Draevyn
The crew spotted Lephyrin’s ships as the sun began its descent on the horizon, their sleek silhouettes moored in Sumnae’s harbor. His brother’s banners hung limp in the still air, maroon and gold catching the last bit of daylight like sharpened blades.
They’d made better timing than Draevyn had hoped, but still, he didn’t know if it would be enough.
Even though they were in a ship marked by Lephyrin, he didn’t want to risk being caught. So, instead, they sailedValoraround the largest bend, out of sight from watchful eyes.
The crew clustered near the railing, their faces drawn tight with anticipation and uncertainty as they waited for his command. They hadn’t spoken much since spotting Lephyrin’s fleet, and now their silence was louder than any words.
Some exchanged uncertain sidelong glances, but they wouldn’t dare voice their doubts aloud. Ren tightened his grip on the dagger strapped to his belt, his eyes flicking from the distant harbor to their captain. Riven rubbed a hand over his face as if hoping to wake from a dream.
“Gods, the last time we faced a single elven, we all ended up inchains,” Ren said warily. “And now we’re about to break into a kingdom full of ‘em.”
“It’s for Esmi. We have to do it,” Jak said, staring at the shore.
“You think she’s still alive?” Riven sighed.
“Yes,” Draevyn said through clenched teeth.
She has to be alive. Why else would Atlas be here?
Jak watched him curiously before turning to the elven. “Riv, shut the fuck up before one of us shoves you overboard.”
Draevyn stepped forward. “We go quiet. We don’t get caught. And we don’t stop until we’re inside those walls.” He lifted a hand and pointed to the highest castle spire peeking over Sumnae’s trees.
“Drop anchor,” he murmured, a knot twisting in his gut. “Here.”
Samwell blinked. “We’re at least a mile out from the shoreline.”
“Exactly,” Draevyn said. “We’re not walking in through the front fucking gates, Sam.”
They didn’t like anchoring here, so close and yet so far from their destination. Draevyn knew that, for the pirates, they felt too exposed and vulnerable. And for his own men, they had never been on this side of the law while not under the protection of Lephyrin’s crown.
Now, they wereallwanted fugitives, and they would be sneaking into a kingdom already under heavy guard as they tried to do the impossible.
But they were headed for a quiet bend of the coastline. It was overgrown with sea grass and dark rock, a place seemingly forgotten by patrols as the capital loomed beyond the curve of the cliffs.
They all readied themselves and their weapons before loading into the pinnaces. Each of their cloaks were drawn tight with their faces half covered against the wind.
Tommy ran a hand along the edge of the boat and muttered, “Feels like we’re rowing into a funeral.”
“Yeah,” Riven cut in. “Ours.”
Jak crossed his arms as his lips pressed into a thin line, but nobody argued.
Because the truth was, that was exactly what it felt like. ButDraevyn was determined and willing to do whatever it took to get Esmyra out of there.
Even if that meant trading himself in her place.
“Alright, you all know the plan. If what the man in Anchorage Cove said is true, then it seems I haven’t been labeled as a traitor of the crown. Which means I may be able to get to Atlas before he does something foolish.” Draevyn swallowed.
“Sam and Tommy will be coming with me as my known crew, and the rest of you will need to find another in or wait in the trees for us. We can’t risk all of us getting captured in case something goes wrong,” he continued. “Regardless of how we all get in there, we’re looking for Esmyra. She is the priority. No matter who finds her, we get her out first before anything else. Understood?”
“Aye,” nearly everyone agreed in unison.
Sam cleared his throat. “Yes, Captain.”
His stare lifted back to the spires that reached into the darkening sky. He could feel the weight of it all—that aching pull in his chest that always led back to her. She was somewhere behind those walls, likely chained and alone.
