Page 32 of Unrivaled
As a treat, I directed us to stop at the docks on the way through the city.I watched as the Captain—not the big man with the barrel-arms, but therealone, with the cocky grin—leapt up and wrapped one arm around the rope, the edge of one foot on a knot, and let themselves be swung toward land where we waited.No one batted an eye at the feat of strength, but my belly clenched when they swung across the icy water between their ship and my city.
A few stolen moments here and there weren’t unreasonable.
My hands didn’t quite know where to be, so I adjusted the fit of my riding gloves on my fingers.
Isolde, who’d already told me this was a waste of time, stalked beside me, her hands behind her back while her eyes drifted across the scene without settling on any one person.Chay and Thomas waited with the horses.
“And here was me, thinking we’d see each other next upon my return,” the Captain said, their eyes sparkling with a challenge I hadn’t issued.Their gaze dipped down to my necklace, then my belt, then my boots, before they met my gaze again.My blood remained somewhere in the vicinity of my belly.“Did we forget something, princess?”
“I was passing by,” I explained, waving a hand at where Thomas stood with the horses.“I wanted to ensure everything was running smoothly.”
“A personal touch I appreciate,” they said, the hint of a smirk at their lips.“Would you like a tour of the Ally, then?”
There was a trick in the question, but I didn’t know exactly what it was.It made me wonder how Ylva had fared, and whether my would-be-assassin still thought of me.Not knowing whether I was the punch line of the joke or not, I turned my face to the ship and flexed my hand a little deeper into my riding glove.“I understand you intended to sail this afternoon.”
“That I do.’Twould give me time to show you around.No need to hurry.”
“I only wanted to ensure you have everything you need,” I said, hoping to cut off whatever the joke was.“As there’s still time for me to fetch anything that’s missing.”
“What’s missing, princess, is a proper introduction.”They offered me their hand, their fingers slightly crooked, their skin weathered.“Elnyta,” they said.“They/them.”My hesitation must’ve been visible, because their grin just widened.“Or you can keep calling me Captain,” they offered.
I put my hand in theirs and felt those strong fingers wrap firmly around my palm.“Yesterday certainly didn’t follow the normal course of things,” I admitted, giving myself a shake.“Thanking you, Captain Elnyta.If there’s nothing you need, then I’ll be on my way.”
“That’s too kind of you,” they said, their hazel eyes glittering.“When I pull back into your port, princess, in just a few weeks, I’m going to make my way up top to your big old castle and knock on your doors.Now, I don’tneedyou to make time for me, but it seems you and I, we do good business.”
Anticipation hummed under my skin.Wedidwork well together.Neither of us had time for games…though we could both play them.“If you’d prefer to come up to the keep, of course we’ll see you.”
“Notwe.” They propped one hand on a gently curving hip.
“I can’t promise I’ll open every gate and door, nor prepare the tisane.”I didn’t feel like they were laughingatme.“But I’ll see you, Captain, when you return.For now, I’ll wish you a good breeze and predictable tides.”
“An infinitely sensible wish,” they said, the edge of their grin softening.“And I’ll return the favor, wishing your bread rises swiftly and your hearths burn steady.”
I nodded, accepting their words, and extracted myself as quickly as I could.I didn’t look back to see what they’d look like framed by the ocean, or whether they’d leap back onto a rope as they had to get to me.
You shouldn’t have gone back.There was no realreason.Except curiosity.
If theywereflirting with me, it was either in jest or to mock me further.Like the vile nickname they’d given me.Storm tossed her head impatiently when I returned.
The Wife smile on her, Isolde didn’t sayI told you so.
We continued on to our destination, and out in the orchard we steered toward a cache of gear, letting Thomas and Chay follow behind.It was still hours before the sun would hit its zenith.I took the canteens from Isolde and left her checking our tack to go fill them.It was the work of moments to change from my La’Angi clothing.
Thomas started from his position beside the horses when he saw me in the Matri’sion garb.I pretended not to notice, ignoring the burning in my cheeks as his eyes crawled over me with horror.
Chay fell in beside me, drawing out his own flask as we headed to the nearby stream.“Are you planning on taking the pirate captain up on their offer?”he asked me, without laughter or worry, as if he might be offering me more bread.
“What offer?”
He raised his brows.“They want your legs over their shoulders, Embers.You know that, right?”
The image was incredibly uncomfortable and that was entirely because it came from his mouth and not the depths of my own mind.“I quite like my legs overyourshoulders,” I said, with what I felt was admirable aplomb.
“You do have two legs,” he mused.“It might get crowded, but you’re flexible if that’s your wish.”
“Your jests are so witty it’s a wonder I haven’t laughed loud enough to scare away the game.”I unstoppered Isolde’s canteen, slowing as we neared the edge of the stream and picking out a stone to step on.
“I’m not jesting,” he said.“We hadn’t discussed it, and I’m happy to do whatever feels best for you, but you have to remember, I grew up in ’Ban.The Steppes don’t hold with the concepts of virginity or demonize relationships with more than two people.”He rattled the last of the water in his canteen.
