- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Glass Horse:
The Suitor, Continued
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
June 23, 482
The Summer Palace
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Midsummer Day meant a feast and a ball. It was to be the culminating event in my trip before I headed home to Corus. Since it was also one of the high holidays, Sarralyn took hawk form and flew away at dawn to meet her parents and brother at their family home. She never missed a chance to spend time with her grandparents from the Divine Realms.
Sarralyn's absence left me under the protection of Lady Helanni. We all got along well, but I would miss Sarralyn's social skills at the ball that evening.
I spent the morning reading- mostly reports from my council back home, but there was also a lengthy letter from my brother describing his first weeks as a squire and lamenting that Uncle Jasson had yet to find an excuse to take him out on the road.
After lunch I enjoyed a long, luxurious soak in the baths before I subjected myself to the preparations for the ball. I usually dressed simply and almost never bothered with face paints or fancy jewelry, but for this party I planned to let the maids adorn me as they pleased.
My normally straight hair was curled and styled so that half of it was pinned up while the rest cascaded down my back. I didn't know much about the colors and techniques the maids asked my opinion on, so I just told them to paint my face as they saw fit. My personal maid, Anneta, joined the others just as they finished.
"I set you the gown that your mother sent for you, your highness," she said with a curtsy towards me. "The seamstresses have outdone themselves with this one."
"Thank you, Anneta," I said, rising carefully so as not to muss my hair.
Anneta was right about the gown. It made even me sigh in appreciation. The dress had a bodice of lavender brocade, heavily embroidered with flowers in varying shades of purple, cream, and pink. The flowing sleeves and full skirt were a buttery purple satin that shimmered softly in the sunlight. I could only imagine how it would sparkle in the candlelight at the ball.
The process of lacing me into the gown was grueling. It reminded me exactly why I insisted on dressing myself simply on most days.
"Just the jewelry now," one of the maids commented when the last tie was done up.
"Will you bring Mother's pearl earbobs, please?" I requested.
"There's more," Anneta said. She held the earbobs, but nodded towards the other two maids who were each holding a jewelry box. One opened to reveal a tiara that I recognized as a delicate antique that had belonged to Queen Jessamine in the 200s. It was an intricate piece of metalwork, with leaves and flowers made of silver and pearls adorning it. The tiara was perfect for my dress and perfect for a ball at the beach.
The other box contained a bracelet that Grandfather Jonathan had once commissioned for my grandmother. It was more silver and pearls, but now with pink gems. I remembered my grandfather saying she had worn it with the fabled pink tissue dress. "At least the bracelet survived the rain and mud," he would laugh whenever he told the story, which was a favorite amongst the grandchildren. Now it brought tears to my eyes to see the bracelet separated from Grandmother, but I knew my mother wouldn't have sent it without her permission. It was the perfect finishing touch.
"Remind me to thank my mother when we return home," I told Helanni, who had joined me, already dressed in her own finery, though her cream-colored dress was more muted than mine.
"I wouldn't thank her just yet," Helanni said, nodding over my shoulder to the shoes that Anneta was carrying towards me. I winced when I saw the heeled monstrosities, laden with bows, gems, and ruffles that matched my gown. I knew I wouldn't make it more than a few steps before I landed on my face before all my guests. I opted for sensible, flat-bottomed slippers, though I truly longed to pull on my worn, comfortable hunting boots instead.
I took in my appearance in the mirror and just barely stopped myself from gasping. The color on my face brought out the Conté blue in my eyes, and I felt like I was looking into my father's gaze. I was hit with a sudden blast of grief and homesickness as I realized that no one in the room had ever even laid eyes on my father.
"You look so lovely, like the Queen you are," Anneta said, surprising me with a hug.
"Thank you, Anneta. I appreciate all your help today," I told her as she retreated into the dressing room to straighten up.
On my way out I patted the little glass horse on my desk, knowing that I wouldn't see it again until we arrived in Corus, as my quarters were going to be packed after I left for the ball.
Climbing down the many stairs to the dining hall, I was immediately grateful that I'd decided against the heels. I didn't realize that I was humming until Helanni spoke.
"You seem to be in high spirits tonight," she said.
"I just decided that I'm going to enjoy the party for once," I told her.
"And it doesn't have anything to do with a certain handsome young barrister?"
"Oh, not you too," I said, wrinkling my nose. "Sarralyn was on about this yesterday. Don't you two have anything better to do than gossip and match-make?"
