“You still don’t make good decisions, do ya?” Hanner criticized as he bit down on a gemstone, testing its strength.
“Stop it! Now, there’s something else I need to do, and I need your help. Come with me and I will explain,” Athel requested.
She led them all over to the galley where they sat down while she rolled out some charts. “Okay, so I've been thinking about our next move. At this point, it is obvious that something evil has wormed its way into the very heart of the government...”
“The Valley of Nightmares, page 412,” Alder noted as he set down some fresh tea.
Captain Evere smacked Alder in the arm. “Enough, lad.”
“Don’t smack him,” Athel said sternly.
Alder rubbed his arm. “Thank you my Lady...”
“...nobody smacks him but me.”
“Sorry, lass.”
Alder sighed.
“Okay, so, let’s recap,” Athel said, pumping her fist into her palm. “What do we know so far?”
Dr. Griffin leaned forward. “We know that the Stonemasters are producing the ruper spice themselves, magicly imbuing it with the ability to separate a person’s soul from their body.”
Everyone nodded.
Mina leaned in. “We know that the Stonemasters pass the ruper spice to the Pirate Guilds who sell it on the black market and get unwitting people addicted to it.”
Captain Evere tapped his fingers on the table. “We know that the Federal Navy rounds up addicts and takes them to treatment centers for care, where the addicts die and their souls are coughed up in the form of black shakes.”
Privet placed his hands behind his head. “And we know that from there, the black shakes are stored and delivered to the Stonemasters, who use it to create keystones, prism streams, and for all we know power the arteries themselves.”
“It’s almost impossible to believe,” Captain Evere said, his black eyes rolling back and forth. “I've been a sailor most of my life; to think all that time the ships I was in were held aloft by dead souls...”
“It’s worse than that,” Mina put in. “Think of how many airships are out there. Think of how long airships have been in use! Whatever this is, it has been going on a very long time and on a very large scale.”
“But what is being accomplished by this system?” Alder asked, laying out some cakes. “What is the ultimate objective?”
“We don’t know,” Athel admitted. “But, we also don’t need to know in order to oppose it.”
“How do you figure?” Captain Evere asked.
“It seems that luck is on our side this time,” Athel revealed. “I read the privateer contracts my mother had the Guilds sign. One of the stipulations is that they are to disband after the theft and never sell ruper spice again. Now, I know how she thinks, and she included that clause because it would make the pirate Guilds break up into individuals and scatter in a million directions, making it impossible for the Navy to recover the gold.”
“I would have figured she did it because she disapproves of piracy and dangerous drugs,” Privet theorized.
“She does, but that is just gravy to her, not the main course,” Athel clarified.
“I get it,” Mina interjected. “Without the Guilds to sell the ruper spice the whole process is gummed up.”
“Exactly,” Athel affirmed. “And we're going to gum it up further. Right now, somewhere out there, is a growing pile of this stuff waiting to be picked up by the Guilds. We're going to go to it and dump it all into the ocean. Maybe even smash up the production facility, like we did the last one.”
Captain Evere nodded approvingly. “Well done, lass. What book did you get this plan from?”
“No book this time,” Athel boasted, placing her hands on her hips. “I came up with this one myself.”
Captain Evere smiled. “Is that so? Well, perhaps you've got potential after all.”
“To be a pirate?” Athel gushed hopefully.
Evere furrowed his brow. “No, I meant to be a Queen.”
“Oh,” Athel grunted in disappointment.
Privet snickered as he leaned back and closed his eyes.
“So, it’s settled, then,” Athel announced proudly. “Mina, just tell us where to chart a course and we'll have Margaret blow us on our way.”
Mina’s lavender eyes flicked back and forth. “Wha?”
“Go on. Tell us where the pirates go to pick up the ruper spice from the Stonemasters.”
Mina chuckled. “I don’t...know.”
“But, you guys were pirates,” Athel argued.
“We were in the Umor Guild, lass, but it’s not like we had any real authority or position. To be honest, I was little more than chattel.”
