Somehow, I do end up seated across from Captain Blakemore, but it doesnโt allow for much conversation. Harristan has been grilling the sea captain and his lieutenant on Ostriary and their infrastructure. Itโs probably for the best anyway. Iโve been smarting a bit since Corrick told me that Laurelโs interest in my methods might be a farce to help put her father into power. It makes me glad Iโm not seated next toย her.
At the opposite end of the table, Quint has Allisander and Laurel engrossed in conversation about the demand for Kandalan silk coming out of Traderโs Landing, and itโs so detailed yet innocuous that I highly suspect that heโs been charged with keeping the consul occupied for as long as possible. Sablo sits beside Captain Blakemore, and heโs easily as imposing as Rocco, my favorite member of the kingโs personal guard. Sablo is listening to every word thatโs said, watching Corrick and Harristan as if he doesnโt trust them. Toย hisย left, Marchon the quartermaster looks bored by Allisanderโs blustering with Quint, but heโs just a bit too far for me to engage in casual conversation.
So I sip politely at my soup spoon and wonder how something that should be soย simpleโproviding more
medicine to sick peopleโcould get so wound up in political negotiation and palace intrigue.
I want to pull on my homespun skirts and climb over the wall so badly that my feet almost twitch with the need to run.
โYou look a bit sad, Miss Cade.โ
I glance up to find Captain Blakemore studying me, and thereโs a warmth in his gray eyes thatโs tough to look away from. I expected someone older and stuffy, not a younger man with sun-kissed skin, black hair that gleams, and a set of shoulders that whisper of strength.
โNot sad,โ I say. โI just donโt have much to offer when it comes to the demand for silkโโmy eyes flick to the end of the tableโโor the supply of steel.โ
โI donโt have much interest in silk either,โ he says with a small smile. โBut when it comes to steel, I know Ostriary needs it. Badly. After the war, many cargo ships were damaged. The country is trying to rebuild, but without ships and bridges, transporting goods has become a massive challenge.โ
โAnd you want to help?โ โI do.โ
Corrick would hear that with a skeptical ear, just like his doubt over Laurelโs enthusiasm for my work. That means I probably should, too. But unlike Laurel, whose father is just one more man volleying for power in Kandala, Captain Blakemore has nothing to gain here. Heโs not making demands, and heโs not backing anyone into a corner with empty promises and imperious threats.
I know there are political levers at work. Heโs asking for steel on behalf of Ostriary, and offering Moonflower petals in return. But somehow heโs made it simpler than that. Heโs asking forย helpโand heโs offering it in return.
โI want to help, too,โ I say.
โI know. As I said, I heard stories around the docks. Anyone who could break into the palace with a plan toย healย people instead of harming them must be very brave indeed. Especially considering the harsh penalties for breaking the law here in Kandala.โ
โI donโt know about brave,โ I say, but I canโt stop the warmth that floods my cheeks. โJust determined.โ
โTheyโre pretty much the same, donโt you think?โ He takes a spoonful of his own soup, and it robs the sentiment of too much weight. โI was young when my father was sent to Ostriary, but from what I recall, the punishments issued by the Crown were never quite as severe as they are now.โ
โKandala was a different place six years ago,โ Corrick says, and Iโm startled to realize weโve drawn his attention.
โIn a lot of ways, it seems.โ The captain takes another spoonful. His eyes return to mine. โDo you think the actions of the Kingโs Justice have been an effective means of keeping the peace?โ
Beside me, Corrick goes still. He knows how I felt about the Kingโs Justice, well before I ever knew that the benevolent outlaw Weston Lark was the same prince who was executing thieves for smuggling and treason.
I hate the prince, I often said to him as Wesโfollowed byย I hate you, once I knew he was Corrick.
The room has gone very quiet, as if the question, spoken gently, drew everyoneโs attention just by virtue of the weight behind it. Even Allisander is watching me, waiting to hear what Iโll say.
My mouth is frozen, my thoughts spinning.
