The Wrath of a Shipless Pirate (The Godlanders War) (26 page)

She tapped her fingers on the carriage door. She fiddled with the bangles on her arms. She huffed in irritation and rolled her eyes toward the storefront. She was the very picture of an
agitated lad
y.

Corin stared at her, perplexed. Where was the beaten slave he’d come to rescue? Where was the helpless damsel in distress? But she had never been helpless, had she? That was half of what he’d loved about her. She was fierce and proud and more than able in any circumstances.
…

And here and now, by all appearances, she was a proud Vestossi lady.

C
orin shuddered at the thought of it. She couldn’t be. She was an untamed spirit, a wild wind, a mystery. She was no Vestossi trinket.

But
something
strange was going on. He puzzled at it until his head began to ache, but he could find no explanation. He’d almost made up his mind to just go forward, to confront her and discover the whole truth, but the driver beat him to it. The young man emerged from the shop, bearing a small black box. He handed it up to Iryana, and she accepted it with little grace. She said some word, and the driver climbed into his seat and cracked his whip.

For a moment, Corin worried that the errands were all done, that the carriage was returning to the mansion and he’d missed his chance to unravel these new mysteries. But the carriage bore her half a block before it stopped outside a quiet little wine shop. She climbed down from the cab and paid the driver some small coins. He rolled away, back toward the house, and she went alone into the shop.

Two burly guards stood watch over the street. They nodded a familiar greeting to the desert girl. Corin took small hope in that. Perhaps these were Vestossi guards, and this a Vestossi shop. Perhaps she wasn’t really free at all, but always under supervision. Every living body in this part of town could be bought and owned with Vestossi silver. It might be a wide prison, a pretty prison, but it could still be a prison all the same.

He told himself that must be true and went to rescue her. He found a side door on a narrow alley and slipped in behind the kitchens. He went ten paces down a narrow corridor and emerged into the patrons’ lounge. He almost laughed in his surprise.

The wine shop fit the neighborhood perfectly. Its storefront was immaculate and understated, but this was not enough to hide its opulence. Inside, it was dark as sin, full of whispered secrets. Corin watched, unseen, while a hostess in black livery
led the
dusky woman to a corner booth. He waited while she settled herself. Then he slipped across the room, searching every corner as he went. He saw no other skulkers, no other watching eyes. It was a place that prized discretion above all. He strode right to her table and took a seat across from her.

She gasped and pressed a hand to her mouth. Gold bangles glittered on her wrist, and gemstones sparkled on her fingers. They could scarcely compete with her natural beauty, though. Corin smiled for her. “Why am I always saving you from such dark places?”

She leaned across the table, voice pitched low. “You must get out of here!”

“You’re not surprised that I’m alive?”

She scoffed. “Surprised? No. I have watched Blake tremble over it for weeks.”

Corin grinned. “You always knew how to make me smile.”

“I have no wish to make you smile! I want you to leave this city and never look back!”

“I will, and you’ll come with me, but first I need to have a word with Ethan Blake.”

“You’ll have a dagger in your gut and a kicking from the city guard! Ethan Blake is a Vestossi!”

“Aye, I know it well. But I have found a patron of my own.”

“Unless it’s someone strong enough to challenge Ephitel
outright
, your patron will not serve you.”

“Ephitel’s a dog. I serve King Oberon.”

Her eyes went wide at that—pools of light within the
shop’s deep gloom. She breathed the words, “Did you say
…
Oberon?”

“I survived Jezeeli, Iryana. I learned its secrets. And now I’ve come to rescue you and settle with Blake.”

“You survived Jezeeli?”

“Aye.”

“And you learned something there?”

“Secrets out of time and long forgotten.”

She tugged at her ear. “My people have some ancient legends.
…
”

“If they tell of an ancient kingdom where men and elves lived side by side, of great prosperity brought low by betrayal, treason—”

“All of that and more.”

“Then, aye. I’ve lived the legends, Iryana, and I can attest that Ithale’s patron god was that same traitor.”

