25. Reyna
Chapter twenty-five
Reyna
T he Dastardly Pirate Dreggs was something of an enigma, and Reyna wasn’t pleased about it. It was a rare moment when she wasn’t in control, and she was forced to admit that the infamous pirate wasn’t quite what she expected. Dashing and debonair, certainly, but there was something about this situation she couldn’t quite place.
In Reyna’s vast experience, her gut was rarely wrong.
And so she lingered in discontent, racking her brain for obscure facts about Dreggs. They were rumored to be Sheparan-born, which meant they probably worshiped the Stars. They’d started with a singular ship and gathered a fiercely loyal crew through honesty, competence, and a bit of charm. They didn’t kill unless they had to… but once someone was identified as a threat, they had no problem eliminating it.
None of that helped her in this immediate moment.
Dreggs casually led the procession towards the staircase to the deck, with Mister Mom lagging behind and Reyna and Serina sandwiched in the middle. It was a short walk spent in awkward silence.
Serina broke it by whispering to Reyna, “Are we about to be killed? Stars, I figured Arlon would do that, not Dreggs.”
“If they wanted you dead, you already would be,” Reyna replied.
Serina closed her eyes, drew a shaking breath. “Great. Tell me there’s an escape plan.”
Reyna’s lips quirked into a smile she didn’t really feel. “I always have an escape plan. But right now, I’m more intrigued with what they want.”
“No one pirates unless it’s under Dreggs’ flag. Not for long, anyway. Maybe this is a job offer.” She wasn’t speaking quietly; Dreggs could certainly hear her. But as they climbed onto the deck, the pirate didn’t acknowledge them.
Serina huffed, falling into agitated silence as they reached the deck.
And their location was surprising. Reyna knew they’d made good time heading downriver, but she didn’t give Dreggs enough credit. In the span of an evening, their small ship had somehow traveled past Oslop, past Diarn Arlon’s estate, past Neolow. The mountains had given way to rolling hills, the snow-coated pine trees shifting to the colorful deciduous blend. They hadn’t reached the vineyards near Koll yet, but it was a near thing.
It got worse. As Reyna’s eyes adjusted to the sunlight, she realized she was wrong about something else, too. She thought Dreggs had sailed this smaller ship north to remain sneaky, agile… but that was another misconception. Clearly, the Dastardly Pirate Dreggs didn’t care about subtleties.
Their notorious flagship, the Painted Death , was anchored in plain sight along the coast: huge crimson sails secured, a black flag with the skull and crossbones flapping merrily in the breeze. It was several times the size of the Knot for Sail , with multiple levels, at least twenty cannons, and a working crew of a hundred.
Well, a hundred and four, if that steamy biography was to be believed.
No wonder no one stopped them before this point.
Concern must have flitted across Reyna’s face, because Dreggs paused, grinning triumphantly. “Ah. You can be surprised. For a moment, I was worried you knew more than me.” With a charming salute, they raised their voice. “Lower the plank, if you please!”
A huge plank shot out from the massive vessel, unnaturally fast. So, not just one elemental mage under their employ. Multiple.
Reyna had to admit, this was an impressive operation.
As they crossed the wobbling plank, leaving the smaller ship behind to board the massive flagship, Serina grew more irritated. “I know you offer a job to any crew you capture, but maybe we can all save some time. I don’t steal gold. I steal food.”
Dreggs glanced at her. “What an interesting business model.” They hopped onto the deck like a kid hopping into a pile of leaves, arms wide, sticking the landing.
Behind them, Mister Mom boomed monotonously: “Captain on deck.”
“Aye,” several sailors echoed from the riggings, the deck, over the side of the ship. There were so many that Reyna severely hoped they wouldn’t need to fight their way out—because without Kianthe, that attempt would almost certainly fail.
Dreggs straightened, hooking their coat over their shoulder with a finger. With their free hand, they gestured extravagantly at the captain’s quarters—which, once they stepped inside, was revealed to be more of a captain’s suite. The parlor rivaled anything in Her Excellency’s palace and every piece of furniture put Arlon’s décor to shame.
“This is quite fancy for a bloodthirsty pirate,” Reyna remarked.
“Oh, it’s a rare mood when I’m feeling bloodthirsty. Mostly, I operate through business deals and common courtesy. Please, take a seat.” Dreggs pointed at a set of armchairs beside the wide bank of windows. “I love the open ocean, but there is something spectacular about the fall colors along the Nacean River.”
Behind them, Mister Mom stomped to a long, ornate table, its wood polished to a shine, and lit a small fire beneath a gleaming silver kettle. They rustled through a small wooden cabinet laden with teas.
Serina balked, sinking into her chair like they’d just ordered her execution. “W-We’re not going to the Southern Seas, are we? The ocean?”
Now Dreggs smiled, perching on the armchair across from her. “Serina of Lathe, failed farmer turned pirate. Your father told me you almost drowned in the ocean as a child, and now you’re deathly afraid of large bodies of water… which makes your current career choice fascinating.”