โIโd like to hear your thoughts,โ says Harristan, and his voice isnโt harsh. One of my favorite things about Harristan is that when he asks me for my thoughts, he really wants them. But heโs still the king, and he never has to be harsh
to make my pulse jump. I set down my spoon and smooth my hands over my skirts.
โI think the Kingโs Justice was doing the very best he could,โ I say, โduring a very challenging time.โ
Under the table, Corrickโs hand finds mine, steady and warm. He gives it a squeeze.
Captain Blakemore offers a wan smile and takes another spoonful of soup. โI didnโt intend for my question to make you uncomfortable.โ He pauses. โOr to put you at risk. Forgive me, Miss Cade.โ
Iโm not at risk, but maybe it would be impolitic to say so.
This conversation is like walking a tightrope.
โYou havenโt been here, Captain,โ Corrick says. โYou havenโt seen the desperation for medicine, or what people were willing to do to get it.โ
โI see that the people within this sectorโs walls seem rather healthy, while those outside are not.โ Captain Blakemore doesnโt look away. His tone is just as unru๏ฌed as when he was speaking to me. โI see that I have brought youย medicine, something you claim to dearly need, and you treat me with suspicion and hostility.โ
Corrick draws himself up. โYouโve returned to Kandala for less than a day and youโre being openly critical of your king? You certainly donโt do much to demonstrate loyalty to your home country.โ
โDo you wantย loyaltyย or do you wantย obeisance, Your Highness?โ
The prince looks right back at him. โFor a man who seems to want to protect his crew,โ Corrick says, โyou couldnโt go wrong with either.โ
The captain goes very still. โDonโt threaten my crew.โ
The words are spoken quietly, slowly, with emphasis on each syllable. They crack through the room like a bolt of lightning.
Corrickโs jaw is tight, and I know that thereโs a part of him that wants to have this man dragged to the Hold. Itโs the same part that made me think he would have cut that manโs throat in the candy shop.
My own chest is in a vise grip, and I want to say something to undo this. Itโs like the moment I sat in the confectionerโs with Karri: there are too many sides at work, too many people to keep happy.
But itโs Laurel who speaks up.
โYour arrival comes at an interesting time, Captain Blakemore. Our sector is being forced to provide medicine to the people of Kandala, and here you appear, ready to negotiate the cost for another country.โ
The captain hasnโt looked away from Corrick. โYou have toย forceย your sectors to provide medicine? When people are dying?โ
The censure in his voice is impossible to ignore.
โThere is no proof that you have more Moonflower,โ says Allisander. โYou want our steel, and a great deal of it. What proof do we have thatย youย will arrive with the medicine youโre offering?โ
โItโs a worthwhile question,โ says the king.
Captain Blakemore spreads his hands. โI have no proof other than what Iโve already given. But I do have a ship. Youโre welcome to return to Ostriary with me to complete the negotiations with their king yourself.โ
โYou canโt possibly think the king of Kandala would board a ship based on nothing more than your promises,โ says Corrick.
โThen come yourself.โ The captain casts a darkly amused look at Corrick. โIf youโre interested, I highly suggest you leave my crew unharmed. You know your own sailors canโt make it.โ
โWho says your crew needs their captain?โ says Corrick.
โCorrick,โ I whisper.
โI wonโt sail for anyone else,โ says Marchon, and itโs probably the first thing heโs said since sitting at this table.
โNor will I,โ says Lieutenant Tagas.
Sablo slaps the table and then his chest. He nods his agreement.
Captain Blakemore smiles, and his eyes brighten with something akin to true delight. โNowย that,โ he says, โis loyalty.โ
โItโs impressive,โ says Harristan. His voice is cool and low, undercutting all the tension in the room. โIt speaks to your character.โ
Even Corrick looks over in surprise.
The captain could gloat, and I half expect him to. But the smile on his face eases, and his expression is as earnest as it was when he was only speaking to me. โThank you, Your Majesty.โ
Corrick looks like a coiled spring waiting to release, but this seems to unspool some of his anger.
