His mouth opened to say something as the slat on the door flew open. Two eyes appeared through the window. It snapped shut again.
A minute later, the door swung wide.
“Good morning, my distinguished guests,” Kriska boomed loudly at us. “Malá ryba, I see you are awake. You took a good long rest, yes? Let's get you back in your place. Aleksei!”
The pirate captain stepped aside for the pug-nosed man. Aleksei yanked me up by the arm. I yelped out loud, flinging myself onto the chest simply so I wouldn’t have to bear touching him.
Kye snarled, iron clanging as he shot forward.
“Careful, Highness, I don’t think you can afford being disciplined a second time.” Captain Kriska cocked his head. “Why,malá ryba.What is wrong?”
I closed my eyes, ignoring him, quelling the nausea that swelled from sudden movement.
“Don’t talk to her,” Kye growled.
Kriska clicked his tongue, ignoring him. “The effects of the tonic wear off slowly when you’re not used to it. The dizziness only lasts a few hours. It’s a handy concoction, thekoren valeriany. Good to keep on board when the nights are long, and work is hard. Demyan learned the trade from his dearbabicka. An old family recipe. I went to their shop every time I docked for years, trying to recruit Demyan to my crew, so I may learn more of his concoctions, until finally—”
“Where are we?” Kye cut in.
Kriska turned to look at him with an expression of surprise, as if he’d thought Kye had left and was shocked to see him still chained to the wall. When he answered, he directed his attention back to me.
“We are approaching the coast of Rivea.”
“How long will we be on this ship?”
“That depends on many factors, little prince. How will the sea fare? Will we be delayed in harbor? We have stops to make. I need to send correspondence to my contacts. How long will it take to resupply? Will the ship require any repairs at port? It is not a simple question. But we’ll probably sail for two weeks.”
Two weeks.
I went still, calculating the days in my head. I’d miss the next full moon.
“Where are you taking us?” Kye deadpanned, as though resolute to whatever answer Kriska might give.
Kriska flashed his black teeth. “Ah! There is something I can answer. But I won’t. Burian, bringmalá rybaher breakfast.”
“Who was it?”
Kriska turned slowly on his heel, facing Kye.
Kye’s mouth curled, the promise of violence thick in his eyes. “Who’s paying you for us?”
Kriska smiled, his hand slithering over a pocket, fingers prodding the fabric of his pants. “It doesn’t concern you. She’ll learn soon enough.”
My eyes fixed onto the fabric under his hand, where the letter was—the one he’d read to us. The one the pirates used to identify me.
Kriska swiveled back to me, twisting his gaze over my body, a sly smile over his mouth.“Pekné na rybu, nie?”he mused to the other pirates, grinning over his shoulder. One of them answered in Kravan, earning a low chuckle from the rest. Kriska smirked, his thumb drifting over his chin as he gazed at me in thought.
I glowered at them, but it was Kye who sneered back.“Dotkni sa jej a zabijem ta.”
They erupted in laughter, repeating his words tauntingly back to him. Kriska watched in mute humor until he inclined his head, signaling the pirates to return to work.
The door snapped shut behind them. Across from me, a dark rage vibrated against the wall like a black cloud burning over the sea.
69
Time passed like a fleck of algae stretching across the ocean floor.
My thoughts wandered often. To my father in Leihani, and whether I’d see him again. To Thaan, and the warning he’d given before I’d left. To Selena—and the stone. The stone I’d heldin my hand and given away, the key to somehow separating myself from Thaan’s grip.
