There was tittering around the circle, and I told myself the redness in my cheeks was from the exertion. Still, now seemed like a good time to head back to my cabin and away from the mocking eyes on deck.
Does everyone know we fought?
Either Addie was going out of her way to avoid me, or it was one hell of a coincidence that I hadn’t bumped into her aside from my brief glimpse of her training. She had even eaten dinner in the captain’s quarters. When I headed back to my own cabin, Gunther and Xav were both waiting there for me.
“This has gone on long enough,” Gunther said. “We need to talk.”
I sighed. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I had been waiting for this. Gunther never could let things lie. Xavier surprised me by speaking first.
“Look, brother. Punch me, yell at me, but you can’t keep ignoring me.”
“I’m not trying to, Xav, but I don’t know what to say.” I sat down on my bed.
“Try the truth.”
“You’re my brother, and I love you, but you could have gotten Addie killed.” I took off my boots, mostly to occupy myself with something.
“And I nearly did,” he muttered under his breath, sitting on the opposite bed.
“We’ve all acknowledged he screwed up.” Gunther shot Xav a grim look. “But we’ve got to move forward from here.”
“And you’re just ready to let this go?” I asked Gunther. I wasn’t sure why I was arguing when some part of me had already reconciled myself to forgiving him. Fighting had always helped to bring me clarity.
Gunther took a deep breath. “Xav once had a family who loved him and were worthy of his love in return. We are the only family you’ve ever known.” He looked me in the eye, unwavering. “But I know what it’s like to have family who don’t deserve your forgiveness, who are truly, at their core, terrible people. Xav is not a monster. He’s someone who loves us and made the wrong calls. Yes, I’m ready to let this go.”
His words shamed me. He was right, and I didn’t want to keep punishing Xavier, either. I just wanted my family back, or as much of it as was left. “Fine. But I want a guarantee of no more lies, no more secrets.” I looked at him and Gunther both. “If there is anything anyone else wants to get off their chest, now is the time.”
Xav made a face.
“For God’s sake, what else, Xav?” I asked him.
“Oh, no. I’ve told you all I know. I just wondered if you might want to get something off your chest. About someone.” He raised his eyebrows suggestively, and I threw my sweaty sock at him.
“Now that you mention it,” I said, “I’ve been meaning to tell you what an arse face you are. Whew. That was a relief.”
Gunther and even Xav laughed.
“Don’t start something you can’t finish, little brother,” Xav said, coming over to put me in a headlock. Or try, anyway.
A weight lifted off my chest. I hadn’t realized how out of sync I felt when I was at odds with my brothers. Whatever or whoever my father was, at least he had given us this.
The pirate’s ship was slower than our boat had been, and we had gone out of our way to lose the Court. As such, Hobatsi, the island across from Gyomatsu, was still a couple of days away.
And what then? I couldn’t help but wonder. Addie was still stuck in that necklace, though I supposed that wasn’t our concern. Director Kensington still had questionable loyalties, and we could only guess at what was going on with my own father. Not to mention Locke and I were fugitives. Were we really just supposed to hop back over to Ceithre and try to lead normal lives?
A slim hand on my arm pulled me from my thoughts.
“There you are.” The voice was unfamiliar, but I had noticed the undeniably attractive face around the ship. I had just delivered another massive bucket of water to the upper deck where Addie was training with her dagger today and was placing the empty bucket back in the store room.
“Here I am,” I straightened and turned to face the nameless woman. “What can I do for you?”
“A great many things, I would imagine. I’m RoSa, by the way.” She closed the store room door, her meaning clear, and moved toward me.
I cast around for a good reason I shouldn’t do this. Addie’s face flashed in my mind, followed by her fiance’s.
“RoSa,” I tested her name out with a grin that I couldn’t quite force to meet my eyes. “I’m Clark.”
