Feeling her relax, he let her go. Eira spun in place and whispered, “Olivin?”

The elfin man gave her a tired smile. “I’m here to save you.”

“Save…me?” She blinked, wiping away rain from her eyes to see more clearly. Her ears hadn’t deceived her. It really was him. Here.

“Yes, come on, there isn’t much time until they’re back.” Still holding on to her wrist, Olivin hoisted her up. Eira was too stunned to put up much of a fight. “What do I need to know? Who else is keeping you here?”

“Olivin.” She ripped her hand from his grasp and shook her head. He stopped when she did.

“Eira—”

“Do you think if I wanted to escape I wouldn’t do it when I was left alone like this?” She kept her voice low and shuffled her feet slowly, trying to shift the weight from toe to heel to prevent the boards from creaking unnecessarily. Adela was right underneath them and if she heard someone else on her boat, someone who wasn’t supposed to be there…a chill crept up Eira’s spine. “You need to leave. Now.”

“I don’t know what these people told you, but they are not your friends.” He was clearly trying to rationalize her objections. “I have reason to believe they’re—”

“Adela’s pirates,” Eira finished coolly. “Why do you think I’m here?”

Olivin straightened, squinted, and then his eyes widened, as if truly seeing her for the first time. “You…you’re really her daughter…”

She strategically avoided answering outright. Instead, Eira insisted again, “Please, leave. Weren’t you staying behind to save your brother? What about Yonlin?”

“I found him.”

Three words shook her and flooded the cracks in her foundation with a relief and hope she didn’t know she needed. If Yonlin had made it then maybe there was a chance for Fritz, her parents—for all their families.

But she shouldn’t be so hasty. “Is he…”

“He’s all right.” Olivin smiled and gave a nod. “He’s here. We’ve been traveling together, following the boats. He’s not far, holed up and hiding somewhere safe.”

“Good.” Eira rested her hands on his shoulders and hung her head, basking in the relief as it washed over her in waves. It felt like as long as Yonlin was alive, hope was as well. She straightened, gathering her authority. The victorious smile slipped off Olivin’s face as he saw her expression. “You need to go back to him and stay in that safe place for a good day or two.” Enough time that she’d be long gone.

“Not without you.”

“Listen to me.” She gripped his strong forearms. His clothes were slick under her palms. They clung to the firm muscle of his chest. “I am not some damsel in need of saving. I am here because I want to be.”

Olivin studied her. Rain ran down over his face. It pooled between them. “You’re telling the truth.”

“I know I am.” Eira sighed. “Just like I know you meant well. But heed me when I tell you to go; I’m trying to protect you.”

“I can be the one to protect you,” he insisted.

“You can’t help me in the way I need it. I lost my magic and Adela is the only person who can help me get it back.” Every time she said it prodded the wound. But it ached less and less. Now, more a matter of fact.

Olivin’s eyes widened slightly. There were a thousand questions he no doubt wanted to ask. But he kept them, and any objections, to himself.

He hovered for another breath that was hot across her face, contrasting with the cold rain. He searched the depths of her gaze as she charted a course across his. There was so much more to this…he’d tracked her, followed their course on foot tirelessly.

Why do I mean so much to you? Eira wanted to ask. But doubted even he had the answer.

The coiled tension of his muscles eased. For a fleeting moment, the gray of the overcast skies became the night that blanketed Champion Village when they had first kissed. But, ultimately, Olivin gave her a light squeeze and released her.

Eira stopped herself from asking him to stay.

“All right, Eira. I trust you. I always have. I’m sorry for misunderstanding.”

She shook her head. “You were looking out for a fellow shadow.”

“I was looking out for you.” He stepped backward. “If you change your mind, we’re in the Rolling Pony Inn. That offer of spending the night in my bed still stands.”

“Noted.” Eira laughed softly. “I doubt I’ll come, but maybe some other friends will cross your path.”