"Sarra and I are your guards. We discuss the people who are around you because we both notice different things."
"And what, praytell, have you noticed about Wiliem?" I asked.
"Sometimes when he looks at you- well, his feelings are painted on his face. Not that he's being lecherous, just- he looks like a man who is in love."
"Love?" I repeated, stopping suddenly. Helanni turned back, still a stair below me. She was smiling knowingly.
"Yes, love. Is that such a shock? You spend plenty of time together."
"Helanni, I can't choose a king based on a few wistful looks."
"All I am going to say to that, is that you being our queen doesn't mean that the realm gets to dictate who you marry." Helanni took my hands and drew closer. "You've had a hard path, but things are settling into place. If you must choose a king, it should be someone that you can have as a partner in life, not just a body in the throne beside your own. Whether that means Wiliem or another man, you deserve the opportunity to fall in love."
I felt tears stinging the corners of my eyes. Helanni was right. I did deserve happiness after all the loss and challenges in my life. "Don't cry," she said. "You'll spoil your makeup." I nodded, blinking away the tears.
"I am very lucky to have you and Sarralyn. I don't thank either one of you enough."
"We know, Queen Lia," Helanni said, linking her arm with mine. Together we walked down to the party.
…..
Supper was pleasant enough, if a bit long and boring. Sarralyn usually acted as a buffer between myself and the noble families who only wanted to talk to me to advance their position in court. Lady Helanni wasn't as good at making them feel listened to. Luckily, Mother hadn't worried about offending anyone when she finalized the guest list, so most of the courtiers who had been invited to the Summer Palace were my friends or children of my parents' friends.
The ball was much more enjoyable. For one, we were outside in the fresh beach air. After the feast I had led the retreat to an outdoor courtyard that was situated between the castle's two back towers. There was plenty of space between the palace walls and a cliff that overlooked the ocean. Though it was dark, we could still hear the soft, soothing rhythm of the waves. It enhanced the melodies coming from an alcove where court musicians had been placed.
Dozens of lanterns were strung back and forth over our heads, shedding golden light on the merrymakers and through the windswept branches of the large live oak trees that bordered the cliff. Tables near the edges of the courtyard were loaded with seashells, flowers, and refreshments- including strawberry wine that had been curated in a nearby village.
I had no shortage of dancing partners that evening. Each one was a perfect gentleman, and I found myself drawn into conversations when they normally would have bored me to tears.
After a while I spotted Wiliem, who had wandered toward the edge of the party, taking a seat on a low stone wall that separated the courtyard from the cliffside. He was watching the dancing, but at the same time he looked as though he was trying to blend into the night sky and disappear.
When my current dance finished, I excused myself to my partner and made my way over to Wiliem. A squire stopped me, offering a tray of wine goblets. I took two, thanked her, and continued on my way.
"Would my lord barrister care for some wine?" I asked, offering him a goblet. "I hear it takes the edge off of the socializing." Wiliem climbed to his feet, awkwardly trying to bow and take the wine from me at the same time. I waved off the bow and sat on the edge of the stone wall. As Wiliem returned to his spot, I noticed vaguely that Helanni was visiting a nearby refreshment table. She was far enough away to give me privacy, but close enough to come to my aid if I needed it. For once, I was glad for Sarralyn's absence; she would have teased and pushed in ways that would make me uncomfortable.
"It's not that I do not wish to socialize as much as I don't know what to do with myself when I don't have work to occupy my thoughts and hands," Wiliem said. He took a sip of his wine, nodding in appreciation. I took that cue to try my own wine, letting the sweet, fresh taste rest on my tongue for a moment.
"I understand that feeling," I told the barrister. "I know I promised my mother I'd try to relax, but it just feels…" I trailed off, looking for the right word.
"Itchy?" he offered.
"That's exactly it," I said. "I'm allergic to being still." We both laughed.
"If it makes you feel any better, you've mastered the art of hiding the itch. You looked like you've been enjoying yourself tonight." The thought that he had been watching me should have startled me, but instead it made butterflies sweep through my stomach.
"I actually am," I confessed. "I don't know, maybe it's the sea air, but I do feel relaxed for the first time in a long time."
"I'm glad," Wiliem said. "You deserve a break now and then." I smiled at Wiliem, and when our eyes met, I noticed the look that Helanni must have seen- the love behind his eyes was obvious.
