Chapter 28 Kaspar
Kaspar
Seeing Sunada from high in the air was a surreal experience and not something I ever thought I’d be lucky enough to behold.
Who would’ve thought a blacksmith’s apprentice from the slums would wind up flying around the world on a famously terrifying pirate ship?
I definitely never would’ve guessed.
It’d always been a pipedream to get out of the kingdom, but I never thought it’d actually happen. Yet, here I was, flying the skies and happier than I’d ever been in my life.
Sunada was so different from Asteris. Gearhart had looked welcoming and friendly, but my own kingdom looked so utilitarian and almost grouchy, if a place could look old and cantankerous.
Embergate was all grays and stone and built only for function with no artistry taken into consideration.
It almost felt like Asteris took a person’s happiness and their mental health into consideration.
Whereas Sunada only cared about getting the maximum amount of work out of a person, not caring one bit about their health, mental, physical, or otherwise.
Honestly, it was a good representation of what it was like living there.
The Kingdom of Sunada didn’t care one bit what it could do for its people. It only cared what its people could do for it—or rather, for the royal family and the other aristocrats.
The castle was the only shining thing in the city, sitting high up on a hilltop, right in the center of the city’s capital, looking down on all of its minions. It was white and silver and thrumming with so much fluxpower, I could feel it even from miles away.
Honestly, the entire kingdom was buzzing with power, especially with the mountains the fluxstones came from looming in the distance.
Growing up here, I’d never realized just how much energy there was in the air or how many stones were constantly calling out to my magic.
But after being away for so long with only The Black Wraith’s fluxstones to worry about, it felt like I was drowning in the energy.
Asteris hadn’t felt even a tenth as strong in either flux power or stones begging to be filled.
It just went to show how selfish Sunada was, keeping all that magic, all that energy, to themselves. Their refusal to share the wealth wasn’t surprising in the least, but seeing and feeling it for myself made the ball of hatred I had for this kingdom grow that much more.
I took a few shaky breaths, letting the energy sink into my skin. I was sure I’d get used to it and the fluxstones would be easy to ignore after a few days, but we should be long gone before that.
This was going to be a very quick trip. In and out with my family safe and sound aboard our ship.
I couldn’t wait.
Cody was going to love flying.
The closer our ship got to the wall-top docks, the more my body tensed up, both from excitement and from nerves.
I couldn’t wait to see Kayla and Cody, but I was really worried that someone would recognize me as a wanted man.
I didn’t think anyone from my old neighborhood would turn me in, but there was always a chance, so I wouldn’t risk it.
Not only for my sake, but for my family’s—old and new.
I was wearing a disguise, but anyone who knew me wouldn’t be fooled.
Willy had given me his brown knitted cap to hide my red hair under, and on the trip back, I’d let my facial hair grow out. I now had a full mustache and a little bit of scruff on my cheeks and chin—I couldn’t grow a full beard if my life depended on it, so I looked a bit scrappy.
Honestly, I hated it and couldn’t wait to shave it off because it was itchy, but Max seemed to like rubbing my scruff, so at least there was that.
Max hugged me from behind and kissed my cheek. “I need to head down to help make port.”
I nodded, gave his arm a squeeze, and took a deep breath. “Let’s go.”
I followed Max down the mainmast rigging and into the chaos.
This port was super busy, so things had to be more exact so we didn’t bump into another ship.
I’d only helped with docking twice so far—once at Duskwater Harbor and once in Gearhart—so I decided to follow Willy around and let him tell me what to do since he didn’t seem to mind having a shadow.
We’d changed The Black Wraith into The Golden Goose yesterday, well before any other ships also flying into Sunada had a chance to see us. No one should know we were truly a pirate ship. We’d only used our new facade in Asteris, so there was no reason anyone should even be suspicious.
Max met with the dock inspector, and I wasn’t surprised he knew someone he could pay off here the same way he had in Gearhart. I’d never realized how many people took bribes, but it certainly worked in our favor.
The crew disembarked, but Willy, Ariella, Max, and I hung back. The plan was to go shopping—or pretend to shop—at a store close to where Kayla worked, wait until she got off, and then Willy would approach her and give her a meeting spot.
It was too risky for me to head to my old home that I’d shared with her and Cody, and I didn’t want to risk her job or her boss, either.
There was a pub a few streets away from her work, so we’d meet there, and she could send for Cody as well.
I’d never been there before, so no one would recognize me, and it was typically crowded enough that we could hide in plain sight.
Or at least that was the best plan the four of us had come up with.
My nerves were making me a jittery mess, and Max must’ve noticed because as soon as the other pirates were gone, he leaned over and pressed a gentle kiss to my lips. “Alright?”
I nodded and blew out a breath. “Yeah, just… nervous, I guess.” I tugged the cap down. “You really think this’ll work?”
Max stepped closer and pulled the hood of the coat he’d bought me in Gearhart over my head. “Keep this up too.”
“You don’t think it’ll look suspicious?”
He shook his head. “There’s been a light drizzle off and on today, so I doubt anyone will notice.” He gave me another kiss, and I breathed him in, letting his scent calm me. “Ready?”
“Yeah.”
He looked to Ariella and Willy. “You two good?”
“Yep.” Willy shot him a grin, and Ariella nodded.
“Let’s go.”
Max led the way down the gangplank to the dock.
I wasn’t looking forward to walking down hundreds of steps to get to the ground since we were up on the very top of the kingdom’s wall.
