“Sure, what is it?”
“Would you work with my son on his swordsmanship? I’ve taught him everything I can, but I can’t teach him the things you can. If you teach him, he and I will both become your loyal subjects. We’ll be your Right Hands.”
William laughed. “Oh, this is rich! Riley don’t need no Right Hands. She’s got two left feet as it is; was barely able to hop around on that ladder. I’ll teach the young lad everything he needs to know about a sword, then you two can serve me.”
“Hush, fool,” Lucie scoffed. “No one’s ever walked across a ladder like her before. Your fat ass would have been shark food.”
Riley ignored them both, looking at Erin. “I’ll teach him what I can, but I can’t accept your fealty. I serve the Kingdom, and Mason specifically. A Right Hand has no Right Hands. We have no servants. We serve.”
“You’ll have our loyalty, all the same.”
Riley looked at Eric. “You want to learn more?”
He nodded. The death-filled look she’d seen on the ladder was gone. He looked like little more than a kid now, a twenty-year-old who probably didn’t really know how much his life was going to change.
The world he’d known was gone, and he no longer had to be the protector of his mother and himself.
He looks lost, Riley thought, then, So I’ll help him find himself, the same way Lucie did for me.
“I’ll teach you, Eric,” she told him. “I must say, though, you’re no slouch. I imagine you’ll teach me a few things too.”
Eric smiled slightly at that.
The ale and wine showed up. William and Worth poured first, not even glancing at anyone else.
“They’re savages.” Lucie grinned.
“Aye, mayhap, but you’ll be thankful for these savages when wolves show up at the door.”
“They may just have come in,” Erin whispered.
Riley’s eyes were already on the people entering the alehouse. Her senses were attuned to everything in this place, and the moment new people pushed through the swinging doors, she focused on them.
“Who are they?” she asked without moving her lips, her voice floating to Erin without anyone else hearing.
“There’s a loose-knit group of pirates that flies under one flag. Most ships follow their own captain, but there’s a group that’s trying to get economies of scale, basically. They all follow a man named Captain Johnny Twocuts. Those two men there wear Twocuts insignia.”
Riley saw the patches on their shoulders—black fabric with two long red knife wounds overlaying it.
“Twocuts?” she asked.
“Yes. He’s had his throat slit twice.”
Riley looked at her, eyebrows raised.
“I’m not lying. It’s why he’s been able to get so many ships to fly his banners. He’s a tough sonofabitch.”
“And now they’re looking at us,” Riley commented.
The two men sat down at the bar, and more came in behind them—the entire ship was emptying into the alehouse, apparently. The two leaders were staring at Riley and the other women at the table.
“We about to have some trouble, skinny?” William took a deep sip of his beer, acting like he hadn’t asked anything.
“I think so.”
“Most definitely,” Erin answered. “They sense blood in the water. They think we’re weak, regardless of the armor your men are wearing.”
Sure enough, the first two men stood up. Each held a large metal mug full of booze, and they walked over to Riley’s table.
“Aye, whose flag ya fly?” the one on the right asked. He wore a large gold hoop earring in his right ear, and his front tooth was a dead yellow.
“Worth flag.” The tent man smiled, his lips already slightly purple. “You like?”
“Never heard of it,” the one on the left responded. “Don’t think there is no Worth flag. Aye, I think ye might be lyin’ to us.”
“Aye.” Worth picked up his cup and drank deeply. “Mayhap.”
Riley saw that Worth’s eyes weren’t red yet. He was just joking around with these pirates.
William put his ale down heavily, amber liquid sloshing over the sides of the cup. “Me and my friends here are trying to drink in peace. Can we help you two?”
“Ha!” The one on the left looked at his partner. “Can they help us? That’s nice, ain’t it? Can they help us?”