โIโve sailed a lot of ships,โ Marchon says. โUnder a lot of captains.โ He nods at Captain Blakemore. โWhen war first broke out among the islands, Capโs the only one who stayed near the shoreline, picking up survivors. He didnโt care which side they were fighting for. If they were broken and bleeding, heโd pick โem up.โ
A raw note in his voice makes me wonder if Marchon was one of the broken and bleeding. I glance at Sablo, the man who doesnโt speak.
By choice?ย Corrick asked.
No, the captain said.
Captain Blakemore watches my eyes flick between the members of his crew. โWe all have a story, Miss Cade. Youโd do the same, Iโm sure.โ
โYes,โ I say. โI would.โ
His eyes flick to Corrick, but he says nothing.
Servants stride into the room with loaded trays, bringing the distraction of the next course. Soup bowls are cleared, and fresh plates are delivered to the table. Light conversation resumes, spurred by Quint, who looks to Marchon and says, โQuartermasterย andย navigator, you say? Tell me, do you ever sleep?โ
At my side, the prince is silent, his movements tight and precise. Corrick is too schooled in courtly politics, at hiding every emotion when the need arises. I want to reach out and rest a hand over his, to offer him a glance or a word orย somethingย to steal the rest of his tension. When we were outlaws in the Wilds, it was so easy to support each other.
Here in the palace, it always seems impossible.
Especially since weโre sitting directly in front of Captain Blakemore, and itโs very obvious that Corrick doesnโt trust one word that comes out of his mouth.
โWas your offer genuine?โ says Harristan.
The captain takes a sip from his wineglass. โWhich offer?โ
โTo return to Ostriary to handle negotiations with their king directly.โ
โIt was.โ
Allisander stares from the opposite end of the table. โYou cannot be serious. The consuls would never stand for it.โ
Captain Blakemore glances between them. โThe consuls rule the king? Have I been gone so long?โ
โNo,โ says Harristan. He clears his throat, then drinks half a glass of wine.
I watch the movement and wonder if heโs covering a cough. He should call for tea, but I know he wonโt.
Allisander says, โYou havenโt replaced Leander Craft. Steel City stands without a consul. You never replaced the
head of Traderโs Landing after King Lucas died. You invite the rebel leaders to negotiate with this untested apothecary, all while your sectors languish, and now you willย leave Kandalaโโ
โEnough,โ says Harristan. โYou are here by virtue of what you can offer your country, Consul, and youโve already indicated you wonโt be able to offer as much as you promised.โ
I wonder if Laurel Pepperleaf will add a comment, but she takes a sip from her own glass. Happy to watch Allisander hang himself, I suppose.
Maybeย someย of Corrickโs cynicism is rubbing off on me.
Captain Blakemore looks across the table at me, and thereโs something conspiratorial in his gaze. His voice drops. โRebel leaders, Miss Cade?โ
I wince. โApparently you havenโt heardย allย the gossip.โ
โI wasnโt intending to go myself,โ Harristan says. He looks at his brother. โI was referring to Captain Blakemoreโs offer to Corrick.โ
At that, the prince startles. So does the captain. Itโs a tiny movement of surprise, but itโs the first hint that he seems to be thrown off-balance by Corrick as well.
He recovers quickly. โAs you like. I believe Ostriary would be very eager to hear your terms.โ
โYou said the government is a bit shaky,โ says Corrick.
โNot as much now as they were. The old king passed away a few years ago. He had three sons and two daughters, all illegitimate. Several half-siblings, many nieces and nephews.โ He pauses, and his voice slows, growing heavy with emotion. โAs I said, battles for the throne turned into civil war. Island against island. Forย years.โ
I study him. Those gray eyes are faraway for a moment, and he downs his glass of wine.
โYouโre upset,โ I say quietly.
He blinks, then looks at me. โNo.โ He pauses. โWell.
Perhaps. War is โฆ war. My father died in those battles.โ I frown. โIโm sorry, Captain Blakemore.โ
His expression flickers, as if Iโve surprised him. โThank you, Miss Cade.โ
Corrick might think all of this is pretense, but the captainโs grief feels genuine to me. โPlease,โ I say softly. โCall me Tessa.โ
He gives me a nod, then a small smile. โThen you must call me Rian.โ
Harristan speaks through the emotion with casual efficiency. โWho won?โ he says.
