CHAPTER ELEVEN #2
“Best get used to hearing her.” The sphinx ambled into the tent and circled once, flipping her wings tight to her spine before settling on the thick, double-layered rugs, and struck a pose like a carved statue. Her words echoed again through my head.
Never again to question.
Never again to doubt.
Your heart’s desire.
Achieved.
Once you overcome your fears.
I still couldn’t come up with any idea of what the gold lion-girl was talking about; my heart didn’t have any questions, nor were my desires unfulfilled. Not anymore. As for my fears? I snorted. I’d overcome them long ago.
Typical mystical mumbo-jumbo. I had no need for sphinxes and their prophecies. No one else chose my path in life, and I definitely wasn’t going to base it on random statements by a creature, no matter its reputation.
“Not random,” she interrupted my thoughts as if she’d read them.
“Timestreams flow in very specific patterns. I see them, read them, walk through them. I see everything.” With those last words, her voice crackled, as if it came from a much older woman.
For those few seconds, the young girl’s face became that of an aged crone.
It lasted for only those couple of breaths before she was once more youthful, with a sly look in her golden eyes.
“Ask me something. You know you want to.”
“Why?” I was bored, waiting on Taenya and Ozora, so the sphinx’s teasing lured me in. “Why tell anyone anything, but make it next to impossible to be of any help?”
“I know.” She sounded now like a small, disappointed child. “It bugs me, too. I try, I really do, to make it more clear, or give hints, but sometimes I just can’t. Or it hurts.” Her face twisted, as if in remembered pain. Oddly enough, I believed her.
“What about my past?” I asked. “Want to tell me where I messed up with Ozora?”
Dear Gahan, why did I let that slip out?
Wide golden eyes fastened onto mine as if they’d never let go.
I’d always dismissed the idea of someone looking into another’s soul, but that’s what Cleobah did.
Her gaze poured through me. Followed little tracks and trails, finding all my past misdeeds and adventures, then illuminated them briefly before moving on to the next.
“It wasn’t you. It was her.” Her leonine shoulders and wings lifted and settled in a shrug.
At that moment, Taenya walked in, followed by Ozora.
They stopped short, seeing me sitting at a table for one.
Silence filled the tent with its heavy fog, and I could tell from the storm cloud hovering over Ozora’s brow that she had words for me.
It was almost comical to watch first confusion, then embarrassment wash over her as my crew brought in the bigger table and chairs.
They kept their lips sealed, taking their seats, and I held my chuckle when the sphinx said we would all have ‘a cozy chat.’ I was there, but I was getting out as fast as I could.
“Finally. Let’s get this over with. Who’s hungry?” I said as everyone settled, spreading my hands. “Wait... Sure you want to dine with me after I tried to kill you?”
Ozora’s brown eyes turned almost black and the silence that followed my words was heavy. Taenya broke it like a hammer, all blunt force and no subtlety.
“Considering all our history.” She emphasized the word that linked us together. “I’d say now we’re even.” As she sat, Taenya added, “Maybe we try starting from scratch?”
Realizing I’d practically dug a hole in the already threadbare carpet with my heel, I kicked back, propping my feet up on the table.
“You must be truly desperate if you’ve come here to beg for my help.”
FIVE YEARS AGO...
“Get your hands off me, you ass!” My first clue she wasn’t throwing herself at the famous privateer, Fraser Connell. Jolts of lightning swiftly followed her barked command, and vivid blue slashes leapt from her fingers to my arms.
I released her and jumped back, stumbling, and almost tripping.
“Great Gahan!” I cursed. “What did you do that for?” I shook my hands, trying to ease the effects of the mage’s defensive spell. It didn’t work. Painful tingling spread from where the bolts had struck, down into my fingers and up to my shoulders.
“Decent people offer to help when someone trips, not take the opportunity for a free feel,” she snapped, and flashed a rude finger-gesture in my direction. Numin rippled, and she stepped sideways through a teleportal that opened to her right and vanished.
“A spicy new mage in town?” I murmured to myself. The bustle of the surrounding bazaar never slackened, even though I stood there, unmoving.
“Everything okay, sir?” Bishop, one of my guards, asked. He was part of my crew, and ever since the DeLanges’ failed attempt at mutiny, Gordon insisted I take two guards with me in the city.
