10

Marcus

The sun is just starting to come up when they finally unlock the hatch. I’m on deck immediately, keen to talk to Captain Nadonis about our unscheduled stop.

“Change of plans,” the captain says without the slightest apology to me.

“Pardon?” I must not have heard him correctly.

“There’s been a change of plans.” He stands with his broad back to the wheelhouse, his legs wide as they absorb the rise and fall of the ship. He holds the wheel lightly with his thick, meaty hands. His eyes are dead ahead, as if in all this expanse of ocean, we’re going to collide with something any minute.

I step closer and look down on him. It’s not hard. He’s short, though nearly as wide as he is tall. “What kind of change?” I reach out to the man-size wooden wheel for stability as the ship lurches to the left.

“We’re putting you and your party ashore at Clearwater.”

“That’s not what we agreed.”

“Near enough.” Nadonis pivots to the chart table and stabs his thumb at the coastal town on the map. “Clearwater’s south of—”

“I know where Clearwater is.”

De’ral rolls under my skin, awakened by my irritation. We are nearly there and now this? I tap the map. “It’s a day’s ride to Capper Point from Clearwater, if the horses can do more than a dog trot after this voyage. More likely two.”

“Bad luck for us both. I have to hand off my cargo there, too.”

“Why?”

Nadonis picks at his bearded chin. “Captain Radin on the Green Turtle reported last night. Seems there’s a Northern Aturnian warship moored at Capper Point. They’re searching all incoming. We can’t let them find you aboard the Sea Eagle, can we, Heir?”

Too many thoughts run through my head at once. The risks to my group, to me just setting foot on Northern Aturnian soil. And what does it mean, an Aturnian warship searching vessels from the south? Do they want to incite war? I blame myself for not controlling my phantom sooner and making this initiation journey last year or the year before.

“Clearwater?” I say it again. “This is unacceptable.”

“Can’t be helped.”

“Why not go around and drop us directly at Aku?” I remember the answer as soon as I ask.

The captain’s gaze returns to the sea. “We draw too deep. Never make it over the reefs.”

I cross my arms. “That’s it? No other possibilities?”

“Like I said, it can’t be helped.”

I take a long sniff of air. “Then you will reimburse me.”

Nadonis frowns. “How do you reckon?”

“You didn’t hold up your end of the bargain. I want my coin back.”

“Mitigating circumstances,” the captain says, as if that’s the end of the topic.

My head starts to ache; it’s like a blacksmith shaping horseshoes on my skull. De’ral’s building rage and impatience aren’t helping.

“De’ral, ease up.”

He relaxes a bit, making it possible to think. “You’re cutting the contracted journey short.” I speak slowly to keep from spitting each word. “That merits a return of fifteen gold pieces a head, man and beast alike.” Ash always says to start high.

“Two gold each for the party; one each for the equines.”

“Absurd.” De’ral is right behind my eyes, a sensation completely new to me. It must show in my expression because the captain takes half a step back. “Twelve gold each for us and ten for the beasts,” I counter.

“Seven and five,” the captain says.

“Ten and eight.”

“Done.” Captain Nadonis thrusts out his hand.

I grip it hard, trying not to look surprised. It’s twice what I’d hoped to get.

Nadonis grips back a little harder.

Heat rises from my core, and my eyes burn. When I come back to myself, I’m squeezing his hand like a vise.

Nadonis is red-faced and sweating.

“De’ral, let go!”

The captain exhales as he retrieves his throbbing hand.

“Done and even,” I say, pretending I didn’t nearly crush his bones. “I’ll tell the others.” My footsteps clip across the deck. I should be worried about being dropped at Clearwater, but I’m more concerned with what just happened. De’ral wasn’t even raised, and he had that much influence on my mind, my actions?

From my core comes phantom laughter.

I rub my temples and head for the hatch. Warmth hits me as I climb down the ladder to the galley. All four tables are occupied, the cook serving up the midday meal. I spot Belair sitting opposite Samsen, who has his arm possessively curled around Piper. “I’ve got news.”

“One day to Capper Point, then we reach Aku with a day to spare?” Samsen guesses.

I shake my head. “We disembark at Clearwater. The Sea Eagle will go no farther.”

Piper nearly drops her spoon. “What? And ride across the border into Northern Aturnia? That’s what we were trying to avoid.”

“Troops could be anywhere,” Samsen says. “If they stop us…”

“I don’t understand.” Belair pushes his bowl away, half finished.

“There’s an Aturnian warship checking all incoming passengers. If they get wind of who I am…”

Belair groans. “Tell me what the Bone Throwers said again? Anything like this?”

I pull the note out and read aloud. “Remember to keep the company’s number to five.” Obviously. “In spite of autumn chill, optimism wins out.” I don’t know why, but that one just irritates me. “Surprise comes from the sea. Don’t resist it.” My neck cracks as I rock it side to side. “That was the fish run.”

“Or maybe it’s—surprise! We’re being put off at Clearwater,” Belair says.

I ignore the comment and keep reading. “Then, when in doubt, go north.” Well, yes, Aku is still to the north. “Also, a sword brings truth and deception.”

“Riddles to me,” Samsen says.

“Agreed, but this, do not raise your phantom until safe on Aku, that I understand. And the next two are comforting. The Heir will not be stopped, and out of Aku, the warriors triumph, and the southern realms are changed forever.”

“Black-robes and the mysterious threads they weave,” Piper says.

“Yet this detour can’t be helped.” Nadonis’s words come in handy. “But I’m certain we’ll make it to Capper Point in time and not be stopped.”

Belair wipes his mouth and stares glumly at his bowl. “Let’s hope so.”

“Where’s Ash?” Sometimes a subject change is best in situations like these. It’s a tactic I’ve employed with my father, not that the Magistrate is easily distracted.

“She’s down in the lower hold with the beasts.” Belair finds his feet. “I’ll let her know.”

“I can go.” But the Tangeen is already to the lower hatch. It would look silly to dart after him. “What’s his big interest?” I ask Piper as I sit back down. “He seems in quite the hurry to get to her.”

“It’s not so much our recorder who has his attention,” Samsen says, “but the company she keeps.”

“Horses?”

Piper and Samsen both laugh. “There’s more than beasts below,” Piper says.

I only half listen as I catch the sailors at the main table glancing our way, talking under their breaths. I reach for a chunk of bread and pop it into my mouth, staring back. Belair is right about one thing. If the Bone Throwers saw this turn of events, they didn’t share it with me.