The Princess
Nell was taking her weekly rotation to sit at her mother’s side while the queen held court for the citizens of Levelia. The youngest princess arrived early to the throne room for a change. The queen was alone but for a single guard. Nell fidgeted under the scrutiny of her mother’s intelligent green eyes as they took in everything from the unusually pristine state of Nell’s flowing tunic and pants to the ornate braid and jeweled tiara that completed her outfit.
Queen GeNavi saved her smiles for her people, but she at least gave Nell a nod of approval. “Come, daughter.”
“Is it necessary for me to continue my rotations?” PeNelope knew she would never be queen, and she knew that her mother was perfectly aware of the fact as well.
“Unless you claim to have a portent, PeNelope, then yes, it is necessary. You frequently equate improbable with impossible.” A mistake the scientist-minded woman on the throne would never make.
“In that improbable event, the people would most likely revolt, so it hardly matters.” The princess couldn’t help a small quiver of her lip. This was likely the only time she would spend with her mother all week, and she wasn’t sure why she was so determined to sabotage it. Perhaps to see if the queen would find another way to see her, if she would miss her at all.
Queen GeNavi took in her daughter’s expression and hesitated before speaking. “The citizens may not be quick to accept you, but I believe they would see your value in time, as I do.”
PeNelope looked up in disbelief. She had never gotten the impression her mother valued her at all. Before she could respond, the great doors of the throne room opened up to admit the citizens. For the first time, watching her mother deal benevolently with the Levelians, Nell didn’t feel unnecessary or inadequate. Even if she would never be queen, she saw qualities of fairness and loyalty she could imitate. She felt like she had something to aspire to.
Chapter Twenty-Two
ADELAIDE
I needed to apologize to Clark. Three days of physical exertion and training had cleared my mind. I was still sore, but it didn’t feel like the wounded, festering sores of a victim. It was the pain of getting stronger, something I had needed to do for a while now.
Besides, I wouldn’t have much time now. We were supposed to make port sometime tomorrow, and I had made up my mind to stay.
They hadn’t made any progress so far, but the Levelians were my best chance at getting the necklace off. That was the logical reason. Then there was the fact that I really did have nothing to go back to. Locke could tell my father I was still alive, so he didn’t have to suffer through the death of another daughter. I could be free of this necklace and just… be free.
When Clark came to deliver our water today, I watched him file out. After only a moment of indecision, I called a break and removed my bandanna to follow him. His reaction had been fair. Not only was he trying not to take advantage of a bad situation, but when I thought back on it, he really had never shown any indication he was interested in me as more than a friend.
True, he was protective, but so were Gunther and even Xavier, and certainly Locke. Not one of them had romantic feelings for me. It was clear to me now that I had been projecting my own feelings onto Clark, and it wasn’t fair to punish him for that.
Apologizing had never been my strong suit, so I took a moment to compose myself before pushing open the store room door. If I was unprepared for what I saw; it was nothing compared to the visceral reaction that took over my very being. I couldn’t stop my sharp intake of breath. That sound did what the opening of the door had not.
Th
e dark-braided head wrenched away from Clark, but I was already backing up, working like hell to cover up the unreasonable surge of jealousy rearing its ugly head at the sight before me.
“Sorry to interrupt,” I said in what I was sure was a perfectly normal tone. “I just came to — it doesn’t matter.” I shook my head, spinning around and squeezing my eyes against the unwelcome burning behind them. I had no right to be upset, no reason at all. Clark didn’t owe me anything.
Footsteps sounded behind me, but they weren’t Clark’s.
“Addie,” the girl called after me.
I didn’t know her name. Unsurprisingly, I had made very little effort to get to know those I didn’t directly interact with for training. I spent most of my time with Nell and SuEllen when I wasn’t training with MeLina or SeRavi. Even then, I hadn’t visited much, usually too exhausted to say more than what was necessary.
“It’s Adelaide, actually.” I kept walking. Why am I being mean to her? She hasn’t done anything wrong. I tried to get a hold of my heartfelt desire to use my newfound dagger skills against her.
