Pirate Lord Read online

  He was more than one of the crew, more than her friend, he’d always felt like family. He smiled faintly and only for a moment, but he’d smiled nevertheless. Lily pushed herself up and Jim too stood. He let her hug him, but he didn’t really return the embrace. He was in shock, no doubt his mind was everywhere right now. She smiled sadly at him as he left. She hoped he’d get his head round it sooner rather than later. The impending clash with whoever threatened the Pirate Lord was no time to be distracted. But she’d had to tell him. He had every right to know.

  She wasn’t sure whether she hoped he’d refuse to see his father, just to see the look on Merek’s face, or whether she wanted them to meet. She’d seen the utter devastation in Merek’s expression – there was definitely something she didn’t know – some back story. He loved his son deeply, that much was clear. Not for the first time, she wished she knew how Jim had ended up on that shipwreck.

  ~

  Tristan appeared not long after Jim had left. “You told him?”

  Lily nodded. “He didn’t know how to take it. But I suppose that it is hard to discover you’re not as alone as you thought. He has a past now – he’s not had that before.”

  Tristan shrugged his coat from his shoulders, tossing it atop the chair Jim had vacated. He ran his arms across his sleeves, pushing them up to his elbows. His dark tattoos rippled atop his forearms, their patterns curling like smoke in the gloomy light of the inn. They accentuated the muscles in his arms, highlighting the contours. While he’d gained a few more since Lily had met him, filling in the gaps between other marks, but they still hadn’t spread from his arms. His hands were bare, and his chest also remained unmarked. She wasn’t sure why he kept them confined. Maybe another test for himself, another way to measure the control he had over himself. “Do you think it was wise to tell him?”

  She forced her attention away from her husband’s tattoos, back to his face. “I think it would have been foolish to keep it to ourselves. Not to mention selfish. If Jim wants to meet him then he should meet him.”

  “And if he decides to stay with his father?”

  He’d been thinking the same thing as she had then. It felt raw and wrong to her, but she told him what she had told herself all the same. “Then we will respect his wishes.”

  A muscle in Tristan’s jaw feathered. He glanced at the children, sitting gently on the edge of the bed, as if afraid to wake them. There would be little chance of that right now, they were all sound asleep. He rubbed at his temple. “I don’t like this Lily.”

  “Neither do I, but right now Jim’s our best bargaining chip.”

  “I don’t want to use him like a pawn.”

  “You think I do? We’re not left with much choice. Merek hasn’t left us with options.”

  “He didn’t know about Jim.”

  Lily nodded, leaning against the wall. Saff still kept up her watch at the window. She’d call if anything caught her eye. Lily brushed her hands against the smooth plaster work. She felt like she was trying to play catch up the whole time she dealt with Merek, and now that she actually had a moment to think, to analyse, she was reading into every expression, every clue that he’d given. She’d always been good at reading people, at watching and learning. “No, he didn’t. It’s something more than luck that’s seen to that. He wants to meet Jim, desperately; you could see that much from his face. Whatever man he is now, he used to be a devoted father.”

  “Then why was Jim on that ship – why was it raided?”

  “I think we should do everything in our power to find out.” She paused, her attention flickering to the children – one of them had sighed in their sleep. Reassured that they were fine, she looked back to Tristan. “We should concentrate on trying to figure out who the Pirate Lord’s enemy is while the new ship is being finished.”

  Tristan nodded, “Actually, I have my suspicions about who it is. In certain circles I’ve heard it mentioned that the Pirate Lord doesn’t get on particularly well with King Tioma.”

  “King?”

  “He calls himself that – he has no claim to the title. He is from the Central Lands – his family were once powerful. Until the great wars.”

  After the wars there were no kings, the entire world crumbled under politics. It was every man for himself for a long time, until some control was clawed back by courts and councils. Lily knew about the King in the North – and had heard rumour of one that wanted to claim the Central Lands. She knew there were men who weren’t happy to remain title-less, and for the world to remain unclaimed.

  No one even remembered the names of the countries anymore – except for the few scholars that kept maps. Lily had seen one once, in her thorough exploring of the Crescent Bay libraries, strange sounding names such as Victemula and Rindaraka. The world had even looked different. Now everything was split apart by ocean, the location of the landmasses their only label.

  Tristan carried on, “He claims that he has royal blood, that his ancestors were kings, and now he wants his land back, along with his titles.”

  “The Island falls under his claim?”

  “Indeed.”

  “So we are to go up against a King?”

  “I highly doubt it – this Tioma guy will probably stay safely on land while his men fight the battle for him. I can’t see him being on the ships we face.”

  “But still, we will be making quite a clear point.”

  Tristan nodded in agreement. “But after that we will have the Pirate Lord’s protection. We’ll be untouchable Lily.”

  “But at what cost?”

  “He can blow up as many of my ships as he wants – as long as you and the children are safe, I don’t much care about anything else.”

  “What are you smiling at?”

  “Just thought of something.” Tristan’s grin widened as Lily narrowed her eyes. “What? I can’t help being hilarious.”

  “We’re supposed to be having a serious discussion.”

