Chapter 21

The ship coasted into a berth in the bay, a massive wooden-hulled vessel with its sails furled tight. Scurrying around on the deck was a mixed crew of men and, to her surprise, a few women—dressed in trousers! Some tossed out lines ready for mooring while others clambered nimbly down a rope ladder, leaping to the dock to grab the ropes, tying them to the cleats that jutted from the dock.

The vessel bore no identifying markings that Avera could see, nor did it fly a flag making it most likely pirates, but she didn’t care who owned it. Its arrival gave her hope that they finally might be able to leave Seaserpent Bay and continue on their quest, assuming they could convince the captain.

Excited to tell her companions, Avera whirled from her spot on the pier and took a step in the direction of the inn when she spotted horses coming around the far bend in the road. Her stomach tightened at the sight. These weren’t happenstance travelers. The royal-colored blue and gold tunics layered over armor were unmistakable even from this distance.

Had they come seeking her?

Even if they hadn’t, and this was simply a routine visit, any soldier from the capital would recognize Gustav, leading her to bolt for the inn. She already knew Gustav wouldn’t be in his bedchamber. He liked to stay busy. Given she didn’t spot him outside sharpening his blade or exercising with it, she entered the barn to find him caring for his stallion.

“Larry!” she huffed as she entered, using his new name. “There’s soldiers coming.”

He froze in the act of brushing. “You’re sure?”

“I’m very familiar with how they look,” her dry retort.

“Dammit,” Gustav cursed. “I can’t be seen, and neither can you.”

She snorted. “As if they’d recognize me.” For one, she’d never been well known, and secondly, she’d continued to wear breeches and shirts, having acquired a new bedraggled set that allowed her to fit in among the citizens that remained. Most wore ragged clothing, a sign of the poverty flagging this once-busy port.

Of the queen, lady, and rook that fled the capital, nothing identifying them remained. She and Josslyn looked nothing like ladies, but Gustav, even though he’d shed his military jacket, couldn’t erase decades of rigid posture and command.

“You can’t assume they don’t know your face, not to mention, your coloring makes you stand out,” Gustav pointed out.

“Not here it doesn’t.” Much like Horizon’s End, Seaserpent boasted a slightly more diverse population, meaning not everyone had the fair hair and skin common among Daervians. It made her feel less an outsider. She’d often lamented when young how no one resembled her.

“Doesn’t matter. We can’t take a chance. I want you and Lynette to stay in your rooms.” Lynette being the name Josslyn took on.

“What about you?”

“I’m going to find out who they are and why they’ve come.”

“You’re more likely to be recognized,” she tartly informed her rook.

“I’m aware,” Gustav’s grim reply. “Hence why I’ll be observing surreptitiously. Now git before you’re spotted.”

Avera hustled from the barn. A quick glance up the road showed the soldiers had reached the top end of the main street. Would they be staying at the inn? It seemed likely, given no others had remained open since the exodus of citizens.

She entered the tavern to see it busier than usual with faces she’d not seen before. Most likely the crew of the ship that just docked. A burly fellow, with a bald pate, speaking with Korr met her gaze briefly, and she had a moment of surprise seeing his swarthy complexion. Verlorian? No time to find out. She bolted up the steps and banged on Josslyn’s door.

Her friend opened it with a frown. “What’s wrong?”

“Soldiers,” Avera whispered as she entered the chamber.

Face tight with worry, Josslyn closed the door. “Are they here for us?”

Avera rolled her shoulders. “I don’t know. Gustav wants us to stay out of sight while he finds out.”

“That idiot. They’ll know who he is the moment they spot him.”

“He claims he’ll spy out of sight.”

“Even so, if those soldiers ask the barkeep, or anyone for that matter, they’ll be able to describe us.”

“They’ll be looking for women noble born. You and I hardly look like ladies.”

“Don’t be so sure of that. The way we speak and even our mannerisms might give us away. While Gustav still looks and sounds like a soldier. Not to mention, he’s got a pretty distinct visage and while it’s not uncommon for a man to have a sword, his has a recognizable hilt,” Josslyn opined as she paced.

“Could be we panic for nothing. They might just be here on a patrol to see how things are.” Her mother’s ledgers had mentioned sending troops around every so often to check on the port.