“Adelaide. I was informed none of the men were attached. Was that not true? I would never wish to overstep. We on the crew, we don’t do that to one another.”
Did she have to be so honorable on top of being so unbelievably perfect looking?
“Your information was correct. You did nothing wrong. Carry on.” I waved my hand imperiously, walking faster now. I didn’t so much as pause all the way to my cabin, where I collapsed under the covers and tried to block out every traitorous thought in my head. Shensi wasn’t even in here to keep me grounded.
My door creaked open. Ugh. I pulled the covers up higher, not caring what a child I was being. Hadn’t I earned the right to be left alone? Was that really asking so much?
“Addie?”
“I said we could talk later. I’m… napping after training.” I thought my voice sounded clear, if a bit muffled by the covers. Clark knowing I was crying over him would be the final nail in my coffin of humiliation. I would throw myself overboard. “By all means, continue what you were doing.” That had probably been unnecessarily acerbic. Whatever. I hadn’t asked him to come in here.
He made a sound of frustration. “I don’t know what you want from me, Addie. I don’t even know how to make sense of these games you’re playing.”
Well, that did it. I ripped the covers off, hoping with every last fiber of my being that my eyes weren’t red.
“My games?” I choked out, my throat still not in perfect working order even before I had been fighting back my emotions. “Are you kidding me right now?”
“Do I look like I’m kidding? You’re the one kissing me while you’re engaged.” Clark snapped his jaws shut and looked away.
Was that what this was about? My stupid, fake, not-even engagement?
“I am not engaged, Clark. I never was. Not really. I’m also not the one running around kissing everyone on this boat.” Though I had only witnessed one kiss, or what looked like one from my angle. Semantics. “Trust me when I say there has been no space in my head for games. I have just been trying like hell to claw my way back to some semblance of normal after spending nearly a month being harassed and degraded and finally assaulted.” That last word came out more of a sob. I hadn’t meant to say it out loud at all, and I immediately wanted to take it back.
Clark looked stricken. I didn’t care. I didn’t have room for his feelings along with my own right now. Tears were streaming down my face now, and I loathed him more than I had ever hated anyone.
He opened his mouth to speak, but he was cut off by the clanging of the alarm bell. We both froze, then took off for the stairs. I wiped my face with my sleeve, grateful he was in front of me.
We didn’t have long to wonder what the alarm was for. The next sound was the boom of a cannon. The ship shuddered with the impact. Fear settled like a stone in my stomach. My knees tried to give out, but I forced them to keep going up the stairs behind Clark.
When we made it to the main deck, every last ounce of blood drained from my face. The Arbiter was there. It was too far out to make out any of the tiny figures, but I saw Gunther holding up a pair of binoculars. I walked over and tapped him on the shoulder, and he handed them over. Sure enough, General Noble was standing at the bow, barking orders to the men behind him.
“Are we badly damaged?” Clark asked Gunther.
“Just a flesh wound to the hull. Nothing debilitating, but they’re loading up again.”
Captain SuEllen was already reacting. Her crew moved like one unit, gathering around their own oddly-shaped cannons. Others were posted at the top deck with glimmering arrows already nocked in their bows, curved blades sheathed at their belts.
Locke went to stand next to her. I handed Gunther his binoculars back, then followed.
“I assume these are the men who are after you?” the captain asked.
“Indeed,” Locke responded. He caught sight of me and the younger girls on deck in one sweeping glance. “Is it safe for them on deck?”
I scowled, knowing he mostly meant me. SuEllen scoffed, raising her aristocratic nose in the air. “My girls are made of tougher stuff than that, and so is yours. Besides, they won't get another shot. They got the drop on us, but our cannons are far more advanced.” Then, to the crew, “Fire on my command, then get us out of range. And, fire!”