  “I can’t stay serious when you look at me like that. At least not in the way you’d like me to.” He grinned, the sort of grin that set Lily’s pulse racing.

  Chapter 9

  Eli

  Yet another workman dodged past Tristan, near spilling a pot of foul-smelling tar over him. Honestly, he was to be the captain of this vessel, you think they’d have a bit more sense to avoid pissing him off. Tristan had been watching the final parts of construction for weeks – watching the men like a hawk. He had little doubt that the ship would be a good vessel; the Shadow had been built here after all, it too had been one of the Pirate Lord’s gifts. Tristan sneered to himself. When they had arrived here he hadn’t thought for one second that they’d be at risk of losing their ship. That hit him harder than the contract they were due to sign, perhaps because he hadn’t quite accepted that it was going to happen yet, whereas the loss of his ship, his home, that was very real, and very raw.

  Merek wanted his sons. Tristan’s hands curled into fists. Jon and Kris turned to look at him, as if sensing his attention was upon them. He forced his expression into a reassuring smile, which they returned without hesitation. The Shadow had been a big loss for them too, but they were clearly excited about the prospect of a whole new ship to explore. Little did they know it would only be a few short years before they’d be forced to leave it. He had great faith in his boys, they’d make the most of the opportunities the assassins would give them, and it was true, it was a great opportunity. But Tristan couldn’t imagine not having them around. That they would be growing up without his guidance, without his presence…Tristan forced himself to stop brooding.

  Irena slipped her hand from Jon’s, and strode confidently to her father, crawling up the slight step and pulling herself back to her feet without a falter. Tristan picked her up, brushing her hair out of her face and stroking her brow. She had his eyes, but that hair, that was pure flame, beautiful, alive. She was going to be a heartbreaker when she was older, just like her mother. Not for the first time, Tristan wond
ered whether Irena, or the twins, would inherit her personality. That killer instinct, combined with assassin training, was a rather terrifying thought.

  One thing that was certain, Lily would teach her daughter to fend off unwanted attention. He grinned to himself.

  He’d sent out the summons to the Pack the day after the meeting with the crew, under the watchful eye of Roselyn. She’d scarcely left them alone since they’d grudgingly accepted Merek’s terms verbally. They were yet to sign the official contract, and there was still a battle to fight. But Tristan couldn’t see any other way. He didn’t stop trying to come up with something though.

  Merek was funding their stay for now, and had opened tabs for The Shadow’s crew at the bigger taverns and whorehouses, so they were happy at least. He was also funding their accommodation. They had very little left, save for their lives. It had all been on the ship. Tristan was grateful that Lily had taken Marco’s blades to the Pirate Lord. He wasn’t sure he could forgive himself if they lost those.

  This ship was one of three that were currently under construction at the docks. All had been in a similar state of completion, all slightly different styles, none of them as bulky as the Pirate Lord’s usual armada. Lily had found it highly suspicious when he’d told her that, but Tristan saw no need to read into it.

  He’d been allowed to pick whichever he preferred, and had chosen the sleekest looking one of the selection. He didn’t like big ships, they made you slow. He’d sailed on many different ships over the years, and he knew what he liked by now.

  Fortunately the Island was relatively well positioned, the Pack should be able to get there easily. It was up to them if they came to his call or not though. He had made it clear he would not force them, and some would be too far to make it in time. He wasn’t sure of the exact numbers. He and Lily both agreed it made sense to sail out before battle and get a better lay of the battlefield, figure out their tactics and what they could use to their advantage, as well as see if they could find anyone else willing to join their cause and protect the Island and the Pirate Lord. Some would come just to be in favour with him. Tristan hoped so at least.

  ~

  Lily opened her eyes as she sensed a presence above her. She didn’t show her surprise as she saw Roselyn’s face swim into focus.

  The children had gone with Tristan to see the new ship and oversee the final bits of building. Tristan had big plans for improvements. So, she’d found she had the afternoon to herself.

  Bored of the city, she’d decided to take a stroll around, get her bearings of the land that surrounded the busier areas. It was a habit of hers ever since being on the ship and stopping at foreign lands. She didn’t like to feel lost, so she gathered as much knowledge as she could. She’d ended up in some dunes by a deserted beach. She was always drawn to dunes, even now.

  As a child they had been one of her favourite places, her haven. Even after she was grabbed by the slavers in the very dunes that she loved, she still came to them, still felt so peaceful and safe whenever she was surrounded by the sandy earth, the coarse grasses. She’d lain down to watch the clouds, to breathe it all in, feel the ground against her back. You could miss land after spending so much time on a ship. There was something so solid about it, so comfortable.

  “Spying on me?”

  Roselyn grinned. “It’s my job.”

  “No pretty dresses today – why dress up for him but not for me?” Her blacks were neater than Lily would have expected from a busy assassin, though maybe she had sets of the dark outfits, a wardrobe full of black jackets and black trousers. Lily wondered who’s idea the dresses had been, and who’d decided on the necklines.

  “Does there have to be a reason?”

  “There’s always a reason.”

  Roselyn sank into the sand beside Lily, lying down and slipping her arms under her head. “You talk like him, in riddles.”

