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FOR ONCE ANNA DIDN’T want to see Barin. She hoped he felt nothing for her and would not come to rescue her. The danger was too great. Anna paced across the floor of the skipper’s cabin, sick to her stomach. Airmed wanted vengeance to the point of turning against the admiral, his crew, and Waylen who was now tied up as a prisoner. She doubted the admiral even knew! Geraldo had given her freedom, but Fengard followed her around wherever she went. These sorcerers had control of this ship and were more powerful than any magic Barin could defeat.
Even if he brought his sword with him to fight them, he wouldn’t have power enough to use with any success. This would not be like the battles in the Neverworld. A shield would not stop these people because their intent was to kill him. Who knew how they would do it? Airmed might send him and his shield, caged in a magical prison of her making, to another planet. She might torture him until he begged for death.
Anna stopped in front of the neatly compacted vanity in the skipper’s cabin. A bright red button next to the mirror glared at her. What is this for?
She pushed the button and jumped back when a wooden box appeared, seemingly from nowhere, popped open, and a bottle sprung forth from the box. Curious, she took the bottle and pulled the cork, releasing the smell of wine into the room.
“Holy idols!” She quickly replaced the cork, stuck the bottle back onto the spring, and tried to shove it into the box again with no success.
There was a knock at the door.
Afraid it was Fengard, she spun around, faced the door, and stood in front of the bottle.
“Yes?” she answered, not recognizing the voice.
“I’m to escort you to the Admiral.”
Now what? She had already visited him once this morning and refused the multitude of gifts he had presented, as if they were guilt offerings for keeping her against her will. She had refused them, not knowing what any of them were. Gadgets with springs and gears and wind-up devices that did who knows what!
She had begged him not to bring Barin here. That the wizards were bent on killing the king of Prasa Potama. Maybe if I accept his gifts, he’ll listen to me.
“You can’t kill a foreign king,” she had told him. “It’s a declaration of war!”
“Nonsense. No one is going to kill him,” he had assured her.
Was this man blind?
She grabbed her cloak and followed the crewman who had been sent to escort her to the admiral’s quarters. Of course, Fengard stood in the shadows as she passed by. Airmed and several of the other sorcerers were on deck as well. They turned their backs to her and looked out over the sea, watching and waiting most likely for Barin to appear.
“Come in, come in, Anna,” Geraldo said when the crewman knocked. The man who had brought her bowed slightly and left her alone. Anna did not fear Geraldo. Caught in his own trap and ignorant of what his “faithful” workers were up to, he resided in his own little world. Geraldo showed no hostilities toward her or anyone, in fact, yet he was thick-headed.
“I came across this gown for you to wear when the king shows up,” he handed her a package. “I don’t want him to be angry with us. This ransom thing was not my invention. I’m only going through with it because I find it hard to tell these wizards no,” he laughed nervously.
“And of course, I do need the money.”
“The king isn’t going to see me in this,” Anna said without taking the package.
“Oh, don’t be so proud,” Geraldo protested. “You can accept a simple gown. It’s quite lovely. I’m sure it will fit you.”
“He isn’t going to see me because your wizards will obliterate him before he gets anywhere near me.”
Geraldo chuckled and shook his head. “They’ll do no such thing. They have bonuses coming with this deal.”
“The only bonus they want is to see King Barin dead.”
“Oh Anna, are you going to start that again? I told you before that’s nonsense.”
“No, it’s not. If you heard your wizards through the walls like I have, you’d know they plan on killing the king and throwing me overboard. They might even kill you.”
Geraldo snorted. “Nonsense. How would they get home?”
“They don’t care about going back to your island.”
He turned his back on her as he paced to his desk.
“Listen to me. It’s true. If you value your life, this ship, and your mission, you’ll set sail now. You have enough wine. Go home.”
“If they intended to commit mutiny, Waylen would have brought me word.”
“Waylen is tied up in the gear deck of this ship,” she said. He scoffed, looked away and then peered at her from the corner of his eye.
“I saw him this afternoon,” Geraldo said.
“You saw him just before they bound him and took him away.”
He plopped down on his bench and folded his arms across his chest. “How can I run a ship suspecting people like that? What are you trying to do to me?”
“I’m trying to save your life, my life, and King Barin’s life.”
She sat down next to him and took his hand. His eyes widened at her touch.
“I’ve been here for two days. I have heard their talk, their whisperings. I have seen the peculiar looks they give me when passing.”
“You’re imagining things.”