I glanced around the deck at girls as young as ten standing at the ready, holding weapons I hadn’t a clue how to use. Clark stood with his brothers at one of the cannons I didn’t know how to fire. This was getting old, always being the one unable to help. Not for the first time since this necklace had gotten stuck around my neck, I wished I knew how to wield it, how to do anything useful.
The cannons fired in perfect synchrony. They stopped short of The Arbiter, and my heart sank. Then the sea lit up blue and there was a secondary explosion, taking out entire chunks of the godforsaken ship. Sadly, it didn’t seem to be sinking, but I doubted they’d be going anywhere any time soon. Suddenly, that thought bothered me.
Who am I turning into?
There were at least thirty souls on that ship, including Clark’s father. Did I really just wish them all dead? I stood at the stern as we sailed out of range, watching The Arbiter grow smaller and wondering if Jethro was the only one who had lost his soul that day in the brig.
The Princess
PeNelope awoke to screaming. Frantic voices whispered outside her bedroom. Her heart hammered in her throat, but she didn’t have time to hide before the door banged open. Her heartbeat quieted when a familiar form filled the doorway. Her grandmother was tall and regal. Not yet sixty, she still moved with an agile grace. Her next oldest sister, FeLicia, and her younger two brothers trembled next to their Grandmother.
“Quickly, PeNelope. Out the back.”
Another scream and the sounds of clashing steel drifted down the hall. Auntie SuEllen and her most skilled warriors had been sent on a mission no one would tell Nell about, so who was fighting now? Her grandmother rushed to the secret passageway in her rooms, not giving her time to wonder further. Nell grabbed her teleport bracelet, hastily clasping it around her wrist. The thing was bulky and uncomfortable, and she had been chastised countless times for leaving it behind accidentally-on-purpose. It was her safeguard in case someone tried to kidnap her or she got lost, but the danger had never felt real before. She wouldn’t dream of leaving it now.
She took another moment to snag the small emergency rucksack from her bedside table, another provision she had scoffed at once. On impulse, she stuffed the storybook she had had since she was a baby in it as well.
“Where are Mother and the others?” Nell whispered.
“We must be silent. I’ll explain later.” The woman led them all through familiar passageways, then abruptly stopped at an unremarkable panel. Her grandmother pushed it in, ushering the four children into a spacious room with a boat sitting on the floor.
“Get in, no
w.”
The children mutely obeyed. As soon as they were safely in, Nell’s grandmother pushed a button. Each of them had teleported before, but this felt different. It seemed to take longer. The curious feeling of nothingness continued until Nell finally reformed.
Immediately, she felt a difference. A wrongness. The air tasted saltier, and the wind was whipping her hair into her face, obscuring her vision. The boat lurched, and PeNelope pitched forward. She took advantage of her momentary shelter from the wind, pushing her locks back from her face. The moon shone wanly down, looking somehow smaller and dimmer than she was accustomed to.
The boat stilled. FeLicia huddled with her arms around the boys on the other side of the boat while their grandmother stood at the helm. Another moment of stillness gave Nell the confidence to lift herself up cautiously.
The waters around Levelia were still, pale and translucent, barely distinguishable from the glittering white sand of the beaches. In short, they looked nothing at all like the endless black sea surrounding them now. Wherever she was, it was a long way from home.
Chapter Twenty-Three
CLARK
“So, which one of you is a traitor?” The captain stared into the eyes of the four men on her ship, her sword drawn.
Naturally, Nell and Addie had already been ruled out as suspects. I narrowly avoided rolling my eyes.
We were all crammed in SuEllen’s quarters after the escape from my father’s ship. It was nearly impossible that they had found us by happenstance in the middle of the vast sea, so her accusations weren’t invalid. My stomach churned.
Surely Xav hadn’t…
I looked at him, and my thoughts must have been evident on my face, because his eyes pinched with hurt. I wasn’t the only one who was thinking it, though.
“What about you?” SuEllen said. “I hear you have betrayed them before.”
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