Page 21 of The Twisted Throne

Every ounce of goodwill and respect that Ahnna had felt for him disappeared in a rush of anger, but she bit down on the retort that he was a money-grubbing Harendellian. “Under theFifteen-Year Treaty, Harendell is allied with Maridrina. Don’t you think it shortsighted to abandon them during their time of need when tension is clearly rising between Harendell and Amarid?”

James tilted his head, silent for a long moment before he said, “Ithicana could reduce its bridge tolls, which would allow goods to be sold at a reduced rate to the Maridrinians. We could share the burden of supporting our ally during these troubled times.”

It was an obnoxiously reasonable solution, and there was no way to counter other than the truth. Only that was not the cause of the unease blooming in her chest. For living memory, Harendell had aggressively exported through the bridge, and those exports accounted for almost half of Ithicana’s revenue. Yet the way James spoke suggested that other markets had become available to them. If that were true, then Ahnna’s goals of increasing trade might well turn to preventing the loss of it. Her heart rate escalated because Ithicana was depending on her, and it felt like she’d already failed.

Don’t jump to conclusions,she told herself even as her instincts whispered that James would be no ally in achieving her goals. That if anything, he was very much her adversary.

“With the utmost respect, Your Highnesses,” Georgie said, picking up his glass, “we are going to need to open another few bottles if the conversation topic remains this dull. Tolls and taxes? Treaties and alliances? Doom and gloom? It’s not fit conversation for our first night aboard together.” Taking a mouthful, he set his glass down on the table.

Only for it to slide sideways as the ship was broadsided by a wave.

The Harendellians all cursed, grabbing their glasses before they toppled, but Ahnna rose to her feet. “Quiet!”

The men fell silent as she listened to the groan of the vessel, feeling the way it rolled over the waves, her heart breaking into a gallop as she marked the storm’s shift.

Discarding her glass, she bolted outside as the ship’s bells began ringing, nearly colliding with Jor. “The storm shifted,” they both said at the same time, and as the captain appeared, she added, “We need to head west.”

He didn’t even seem to hear her, and Ahnna marked how all those on deck weren’t watching the storm to the east but rather staring west.

James brushed past her, stopping next to the second mate, who was frantically gesturing out to sea as he explained something to the captain.

Ahnna squinted, her chest tightening as she spotted the lights of ship lanterns. “Merchant ships trying to outrun the storm?”

James shook his head. “Lookouts have counted three Amaridian naval vessels shadowing us,” he said. “But they’re not making any move to come closer, so we may make it to the mainland.”

“They don’t need to come closer,” Ahnna said. “That storm is going to push us into them.”

The ship’s captain heard her words. “It’s just a squall!”

Ahnna lifted her gaze to the swirling clouds, bolts of lightning illuminating the blackness, not understanding how they didn’t see what she saw. “That’s a ship killer if I’ve ever seen one.”

Jor added, “Not because she’s more violent but because you won’t know her weight until she’s swung her first punch. We need to get out of her way.”

“If we head west, they’ll board us,” the captain argued. “Especially if we enter Amaridian waters!”

“The seas are too rough to board,” Jor snapped. “If we stay just west of the storm, their fleet won’t be able to stay together. We wait until they’re blown in different directions and then make a run for it in the dark.”

Walking to the railing, Ahnna rested her hands on the polishedwood and stared at the distant lights. Every ship captain with a brain between their ears would be flying away from the storm, but these vessels pressed closer.

James had come up next to her as she spoke, and his elbow brushed hers, the conflict that had risen over the dinner table set aside in the face of a mutual adversary.

“Why are they taking these risks?” she demanded. “Why is your death worth so much to them?”

He didn’t answer, and knowing it was a question to be asked if they got through this alive, Ahnna shifted her thoughts to how they might escape. Turning to face the captain, she said, “We cut east in front of the storm.”

The captain blanched. “Are you mad?”

“Ahnna, there’s not enough time,” Jor shouted. “The storm is nearly on us.”

“Exactly. They’re far enough off that if they try to pursue, they’ll get caught in it for sure.”

“I say we hold the course,” the captain said. “Skirt the edge of the storm.”

“The storm is pressing southwest.” Ahnna held a hand up to the rising wind. “She’ll push us straight into Amaridian waters, and when she blows herself out, we won’t be able to outrun them. Not on this tug.”

“TheVictoriais the prized jewel of the king’s fleet!” The captain’s face purpled. “There is nothing like her on the seas.”

“YourVictoriais slow!” Ahnna jabbed a finger toward the Amaridians, the wind tearing her hair loose from its tie. “Whereas they build for speed. This is our only chance, and we’re wasting it on arguments!”

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