But this trip would be a lot better than the one I’d taken up the stairs when I was running for my life. We could take our time if we needed to.
Max was familiar enough with these docks to lead the way to a less crowded set of stairs, but just as we reached them, I heard someone call my name.
“Kaspar?”
I froze, and Max and I exchanged wide-eyed looks.
“Kaspar?” another whispered yell came from my right.
All four of us put our hands on our weapons, Max ready to pull a gun while the rest of us had hands on the hilt of our swords strapped to our hips.
A figure moved over to us with raised hands, and it only took me a beat to recognize him. “Ethan?” My brow furrowed even as my heart soared at seeing my old friend. “What’re you doing here?” And better yet, how had he found me? Especially so soon after we left the ship.
Ethan stepped a little closer. “Kayla asked me to keep an eye out for you. She got your letter.” That made sense since he worked at the docks.
Some of the tension left Max, but he didn’t move his hand off his weapon. I couldn’t blame him. I’d do the same if it was anyone else.
I relaxed further and sent Ethan a smile.
“It’s so good to see you.” Before I could think better of it, I stepped forward and gave him a quick hug.
I never thought I’d see him again, and he’d saved my life by helping me escape in the first place.
If it wasn’t for him, I’d be plugged in inside the castle dungeon right about now.
Ethan hugged me back and sent me a smile when we parted, but the expression quickly changed to one of deep concern. “You’re really okay?”
I smiled. “I’m great.”
He glanced at the others, but before I could introduce them, his face crumbled, looking like he was about to cry. “I’m so sorry, Kas. I’m so, so sorry. I didn’t mean to tell them what ship you were on.”
I blinked, trying to figure out what the hellfire he was talking about, but then everything finally clicked. “You… you told the guards I was on The White Swan?”
He cringed. “I’m sorry. They…” He sighed and held up his hand, showing his missing pinky finger.
A choking sound came out of my throat, and I had to clear it a few times before I could speak in a low whisper. “They cut off your finger?”
He nodded. “They… they were going to cut off another, and I just… it slipped out, and I’m just so sorry.”
I stared at him for a long moment. Everything made sense now.
The Sunada Imperial Fleet had known I was on The White Swan, and when that traitorous pirate, Vulture, boarded their ship in Duskwater Harbor and gave up The Black Wraith, he must’ve told him about our alias.
They figured out I was on that ship. Holy phoenix tails.
I cringed. Hopefully none of our other aliases were compromised.
Ethan stood there, looking sad, pathetic, and defeated, and I just… couldn’t be mad at him. I couldn’t say that I wouldn’t have done the same thing if the guards were torturing me.
So I pulled him into another hug. He’d given up a damn finger for me. The least I could do was forgive him. He gripped me tightly, almost desperately. “It wasn’t your fault.” I released him and held him at arm’s length. “It’s not your fault.”
His chin quivered, but he managed to keep the tears in as he gave me a nod. “Thank you. You… you’re a great friend.”
I squeezed his hand and released him before reaching over for Max’s hand. “So are you.” I pointed to my companions. “This is Max, he’s my, uh, boyfriend. And this is Willy and Ariella. Guys, this is Ethan. He’s the one who helped me find your ship when I, you know, stowed away.”
Max gave him a nod. “Nice to meet you.” I had no doubt he’d put everything together as well, and I was happy to see he wasn’t blaming my friend.
Ethan sent him and my friends a tentative smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. That was unlike him, but maybe he was stressed since I was wanted.
I asked, “How’re Kayla and Cody? I can’t wait to see them.”
If anything, that statement made his face fall further. He nodded to the side, so I moved over, out of the way of the stairs, and my little group followed me, watching my back.
Ethan wrung his hands together, and a sinking feeling made my stomach drop. “What? What’s wrong? Are they sick?”
He shook his head. “No… no, Kayla’s fine. She’s at work, like normal.”
If Kayla was fine, then that meant… “So it’s Cody? What’s wrong with him? Did something happen?”
He sucked in a breath. “They arrested Cody.”
I blinked at that, the information not making a bit of sense. “What? What’re you talking about? Cody’s only twelve. They wouldn’t arrest him.”
“Kas… he… they took him in a month ago.”
“Why? What the hellfire? They can’t just arrest children!” As bad as Sunada was, they didn’t typically go around arresting kids for no reason.
Something in Ethan’s expression softened. “You really had no idea, huh?” I shook my head, not understanding. “Cody’s a fluxweaver. He came into his power about a month ago, right in the middle of school. There was no hiding it.”
“But… but… no. He’s not a fluxweaver. He’s not.”
“He is.”
“He’s twelve, Eth. Everyone knows that powers come in by age ten. He can’t… he can’t have magic.”
Ethan’s worried expression showed the truth of his statement. “He is, Kas. He’s a fluxweaver.”
My nephew was a fluxweaver? That… that made no sense.
If I would’ve known, I never would’ve left him here. I would’ve found a way to get him out a long time ago.
Ethan quietly added, “They plugged him in.”
The words hit like a punch to the face, and I turned my horrified expression to Max, his face matching my own.
“Max.” My words came out in a whisper as my eyes filled with tears.
He pulled me into his side and kissed my temple. “I’m so sorry, Kas.”
My chin quivered, but I looked up into the eyes of my pirate captain and said, “I have to save him.”
Max shook his head. “No, Kas. We have to save him.”
To be continued…