The Runaway King (The Ascendance Trilogy #2)

“I was there as a friend, and only left because they allowed it. It’s outsiders who don’t return, and if they make us pirates, we’ll only leave by their permission.”

That certainly complicated things. I said, “Tell me more about Tarblade Bay.”

Erick nodded. “It exists on three elevations, all of it visible from the sea, but by the time a ship is close enough to see it, the pirates have spotted them. By land, only the highest level is visible, and all it appears to be is a cleared field surrounded by tall, thick trees. That’s where they meet as a group. Down a little hill are the kitchen and various tents. But again, a traveler could pass right beside it and not know any of it was there, unless they heard noises.”

“Obviously.”

Erick was less amused this time. “Do you want to know this or not?” I shrugged and he continued. “There’s a steep path that leads from the living areas down to the beach below. It’s a cliff wall along most of that beach otherwise. Backed against the cliff wall are places for everyone to sleep, except for the senior pirates up on top.”

“That’s where we’ll sleep, then,” I said, “by the beach.”

“You’ll love it,” Erick said. “Each wave hitting the shore is another note in a lullaby.”

With that we fell into silence. Although I had to admit an excitement to sit beside the sea again, I was nervous about meeting the pirates. Everything I cared about hinged on my success, and at this point, failure seemed far more likely. It was several hours later when Erick halted our group and pointed ahead. From our position there was very little evidence of anyone living here, yet Erick proudly announced, “Welcome to Tarblade.”

As we rode farther into Tarblade Bay, our reception was as frosty as I’d expected. Pirates dressed mostly in black peered around corners of huts or from beneath their low-brimmed hats. A few of them withdrew whatever weapon they carried and slunk toward Erick, Fink, and me. A quick glance at my companions told me they felt just as anxious as I did. There were far too many ways for this moment to go wrong.

Erick held out his sword, blade down, then signaled for me to do the same. Fink had snagged the sword I’d refused, but it looked large for him and he struggled to manage it with only one hand.

The expressions on the pirates’ faces ranged from unfriendly to murderous, with more of them in the latter category than I’d have liked. They looked rougher than most other men I’d ever encountered and were more sordid than any description I’d read about them. I wondered if Devlin was amongst them and how I’d respond when we met. I could hardly think his name without a surge of anger inside me.

As the pirates got closer, one of them recognized Erick. Perhaps this man had been stretched too often as a child, because everything about him seemed long: his height, his face, his nose. His cobalt blue eyes were too close together, but at least they’d escaped the stretching, and his thin dark hair fell like twine and came almost to his shoulders. When he saw us, his face widened into a grin. “Erick, my friend! How long has it been?”

“Too long, Agor. Too long.” Erick replaced his sword, then dismounted. Gesturing, he said, “This is Fink, an errand boy of mine” — I noticed Fink blink at that — “and this is a new member of my family, Sage.”

I tried to look like whatever Agor would expect to see as he studied me.

“Are you Avenian?” Agor asked. “What’s your history?”

“He’s Avenian,” Erick answered for me. “But his reputation was made in Carthya.”

Agor raised an eyebrow and with a chuckle I added, “Trust me, I am very well known in Carthya.”

Agor considered that, then said to Erick, “Why have you come?”

“To talk to Devlin. I have a proposal for him.”

“Devlin won’t return until this afternoon. You can tell me your proposal.”

Erick hesitated. He didn’t want Agor to get the credit for our news, but he couldn’t refuse a direct request either. Finally, with a smile, he made the only choice he could. “Of course, my friend. But I’d rather we spoke in private.”

“You make me curious.” Agor motioned that they should walk down the hill, to where the huts were located. Fink and I slid off our horses with the intention of joining the meeting, but Agor held up a hand. “Not you two. I don’t know you yet.”

“But it’s my idea he wants to tell you about,” I protested.

“It’s only talk,” Erick said calmly. “You and Fink wait here for me.”

“Not here.” Agor gestured to a couple of men behind us. “Lock them up.”

I went for my knife but Erick got to me quickly and put a steadying hand on my arm. “It’s just until I talk to them. Let them have your weapons.”

“If we decide you’re all right, you’ll get these back,” Agor said as I reluctantly handed my knife and sword to the men.

“What if you decide I’m not?”

Agor grinned, revealing gaps between several of his teeth. “Then you won’t need these weapons where you’re going.”

“Come this way,” a black-haired pirate said, using my own sword to guide Fink and me deeper into Tarblade.

The prison wasn’t far from the hut where Agor and Erick went to meet, but it was mostly dug into the ground, with only a small iron-barred window near the roof for air and light. The room itself was tiny and lined with stale earth or rusty bars. Beyond that a chair had been placed, where the black-haired pirate was to be our vigil.

“How long do you think we’ll be in here?” Fink asked.

“Dunno.” I pulled at the bars blocking the window, but they were firm.

“Pull all you want. You wouldn’t be the first to try escaping.” The man stood as if someone had caught his attention and went up the steps. I couldn’t hear the conversation at first, until he said something about us being fine as we were.

Then a female voice said, “Agor wants them treated like guests. I’ve got some water here to refresh them.”

At the first word, my heart had stopped cold in my chest, for it was a voice that I knew as well as my own. But only seconds later, before I could even begin to grasp what it might mean, Imogen walked down the stairs.

She avoided my eyes, but clearly wasn’t surprised to see me. True, several people knew the pirates and I had unfinished business, but it was also supposed to be true that a person couldn’t just find the pirates. They had to let the pirates find them. How was she here?

“Will you keep an eye on these two while I’m at the outhouse?” our vigil asked. “They shouldn’t be any trouble.”

“Of course.” As the man ran up the stairs, Imogen turned to us. “Agor doesn’t want you mistreated. So how are you?”

The question was so simple I almost couldn’t comprehend it. All I could do was stare at her with my mouth hung open. Imogen’s servant braid had returned, as had her far more humble clothes, a muslin chemise with a brown overdress that laced up the front. Back at the castle she’d said she would leave as she came, but I’d had no idea then how literally she’d meant it.

“We’re fine,” Fink said.