Cullen stopped his attentions instantly, sitting upright. Eira scrambled to get her clothes back in place. They both looked to the opening of the cavern, and then to each other.
“They won’t miss another meeting. They’re as invested as we are,” the voice continued.
Eira grabbed Cullen’s hand, pulling him with her into the water. She used her magic to allow them to sink in silently. There wasn’t so much as a splash or a wave. Cullen followed, his trust implicit. Just as she was about to go under, she heard:
“How much is His Holiness demanding this time?”
“More than ever before, the heretics on Meru need a demonstration of his might. They still resist, eager to regroup around the tattered remains of their leadership. I hear he is asking for flashfires to help drive them out from underneath Risen and continue showing the city his domination over it.”
Flashfires? Eira had yet to hear of such a thing.
“That would surely give our cause even more momentum—to think, arming those without magic. Putting power in their hands that is as mighty as the average sorcerer.”
Eira slowed, staring at the opening to the cavern that led toward the sea beyond, rather than back to the beach they had come from. She glanced back to Cullen. He nodded, as if he could read her mind. Eira swam to the farthest point of the cavern, pressing into one of the craggy walls. Cullen stayed close behind her as Eira clung to the wet stone to keep an eye on the
narrow beach they had just been lying on. With a wave of her hand, she sent the water onto the sand, smoothing away the indent their bodies had left.
Then she drew her magic around them. Between the sea, the moisture in the air, and the training with Adela, Eira had little issue crafting an illusion for her and Cullen. If anyone looked in their direction, they would just see stone and water. It was easier than she expected; even as they bobbed slightly, she was certain the illusion never wavered. Easy enough that she could also simultaneously adjust the ripples in the water coming from them to give nothing away. Turned out she didn’t need Olivin’s illusionary training, after all.
In the few seconds of waiting, it struck Eira how calm she was. During the tournament, when she had been sneaking around Pillars, her heart had pounded. She’d had her stomach in her throat. Anxiety would make her ready to fight or flee, like little more than an animal.
Fear is just inexperience manifesting in the unknown. It is little more than nightmares. What scares it away is experience, knowledge, and power. You do yourself a disservice by giving in to fear, for it denies you the strength you possess, Adela had said to her during one of their many nights of working together. The words had imprinted themselves upon her.
Eira wasn’t afraid, because she knew she had the means to defend herself. To escape or to fight, no matter what it came to, she had the tools and strength to do what must be done. That meant there was nothing to worry about and she could focus with a clear head, ready for whatever came next.
Two men rounded the corner. There was nothing special about the way they were dressed. They looked like any of the other pirates she’d seen—a little rough around the edges. But nothing particularly alarming.
Except…
When one of them turned to face the opening of the cavern they’d just walked around, she noticed three vertical lines scarred into the back of his hand. There was no question as to what it meant: They were Pillars.
The urge to charge them ripped through her. She had the element of surprise. With a twitch of her fingers, she could skewer them on ice before they even had a chance to look her way. But Eira remained still, thinking rather than acting.
Why were they here? Who were they waiting for? And what did they want—flashfires? She wouldn’t get her answers by killing them. Eira
continued to wait, keeping her magic firmly in hand and her breathing shallow.
“How much longer?” the man with long, black hair asked.
The other man pulled a watch from the pocket of his loose-fitting trousers. “Should be any minute now.” He glanced up. “Ah, that must be them.”
A small rowboat drifted into the cavern. Eira pressed closer to the wall. Cullen stayed next to her. His familiar warmth reassuring her that, together, they could accomplish anything they needed.
In the rowboat was a single woman, who didn’t even bother disembarking. Her tone was sharp, to the point. “There isn’t much time.”
There was a soft lilt to her words—an accent that Eira had never heard before, impossible to place. The woman had long, brown hair, woven into a thick ropelike braid. Bracelets like what Lavette and Varren wore covered her left wrist. She wore heavily tailored clothing of stiff silk and satin. A high collar, sleeveless.
