“Yes, well, we will take care of that,” Jace answered.
“Are you ready to see your new home?” Lynelle asked.
“I’m ready for some of your cooking, that’s certain,” Gage joked, and I giggled from the side where I stood, watching everyone.
“We have a long day ahead of us. Let’s get moving then,” Lia chimed in.
And with that, we made our way to our new home.
Chapter nineteen
Kellan
Before we even arrivedat the city’s makeshift, shitty gates, I realized I knew exactly where we were—Tortunele—known as the armpit of the Vayr Sea.
Tortunele made the slums look as if it were a luxury wing in Castle Isla itself. Its occupants were as filthy as the rats in the streets that feasted off the leftover scraps. This land, forsaken by the king two generations ago, became a breeding ground for lawlessness, resulting in the port being overrun by pirates and ex-soldiers who had lost their morals—thieving after gold and females in the dead of night.
I would know—my father was one of them. I hadn’t returned to this city since I was a boy aboard his ship.
The city emerged on the horizon as a jumble of dilapidated buildings, their timeworn frames weathered and peeling. Tattered banners and flags marked by pirates swayed in the breeze.
Once we reached the entrance, I led my crew and marched through the port city’s wide-open gate—its doors hanging narrowly off broken latches.
Out of the corner of my eye, large figures armed to the teeth with weapons moved to approach us.
Here, the guards resembled mercenaries and were often bought and paid for by the highest bidder—justice administered with a blade rather than a gavel.
I pivoted to William on my right. “Not a single fucking word out of anyone but me.”
He gave a curt nod in response.
“Aye,” one of the brutes called to me as they stopped mere feet away.
“Aye,” I grumbled back. It wouldn’t be difficult for us to blend in here. We were already filthy, and what remained of our armor was in tatters. The crew would blend in seamlessly so long as inhabitants didn’t discover we were employed by the crown.
“What is your purpose here?” the male demanded as he took a step closer to me, his rotting breath hot on my face.
“Just passing through with the possibility of looking for indulgence,” I answered.
The other male’s eyes narrowed in on me and then scaled down my body, and I almost reached for my sword on instinct.
He then peered around over my shoulder and spoke. “Where did you come from?”
“Doraeli,” I answered immediately. “Our ship was wrecked, you see. So what remains of my crew lingers behind me. We seek temporary refuge and pleasure, and then we will be on our way.”
He eyed the other male, and my gaze moved with his. “How long have you been walking on land? Are you the captain?”
“Aye,” I answered. “And a week we have traveled. A week we haven’t come across a single place of harbor and shelter. I have lost more sailors since we washed ashore.”
“And what name do you possess,Captain?”
“They call me Ravenne,” I answered, giving them my father’s surname in place of Adler since it was associated with the crown.
Their eyes widened.
“You’re Ravenne’s boy? I haven’t heard that name in over a century,” he admitted. “Rumor claimed you met the same fate as the rest of the crew and were sent to the gallows.”
“Aye. Now, what say you here…are we welcome, or shall you throw us out adrift once more?” My patience was wearing thin, but my eyes remained on the mercenaries instead of wandering over to my new second-in-command as he stood next to me in silence.