Josslyn whipped around with an arched brow. “Do you really believe that?”

Her pointed query had Avera slumping. “No. Benoit most likely sent them, and if they arrived so quickly, then they most likely rode hard. But how would he know we’re here?”

“Most likely covering all the possibilities. If I were him, I’d be sending soldiers to every city and town and hamlet, asking if anyone knew our whereabouts.”

“Will they kill or arrest us, do you think?”

“I don’t know, but I aim to find out.” Josslyn undid the ribbon holding back her hair and shook it out. She then shed a bulky sweater and undid a button on her shirt before tucking the hem into her snug britches. Despite the masculine clothes, there was no denying her feminine nature. At the same time, she no longer appeared as the graceful lady Avera first met in the capital.

“Wait, you can’t mean to go out there. Gustav said?—”

“Gustav is notable. I am not. I only ever rarely showed my face in the capital and was hardly duchess long enough to be easily recognized, especially by the soldiers. The chances they might identify me are slim.”

“Won’t it seem suspicious if you question the knights?”

Josslyn blinked at her. “I am not going to interrogate them.”

“Then how will you get answers?”

“By being my charming self of course.” Her voice turned husky. “Hey there handsome, wont’cha buy a thirsty woman a drink?” Josslyn winked. “Stay here while I go flirt.”

Stay.

While her friend strode into danger.

It bothered her. Why should Avera remain safe while others risked themselves? Avera wore a hole in the floor pacing. Where once she’d been content to stick to the shadows, now she hated the fact she couldn’t be down in the taproom with Josslyn. What if her friend ran into trouble? What if the soldiers did find her features familiar?

The window of the room overlooked the rear of the inn where the cook kept a small garden and a well for drawing fresh water. Nothing interesting to see. She hopped across the hall to her own chamber only to find her view just as lacking, the street out front empty. Waiting alone with nothing but her worry felt like an eternity. In reality, it was only a few hours.

Around the dinner hour, a knock at her chamber door had her stiffening. With a dagger in hand, Avera quietly pressed her ear to the door but didn’t say anything.

“It’s me,” whispered Josslyn.

Avera unlatched the door and let her in. “Did you find anything out?”

“Yeah.” Josslyn’s lips pinched. “It’s not good news. Benoit sent those knights to look for you. They even brought a poster displaying your likeness and are offering a reward for your capture or death.”

“As if I were a criminal.” Avera expected it, after all Benoit did mention his plan, but it still stung.

“The charge is treason. Ironic, seeing as how Benoit has already seized the throne.”

A disappointed Avera shook her head. “People actually believe the story that I worked with Venne to hire the assassins. I know we figured as much, but I guess I’d held out a bit of hope that the story would be doubted. That the fact that I was attacked too would give people pause.”

“According to Drue, one of the knights who bought me wine, you did that to make it seem as if you weren’t a part of the plot. The fact you survived is proof of your guilt.”

“That’s insane.” Avera sat on the bed with her shoulders slumped.

“The good news is the poster’s drawing looks nothing like you. Mine doesn’t even have an image, just a basic description.”

“Wait, you’re wanted as well?”

“Yes, and Gustav, too. His image is the most accurate. Whoever drew him was very familiar with his creased visage.”

“That’s not good,” Avera muttered.

“Agreed, because I am pretty sure Korr knows we’re the folks in those wanted posters.”

Avera’s chin shot up as she exclaimed, “Did he say anything to the knights?”

At the query, Josslyn shook her head. “Not yet, but the amount they’re offering?—"

“Will tempt someone for sure.” Avera finished the sentence.

“In better news, a few of the sailors were in the tavern as well. Their ship has a rather large cargo hold, although they plan to fill it once they’ve offloaded, meaning if we want passages for the horses we’ll have to negotiate soon or there won’t be room.”

“How long are they staying for?”

“They didn’t say but I didn’t get the impression it would be for long. Seaserpent Bay doesn’t exactly have much in way of entertainment.”

Avera rose and tapped her lower lip. “We’ll need to speak to the captain promptly, but before that we should relocate before those knights come knocking on our chamber door.”

“Leave to go where? The ship is here.”

“I meant relocate to a different building. There’s plenty of abandoned spaces we can hide in.”

