A Pirate’s Life for Tea (Tomes & Tea #2)

10. Kianthe

Chapter ten

Kianthe

I t took several hours to reach Neolow’s eastern shore again.

Bobbie wanted to ride ahead, but Kianthe was absolutely not going to be abandoned—especially by a constable who looked like she could collapse at any moment. She insisted Bobbie ride her horse and get some sleep, and Kianthe led the mount through the wilderness by the riverside.

Sleeping on horseback—or on the back of any mount, really—was difficult, but Bobbie was so exhausted that she slumped over the horse’s neck and was dozing in seconds. It looked incredibly uncomfortable, and if Kianthe thought she could get away with it, she’d have stopped and insisted they get some rest.

But Serina was sailing south, and Bobbie was quite clear that they needed to follow.

When they arrived at the stables on the eastern side of the Nacean, Kianthe left Bobbie blinking in the sunlight to check on Lilac—who was, of course, luxuriating in her current vacation. The horse’s tail flicked irately as Kianthe patted her flank, and she turned resolutely away from the mage.

“Listen, you may need to step up,” Kianthe said. “Since your owner clearly told Visk to make himself scarce.”

Lilac leveled an unimpressed stare her way, as if to say, and how is that my problem?

Why most of the Realm used horses to travel, Kianthe would never know.

She pinched her brow, contemplating her next course of action when a commotion outside caught her attention. Kianthe stepped out of the stables to find two constables flanking Bobbie, perched atop stern-looking horses much like hers.

“Guess the investigation isn’t going well, is it?” one drawled. He was a taller figure with thin, angular cheekbones, sandy skin, and beady eyes. Everything about him looked like a seagull. “When Diarn Arlon hears about your screwup, he’ll have your head. You’ll be lucky to patrol in Lathe.”

“I mean, your mom does work in the sheriff’s department. Might be fun.” The other constable snickered. The person was shorter, with skin the shade of pine bark and a dazzling smile that oozed insincerity.

Bobbie had been groggy after her nap, but seemed more alert now. She set her jaw, gripping her horse’s reins a bit too tightly. Her green eyes flashed. “Bold words, considering she stole that ship right out from under your noses.”

The seagull constable’s face colored. “She wouldn’t have had the chance if you hadn’t let her go.”

“What does the diarn say about excuses? Come on, Tyal. If you report this, his first question will be, ‘who was guarding the docks?’” Bobbie rolled her eyes. “You two were supposed to be watching his ship. And because of your failure, the pirate now has the fastest transportation on the Nacean River.”

“My failure?” Tyal spluttered. “I was on the docks, not that ship. The sailors—”

“Were under your supervision,” Bobbie replied.

The other constable stepped in. “Well, we’ve heard that you’re working with the Arcandor. So, maybe we can all fix this.”

“Stone bless, it sounds absolutely awful to have an employer.” Kianthe wrinkled her nose.

All three constables turned to look at her.

Kianthe waggled a few fingers.

“This is the Mage of Ages,” Bobbie said. “Diarn Arlon made it clear that she operates on her own free will. Although she’s partnered with me on this investigation, she isn’t here to do your job.”

Technically, that was exactly what Kianthe was there to do, but neither of them had told Bobbie that. And frankly, Kianthe wanted no part of this drama.

Bobbie gestured at the mounted constables. “Arcandor, allow me to introduce you to Tyal and Keets.”

“’They’ or ‘them’ pronouns,” Keets said, tapping a pin at their lapel. They’d clearly chosen a white paint to make it stand out against the black uniform.

“He/him,” Tyal added.

“She is fine for me.” Kianthe said, even though most people in the Realm already knew. “It’s a pleasure… and it’s flattering, truly, to think that I’m the shining beacon of hope who can solve all your problems. But Bobbie’s right; my magic has a broader purpose in life, and helping capture one pirate isn’t it.”

Keets sighed. “Well. There goes that option.”

“We don’t need the Arcandor,” Tyal brushed Kianthe off just as fast, nudging his horse so he loomed over Bobbie. “We don’t even need Arlon’s pet constable. He may have given you permission to hunt this pirate, but things have changed with this theft. Now we’re all on the chopping block, and I’m not losing my job because of your incompetence.”

Bobbie flinched, but recovered quickly. Her tone was matter-of-fact: “If you lose your job, it won’t be because of my failures.”

Tyal plowed over her words as if she hadn’t spoken at all, addressing Keets instead. “If she can’t capture the pirate, we’ll do it. That ship is our responsibility, and I’m not above splattering a pirate’s blood on its deck.”

Keets shrugged. “Fine by me.”

And that was the moment Kianthe realized this was turning into a true manhunt—and Reyna had just positioned herself squarely in the center of the target. The mage stepped into the conversation. As she raised a hand, a gust of wind swirled around them, a pointed reminder who was in charge here.

“All right, simmer down. No one’s gutting a pirate. Especially not when my fiancée is also on that ship.”

