Chapter 2

2

T he horizon had been beckoning them since the sun had first risen. For two long days and nights, they watched it grow closer, until today they could make out details on the distant peninsula. A morning mist had settled upon the sea, gulls wheeling and calling through it, giving Qwint the illusion of rising from the sky, rather than the sea.

Eira crossed the decks, eyes on the distant shore, a strange mixture of emotions swelling on the salty breeze. On one hand, there was relief that they had made it to relative safety, despite their skirmishes and close calls with Carsovia’s navy, four weeks after saying goodbye to Adela and the Stormfrost . But on the other hand were all the unanswered questions that now lurked like the churning waves beneath the fog. Would they succeed in soliciting Qwint’s aid? How would Qwint receive them?

As she gazed upon the distant cityscape, it occurred to her that she’d been imagining the coastal city she’d grown up in: Oparium. She’d had no idea what to expect from Qwint, and that had resulted in her filling in the blanks with what she knew best. That realization was tinged with a pang of longing for her former home. Oparium was never the place she had once dreamed it to be; yet, her heart ached for the home it had occupied in her mind. A longing that would always remain unfulfilled as the question of what home was to her—where her final port was—remained unanswered.

Perhaps part of her assumption that Qwint would be more like the quaint harbor of Oparium than, say, Norin, came from the knowledge that it was a relatively young nation. A place just finding its start. She certainly hadn’t conceived it’d be the thriving metropolis that she now laid eyes on.

Great spires reached toward the sky with thin tendrils of smoke curling up between them, dancing with the pennons that fluttered in the breeze and suggesting a bustling populace. Every spot of land was dotted with towering structures and vibrant green inner gardens enclosed by high walls topped by wide stone balustrades. Windows caught the sunlight, winking like daytime stars. Massive breaker barriers stretched up from the sea, protecting against the battering waves and oppositional forces, enclosing the entire peninsula with a patchwork of stone that formed a fortress. So far as Eira could tell, there was only one entrance and exit—a break in the wall framed by two guard towers that were lined in cannons and archer’s slits.

It was impressive, imposing, and nothing like Eira had ever seen before.

“Home.” Lavette’s whisper was barely audible over the sea breezes that were beginning to clear the fog and cries of gulls that swooped therein. Varren stood next to her at the bow, all-consuming relief crumpling his features. He looked as if he was about to weep. Knowing his story, and given all they’d been through, she certainly wouldn’t blame him if he did.

Eira cleared her throat as she approached, drawing their attention to her. “Should I know anything before docking?”

“Shortly, once it’s clear enough that we do intend to enter the city, they’ll send out a guardsman’s vessel,” Lavette explained calmly and methodically. Detailing the processes of her home seemed to grant her immense comfort. “It’ll be small, but with the finest soldiers currently on duty. They’ll seek to board and guide us into the harbor.”

Eira bristled at the idea of giving over command of her ship. But she bit her tongue and kept her hesitations to herself.

“They’ll take us to a section of dock for visitors and tie the vessel right up, since we’re small enough. The wharf behind the walls is deep enough even for tall ships, but the docks can get cramped…” Lavette continued, detailing how they would be escorted to the high magistrate’s office for questioning, but assured Eira that there was nothing to worry over. “One thing, though… Would it be possible to remove the ice on the side of the ship?”

“Not if you don’t want us to sink.” They had tried to have Alyss patch the hole in the side of the hull. While she was incredibly talented, Alyss wasn’t a miracle worker. She couldn’t conjure wood and earth from nothing, and they’d left the site of the skirmish too quickly for her to collect the pieces that had been blown apart. There wasn’t enough extra material on the ship to properly patch it.

Luckily Adela had prepared Eira for just this type of occurrence by giving her control of the Stormfrost multiple times.

“Sinking wouldn’t be ideal.” Lavette clicked her tongue in thought.

“I’d say not.”

“Can you make the ice less noticeable? I worry over Adela associations…”

“I’ll do my best.” Eira shifted the flow of her power, focusing on the ship for a moment. Frost trailed out from underneath her, giving her a clearer picture of the damage and where the ice needed to be and how it could be adjusted.

