Pavel sighed. “I’m not sure that would be the wisest tactic.”
“Don’t worry. I got a plan.”
“More importantly, you have the backing of the Queen of Blades.”
“Hopefully the Scarred Man too,” Elaina said with a grin that only reached her lips. “Haven’t had a chance to ask ya yet – what do ya think about crewing up with Stillwater for the trip home?”
Pavel made a face. Elaina couldn’t be quite certain, but it looked a lot like the face of a man who didn’t approve and was trying to approach the conversation with caution.
“I worry how it will look to your father if you sail back into the isles aboard Captain Stillwater’s ship and without one of your own.”
Elaina leaned forwards and poured herself a glass of iced wine. The antechamber they’d been instructed to wait in was lavish, with comfortable seating, large windows to allow a lot of light in, and a table full of refreshments. There were two other groups waiting to see the Council, but they kept their distance from Elaina and her priest.
“I do not want to see you hurt again, Elaina,” Pavel continued.
She snorted. “I’ll be bringing more ships and men to the isles than any other captain. My da wouldn’t dare…”
“I meant with Captain Stillwater.”
Elaina turned a dark glare on the priest, but decided to change the subject rather than berate him. “You been to your temple yet? They got one dedicated to Pelsing, don’t they?”
“Yes, they do,” Pavel said with a nod. “It appears the guilds of Larkos pay tribute to all of the gods. I have been, and I have prayed for the support of Pelsing.”
Elaina laughed. “Fortune and gold, eh?”
“Fortune and gold,” Pavel repeated the prayer.
The door opened, revealing a Blade dressed in a blue-and-white robe, her four swords dangling from her belt. Only the guards and the Council members were allowed arms inside the great guild hall, and all of the guards belonged to the Blades. Being in control of the central district was a grand position indeed, and Elaina could only hope it was grand enough for the Queen of Blades to exert that power in her favour.
“Captain Black,” the Blade said. “The Council will see you now.”
Elaina stood and gave Pavel a wink. Her stomach felt like it was dancing a drunken jig, but Elaina refused to show any discomfort. Her father had always said that no matter how bad the situation, a Black should always appear in complete control. They were words Elaina wanted to live by. They were also words she rarely found herself able to follow. She was too passionate and prone to rash actions. Planning was for folk like Drake Morrass. Elaina preferred to act before the other person had a chance to.
Following the Blade into the Council chamber, Elaina found it as grand as she’d expected. A circular table formed a ring around a large open area in the centre of the room. Light shone down from a glass-windowed ceiling and was complemented by a whole host of candles mounted to the pillars that stretched from the floor all the way up. There was a single break in the table that allowed folk to walk into the centre, and the centre was where the Queen of Blades was standing.
The Drurr stood tall and stunning in a figure-hugging dress of crimson. Her wreath of blades still rested upon her shoulders, and the smile she turned on Elaina was both welcoming and predatory.
Elaina gave each member of the Council of Thirteen a good long stare as she made her way into the centre of the room. For their part, the Council watched her silently, which only served to increase the prickling Elaina felt all over her skin. Once she stood in the middle of their circle alongside the Queen of Blades, the Drurr woman finally spoke.
“I introduce my guest Captain Elaina Black, daughter of Tanner Black, consort of Drake Morrass, and admiral of the pirate fleet.”
Elaina almost cringed at the introduction. She’d never considered herself an admiral, no matter how many ships she commanded, and the title of consort to Drake Morrass somehow made it seem all too real. The idea that she might actually have to marry and sit beside the slimy bastard on the throne had never occurred to Elaina as anything other than another obstacle to overcome.
“Some of you have already met with Captain Black,” the Queen of Blades continued. “I urge you not to be biased against her plea. We all know the way this works, after all.”
There was a murmur of agreement from a few of the Council members, and Elaina couldn’t help but feel the Queen’s comment was directed at those who had tried to curry Elaina’s favour themselves. She’d chosen the Blades as her representative among the Council, and that was likely to slight those others who had tried for the same position. The Queen of Blades had already warned Elaina of this, as well as which of the Council members would likely vote against her, and which were still undecided.
“The floor is yours, Captain Black,” the Queen of Blades said as she exited the ring and moved to the only spare seat at the table.
Elaina waited for the Drurr to sit down before clearing her throat and raising her voice. “I’m here on behalf of the Pirate Isles.”
“There is no need to shout, dear,” said Lady Tienna Ro’lare. “Some of us may be old, but we can hear you quite well.”
“Uh… right.” Elaina felt her cheeks redden. She forged on regardless. “I’m, uh, here asking for help. We’re at war with the Five Kingdoms and Sarth. They aim to purge us just like they've done before, but that ain’t happening this time. This time we’re fighting back. We’re organised. We’re united. We’re determined…”
“You’re doomed,” said Blunt, guild master of the Broken Spears.
Elaina focused on the man, her dark eyes staring a hole through him. Blunt didn’t so much as blink, let alone look away.
“We’ve beat ’em twice already,” she said vehemently. “First time they sent a Man of War and we took it, turned its bones into a town.” Elaina was well aware she was taking credit for something Keelin and Drake had accomplished, and she wasn’t about to stop there. “Second when they sent a fleet. We crushed it and took their flagship for our own.”
“Then why do you need our help?” said Somolus Tain of the slavers guild.
Elaina paused, trying to collect her thoughts; she hadn’t expected to be interrupted so early into her speech.
“Wins don’t come without losses, and we’ve suffered a good few wins. We need reinforcements. We’re close to winning this once and for all. Beating back Sarth and the Five Kingdoms so they ain’t got no choice but to recognise us as a kingdom of our own and pay the bloody tributes that go along with it. But we need a little bit of help from our friends to get us there. And, uh, I’m here hoping to count you lot among my friends – our friends.”
Blunt leaned forwards with his hands on the table. He looked just like his name, broad and hard and… blunt. “Or” – he paused just long enough to stand up to address the rest of the Council – “we could join the other side and help wipe out the pirate pest problem once and for all.”
A few of the other Council members made noises that seemed to be in agreement. Elaina looked first to the Queen of Blades and then to the Scarred Man, and she found them both silent and watching her intently. A test, she realised. They wanted to see if she could convince the Council without their help before they threw their support behind her as queen of the Pirate Isles.
“Once and for all, is it?” Elaina said. “Ya reckon that’s likely, do ya?” She laughed. No one joined in.
“This ain’t the first time other kingdoms have come for us with soldiers and fire, and it wouldn’t be the first time they sailed away thinking they’d dealt with us for good an’ all. We keep coming back though, don’t we? The Pirate Isles are conveniently placed right in the middle of the main shipping route between Sarth, the Five Kingdoms, and all the way over here in the Dragon Empire. To go around the isles completely adds weeks to a journey. Weeks of open sea with no little islands for fresh water, and some of those stretches of open sea are far more dangerous than an encounter with some pirates.”