first voyage,” Naya said.
Cervacaro dipped into a low bow. “Of course, Miss Garth. Where would you like to go? Back to Belavine? Or perhaps on a tour of the Islands? They’re lovely this time of year.”
“We’re sailing to Endra,” Naya said.
Cervacaro’s smile vanished. “No.”
“We’re sailing to Endra,” Naya repeated. “You and your crew will be paid for the voyage. And when we return, I will give you the Gallant. You can use whatever savings you have to buy cargo. It’s a better deal than you could have ever hoped for and you know it. You’ll be able to sail at your own whims, instead of having to follow the orders of a bunch of investors.”
“Following orders isn’t so bad when the alternative is dying in a northern storm,” Cervacaro said seriously.
“Fine,” Naya said, feigning casual resignation. “Then we’ll sail to the nearest Ceramoran port and you and your crew can leave. Lord
Delence will be disappointed that you were too cowardly to help rescue his son, but I’m sure I can find another captain and crew who don’t suffer that affliction.”
Cervacaro’s eyes narrowed and Naya felt the anger build like a storm cloud in his aether. “I am not so sure you will. What you call cowardice, most men would name sanity. Besides, you will have no luck finding a crew better equipped to sail the passage than this one. There are few enough who have done it and lived.”
Naya shrugged and turned away. “I’ll just have to take my chances.” She started walking back across the deck.
“Triple,” Cervacaro called out after she’d crossed half the distance.
“What was that?” Naya asked, looking back.
“You’ll pay every man on this ship triple what we got sailing out here. And if by some Creator-blessed miracle we make it back to port, you’ll pay for any repairs the ship needs. I won’t risk my life or my crew for a boat that limps home too crippled for another voyage.”
“I’m sure that can be arranged. Are you saying you accept my offer?” She doubted Delence would be happy about the cost, but he would find the money if it meant getting Francisco back.
Cervacaro crossed his arms. “I’ll put it to a vote. I won’t force any man to sail those waters again unwilling. But if enough agree, then yes, we’ll sail with you to Endra.”
Something in Naya’s chest cracked. Bartering with the Gallant as tender felt like a betrayal. But in the end, she was just a ship—wood and sail and rope and pitch. Naya had more important things to care for. She let her smile turn sharp. “Good.”
Naya found Corten waiting for her at the stairs leading down into the ship. “That was well done,” he said.
“Thanks.” Naya let out a small, desperate laugh. “Assuming he convinces the crew, I just have to find supplies, sail the most dangerous route in the entire western ocean, rescue Mel and Francisco, oh, and somehow stop this Endran queen from either invading or destroying the world with dark magic. I’m sure it will be easy.”
Corten smiled softly, and for a moment all the strangeness left his eyes and he was again the boy she’d met in Ceramor. “Well, Matius always told me learning a new skill was just a matter of practice. You’ve already done the impossible once by bringing me back, and with all this practice coming up, I’m sure you’ll soon be an expert at it.”
Naya shook her head. “It wasn’t just me who brought you back. And it doesn’t feel like practice if failing means people might die.”
“I guess not,” Corten said. He stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her. Naya leaned into his chest and breathed in deep. His borrowed clothes lacked the orange-oil scent she remembered from Ceramor, but the warmth of his body against hers was still real and solid and right in a way she couldn’t put into words.
They stayed that way for a long moment before Naya finally stepped away. She smiled up at Corten, then frowned and glanced over his shoulder as she noticed something in the aether. “Who’s there?” she asked.
Felicia peeked around the corner of the door to the deck and offered a sheepish grin. “Sorry, couldn’t help but overhear your conversation with Captain Cervacaro. I wanted to know if you have any preferences for jackets for the journey north.”
“I don’t need a jacket,” Naya said. “Wraiths don’t get cold.”
“Well, maybe you won’t need one, but I will, and I thought if I was going to try and get something before we depart, then you might want something too, just for appearance’s sake.”
Naya realized what Felicia was saying and shook her head. “Felicia, you’re not coming with us.”
“Oh, but I am,” Felicia said, smiling brighter. “I’ve already spoken to Lord Delence about it and he doesn’t mind me staying on as your maid.”
“No. This trip is going to be dangerous. I can’t be always worrying about keeping you safe.”
“So teach me to fight. Or let me worry about myself. I’m not asking for your protection, I’m asking to continue working for you.”
“I don’t need—” Naya began, then sighed. “You’re really set on this, aren’t you?”
Felicia’s expression turned serious. “I am. I’ve been working in Lord Delence’s household near three years now. Francisco was always kind to me there, and if you’re going to rescue him, then I want to help however I can. And,” she added, “I don’t want to go back to Belavine and be a maid for the rest of my life. I want to see something of the world, even if that means facing danger.”
Naya met Felicia’s eyes, then glanced at Corten. He shrugged. “Seems to me we’re going to need all the help we can get.”
