Chapter 2

chapter 2

Maeve

I’ve been in some tight spots in my time, but this is the worst to date. I crouch in the stinky cell in the brig, warily eyeing the five men leering at me from the other side of the locked door. I’ve been on the Drunken Dragon since they caught me out in the open three days ago. I should have known my skiff couldn’t make it from Viedna to Khollu without something bad happening. But it wasn’t the storms that hit this time of year that got me into trouble.

It was the damned C?n Annwn.

The ones who supposedly protect Threshold from monsters but are more monstrous than any of the creatures they murder. I press myself against the grimy wall as one man reaches through the gap in the door to attempt to paw at me. Perhaps I should be grateful it took them this long to decide to come down here to menace me, but it’s hard to be grateful for anything right now. I’m exhausted, dirty, and in serious danger. Worse than all that combined is the fact that I’m missing a vital part of myself.

No matter what else is true, I’ll go down fighting.

“Come here, pretty.” The pawing man makes another grab. “Don’t make us go get the keys. Unless you do want us in the cell with you?.?.?.”

I snarl at him, but it sounds pathetically weak in my human throat. If I had my pelt, they wouldn’t dare try to touch me with those awful filthy hands. They’d be too worried about me ripping out their throats. If I was whole?.?.?. But I’m not. If I can’t get out of this catastrophe, I never will be again.

I’m still trying to figure out my next move when the jingle of a key stops my heart in its tracks. I’m out of time. If I get trapped in the cell with them, it’s over. My only hope is to run, to place my bets on the captain not being a total monster willing to allow his crew to assault his prisoner. If they’re here with the captain’s blessing, or at least his nonexplicit consent, then I’ll have to throw myself over the railing and hope for mercy from the sea.

But the voice that speaks next isn’t gruff and ragged from a life of sailing. It’s soft and light and damn near melodious. “Am I interrupting something?”

My would-be attackers don’t get a chance to respond. I don’t see what happens. One moment they’re starting to turn toward the new intruder, and the next, their limp bodies hit the ground, blood blooming at their mouths and eyes and ears. Revealing my?.?.?. savior?

At first, I think they might be one of my distant cousins from the north, their dark wet hair clinging to their face and shoulders, but then I notice their clothes. This person, this savior, comes from one of the realms, not from Threshold. They have to, because I’ve never seen pants that mold to lean legs quite so effectively, or a top that doesn’t appear to have seams. Maybe the captain scooped them out of the sea when they went through the wrong portal and ended up here?

They step lightly over the bodies—because they are bodies; not a single one of them has drawn breath since they hit the floor—and insert the key into the lock. “You must be Maeve.”

Now that the light from the window behind me is shining on their face, I can’t quite find my words. They’re beautiful. It’s a kind of beauty that would make my hackles rise if I had them, the sort designed to lure in the unwary. This is a predator right down to their bones.

The door swings open on rusty hinges. I make no move to step forward. “You have me at a disadvantage. You seem to know who I am, but I have no idea who you are.”

Instead of waiting for me to make my decision, they step into the cell. Suddenly, there’s not enough room. Not enough air. Not enough anything. Their eyes flash crimson, and an unmistakable pulse of magic flares in my blood. It doesn’t hurt, but it’s incredibly unsettling.

I jerk back a step. “What are you doing?”

“Checking you for injuries.” They’re still watching me closely, and there’s something in their expression that makes me think of a wolf eyeing a particularly juicy deer. “You seem well enough, if a little dehydrated.”

I have to put some space between us, but I can’t do that with them between me and the door. “Is this a rescue mission, or are you planning to pick up where those bastards left off?” I flick my fingers at the fallen pirates.

“This is a rescue mission, which I suppose makes me one of the good guys. For once.” Their nose, which I am horrified to discover is rather cute, wrinkles in distaste. “How novel.”

I don’t know what I would say to that, because I don’t get a chance. Hurried footsteps approach, revealing someone I actually do recognize. My chest goes tight, and something resembling a sob lurches into my throat. “Nox.”

“We’re getting you out of here.” They stop in the doorway, their expression going pinched. “Is there a reason you’re blocking the exit, Lizzie?” Without waiting for an answer, they shoulder past her. “Ignore her. She’s just mad she didn’t get to kill more people.”

Lizzie. What an unassuming name for such a terrifying woman.

Lizzie nimbly shifts to the side. “Just getting a feel for our little captive.”

I can’t quite read Nox’s expression, but they seem worried. “We need to get moving. The Audacity is almost here to collect us, and it’s important that we don’t linger. It will make people ask questions about what happened to the Drunken Dragon and its crew.”

“So, what you’re saying is that it would be better if there was no ship for people to ask questions about.” Lizzie steps out of the cell and walks to a lantern hanging across the way.

I haven’t had cause to be on many C?n Annwn ships, but I’ve been on board the Audacity a few times, and it’s nothing like this cesspool. The Drunken Dragon is only a ship, with no convenient pocket dimension to house the crew. They all sleep in one massive room, swaying on hammocks. And if the smell is anything to go by, there’s no indoor plumbing, either. The ship will go up rather quickly if Lizzie sets something on fire.

“I realize that I brought you here for a specific purpose, but it’s incredibly disconcerting how much you enjoy violence,” says Nox.

Lizzie shrugs, her expression curiously blank. “Dead men tell no tales.”

Nox narrows their eyes. “Is that supposed to be a joke?” They shake their head sharply. “Never mind. Don’t answer that. I should’ve brought Bowen with me.” They hold out a hand to me. “Let’s get you out of here.”