“Why do you think my people chose to survive the wretched sands? They thought it better to face the tyranny of the Endless Desert than bend knee to your false gods.”

Corin showed his teeth again. “I could not agree more, but I have found a better answer.”

“And what is that?”

“Revenge. Justice. I mean to make things right, for all the world.”

She stared a moment, fascinated. And then she laughed. “You cannot mean it.”

“I do. And I am not alone.”

She sighed in cruel sympathy. “You are a fool and always have been. If you know any of Jezeeli’s secrets, you know what comes of good men who face Ephitel.”

Corin grinned. “That’s just the trick: I am no good man.”

She reached across the table, took his hands in hers, and held his gaze as warmly. “You are not good enough to be a god, and you are not bad enough to best one. Take your secrets somewhere far away, somewhere Ephitel and Ethan Blake alike will never find you.”

“It’s not in my nature to hide from tyrants.”

She laughed. “No? Then what sent you to the sea for
seven year
s?”

He licked his lips. “Well
…
I mean
…
anymore. It’s not in my nature anymore.”

“You are a good man, Corin. You’re the only one who will not see that. But I know that you are good at heart. You do not deserve what lies on the path you’ve chosen.”

“I have chosen nothing, Iryana. I only do what must be done.”

She snorted. “No one makes a slave of Corin Hugh. I know it well. I’ve tried, and I have tricks even the Vestossis would admire.”

He frowned, uncomprehending. When had she done anything of the sort? But he had no time to pursue that now. He shook his head. “There’s more to this matter than you could begin to guess. But this is not the place or time to speak of such things.”

“It’s not,” she said, serious. “I am expected at the house.”

“Forget the house. Forget the Vestossis altogether. I can take you away from here.”

“You don’t always have to be the hero, Corin. You were a pirate. Sometimes pirates get to play the selfish villain. Forget me. Save yourself.”

Corin faltered. His mouth felt suddenly dry, his lungs too empty. “Iryana—”

“I have made my peace, Corin. I’m happy here.”

He forced a doubtful smile. “With Blake? You can’t be.”

“He has his qualities.”

Corin leaned toward her. “I don’t know what he’s done or said. I don’t know what threats he’s made, but you don’t have to fear him anymore. I’ve gained a share of Oberon’s power, Iryana. I can take you away from here in the blink of an eye.”

She breathed a heavy sigh. “You aren’t listening.”

He was trying so hard not to. He caught her hand. “You will be safe and free. I’ll see it’s done. Then I will come back for him.”

She shook her head, a glistening in her eyes. “I am not yours to save, Corin Hugh. I do not want saving. Go away.”

Corin sank back, stunned. “You’re no one’s.” His voice sounded distant, pale. “You are a desert wind. An untamed spirit.”

“That is no easy life. For all their sins, these Godlanders can offer comforts liberty cannot.”

“You’re not Ethan Blake’s.”

“I am,” she said.

“Perhaps
…
perhaps he has convinced you. After all this time—”

“I was always his. I’m sorry, Corin, but it’s true. An hour after you
…
recruited me to your mad quest, he took me aside and made me a far better offer. To deceive you. To undermine you. To deprive you of my people’s magic.”

“No.”

She shrugged. “In the end, you didn’t need me anyway. But I still earned my reward.”

“Money? It was all about money?”

“Oh, Giuliano is far more than money. He is security and power and prestige. These are the things a woman craves.” There was a sadness in her eyes as she said this, but not a shade of doubt.

“I liked you better when you were poor.”

She gave him a little smile. “Of course you did. You thought you could have me then.”

Corin never flinched, but the words were like a gut wound. How often had he claimed he didn’t love her? Had he always known it was a lie?

The pain of her betrayal rolled around inside his belly, fighting to get out. He sucked a shallow breath and fought to keep his voice level, to pretend indifference. “I have fought with gods and monsters to get back here. For you. To set you free.”

She shook her head. “I am more than free. I am engaged.”

Corin held her gaze. “I owe Blake a reckoning. You must understand I will not spare him for your sake.”