“Aye, that is nice.” The pirate took a step closer to the table, slipping a knife from his belt. He moved it easily and with obvious skill as he slammed it into the table and pulled his hand back. It vibrated and swayed, but remained standing. “I think ya can help us. I think the redhead there is Stormhandle, and if she’s shackin’ up with the likes o’ landlubbers, then she ain’t no pirate no more. That ‘bout right, Stormhandle?”
Erin flashed a brilliant grin. “Could be. I always said you should get out when you’re on top. Given that none of you could do anything to me for twenty years, I figure it’s time to retire.”
“Mayhap that’s true, mayhap it ain’t. Either way, even if you’re a landlubber now, that ship of yours belongs to the sea. Since I’m here, I say it belongs to Twocuts and me.”
Erin didn’t drop her smile. “Belongs to the sea? That’s not how the law works, and you know it. It belongs to me so long as I can hold it, and if I’m with these landlubbers, then it belongs to them so long as they can hold it. No law says a landlubber can’t hold a ship. You two are just over here jabbering your jaws, so let us drink.”
Riley’s hands were on the table, but she knew she could move quickly enough to slice both their throats before they’d be able to grab their dicks, let alone a weapon.
The pirates turned to William, thinking his size made him the leader. “Aye, think you can hold that ship from us?”
“I’d have a tougher time holding this ale down, truth be told. You two are lower than whale shit, and if you don’t know, that’s at the bottom of your beloved ocean.” He looked at Riley. “You had enough of this yet?”
“Don’t look at yer wife, fat man,” the pirate scolded. “Look at me when I’m talkin’ to ya.”
“Yes, I’ve had enough.” Riley gritted her teeth.
She leapt to her feet, pushing her from the chair onto the table. Ale and wine spilled, with Worth shouting, “NO!”—apparently more worried about his beverage than the fight they were all facing.
Riley’s sword was already out, and the tip touched the first pirate’s forehead. “Come try to take the ship from us, although I imagine you’ll only be taking my steel through your skull.”
The entire alehouse was up and holding their weapons, everyone staring at this beyond-fast woman and the pirate who had challenged her.
“Did you think I sided with them because I had a choice?” Erin asked, still smiling. “I sided with them because they won.”
Riley watched as Eric moved around the table. It was like watching herself, just younger. His feet moved like a ghost’s, and his knife appeared from nowhere. He went behind the second pirate and put his knife across the man’s throat.
“Meet my friend. His name’s Eric.”
Worth’s eyes were red, and the wine and glasses that had spilled across the table were now floating in the air. “You spill wine.”
“Hey, William? Were you planning on doing anything besides watching us?” Riley asked.
William remained sitting, his mug almost full. He took a drink. “You can handle my light work.”
Riley’s eyes focused again on the pirate. “What’s it going to be?”
“Ye are a landlubber if you think there’s any way you’re walking out of this. Get her, boys!”
Riley looked up just in time.
A knife was flipping end over end directly for her. She moved her shoulder to the right, dodging the blade. The pirate beneath her had moved, but Worth was already fighting.
The chalices and mugs flew outward at frightening speed and slammed into pirates’ heads, dropping them cold.
<
br /> Riley jumped from the table, striking someone in the head with her foot as she did. The man fell to the ground, blood leaking from his ears. She started on the rest, her sword cutting through attackers like a shark through water. She saw everything and nothing at once, her mind focused on killing. She ran her sword across stomachs and backs alike, people dropping around her as if they’d never lived at all.
William didn’t move from the table, just sat there smiling and drinking his ale.
Cries filled the air, and metal struck at Riley. She parried and sliced, ducked and kicked.
Objects were flying about, which was Worth’s handiwork. He still stood by William, using his magic to help her. Verith’s men were fighting as well, although they were far less capable than Riley.
She caught glimpses of Eric as she attacked. He fought with a mixture of William’s brutal strength and her lightning speed, a battering ram of quickness. He’d donned his face of death again, seeing these pirates as things to be dispatched.
As she spun around an attacker, Riley’s heart froze.