“Welcome to the club,” Privet snorted.
“I thought you were like, all high-up and stuff.” Athel complained as she sat back, looking deflated. “Well, now what are we going to do?”
“You two should have been more ambitious while you were with the Umor,” Ryin chided.
Captain Evere tapped his artificial eyes with his finger. “Sorry lad, I was busy being tortured by Mesdans.”
“Why do you still say it that way?” Mina complained, folding her arms. “As if every single Mesdan got together and burned your eyes out at one big unanimous party. Look, Mesdans didn’t burn your eyes. My uncle Jaques, who happens to be a Mesdan, burned your eyes. See the difference?”
Captain Evere sighed and waved her off with his hand. “I suppose Jaques probably knows where the spice is picked up. We could break into whatever Federal prison he’s rotting in and ask him, but I doubt he'd want to tell us. “What do you think, Mina?”
Mina bristled, the fur on her neck standing on end. “We talked about this. Stop asking me to make your decisions. You are the captain.”
Captain Evere slammed his fist on the table. “Blast it, woman! You're my wife. I don’t want to just boss you around all the time; I want to hear your opinion!”
Mina stood up and kicked her chair away. “And I want an Alpha I can feel safe around, not some wishy-washy eunuch who can’t lead without my help.”
Captain Evere ground his teeth and rose to his feet, towering above her. “Fine, you want an Alpha? I'll give you an Alpha...”
Captain Evere raised up his hand, as if preparing to smack her. Alder flinched at the sight of it, but Mina held her ground.
Instead, Captain Evere pointed his finger right in Mina’s face and yelled. “I order you to give me your opinion.”
Mina’s ears dropped in confusion. “But...”
“NOW!” Evere bellowed, standing over her, tall and proud. “I’m your husband, do as I say! Tell me what you think!”
Mina looked at him in shock, her mouth open.
“What’s wrong, woman?” Evere yelled, “have you gone deaf?!”
Mina blinked. “N-no, you just...seem so manly right now.” Mina’s lavender eyes filled with admiration. “I like it.”
Slowly, a playful smile crept across Mina’s lips. “Okay, you're the Alpha, so I'll follow your order and give my opinion.”
Everyone breathed a sign of relief.
Mina sat down. “My guess is that the times and locations of the ruper spice pickups are going to be very closely guarded information, probably only known to the top people in any Guild.”
Mina turned her head towards Privet and grinned. “And it just so happens that we have a former Guild Master in our brig who owes one of us a debt of honor.”
Privet opened his eyes. “What? Me?”
* * *
Privet opened the heavy door to the brig and walked in holding a couple of plates. He found Setsuna reclined up against the wall of her cell, painting her toenails green to match her hair. Her broken arm was in a cast and sling, her broken ribs bandaged up.
“I heard you broke Griffin’s nose,” Privet mentioned.
“Your ship’s doctor was very...grabby.”
“Oh yeah? You'll want one of these,” Privet mentioned, to
ssing her a badge through the bars.
“If injured, do not send to Dr. Griffin,” Setsuna read aloud.
Privet could not help but look over her fit, athletic body. “Where did you get that paint?”
“It’s nail polish, dummy,” Sestuna taunted. “And it got it from your Captain’s quarters.”
“Right,” Privet said dubiously. “Look, I brought you some dinner...”
Suddenly, she appeared right next to him. She snatched the tray out of his hands, then appeared back in her cell.
It all happened so fast he barely had time to blink. “Okay, well it’s obvious you can leave at any time, so why are you still here?”
Setsuna batted her long eyelashes innocently and chewed on her green painted lips as if she were an adorable little girl. “I’m still here because you said I was a beautiful woman.”
Privet raised an eyebrow suspiciously. “Uh, huh. Anyway, I had Alder make you a bunch of different things. We're not sure what you Senndaisians eat.”
“Oh, you know, the usual,” Setsuna explained as she painted her nails. “Flies, stinkbugs, that sort of thing.”
