“Don’t you have something to be doing?” I snap.
She only giggles. “Why in such a foul mood, Captain? He hasn’t gone anywhere.”
“Excuse me?”
“Riden. He’s over there chatting with Roslyn.”
I lean over the railing, looking in the direction of the shore. Draxen is glaring at the ship from his rowboat, specifically at a spot near the bow of the Ava-lee.…
Where his brother is in fact still on board, chatting with Roslyn.
“What is going on?” I ask.
“I think he’s coming with us,” Mandsy says.
I narrow my eyes at her. “Where does he get off thinking he can do things without consulting the captain first? And my mood is not altered by the comings and goings of that man. Don’t you dare insinuate as much again.”
She curtsies elegantly before skipping off, probably to weave flowers into crowns or to hug a barnacle or something.
“I’m no passenger,” I hear Roslyn say as I approach. “I’m part of the crew.” I find her little figure in time to see her pull her dagger from behind her back and press it to Riden’s navel. “And I don’t care for being talked down to.”
Riden’s lips twitch as he tries not to smile. “My mistake,” he says and takes a step back. “I meant no insult, little lass. Please spare me.”
Roslyn considers his plea carefully, as though she’s actually debating whether or not to kill him. In reality, I know she’s enjoying watching him beg, having someone play along.
“What is your job on the ship?” Riden asks. Though he must have noticed her moving about the Ava-lee in all the time he’s spent with us, perhaps he never realized Roslyn is part of the hired crew. She gets her cut of the spoils just like everyone else.
Roslyn lowers the knife. “I’m the captain’s lookout. I call out danger from up top and navigate us to safety when we’re in tricky waters.”
“That’s a very important job.” He’s not faking how impressed he is.
My temper fades as I stare at Riden a bit longer. Something in my chest moves as I see him talking with little Roslyn. It’s endearing.
I blink twice. No, not endearing. He’s as bloody annoying as ever. And he does not dictate who stays and goes on my ship.
“Allemos,” I snap in my captain’s voice.
The two turn my way. Riden raises a brow at the use of his surname, which I’ve only ever used once before. When he was in trouble.
“Aye, Captain?” he asks.
“Captain? Who made you part of the crew?”
“You did.”
At my confused look, he says, “In exchange for my brother’s life.”
Well, yes, but that was when his brother needed to stay locked in the keep for appearance’s sake. They’re both free now. He can’t expect me to hold him to that. Does he think me so cold?
“Your debt to me is paid,” I say. “You’re free to leave.”
“Paid how?”
“Through your help freeing the siren.”
He pauses for only the space of a breath. “But she got away. Until we find her again, I don’t see how I can leave. Just wouldn’t be honorable.”
I’m about to open my mouth to comment on just how honorable I think he is, when he speaks again.
“If it’s all the same to you, I’d like to stay.”
He wants to be here,I realize. And I can’t think of any nefarious reasons for him to wish to stay. His brother is safe. Isn’t that what he’s always wanted? To stay by his brother’s side and make sure spoiled Draxen gets his way?
So then why would he stay? For the treasure?
Warmth blooms in my chest at the next possibility: Could it be for me?
And, the bigger question: Do I want it to be for me?
I can’t even begin to figure out the answer to that question.
So I lie. “It hardly matters to me one way or the other. But if you choose to stay, you’d better carry your own weight. I’ll have no laziness on this ship.”
“Of course not, Captain. Where would you like me?”
“Since you enjoy spending so much time with Roslyn, you can join the riggers. Hop to it.”
“That’s the most dangerous job on the ship,” he says. It’s less an argument than a statement.
“You start at the bottom and work your way up on my crew.”
“Enwen and Kearan didn’t.”
Roslyn has her dagger back out. “The captain gave you an order, sailor.”
“Yes, thank you, Roslyn,” I say. “Let’s put that dagger away for now. Do I need to have another talk with your father?”
“No, Captain,” she says before scurrying up the netting.
Riden looks after her. “She’s awfully young to be on a pirate ship.”
“Aren’t we all?”