“See?” Felicia said, smiling. “Even your prince agrees.”
Corten groaned. “Only if you promise to never, ever call me that again.”
Naya smiled, feeling the weight looming over her lessen just a bit. The tasks before her were no less daunting than they had been, but at least she wouldn’t face them alone. “I don’t need a maid,” Naya said to Felicia. “But I wouldn’t say no to a friend.”
After another brief conversation with Cervacaro, Naya and Felicia arranged to have a few of the crew row them back to shore to begin procuring supplies and meet with Ambassador Jeden. Naya was a little surprised when they found Baz and Tren, Mel’s guards, waiting for them on the docks.
Baz’s eyes were shadowed and his expression bleak. Tren offered Naya and Felicia a small smile and a bow, but the aether flowing around him was just as dark as his partner’s. “Miss Garth, I take it Lord Delence delivered the ambassador’s message?” Tren asked.
“He did. He said she’s at the Gentle Crossing?”
“Indeed. We’ll take you there now,” Tren said.
“Thank you.” Naya hesitated, feeling their aether settle dark and heavy around her. Mel had obviously been more to them than just another charge. “And I’m sorry. I wish I’d done something more to help Mel.”
“It was not your duty to protect her,” Baz said grimly.
They rode the lifts, and the two soldiers led Naya and Felicia to an expensive restaurant a few blocks away. The windows were open to the morning breeze and inside men and women lounged over plates of pastries and small delicacies. Naya didn’t need Baz and Tren’s help to spot Mel’s mother.
The ambassador sat alone at a table near the back of the restaurant. She was dressed in a fine Talmiran gown with a high collar and wore her hair up in a tight bun. The way she held herself was nothing like Mel, but Naya could see the undeniable resemblance in the lines of her jaw and forehead. She looked up as Naya and Felicia approached.
“Miss Garth, thank you for coming.” Her voice was cool and calm, but Naya sensed the same heavy weight in her aether that shrouded Baz and Tren. Lurking beneath the darkness was something sharp and desperate that made Naya’s shoulders want to hunch all the way up to her ears.
“What did you want to speak to me about?” Naya asked as Baz and Tren took up positions behind the ambassador.
“First, please have a seat,” Ambassador Jeden said, gesturing to the empty chairs across from her. As they sat, the ambassador’s gaze turned curiously to Felicia, who shrank back a little.
“This is Felicia,” Naya said quickly. “She’s going to be assisting me in preparing for our journey later.”
“A journey? So you’ll be leaving Talmir then. I think that’s wise. Where will you go?”
“To Endra,” Naya said.
Ambassador Jeden went very still, her eyes locking on Naya.
“Why?”
“Because I intend to find Mel and Francisco.”
Naya saw Baz’s gaze focus on her. Ambassador Jeden leaned forward, the sharp note in her aether taking on a hopeful glimmer. “All on your own?” she asked.
“I have my own ship,” Naya said. “Delence says the spies reported Bargal sailing toward the northern passage. I inten
d to follow him.” Naya hesitated, looking down at her hands. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to find them, but I have to try.”
“Ambassador—” Baz took a step forward, but Ambassador Jeden silenced him with a raised hand.
“You know, Miss Garth, I brought my daughter to the Congress because I hoped she might finally find her place at court. She’s an impulsive, reckless girl. But she’s also smart and an excellent judge of character.” Ambassador Jeden folded her hands together, her knuckles standing out pale and harsh against her bronze skin. She opened her mouth to continue, but her voice caught, and she took a moment to steady herself. “She is an excellent judge of character, and she trusted you. You were one of the last people to speak to her before she was taken. I had to see…I wanted to meet you myself.”
“I didn’t mean for Mel to get caught up in all of this,” Naya said.
“I believe you.” Ambassador Jeden met Naya’s eyes. “And I believe you’re serious when you say you mean to find her. So, tell me, how I can help?”
“I—thank you,” Naya said. A part of her hesitated, remembering everything she’d heard about the ambassador. But the intense emotions in Jeden’s aether told her the offer was sincere. “We’ll need supplies for the journey. Lord Delence has agreed to fund us, but it’s possible not all of the sailors on my current crew will agree to the journey.”
Ambassador Jeden nodded. “I’ll speak to my contacts in the Banian delegation. I’m sure we can find a few sailors if you need to round out your crew.”
“Ambassador.” Baz stepped forward. “Please, allow me to go as well. Let me make up for my failure.”
Ambassador Jeden turned in her chair and raised an eyebrow. “You’re not a sailor, Baz.”
“No, Ambassador. But who knows what sort of trouble they’ll find in Endra. They may need soldiers as badly as sailors.”
“What about you, Tren?” the ambassador asked.
Tren nodded. “I agree with Baz. And frankly, Ambassador, if you refuse him this, I’m worried he’ll just turn in his resignation and try to go anyway.”
