Page 121 of Lore of the Tides

She felt so distant from her body. From this ship. From this moment. She was already in Duskmere, preparing her people to fight. She was saving Syrelle and Maple and the children. She was arming up for battle. She was ripping the king apart with her mind. She was anywhere but here.

Could an army be hiding? Maybe the king had come himself. Maybe he didn’t even need an army.

Lore was startled out of her thoughts by the captain’s voice. “At first, I was pissed.” Her voice was steady and clear, with no hint of fear or fury. Maybe the pixie just swished her wings out of habit;she probably didn’t even realize she was doing it. She continued, “Finally, I have a ship of my own to command. My own ship! Do you know of any other pixies who have control of their own ship? No? Neither do I. Well, a few weeks in, and lo and behold, your friends barged into my quarters, magic out, swords swinging... I almost had them thrown overboard for their insolence in thinking I’m too stupid to have protections in place. I am a pixie who commands her own ship. Everyone thinks me an easy target.” She thrust her thumb backward toward the six hulking fae males behind her. Lore eyed them warily.

“I must admit, your two might’ve held their own against my cabal here, but Vel... he has a unique talent. He can create a shield from the air, encase you in it. Any power you try to use... it bounces right back to you...” She blinked at Lore, tilting her head to the side. “See... fae and siren I can handle. I wasn’t aware I had to be prepared for a witch.”

The pixie raised her eyebrow at what must be a shocked expression on Lore’s face.

“Oh, I know who you are. There isn’t a sailor on these seas who hasn’t heard of the new phenomenon. The human sorceress. The witch.” The pixie tucked her thumbs into belt loops and tapped one shining black boot against the polished deck of her ship. “If I had known the Grand Witch, First of Her Kind, would be booking passage on my ship... well, a different captain would have denied you passage, but me being me... I at least would have introduced myself when you boarded my vessel. Especially because in the stories you are eight feet tall with limbs that slither like noodles, or a shrieking ghost with miniature cauldrons for hands.” She shrugged, her lips quirking up into a smile. “Depending on who tells it—you can’t always trust the drunks in a tavern.”

The pixie stepped toward her, looking up at Lore, though Lore had an uneasy feeling she was lookingdownat her. Lore eyed her uneasily. She couldn’t quite get a grasp on this creature. Was shegoing to let them go without a fight or not? Or was she keeping them here, stalling until the guard was alerted? It would be the smart thing to do.

Lore’s eyes widened as she realized the captain didn’t justappearto be looking down at Lore, shewas. Just barely. Her boots were no longer on the deck but hovering a few inches above it.Impressive.Her wings fluttered with such efficiency they now appeared to be stationary.

Lore met eyes with Finn and Hazen, who stood by, waiting for the gangway to be lowered. For the ship to be tied up at the dock. Finndryl and Hazen were tense as well. Ready to fight. All three of them hoped they wouldn’t have to.

The captain dropped back onto the deck. “Imagine my surprise when I discover you have fingers just like me, regular eyes, though on the smaller side compared to a pixie... but you arebarelytaller than me!”

“Sorry to disappoint,” Lore deadpanned. The rumors surrounding her were alarming, but maybe she could find a way to work them in her favor. Gods, she was tired. The muscles in her thighs were twitching. Her mouth felt desert dry. Lore dipped her head in apology once more. “Like I said, I’m sorry. I had to. I wonder if we can come to some arrangement... and quickly. We really are in a hurry.” Lore really didn’t want to have to hurt the captain. Despite everything, she liked the pixie. In another life, they could have been friends. Still, she stroked the grimoires with her mind. Coaxing them both awake. Just in case.

“A hurry, you say? You know, I gathered that.” The pixie laughed—a tinkle of bells. “Look, I won’t grill you much longer, I promise. And if you are wondering if I’ll report you to the watch, I won’t. Though I am sure you’ve broken a dozen laws at least, and I still don’t like that you didn’t come to me first.”

“If I had, would you have agreed to let me do what I had to in order to arrive here in time?”

“Absolutely not. But my pride would have liked it more than these two demanding my compliance.”

“I see.”

“They were surprisingly polite. You’ve got some good ones.”

“That I do.” Lore nodded, her gaze flicking back to the shore, searching for an army.

“I’ll let you and your friends leave before alerting the harbormaster of our arrival. This quiet of a port, this late, he’s no doubt asleep in his office.”

The ship eased into a space within the empty harbor. Moonlight glinted on the ropes the sailors tossed down to wrap around massive metal spokes.

Lore nodded her thanks. Too weary to speak anymore. Gods, she hoped Finndryl had water on him. Her mouth was so dry.

The gangway was being lowered. So close. She was almost there. Please let her be here in time.

“And, Lara?”

Lore had almost forgotten the fake name they’d used to book passage. She almost didn’t turn around as they walked down the ramp, Finndryl’s hand warm and familiar, holding her up. She felt a little dizzy. She called onAuroradel’s power, just to get her safely off the ship. The book complied. Immediately, her focus cleared; her muscles eased.

“If you are ever looking for work, come find me—we could become rich by offering a three-day trip from Ma Serach to Alytheria.” The pixie dipped her head in respect.

Lore’s jaw dropped for a moment before she snapped it shut and grinned.

“If I’m ever looking for work, you’ll be my first stop.”

“Good. Now get off my ship.”

The pixie’s laugh followed them down the gangway.

Chapter 40

The frosted forest floor crackled beneath Lore’s boots as she, Finn, and Hazen left the pebbled shoreline and ventured into the viridescent stretch of woods. The air hummed with a familiar aura as the trees, lively in their splendor, swayed in the wind, stirring their branches, showering them with velvety needles that smelled of evergreen life. Lore picked her way over roots and brushed a hand along lichen and moss that painted a tapestry upon the tree trunks. A smile spread across her face, crinkling the corners of her eyes.

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