Unsure what to say next, I took another sip of wine and waited for Wiliem to say something. I did not have long to wait.
"So, was your mother's plan a success? Have you chosen a suitor from the hoard of fine young gentlemen tonight?"
"It's not that simple," I said. "I can't just pick someone from a list."
"Why not?" Wiliem said. His tone was steady and even, not at all teasing.
"I'm going to sound crazy," I warned him in all seriousness.
"I'd never think you're crazy," Wiliem said softly. I gazed at him for a moment, soaking in his genuine tone. I took just a moment to relish the knowledge that I could speak freely in front of this man.
"What if I marry and then something happens to me before I have an heir? My new husband and his family could take that as an opportunity to claim the throne for themselves. They could have my family imprisoned, or even executed. They could-" I stopped myself, blushing. I usually only spiraled that much in front of Sarralyn. "I'm sorry. Have I mentioned my tendency to overthink and immediately jump to the worse-case scenario?"
"You have nothing to apologize for," Wiliem told me. "You're talking to a man who was trained to consider every possible outcome of a situation, so I don't think it's a bad thing that you are aware of those possibilities. In some ways, it gives you more control."
"How so?" I asked.
"As a barrister, my mind went straight to legal terms. You could consider asking your new husband to sign a premarital agreement that would ensure that your brother remains your heir until you have a child of your own. Honestly, if I were you, I would update my will at least annually, if not twice a year, so that the document is always current," he stopped and grinned at me. "Have I mentioned my tendency to go off on tangents and give obscure legal advice? Feels a bit silly to be counseling the highest law in the land."
"Sometimes I feel like I'm still just a little girl, balancing an embroidery hoop on my head like a crown and pretending to be the queen," I told him, smiling at the memory. "I don't know what I'd do without my counselors. I should let them do more of the worrying for me."
"You do know how to worry quite well," he teased.
"It's a family trait," I replied. "I inherited it from my mother."
Wiliem smiled softly. "If anyone has a reason to worry, it's her, losing your father so young. My father has been the same way since Mother passed last year."
I didn't know what to say to that, so I just muttered soft condolances for his loss and then we fell silent. In the quiet, I caught a bit of the melody that the musicians were playing. "This music- my father liked this song. I remember hearing it and dancing on his feet at a midwinter ball when I was little."
"Would you like to dance some more?" he asked abruptly. "I'm not the most elegant dancer, but I know the steps, at least. You can even stand on my feet if you'd like. That way I won't step on yours."
I smiled at him. "I'd love to dance with you," I said, setting my goblet down. Wiliem stood and offered his hand with a silly, over-flourished bow. Giggling, I let him lead me to the dance floor.
Wiliem was quiet as we fell into step with the other dancers, concentrating on the steps. After a time, he relaxed and smiled at me, though he still didn't say anything. His eyes were searching my face, though what he could be looking for, I had no idea.
"What are you thinking about?" I asked when I could bare his gaze no longer.
"Sarralyn told me that I should kiss you," he said quietly. Of course she did, I thought, glad that Wiliem couldn't see my blush as we danced. He drew a little closer, so his mouth was near my ear before he spoke the next words. "May I?"
I pulled back enough to look into his blue eyes. They were sincere and hopeful. For a moment I let go of all my worries and responsibilities. It was just Wiliem and me dancing beneath the stars. "I'd like that," I said truthfully. My breath hitched as he brushed his lips over mine.
It was over as fast as it had begun. I looked around, wondering if anyone had seen. If they had, they were too polite to stare. Only Helanni winked at me, and returned to the conversation she was having with the young Earl of Mandash.
I leaned into Wiliem, letting him lead the dance as I rested my head on his shoulder. My mind was racing, trying to figure out what this meant for me, and for the kingdom. Then I heard my mother's voice, reminding me to breathe and practice being stone, like my Yamani relatives.
I'd never know if I'd find answers in the stillness, for just as the dance ended I heard shouting and the clang of steel from the other end of the courtyard. The partygoers gasped in alarm as an arrow soared over our heads, spearing one of the lanterns and setting it ablaze.
Before I had time to take in what was happening, Helanni had me by the arm. "Come on," she hissed, dragging me towards the castle and mumbling about it being a find time for Sarralyn to gallivant off to visit her family. I grabbed Wiliem's hand, towing him along as we went.
"What is it?" I demanded when we reached the wall.