  “If you want something from me then you should start with something other than insults.”

  Roselyn smiled slightly, “I wasn’t sure what you were doing, so I came to check. Besides, there aren’t too many places to hide in the dunes.”

  “You’d be surprised.”

  She shrugged, “I’m used to the town – I don’t come out here. In fact I don’t think I’ve ever been here.” She sat up slightly, propping herself up on her elbows “The horizon looks very different from here. Empty.”

  Indeed there were no ships in view, unlike the busy scene at the harbour. There was just the expanse of blue before them, leaking into the sky. The ring of darker waters betrayed the labyrinth that encircled it. As much of a prison as a protection.

  “What do you want Roselyn?”

  “Nothing. I told you.” She picked at some of the grasses beside her.

  Lily wasn’t convinced.

  Roselyn’s attention slid back to her, “How long did it take for you to know that Captain Wolf was your match?”

  “Longer than it should have done. He left me at my harbour – for a little while I blamed him for the slavers grabbing me – some pathetic part of me thought that if he had been there, if he had taken me away with him when we first met, that I wouldn’t have been there – that I wouldn’t have gone thorough what I went through on that slavers ship. He was a womaniser, a hopeless flirt, and intent on irritating me at every possible moment. Every part of myself screamed to not fall for him. And yet, I did. I very nearly made him take me home. But I realised that he loved me, and I realised I felt the same just in time. I don’t know if I’d have ever forgiven myself if I’d have let him slip away again.”

  “You really think he’d have left you – that he wouldn’t have returned again, to try to take you back?”

  “I don’t know. Hearts are easy to break and hard to fix.”

  Roselyn nodded, “I don’t mean to pry.”

  “Yes you do. Don’t worry, I’m nosy too. All pirates are. We’re notorious storytellers.”

  The assassin continued, “It’s just I’ve heard the story and its always just the facts, like he found you on the slavers ship, and you fell in love, and had children, and became the most well-known and respected pirate crew on the seas. The stories don’t go into details, the hows and the whys. They’re always the bits I want to know.”

  Lily shook her head. “We’ll have plenty of time on ship to get to know each other.”

  “I thought we’d just be slipping out of the labyrinth.”

  “We may have a few allies to round up before it comes to that.”

  “You haven’t told Merek that.”

  “No, but I’m sure you will. He can’t do anything about it – if he wants an army we have to gather it. The written word sometimes just doesn’t cut it – we may have to remind some of them in person.”

  “Captain.” Eli’s voice interrupted whatever Roselyn was about to say.

  The assassin’s eyes went wide as her attention snapped to the silver haired apparition. Lily just smiled to herself and glanced lazily over her shoulder. “Hi Eli. What is it?”

  “It’s getting late Captain, we should start heading back.”

  “How long have you been there?” Roselyn asked.

  Eli cocked his head at her, his easy grin slipping into place. “I’ve been here the whole time.”

  “Eli watches over me. He’s got rather good at it. He’s never too far from me.” Lily stood up, brushing the sand off of her clothes. “Well, it’s been a pleasure. I expect I’ll see you around soon enough.” She strode off, leaving the assassin sat in the sand. Lily didn’t bother to look back.

  Eli slipped into step beside her.

  Lily allowed a little time to pass before she spoke. “Well you scared the shit out of her.”

  “I didn’t mean to.”

  “I’m not telling you off. It was brilliant just to see the look on her face.”

  He laughed.

  “Eli, the Pirate Lord referred to you as a Prince of the Wastes – what does it mean? I’ve never seen that written
anywhere, or heard anyone speak of that name.”

  His features tightened, “You wouldn’t have done. There are very few who know about the Princes of the Wastes, and even then the stories are often exaggerated.”

  “Tristan knew what it meant.”

  Eli nodded, “I think he guessed when we first met, but I said nothing, and neither did he. I’m grateful for his silence.”

  “Can you tell me?”

  He didn’t say anything for a moment, then he cleared his throat, “We’re a very ancient race, from the time before the great wars. Before that war there was another – and a battle so vicious that it wrecked the very land that it had been held upon. This was dubbed the wastes. It doesn’t exist anymore – it sank under the waves as the seas changed. That was our land – gifted to us after our victory. We called ourselves Princes, mocking the entitled men that we had cut down. But the joke was on us.

  “Our lands gradually disappeared, and when there was nothing left no one would take us in, there was no space for us, we were outcasts. We split up, wandering the lands, searching for somewhere to belong. But then the great wars came, and our very titles were our worst enemy. We tried to let the name die, to let ourselves become nameless as well as homeless. But we are rather recognisable.

  “It’s natural, the silver hair – it’s not dyed like the Southerners. Anyone with blood of the Wastes has hair like this, it can’t be dyed, and it never fades from our lineage, despite years of breeding with other cultures. My children will be silver, their children will be silver, no matter who I partner with. We can’t hide so we learned to keep quiet, to be seen but not really properly observed. You can blend into any crowd if you do it for long enough. That’s why I can do what I do, why I can make myself pretty much invisible when I want to be. Eventually we became something of a myth, a story.”

  Lily chuckled, “You speak like you were there.”