“For people, yes, but the horses?—”

“Will have to remain in the stable for the moment.” Her lips turned down. “Much as it hurts me to abandon Luna, I’m aware trying to move and accommodate them would be difficult. Hopefully we can sneak them past the knights to board the ship when we leave.”

“Sneak horses?” Josslyn blinked.

“If the knights are distracted, then it’s totally doable.”

“Let’s ignore the horse dilemma for a moment. What makes you think the captain of the ship will agree to grant us passage to Verlora?”

“If he refuses, we’ll ask him to take us to Saarpira.”

“The isle of pirates?” Josslyn squeaked.

“Yes. Most likely the vessel is from there so it shouldn’t be too difficult to convince the captain to bring us along when they set sail. And before you tell me I’m crazy, keep in mind, Saarpira would place us out of Benoit’s reach. Plus, my understanding is the pirate isle has many ships coming and going. Surely, one of them will give us passage to Verlora.”

“You do realize we don’t have the funds to pay for any of this.”

“I’ll think of something.” Avera hoped. Josslyn did have a point, not only did they lack resources, but she had nothing to trade. A pardon for their pirating from a queen in disgrace? Promises of payment from a treasury she couldn’t access? Was there anything she could offer to convince someone to go?

She thought of the Verlorian sailor she’d seen in the tavern. Perhaps she could convince a former citizen by implying she could help with whatever issue plagued Verlora, even as she had no clue if anything could be done. No one seemed to know for sure what happened. She’d heard variations from the plague to the island sinking, to it being covered in fire. The wildest stories claimed monsters now roamed and killed all living things that dared trespass.

“I wonder where Gustav is spying from,” Josslyn murmured. “I didn’t spot him during my sojourn in the taproom.”

“Knowing Gustav, no one will see him, not even us. While we wait for his return, we should pack our belongings and his, so we’re ready to move.”

“Which raises another dilemma. There’s only a single set of stairs. We’ll be seen the moment we descend with our bags.”

“Are the soldiers planning to spend the night at the inn?”

Josslyn nodded. “Yes. They’ve got the floor above us. I overheard Korr assigning their rooms. He also told them they could stable their mounts.”

“With ours.” Avera’s lips flattened. “They’ll be wondering who they belong to.” Not to mention, Luna remained rather distinctive given Volaqu steeds weren’t exactly common. “I’d hoped to wait until they went to bed to relocate, but the horses might give us away.” She glanced at the window. Too visible to climb out of. “We might have to tie some sheets again to exit.”

Josslyn grimaced. “Because that went so well last time.”

“Would you rather possibly fight our way out?”

“There’s four of them. Decent odds.”

“Killing soldiers is problematic for a few reasons. For one, these are royal knights, people who serve the crown. They’re just obeying orders.”

“From a traitor?”

“They don’t know that,” Avera reminded. “Secondly, attacking them will bring trouble to the people here.”

A tap at the door had them eyeing each other in panic. Avera wouldn’t have responded but Josslyn trilled, “Who is it?”

“Korr.”

The owner? What did he want? Had he come to blackmail or trick them into giving themselves to the soldiers?

Seemingly unconcerned, Josslyn strode to the door and opened it. “Hello, good sir. Was there something amiss?”

Korr glanced sideways before leaning close to whisper, “I know them knights are after ye.”

Avera stiffened.

“Whyever would they be interested in us?” Josslyn said with a laugh.

“Because they think you lot conspired against the late queen.” Korr’s gaze went past Josslyn to Avera. “Fear not, Majesty, I ain’t going to rat you out. I knew your mother, a good woman, unlike her consort.”

“You knew them?” Avera asked keeping her voice low so as to not be overheard. Unlikely given the noise emanating from the main floor.

“Aye. The former queen visited a few times and was always kind. As for her consort…” Korr’s expression twisted into a grimace of distaste. “I had the misfortune of hosting him solo a few times in the past.”

“What did he do to create such a poor impression?” Josslyn queried.

“Let’s just say he had sadistic tendencies when it came to women. It led to the more free-spirited ones making themselves scarce when he visited. Even without that, he’s not a likable man.”

“With all the amenities Benoit had in the capital, I have to wonder why he would come here?” Josslyn tilted her head in curiosity.