Privet twisted his lips. “Really?”
“Oh yeah,” she teased, popping a strawberry in her mouth. “Can’t get enough of the stuff.”
“Right,” Privet said.
“If we fought again, I’d kill you,” Setsuna said as she chewed, suddenly deadly serious.
Privet stood motionless for a moment, as if waiting to sense her intentions. “I know,” he admitted.
Setsuna turned her head, her large green pigtails flopping about. “You do?”
“Oh yeah,” Privet said, pulling up a chair. “The only reason I beat you was because you were sloppy and angry. Had you been focused, had you not allowed me to goad you into getting so upset, I wouldn’t have stood a chance.”
Setsuna looked him over carefully, her long, pointed ears twitching. “You know, you're not what I expected.”
“I get that a lot,” Privet admitted, tapping his hands together.
“You're the first foreigner to win a duel against a Gatemaster in centuries. I would have thought you'd be all cocky about it.”
“Am I really?”
“Yes!” she emphasized, sitting forward. Her body flinched from a sharp pain in her side and she carefully lay back down.
“You should be careful, your wounds will reopen,” Privet cautioned.
Setsuna nodded closed her eyes from the pain. Her breathing was sharp for a few moments, then she was able to open her eyes again as the sting faded.
“I like that you’re not prideful about it,” she admitted as she picked up an apple. “So you have my permission. You can fall in love with me if you want.”
Privet threw his head back and laughed.
“I’m serious,” Setsuna maintained as she took a bite. “A guy who can beat a Gatemaster doesn’t come along every dynasty. Not even a sloppy, angry Gatemaster. And it doesn’t hurt that you’re built like a freaking statue of Cinuous.”
“Who’s he?”
“The god of bodybuilding.”
Privet laughed again. “Well, thank you for the compliment, but what I really need is some information.”
“Oh yeah?” Setsuna asked, looking at him lengthwise with her beautiful, almond-shaped eyes.
“Yeah, the others sent me down here and told me to find out from you when and where the spice gets picked up.”
“Really? That’s quite a big secret. What are you going to do to make me talk?” Setsuna flirted. “You gonna tie me up and spank me?”
“Not my style,” Privet said, shaking his head.
“That’s a shame.” Setsuna studied him for a moment, then popped a cherry into her mouth. “Sure, I'll tell you.”
Privet nearly fell out of his chair. “Just like that?”
She shrugged. “Just like that.”
Privet scratched his neck. “Why?”
“Because you didn’t try to threaten me or trick me, and I find that refreshing,” she said with a wink. “All Guilds pickup their ruper spice from the same place. The Dragon Isles.”
“No one goes out to the Dragon Isles.”
“That’s what makes it such a good spot. Now, I don’t know about the other’s timetables, but the Egress Guild always picked up a huge shipment on the first day of every third month. Bring me a chart, I'll show you where.”
“That doesn’t give us much time,” Privet surmised, doing the math in his head. He stood up and pumped his fist into his palm. “Well...thank you, I guess. That was a lot easier than I thought it would be.”
“Was it?” she asked, playfully kicking her toes to dry them.
“Yeah, somehow I figured I’d have to trade in the honor debt you owe me or something.”
Setsuna’s sculpted eyebrows went up. “Trade it in? I’m not sure you Wysterians have the same concept of honor that my people have.”
“Maybe it doesn’t translate well into common.”
“Seems like it,” Setsuna admitted, taking another bite. “You don’t seem to understand that I was impelled to answer your question.”
Privet slanted his eyes in confusion. “Really?”
Setsuna nodded. “Mmm, a wife has to do what her husband says, after all.”
Privet froze. “Wife?”
Setsuna laughed. “Of course, silly. You won my honor, you forced me to yield. That means you won the privilege of being my husband.”
“I WHAT?!”
* * *
Over on the other side of the ship, Alder walked into his shared quarters carrying a hairbrush and ribbon.
