Nothing’s changed. I’m still trying to get the map. And as long as I keep the
location of my father’s keep a secret, I can continue searching for it. So what if Riden gets a little clever now and then? He can’t touch me.
I’m sitting on the edge of Riden’s bed, waiting out the day, when the door opens. Was it too much to hope it wouldn’t be Riden?
He grabs my upper arm. “Captain wants to see you.”
I try to punch him in the stomach, but he’s expecting it. He catches my fist.
“Come on, Alosa. Let’s see what he wants.”
“I don’t want to see what he wants. Every time I see Draxen, something terrible happens. I want to be left alone. I’m done with you, and I’m done with
being on this ship.”
“Come on.” He drags me toward the door. “Something terrible won’t
happen.”
I give him a look.
“Something terrible probably won’t happen. Just give Draxen whatever he wants.”
“How about if I give Draxen what he deserves?”
He laughs as he drags me the rest of the way. Up the companionway. Into Draxen’s quarters.
“Ah, here she is,” Draxen says. He has a couple of men already in here with
him: Kearan and Ulgin. I suppress a shudder. “I think it best that the princess be kept in irons when she’s not locked up.” He nods toward Ulgin, who pulls a set
of manacles from his belt.
“She’s still weak from yesterday, Captain,” Riden says, jerking his head toward my wrists. “I don’t think that’s necessary.”
“If you say so, Riden. Alosa, have a seat.”
“I think I’d rather stand.”
“I wasn’t asking.”
Riden moves me in front of a chair and puts pressure on my shoulders.
Reluctantly, I sit. If I don’t like what happens next, I can always get back up.
“We received word from your father yesterday.”
“How’s that? I was told no one knew our location.”
“We’ve been using yano birds.”
I don’t expect to hear that. Yano birds are used for carrying messages out to
sea. They’re very fast and excellent navigators. They’re also perfect for silent communication, because the birds don’t utter a note of song. But they’re extremely rare. My father himself has only five of them.
“How did you come by one?” I ask.
“I’ve a crew of men who are very good at getting things done. Your concern
should be what happens to you within the next five minutes. I want to know where your father’s keep is.”
“He didn’t tell you in his letter? Shocker, that.”
Draxen scowls at my tone.
I ask, “What exactly did his note say?”
“He’s willing to negotiate a ransom. I just have to name an amount and location.”
“So do it, then.”
Draxen smiles his evil smile, baring his gold tooth. It’s a calculating, malicious grin matched with cold eyes. So different from the way Riden smiles
when he thinks he has the upper hand on me. Riden’s is victorious, even cocky,
sure, but harmless somehow. But Draxen—his is laced with poison.
“See now,” Draxen says, “I have this feeling I would show up and be
surrounded by ten of your father’s ships. I think it would be far better to surprise
him and negotiate when he is unprepared, don’t you?”
“My father’s promise of peace isn’t enough to sway you?”
“Riden’s informed me that you are special to your father. It seems to me that
when it comes to you, we can’t count on promises. We need something more to
work with. I told you what would happen if you continued to be uncooperative
with Riden. I’ve grown impatient. I need your father’s location now.”
“I’m not giving it to you.”
Draxen clenches his teeth and jerks his head violently to the side. “I was going to let Ulgin have you if you weren’t cooperative, but I find I’ve got far too much of a desire to handle this interrogation myself.”
This is not going to be pleasant.
Draxen gets behind me and yanks my head backward by my hair. I grimace at
the pain. He strikes the side of my face with a closed fist.
“Where is Kalligan’s keep, girl?”
I don’t answer. He hits me again.
“Draxen.” It’s Riden.
“What?”
“This doesn’t sit right with me.”