"Pirates," Helanni said darkly. The fire was catching from lantern to lantern over the top of the terrified courtiers. In all the commotion, no one was paying us any attention. Helanni pushed on a stone, opening a gap in the wall, one of the secret entrances to the catacombs that ran beneath the castle.
"Get in," Helanni ordered.
"My guests-" I started.
"Lia, go," she said, shoving me inside, and Wiliem behind me. "Take care of her," she ordered him as she tugged the stone wall back into place. Wiliem threw his bodyweight into the wall, to make sure it was securely closed.
"Here, let me set the ward," I said, letting a tiny spark of my Gift activate the spell that would seal off this entrance. The magic completed, I sagged against the wall. I couldn't hear the screams anymore, but the scene was burned into my vision. I felt the panic from the people at ball seep into my skin as my heart began racing. I should be up there fighting, not hiding below the palace. The more I thought, the less I could breathe. It was only moments before I was in a full-fledged panic attack. It was a bad one, stealing my breath and taking hold of my mind.
Wiliem caught me as I began to sink to the ground, gasping for air.
"What is happening?" he asked. I shook my head, unable to answer. I met his eyes, trying to plead for help through my tears, but it was too dark in the catacombs for him to see, so I just clung to his sleeve and focused on breathing.
"Air," I finally croaked.
"Okay, hang on," he said, settling me beside him on the ground. He reached behind me and fumbled with the ties on my dress. I felt my corset loosen, Wiliem's fingers brushing the skin on my back as he undid the ties. The sensation and wild, wanton thoughts that accompanied this shocked me out of my panic.
I coughed and sputtered, but air was finally reaching my lungs. Wiliem sagged in relief, pulling me closer to his side with an arm around me.
"What was that?" he asked gently.
"Panic attack," I told him, panting still.
"Do you get them often?"
I shook my head. "Not as much as I used to. I haven't had one that bad since right after Grandfather Jonathan died. I'm sorry if I scared you."
"Don't worry about that, Lianokami. Are you alright now?" Wiliem asked. I nodded against his shoulder, feeling safe in his embrace. "We shouldn't stay here. What is the plan?"
When the arrangements had been made for my summer holiday, I had been drilled on how to set the wards on the catacomb entrances, as well as on maps of the tunnels themselves. On paper, I could trace two routes to safety- one leading to a saferoom I could hide away in until help came, setting nasty spells that would keep invaders out. The other path led to the forest outside the castle walls in case I needed to make a fast escape. I relayed all of this to Wiliem. "We should go to the saferoom. That's the first place they'll look for me when it's over."
"Okay. Lead the way," he said. I nodded, starting to stand, but I stopped when my dress began to fall away. I remembered the loosened ties with a blush.
"You know, if we're close enough that you are taking my dress off, you should probably just call me Lia," I said, surprising myself with the risqué joke.
Though I couldn't see his face, I felt his skin grow warmer. "Sorry about that," Wiliem said. "Here, let me fix you back up."
"Maybe not as tight this time?" I suggested. "Just in case I have another go at a panic attack."
"As you wish, Lia," he said huskily.
Calling magic into my fingertips for light, I held my hand over my shoulder so that he could see. When he was finished, he turned me around and kissed my cheek. "If we're using short names, I'm Wil, then," he whispered. I hugged him, taking one last moment to relish that feeling of security before turning and leading the way towards the saferoom.
I felt confident about the first few turns on our journey, but the feeling didn't last long.
"What's wrong?" Wil asked when I slowed.
"It's so different than on the maps I studied. All of the walls and turns look the same." I met his eyes. "I think we're lost."
He took a deep breath, looking around us. I could tell that he was calculating our options. "I suppose there are three ways that we could handle this," he said, still studying the walls. "We could go back the way we came from, providing that the danger has passed and that you can remember which turns we took."
"I'm not entirely sure," I confessed. "I'd hate to be trapped in a corner."
"Then we could just stay put and wait for help to come to us," he tried next, but we have no way of knowing how long that could take or if it would even be a friend that would find us in the first place."
"You're right," I agreed.
"Then the only option left is to keep moving forward and hope that things start to look familiar," Wil said. I nodded. It did seem like the most logical path to take.
"Let's go then," I said. "Wil, can I ask you a favor?"
"Anything at all, though I'd remind you that I'm already giving out advice for free," he joked. "I wonder if this counts as billable time."
