Page 11 of Vengeance of the Pirate Queen

Hmm. I assumed he came out of the womb with a bottle in his hand.

Alosa says, “I don’t leave anyone for dead. If there’s a chance they’re still alive, then I’m going to use all the resources I have to locate them. I’ll want weekly updates, Captain, on the well-being of you and the crew. Anything weird starts to happen, you let me know immediately.”

It’s still so strange to be calledCaptain. Alosa promoted me shortly after we dethroned her father, yet I never wanted my own ship or women to command. I haven’t bothered to hire a crew for my vessel, and I haven’t even laid eyes on the ship Alosa gifted me.

“Who will be sailing with me?” I ask. “Wallov?”

“No. Where Wallov goes, Roslyn follows. This is no voyage for her.”

I couldn’t agree more. The lass isn’t even eight yet.

“You’ll have a few familiar faces. Radita will serve as boatswain. Philoria and Bayla as gunwomen. Mostly, there will be many new women that you have yet to meet. Don’t worry. I won’t be sending anyone with you that I don’t trust. You’ll have a good crew.”

“Who’s to serve as first mate?”

“Her name is Dimella. You’ll like her, I promise.”

We’ll see about that. I don’t like very many people. “When do we sail?”

“As soon as the ship can be made ready. I’ve been having it stocked since I anticipated your return soon.”

“So sure I would say yes?” I ask with a smile.

“Not sure. Just hopeful. Thank you, Sorinda. I mean it. I really wish I could go with you.”

Realizing that Alosa needs some assurances of her own, I say, “Put it from your mind, Captain. I’ve got this. I will find them.”

She nods. “I know you will.” Then, as though remembering something, she reaches under the desk and pulls out a long, thin box. “Almost forgot. I have something for you.”

I step up to it slowly, doing my best to keep as much distance as possible from Kearan with him still sitting right in front of the desk.

“Go on. Open it,” Alosa encourages.

I find the latch at the front and pull on the lid.

What rests inside takes my breath away.

It’s a rapier. Long and slender, sharp as death. The knuckle guard shimmers, as though some sort of crushed gems were mixed in with the molten iron. The inner guards over the base of the blade have been shaped to look like ocean waves. When I reach for the grip, my hands brush leather so soft it could be mistaken for velvet. It’s impossibly light when I lift the sword. It blurs through the air when I test it out, moving as though it truly were an extension of my arm.

“You didn’t think I’d forgotten your birthday, now, did you?” Alosa asks.

I can’t find my voice right away. “Thank you.”

“Only the best for you.”

“It’s your birthday?” Kearan asks.

Alosa’s gaze snaps to him. “You’re dismissed, Kearan. Ready yourself for the voyage.”

He towers over the room when he stands. “Aye-aye.”

Alosa and I watch his back until he shuts the door behind himself.

She says, “Now, if I might be so bold as to offer you a bit of advice before you go to meet your crew?”

“Of course,” I say, still admiring my new weapon.

“I have no doubt that you will make a good captain, Sorinda, but try to remember that the crew will be looking to you always. Don’t be so quiet with them. Don’t hide all the time. Your presence will reassure them when times are hard. Your words of encouragement will embolden them. Remember how important it is for you to be seen and heard.”

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