The most curious thing about her was a rod of metal across her lap. It had a wooden handle on one end, slightly curved. Almost like a cane. But judging from the etched runes at its base…there was more to the object.
“We were wondering if you would come, given that the Stormfrost is in.” The black-haired man reached into the rowboat, grabbing one of the heavy-looking sacks with a grunt.
“Adela knows the rules of Black Flag Bay; she won’t attack us.”
“We heard she took down one of your other boats.” The other man pocketed his watch and began to help unload the bags.
“We drew first blood. One of my compatriots became a little too bold— a little too arrogant that he could take down the pirate queen with a pathetic little skiff and some emblazoned runes. If it had been one of our main fleet, it would’ve been a different story,” the woman said confidently.
We…the way she spoke…this woman was from Carsovia. A horrible realization dawned on Eira, making her whole body feel clammy despite being mostly submerged in the temperate waters of the bay.
“Bold of the empress to begin attacking Adela.”
“Empress Hannika has no reason to fear a pirate.”
“Fear? No, no.” The men agreed. Eira wondered if they really thought that, or were merely trying to avoid offense. “But Adela can pose an annoying problem.”
“Leave our waters to us. And, as promised, we will leave Meru’s to its own.” There was forced politeness in her words, but the men didn’t seem to notice. Or didn’t care. Because they smiled and nodded, continuing to unload their sacks from the woman’s rowboat until there were ten piled up on the narrow strip of beach. “I believe your lord has requested two more shipments.”
They nodded.
“Very well. We shall meet again here in two months’ time.” With a spin of her bracelets, the water shifted around the rowboat, as though grabbing it and pulling it back. The woman took to the oars once more.
“Wait!” One of the men stopped her. She gave him a withering stare. “The wayward flock of Meru is putting up more resistance than we had hoped.” Eira’s heart continued to soar at any mention of the fight on Meru carrying on. “We might need more, faster.”
“The mines can only move so quickly.” The woman had a dangerous tone to her voice, one the men heard, given how they shifted their stances nervously. She tilted her head to one side with a sigh. “But I suppose I could see if there is a way to speed up production. There are always means to motivate the unmotivated.”
“Perhaps the flashfires…” The Pillar eyed the metal rod in the woman’s lap. Was that what that metal rod was?
She was silent for a long moment and then said, “You would do well to remember that Carsovia is aiding your cause out of our own generosity…it isn’t good to test such kindness.”
“His Holiness appreciates the continued support of your empress.” The two Pillars bowed and the woman left. Black Hair turned to his companion. “We should get this to the ship.”
They each flung a bag over their shoulder, starting out of the cavern. Eira waited a breath before easing away from the wall. Cullen grabbed her shoulder.
“They could be back any second,” he whispered.
“I’ll only be a moment.” She reached up and squeezed his fingers. “I just want to confirm my suspicion, then we’re leaving. You can go on ahead.”
“I’m not leaving without you.”
“Cullen, go. Warn the others. I’ll be right behind you.” He still looked unsure. Not that she could blame him, given her track record. Eira turned,
propelling herself through the water to close the small gap between them, kissing him fiercely. “I know why you’re worried. But I’m not that woman anymore. I’m not going to run off when you turn your back. So, go. Warn the others because I think we’re going to have to move quickly.”
The reservations left his eyes, replaced by steely resolve. Cullen nodded and dipped below the surface of the water, a bubble of air surrounding his head. Eira quickly glided through the water, propelled by magic. The wave she’d made lifted her up and deposited her onto the beach by the bags. Eira ran her hand over the one on top. She didn’t need any more confirmation, but wriggled a finger into the opening at one end of the sack anyway.
The pad of her pointer finger rolled over a smooth, perfectly round ball.
She’d been right. Flash beads.
The Pillars weren’t working with a rogue operator to get their supply of the deadly material. They were working with the Empress of Carsovia herself.