“I’m not. They kidnapped me, Admiral.” She watched his eyes as he glanced around the room avoiding her gaze. Maybe he did believe her, and he had difficulty coming to terms with so many powerful people turning against him. “I’m not sure how they plan on doing it but believe me, they are scheming evil. These are the same wizards who helped my father perform a near-successful insurrection of two kingdoms, and King Barin stopped them. They have a vendetta against him!”
“What?”
“Yes. I know who they are, and I know their past. They’re not trustworthy.”
She had his attention now, so she leaned forward, excitement in her voice.
“They had to flee our country because of the king’s decree. They aren’t happy with Barin.”
“Well, I didn’t know about that.”
“Whose idea was it to lure Barin here?
“Airmed. She’s a healer.”
“She’s a witch.”
“No.” He shook his head and rose, paced across the floor, and kept looking at her. “Why should I believe you?”
“Why would I lie?”
He stared at her for the longest time, and she thought he was going to give in. He didn’t. Instead, he walked to a built-in cupboard, pressed a button, and a drawer slid out to the sound of a whirling noise. He reached in and pulled out a small leather holster, tapped it in his hand, looked at her again, twitched his mouth so that his mustache wiggled, and then set the gun down on the desk.
“I suspect you’re here to bring discord to my crew and my mission. What a pity because I really could like you.”
“I’m not!”
“No? Well, it’s your word against mine and why should I trust you?”
Anna studied the item he had set on the desk, curious.
“I could kill you now and be done with your scheme,” Geraldo said, picking the weapon up again. “One shot and you’d be history. But—” He cleared his throat. “Don’t bother me again with your blather. There’s something we learn when we board a ship. To be of one mind and one accord. It’s the rule of the sea. You are a threat, and I’m warning you now. Don’t tempt me.” He took the metal device out of its leather pouch and pointed it at her.
“Or pow!” He laughed, then pushed it back into its holster, shoved it into the drawer, reset the spring, and closed the cupboard. Anna made a mental note of each step.
“You’re a part of their assassination conspiracy then?” she asked.
“No! Of course not! Why would I kill a king? Stop it!” He threw his hands up in the air and Anna flinched. “You’ve got me all upset.” He picked up his speaker device. “Skipper, send someone to my cabin and get this woman out of here. Keep her under guard or something. Have Hawk watch her.” Setting the speaker down, he spun around and threw the package at her. “Put that on.”
She caught it.
Someone knocked almost immediately, and Geraldo stormed to the door and swung it open. Hawk stood at the threshold looking awkward. Anna eyed the cupboard and moved slowly over to it.
“Why did you bring me this woman?” Geraldo asked. “If I didn’t need your brother so desperately, I would have you put on another mission. Maybe as a scout in the airship just to get you out of the way.”
“Yes, sir,” Hawk said meekly. “I... I wasn’t alone, you know. It was my brother’s idea.”
“Your brother,” Geraldo grunted. “Next time your brother wants to bring a prisoner on board, make certain she isn’t female.”
Anna pushed the button, holding her hand over the cupboard door so that it didn’t make any noise. With the slightest movement, she opened the drawer and pulled out Geraldo’s weapon, tucked it into the package with the dress, and quietly closed the cupboard latching it tight.
“What do you want me to do?” Hawk asked.
“I want you to take this woman and make sure she’s isolated from everyone. She’s full of dangerous stories. Now!”
She had moved back to where she’d been standing the second Geraldo turned toward her. She strolled toward Hawk with the package in her hand.
“Go. Get out. And remember what I said.”
“Come, Anna,” Hawk said and when the door shut, he took her arm.
“He’s in a foul mood.”
“He didn’t like what I had to say.”
Airmed and the wizard were no longer outside but some of the admiral’s crew were working on lines and scrubbing the deck. When they got to the cabin, he leaned over and whispered in her ear.
“Why were you in there?” he asked.
“With the admiral? He called me.”
“I was worried about you.”
“Why?”
“I need to talk to you.”
What a coincidence, she thought and pushed her door open, setting the package on the bed. He followed her inside as she unwrapped the dress.
“What is it?” she asked.
“First, I want to apologize.”
“For what?”
“For one, Airmed doesn’t want me near you, so if I ignore you when she’s around, that’s why. But the admiral keeps sending me here. It’s causing friction between the two and I’m caught in the middle.”
“And?”
“There’s nothing I can do about it.”
What a sheepish look he gave her.
“Nor is there anything I can do to help you. I suppose your duty is to your brother,” she held the dress up and measured it to herself. It was a lovely garment. Dark blue velvet, cream lace, and tiny pink flowers at the bodice.
