Page 116 of Unrivaled
They scooted back, leaning back against the low lounge.“Well, I’ve another bolt of fabric for you.And I’ve docking papers for Port Drammynd.You’re looking at a real merchant, m’lady.”
I wanted to tell them they’d always been a real merchant to me.Except I didn’t know if part of me still thought of Elnyta as a pirate.The label was somewhat dashing.Was it wrong that I enjoyed that?Even knowing the functional difference between a pirate and a merchant was simply a stamp of some rich fool?
I was a rich fool—at least, I was atitledfool.
“We found a capsized ship out west.A lot of the cargo was ruined, but we recovered what we could.And I kept one of them for you.You’ll have quite a collection in no time, if you keep letting me in.”
That wasn’t why I wanted to see them, though.I enjoyed their company.I liked the quickness of their grin and the honesty of their responses.There were no false niceties with the captain of the Siren’s Ally.
“I moved most of it,” they said, stretching out their legs with a sigh.“Merchant rates are obscene, princess.Have I told you that?We’ve brought in more coin every single moon with your stamp on a piece of parchment than we made the entirety of the last year.We can affordboots that fit.D’you know how hideous wet, ill-fitting—of course you don’t.”They shook their head, smiling wryly, and I felt the guilt of my station keenly.The crisp, new fabric.The soft cushions beneath my backside.The excellent food on my plate.“I look forward to forgetting,” they said, with a sigh.“We’re a long way from rich, but such luxuries we won’t take for granted.”Their expression became wistful.“If we get a decent run and I make a few connections and lay by enough gold, I might even be able to afford Tits and Bits potions.”
They wanted gender-affirming care?I thought of the young Healing Mage I was sponsoring, who would arrive before the tourney with any luck, or, at worst, travel with the Raider’s Ban contingent and arrive in time for the festivities.Was gender-affirming care complex, or could a young mage straight from the academy be expected to know how to practice it?Were there levels of skill required, or was it relatively straightforward?How was it delivered?Would starting with a mage here, but continuing elsewhere be problematic?Would Elnyta be better off just finding a mage elsewhere, rather than risk my father disrupting their treatment?Did Elnyta want the single-spell body modifications, or only the elixirs?They’d onlymentionedthe elixirs, but was that due to prohibitive costs and issues with legalities?
“I’m a long ways off,” Elnyta said, on a sigh.“I shouldn’t worry about it.Not when I haven’t even broken in my new boots.Look at them.”They held up one foot, grinning at me.“You didn’t think I could bemoredashing, and then I went and got western-style boots, with these gorgeous flaps.”They flicked the fold of leather.“I might’ve been inspired by that deliciously broody knight of yours.”Unease unfurled within me.Elnyta spread their arms wide, falling back.“He isn’t my type.Far too serious.Looks as much fun as a cracked mast, that one.I’m sure he’s no end of misery foryou.”
I didn’t know how I felt about that.Chay wasn’t misery.He was annoying, sometimes, and pleasant sometimes.He certainly wasn’t a cracked mast.I wondered if Elnyta might pay him a visit one day and was surprised to find I felt no particular ill will at the thought.Chay would look after my Captain, at least for a time, and Elnyta wouldn’t get themselves into anything they couldn’t get out of.
“You’re doing an excellent job filling the strong, broody requirement for me.”They rolled their head on their shoulders.“I hope you don’t mind me talking.It’s hard with the crew.Everyone’s tempers fray after we’ve been at sea.Everything you say is overheard, misunderstood, and causes problems.There’s nowhere to go.”
“I don’t mind,” I told them, the words quieter than I’d intended, but popping out before I could think.“It’s too hot to sleep anyway.”I saw the laughter light Elnyta’s eyes and wanted to add,I enjoy talking to you.I don’t want you to go.My mind will just buzz away with or without you, and this is a nicer buzzing.
“I got spices,” they said, their eyes bright.“Cinnamon, vanilla, cardamom.Not a hold full, but some.”
I tried to imagine what level of riches that would be for a ship like the Ally.“A wreck?”
They blinked.“Of a nature.We didn’t recover much before we needed to move along, but I’m pleased with our haul.And we bought you some more grain.Not a lot, because I’ve no interest in flooding your market, but we were restocking anyway and they had it for sale at a fair price.I knew you’d be happy to support local economies.”I nodded.Some of the water from the cup I’d forgotten I held sloshed over my hand, jarring me.“I’ve some dried fruits and mushrooms, too.We thought we’d eat them.Mayhap your cook knows how to prepare them?”
I was getting blood-splattered spices and fair-traded dried mushrooms.My heart was as soft as butter would be on a day like today.That wasn’t from survival.“I thought you might be too busy to visit.”
Their expression grew serious.“I’m not.But I have been thinking, princess.”They reached out.The toe of their new boot pressed against the bare underside of my foot.There was something painfully sweet about the contact.I pressed into it.Their smile was soft, not the brash grin that had drawn me in.This was sweeter than the cakes we hadn’t been able to finish.“The Duke, he’ll be returning soon, won’t he?”
“Yes.”The reality of that made me feel mildly ill.I had a few moons.I’d made good progress.
Elnyta ran a hand over their hair.“You know, you’ve already got boots that fit.You could always come aboard the Ally.Help us negotiate good deals.Do the merchant stuff.You know how.”
My heart twisted in my chest.“We barely know one another.”
They snorted.“I know enough, princess, and so do you.You know where I’m going.I’ll take you to visit my family, to show you where I came from.What else is there to know?”
I thought of Amber’s passion, earlier today, and felt the tears burn my eyes.I couldn’t complain to this delightful human who’d only just bought boots made to fit their feet that I felt like I’d missed out on my childhood.I had no idea what dreams might’ve captured my thoughts had I not been so focused on survival—the dream of escape, the reality of getting through the day and maintaining the peace.What skills might I have been able to learn?What causes would I have championed?And now here I was, my head buzzing with fashion and treason.The dress I’d wanted to share so badly, and all the concepts that went with it, was hanging upstairs.Even if the fabric had been right beside me, I didn’t know if I could’ve shown Elnyta, no matter how sweet their smile or how wholehearted their offer.
“I know you’ve no words,” they said quietly.“But if you ever need a friend, Audrey…we’re allies of sirens, y’know?”
The hard edge of my own laughter made me cringe.“That’s where the name came from.”
“It’s one of many interpretations, Your Highness,” they said, then yawned.To the side, a candle guttered, then drowned in its own wax.I remembered the tall, clean taper Amber had left upstairs.“I contain multitudes.You could, too, if you’d like.”They winked at me, but they were grinning.“The stars are out.Look, there I am.”They pointed into the sky, letting out a contented sigh.I followed their gaze, spotting the Hearth Star.
“Elnyta, the Home Star,” they said, the words soft.“I’ll find my way,” they said, even softer.“I’ll end up where I’m supposed to.”They nudged my foot gently.“Stick with me, princess.You won’t get lost.”
CHAPTERFORTY-THREE
AUDREY
Mages highly secretive about resources, attendance, and movements.Open about training, spells, etc.Many within internal power structures seem very happy at first but upon further conversation they are exhausted and have the confidence of someone who knows if they look down, they’ll see they’re flying without wings.Let Stefan know I’m fine, just keeping a very low profile.Advisor has come to visit me, so still have options open.Stefan just needs to learn to love dick.—Rubes to the Man in the Mountain
2ndDay of Autumn’s Son Moon,
Age of the Locways, Year 272
