Chapter 24

24

I t took two days and one other battle with the Pillars for them to successfully sail to the Isle of Frost. All the while, Eira continued to explore her new powers with Adela, testing if their long-thought-over plan would finally be viable thanks to Eira’s rune. Fortunately, early work suggested it would be.

The old pirate mainstay was somewhat out of the way. But it was one of the few places on the eastern side of Meru that could be trusted to be safe to rest and restock. Even if the island had been deserted for years.

Eira had asked Adela why she had ever abandoned the legendary mainstay, but their conversation didn’t go well…

“It was my decision.”

“Obviously,” Eira had said. “But what prompted that decision?”

“Nothing that is for you to concern yourself with.”

“If I am to one day captain the Stormfrost ?—”

“ One day ,” Adela repeated, tone harsher than winter. Colder than the ice that coated the island they spoke of. “But you are not her captain yet. And you are nowhere near ready.”

Nowhere near ready … The words echoed within her even now, days later. Eira massaged the center of her chest, feeling the raised and gnarled scar underneath her shirt and small clothes.

“Eira.” Adela jolted Eira from her thoughts. Eira glanced over her shoulder. The pirate queen approached and Eira stepped to the side so Adela could assume her position at the very tip of the bow.

“Can you sense when I’m thinking of you now?” Eira asked dryly.

“No. Thank goodness. I think we can both agree that’s for the best.” Adela gave her a sidelong glance. “Though you have my curiosity.”

“I was thinking about how I might have been overstepping of late.”

“ Ah …” Adela hummed. “Our conversation still lingers with you.”

“Only because I’m confronted with its original subject.” Eira gestured to the island that was slowly growing on the horizon. “I was reflecting on everything I still had yet to do.”

“Good.” Adela rested both hands on her cane, keeping her focus to sea. “Complacency will be the death of you.”

Eira gave a small nod and allowed the conversation to be drowned out by the waves that broke against the sturdy hull of the Stormfrost . The sun continued to ascend, its rays parting the chill gloom that settled on the island, turning it from little more than a shadowy gem to a sparkling jewel of the seas. It was held fast in a glacial embrace so cold that it almost glowed a brilliant blue in the morning light. So cold that time itself seemed to be captured in the grip of its eternal winter.

Adela narrowed her eyes and lifted her cane as her magic swelled in tandem. It was so rare to see or feel any kind of tell from the woman that Eira’s gaze was drawn instantly to her. When she lowered her cane with a soft tap , magic exploded outward. It rushed across the surface of the ocean as if fired from the Stormfrost herself. The magic condensed on the seas, merging with every breaking wave. The swell rose to epic proportions, casting a long shadow, as it drew near to the Isle of Frost.

As the tidal wave broke against the frozen land, a low rumbling could be heard, not just felt, deep within the earth. Adela’s magic had somehow crashed against the very foundation of the earth and even the air shivered with fear. The island came alive to her will. A thunderous crack echoed over the seas, drawing a cryptic smile into the corners of Adela’s lips.

The central glacier, nestled into the curve of the island’s mountainous arc, fractured and split. Walls of ice the size of ships carved off its faces, crashing into the ocean and generating waves so monstrous their offspring could kiss the Stormfrost . Waves of immense power continued to radiate out from Adela in reply.

As the ice splintered and melted into the sea, the frosty armor of the island gave way to a hidden world underneath. Wooden and stone structures began to emerge like the first determined blossoms of spring. They dripped with frost as they thawed. Masts of ships long hidden rose like skeletal fingers from the harbor, waterlogged banners struggling to catch the morning’s breeze.

The island returned to life, still sparkling with snow and frost, and the crew became restless with excitement. Adela tapped her cane and shifted her weight, as if she were about to walk away, but then something crossed her mind, prompting her to stop. She met Eira’s questioning gaze.

“See to it that everything is thawed and dry by the time we arrive.” She smirked. “I’d hate for someone to slip and fall.”

“Can’t have that.” Eira saw right through the pirate queen. This was a test, as much as everything else was.

“No, we can’t.” Adela left Eira to the task.

Eira faced off with the island once more, but this time stretched out her magic alongside her focus as she narrowed in on the spot of land. If Adela wanted all the water gone, she’d see to it that not even a single tattered flag on the ships in the bay was dripping by the time they arrived.

The town, in some ways, reminded Eira of a cross between Risen and the port they’d escaped Carsovia from. There was a river that ran through the heart of the pirate city, splitting it in two, much like Risen was. But it was understandably smaller than the capital of Meru. Countless bridges crossed the river up and down its length adding to the overall mazelike quality of the island. The Isle of Frost was clearly prepared to house hundreds, if not thousands of pirates. Which made it all the more eerie that they were the only ones occupying it.