“You’ve met my father?”
“I heard you nearly drowned again recently; I’m surprised the experience didn’t turn you off of the Nacean River, too.”
Reyna’s senses sharpened. “How did you know she almost drowned recently?”
But Dreggs just smiled, held up a hand. “Quiet, dear. The pirates are having a discussion, and if you get involved, I fear we’ll be sailing down a different stream.” They paused, met her gaze in an almost chilling fashion. “But don’t worry, Reyna. I have you earmarked for later today.”
This situation felt like it was careening out of control. None of the biographies of the Dastardly Pirate Dreggs mentioned they’d be quite like this. Reyna hated it—and simultaneously respected it. She sat back in her chair, crossing her legs, watching this unfold.
Serina set her jaw. She was too stubborn to realize the danger they were in. “I’m not going to join your crew. I won’t sail on the ocean, and I don’t steal gold. So, if that’s all you wanted, you might as well let us go.”
“But you just got here.” Dreggs flashed a predatory smile.
“I’d like to leave.” Serina met it squarely.
“Regrettably, we do have business to attend.” Dreggs pushed to their feet, their bootsteps muffled by an expensive rug laid between the chairs. They smoothed an upturned corner before pausing by the windows. “What you’re doing is admirable, and I appreciate anyone trying to disrupt Diarn Arlon’s careful world. Believe it or not, I started pirating on the Nacean River decades ago—and he swiftly brought an end to that operation.”
They swiveled around to wink at Reyna. “Your biography didn’t tell you that, did it?”
Reyna certainly respected them. She leaned back in her chair, the picture of ease. “I’ll be honest; my fiancée and I were more focused on the explicit scenes than your pirating history.”
“Oh, Stars.” Serina buried her face in her hands.
Meanwhile, Dreggs exploded into laughter. They slapped their knee and bellowed, “You hear that, Mom? The Arcandor, reading smut about little old me. Did you pass a copy to Queen Tilaine, too?”
It was actually concerning how much this pirate knew. It was getting harder to fake her smile, even as Mister Mom handed her a porcelain cup of… vanilla chai tea, it smelled like. “Her Excellency’s reading tastes are a bit more refined than mine, admittedly. The Arcandor especially liked the knot-tying scene. It was educational.”
“A sailor’s knot is always useful.” Dreggs grinned. They sobered, looking again at Serina. “I didn’t call you here to hire you, and Reyna was right: if I wanted you dead, I wouldn’t have bothered with the kidnapping.”
“Then why am I here?” Serina scowled, refusing a matching cup from Mister Mom.
“You don’t want tea?” Dreggs sounded upset.
Serina slammed her hands on the coffee table, shocking the room. “I want answers, damn it.”
Silence lingered in her wake. Dreggs accepted a cup of tea from Mister Mom and took a delicate sip. “Touchy.” They gracefully perched again on the edge of their seat, tracing the rim of their teacup. “I’ll be blunt, since you asked so nicely. I want to break into Arlon’s warehouse, and I need your help to do it.”
Serina’s brow knitted together. “What?”
“Oh, now you want the build-up. Do you see what I’m dealing with here? Start with the dramatics—enough of the dramatics—okay, wait, though, the dramatics.” Dreggs heaved a sigh at Mister Mom, who’d taken a seat in the chair beside the pirate like they were all old friends. It should have been amusing, watching someone of the quartermaster’s stature sipping tea from a cup so small.
Reyna wasn’t amused, now.
Now, she was wishing Kianthe was here.
“Fine, I’ll backtrack.” Dreggs took another sip of tea, then offered their cup to Mister Mom. Stoic as anything, the lumbering man clinked their glasses together in quiet cheers. “Arlon has a warehouse where he keeps all the produce shipments before sending them east. He’s stockpiling a huge haul for the winter months, and just announced he’s boosting prices.”
“He’s what ?” Serina looked ready to fight. “He can’t boost prices. If he does, people won’t survive—”
Dreggs held up a hand. “Trust me, I’m aware. I operate in the Southern Seas, but my parents live in Neolow and I’m rather fond of them.” A vicious smile spread across their amicable features. “Arlon picked a fight with me three decades ago and assumed he won. He’ll find out just how wrong he is.”
“That warehouse is heavily guarded. My crew isn’t trained in combat.” She spoke the words begrudgingly, rubbing the bandaged wound on her thigh. It had healed nicely in a week, but she still walked with a bit of a limp.
“Luckily, my crew is. Even more fortunate is the fact that your partner was a constable. Once your crew finds you—and I’m sure they’re already on their way, considering the Arcandor’s magic—we’ll be able to formulate a plan of attack.”