He squinted slightly, tilting his head, and then the expression fell into a smirk. “All right, I’ll keep an eye out.” She always did appreciate how astute he was, how quick on the uptake.

Olivin turned and started back down the deck. His footsteps were heavier than she would’ve liked. But at least he was leaving. Even if Adela heard him now, he’d be gone by the time she bothered to emerge.

A faint smile crossed her lips as he made his way down the deck, the low light of town that glowed off to the side of the boat cutting his shape into a silhouette. The docks he headed toward were empty from the storm. But all she could hear was each one of his steps, louder than the last. Louder than the rain.

Louder than the rain.

Her head jerked toward the docks. The rain still pounded on them in fat drops. It was coming down so heavily that it was almost hard to see the nearest building across from them.

Yet the only sounds on the boat were his footsteps and the soft drips of their clothes.

“Olivin…” Eira whispered weakly. He didn’t hear.

“Eira, you should have told me you were going to invite more friends,” Adela said coolly. One hand on her icy cane, the other outstretched, clacking her nails against each other. “I would’ve prepared better for another guest.”

The chill that had crept up her spine hollowed her throat with a soundless scream. Rain diverted over the boat as if dripping off an invisible

shield. It streamed in rivulets down over either side, falling into the river.

“I can explain.” Eira moved with slightly jerky movements. The muscles in her chest were wound tight, quivering with her breath. Was she being frozen over? Or was it sheer terror that had her fighting shakes throughout her body?

“Perhaps you should.” Adela hummed, looking to Olivin. “He certainly isn’t going to.”

Eira’s attention darted to her friend. Olivin was frozen, mid-step. Every instinct told her to run over to him. To check and make sure he was alive. But Eira stayed in her spot, not wanting to give Adela any reason to react in a more aggressive way.

Her head was splitting, trying to calculate every choice, weighing every option.

“He was coming to save me. I told him I didn’t need saving,” she said honestly. “So he was going to leave.”

Adela walked over to Olivin, the tapping of her cane somehow louder than the rain. Every time it crashed into a puddle, flashes of ice crackled across the deck, hissing in the summer heat. She came to a stop before Olivin. Eira couldn’t see his face, but she could see Adela’s. The lines in her forehead deepened as she studied him, brow furrowing.

“Yet another at your beck and call.”

“He’s nothing more than a friend.” Eira swallowed thickly; the words didn’t taste entirely true. “Let him go, please.”

“Fine. I don’t need another mouth to feed.” Adela waved her hand as she stepped to the side. Olivin jerked forward, gasping. His hands went up to his throat. Eira inhaled slowly, exhaling relief. Adela looked down at the elfin man. She wasn’t particularly tall—Olivin could loom over her if he wasn’t hunched. Yet, Adela stood as strong and ominous as a black flag. She leaned forward slightly to whisper in his ear—loud enough for Eira to hear while making direct eye contact with her. “If you tell anyone I am here, I will find you and I will kill you. I will slaughter everyone you have ever held dear. Do you understand?”

Olivin managed a nod. “Good. Get off my boat.”

He did as he was told, movements fluid enough to reassure Eira that he was once more in control of his body. She knew without doubt he was all right when he paused at the railing, looking back at her. Eira gave a small

nod and he swung over, landing on the dock. The rain pounded his shoulders as he slipped into the night.

“Come, Eira,” Adela commanded, starting for her cabin. Eira followed in a daze. As soon as she and Adela were inside, the rain began hammering the boat, the barrier dropped. When Eira crossed the threshold of the door, all the moisture was pulled from her skin and clothes, sucked back outside, puddling on the deck.

Eira inspected her suddenly dry cloak. “How much magic can you manage at once?”

“Enough.” Adela headed to her usual chair, sitting in it heavily. The pirate queen did a good job of concealing any pain or hardship, but Eira had grown to suspect that her cane wasn’t a fashion choice.

“When I have my magic back, will you teach me how to stop rain? How to manage many things at once?”