Though it did mean that their small crew was able to each claim their own home for the night, making their own little block nestled among the other pirates setting up their houses in ways that suggested much more permanence than staying merely to restock. Adela was opening the Isle of Frost once more, even though she didn’t outright say so. Of course, Eira was wildly curious about this, and what it meant for her to do so after she’d spent years avoiding Solaris and Meru at all costs. But she knew better than to probe too deeply on the matter.

A banging on the door of her small, one-room home had Eira heading out.

Alyss didn’t miss a beat, grabbing her arm. “We’re going out tonight.”

“I’m sorry, what?” The words practically blurred together into one.

“Food. Drink. Dancing. Down by the docks.”

“Since when did you become one who wants to be in the thick of it?” Eira laughed, glancing around the square all their houses circled. There was no one else around.

“Since we have been cooped up on a ship doing nothing but working and fighting and having difficult conversations for weeks on end.”

“Weren’t we just in Qwint? We had an evening out there.” Eira took two steps to keep up with Alyss. Even with her longer strides, she had to make an effort to maintain her pace with the smaller woman. Alyss was on a mission. She was going to have a good time, or else.

“We were working .” That was certainly a way to phrase it. “There was hardly any time to enjoy ourselves. When we weren’t in Carsovia, we were bartering for our lives or mending and restocking the ship. Here, we can relax.”

The notion of relaxing was…odd. Eira couldn’t recall the last time she’d allowed herself to embrace the idea. Even when she’d strolled in the market with Cullen and Olivin, there was always something in the back of her mind. Alyss was right, it’d been one thing after another, after another. Everything blurring together following Noelle’s death.

She lost her footing and quickly recovered, missing a step. Alyss noticed, head swiveling back to look at her with a questioning stare.

“Do you…” The question sounded ridiculous, even to Eira, but she had to ask anyway. “Do you think that it’s an insult to Noelle to let loose while her killers run free?”

Alyss slowed, but still made it a point to make forward progress. In the distance was a glowing point of light by the docks. Music and the muddled sounds of chattering could already be heard.

“Noelle lived better than most. She burned brightly.” The phrasing somehow managed to sound like an homage to her memory, and not a bad expression. “She would’ve absolutely scolded us for sitting around all glum when we could be engaging in revelry with pirates.”

“You’re not wrong.” Eira could hear Noelle in the back of her mind, encouraging her to go out—to do more. Stop moping around.

“I rarely am.” Alyss gave a slight smile, as if she could even recognize that those words echoed Noelle’s.

At the end of the river, down where it met the harbor, was a large square. Eira could imagine how, at one point, this area was used for commerce. Or practicalities of the docks. But, tonight, it was a large buffet. It was music and dancing and the burning liquor that she’d sipped on in Adela’s cabin countless times.

Tonight, everyone danced and sang as though it would be their last night alive.

Alyss wasted no time in pulling Eira right into the thick of the dancing. Fingers hooking, skirts swirling, they spun and jumped with each other to the raucous music. A smile cracked Eira’s lips for the first time in what felt like months. One that wasn’t weighed down by calculations, plotting, scheming, or other concerns. The whole world melted away like the ice of the island had earlier.

Breathless, they stepped off to the side, hands still clasped.

“You know, pirates do have a fun side to them,” Alyss admitted.

Eira gasped. “Perhaps we’re growing on you?”

Her friend laughed. “You grew on me long ago, like ivy on the walls of the Tower.”

“Are you calling me clingy?” Eira grabbed drinks for them both and they wasted no time.

“You’d be lost without me.”

“I would be.” Eira took a long sip of her drink. Whatever they’d tapped into was cold and strong. Citrus flavored—tart and sweet at the same time. “You could stay here.” The moment Eira softly said the sentiment, she wished she hadn’t. Pushing Alyss was the worst idea and she knew it.

Partly because she already knew the answer, and making Alyss say it was worse.

“I could,” Alyss said softly, noncommittally. Even though the words were mild agreement, the tone said, No .

“I suppose it’d be hard to sell any books from an island of pirates. We don’t exactly have a lot of printing presses here for Yonlin to connect you with,” Eira agreed, offering Alyss an easy out. Then, in an effort to lighten the mood, “Though, I suppose I could kidnap some for you.”

That got a laugh from Alyss. “We’ll see.” It was a nice sentiment for Alyss to give, though, in her heart, Eira knew better.