โGalen Redstone won the throne,โ Rian says. โIf you can even call itย winning. He was an illegitimate son, and his primary rival was a man named Oren Crane, the kingโs half- brother.โ
โHis uncle?โ I say.
โYes,โ Rian says, โbut I donโt believe they knew much of each other before the conflict. Power changed hands many times over the course of months.โ
โAnd what happened to Oren Crane?โ says Harristan. โWas he killed?โ
โNo. But he made enough enemies that his allies began to fall, one by one, until he had no choice but to yield. Now, the country has stabilized under this new leadership, and focus has shifted to rebuilding instead of fighting. Which is why Iโm here now.โ
โSo youโre close with thisย newย king,โ says Corrick. โClose? No. But I spent enough time on their shores that
Iโve earned their trust. I truly do have an interest in helping them rebuild. I knew of the conflict with Kandalaโs former kings, but I have my fatherโs ship and his seal. I offered to sail here to act in good faith.โ He holds Corrickโs eyes. โIt
would be my pleasure to escort the Kingโs Justice and act as liaison with Ostriaryโs court as well.โ
โI donโt need you to act as liaison,โ Corrick says. Rian smiles. โI suppose Iโll just sail the ship then.โ
โWhat about the fevers?โ I say. โDo you worry about carrying disease to Ostriary?โ
He hesitates, looking around the table. โRumor says that itโs not contagious. That thereโs no rhyme or reason to who is affected. Is that true?โ
โYes,โ I admit.
He considers this. โOstriary is desperate enough for steel that Iโm willing to risk contagion, at least on a small scale. If it becomes an issue, we have more than enough Moonflower to go around.โ
โWhat are your terms?โ says Harristan. โWhat do you require, to bring this to pass?โ
โMyย terms?โ Rian sits back in the chair, and he glances between the king and the prince. โDo you expect me to ask for chests full of silver? Do you have many to spare?โ
โDonโt play with me.โ
โIโm not playing. Iโm not doing this for myself. We need steel. You need Moonflower petals.โ He casts a dark glance at the end of the table. โSince apparently your own countrymen are reluctant to provide them.โ
โ โWeย need steel,โ โ Harristan repeats. โYour father may have been loyal to Kandala, but youโve clearly changed allegiance.โ
Rian hesitates, then frowns. โItโs not a matter of allegiance. I spent a quarter of my life there, Your Majesty. There was no escaping the fighting. I was forced to pick a side, just like everyone else.โ He pauses. โI want both countries to have what they need, and I donโt see any reason why you canโt come to terms with the new king himself. He seems to be a reasonable man. Heย alsoย wants to
rebuild.โ He glances down at Allisander and Laurel again. โHe doesnโt want to take advantage of suffering people to line his own pockets.โ
My heart is a steady thrum in my chest. Maybe it is naive, but I believe him. I believe every word. And itโs not just the strength of his conviction. Itโs the loyalty of his crew. The way Marchon looked to him when he said the wordsย broken and bleeding. The way they all declared that they wouldnโt sail for anyone else. He just turned down silver, when surely he has the leverage to demand it. Itโs the first time Iโve heard someone speak of hope and promise without caveats and conditions.
Maybe thatโs what gives me the courage to look at Corrick and say, โYou should go.โ
He hasnโt looked away from the captain. โOh, I should, should I?โ
โYes. Because I want to go with you.โ
He snaps his head around like I told him I want to leap off the roof. โTessa!โ
โI do!โ I say. โConsul Sallister clearly has no desire to give us enough medicine. If Ostriary has Moonflower, this could help all of Kandala, Corrick. This could buy us more time to protect more people while we deliver a better cure. This could be the very key to finding a way out of this sickness.โ
The table falls silent, and I realize my voice has grown loud, impassioned. Across the table, Captain Blakemore is regarding me with raised eyebrows.
