Page 34 of Vengeance of the Pirate Queen

“What is it?” Dimella asks.

“Fire and chaos,” I answer. “The docks aren’t safe for Roslyn.”

“Do we wait? Do we engage? See if we can help?”

This feels like the first big and important decision I have to make as captain. Alosa gave me orders. Find her missing vessel. Drop Roslyn off at Darmont on the way.

I can’t do them both. We haven’t time to communicate with Alosa and explain the situation. Her contact can’t safely get to Roslyn. In fact, I can’t even see the pirate any longer. She must have gone to help.

“Pull her back up,” I say.

The lads haul the rowboat back onto the ship.

“We keep going,” I say, returning the spyglass to Dimella. “The queen’s forces are already on the island seeing to the situation. No one is free to take her.” I turn my gaze to Roslyn, who clambers out of the rowboat as though the boards might burn her. “Your fate now lies with us,” I tell her. “You better hope you last the voyage or your father and Alosa will both have my head.”

I OFTEN HAVE TROUBLEsleeping. Nightmares plague my dreams most nights, and I’m easily woken by the quiet creaking of the ship or even a change in temperature or lighting. I always have a weapon on me or beside me.

Tonight it’s worry that keeps me awake.

What if I made the wrong decision? What if Mandsy and Niridia needed help? What if I’ve doomed Roslyn to death?

I try to reassure myself that I made the best decision with what information I had. I’ve already written to Alosa to explain the situation. All I can do is wait for her response, but it hardly matters.

The decision has been made. There’s no turning back now.

The bed is too soft as I roll over, trying to find a comfortable position. I hear the doorknob to my room rattle, and I go to the door before asking who it is.

“Roslyn.”

I let her in, and she throws herself into my arms.

“I’m sorry, Sorinda. I didn’t mean to be so difficult. Do you think my bad actions caused this?”

“Caused what?”

“The fire? The explosion? Enwen says that bad things follow bad intentions, and I—”

“Don’t listen to anything Enwen says, you hear me? You made a poor decision, but you didn’t cause that fire or explosion. It was a squabble between Draxen and the land king. Nothing more. It was poor timing.”

“Do you think Papa will die of worry before I can return to him? Do you think we could send a bird?”

I point to the bed behind me. “Climb in.”

She does so, and I tuck her in. “Everything will be all right. You get some sleep. I’ll let you know what Alosa says when I hear back from her. For now, I’m going to keep watch. Make sure no one followed us from the island.”

“Isn’t that my job?” she asks as she rubs her eyes, hiding tears she doesn’t want me to see.

“You’re relieved of your duties for the evening. Now sleep.”

ANOTHERLETTERCOMEStwo weeks later:

DamnDraxen.Damnhimtohell.Apparentlyhewent after one of the land king’s banks. Naturally, Ladell is going to think it was me until Mandsy and Niridia can prove otherwise. Riden is torn between wanting to help the girls and worrying his presence will only make things worse. But don’t you worry about that.

Youdid the right thing.Those missing girls are top priority. Roslyn has no choice but to go with you now.Itrustyou’llkeephersafe.NowI’vegottotellWallov. Let’s hope he doesn’t have a heart attack.

—Alosa

We’re into uncharted waters now, viewing an ocean that few have traveled before. Enwen clutches a string of pearls within his fist at all times. I’ve known him long enough to recall he thinks it wards off evil. Kearan has grown more alert, his eyes not only checking the sea in front of us as we sail but also the south and west, as though he anticipates something coming upon us without the lookouts noticing.

---