“What makes you think I have any interest in teaching you my secrets?” “I already know half of them.” Eira shrugged.

“Tell me, are there any more friends of yours I should know about?”

Eira noticed she’d changed the topic, but didn’t call attention to it. Adela would share her secrets or not, when the time came. There was little Eira could do to force it now, or then.

“I hope not.” Eira sighed, sinking into her usual seat.

“Good, I can only handle so many new mouths to feed at a time.” Adela shook her head and flipped through a ledger, exchanging it for another. It was odd to see the pirate queen, the infamous Adela, poring over records while resupplying in port like a regular ship captain would. What little Eira had ever imagined of piracy was nothing but high seas looting and pillaging.

“Are you…paying for your supplies?” Eira couldn’t stop herself from asking.

Adela glanced over her shoulder with a slight smirk. “You didn’t think the pirate queen paid for anything, did you?”

“Well, honestly, no.”

Adela closed the ledger and returned it to the shelf. “I’m sure you’ve well learned by now that we must pick and choose our battles. Is it worth it to me to risk exposure and the headache of fighting and running for a few bags of oranges? Is risking the lives of my crew worth such a meager reward?” She shook her head. “I have long since learned when to take risks

and when not to, not just for my own well-being but on behalf of the people who trust me. I’ll put their necks on the line when it really counts and they know it.”

“You remind me of someone,” Eira murmured. “Let me guess, yourself?”

Eira snorted. “No, the Crown Princess Vi, if you can believe it.”

Adela paused mid-step between her desk and her usual chair. It was a brief moment where her eyes went glassy. Eira resisted commenting on the change in demeanor. Adela clearly worked hard to cover it. But something about the mere mention of Crown Princess Vi had given the pirate queen pause.

Ducot had mentioned something about Adela intentionally avoiding Meru, as well as strict orders not to harm anyone or anything. Adela had always avoided elaborating on the decree. Could it have something to do with the crown princess? No, the timing wouldn’t work. Adela hadn’t been seen around Solaris or Meru for nearly twenty-one years. Which would be around the time of Vi Solaris’s birth, but Eira doubted a baby was doing anything to threaten the pirate queen.

Perhaps Vi’s parents? The birth of their children might have caused Vhalla and Aldrik Solaris to issue a clear threat. But then why also Meru? The treaties weren’t in place that early…

Eira was going to make her head hurt with all the speculating. For the time being, she’d file the knowledge and oddity away. Something to test with a mention here or there, or perhaps connect future occurrences with.

“I cannot say I have had the pleasure of meeting Vi Solaris.” There was no emotion to Adela’s words. “But I imagine it is something that all rulers are familiar with. And I am the queen of the seas.”

Right as Adela went to sit, she paused again. This time staying perfectly still. A scowl overcame her face. A low growl was barely audible in the back of her throat. Suddenly, the pirate queen looked like a feral animal, backed into a corner and ready to strike.

“I should have known this could not be done the easy way.” “What is it?” Eira stood as Adela straightened.

“Do you know how to use that?” Adela nodded to the dagger still wedged in Eira’s belt.

“Yes. What’s happened?”

“If I find out that it was your friend who alerted them to our presence… I will make you watch as I utterly destroy him.” Adela took a step toward Eira. The pirate queen took up all the space, all the air in the small cabin.

“Olivin would never betray me,” Eira whispered, not knowing if it was true. But it felt true…

Even though Adela hadn’t answered Eira’s question, she was beginning to piece together what was happening based on how on edge the pirate was. “We shall see.” Adela stopped at the door, her hand on the latch. “I will not go out of my way for you, Eira. Keep up or die.” Somehow, it didn’t

sound malicious. It almost sounded like a test.

Eira drew the dagger Ulvarth had given her. The one that she was still determined to drive through his chest. “I’m ready.”

“Good.” A slight and wild smile crossed Adela’s lips. Her eyes spoke of murder. Her movements whispered death. She threw open the door and magic erupted.