Page 126 of Suffer No Fools
Hugo caught Vadim's gaze to remind him of his promise. "They will stand trial."
"Aye." Vadim shook his head, pretending irritation. Hugo knew Vadim was proud of him for making his own leadership decisions, even if it would have been easier to kill them. They were destroying his city, after all.
A servant ran into the courtyard, out of breath. "Your Majesty!"
Gods, Hugo could not get them to stop calling him that. "Yes?"
"Starlight Specterpulled into port! They have three ships in tow."
"Three?" Efren shook his head. "Hannah always had a soft heart."
"They could be more refugees," Roy reminded him. "Hannah was fierce out there. They took your code to heart."
Hugo grinned. He'd heard the pirate code from Vadim more times than he could count."Take no prisoners because dead men tell no tales. If someone tries to swindle you, suffer no fools."His dad had only latched onto the last part. If Hugo had toguess, it was because he was too gob-smacked by Vadim's beauty to listen to the rest.
Hugo wished his parents were here now to see how far he'd come. He'd gone from thinking he would never escape Coryn's grasp to defeating her in less than six months.
In the blink of an eye, Hugo transported the pirates to the docks. Efren ran up the gangplank once Stan affixed it in place. He called out to Hannah like he was returning home after a long trip.
Hannah met them on the main deck. They had a tricorn hat of their own, and Breezy the parrot on their shoulder.
"One ship of refugees," they explained to Efren. "Two filled with loyalists to stand trial. I'm sorry, Emperor Hugo. Most of Coryn's fleet was destroyed before they surrendered."
"We'll build more ships." He cleared his throat. "Or perhaps Aquarion will cede their new battleships to the empire."
"You'd have to ask the council," Efren said.
"Aren't you on the council?" Niall chided, poking Efren in the side.
"Not officially, no."
Niall grinned at Hugo. "We'll put in a good word for the transaction as soon as the new council is named."
"You should sail back now." Hugo felt a sharp pang in his chest. He wanted to sail with them, but it wasn't possible. He had so much to do in Hearthstone to ensure Embertide's future success. He couldn't afford to leave now.
"Have you ever wondered why Aquarion is part of Embertide?" Hugo asked Vadim as they hugged. He didn't want to let go, so he kept Vadim talking.
"No." Vadim pulled away from him and frowned. "It's always been that way."
"But it's so far away. Didn't anyone wonder why?" Hugo remembered the storybook he'd latched onto as a child, the onlyone that spoke of Vadim's faraway home. It was the tale of Empress Moira's summer getaway.
"You're planning something," Vadim guessed. "Be careful, whatever it is."
Hugo grinned. "I'll see you on Aquarion, I hope."
"You are always welcome," Vadim said. "Once things settle here."
Hugo planned to bring everyone from Aquarion to Hearthstone. They were all invited to the wedding, after all.
A week later, he stood with Elder Beatrice by the sentinel oak awaitingStarlight Specter's arrival. Tovey and Stan were still in the courtyard in Hearthstone. They didn't want to face Vadim's wrath, if there was such a thing. Hugo still didn't believe it. Vadim would never use his death weaves against him, not even after a huge surprise.
Vadim's jaw dropped when, a moment after he'd greeted Jasmine and Renald, he turned to face Hugo. "I thought I left you in Hearthstone. Did you stow away?"
"Tim wouldn't have kept me a secret for that long."
"No, I suppose not." Vadim lowered Jasmine to her feet and hugged him tight. "How?"
"The trees are gateways to each other." He grinned to hide his distress. He'd almost ended up in an active volcano, no thanks to the wizard of old who had tried to burn Empress Moira alive. "I need to fix the one south of Landale, if you'll sail with me."
