Paying the Price (8 page)

I looked at the sun. "Ten hours? I am not a naval captain, Captain, but either you are faster than them or you are slower than them. Either way, this isn't going to really last ten hours, is it?"

I looked at her. "You're too young to be a ship's captain."

"It was a special mission."

"Is this your first command?"

"Yes."

I studied her closely. She was sweating far more than the warmth of the day suggested she should. "You're terrified."

She looked back at me. "Getting you to Rendarin could end the war. That's all that matters."

"You are delusional if you believe that."

"I have a treaty signed by both queens."

"I haven't seen it. I still believe at best it was a ruse to convince Linara to betray me to you."

"Do you believe my personal motivations?" she asked me.

I studied her. "Actually, yes, I do."

"I have not lied to you."

She went back to watching the other ships and calling orders to the men. I watched as they swung through the rigging, making small adjustments to get the most from the sails.

"May I continue to watch from here?"

"Do you promise to attempt no further foolishness like you did with the knife?"

"Of course not. Are you going to be petty about it?"

She looked back to me. "I will make an agreement with you. I will allow you to watch from here until it turns dangerous, after which time you will retreat to the cabin
if you agree to something I want."

"It depends upon what you want."

"An honest discussion of peace, if we get out of this."

"Neither of us have any authority on that."

"I could drop you back off in Norinia. Or you could agree to cooperate freely with your transport to Tendaria. Or we could continue to disagree."

"All right," I said. "I agree to a good faith discussion whenever you like."

After that, I stayed on the poop deck, watching. In some ways it was exciting. If they caught us, there would undoubtedly be a battle, unless Dareena surrendered. She could try surrendering with the hopes the other captains would honor the treaty she said she held. I didn't suggest that to her. I wondered if it had occurred to her.

If there was a battle, there would be chaos. We could be sunk. I could die. I wasn't sure if that was a good thing.

And I wondered if her peace was real. It seemed impossible a war of four years old could end so easily.

By early afternoon, it was clear the other ships were faster. At least one of them was, I wasn't sure about the other one yet. I wondered if there were more below the horizon. I commented on that possibility.

"It is impossible to know," Dareena said. "Things are dire enough two to one, and they are bigger than we are, but we may be more maneuverable."

"They probably have more experienced captains, perhaps captains that are accustomed to working together."

"You think I don't already know that?"

"If you let me go in a life raft, I could call them off."

"Or they might sail right past you without seeing you."

"Make it a life raft with a sail. I can point her west." I smiled.

"Interesting offer," Dareena said. "I'll keep it in mind."

The sails didn't exactly get bigger, but over time, it was clear we could see more of each ship as they drew closer, coming above the horizon.

"They're faster," I said.

"Yes."

Throughout all this, Dareena had been giving orders to the crew. There had been small course corrections for reasons I couldn't fathom and frequent small changes to the set of the sails.

By mid-afternoon, I couldn't have judged whether the other ships would catch us before dark. The cabin boys came by, handing out food. "Dareena, I left the sheets hanging up to dry."

She said something to Francis who answered her. "Francis took care of it," she said. "He rewashed your original tunic and breeches; they grew musty. Everything is down below drying off. They will be returned tomorrow."

"Thank you."

She nodded.

By late afternoon, I could see the hulls of both ships. They were still quite a ways off, but I didn't think we would make it until dark.

"Dareena," I said. "Why hasn't Tendaria used battle magic in the war? I've been in several skirmishes, and in none of them has any magic been used."

"That is a state secret," she said. "I won't answer questions like that."

"If it's because you can't, then it perhaps might also mean that those ships aren't expecting battle magic to be used and may not have any means to counteract it."

She turned to look at me. "This is a moot conversation."

"Is it? Why am I wearing this amulet if I have no magic?"

She laughed. "As if you would use your magic against your own ships. You want them to catch us."

"Remove the amulet and the collar and I will disable both ships. Then you set me on a life raft and
sail
away. You can save everyone aboard.
I can go home and confront my betraying sister. Everyone wins. Well, except my sister.
"

"I am sorry, but I must decline your offer. I have a counter offer."

"Oh, do tell."

"If you vow to accept the collar and amulet afterwards, I will allow you to disable the ships and we sail away with you."

"You would trust me not to sink us?"

"If you vowed on your honor, yes."

I thought about what she was implying. "Interesting offer. I must decline. You shouldn't trust me, anyway."

"You would violate your oath?"

"Why not? You did."

She was silent for a while, and we went back to watching the other ships. Fifteen minutes later, they were noticeably closer. "Could you really disable them?"

"Honestly? I don't know. It is a significant distance over salt water. I've never tried to use magic on the open sea. I also wouldn't know what to do."

"Disabling their rudders would be sufficient."

The next time the first mate drew close, Dareena talked to him for a moment, and he handed her a spyglass. She studied both ships for a time then handed the spyglass back to the mate.

"May I see?"

She looked at me.

"I have been polite all afternoon. What would it hurt?"

She nodded and talked to the mate. He handed me the spyglass. I extended it and peered through it.