“I’d also remove the dagger.” Lavette’s eyes dropped to Eira’s thigh, where the dagger Ulvarth had so kindly gifted to her after she killed Ferro was strapped. “Don’t want them to be more on edge than they already will be.”

“Fine.” Though Eira hated the idea of parting with something that was so integral to her plans. She was going to end Ulvarth with that dagger—completely and utterly.

“One more thing,” Lavette said as Eira’s ice returned to her and the straps of the sheath on her thigh came undone. “When we’re there…let me take the lead. I know this is your vessel but?—”

“This is your home.” Eira gave a respectful tilt of her head. “You know its ways and its people.”

“And she’s well respected,” Varren said with a touch of admiration in his tone and his eyes. Eira had begun to wonder if Lavette’s ignorance of his fondness was willful. It was rather obvious to the rest of them. But if Varren wasn’t saying anything then Eira certainly wouldn’t, either.

“Indeed,” Eira agreed. If the stories Varren had told her of Lavette were true, then she certainly was.

Lavette’s expression hardened at the praise. Her gaze pierced the city, staring at something Eira couldn’t see with purpose. This certainly wasn’t the homecoming they had imagined for themselves when the tournament started…but at least it was a homecoming, which was so much more than many of the competitors and spectators could say.

“There.” Lavette raised a finger, pointing at a small ship that was making its way out of the inner wharf of Qwint. “That’s the boat that’s coming to greet us.”

“I’ll let the rest of them know. Take the time to gather your things.” Eira stepped away, returning to the main deck where the others had gathered, and gave them a quick rundown of everything Lavette had said.

“So, we’re not supposed to let them know that we’re here on behalf of her supreme coldness?” Crow folded her arms.

“Treat Qwint as you did Meru.” Eira remembered Adela’s orders that they were not to interfere with Meru’s politics and hoped it made things clear. “Now is not the time for piracy. We’re here as guests.”

“Can’t say we pirates get to be guests often.” Fen folded his hands and put them behind his head. “It’s been some time since I’ve been on solid land for a few days, longer since I’d been anything that could remotely be called a guest. I think I will enjoy it.”

“So long as ‘enjoying it’ has nothing to do with thieving, murdering, or any other unsavory acts, enjoy.” Eira swept her gaze across them. “We’ll see how things go, but I don’t expect to be here longer than a day or two. Long enough to patch the ship, restock, and see what aid from Qwint we can secure.”

In preparation for their arrival, Eira distributed some of the coin that Adela had generously given them for their journey. I’m not a charity; I expect you to earn it , she’d said in a firm tone, yet, with a hint of humor. Don’t waste it. You’re not getting more from me . Eira had assured her that they were more than capable of paying their own way.

After receiving their monetary rations, the crew quickly set to hiding anything that could be considered pirate paraphernalia alongside their valuables and packing light bags to venture into the city with. While Lavette had assured Eira that their ship would remain safe in the harbor, she had also said it would be searched, and it was all too easy for one bad actor to have sticky fingers.

Eira entrusted the dagger to Crow, telling the woman to guard it with her life while they were on Qwint. Then, she went about squaring away the rest of her things. As Eira was packing her own bag, a glint of red in the twilight caught her eyes, causing her to cease all movement.

Nested atop wads of clothing—what precious little items Eira still had left to her name—was an unassuming pouch of soft leather, its drawstrings loosely undone and contents barely visible. Eira’s fingers glided over the scars of time that crossed the worn patches of material. She kept her magic tightly to her, unable to bear the thought of catching a rogue whisper of the thousand stories that must be contained among the jewelry within.

Every piece was more intricate than the last. Designs that hadn’t been in style for years back on the Solaris Continent. Rings, pendants, and bracelets of breathtaking beauty twinkled in the beams of twilight that struck through the planks of the decks above. Their polished surfaces refracted Eira’s face, illuminated by lamplight. Patina clung to their edges.

