Page 117 of Take No Prisoners
He'd never tried. The first attempt left them all breathless. The second managed to lower their voices to whispers. The third try made the cabin airtight, and their ears popped.
"This will work," Efren whispered.
"Only until we all feel lightheaded." Petri rolled their eyes. "What's the plan for your house, Captain?"
"Any upgrade you feel is fitting for the emperor. He'll need a place to stay, as will the diplomats traveling from Luminest."
Niall blinked. He'd believed the conversation between Efren and Vadim, that they were splitting up at Hearthstone. Vadim was supposed to take Hugo north to Luminest. Now, he understood why they hadn't tried to hide their plans from Martiz. They'd wanted him to hear the lie.
"What if Elsie asks what we're doing?"
"We have new crew members. Vadim's got two wind weavers in Landale waiting for him, and we've picked up a new one, as well. For the updates at the sentinel oak, tell her we'll need somewhere to parley with Coryn if she should return."
"Parley?" Petri wrinkled their nose in disgust. "Wouldn't it be best to declare her an enemy and attack?"
"She's got a death weaver," Niall said. "I didn't see her on the ship, but Brigham, the other seeker, seemed terrified of her."
"Anyone who attacks General Coryn will suffer the same fate as someone attacking Vadim," Efren said. "With magic, anyway. Siphons only have the ability to fight magic with magic."
"You mean if someone were to attack her with a sword, her power wouldn't see that as an attempt on her life?" Petri asked.
"It's unknown if a weaver could attack her with a sword and live. A mundane archer hit her with a crossbow bolt to the heart, and he lived to tell the tale."
Petri nodded. "I'll work on recruiting mundane folk from the passing ships."
"That's more than I would ask of you."
"Nay, it'll keep me busy building, and keep Elsie guessing. She and Allora are supposed to be bottling her lightning."
Efren nodded and extended his hand across the table. "It's a plan."
"Safe returns, Captain." Niall had nowhere else to go but out the cabin door to get out of Petri's way.
They emerged to jeers from Olivia and the rest of the crew. "Get out of here, Petri!"
"Ye landlubber!" Stan shouted. Tovey elbowed him in the gut, and he coughed mid-word.
"I hope the captain and Niall make it." Petri stuck out their tongue at Hannah, and then raised both middle fingers toward Stan and Tovey. "The rest of you can drown." Petri and Olivia shared a grin, and then they were off down the gangplank. A gust of air returned the plank to the ship while Petri unhooked the mooring ropes. Stan used his earth weaves to retrieve them to him, both swaying like charmed snakes. With a comical look on his face, he raised them above his head, as though he would place them about Tovey's neck.
"What did I tell you about resolving your differences on land?" Efren's voice was soft, but the glint in his gaze was deadly.
"Sorry, Captain," Stan said. "'E started it."
"I did." Tovey turned, and a gust of wind knocked the ropes to the deck. Then, they coiled around Stan's waist, locking his arms in place. "I'll finish it, too." He caressed Stan's cheek and kissed him before the gods and everyone on deck.
Stan tried to shake the ropes, but Tovey hopped over them like a cat and vanished into the hold.
"Damn it all," Stan swore as he coiled the nearest rope for storing. "Now I have to wait for Hearthstone to ask what the fuck that meant."
Niall helped Stan with the second rope as Efren made the rounds on deck, confirming everyone was ready to sail.
"Do you love him?" Niall asked.
Stan shook his head. "Don't matter. He's cold as ice. His powers must have been switched at birth."
Niall laughed at the joke, but Stan's grin didn't reach his eyes. It was none of Niall's business, but he hoped they worked out their differences. They were a great team when they weren't at each other's throats.
"Niall," Efren called, motioning him to the stairway into the hold with a wave. A new light globe brightened the area outside Vadim's crate, if he could still call it that. Someone had crafted the two crates together into a wider, taller space with a working door and a sail hammock strung longways from corner to corner. Beneath the hammock was a mattress.