It was a trick to use it on the rolling deck of the ship, but I grew used to it after a few moments. I studied the nearest ship.

"Oh, what do you know?" I said. "That ship is the
Enigma
."

Dareena took the spyglass back from me and looked at the ship. "I don't see a name. It would only be on the stern."

"Do you see the captain?"

"It is way too far away to recognize the captain from here."

"Do you see the unusual hat he is wearing? That is Mindo Grayson. I've known him all my life, and I've never seen him without that hat. He is a very experienced captain. Granted, he was a merchant captain before the war. Maybe he doesn't know how to conduct a sea battle."

"Would he recognize you?"

"Not at this distance, as you say. Not even much closer unless he has reason to expect me."

"But if we were in hailing distance, then yes?"

"Then yes. I would make a good ransom."

She didn't respond. We continued to run from the Norinian ships, but it was clear we would be in cannon range long before dark.

"You are going to lose, Captain," I said. "You can negotiate your surrender terms with me."

She turned to look at me. "If you have any offers that get you to your trial, I will consider them."

"You are awfully single minded."

"You are awfully cheerful compared to earlier."

There was a cry from the crow's nest. Dareena smiled. "We haven't lost yet."

She didn't offer to elaborate.

"Are you going to make me ask?"

She didn't respond.

"Captain, why haven't we lost?"

"Because the lookout reports land."

"Tendaria?"

"Possibly Norinia, but more likely the Marsh of Neebo. I haven't taken a sighting since this morning, but I was aiming for the marsh."

"Another fifty miles and you could
have run us aground in Tendaria, perhaps made it to the port at Terini.
"

"Yes. What bad luck."

At that, the
Enigma
fired
from one of it
s bow chaser cannon's. I couldn't even see where the ball landed.

"That seemed silly," I said.

"He is just saying 'hello'." Dareena turned to me. "It is time for you to go below."

"Please let me stay."

"It is too dangerous. Your life is too valuable. And yes, I recognize the irony."

"The stern most cabin is going to be distinctly safer?"

"You will be hiding in the safe locker. It will protect you from all but a direct cannon ball strike."

"You're going to lock me in a closet for the next several hours?"

"I'm sorry."

I eyed the other ships. "You won't consider surrender?"

"No."

"You have time to tell me your plan at least."

"We are shallower than they are. There are countless shoals off the Marsh of Neebo. Maybe they'll run aground. If not, and we can't escape, I'll drive the ship to shore. You and I will flee inland while my men draw them off in another direction."

I started to laugh. "You have never been to the Marsh of Neebo. It is, well, a Marsh. There is no inland. If you wreck us there, the only way to leave is by boat. Plan accordingly. Where is the safe locker?"

"Follow," she said. She headed to the ladder leading from the poop back to the main deck. I followed behind her, taking one last glance at the pursuing ships. It would be a fight soon.

She entered the passageway to her cabin but stopped at the first door on the right. She held it open for me. It was an exceedingly thick door of solid timber. She ushered me in.

"Please don't lock me in here."

"I a
m sorry. Get in."

Meekly I stepped past her. There was a small bench. I sat down on it.

"Meorie, you will remain in this room with the door closed until someone comes to get you, the fighting has clearly stopped, or you are in immediate danger of drowning. You will take all precaution with your own safety. If you leave this cabin and are not in my company, you will make all effort to travel to the palace in Rendarin and present yourself to the guards. Do you understand?"

I hung my head. "Yes."

She pulled a watertight satchel from inside her tunic. "Meorie, you will keep this safe. Put it inside your tunic and do not lose it." I had no choice but was forced to do as she said. "You will leave it there until I ask for it back or until you present it to the queen in
Rendarin."

"It
'
s the treaty?"

"Yes."

"It's real?"

"Yes."

She began to close the door. "Please don't leave me here, Dareena." I paused. "I will cooperate."

She stopped closing the door and looked at me. "Why would you offer that?"

"The worst is not knowing. Not knowing what will happen during this battle. Not knowing what will happen at the trial. Not knowing if you have been lying to me. Not knowing if my sister is suffering for what she has done, if you aren't lying. Not knowing how you will execute me." I paused. "Not to mention, this is a jail cell. I haven't been convicted of anything yet." I smiled
wanly
. "Will my time in here count towards my punishment after the trial
,
along
with my tortures earlier
?"

She offered a small laugh. "I am truly sorry."

Then she closed the door.

"Dareena! Please!" I said to the closed door. There was no response. I banged my hands against it several times, but she had forbidden me opening the door.

I slumped in the dark.

* * *

A while later, there was cannon fire. I felt the ship maneuvering, changing direction. I wondered if people were dying.

It seemed like perhaps there was a lot of firing with little effect. We would maneuver, and then I would hear the cannons, and then we maneuvered again.

The door was thick. I couldn't hear any yelling or screaming. I could
n't
tell if any of the noises I heard were of cannon fire ripping through the
Ysura Martani
.

I hoped Captain Grayson remained unhurt. He had been kind to me as a child.