The constables exchanged a glance.

Bobbie slumped, like she’d wanted to keep that detail a secret.

“Then you do have a stake in this game.” Tyal leaned over his horse. “Unless you want your fiancée drowning in the Nacean before you can reach him. When we storm that ship, accidents could happen—but if you join us and help, we’ll make sure he’s safe.”

“My fiancée is a woman, and I’ll thank you for not assuming. And if you think you can catch her unawares, you’re dreaming.” The air around Kianthe sparked, and her eyes burned like hot coal. “I also don’t appreciate the manipulation, so let me be clear. I’m the Mage of fucking Ages. And if you do something stupid and my fiancée is hurt in the process, Diarn Arlon will be the least of your worries.”

The words hung between them, a fatal promise.

Keets broke the silence first, flicking the reins of their horse. “I’m not here to fight the Arcandor. But I’m also not going to sit idly while that ship is used by a pirate—if this job is threatened, I’m not the only one who doesn’t eat in my household. Apologies, Arcandor, but we’re going hunting.”

“We’ll keep an eye out for your fiancée,” Tyal said snidely. His pride was clearly wounded by Kianthe’s display. “Nice crochet hook,” he added to Bobbie, and it wasn’t a compliment.

They kicked their mounts into motion.

Bobbie tugged the reins of her own horse, physically blocking them from leaving. “They are nice crochet hooks; custom made in Wellia, in fact. And you two haven’t been dismissed. I’m the higher-ranking officer here. Stand down.”

“You’re on special assignment.” Keets glared.

“And you’re interfering.” Bobbie pulled her shoulders straight, her emerald eyes narrowed dangerously. “The pirate is mine . If you’re bored, feel free to tell Diarn Arlon personally that I’m closing in, and will have the pirate in his hands before the solstice. If that doesn’t suit you, your orders are to return to Neolow and try to keep any other ships from being stolen.”

Tyal looked ready to murder. “You think you can stop us?”

Faster than Kianthe could track, Tyal had a sword against his chest. It was thicker than Reyna’s, curved to a wicked point, and still lethally dangerous. Behind the blade, Bobbie’s expression was deadened, thoroughly done.

“Today,” she said, “I have captured and lost the pirate. I’ve been kicked, bitten, insulted, and attacked. I haven’t slept properly in days. The pirate sunk my ship and almost killed my horse in the process. And I tried to crochet a bee, which should have been easy , and it turned out like this.” Now she reached into her pocket and pulled out the misshapen toy, glowering as Tyal and Keets recoiled. She stuffed it back into her pocket and snarled, “I will not—how did you put it? ‘Sit idly’ while you two ruin my investigation. Cease and desist, Tyal. This is your final warning.”

Keets’ expression twisted into one of irritation, and Tyal reached for his own sword.

Kianthe lit a hand on fire, holding up the flame where they all could see. “Don’t test her. She’s really upset about that bee.” The threat was probably a lot less intimidating in her dual pompom hat, but brazen displays of magic usually got the point across.

Keets raised their hands. “We’ll go back to Neolow.”

Tyal kept silent. He didn’t look pleased about the decision.

Another beat passed, and Bobbie sheathed her sword. “Get on with it, then. The ferry boards over there.” And she waited while the two constables guided their horses in the opposite direction—north, not south.

Only once they were gone did Kianthe extinguish the flame in her hand. “Your coworkers are assholes.”

Bobbie didn’t acknowledge that statement. “They backed down now, but they’re not going back to Neolow. I suspect they’re going straight to Diarn Arlon, to try and twist the story so they aren’t at fault. And if Arlon agrees to assign more constables to this hunt, anyone on that ship is at risk.” Exhaustion tinged her voice as she gestured at the stables. “Get Reyna’s horse. Our timetable just got shorter.”

“Oh, good,” Kianthe muttered.

They rode hard, which was unpleasant in the best circumstances, but absolutely awful so late at night. Lilac kept up with Bobbie’s horse, but she clearly hated every second. She tossed her head whenever Kianthe tried to pat her neck, and seemed to purposefully hunt for ways to throw Kianthe off the saddle.

Miserable thing.

“This would be faster with a ship,” Kianthe called to Bobbie, who’d set this ridiculous pace. “Easier on the horses, too.”

That made Bobbie pat her own horse, running a hand over his mane. “Because a ship worked so well last time.” The constable’s words were nearly snatched away by the wind. They were following a winding trail near the river’s edge, and through breaks in the trees, Kianthe could see water glistening in the moonlight.

“Normally a ship works fine, when someone doesn’t smash a hole in its side.” Kianthe huffed. “How far is our destination, again? And how sure are you that she’ll be there?”

“We’re going to Koll. It’s the only place Serina can feasibly go—she can’t sail a ship that big on her own, not even with Reyna’s help. They’ll have to find a crew, or steal something smaller. If they opt for the latter option, we might still be able to return Arlon’s prized ship back to him.”