Somehow a pirate had made his way behind William. The damn giant was enjoying watching this fight too much to notice, content to sip his ale and do nothing.
Riley couldn’t make it in time.
She couldn’t save him.
The pirate pulled a curved blade.
Riley didn’t think.
She didn’t have time.
She launched her sword, having no idea her eyes had turned bright red.
The sword didn’t fly end over end but shot straight like an arrow—somehow increasing its speed.
Riley stared at her target.
The pirate’s curved blade reached William’s neck, ready to rip it wide open.
Riley’s sword plunged into the pirate’s forehead, cracking the bone and splitting his skull. It drove him back, then went through the wall and pinning him to it.
The sword burst into flames, which spread over the man’s face.
William sat with his mouth open, his mug halfway between the table and his lips.
The cries around Riley had faded. The pirates were either losing interest or dying.
“Told you.” Worth was smiling broadly, his lips now a deeper purple. “She magic.”
“I don’t know how I did it,” Riley mused. “I didn’t control it. It just happened, just like at Rendal’s compound.”
The four people surrounding Riley could all use magic at will—Worth, William, Lucie, and now Eric.
The alehouse had emptied quickly, the rest of the pirates deciding they wanted no part of the mage warriors. The dead pirates were being dragged outside by the employees.
No one stared at the newcomers now.
No one wanted anything to do with this crew.
“She magic.” Worth nodded, his entire mouth purple. He wasn’t full-on drunk yet, but he was getting close.
William just looked at him. “You’re gonna be worthless on the ship. Too drunk to be of any use.”
“‘Cept with magic. Then Worth useful.”
They all laughed as the bald man drank more from his chalice.
Erin had gone outside the alehouse with Verith and the soldiers. She said she couldn’t use magic, so there was no sense staying inside with the rest of them.
“What did it feel like?” Lucie asked from across the table.
Riley closed her eyes, remembering the battle. “I just knew he was in trouble. William. I knew he was going to die and that I couldn’t get to him in time. If I didn’t do something, he’d die.”
“Well, that’s bullshit.” William grinned as he looked around the table. “I had that pirate, no problem.”
Riley opened her eyes. “Was that why you were sitting there with a beer in your hand?”
“Exactly. Was just waiting for the right moment.”
Riley rolled her eyes and looked back at Lucie. “I guess I felt pressure. A lot of it. And that was the same thing I felt with Rendal—immense pressure.”
“That’s what allows me to cast fire,” Eric interjected. He’d only spoken a handful of times, and not at all since the skirmish ended.
Riley looked at him. “What do you mean?”
“I can’t do it right now.”
Everyone at the table looked at him. Even Worth, who was grinning wildly.
“Say what?” William asked.
Eric nodded. “I can’t. I can only cast when I’m fighting. The pressure… That’s what allows me to do it. I’ve never met anyone else like that.”
“You haven’t been able to fix it? So that you can cast right now?” Riley asked.
He shook his head. “No. I have to feel… I don’t know, like I or someone else might die.”
William spoke up. “That’s not good. We need you able to kick ass all the time, not just when I’m acting like I might get hurt.”
“You’re a pretty good actor.” Lucie chuckled.
“I know. I should get an award for it. I’m good enough that I suppose I could act like I’m always about to die, but that would severely cut down on the number of men I’m able to kill.” William grinned broadly.
Riley shook her head, looking at the table. “I’ve got to get a handle on this if I’m going to beat Rendal. I can’t be useful only when people are about to die.”
“Or acting like they’re about to die.” William laughed.
“Hush your mouth, fool,” Lucie chastised. She looked at Riley. “There’s time yet, girl. We’re not to him. You’ll be fine.”
“Tough student.” Worth’s smile fell away. “Tough-headed. No listen.”
He stood up, grabbed his chalice, and walked away from the table.
“What the hell is his problem?” Riley asked, feeling anger at Worth for the first time.
William smiled. “You’re just not as good a student as I am, and it’s buggin’ him.”