โForgive the princeโs pet apothecary, Captain,โ Allisander says from his end of the table. โShe understands little of politics and negotiation.โ
โOn the contrary,โ says Captain Blakemore. His eyes donโt leave mine. โI sense that Miss Cade understands quite a bit.โ
โFinding more medicine shouldnโt be a matter of
negotiation,โ I say hotly.
โNo,โ Corrick agrees. โIt shouldnโt.โ His jaw is tight, and I canโt tell if itโs anger at Allisander or concern over what the captain is offering. Likely both.
โYour Majesty,โ says Laurel. โSurely you have considered that this could be a trick or a ruse.โ
โWhy would I need to trick you?โ says Captain Blakemore. โOstriary has more than enough Moonflower to offer as fair trade. Put us back on the ship and Iโll fetch more to prove it.โ He glances at the end of the table again. โBut it would take me several weeks. Possibly a month or more. From these conversations, I sense youโre rather desperate.โ
โWe are,โ I say. โBesides,โ I add determinedly, thinking of the way the prince fetched me from the confectionerโs, โwho else are you going to trust to inspect their supply?โ
Corrick hesitates, and I know Iโve got him.
But then I glance across the table sheepishly. โAh โฆ if Iโm invited.โ If I call him Rian, I think Corrick might actually catch on fire, so I say, โCaptain Blakemore.โ
He smiles, and a light of true amusement flickers in his eyes. Heโs no fool himself. โI would be honored, Miss Cade.โ
โIf we accept your offer,โ says Harristan, โI will assemble a team of sailors to accompany you.โ
At that, Rian looks up. โNo.โ Harristanโs eyebrows go up.
โAs you are amenable toย terms,โ Rian continues, โIโll place one restriction: no sailors, no navigators. One ship: mine. Youโve already indicated a worry about contagionโ and Ostriaryโs king is still dealing with a strained court. Their people are recovering from war. If you are able to reach a point of accord with their king, I will happily teach
your shipmen to navigate the open sea beyond the southern point. But until then, I will not be responsible for bringing the naval forces of a potential rival into the waters of Ostriary.โ
Harristan says nothing for a long moment โฆ but then he coughs.
I glance over in alarm. So does everyone else at the table.
Itโs only one cough, brief and brought under control readily. Harristan casts a briefly annoyed glance at Corrick, who looks ready to spring out of his chair.
The captain watches all of this, then spreads his hands. โI understand your hesitation,โ he says. โIf you would prefer that I return with a letter, or a request, it would be my pleasure.โ
Harristan considers, then glances at Corrick. โWeโll discuss your offer, Captain Blakemore.โ He pauses. โIf not sailors, I will send guards with my people. You cannot expect less than that.โ
Rian nods. โUnderstood.โ
โIf Miss Cade will be in attendance, I would like to sail as well,โ Laurel says from the end of the table.
โYou canโt beย serious,โ Allisander says in a rush.
โI am,โ she says. โI would like to be privy to these negotiations, to ensure fair trade is maintained.โ
โCaptain,โ says Marchon, and the quartermasterโs raspy voice draws the attention of everyone at the table. โTheย Dawn Chaserย is not a passenger ferry. We have limited quarters and staff.โ
โIndeed,โ says Rian. He looks at Harristan. โIโll limit your number to six. Including guards.โ
โTwelve,โ says the king.
โSix.โ When Harristan frowns, the captain adds, โThis is not a negotiation. Iโm thinking of the safety of my crewย and
your people, Your Majesty.โ
Heโs so resolute. So principled. Itโs a bit fascinating when compared to the king, whoโs been forced to negotiate and cajole to maintain control. When compared to Corrick, whoโs been forced toย killย to maintain control.
Then again, Captain Blakemore has a ship and a small crew. Harristan and Corrick have a whole country overrun by illness and desperation.
โIโll step aside in favor of more guards.โ I glance at Corrick. โOr โฆ whatever you think youโll need.โ
His eyes are ice blue, but they thaw when he looks at me. โI havenโt agreed to go at all, yet.โ
Rian glances between the two of us. โIโll await your decision, Your Highness,โ he says. He gives me another smile. โMiss Cade, I certainly hope you make the cut.โ
