Page 33 of Return of the Vengeful Quee

“Your Majesty.” Orayn sounded strained. “Please tell Lord Farragin that we are not stealing weapons from pirates.”

“We aren’t stealing weapons from pirates.” Before Orayn could sigh in relief, Charis continued. “We’re stealing their entire ship.”

There was a beat of silence, and then chaos erupted. Orayn spat until his mouth ran dry. Reuben shouted objections that were drowned out by Holland’s enthusiastic celebration.

Charis interrupted them. “We have to work fast. Orayn, stop trying to ward off a pirate’s curse. We’re their curse now. Put together a system that will allow us to haul our supplies safely on board and do it fast. I want every speck of food, weaponry, clothing, first aid supplies, tools, ropes, and poison on that ship by noon. Faster, if you can manage it.

“Holland, make sure our weapons are transported securely. Put Rithni in charge of the food and first aid supplies. Ayve can put together a small team to get everyone’s clothing and hygiene supplies. I want Finn in charge of moving the poison.”

“What should I do?” Reuben asked as the others left to do their jobs.

Calling on the fury in her heart, Charis turned to face him. A queen did what was necessary to protect her people. Even if it meant sacrificing a few lives to save the many.

Even if it meant sacrificing herself.

With enough steel in her voice to meet Mother’s exacting standards, Charis said, “You are going to help me figure out how to sail our original ship out of the cave with as few crew members as it is possible to have.”

There was a moment of silence. She met Reuben’s hard brown eyes and waited.

Finally, he said, “This ship is a decoy to lure the Rakuuna into attacking, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

He stared her down for a long moment, his jaw flexing, his eyes burning with the violence that lurked just beneath his surface. Then he said, “As you wish.”

She nodded as though she’d never expected an argument, though it was rare for Reuben to simply accept her bold ideas. “Good. The crew who stays behind to row must be given the choice if at all possible. I don’t want to condemn anyone else to be either kidnapped or killed by the Rakuuna.”

She ought to feel bad forcing Reuben to join her, but despite the fierce loyalty he’d shown once she became queen, he was still the same man who’d ruthlessly murdered her handmaiden Milla and her nighttime guards on orders from Charis’s mother. She’d never forgive him for that.

He could pay the life debt he owed by helping her save Calera.

“How many crew do you think it will take to get the ship out of the cave?” Charis asked, turning away to run some calculations. “I can manage the helm. Orayn’s been teaching me. You can have Finn explain the depth finder—”

“No, Your Majesty.” His voice was as cold as hers.

She pivoted to face him, anger flickering. “I don’t think I heard you, Reuben, because surely you know better than to tell your queen no.”

“I will sail the ship, Your Majesty.” He sounded resolute. “I’ll assign crew to the oars and the depth finder. We’ll leave the cave first and lure the Rakuuna into sinking the ship. But you are getting onto the pirate ship and sailing safely out of here.”

“No, I’m not.”

He matched her glare with one of his own. “The queen of Calera is not going to send herself out of this cave as bait.”

She gritted her teeth. It was hard enough to take this step without having to argue with Reuben, of all people, that she was making the right choice—the only choice—for Calera.

“I’m the one with a bounty on my head. I’m the one the Rakuuna are hunting. If they drag me back to Calera, they’ll stop hunting. They won’t be looking for more Caleran threats, and that gives our people time to gather an armada and use the poison to destroy the Rakuuna. This plan doesn’t work if I’m not the bait.”

A small sound behind her had her turning on her heel. Holland stood there, looking for all the world as though she’d just run him through with her sword. For a long moment, they stared at each other, and then he squared his shoulders and said, “When do we leave?”

“Give us half a day’s head start to make sure the Rakuuna take the bait, and then sail for Verace. Once you’ve delivered half the poison to them, set sail for Calera’s northernmost port and arrange to meet King Alaric and his army.” Her words were full of calm certainty, at odds with the way her heart ached.

Holland raised one brow. “No, I meant when do we”—he waved a hand to encompass Charis, Reuben, and himself—“set sail as bait?”

She sucked in an unsteady breath and locked eyes with him. “You’re not coming with me.”

He smiled. “Indeed I am.”

“Holland, I forbid you to go. That’s a direct command from your queen.”

---