Korr rolled his shoulders. “Other than indulging in his depravity out of the public eye? Not sure.”

“Did he have meetings with the pirates?” Avera wondered if that’s how he’d managed to hire the assassins.

“If he did, I didn’t see it happen. Some folk seen him spending time at the old chapel.”

“The one at the end of the pier?” Avera had seen the old building but had not explored it.

“Ayuh. Used to be they held ceremonies there for the sea faring. Blessings on their catch and sailing and whatnot. But once we lost Preacher Jonah, it fell into disuse.”

What would Benoit want with an abandoned church? Religion was a rare thing in Daerva. While some believed in gods and otherworldly powers, most just lived their lives by the laws of the land and their own morality.

“Odd,” Avera mused.

“All that to say, I don’t believe a word that foul bastard is saying about you, hence why I won’t be handing you over. No one will. We owe much to the late queen. She’d been keeping us afloat, sending us supplies to ensure we didn’t starve in the lean months.”

His claim confirmed what Avera had seen in her mother’s ledgers but even better, that kindness now helped Avera. “I appreciate you keeping quiet about our presence, although I fear our horses might give us away.”

“Already had them moved,” Korr announced. “The knights never seen them. And I helped your guard find a spot to observe where he wouldn’t be seen.”

“Your kindness is appreciated, but I have to ask, aren’t you worried the knights will find out you lied? I can’t see them being gentle if they discover you’ve helped hide us.” Avera couldn’t help but worry.

Korr’s craggy face split into a smile. “I got enough friends they wouldn’t dare. It wouldn’t be the first time some soldiers didn’t leave the Bay, although when asked, we always tell the capital they went on their merry way.”

Avera’s mouth rounded. “You’ve had problems with soldiers?”

“Not often, but some seem to think because we’re so far from everything, and no longer as fortunate in income, that they can act as they please. Our daughters aren’t their playthings.” Korr’s face darkened.

“You let Benoit live despite his actions,” Josslyn pointed out.

“It’s one thing to rid ourselves of rapists and pedophile soldiers, another to make the consort disappear.”

Having Korr on their side alleviated some of Avera’s concerns. “If I retake my throne?—”

“When,” Josslyn corrected.

“I will endeavor to bring back commerce to your bay.”

“I appreciate the offer, but how will you do so? Verlora was our main trafficker,” Korr pointed out.

“I don’t know yet, but I will find a solution. Until that happens, I will continue what my mother started. You are still people of Daerva, and loyal ones too. That deserves consideration and reward.”

“Much appreciated, Majesty.” Korr bobbed his head.

“Speaking of Verlora, that ship that just docked, is it a merchant?” It seemed unlikely given what she knew from the ledgers, still she had to ask.

Korr’s lips twisted. “Of sorts.”

“It’s a pirate vessel,” Avera stated.

“Ayuh, but before you worry, they’re not the murdering, thieving kind. Yes, they come from Saarpira, and some of their goods are not exactly legally acquired, but they come here to trade.”

“Trade for what?”

“Grain, as well as preserved fruits and vegetables. Their isle ain’t good for planting. They also like meat that isn’t pulled from the ocean. Even the most ardent pescatarian sometimes gets a craving for something different. We have a few farmers that drop their extras off so we have something on hand when they show.”

“Would this captain be interested in taking passengers?”

Korr shrugged. “Dunno. Never had to ask him before.”

“Could you arrange a meeting with him?”

“Maybe. He ain’t planning to stay long.”

“If you could request a meeting, I would be in your debt.”

“I’ll do my best, although, I reckon it will be a few hours before I can make it happen. Gonna get those soldiers right drunk, so they pass out in their rooms and don’t bother ye.”

Korr left and Josslyn arched a brow. “It would seem you might have more support than suspected.”

“He really didn’t like Benoit. I wonder how we never heard a hint of his proclivities.”

“Because men don’t speak of such things around ladies and Benoit is a sly one. Look at how he weaseled his way onto the throne.”

And how he’d fooled a good many into thinking him harmless.

“I wonder what was so interesting about that chapel,” Avera mused aloud.

She got a chance to find out a few hours later because Korr succeeded in securing an appointment with the captain. To ensure their privacy, he’d chosen the old church.