Page 34 of Seaborn and the Seven Seas

I took a smaller sip this time. Still terrible. Still burning. But peace found me, and it had nothing to do with the ale.

“Well, look at this princess.” Fraya smiled.

“I am no princess.” I gave her a flat look over the rim of my cup. “Jina acts more like one than I do.”

“Sometimes…” Jina raised a finger, her words coming out slightly slurred. “I want to be naughty.”

We shared a laugh, the kind that came easy when you’re safe and among friends. This was what a safe space felt like. This was what home felt like.

The ship rolled longer and deeper than before. I grabbed the edge of the table. Jina did the same. Cups slid on across the surface. Barron caught his without looking. Jimin and Fraya braced against their barrel with one hand while drinking. They’d been on the sea for a long time so weren’t surprised or anxious when a sudden wave hit them.

“Captain Theron says he found you screaming in a tavern and rescued you from Russo.” Jimin pounded his cup on the table with satisfaction. “Glad that bastard’s out of the picture.”

Barron downed his drink and said, “The crew members at the other table muttered the same.”

I opened my mouth to object, but Theron’s words came back to me—if people asked, I killed the captain. Do you understand?

“What would have happened if they thought I’d killed Russo?” The words came out slower, my face warmer, despite the cool breeze passing through.

“You’d be put on trial,” Barron said, filling his cup.

“But what if it was self-defense?” Jina’s voice was barely audible, her head leaning against my shoulder.

“Doesn’t matter.” Fraya clenched her teeth, eyes narrowing. “The law doesn’t protect women. Theron did you a favor. He made sure the rumor spread that he was responsible for Russo’s death.”

I didn’t know the law. I’d thought he cared about no one but himself. But listening to his crew speak about him with respect, I saw him in a new light.

He could have left me in that tavern. Could have taken the dagger and walked away. Instead, he’d carried me out, fought men without breaking a sweat, and then made sure no one would come after me for it.

Why? What did he want from me? People didn’t do things without a reason. The king hadn’t. Resse hadn’t. Russo hadn’t. I’d learned nobody did anything for nothing.

So what was Theron’s price?

“Will he be put to trial?” My eyes grew heavy, muscles easing. Must be from drinking ale.

“No, but there’s a bounty on his head now from Russo’s crew.”

“Bounty?” Jina managed, yawning.

Ranis spun his cup on the table. “Not only Russo’s men. Other pirates will be after him too. Whoever brings him in gets the coins.”

The warmth from the ale drained out of me.

A bounty. Because of me. Because he had covered for me and now men with swords would be hunting him across seven seas.

I set my cup down. “I’m sorry. If he hadn’t helped us—”

“Don’t.” Fraya shook her head. “Theron knew what he was doing. He always does. He doesn’t do anything he hasn’t already thought through three steps ahead.”

“Still.” The guilt sat heavy in my chest, heavier than the ale. I hadn’t asked him to protect me. But he had.

I looked out at the dark water and said nothing.

“What was Russo doing in Morvik, anyway?” Jimin shifted on his barrel. “He hardly ever goes to that village.”

“The sea monster with the large legs.” Jina suddenly sat up, eyes wide. The ship lurched and she grabbed my arm. “It almost ate the ship.” Her head went back to my shoulder, eyes closed.

Barron let out a low whistle. “The oclego.”