"Hold my hand?" I asked, offering him the hand that wasn't glowing. He accepted it, pressing it to his lips. I let the feeling of his warmth replace the lingering fear and started walking again.
It felt like hours, moving through the dim blue glow of my magic. The Gift had never been strong in me, and it was exhausting just to use it for the spark of light. Eventually I let go of the spell, as the light had grown too dim to make a difference anyhow.
Wil never let go of my hand. The pressure of his hand grasping mine kept my panic at bay during our journey through the catacombs.
Finally, the tunnel we were following ended in the eerie glow of moonlight. I sighed in relief.
"I think this is the forest exit," I told Wil.
"Is there a rendezvous spot?" he asked. "Or somewhere you should go to hide?"
"There's an old, overgrown guardhouse in the woods. I'm supposed to go there and wait for help."
"Do you know the way there?"
"Yes," I whispered, sure of my answer. The landmarks were a lot easier to distinguish than the labyrinth walls.
"Okay, then," Wil agreed at last. "Lead the way."
We only took a few steps before he changed his tune, stopping me with a whispered "wait," and a tug on the hand that he was still holding.
"What is it?" I asked. He pointed down, and I followed his gaze. The flagstones beneath our feet had given way to sand, not the dirt or moss one would expect on the forest floor.
My stomach knotted as I realized I was wrong: we were not in the forest. Instead, this tunnel had taken us directly to the beach.
Wil pulled me farther back into the tunnel, and at the same moment I heard a gravelly voice yell. "Come quick, there's som'un here!"
"Go, run back into the catacombs. Find a place to hide," Wil said fiercely. "I'll distract them."
"I'm not leaving you," I said fiercely. "We go back together, or we fight together."
Wil didn't have time to argue, as the silhouettes of two pirates filled the entrance of the cave. I glanced around for a weapon, but there was nothing to be found but some driftwood. I grabbed the largest chunk I could find, holding it out defensively and Wil did the same.
The pirates came into full view, their swords drawn. "I order you to stand down," I said, squaring my shoulders and throwing as much authority as I could muster into my voice.
"That ain't the maid we're waiting for," called the same pirate we had heard before. My thoughts jumbled, but the word maid ricocheted around my brain so hard that I barely heard the pirate as he continued. "Come on, Alv. We was appost to pay the maid, and then git back to the ship. Rock didn't say nuttin about fighting no heiress!"
"This ain't no heiress, Wimund. This is the bloody queen!" The pirate called Wimund's eyes grew wide as he stared at me.
"I thought Rock was nabbin' her at the party," he stammered.
"Well, he won't be thanking us any if she gets away while yer yammering about the plan," Alv cried.
Wil took advantage of their arguing to push me behind his body and lunge towards the pirates. He got in a few good hits with his driftwood, brandishing it like an axe, but he didn't have the strength or stamina that these men did. I cut underneath his arm, hitting the jaw of pirate closest to me, the one called Alv. My blow was hard enough to bruise his jaw and shatter my driftwood.
Raising his cutlass, Alv made quick work of Wil's weapon, knocking my friend to the ground and sinking his steel into Wil's side. I cried out in horror as blood soaked through Wil's tunic.
"Give up yet, yer Majesty?" Alv said cruelly. I ignored him, dropping to Wil's side, thinking to put pressure on his wound. Wimund was faster than I was, and before I could stop him the pirate set upon me, pinning my arms behind my back.
"Let's take her and get out of here, Alv," Wimund advised.
"Wait!" I cried. "You can't just leave Wil."
"We can do just that," Alv quipped.
"This is Barrister Wiliem of Masbolle. His family is in the Book of Gold and his advocacy team represents the royal family." I spoke loftily, making Wil sound as important as I could. "They will pay as much ransom as my family will, and if they don't the Crown will."
"Mosta which'll go to the captain first and then be split amongst the crew. Wim and me'll be lucky to see a few coppers each," Alv said, spitting into the sand. "That ain't worth the troubles of bandaging yer advocate and dragging him across the beach."
I wrenched my arm away from Wimund, raising it until my sleeve fell away. Grandmother Thayet's bracelet glittered in the moonlight. "Will this make it worth the effort?" I asked, forcing myself not to think about what I was giving up. "You can sell it yourselves and split the profits. Your captain need never know."
Alv's eyes glittered greedily in the moonlight as he inspected the jewels on the bracelet. His tattooed hands closed around it, ripping it from my wrist. "Wim, give Her Majesty over to me and fix up Master Willie. Then we'll take them back down to the boat and wait for that maid."