“You saw that mage?” I asked him. When he nodded confirmation, I added, “Find where she’s staying, would you?”
Bishop’s expression didn’t flicker. He nodded again, and said, “Yes, sir.” Only his eyes held a glint of laughter.
I’d been looking for a mage. A teleportal spell cast that rapidly after she blasted me meant she was skilled and powerful. She was also right. I was an ass, and now I had to convince her to help me.
Gahan, god of the waves, must have favored me, shoving the mage I needed into my path. Swift to punish me, too, for acting a fool. My arms still burned and tingled from shoulders to fingertips, but I grinned. It was my lucky day after all.
Hastrior had no local mages, which was unusual but a mystery I wasn’t going to solve at the moment.
I needed a mage because I needed air amulets, and Skirmisher’s mages couldn’t craft them.
They were one of the last pieces essential for my next mission.
I’d been considering sailing up the coast to Alurenth to another port in search of a mage.
Now, hopefully, that wouldn’t be necessary.
I just needed to convince her to contract for the amulets after our unfortunate introduction.
Once Bishop found her, which didn’t take long.
“Come to Hastrior to sell her wares. Sounds like she’s got quite an inventory of amulets, potions, and artifacts, that sort of thing,” he reported the next day, handing me a slip of paper with the address of her hotel.
Two days later, I sat at an outdoor table of a café across from her lodging.
She routinely ate breakfast there before moving on to the bazaar, and liked to get there early.
After, she’d move on to her spot under a large shady tree to sell her wares.
This was her favorite table in the café.
Where she liked to sit while she sipped and nibbled as she read her book because it gave her a view of the pretty park down the road, with carefully graveled paths winding through tall trees.
The rattling wheels of her cart squeaked to a halt behind me.
“You don’t have to apologize in person for groping me. Staying away would’ve been enough.”
I stood and turned to look her up and down. She lifted one dark eyebrow, her brown eyes gone black.
“How could I when you are so exactly what I need?” I asked.
I let desire fill my gaze. Since she so clearly expected me to be sleazy, I gave her what she wanted. She snorted and crossed her arms, her eyes sharp, daring me. “Is that so?” she asked, her tone light but somehow more dangerous. “What sort of need do you feel I can satisfy?”
“A mage,” I told her, melting away the innuendo. “I need a mage, and for some reason, there seem to be none in Hastrior. Or at least, none of your obvious skill and talent.” Her defiant expression crumpled into confusion. Maybe a little regret? At least, I hoped that’s what I saw.
I hadn’t been able to stop imagining her body against mine, and her sweet lily scent, ever since I’d held her, but I needed air amulets more than I needed a woman in my bed.
Those were easy enough to acquire, but mages were proving difficult to find.
So, I quelled my desires and focused on business.
It was still fun to see her blush at my hints, even as she stabbed me with her gaze.
“I need air amulets to protect my crew if they fall overboard or get snared by wild sirens. My mages are all water elementals, so they can’t make them,” I told her. “I’m hoping you can.” The wariness didn’t leave her eyes, but interest sparked.
“Those aren’t easy. Sylphs and sprites are fickle, and I need one for each amulet. How many?” No more hostility lingered in her expression. Talking about magic erased the last traces of it, and I took a deep breath of relief that at least she could make them.
“One hundred,” I said. “To start.”
Her lovely eyes darted over me, taking in my clothes, my weapons. “Who are you?” she blurted into the awkward silence that filled the space behind her unsubtle assessment of me.
“Fraser Connell, at your service.” I sketched a bow worthy of a king’s court and to hide my surprise that she didn’t recognize me.
She’d heard of me, though. Since I returned to the world above the waves, since I took over Skirmisher, I’d never been so pleased to see a woman look so shocked at learning my identity.
“The pirate captain?” Her deep brown eyes lit with golden sparks of wonder, and her jaw slackened. I grinned. She’d probably heard plenty of rumors.
“Privateer,” I corrected her gently. “I’m paid to hunt pirates, among other things.”
“You’re the one who killed the prince?” Subtlety was not her strong suit. None in Hastrior would come right out and make that accusation to my face. No one, anywhere, would, in fact, but this little mage had no problem speaking her mind, it seemed.
“Never listen to rumors.” I sidestepped her question. Her brow twitched and lips pursed, but she didn’t press.
