Page 32 of Return of the Vengeful Quee

As Orayn moved to obey, Grim and Dec rushed to her side, Holland in their wake.

“Your Majesty.” Grim sketched a hasty bow. “You know that big shadow off to the side in the lagoon? We thought maybe it was a large rock or even an island?”

“Yes.”

“We looked at it through the telescope. It isn’t either one of those.”

She turned to face him “What is it?”

“A ship.”

Hours later, with Joren and Uriah respectfully sent to their final resting place and the hull firmly patched, Charis stood on the deck as some of the crew manned the galley oars while Orayn and Finn carefully navigated their way to the ship that rested in the southwestern quarter of the lagoon. It was much easier to see it now that faint scraps of daylight filtered in from above, but still, it wasn’t until they were close that Charis could truly make out the spiky mast timbers, the spacious deck, and the limp flag that hung above the crow’s nest.

“Ahoy!” Orayn called, his voice booming across the space between the two vessels. “We come in peace.”

That was a relative term. If the ship was a pirate vessel—and Orayn had assured Charis there was no other type of ship that might take refuge here—and if its crew thought they were going to rob Charis’s people, then she had no intention of being anything close to peaceful.

“Ahoy!” Orayn called again.

No one replied.

Finn yelled instructions to the rowers, and Orayn brought the ship alongside the other. Still, there was no reply. No activity on the deck as far as Charis could tell. Were they asleep?

“Cease rowing and weigh anchor!” Finn called.

Her crew stood silently waiting while she watched the other ship. Nothing. No sounds, no movement. She turned to find that Orayn, Reuben, and Holland had all joined her at the bow.

“Is it abandoned?” Reuben asked.

“No one abandons a ship,” Orayn said. “Too valuable. If you don’t want it anymore, you sell it.”

“Maybe they anchored overnight like we did, and the basilisks climbed the sides of their boat and killed them.” Holland leaned over the railing as if by peering closer he could determine whether there were any bodies on the ship.

“Snakes can’t climb ships like this one.” Orayn gestured toward the sides of the vessel, where silvery spikes gleamed in the faint daylight. “Those spikes will be all along the bottom as well. Pirate ship, for sure.”

Orayn cursed and spat three times over his left shoulder, while the others shifted uneasily. All but Holland, who looked as if he’d been given an early birthday present.

“Do you think they left any of their loot inside?” Holland rubbed his hands together. “I’ve heard pirates collect the best weapons the sea kingdoms have to offer.”

“We should not steal weapons from pirates,” Orayn said firmly. “That’s a good way to get ourselves killed.”

“What’s a bad way to get ourselves killed?” Holland sounded genuinely curious.

“Lord Farragin, pirates hunt down those who steal from them and make examples of them. The stories are enough to chase the sleep from your eyes for a month. We should leave this ship alone, don’t you think, Your Majesty?” Orayn looked at Charis.

Orayn was correct. Pirates were rarely seen in the southern waters—the vigilance of the Caleran and Solvanish navies had seen to that—but they were a danger in the northern seas, especially to the west, where they had hideouts far from civilization.

However, pirates weren’t the most ferocious predator on Charis’s trail. And they’d first have to return to the cave to realize they’d been robbed. At that point, it was unlikely they could ever track down who did it.

Maybe she didn’t have to figure out how to make weapons powerful enough to obliterate an entire Rakuuna crew. Maybe all that was needed was a simple bait and switch.

The idea took hold, and as her mind raced through the strategy, hunting for weaknesses, she arrived at one simple, stark truth.

There was only one person in this lagoon who could act as bait.

It would be worth it if it meant her crew and the poison were safe. They could sail for Verace without issue, which meant the invaders could still be driven from Calera, and her people could still be saved.

Pushing aside the sickening dread that filled her, she latched onto that hopeful thought and turned to the group surrounding her.

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