I don’t know what to make of their interaction, but I do know I want to get out of here. Nox is a known entity. That’s good enough for me. I slip my hand into theirs and allow them to lead me past the curiously still Lizzie. Even in this body, my senses are enhanced. I shouldn’t be spending time focused on the stranger, but her breathing is significantly slower than a human’s, and her heartbeat is as well. What is she?

Nox leads me past a massacre. There’s no other way to describe it. But the strangest thing is that there’s no blood spattering the worn wooden planks. It seems like most of the crew just dropped where they stood. The only evidence of violence is the same as that for the men in the brig—blood from their mouth, nose, and eyes.

I know Nox is capable of killing with their elemental magic—they can trap the air in your lungs until you suffocate. Or summon actual water and drown you on dry land, which is obviously something that happened here, judging by the puddles near some of the people’s heads. “So many.”

“This crew has been a problem for a long time. You know that as well as anyone.”

I do. There are ships among the C?n Annwn for which the locals know to avoid getting caught alone with members of the crew. To keep the pretty ones tucked away so that they don’t catch the eye of the captains. Technically, the C?n Annwn aren’t supposed to conscript locals into their ranks, but some of their captains care less about the rules than about the power they wield. The Council doesn’t care as long as they continue to kill monsters. There’s no one to stop them?.?.?. Or at least there never was before.

This rescue is still a bold move, even for Nox. “It was a risk to come for me. You shouldn’t have done it.”

They shoot me a charming grin. “Come now, Maeve. You know I wasn’t going to leave such a lovely lass to these bastards. Let’s get you out of here and safe.”

Safe. It’s a nice thought. I don’t know if it’s ever been true, though. Maybe my childhood, when the only thing I had to worry about was keeping within the rocky shores of the bay near my home on Viedna. Or waiting for the seasons to change and my favorite kind of fish to come back for hunting. Or living up to the expectations set forth by my mother and grandmother.

I haven’t been that kind of safe in a long time. Certainly not since I joined the rebellion, but even more so now that I’ve lost my pelt. It’s like what I imagine losing a limb might feel like. I keep instinctively reaching for it only to remember its loss all over again, as if for the first time. “I have to go to Khollu.”

“We’ll talk about what happens next after we get you back to the Audacity.” They hustle me across the deck to another crimson-sailed ship.

Reality catches up with me and I dig in my heels. “Wait. I can’t be on Hedd’s ship. It’s just as bad as this one.” Maybe Nox can shield me a little, but ultimately they have to keep their cover. They can’t let the C?n Annwn know that they’re a double agent for the rebellion.

Which means they can’t protect me.

I look at all the death around me, and all the evidence of rebellion. “What have you done?”

Nox, instead of seeming as worried as they should be, slings an arm around my shoulders and guides me to the railing. “A lot of things have changed since I saw you last. I’m captain now.”

I twist to look at them. “What?” There’s no way Hedd would have given up the position, even if he was voted out. Which means he must be dead, but?.?.?. how?

“I’ll explain when we get over there. This isn’t the place for that chat.” They motion to someone on their crew, and it feels like a giant hand wraps around my waist and lifts me gently into the air. I freeze, too aware of how easy it is for a telekinetic to do more harm than good when they carry someone. My heart is in my throat. I’m not afraid of heights, but there’s something deeply disconcerting about staring at a long drop between my helpless body and the surface of the sea. From this height, it would feel like crashing into a solid surface if I fell. My concern is apparently for nothing. A few seconds later, I’m deposited safely on the deck of the Audacity.

A person with shoulder-length blond hair and suntanned skin hurries up with a blanket. “You must be freezing. I’m Evelyn, she/her. Did they hurt you?” She drapes the blanket around my shoulders with a warm smile. “It looks like Lizzie killed them all, so I guess that’s?.?.?. Well, that’s something.”

This woman is pretty in a way that makes me blush, but her bubbly energy immediately sets me at ease. She’s about my size, full body poured into a pair of skintight pants and a shirt that shows off a significant portion of her chest, most of which is covered in vaguely familiar magic glyphs. A witch, though I’ve never seen one who tattoos their spells onto their skin.

I’m saved from having to say anything by Nox and then Lizzie landing lightly on the deck. Behind Lizzie, the Dragon is already alight in flame.

Nox waves two members of the crew over. “Make sure the fire takes the ship to the bottom of the sea. Quickly.” They’re already turning away, barking orders at the rest of the crew.

If I don’t catch them now, they’re going to take me right back to Viedna.

I rush after them and grab their arm. “Nox, I need you to listen to me. I have to go to Khollu.” Bronagh lives there. Even if he’s not there right now, he’ll return there eventually. I just have to hope he still has my pelt when he does. It’s a long shot. My pelt could be anywhere by now, sold for a tidy profit. I might chase rumors for the rest of my life and never find it. The thought makes me shake. “Nox, please.”

Nox shakes their head. “Things are moving faster than we expected. I need you in your home village and keeping an eye on the southern route.”

My skin heats, and it has nothing to do with potentially flirting with the pretty blonde. No, it’s shame making me wish the deck would open up and swallow me whole so I don’t have to admit the truth. “I won’t be much use to you as a spy. Not in my current condition.”

Finally, they slow down enough to turn and face me. “What are you talking about?”

“My pelt.” I can’t make myself meet their gray eyes. “It was stolen. I have to get it back. I can’t go home until I have it.”