In a matter of minutes the pirates had roughly dressed Wil's wound and bound both of our hands behind our backs. They also gagged us with two filthy handkerchiefs before they half-marched, half-dragged us down the beach towards their longboat. With each step I dug my feet into the sand or kicked out, putting up so much fuss that I lost a shoe. If I was going to be kidnapped, I wasn't going easily, and I would certainly leave a trail.
A cloaked figure waited near the boat.
"Ah, here's the maid," Wimund said. "Punctual as always."
"Take down yer hood so we's can get a good look at ya," Alv said. The figure obliged.
"Anneta?" I gasped through my gag. She made a concerted effort to avoid my eyes. My mind raced, replaying all of the kindnesses Anneta had ever shown me, from the first day she became my maid until her hug that afternoon.
"Do you have the money?" Alv tossed a bag of coins at her feet, and Anneta stooped to retrieve them, keeping her eyes away from me.
"Ye didn't know your ladies' maid was helping us all along, did ye Queenie?" Alv asked me. "Without her, we wouldn't have gotten anywhere near the party tonight, nor would we have known all of the fancy palace exits to watch."
Her money collected, Anneta scrambled up the hillside, leaving not a word behind.
"Pleasure workin' with you," Wimund called after her. Alv lifted me and tossed me into the boat, sending Wil in after me. The pirates climbed in after us, pushing the boat into the surf. With my bindings pulling against my skin, I felt utterly hopeless as the pirates started rowing. All I could do was watch the party lanterns burn as they shore got farther and farther away.
….
Alv and Wimund tossed us onto the ship's deck with as much ceremony as they'd put us into the longboat.
I struggled to sit up and maintain what little dignity I had left. As a tall, wide man strode towards me. He had a messy black beard and wore his hair pulled away from his face in a bandana. He smiled nastily at me, showing off several teeth that had been replaced with gold.
I had heard of Ries Rock, the pirate leader who had been pestering small islands on the southwest coast of Tortall. He and his crew were slippery as eels, evading being captured by the Royal Navy and the King's Own alike.
"We've got some extra cash for your coffers, Rock," Alv said to the captain. "Book of Gold. Queenie here promises he'll fetch a smart price as well."
"If he lives," Rock said, prodding my injured friend with the toe of his boot. He looked back up at Alv and Wimund. "You two have done well. Now, get back to shore and deliver the ransom notes. We'll pick you up again when we make the switch."
I watched my two kidnappers disappear into the longboat. As soon as the lines were disconnected, the captain signaled to a man who was up in the ships' rigging. He must have been a mage, for his hands started to glow and the sails billowed, filling with air and propelling the ship through the dark water.
I felt sick to my stomach, but I wasn't sure if it was caused by the movement of the ship, Anneta's betrayal, or the dark stain I saw on Wil's tunic when they threw him down beside me on the deck.
Reis Rock turned back to us. He didn't say anything, just reached for me. I flinched, waiting for his touch, but it did not come. Instead he yanked the tiara off my head, not even hesitating when it caught in my hair.
Ripping his prize free, the pirate captain held my tiara aloft and all the men onboard stilled, turning to hear their leader. "We are victorious. You lot have worked hard. Here are the first spoils of our biggest haul yet." He brought the tiara down hard on his knee, shattering the silver and pearls. I watched in horror as he passed bits of the two-hundred-year-old antique around to his crew.
When they were back to work, Ries Rock turned and looked back at me. "And now we wait," he said. "We'll see how long it takes the people of Tortall to want their precious queen back."
"You won't get away with this," I sputtered, barely intelligible around the gag. The captain laughed.
"We already have, my lady. In case you haven't noticed, you are quite definitely our prisoners. Don't worry though, we will treat you with all the respect that is due to a little girl who is playing royal. Hep, show our guests to the finest suite our brig has to offer." With that, Ries Rock turned on his heel and disappeared into the captain's quarters.
The pirate called Hep took hold of my arms and hoisted me to my feet. As soon as I was standing, I kicked him with all my strength. I didn't have a plan- I only knew that I needed to put up as much of a fight as I could. It turned out to be for nothing.
"Fine, we'll do this the easy way," Hep growled. I heard Wil struggling against his bonds as Hep hauled me to my feet again. A moment later I felt a sharp rap on the back of my skull and my world went black.