“If I were Serina, I wouldn’t return Arlon’s ship.”

Bobbie’s shoulders slumped. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

Lilac huffed, leaping over a small dip in the path. On the other side she seemed thoroughly done, because she tossed her head again and slowed to a casual trot. Kianthe tried nudging her into motion again, but she wasn’t very skilled with horseback riding, and Lilac just ignored her.

“Uh, Bobbie? Might need to slow down.”

The constable glanced back, saw Kianthe and Lilac falling behind, and seemed to contemplate just… abandoning them both. But ultimately, her decency won out because she pulled the reins and slowed her own horse, giving them time to catch up. They continued at a calmer pace that seemed to make Bobbie’s skin crawl, based on the way she fidgeted.

It was a direct contrast to Reyna’s calm and steady presence. Heaving an exasperated sigh, Kianthe aimed for distraction. “Reyna is convinced you had a crush on Serina, but based on today, I’m questioning that.”

Bobbie recoiled like she’d been burned. It was so dramatic that Kianthe checked to make sure she hadn’t accidentally ignited a flame somewhere.

The constable cleared her throat, looking pointedly ahead. “We knew each other in school, as kids. That’s it.”

Kianthe quirked an eyebrow. “That’s it, huh?”

“Yes.” Long silence passed, and finally Bobbie set her jaw. “She was my best friend. My only friend, if I’m being honest. Being the daughter of the town’s beloved sheriff meant they expected me to be someone—and most talents don’t come naturally to me.” Absently, she gestured at the orange hat Kianthe was wearing. “I thought two pompoms would be fun, but seeing it on someone, it just looks ridiculous.”

“Gee, thanks,” Kianthe said, but she didn’t take the hat off. It was warm, after all. “If it makes you feel better, I wasn’t either. I’m still shocked that the Stone of Seeing gave me the Arcandor’s power.”

Bobbie laughed humorlessly. “Must be nice to be saved by magic. I just existed as the laughingstock of Lathe, the screw-up. But Serina wasn’t a prodigy either. Her parents were terrible farmers, and everyone knew it. No one was surprised when Diarn Arlon reclaimed their land.”

Huh.

Bobbie tilted her head towards the night sky. The stars weren’t as bright with the moon so full, but they still glimmered like light on the river. “My parents expected a lot from me. Her parents didn’t expect anything from her. I guess we met in the middle.”

“And you fell in love.” Kianthe smirked wryly. This was a fantastic story for her new book.

“We aren’t in love,” Bobbie retorted hotly.

Enemies to lovers. Or rather, friends to enemies to lovers. Kianthe grinned. That was one of her favorite plots in a novel.

Bobbie saw the look in her eye and glowered. “We aren’t in love. We kissed once when we were young, right before her family moved to Jallin, and it was terrible.”

“Yes, because teenagers know so much about kissing,” Kianthe drawled.

Bobbie ducked her head, kicking her horse into a faster trot. “Okay. Think what you want, but I know what’s true.”

“Sorry, sorry.” Kianthe laughed, urging Lilac to catch up again. “But there must be some unfinished business, or you wouldn’t be trying so hard to save her.”

“I’m trying to arrest her.”

Kianthe raised her hands, conceding the point even though she conceded absolutely nothing in her own mind. “Whatever the semantics, something’s happening between you two. How did old friends go from kissing goodbye to kicking hello?”

Bobbie rubbed her stomach, as if still feeling Serina’s boot. “We were screw ups as kids, but… well, I got wise. I practiced; I worked my ass off, and I became competent at some things. A decent rider, a decent swordsman, a sheriff in the making. Serina didn’t understand. She just wanted to have fun until the day her family sailed south.” Bobbie drew a short breath. “She lived in a fantasy world. And she hated the constables for retaking her family land.”

“I mean, that’s understandable.”

“They could have been nicer about it, but… I don’t know. I distribute scarves to their families. I play with their kids. They’re like me, just doing our jobs,” Bobbie said.

Kianthe thought that when jobs came with power, they also came with the responsibility to decide how to use it. But she saw what Bobbie meant—even if those constables refused Arlon’s order, more would have come to complete the task.

They followed the path around a curve in the river, and at the base of a hill, a glimmering town awaited them. It was much smaller than Neolow, closer in size to Oslop, but several ships still shone in its harbor.

Bobbie tugged the reins, stopping her horse, squinting down the path. “Koll. One of the Nacean’s vineyard towns.” She gestured at the hillside, at the rows of grapevines growing in the distance. “Prepare for drunks.”

“I believe they’re called connoisseurs, here,” Kianthe replied, grinning. “I hope Reyna found wine. Drunk Reyna is my favorite.”

“Really?” Bobbie rolled her eyes. “Drunk Serina is a menace.” And she clicked her tongue, urging her horse down the hillside.

Kianthe cackled and started after her.