AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Just like my father.
It hurts to think about my father, to fully imagine the scope of his betrayal. I could have grown up knowing my mother. Or, maybe not. Perhaps she would have only abandoned me at a younger age if she could have made her own choices. Maybe she really is the monster Father always said. I don’t know what to think about her anymore, what all her actions mean. But my father—he has wronged me past the point of forgiveness. I will dethrone him and take everything he has built up for himself as my own.
At this point, that is the only thing I’m certain of.
I hold on to that resolve, let it carry me across the sea of confusion and bitterness that has become my life.
When we reach the supply post, my mood turns dark, as if someone has doused a flame. I can’t explain it.
It certainly has nothing to do with Riden leaving.
I’ve barely seen him in the time it took us to reach the supply post. He belittled me, humiliated me in my rooms after my mother left. What I offered him was little more than what we’ddone aboard theNight Farer. Why is he all of the sudden making a big deal over thoughts and feelings? I wanted action. Isn’t that what he’s always wanted, too?
Regardless, I haven’t exactly bothered to seek him out, and he’s been too busy trying to put meat back on Draxen’s bones to do anything else.
Riden crosses the deck with a much healthier-looking Draxen in tow. He steps through the gap in the railing, preparing to climb down to the waiting rowboat below.
He turns his head in my direction, so I quickly look the other way. To be caught staring, even though I know I’ll never see him again, would be even more humiliating.
I should focus on the fact that Riden is the only one I’m losing. Even though I offered escape to anyone who would rather not take on the pirate king, no one in my crew wants to leave. I even took pains to convince Wallov he should take his daughter and run.
He was insulted.
Both of them were.
I should be overjoyed to have the trust and respect of my whole crew, and yet my foul mood will not be dispelled. I try not to let it show as I tell Niridia, “Get us going again.”
I scan the ship, displeased by the pace at which everyone is moving. “Get your sea legs moving! We’ve got a long journey ahead, and the pirate king is on our heels. If you don’t pick things up, you can jump ashore now!”
That gets them going. I’m watching their doubled paceswith satisfaction, when my vision is blocked by Mandsy’s head. It bears an infuriating smile, a knowing smile.
“Don’t you have something to be doing?” I snap.
She only giggles. “Why in such a foul mood, Captain? He hasn’t gone anywhere.”
“Excuse me?”
“Riden. He’s over there chatting with Roslyn.”
I lean over the railing, looking in the direction of the shore. Draxen is glaring at the ship from his rowboat, specifically at a spot near the bow of theAva-lee.…
Where his brother is in fact still on board, chatting with Roslyn.
“What is going on?” I ask.
“I think he’s coming with us,” Mandsy says.
I narrow my eyes at her. “Where does he get off thinking he can do things without consulting thecaptainfirst? And my mood isnotaltered by the comings and goings of that man. Don’t you dare insinuate as much again.”
She curtsies elegantly before skipping off, probably to weave flowers into crowns or to hug a barnacle or something.
“I’m no passenger,” I hear Roslyn say as I approach. “I’m part of the crew.” I find her little figure in time to see her pull her dagger from behind her back and press it to Riden’s navel. “And I don’t care for being talked down to.”
Riden’s lips twitch as he tries not to smile. “My mistake,” he says and takes a step back. “I meant no insult, little lass. Please spare me.”
Roslyn considers his plea carefully, as though she’s actually debating whether or not to kill him. In reality, I know she’s enjoying watching him beg, having someone play along.
“What is your job on the ship?” Riden asks. Though he must have noticed her moving about theAva-leein all the time he’s spent with us, perhaps he never realized Roslyn is part of the hired crew. She gets her cut of the spoils just like everyone else.
