“Thank—”
Wood smacks against rock as the far doors are split open wide. The room instantly quiets. Everyone reads Kalligan’s mood. Even without his fleet, my father is an imposing figure. He’s a giant among men, at well over six feet and built like an ox.
Men step away from his path as he stomps to the center of the mess hall, the tables practically trembling from the force of his footsteps. He searches faces as he goes. Stars help whoever he’s looking for.
“Praxer!” he finally yells, as he spots a man in spectacles with more shine on his head than hair.
“My king?” Praxer abandons his meal and rises, though he has to be about to wet his breeches.
“I told you there was something wrong with the shipment from Calpoon, did I not?”
“You did, and I went through the inventory twice more. I found the missing chest of coins and added it to the rest of the treasury.”
“And did you update the books?” My father’s voice turns eerily calm.
The blood flees from Praxer’s face.
My father gets nose-to-nose with the man, not bothering to check his voice this time. “Two ships were dispatched last week to punish Lord Farrek for shorting me on money! It’ll be a miracle if the frigate reaches them in time to recant the order. What kind of message do you think it sends the land nobles if I start punishing them for paying me?”
“It won’t happen again.”
“You’re right-handed, are you not?”
The balding man stutters before finding his voice. “Yes, my king, why—”
“Hold him down.”
The two men who had been sitting nearest Praxer leap to their feet and restrain him. They’re likely his friends, but friendship means nothing when an order is issued by the king.
Kalligan litters the floor with plates of food as he clears the table with one swipe. Those seated nearby freeze for fear of drawing his attention.
With one hand on his head and the other at his back, the first of Praxer’s friends shoves him face first against the table. The second extends Praxer’s left arm and pins it against the wood.
“No, my king. Please—”
Praxer screams as red sprays the nearby men and tables.
“Fail me again and you’ll lose your other hand as well. Look at me!”
Praxer has sunk to the floor. He muffles his screams long enough to meet my father’s eyes.
“I have no use for a man without hands. Do you understand?”
“Y-y-yes,” he breathes.
Kalligan dries his cutlass on Praxer’s shirtsleeve as he surveys the crowd. His eyes land on me. In the beat of a second his right brow lifts slightly. I nod.
“We leave for the Isla de Canta in one month’s time,” he says to the room. “Let’s hope you fools can keep your limbs in the meantime. No more mistakes.”
Praxer whines as he rocks back and forth, holding his wrist just above where his left hand was moments earlier.
Kalligan steps over him on his way back toward the door.
*
“Hello, Father,” I say when I’ve caught up to him. ’Tis no easy feat since his legs outdistance mine considerably. It’s a shame I couldn’t have inherited a bit more of his height. He towers over me by more than a foot. There isn’t a single man I know who doesn’t stand in his shadow.
“Your voyage was successful.” He says it as fact, not as a question.
“Aye, sir. The sack of filth, Vordan, has been transported to the dungeons.”
“And the map?”
I cease walking, and he does the same, facing me. With a tightened fist, I pull the map necklace from my pocket.
His foul mood dispels instantly as he takes it in his hands. “You are the only one I can trust to do things right.” One large hand slaps me on the back, and I warm at the sign of affection. It is a big one from him and so rare. “We’ll celebrate later tonight. Have one of the cooks send up a 1656, Wenoa stock.” Ah, that’s a good year. “Have you questioned Vordan yet?”
A pause.
I can’t tell him what Vordan’s told me. Even if I don’t believe it. Which of course I don’t. There’s no reason to even mention it.
Careful to keep my voice normal, I say, “I have. He sang like a bird. I have a list of names of all the men in our ranks who secretly work for Vordan.”
Father watches me carefully. “What’s wrong?” he asks.
He is not controlling you, I tell myself. Why do I even need to reassure myself?
I hurry to think of something believable to say. “Do you think we’ll find my mother? When we reach the Isla de Canta?” After I get the words out, I realize there is genuine curiosity behind them.
Still, I worry at his reaction. What if he assumes that I think he’s not good enough? That I need more than just him? But is it wrong for a girl to want to meet her mother?
“For your sake, I hope we don’t. The siren queen is a truly menacing creature, no more than a sea monster feverishly on the lookout for human prey. She’d kill you before you could utter who you are, and even if you did manage to get the words out, I doubt it would make a difference.
“They’re not like us, Alosa. You’ve seen all too well what happens when your siren nature takes over you. Imagine creatures that have only one side. That side.”
My blood runs cold. I had so hoped to meet my mother just once, but maybe there are some memories I don’t want to make.
“I suggest,” Kalligan continues, “you be prepared to kill every siren you meet.”
*
Father calls together a meeting for all the ship captains present at the keep. Over half of them are running jobs throughout Maneria, and he’s dispatched yano birds to order their immediate return. Since he knew I was due to arrive any day, he didn’t bother to spare a bird to fix poor Praxer’s mistake. And honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if Father chose to put on a show of fury and violence just to remind everyone what happens to those who disappoint him.
We set sail in one month for the Isla de Canta, with or without the rest of the fleet. Those captains who don’t make it in time will not share in our spoils. I’m certain everyone will make haste.
My belly is full. I’ve washed and changed. Red hair spills over my shoulders, brushing against an emerald corset. I like to look my best when surrounded by the most important men in the keep, to remind them I’m their princess and will be their queen one day. And I need the extra confidence boost, given all the uncertainty crowding my insides of late.
My eyes are a deep blue. I replenished my abilities again after questioning Vordan on my ship. Though most wouldn’t dare to try anything with me or my crew at the risk of upsetting their king, it’s foolish to go into territory where I’m surrounded by the most bloodthirsty men in the world and not come fully prepared.