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“Do you forget who I am?” I asked. “What I did here in this very spot? I am not asking for your help. I’m not here to debate whether you should follow me. I came to give you my orders, calling on your sworn oaths to follow me. It’s the same oath I took to become a pirate, which means I am bound to answer when the pirates are in need. You will collect any men who are out to sea, and you will gather whatever supplies you need for travel. Erick will have my plans and I will see you on the battlefield.”
“We know what Carthya is up against,” a man in the far corner said. “It’s too dangerous.”
I smirked back at him. “If you wanted a safe life, you should’ve become a midwife, or maybe a tailor. Unless pricking your finger on a spindle also rattles your nerves. I cannot guarantee that everyone will survive. But for those who do, I promise you a battle worthy of a true pirate’s blade.”
Silence fell over the group. Gradually a few of them shifted on their feet, and quiet mumblings escaped in whispers and loud breaths. I decided to leave while we were ahead.
“Sleep well tonight. You’ll be traveling soon.” Then I strode away without looking back. I hoped I had said enough to persuade them. The longer they debated, the less inclined they’d be to do as I’d asked.
Erick walked with me long enough to hear the details of my plans for the pirates, but a loud argument was already erupting behind us. “We haven’t seen you in months, and now you come to ask them to die? It’s too much, Jaron.”
“I asked them to fight, with the hope that they’ll live to see victory declared. Nothing more.”
“I’ll do what I can, but you had better make your plans as if we’re not there.”
“I already have a plan, and it relies on them. Get the pirates there, Erick.” My smile turned somber again. “They must keep their promises.”
“Well, even if they don’t, I will keep mine.” Erick reached for my hand and added, “Whatever they choose, you will see me there as you asked.”
I shook his hand, and then turned to leave the camp, flanked by Mott and Tobias. Erick stayed behind to take part in the pirates’ rising argument. I couldn’t pick apart their words, but my orders were clearly not being received as well as I would’ve liked.
We found our horses and left Tarblade by the shortest route possible. Once it was safely behind us, Tobias said to me, “Please tell me we’re leaving Avenia now.”
“We are. We’re going to Falstan Lake, or what’s left of it.” I yawned and checked the darkening skies for some idea of the time. “We’ll have to find a place to sleep tonight. But we should be there sometime tomorrow.”
A beat passed, then Mott said, “Jaron, do you really think the pirates will come?”
“I don’t know,” I mumbled. “I really don’t know.”
The next morning, Mott and Tobias allowed me to sleep as long as I wanted, and when I finally awoke, I was surprised by how high the sun had risen.
“I suppose I’m still recovering,” I said as I broke into a long yawn. “I expected to be past all that by now.”
“After only two days?” Tobias arched an eyebrow. “Does it bother you much on those moments when you remember you’re only human?”
“Very much, actually.” I chuckled and looked over to Mott. “How much food does this inn have? I think we might wish to order it all.”
He dipped his head at my request, said he would ask for as much as they would give us, and then left.
An hour later, we were well stocked with good food, and on our way again. It would be some time before the wounds I had suffered in the Avenian camp were healed, and perhaps some would never heal, but life was returning to me, and I was eager to rejoin my armies.
After another half day’s ride, we crossed into Carthya. It was a tremendous relief to be on my own soil again, assuming Avenia hadn’t yet stolen it from me, of course. Once we were there, we took the opportunity to get some rest. Tobias and I left our horses in Mott’s care, then wandered up a hill to see if we could spot the bluff overlooking Falstan Lake. My eyes went first to the horizon in search of my camp, but we were still too far away.
However, Tobias’s mind seemed to be moving in a different direction. “Where do you suppose she is?” he asked.
“Amarinda could have made it back to Drylliad by now,” I said. “And if not, Harlowe will have sent out orders to search for her everywhere.”
“So will Vargan.” He shook his head, clearly angry with himself. “I promised to protect her, and I didn’t. If anything happens —”
“Trust her to protect herself. She is intelligent and resourceful, and stronger than she’s ever been given credit for.”
“I know all that!” Tobias nearly spat the words at me. “I know who she is, and probably better than you!”
I turned to him and might’ve been harsher if the worry wasn’t etched so deeply into the lines of his face. In a gentle tone, I only said, “We will find her, Tobias.”
We fell silent then, and my attention went down the hill to a trail that looked as if it had been worn by hundreds of footsteps. I doubted they were Carthyan — no commander of mine would’ve led our soldiers on a march this close to Avenia’s border. It was too risky.
But someone — likely soldiers of Avenia or Mendenwal — had recently come through here.
