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I have to be careful. I need to make the conversation seem harmless. He needs to think it’s all about me. “My father trusts me more than he does anyone else in the world, yet I can’t help but feel like he keeps secrets from me.”
“Everybody has their secrets. We would all feel too exposed if we weren’t able to keep things to ourselves.”
“What are—” No, I can’t ask Riden about his own secrets. I need to keep the conversation focused. “But this feels different. Couldn’t you tell when your father was keeping things from you? Big things?”
“Yes, usually.”
“My father had a hiding place on his ship, a loose floorboard in his rooms. He would keep important things there. When I felt like he wasn’t telling me everything, I could usually find his plans and secrets there.” I’m making this all up quickly. I hope Riden can’t tell.
In truth, my father has a room he alone enters at the keep. His private getaway. I’ve been tempted many times to sneak in. I even made an attempt once. When Father found me outside fiddling with the lock, he said if I was so interested in his locked doors, he’d put me behind one.
And he did. In a cell deep down. For a month.
“But then one day,” I continue, “the space below the floorboard was empty. And nothing has been kept there ever since.”
“He found you out.”
“Or suspected what I was up to and didn’t want to take any chances.”
Though he seems natural, relaxed—Riden has to be holding on to my every word. There’s no chance he isn’t hoping I’ll tell him some of my father’s secrets. But that’s not the purpose of this conversation. I’m trying to learn Lord Jeskor’s secrets.
“What aboutyourfather?” I ask. “Did he have a place where he kept secrets? Did you ever learn something you weren’t supposed to?”Do you know where he hid his section of the map?
“Honestly, I was never curious enough to care. When we were younger, Draxen would coax me into helping him find secret panels belowdecks. It never turned out to be profitable, though.”
I can relate. I’ve already been through all of those panels.
I can’t deny I enjoy talking with Riden, but I was really hoping for something useful to come out of the conversation. Something that would make me realize exactly where the map is.
I should have known better.
“Besides, if there was anything so important to my father, he probably wouldn’t have let it out of his sight. He likely would have kept it on him at all times. And Draxen and I were never foolish enough to try stealing something off him.”
Oh.
Chapter 13
RIDENLEAVESTOFINDme some breakfast. Meanwhile, I ponder on my own stupidity.
Of course you would keep something so valuableon your personat all times.
After Jeskor died, his sons would have searched his body. They would have found the map. Draxen is one of the greediest men I’ve ever met. If he didn’t already know what the map was, he would have done everything he could to find out. And once he did—
Draxen’s despicable and abusive and manipulative. He’s the last thing I’d ever want to touch on this ship.
Perhaps that’s why I never thought to check if hecarries the map on him. Of course he would. Where else would you keep something you don’t want anyone else to find? I’ll bet that’s the real reason why Riden and Draxen rebelled against their father, tried to take the ship, and ended up slaughtering the original crew. How could it be over anything less than the map that leads to the treasure of a thousand ages?
To think, I might’ve been so close to it so very many times.
But it could be anywhere on him. Any pocket on his coat, shirt, breeches. Even tucked into his underthings. Oh, I truly hope it’s not there.
Unfortunately for me, there’s only one way to find out.
I’ve no choice but to seduce the captain.
Ihatedoing that. But how else am I to get him alone? I could wait until tonight when he’s asleep, but I don’t want to waste what little is left of my song tokeephim asleep. Draxen may be a deeper sleeper than Riden, but how could anyone stay asleep while someone is stripping them of all their clothing?
No, I need to act now. As soon as Riden returns.
