Page 26 of Unrivaled
“They’re going to want reassurances,” Brian told me.For a moment I thought he was still talking about the birds.Then I remembered the pirate with the arrogant tilt to their chin, a smirk on their lips and their sure hands on the helm.“I’ve given them an inventory of what we’ll move and got carts being loaded already.I didn’t think you’d mind.”
I didn’t.He had a better feel for what we could spare than I did, and for that I was grateful.“That’s why they want me?For reassurances?”
“They want your signature,” he said.“And your family’s seal.”
Beneath me, Storm snorted, but my hands hadn’t flexed on the reins.Given I felt like the whole keep was poised to topple on me, I could only assume she felt my distress.“I don’t have the seal, Brian,” I said, around the buzzing in my head.“I’d have to send to my father.”
“It’s in the Duke’s study,” Brian assured me.“Head Steward has keys.”
My heart sat like a stone in my chest.I struggled to breathe.
“We need to go in anyway so I can review a few contracts,” he went on.“The ones I’ve access to are primarily abridged Inker versions, but one of them listed a clause that might allow us to not provide cider, which, if we can get the wheat or at least a goodly amount of millet or barley, might allow us to get back some of the ground we’re going to lose.”
Part of me wanted to drop it all in Brian’s lap, give him the family seal, and tell him to make it work.I could spend my days hunting game and practicing the sword.
The other part of me said aloud, “What’s the clause?”
“I’ll show you when we return,” he promised.“It fell under Future Provisions, I believe.Quite a predatory little addendum, slipped in there.”There was admiration in his tone.
There shouldn’t have been anything underfuture provisionsthat would allow me to not provide the agreed upon goods, but if Brian said there was, I very much believed him.My father employed the best negotiators.
Money begat money.
That thought saw me into the docks.The area was, as much of the city was, inhabited by rats, cats, and ghosts.But today there was a ship in the harbor and rowboats at the pier.
One of the taverns had noise coming from within, a playful string instrument joined by drumming.The tune was cheerfully irreverent.
I drew in a breath.A guard came forward to take my reins, giving me more time to brace myself.
“In here,” Brian told me, then grunted as he half-fell to his feet with joint-jarring force.
Isolde was at my side, her head up as she eyed the upper levels of surrounding buildings.I dismounted, taking my time to settle my skirts, letting Thomas and Chay join us.
“I’ll take the rear,” I overheard Thomas telling Chay, his expression grim.
There wasn’t a single weapon on my body.I felt that lack keenly as I followed Chay up the short steps onto the raised walkway leading into the tavern.
It was bright enough outside, but inside, where it smelt of decades of smoke and revelry, there were pockets of visibility amid deep shadows.I paused to let my eyes adjust.
The ceiling was higher than I’d expected, the tables mostly upright.The music faded away as faces turned to look at us.They were grimy from the weather and tanned from the sun, but they weren’t unfriendly.My skin crawled all the same as eyes moved over me.
“My lady, meet the crew of the Siren’s Ally,” Brian said ahead of us.He stood beside a tall, broad-shouldered man with unusually pale skin that had patchy red marks.A thick silver scar ran from the bottom of his lip to his exposed collarbone and then vanished beneath the brown of his roughly laced shirt.
He wasn’t the one who’d had that cocky smile.
I was staring.I hadn’t responded to Brian’s introduction.The shame clamored at the gates of my heart.I dropped a bar over it resolutely, lifting my eyes to meet the giant’s gaze.“Pleased to meet you,” I said, the familiarity of the words was a small comfort.“Where’s your captain?”
Brian laughed, turning to the man beside him.“She’s the life of the party, my lady is,” he said, grinning.
The big man wasn’t laughing, but there was some mirth in his eyes.“I’m the Captain, girl.”
I ran over the brief glimpses I’d seen yesterday, trying to remember if I’d seen this man.They’d been a sea of details, passing by so quickly.But there was no mistaking the pirate who’d been looking at me with their hand on the helm.I had little to give their body scale, but the roundness of their cheeks and the length of their hair were all wrong, and their skin had been brown.
IfIwas a smart captain, going into an unfamiliar city that might be hostile, and I wanted to strong arm my way to a deal, I’d tell the most imposing person the words to say.
I’d probably put Chay in my seat, with Brian beside him.And I’d sit up the top with my bow and Isolde, and watch, and learn.
Chay was looking at me, brow cocked, hand on his sword, while Brian reminded the big man of my status and titles quietly.