“I swear, if you are here to ask me to braid my hair again I'll have you keel-hauled,” Athel warned from where she lay on their bed, reading.
“Pardon?” Alder looked down into his hands. “Oh, no, I was just finishing Miss Bubbles’ coiffure.”
Alder set down the hairbrush and ribbon and sat down at the edge of the bed and looked at her reprovingly.
“I know Deutzia needs to be planted soon,” Athel admitted, without looking up.
Alder looked at her patiently.
“I know I’m being selfish and irresponsible,” Athel conceded.
Alder looked at her tenderly.
“I know the safety of Deustzia and our daughter is a serious issue, and not something to trifle with,” Athel acquiesced.
Alder looked at her lovingly.
Athel threw down her book. “Yes, I know that I am not fulfilling my duties as a Matron. Look, if it helps calm your nerves, Wysteria is our final destination, okay? We just have to make a couple of stops along the way.”
“I’m glad you understand those things,” Alder said tenderly. “In fact, I am proud to see how much you have grown. The ability to step outside yourself and recognize your own emotions objectively is an essential skill for any Queen.”
“That is not a compliment.”
“But even though you understand these things, you are still not doing them, and I do not understand why.”
Athel sat up and brushed some of her frizzy red hair away from her face. “Fine, I'll tell you. Do you know what is the cruelest thing that can happen among royals?” she asked, rather cryptically.
“I do not.”
“When the throne is passed to the second child,” Athel explained. “You see, I wasn’t supposed to be the heir, Solanum was, so I was raised as a normal child for a while. Then, when the crown passed to me, I could still remember what it was like to be a real person. Now, a firstborn groomed from day one doesn’t really know any different, so it feels more normal to them, but I knew what it was like to actually live before the instructors took me.”
Alder listened hanging on her every word. His eyes offered sympathy, not solutions. Athel found it completely disarming, and she began admitting things she had never said to anyone.
“Even though I abdicated the throne, I am still the heir to the forest of Wysteria,” Athel said quietly. “That will never change.”
/>
“What do you mean?”
“The forest must have a Queen or it will slowly die. She is the lynchpin that makes the song of the forest possible.”
“Lynchpin?”
Athel waved her hand around. “Anchor...foundation...key element...however you want to say it. The Queen harmonizes the hearts of the people and the trees, like a symphony conductor. It’s kind of hard to explain with words, I could show you easily enough if you could link with the trees, but you can’t.”
“My apologies.”
Athel picked at her fingernails. “It’s not something just anyone can do. It takes years of preparation, the right bloodlines, the body has to be altered, and a dozen other things. When my mother is no longer able to maintain the harmony, I will have to take her place. When that happens, I will become the Queen, and cease to be Athel.”
Athel looked up, her eyes defiant. “So yes, I am going to resist that day. I am going to fight it, dodge it, evade it prolong it, anything I can do to avoid it!” Athel dropped her hands to her side. “What else can I do?”
Alder leaned forward and embraced his wife compassionately. “My Lady, before I met you, I had heard many rumors about you amongst the Bursage family. I would not be exaggerating to say you had something of a reputation. Do you know what was said?”
“I really don’t think I want to know,” Athel chuckled.
Alder placed his hand over his heart. “It’s not as bad as you might think. You were rumored to be stubborn and obstinate.”
Athel slammed her palm on the bed. “And how is that not as bad as you might think?”
“Because it is a correct observation...”
“Are you trying to pick a fight with me?”
“Allow me to finish. It is a correct observation, but unfairly labeled. You have a strong heart, stronger than you even know, and the resolve to stand your ground, even if you have to do it alone. It is one of the qualities that most attracted me to you.”
Athel scratched her pointed ear. “All this time I thought it was the red hair.”
“I am immensely fond of red hair,” Alder admitted with a grin. “Even when it is frizzy.”
“Hey, you try having long hair while the wind is blowing it around all day on the deck of an airship and see what happens,” Athel defended.
Isle of Wysteria: The Reluctant Queen Page 32