“Corin, do not be a fool. I allied myself with him because h
e is
the sort of man who will prevail. Not on noble character, not on courage or wits, but on resources. You cannot fight a Vesto
ssi lor
d.”

“I will,” Corin said. “And I’ll destroy him. Do you have any backup plans?”

She sighed and regarded him with pity in her eyes. “Oh, Corin. Forget this madness. Go find yourself another ship and sail the seas while the world forgets your name. It’s the only thing that’s ever made you happy.”

“It won’t. Not anymore. I’ve developed a certain taste for justice.”

“That’s a shame. It comes at such a dear price, and there’s never enough to satisfy.”

Corin showed her his teeth. “I’ll manage. I always do.”

She leaned forward, elbows on the table, and fixed him with a serious glare. “Abandon your bravado for a moment. I like you, Corin. I always did. It made my task much harder, but now it helps. Because now I can give you true and good advice that serves my own interests as well.”

He shook his head. “This is bigger than you and me, Iryana.”

“You’re right. This is exactly as big as Giuliano, and he can crush you without even trying. He stole your boat. He tried to kill you. You were a pirate, Corin. It’s all part of the game.”

“Those are not the worst of his sins. By far.”

She scoffed. “What, me? I never was yours. You can’t blame him for that.”

“No,” Corin admitted. “No, I’ll credit him back for you. It d
oes e
ase my heart a bit to know you’ve not been much mistreated.”

“On the contrary—”

“I don’t want to know. But I’ve seen good men die by Giuliano’s hand. Men who had nothing to do with his intrigues. Better men than me.”

“What, some pirates? Some hired help?”

“No. An honest hero who did nothing worse than love a woman who loved him in return.”

She stared a moment. “You don’t mean the farmboy?”

“You know of him?”

She laughed. “Giuliano’s talked of little else. He was not a hero, Corin. He was a national disgrace in the making.”

Corin’s lip curled. “You’ve learned their language well.”

“I’ve had some time to practice.”

“Stop trying to convince me, and listen for a moment. I hope you’ve made higher friends than Giuliano. Because he won’t be around for long.”

She touched a finger to her chin, considering. “Such confidence. You always were a brash one, but this
…
this speaks of something deeper.”

It was nothing but his anger, pain, betrayal, but if she would see it for some hidden card, he’d play the bluff. “I’ve come to bring him justice. I won’t fail.”

She blinked. “You said you had a higher patron. I
…
I took that to mean this mad memory of Oberon.”

That was all he’d meant, but Iryana seemed to suspect he meant someone else. He put on his cleverest expression and gave her a theatric shrug. “I have lots of friends.”

To his surprise, she answered with a look of perfect pity. “It is the princess, isn’t it? You’ve staked your hopes on the princess.”

Corin couldn’t guess where she was going, but he played it out. “Sera and I have spoken.”

Iryana shook her head. “Oh, you poor thing. You must have thought you held some precious opportunity when you met with her, but I’ve gauged Sera myself. She doesn’t have the spine to play the family game.”

“She has found a new mentor,” Corin said.

Iryana shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. She’s finished. She’s no longer in the picture.”

“A minor setback—”

Iryana leaned forward again, frustration hissing in her voice. “Stop playing games and listen to me! You have nothing! The princess will be dead by dawn.”

A fist of ice closed hard around Corin’s spine. He shuddered and shook his head in mute denial. “He
…
he wouldn’t dare. Even Blake wouldn’t dare.”

“I never thought you were naïve, Corin.”

Corin shook his head. “I don’t mistake him for a decent man, but he’s not stupid. He’s ambitious. He can’t hope to get away with something like that—”

“He has a letter Sera wrote to the wretched farmboy. In her hand and with her seal. She promised she would run away with him, and the family would never know where she had gone.”

“Gods’ blood,” Corin breathed. “That’s why he killed Auric. That’s why he abducted her.”

Iryana nodded. “He plans to share the letter with the king tonight, and the princess will be dead by dawn. Everyone will think she ran away to live with her Raentzman commoner.”