“Shut it,” Riley answered.
“Rendal isn’t blocking himself from me, Riley,” Lucie told her. “I can see where he’s at, and we’re another week away. We’ll get you using magic by then.”
“And if not, I’ll put the team on my back and carry us.” William laughed again. “Like I always do.”
Riley shot him a glare but said nothing. It was clear she was growing angry and was not in the mood for his jokes.
“Hey.” William’s smile faded. “You did good, skinny. You did real good. All jokes aside, you saved my bacon, and I’m embarrassed about how many times you keep doing it. Don’t worry about the magic; you’ll get there.”
Riley nodded, her glare disappearing. “Thank you.”
The ale house’s door opened. William, Riley, and Eric were all on their feet at once, weapons brandished.
“Calm yourselves, my friends. I’m not the one to kill.” It was Erin, still beaming her devilish smile. “But we do have more trouble.”
“Of course we do,” William groaned. “Ever since Pat showed up talkin’ about Rendal, we’ve had nothin’ but trouble.”
“Come on out here. You’ll want to hear this.”
The crew stood and made their way outside, William taking the lead and Riley walking behind him. She was still in her thoughts, unsure about the confidence everyone else felt in her. Everyone but Worth.
Maybe he was right.
Maybe she was too stubborn.
They stepped outside and Riley could hear the ocean in the distance, a constant presence on this island.
Verith’s soldiers had spread around the porch, creating a barrier between those inside and anyone who might want to enter. Verith stood at attention.
A pirate was on his right. He wore the Twocuts insignia, but he wasn’t brandishing a weapon.
“Twocuts is requesting our presence,” Erin told the group as they reached the porch.
“I’m sure he is,” William retorted. “We just killed all his men, and I killed at least ten of them by myself. Sure he wants to see me front and center.”
Worth laughed. “You kil
l like you drink. Weak.”
William’s head snapped to the bald man. “Watch it.”
“Watch you drink one beer. Take all day.” Worth grinned broadly.
“Boys, can we stay focused for just a moment?” Erin asked. “You can measure dicks or beer or whatever later. Right now, Twocuts wants to see us.”
“What if we don’t want to see him?” Riley answered. “We don’t have time to be meeting people; we’ve got to get to Mason.”
“Yes, I know. However, there does seem to be a problem with that, which is what I mentioned inside. You see, Twocuts has about twenty ships around the island. Inside the bar, we can defeat them, but even if we pull all Verith’s men off the ship, we’re still vastly outnumbered.”
“Why the hell did we come here?” William asked angrily.
“You seemed fine with it when you wanted beer,” Lucie said.
“Well I’ve had my beer, and now I’m wondering why?”
“It doesn’t matter.” Riley stepped forward and looked at the pirate. “What does your captain want?”
“Parley.”
“You believe him?” Riley asked Erin.
“On the seas, if a captain requests parley, you’re guaranteed safety. If Twocuts was to break that rule, he’d be in an awful lot of trouble with every other captain on the sea.”
“Then why can’t we just leave?” William grumbled. “If he wants to parley and we don’t, we can just walk away.”
The pirate shook his head. “Landlubbers.”
“That’s not how it works. If he requests parley and we decline, there’s nothing keeping him from attacking us,” Erin told them.
Riley nodded. “So we accept or risk war.”
“Exactly,” Erin answered.
“Well, not much of a choice then. Verith, your men ready?” Riley called down the steps.
“Yes. Do you trust this parley, Erin?”
“I do.”
Verith nodded. “Then I’ll leave the rest of the men on our ships.”
The crew walked across the island, the trip taking about thirty minutes. Riley was quiet as she walked, thinking about her magic use.
She remembered it much more clearly than she had at Rendal’s compound.
She could still see the sword flying through the air, knowing she had complete control over it. She’d told it to go faster, and it had listened. She’d told it to hit the pirate’s face, and it had.
Hand of Justice Boxed Set Page 25
