Chapter 42
Captain Solyen’s personality is not at all what I expected.
Enver talked about him like he was an ordinary man, and though he seems like a common broad-shouldered mortal with a graying beard, golden-brown skin, and a pot belly, he’s a drunk.
“Look at the lot of you!” he bellows as he meets us on the dock. He walks with his back straight and a silver flask in his right hand. Before he stops in front of us, he takes a swig from the flask, then releases a wet gasp.
Behind him is a massive black ship with silver trimmings.
The name Emellie is painted on the ship’s bow in silver as well.
Black-and-ivory sails flap gently in the breeze while several men march along the deck, tossing ropes and washing the deck.
One man is in the crow’s nest watching us. When I catch his eye, he turns away.
“Captain Solyen, this is the group I was telling you about.” Enver gestures to us with a sway of his hand. “They’ve requested someone to sail them to The Shallows.”
Captain Solyen looks at Enver like he’s waiting for the punchline.
When he doesn’t get one, he scans all of us, then a smile spreads across his face.
He throws his head back in a laugh—a boisterous, raspy, and slightly annoying laugh.
I bet if you listen to him cackle for too long, you’ll develop a headache.
Thane sighs while Rynthea huffs, irritated.
“We aren’t joking,” Rynthea grumbles. “We need a ride to The Shallows today.”
“And we’ll pay you.” Thane steps forward with a pouch, holding it by the strings.
Captain Solyen’s smile fades as he sticks out his hand and accepts the loaded pouch.
Tucking his flask beneath his armpit, he opens the pouch and dumps some of the coins into his palm.
When he sees all the gold, his eyes grow wide.
“This is a lot of coin you’ve got here.” Solyen looks at us beneath his bushy brows.
“Will it be enough to get us there?” Thane asks.
“Oh—more than enough,” he assures him, dumping the coins back into the pouch. “But it feels wrong taking money from dead people.”
His words make my stomach twist into a thick knot.
“We’ll take our chances,” Thane tells him.
“You lot are lucky I’ve got some time on my hands. Next shipment won’t be out for another week.” Solyen gives each of us a thorough assessment before putting his focus on Enver. “Are they friends of yours?”
“Not all of them,” Enver answers. “Just her.” He points at me with a smile. I return a half smile but don’t miss the way Thane shifts closer to me.
“Well, before you board my sweet Emellie, you ought to know that I won’t sail you all the way to The Shallows.
I’ll make a stop and drop a boat for you to row the rest of the way.
Unlike you lot, I care about my precious life.
Strange things happen the closer you get to that vile island, and I want no part of it. ”
“Fine.” Rynthea shifts on her hooves as she folds her arms.
“‘Fine,’ she says.” Solyen chortles to himself. “All right. Get your asses on the ship, since you’re so ready to die.”
I tuck my thumb under one of the straps of my rucksack and start following everyone to the mouth of the ship—that is until Enver calls my name. He’s leaning next to a damp post near the end of the dock. Thane pauses as he eyes me.
“I’ll be right there,” I assure him.
He nods, giving Enver a bored once-over before turning around again and walking up the gangway.
“Are you absolutely sure about this, Zaira?” Enver asks as I approach him.
“Enver, I don’t have a choice.”
“You always have a choice.”
“Oh yeah, you’re right,” I reply sarcastically. “The better choice here is to let my sister die because I’m a coward.”
“Analla wouldn’t want you to do this, Zaira, and you know it.”
I sigh, shifting my attention to the turquoise waters.
“She would tell you to let it go. To let her handle the consequences,” he presses on.
“And she’d also know that I wouldn’t listen.” I glare at him this time. “I do have a choice, Enver, and I’ve made mine. I’m going.”
“How do you know that crew will actually protect you? How do you know they won’t leave you hanging as soon as trouble arises?” Enver takes my hand and wraps it in both of his. “You don’t know these people, Zaira. You’re going to get yourself killed.”
“I know them enough.”
His eyebrows knit together as he scans me. “I spoke to a visionary last night so I could know more about everyone in your group.”
My heart slows in rhythm. “You what? Why would you do that?”
“He’s a former member of The Divine, Zaira? I can safely assume he’s on the run and that they’ve been searching for him.”
I snatch my hand out of his. “Enver, you had no right—”
“I had every right,” he hisses, thick brows knitting.
“You brought danger to my gates! You’re lucky I didn’t call for Queen Halsenya and report him.
The only reason I didn’t is because I promised you I wouldn’t.
There has been a bounty on his head for years.
You most likely knew this, yet you said nothing. ”
“What does it matter?” I snap. “Like you said, we won’t survive The Shallows. We’ll all be dead, so there’ll be nothing to report to the queen. All your troubles will be gone.”
Enver softens now. “Zaira, don’t speak like that—”
“I have to go.” I give him my back before he can reach for me again and storm up the ramp. The fucking audacity of him.
“What the shadows did he want?” Rynthea asks when I reach her side.
“He just wanted to wish us good luck,” I lie, throwing a fake wave at him.
Rynthea makes a noise of disapproval. I’m not sure if she knows I’m lying and possibly heard everything.
When Enver tosses me a wave back, I twist around, close my eyes for a moment, and draw in a deep breath to cool my anger. Then I sit on the nearest bench with Rynthea and send up a prayer of protection to Orvena.