Her grip tightened around the bag as an invisible fist closed around her heart and Eira drew a shuddering breath.

Turning, she crossed to Ducot with purpose. Eira could feel the others glancing in her direction, no doubt curious as to what had caused the shift in demeanor. Even though she knew Ducot could sense her, Eira dared to rest a hand on his shoulder. He tensed and it reminded her just how little contact they’d had—physical or verbal—since Noelle’s death. He blamed her for it. She blamed herself. There wasn’t much to be shared between them as a result.

She spoke first. “You should have these.”

Ducot held out his hand and Eira placed the bag in its center.

“She would’ve wanted you to.”

His lips pressed into a hard line as he realized what Eira was handing him. Ducot took the pouch and tugged at the drawstrings. Slowly, he explored its contents, eventually selecting a small, golden signet ring with three rubies dotting its surface.

Wordlessly, he set the pouch into his own trunk and slipped the ring onto his left little finger. It had been crafted for a hand much smaller than his. “Thank you. I’ll bring the rest back to her family. That’s what she would’ve wanted…and they deserve to know.”

Eira felt as much obligation to notify Noelle’s family as he did. She owed it to them to accept responsibility for what her choices had wrought and stand before their judgment. But she also didn’t know if Ducot would want her there.

“If I can help you find them, I would be glad to,” were the words she settled on.

He nodded and Eira stepped away, leaving it at that. There was an aching gap in her heart that Noelle had once occupied, made wider still by the distance Eira now felt with Ducot. She’d do anything to return to the place they’d once been. But, finding their way back, the trust, the openness… It might be too much for her to ask for.

She ascended back onto the main deck, taking over from Crow and Fen so they could gather their things and ready themselves. The small boat was almost upon them and they were now close enough to the city that Eira could see the men and women who lined the upper walls of the ramparts that overlooked the sea. Attention trained solely on them.

“Lavette,” Eira called down belowdecks, “They’re nearly here.”

“Almost finished!” The reply was accompanied by the heavy thud of a bag hitting the floor.

Eira turned her attention back to the small boat. But no sooner had she than another set of footsteps approached. She knew who by the sound alone.

“Are you nervous?” Olivin asked, coming to her side.

“Not really.” Eira shrugged. “Should I be?”

“It is a new place…but, given what you’ve already survived, I suppose very little would make you nervous.”

“The same could be said for you.” She glanced his way.

“Like you, I am not nervous, either. Merely eager.”

“For?”

“To carry on.” Olivin’s tone was hard to read. “This is their homecoming. But I am ready for my own—ready to eliminate the Pillars once and for all and claim retribution for my family. There is no future until that is done.” A sentiment Eira knew all too well. “The sooner we do what we must here, and move along, the better.”

Olivin hadn’t been the closest among them to Noelle, but the ordeal in the mines seemed to have impacted him, too. Perhaps it was the realization of just how far the Pillars’ influence stretched. How they were maneuvering strong allies from all corners of the world. Or he saw how fragile they all were—even though it had been Noelle at the opposite end of a flashfire, it could’ve been any of them, his younger brother, Yonlin, included. If Eira were honest with herself, the skirmish on the sea didn’t help, either.

“I don’t plan on lingering,” Eira assured him.

“A tiny bit of lingering might not be so bad.”

“Oh?”

“Perhaps…” His focus dropped to her mouth. Eira gave him a knowing smirk, one he returned. “We might find some time to ourselves once we are on the mainland.”

“Perhaps,” Eira agreed. She opened her mouth, ready to make a few suggestions on what they could do. But she was interrupted by a sudden burst of magic, a minor explosion rattled the side of the ship—a warning shot.

She jerked toward the origin. The small boat that had been meandering out toward them had come alongside. Eira had sensed them, but she didn’t expect them to come swinging. Her mistake. A man held out his hand, runic bracelets locked into place. Another was spinning his runes, readying them for attack.

Eira gritted her teeth and shifted her feet, prepared to counter when the knight shouted,

“Take one more step, Pirate Queen, and we’ll sink your vessel here and now.”