“Isn’t stalking lowly Journey mages below such a lofty person as yourself? Don’t you have important city governance to see to?” This mage was no stranger to verbal sparring. She deflected and sidestepped with matching skill.
“After we settle on your price for the amulets. What will you need?” Banter was fun, but I was ready to sit and eat.
“You’re serious.” Her head tilted to look deeper into my eyes.
She was nearly a foot shorter than me, and it was a stretch for her.
She even rose on her toes, expression intent, to study me, and swayed, momentarily losing her balance.
Close enough that the heat from her skin was akin to a touch, and I could almost taste her sweet lily scent.
“I never joke about my crew’s safety.” I kept my arms at my sides, though it wasn’t easy.
“A most considerate pirate.” She regained her balance, unfortunately, and stepped back, clearing her throat, as if only just then recognizing how close she’d come to leaning against my chest. Disappointment jabbed that she hadn’t toppled into me a second time.
“Excuse me, privateer.” She widened those glittering eyes with exaggerated emphasis. Even her sarcastic correction was adorable.
“It’s an important distinction, but I might be a prince now, since the job is open,” I said.
“Privateers get the standard rate. Princes pay triple.” She really was quick-witted, and I chuckled with appreciation.
“If I’m paying that much, I’ll expect your undivided attention.
” I didn’t care about the price at all. Seeing her face blanked of expression from shock, as if she didn’t expect my answer, was worth it.
She caught up hastily and didn’t hide the calculation in her smile.
It nearly undid me. Right there in the café, I wanted to kiss that devious mouth until she moaned my name.
She could ask as outrageous a sum as she liked if she’d give me that burning, saucy look again.
“If you’re serious, you can buy me breakfast and tell me the rest.”
“Absolutely. That’s what I planned on doing.” I kept my voice neutral, bland even. Once again, she cast that wondering look over me, still suspicious but starting to wonder if she could let go of her initial caution.
Good. I needed the amulets, which meant I needed her. Not someone else. Her. I’d settle for just the mage, but I couldn’t help speculating what it would take to erase the doubt still lingering at the back of those deep brown eyes.
She wasn’t beautiful. Not in the classic, high-fashion sense. Yet, she was stunning. It was the light that shone from her, a glow that made her irresistible, made me want to tear away the disciplined mask that covered her delicate features.
I pulled the chair out for her. She looked me up and down with growing curiosity, then nodded as if she’d reached an inner decision.
“I’m going to treat you like you’re a respectable businessman and this is a legitimate contract.” She maneuvered her cart of wares and supplies off to the side and sat in the chair I held.
“Naturally.” Easy enough to agree with that requirement. “That’s what this is,” I assured her as I sat back down.
“Prove otherwise—” she raised both hands and made grabby motions—“and I will turn you into a starling.” She leaned across the table to emphasize her point. “And leave you that way.”
My laugh burst out, but at her wide-eyed, serious stare, I cut it off.
“I’m duly chastened, Lady...?” I paused, waiting for her to fill in the blank.
“Ozora,” She corrected, folding her hands in her lap. “I’m no Lady. Journey mage is my only title, and no need to use it.”
“Why a starling?” My curiosity prompted me to ask.
“Did you know starlings are excellent mimics? I had an auntie who nursed one with a broken wing. Little Speckles learned to repeat certain things auntie said, even his name.” I blinked in confusion at her non-answer.
Her lips curved with satisfaction before turning up in a broader smile to the server who’d approached our table. “Good morning, Raven, how are you?”
They exchanged quick chit-chat while Ozora ordered a deliciously decadent breakfast, quite unlike her frugal bowl of fruit and yoghurt the previous day. I waited patiently through their gossip, and after I placed my order, she gave her explanation. It did not disappoint.
“Because then, just like Speckles, you could tell everyone who you were and have to eat bugs.” That was unquestionably a challenge in her sweet expression and sparkling eyes.
“Very specific.” I nodded, impressed.
She shrugged. “People think because I travel alone, I must be an easy target.”
“How many starlings would recognize you, Ozora?”
The see-sawing motion she made with one hand seemed to belie her cheery, “Not too many.”
Bright, merry, and genuine, yet if I were to retrace her travels somehow, I was sure I’d hear a few starlings call her name. Why she was still journeying with all her talent, I didn’t care. She was there now, and I had to have her.