“It’s somewhat maddening. I don’t appreciate being treated like this, but what can I do?” Hawk asked.
Anna had no answers for him.
“Did the admiral give that to you?”
“I used to wear dresses like this before my father turned evil. He was a baron and being his daughter, I would visit the royal family with him. It’s how Barin and I met. You must promise me you won’t be the one to kill him.”
His face turned red and he looked out the window. “Then you do know the details?”
“It’s been pretty obvious from the beginning,” she said.
“You love him, don’t you?”
She considered his large dark eyes and thought, what a handsome man. Why should I tell him I love Barin when that relationship is so hopeless?
“I did at one time. I don’t think he loves me anymore. Once my father turned against him it jeopardized our relationship. That, and the fact that I was under a curse didn’t help matters. My father forced me to do things I didn’t want to, just as your brother does to you. I didn’t know any better and I supposed I was just as corrupt. I’m not a good match for a king. Barin could have hung me for my part in the conspiracy, but he didn’t.”
“Why not, do you think?”
“Because he’s a good man.”
“Do you think he’ll come?”
“Frankly, I don’t know. I hope he doesn’t. I like him enough to not want to see him murdered. Did your brother and his friends give you that assignment? To kill the king?”
“Heavens no, they wouldn’t trust me with something like that. I’m not a violent person. It’s going to be a group of them at once if they do it and they’ll use magic.”
Anna shuddered at the thought. “Such a death would be painful.”
“I know,” Hawk said, and bowed his head. “I don’t want to be there when it happens.”
“It can’t happen, Hawk. I need to stop them.”
He breathed a laugh and shook his head. “You? You’d have to be a wicked witch with a lot of spells to stop them. Now that they have the islander’s magic, I don’t believe it’s even possible.”
“You could help me save him?” she suggested.
He looked up at her, his dark eyes inquisitive. “I don’t have the means, Anna. And even if I did, my brother would prevent it.”
“Wouldn’t you want to, though?” She took his hand, limp, lifeless, and cold, as if his being didn’t exist. “Are you his pawn? Everything he tells you to do, you do?”
“Pretty much,” Hawk said.
“Are you happy with that?”
“Happy?” He shifted on the bed and pulled his hand out of hers. “You don’t understand our kind, we don’t live for happiness. We know no such thing. Satisfaction, yes. But we aren’t necessarily satisfied with the same sort of things you are.”
She hesitated to ask what sort of things satisfied him. Her experience with her father answered that question. “Power, control?”
“For some,” he answered without divulging more.
“You speak solely for your brother.”
She read resignation in his eyes.
“I don’t believe you. I see no evidence that you are looking to control or possess anything.”
“Then you’re wrong,” he said quietly.
He fixed his gaze on her for a long moment. Too long. His stare made her uncomfortable.
“You’re a beautiful woman, Anna,” he said softly. “I envy King Barin.”
“There are many beautiful women in our world, but if you become an assassin, I fear you’ll never live to find one,” she said.
His gaze fell on the bed and the pistol lying next to the wrapping paper.
“You took this from the admiral?”
“Yes.”
He lifted the gun and inspected it. “It’s a dangerous weapon, Anna,” he said. “It’s already loaded. You only need to apply the powder.” He opened a tiny compartment at the end of the grip wherein a metal case slipped out. “You’re going to save the king with this?”
“I’m going to try.”
“Do you know how to use it?”
“I can learn.”
“You should let me when it’s time,” he said. I can’t show you how to use it now without wasting the powder.”
“I’m not going to give it to you.”
“No, no, don’t. I’ll be near you. I’ll help you. I might have to disappear afterward, but I’ll make sure you’re safe.”
“And the king?”
“It could save his life, perhaps,” he added. “Magic is powerful, but wizards bleed like anyone else.”
She took the gun after he put the powder case back. While she slipped it into the holster, he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. Her first reaction was to move away, but when she looked into his eyes, she flushed.
“Your king is a lucky man, milady,” he said softly. “I’m so sorry for the trouble we put you through.”
“Why, then, did you do it?”
“You talked about a spell? I’ve been under one ever since I was a little boy. My brother has always used me as a puppet. I don’t know how to break away.”
“But you want to, don’t you? I can hear it in your voice and see it in your eyes. Maybe this can help you,” she said.
He bowed his head, as if he should be ashamed, or else to hide that he wasn’t.
“Doing what’s right. It’s something I had to learn to do.” She squeezed Hawk’s hand, hoping he had it in him to break away from the clutches of his brother. “If I can escape a curse, you can.”