“Only two weeks?” Enwen interrupts. “That means he’s just beyond the horizon right now!”
I nod, and there is a beat of silence as everyone digests my father’s proximity—and what will happen if we should lose our lead.
“And without the wind?” Kearan asks.
“Most of the ships in the fleet are equipped with sweep oars. In no wind, he can travel as long as he has men on board with strength to row, while we’re locked in place.”
“Stars help us if we lose the wind,” Enwen says.
“No one is being forced on this journey,” I remind him. “You’re free to leave with the brothers.”
Kearan ignores Enwen’s outbursts, keeping his eyes on the map. He points to a few different land masses between here and the Isla de Canta. “These aren’t charted on any map I’ve seen. To think there are more islands in Maneria yet to be discovered!”
We stare at him.
“What?” he asks.
“You’re getting excited over something you can’t drink,” Sorinda says.
“I have interests,” he says defensively. “I’m a person.”
She shrugs indifferently.
I point to the first large island between here and the Isla de Canta, one with a distinct lagoon. “This must be where my father first met my mother.” It’s at the very edge of his map, right before where it connects to the Allemos map. I don’t know why I bother saying anything. There is no reason why she’d be there now. She’ll have gone to the Isla de Canta with the rest of her kind. And there’s no reason why I should want to see her.
She clearly doesn’t want to see me.
*
The start of the trip is a bit aggravating with the extra cargo. Draxen is very, well, unlikable. He glares my way whenever he thinks I’m not looking. He spat on the deck once when he saw me, and I kicked him onto his back to wipe the spot up with his shirt. He hasn’t tried it again since.
Draxen had such high expectations for himself. Kidnap the pirate king’s daughter, obtain the pirate king’s map, sail for the island himself. Getting outsmarted by me never occurred to him. He blames me for the loss of his crew and ship.
I hardly see how he thinks himself deserving of such spoils. On top of being a terrible person, he was also a terrible captain.
It’s strange watching Draxen and Riden interact. They talk constantly, laughing at what the other has to say. Riden coddles him, trying to force food and blankets on him while Draxen shoos him off. I could almost mistake Draxen for a human being when he’s interacting with his brother. But I know the truth. He’s a vile man who uses everyone around him to get what he wants, no matter the costs.
Just like my father.
It hurts to think about my father, to fully imagine the scope of his betrayal. I could have grown up knowing my mother. Or, maybe not. Perhaps she would have only abandoned me at a younger age if she could have made her own choices. Maybe she really is the monster Father always said. I don’t know what to think about her anymore, what all her actions mean. But my father—he has wronged me past the point of forgiveness. I will dethrone him and take everything he has built up for himself as my own.
At this point, that is the only thing I’m certain of.
I hold on to that resolve, let it carry me across the sea of confusion and bitterness that has become my life.
When we reach the supply post, my mood turns dark, as if someone has doused a flame. I can’t explain it.
It certainly has nothing to do with Riden leaving.
I’ve barely seen him in the time it took us to reach the supply post. He belittled me, humiliated me in my rooms after my mother left. What I offered him was little more than what we’d done aboard the Night Farer. Why is he all of the sudden making a big deal over thoughts and feelings? I wanted action. Isn’t that what he’s always wanted, too?
Regardless, I haven’t exactly bothered to seek him out, and he’s been too busy trying to put meat back on Draxen’s bones to do anything else.
Riden crosses the deck with a much healthier-looking Draxen in tow. He steps through the gap in the railing, preparing to climb down to the waiting rowboat below.
He turns his head in my direction, so I quickly look the other way. To be caught staring, even though I know I’ll never see him again, would be even more humiliating.
I should focus on the fact that Riden is the only one I’m losing. Even though I offered escape to anyone who would rather not take on the pirate king, no one in my crew wants to leave. I even took pains to convince Wallov he should take his daughter and run.
He was insulted.
Both of them were.
I should be overjoyed to have the trust and respect of my whole crew, and yet my foul mood will not be dispelled. I try not to let it show as I tell Niridia, “Get us going again.”
I scan the ship, displeased by the pace at which everyone is moving. “Get your sea legs moving! We’ve got a long journey ahead, and the pirate king is on our heels. If you don’t pick things up, you can jump ashore now!”
That gets them going. I’m watching their doubled paces with satisfaction, when my vision is blocked by Mandsy’s head. It bears an infuriating smile, a knowing smile.
“Don’t you have something to be doing?” I snap.
She only giggles. “Why in such a foul mood, Captain? He hasn’t gone anywhere.”
“Excuse me?”
“Riden. He’s over there chatting with Roslyn.”
I lean over the railing, looking in the direction of the shore. Draxen is glaring at the ship from his rowboat, specifically at a spot near the bow of the Ava-lee.…
Where his brother is in fact still on board, chatting with Roslyn.
“What is going on?” I ask.
“I think he’s coming with us,” Mandsy says.
I narrow my eyes at her. “Where does he get off thinking he can do things without consulting the captain first? And my mood is not altered by the comings and goings of that man. Don’t you dare insinuate as much again.”
She curtsies elegantly before skipping off, probably to weave flowers into crowns or to hug a barnacle or something.
“I’m no passenger,” I hear Roslyn say as I approach. “I’m part of the crew.” I find her little figure in time to see her pull her dagger from behind her back and press it to Riden’s navel. “And I don’t care for being talked down to.”
Riden’s lips twitch as he tries not to smile. “My mistake,” he says and takes a step back. “I meant no insult, little lass. Please spare me.”
Roslyn considers his plea carefully, as though she’s actually debating whether or not to kill him. In reality, I know she’s enjoying watching him beg, having someone play along.
“What is your job on the ship?” Riden asks. Though he must have noticed her moving about the Ava-lee in all the time he’s spent with us, perhaps he never realized Roslyn is part of the hired crew. She gets her cut of the spoils just like everyone else.
Roslyn lowers the knife. “I’m the captain’s lookout. I call out danger from up top and navigate us to safety when we’re in tricky waters.”