She wanted to beg her to stay. To reconsider. And for all Alyss sounded noncommittal, Eira knew in her heart that it’d likely be best for her friend not to live the life of a pirate. That what they were doing now, for Alyss, was a “necessary evil.” And, if she put her selfishness aside, she didn’t want her friend to change. She wanted Alyss to retain her innocence and good nature. Eira just wished that to do that didn’t involve being around her less.

Yonlin approached, his focus solely on Alyss. “May I have a dance?”

Alyss made a show of considering the question. “I suppose one couldn’t hurt.” She took his offered hand and went back into the fray.

Eira lingered on the edge, situated among the ring of people that framed the dancers. The fiddler was still burning the strings of his instrument with wild fingers while a woman went red in the cheeks working a pan flute. Eira could recognize them, even if she drew blanks on their names. She knew who among the dancers were friends, family, couples, and who yearned to be more.

Everyone here was from the Stormfrost . Familiar faces. Which made those absent stand out even more. Olivin was nowhere to be seen. Given their last interaction…she worried what it might mean for him not to be around. She’d need to find time to talk to him again and make sure everything was smoothed over. Eira hated the idea of being at odds with him over what felt like little more than a misunderstanding.

“Want another?” A warm-cheeked Cullen jolted her from her thoughts. He gestured toward her empty cup with his own.

“Oh, no. Thank you.” Eira stepped back and placed the cup on one of the long tables behind her. She had no doubt that these cups might be sitting for days or weeks, collecting rainwater as a washing. Doubtless, none of the pirates would care in the slightest. “I think I’ve had too much as it is.”

“You’re standing pretty tall and your words are even. I don’t think it was too much.” Cullen smirked. Barely perceptible was the faintest slur to his words. “Would you like to dance?”

“I just got off the floor.”

“Since when do you stop while you’re ahead?”

She laughed. Why did saying yes feel like a bad idea? But looking back, some of the worst decisions she’d made had led her to the best outcomes. Everything she shouldn’t do became everything she’d wanted.

“Sure.”

Cullen downed his drink in one gulp, wincing. The spiced rum was not intended for quick consumption but more ideal for sipping, so she had little doubt it burned the entire way down. He placed his mug next to hers behind them and held out his hand.

“Shall we?”

Her fingers slid against his, curling to a firm clasp. He led her out among the pulsing movement and twirling bodies and they fell into step. She spun. His palm glided over her hip, pulling her close before pushing her away again for another spin.

A smile cracked her lips and her chest heaved. Their feet pounded in time with the rest like distant, rumbling thunder. It wasn’t slow, careful steps that would be found at a ball but barely controlled chaos. Eira nearly bumped into others several times…but the near collisions only widened her smile. Cullen beamed from ear to ear.

The next time he spun her, he pulled her close and a slight yelp of surprise escaped her.

“I should never have let you go that night,” he whispered into her ear, breathless.

“You shouldn’t have,” she agreed easily. “You should have taken me as your bride then and there.” Eira took advantage of his surprise to take a half step away. She appreciated how the shock slightly parted his lips and raised his brows. “I was young, and naive, and thought I was in love. I would’ve done it.”

“Thought?” Out of everything, that was what he focused on, his hazel eyes burning in the torchlight.

“I was in love,” she corrected. Denial was foolish when they both knew better. “As much as I could love, for what I knew and who I was.”

“Was?” One-word questions continued to be the assassins of the coy facade she wore.

Eira’s steps slowed, but her heartbeat and breathing didn’t catch the message. Heart still racing, breaths still ragged to the point that her chest nearly brushed against his as he held her, she stared up at him. His head tilted, not enough for him to kiss her, but enough to narrow the world only to him. The night fell upon his face like a curtain, narrowing everything down to every breath he drew. To the glistening of his gaze.

“ Was? ” he repeated, demanding an answer. Everything around the question that was left unspoken was so loud it nearly screamed.

She opened and shut her mouth, unsure of what to say—of what was real. Did she still love him? After all this time?

“I didn’t love you,” she said carefully, throat thick. There was that same, burning feeling, racing from her core, all the way up. I love you , the words she dared not say, but part of her wanted to more by the day.

“For how long?”

“What?”

“How long did you fall out of love with me?” The opposite corner of his mouth drew up into a coy smirk. “And when did you fall again?”

A flush raced over her body. She wanted to punch him as much as she wanted to kiss him for his boldness. She whispered, “Let me go, forever. Or take me now.” She would give him her body—her pleasure. But not her heart. Not just yet. There was still a fearful, broken part of her that had yet to mend. But maybe…with the right touch, and the right words, that part could finally heal.

He blinked, brows darting up. But then they settled into a relaxed smugness. “Then we should leave, because I want you all to myself.”