Page 133 of Vengeance of the Pirate Queen

Alosa takes my arm and leads me across the gangplank toward her captain’s quarters. Dynkinar follows behind us. Alosa says, “Have I mentioned how much I love having him as my new first mate? Bossing him around is such a delight, and he’s so good at following orders.”

I look over my shoulder. Riden has gripped Enwen in a fierce hug. Kearan stands not far off, arms crossed, as he waits his turn.

“He might like it more than you do,” I point out.

“Then we’re both lucky, eh?”

“Aye.”

When we’re behind closed doors, the whole story comes out of me. Dynkinar offers her side of things, sharing a brief history of her people and their sacred charge. I don’t stop until I get to the part where we set sail for the journey home.

Though Alosa looks perfectly perplexed, I know she believes every word. “My mother has never once mentioned the existence of siren artifacts, but then again, she’s not good at offering up information unless I ask for it. Just doesn’t occur to her the things I might want to know. I’ll set up a meeting with her straightaway when we return. We need to know if there could be any more of these artifacts lying in wait about the seas. What did you do with the panaceum?”

I procure it from my boot so she can look at it. She tries to reach for it, but I say, “There was a cost. I can’t let it be parted from me, else I will die. Maybe Kearan, too.” The object was still in Threydan’s heart when I used its power to heal Kearan. The rest of the injured were healed after I freed the object and killed Threydan, but Kearan and I will depend on it for as long as we both live.

Zarian translates for Dynkinar, and she narrows her eyes slightly.

So I explain in detail what I know to be true about my connection to the object.

I finish with “I don’t want it, but it’s what’s keeping me alive. I have to have it on me at all times.”

Alosa turns to Dynkinar. “I can imagine how you feel about that, but the four of us in this room are the only ones who know where the panaceum is. If we keep it that way, it will remain safe. I trust Sorinda with my life, and it would seem she has already preserved yours once. Is this going to be a problem for you?”

Dynkinar listens to Zarian’s translation carefully. She meets my eyes.

In Driftan, Dynkinar says directly to me, “Let no more blood be spilled between our peoples. You have saved us from Threydan after we tried to kill you. You have proven yourself to be trustworthy when he offered you immortality. For that, I will allow the artifact to remain in your safekeeping. But if word should get out about it, we will need to revisit this discussion.”

“Understood,” I say.

Alosa looks at me curiously.

“Another perk of having the artifact.”

“Very nice.”

“Dynkinar agrees.”

“Excellent. You’ve done well, Captain.”

I wince.

“You disagree?” she asks.

“Only at being called Captain. I don’t care for the position or the title.”

She sighs wistfully. “I hoped a journey like this would change your mind. I do so need more captains I can trust. But I understand. You are who you are, and I shall not ask you to captain a vessel again unless I grow desperate once more.”

My relief is palpable. I want nothing more than to return to my duties as assassin.

“Do you have a new job for me?” I ask.

“Oh, no. You haven’t even finished this one yet. That vessel and all those upon it are in your charge until we return home.”

I try not to cringe. A month still of captaining.

“And then, when we return to Queen’s Keep,” Alosa continues, “you’re to rest from your travels and recuperate. We’ll also have to see about acquiring a new ship for you.” At the face I make, she adds, “Purely for emergencies, mind you.”

My lips twitch. “Then I won’t object if it’s only for emergencies. I’ll try not to sink this one.”

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