Keelin stepped up beside Elaina, and she could sense his impatience. She did her best to ignore her fellow captain as the Clerics untied the pirates and walked down the gangplank and away.
“What the fuck was that?” Keelin said as soon as they were out of earshot.
Elaina glanced at him, smiled, and said nothing.
“Thanks, Cap’n,” said Jojo, the sentiment echoed by a few of the crew members that Elaina didn’t recognise.
Keelin’s little waif walked towards them. Her face was about as carefully expressionless as Elaina had ever seen, but there was a deep anger in the little bitch’s eyes.
“Aimi…” Keelin started.
“I’ll be in my cabin,” she said, and then sent a glare in Elaina’s direction. “As ordered.”
“You mean my cabin?” Keelin said.
The little waif stopped for a moment and stared at Keelin. “No,” she said, and then continued on her way to the captain’s cabin. She opened the door, walked through, and closed it behind her. Elaina liked to think she’d heard the click of the lock afterwards.
Keelin turned to face Elaina and sighed. “What the fuck just happened?” The anger had turned to exasperation.
Elaina shrugged. While she wouldn’t admit it, she enjoyed seeing Keelin struggle with the little bitch he’d chosen over her. If she could convince him to help her, there may be a chance to get between the two of them even further.
“Still need to have that chat, Keelin,” she said. “Sooner would be better than later.”
Keelin glanced back towards his cabin. “Let’s find a tavern, eh?”
As they walked, Elaina asked what had happened in the isles during her absence. Having spent so long at sea, she could have missed the birth of a new god and not known anything about it. Keelin seemed happy to talk about how he’d convinced Tanner to join Drake, and about the recent battle at New Sev’relain. She wondered if he’d picked up a couple of injuries himself. He was trying to hide it, but Elaina knew him well enough to know when he was in pain and the limp was a dead giveaway.
Once they were well and truly settled at a table with drinks in hand, Elaina sat back and wondered how to broach the subject of the favour she needed to ask.
“What are you doing here, Elaina?” Keelin said. “And how do you have so much pull with the Clerics?”
“Tanner sent me,” she said with a grimace. “First to Chade, then to Larkos. Didn’t want me coming to Ash to confuse matters between you and him – and Drake.”
“Tanner was looking for allies in the free cities,” Keelin said with a sigh. “Did he get them?”
“In a way.” Elaina grinned. “Tanner sent me to Chade, but he didn’t get shit out of it. I did.”
“Huh?”
“Lord and Lady Chade are sending ships, men, and supplies to the isles. Thing is, they’re only there to sail for me. I’ve got a meeting with the Council of Thirteen in a few days to get the same deal from them, and the Queen of Blades is backing me for it.”
“Sailing for you,” Keelin said. “Why?”
“Pirates are on the verge of calling themselves a kingdom, yeah?” Elaina’s grin widened. “I’m throwing my name in for the throne, and I reckon I’m bringing more to the table than anyone else.”
“How many ships?”
“Ten from Chade. Gotta negotiate just that with the Council here.”
“I’ve just purchased three hundred slaves, Elaina,” Keelin said, his voice hushed.
“Eh? Why the fuck are you dealing with those buggering slavers?”
Keelin winced and knocked back the last of his ale, then called for another one.
“We need folk to sail, folk to fight, folk to live on the isles. I figured I’d bring them in by buying and freeing a bunch of slaves.”
“That’s a dumb fucking idea,” Elaina said with a shake of her head. “How are you gonna get ’em to the isles?”
Keelin took two mugs from the serving boy and pushed one towards Elaina. “With the ships you’re about to convince the Council to give to you.”
She smiled. “Favour, is it?”
“Aye.”
“One that I’ll get to call in soon then?”
Keelin narrowed his eyes at her. “Within reason.”
“It’s a deal then.” Elaina held up her mug, and after only a brief hesitation Keelin tapped it with his own.
“How did you convince the Queen of Blades to help you?” Keelin said.
Elaina waved away the question and took a gulp of ale. “Hey, Keelin,” she said cheerfully. “Do you remember that deal we struck in that tavern in Larkos? The one where I carry your slaves to the isles with my ships as a favour and you owe me one?”
Keelin’s face fell as he realised he wasn’t going to like what was coming.
“Well, it just so happens I’m calling it in now.” She smiled.
“Within reason, Elaina.”
“Oh, it’s perfectly reasonable, Keelin,” she said sweetly. “I doubt it will cost you a thing.”
“What is it?”
“I need passage home.”
“What? Why?”
“Remember my first mate, Rovel? Well, that cock-fucking, mouldy crap-licker went and stole my ship. Leaves me a little stranded here.”
“You let the Dawn get taken from beneath ya?” Keelin said, incredulous.
“Weren’t exactly so much with the letting,” Elaina growled as she felt the heat rising to her cheeks. “Bastard sailed off while I was ashore. Fucking coward. Anyway, I want passage on The Phoenix.”
“What about the ships you’re getting from the Council?” Keelin sounded hopeful.
“Could be weeks before they’re ready, and I ain’t got that much time to lose. I don’t reckon you’ll be hanging around for that long either.”
Keelin winced and shook his head. “Elaina, we ain’t going straight back to the isles. We’re stopping off a bit south first.”
“How far south?” Elaina said, suspicious.
“The Forgotten Empire.”
Elaina had no idea what to say. Shocked began to explain how she felt, but it was a long way off finishing the job. No one sailed into the waters of the Forgotten Empire, and even fewer folk sailed out again.
“Uh… Why?” It wasn’t the most elegant of responses, but her tone left Keelin under no confusion that she thought him mad.
“That’s between me and my crew,” he said.
“They know where you’re headed and they ain’t mutinied yet? Must mean there’s something big in it for them. Must mean they think you’ve got a way to keep them alive.” Elaina mulled it over. In all the time she’d known Keelin, he’d never once talked of the Forgotten Empire; whatever he thought he could find there, he’d kept it secret from her.
“So you see,” Keelin said, “you really don’t want to come with me.”
“I still do though,” Elaina said quickly. “Calling in a favour, remember?”
“Elaina…”
“Whatever the fuck you’re about to say, Keelin, save it. I’m coming. At the very least you’re gonna need someone to watch your back. I don’t give a fuck what you’re after. I’ve got my eyes set on my own prize.”
“The throne?”
“Aye.”
Keelin sipped at his ale. “And what if the only way to get it is to share it with Drake?”
Elaina grinned. “Then I guess I’ll finally know the truth to all those rumours Drake spreads about the size of his cock.”
Keelin dropped his eyes to his mug. Elaina wasn’t sure what she was seeing on his face, but it looked an awful lot like her old lover was struggling with some jealousy. She hoped he’d struggle with it for a good long time.
Chapter 27 - Starry Dawn
“Do you know what you are going to say to them?” Pavel said with the tone of calm he used with his patients. If anything, it only put Elaina more on edge.
“I was gonna walk in and threaten the rich bastards with a good old stabbing unless they agree to give me both ships and the folk to sail them,” she said.