yelled and hit me, Draxen would come to my defense. He was my protector in
our younger years, during the time when he was bigger than I. Then we grew, and I could start looking out for him in return.”
Normally, here is where I would throw out some amount of snark. Riden’s story is very sappy. But strangely, I feel the need to be still. To listen.
“We have a strong bond. It’s the strongest thing I have in my life. And I would never do anything to break it because my whole life has been built around
it. So without it, I don’t know what I would be. Nothing good.”
I wonder what it would be like to have something like that. Someone whom
you could trust and call your friend since childhood. I have many good women
aboard my crew whom I trust and call friends. But they are all recent finds.
Within the last five years or so. I don’t have anything I’ve held on to since I was little.
Except my father, of course.
“My father was about to kill me for what he assumed would be my last disappointing act. But then Draxen was there. He’d broken free of the men holding him and come to my rescue. Yet again. That act saved my life. When it
most counted, Draxen chose me over our father. I owe him my life and my allegiance. He is the best thing I have, and I would never do anything to hurt or betray him.
“Draxen then pitched his skill with the sword against our father. But Father was an excellent swordsman, drunk and lazy or not. He disarmed Draxen and was about to kill him. But I picked up my brother’s fallen sword. And I killed him.”
“And what happened after that?” I ask.
“Killing our father had a strange effect on Draxen and me. We felt freer with
him gone, stronger. We fought our way to the brig. We released everyone. And
we took the ship.”
“Just like that?”
“Well, I left out all the fighting bits, but I’m sure you know what a fight looks and sounds like.”
And smells and feels and tastes like.
“Now tell me about your scars,” Riden says.
A deal’s a deal. So I tell him. But I don’t want him to feel sorry for me. So I
state everything like it’s fact. No feeling. No remorse. I tell him about my
endurance tests. My rigorous fighting practices. The regular trials my father gave me. I don’t go into too much detail. He just needs a sense of life with my father in order to be satisfied that I didn’t lie to him by saying I would share if he did.
At the end, Riden asks, “And are all your father’s men trained in the same way?”
“Well, I’m the only one he’s trained personally, but—” I cut off quickly.
“What?”
“Why do you want to know about their training? Is this another blasted interrogation?” I jump out of the bed in an instant, shoving half of Riden’s weight off me in the process. “I can’t believe you. What the hell is this, Riden?
You show me kindness and then expect me to open up to you, is that it?”
Riden shrugs. “You’re a woman and the pirate king’s daughter at that.
Something tells me you wouldn’t budge under torture. We needed to approach you in a different way.”
“Damn you. And your blasted crew. Is any of this real?”
Riden sits up and regards me seriously. “Is any of what real?”
“Your story? This?” I gesture about the room. “All the niceties? Are they just
a way to get me to open up?”
He stands and puts his hands on my shoulders. “Most of it is real, Alosa, even
though it shouldn’t be.”
I shove him back and wince at yesterday’s wounds. “What is that supposed to
mean? You’re playing a part. The conflicted first mate. You’re a lie.”
“So are you. Why don’t you tell me what you’re really doing on this ship?”
“I’m not doing anything!” I scream. “Just let me go. I want to go now!”
It’s hard keeping up appearances when I’m so furious. But it needs to be done.
“Can’t do that. Not unless you want to tell me where your father’s hideaway
is? Then we’ll take you right to him.”
I can feel my whole body tense. I’m going to explode if I don’t hit something.
“Ah,” Riden says. “I’ve come to understand that look. I’ll leave you alone for
a while.”
He leaves right before my foot connects with the door.
* * *
I try to tell myself that it doesn’t matter. What do I care if Riden’s been trying to gather information from me? I already knew he was doing it. I just hadn’t expected him to try using a sentimental approach.