Serina seemed dazed. It wasn’t hard to remember that half a day ago, she’d been absolutely wasted. Now she pinched the bridge of her nose, mumbling to herself. Reyna sipped her tea; it was a shockingly good blend with a fifty-fifty chance of poison. But she’d built up a tolerance to most poisons guarding Queen Tilaine, so she wasn’t that worried.
Serina set her jaw. “Say we do attack the warehouse and steal what we can. It’s not going to fix the root of the problem.”
“We’re working on that.” Reyna finally intervened. She waited to see if Dreggs would silence her again, but they seemed mildly amused that it took her this long. Reyna parsed through what felt safe to reveal here, and ended with: “Arlon attacked his citizens in broad daylight, with force that was shockingly disproportionate to the crime. We believe that might be cause to remove him from the Council—and his lands.”
“I knew I could count on you.” Dreggs drained their mug, then handed it to Mister Mom. “You have some kind of reputation, you know. The retired Queensguard turned Arcandor’s fiancée. The only thing you’re missing is an information network outside of that town of yours.”
“Perhaps you’ll lend me access, since yours seems so robust.” Reyna’s tone was measured.
Dreggs smirked. “I can tell you’re disgruntled, but I’ve shown you all my cards. Think back to your time on the Nacean River. Who could have possibly revealed the information I know?”
Reyna had been thinking—this entire conversation, she’d been thinking. And now, the answer came easily. “Judd. The bartender in Koll, the one with the great wine and that excellent apron.” She heaved a sigh. “I suppose this is a lesson in liquor. If Judd was eavesdropping on my conversations, the queen’s spies could do the same.”
“That’s a sobering thought.”
Silence.
Dreggs burst into laughter again. “You two are no fun. Can’t wait for the Arcandor to get here. Her jokes are legendary.”
Well, it did make Reyna feel better about the pirate… and the knowledge they wielded. But Serina had paled, clenching her hands into fists. “ Judd ? Judd is working for you? He found my pirate crew! Stars, I knew he collected them too fast.” She sounded agonized, like everything was crashing around her. “Did… did they even want to be on my ship? Or were they just following your orders?”
Dreggs’ brow knit together, and they leaned forward. Their tone was soft now, almost encouraging. “Serina, I feel it’s important to stop and acknowledge what you’ve done this season. You became a pirate in an area where piracy has been eradicated. You don’t kill, maim, or slaughter; you poke at a giant and somehow avoid his fist.” A pause, a sigh. “Pil is one of mine. His kids are practically my kids. But even if they come back to my ship, I could find you seven pirates tomorrow who’d take their place.”
Serina didn’t know what to say to that, clearly. She hunched into herself, drumming her fingers on her leg, seemingly torn between swelling at the praise and processing that betrayal.
While she figured it out, Reyna smoothly redirected the conversation. “Since you know so much, I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least show you this.” She fished the folded papers from Arlon’s roll top desk out of her pocket, slid them across the low table. “We’re attempting to crack this code.”
“Oooh. My favorite.” Dreggs picked it up, then took one look and huffed, tossing it back to Reyna. “Arlon’s writing. Of course. It’s a Leonolan cipher; swap the letters into Leonolan script, then translate the new words in Common. He’s been using that one since I’ve been old enough to read.”
Reyna stared, jaw unhinged.
Dreggs raised an eyebrow. “What? Listen, if you want a better cipher, I’d be happy to oblige. Mister Mom and I have been playing around with a code that uses numbers and multiplication—it’s quite complex.”
“And secret,” Mister Mom said with a scowl.
“Yes, yes.”
Reyna stowed the letters again. “Any chance you have a library aboard this vessel?”
Dreggs stared at her, deadpan. “This is a pirate ship, dear.”
She quirked an eyebrow.
They sighed. “Who am I kidding? You remember that scene, don’t you?”
“My fiancée and I recreated it in our own bookstore.” She smiled soft and slow, chest warming at the memory. “It was a wonderful night. I don’t need access to the entire thing; I’ll just need a book on the Leonolan language. I haven’t brushed up in years.”
“Lucky for you, I have several bilingual crewmembers. I’ll send someone to help.” They paused, smiling. “See? I’m not so bad, am I? If you disagree, please refrain from killing me in my sleep; Mister Mom would be beside himself.”
“Then I’d be captain,” the quartermaster said, almost amused.
“Or the crew would vote and our new bilge cleaner would get an upgrade. He’s fairly charismatic.”
Serina pushed to her feet. “Are we still talking about a possible siege on Arlon’s warehouse, or has that conversation fallen completely to the wayside?” She sounded a little desperate, a little hysterical. “Because I’m not quite done with that yet.”
Dreggs drummed their chin. “To be fair, you’d tuned out. And to be more fair, it’d be less of a siege, more of a heist. I’m not starting a war on my parents’ doorstep. Imagine the family holidays.” They shuddered in mock horror.
A heist. Reyna quirked an eyebrow. “What did you have in mind?”
And a slow, devious smile spread across Dreggs’ face.