Cutlass (38 page)

“And there is our little bit of hope,” he said. Reaching forward, he pressed his lips against her forehead.

Natherious stared at Barren’s sketchbook, examining every picture.

“I never knew Barren paid attention to anyone but William.” He paused. “Oh, and Larkin Lee.”

Datherious went from pacing before the desk to peering over Nath’s shoulder at the drawing of Larkin. He chuckled. “Such a lovely woman. Too bad her reputation will be ruined after this. She could have been my wife.”

“I’m not certain Christopher would have approved.”

Dath scoffed. “We are the king’s sons, we do not ask, we take.”

Datherious’s eyes moved back to the portrait of Larkin. “It would be such a waste to see her reduced to the status of a working woman for her involvement with Barren Reed. Perhaps I will take pity on her.”

“She will not want
your
pity,” replied Natherious. “Even if you do kill Barren Reed.”

“Father planned his death in Estrellas,” said Dath. “Cas was to take care of him, but pretty Larkin got in the way of that, and ruined our plans.”

“Well, the hemlock was still administered,” Nath pointed out. “A partial success, because even Alder couldn’t cure him completely.”

Datherious rolled his eyes, but said nothing to his brother. He didn’t understand—the point was that Barren should have died a long time ago, and now Tetherion wanted him brought back to Maris alive. There was something about having to bring Barren all the way back to Maris that Datherious didn’t like. Rumors would spread fast across the Orient that Barren had been captured; it could make the trek back home rather difficult. It would be better if he died on this unnamed island.

“Do you think it was strange that our mother did not approach us while we were in Aurum?” Nath ventured to ask.

“Were you even aware of her?”

“No, but—”

“Then why does it matter?”

Nath shrugged. “She was our mother.”

“She was a means of accomplishing a task,” said Dath. “Her purpose went no further. Tetherion was an adequate parent.”

Nath said nothing. They both knew they were in this situation to betray Barren. It had been their job to maintain their location, and give it away when needed. Nath had not fallen into the task easily, and he really had no reason to—he would never be king, being the youngest twin.

The door to the cabin opened and shut and the thud of boots crossed the floor. Now and then, the click of his cane against the wood sounded between the shuffling of his feet. Tension immediately filled the room as Christopher Lee made his way toward the twins. The three did not get along, and they didn’t pretend to. Most of their time was spent ignoring one another. Christopher stopped before the desk and glared at Datherious.

“Lord Lee,” Datherious acknowledged the old man with a nod. “Shouldn’t you be manning the helm?”

“Do you really think leaving the pirates below deck to plan their escape is a good idea?”

Datherious chuckled darkly. “What are they going to do? We stripped them of their weapons and shackled their hands.”

“You are making a mistake—not all pirates work together, but they do. They are probably devising a plan as we speak.”

“I am not doubting their plans,” said Datherious. “I am doubting their ability to do anything in their present state. If you are so concerned, Lord, then why don’t you sit with them?”

Christopher scowled. “So what will you do when we arrive? Who will stay with them? And who will search the island?”

“You are mistaken if you think my brother and I will stay behind. We have a duty to our father—really, I am not sure why you are here.”

“Why
are
you here?” asked Natherious, lowering Barren’s sketchbook and staring at the lord.

Christopher narrowed his eyes. “You are both childish. You know nothing about what your father and I have done to get this far, and here you are, taking the weight of what you are about to encounter without consideration, without care.”

“I think you are afraid,” said Datherious. He dropped his hand from his chin, and then took slow steps toward the old man. “I’m not sure why you have been around here so long. The bloodstone is obviously of no use to you, and you’ve never been here for our father, have you? You
hate
him.”

Christopher’s eyes were pale, and he didn’t look at the young twin.

“See,” Dath said lightly, backing away. “I think when your wife died, you swore revenge. I think that’s why you are still here. It could have all been prevented, you know—had
Kenna
listened to father.”

“She would have died either way,” said Christopher slowly, almost sadly.

“What care would you have had, had you not loved her?” the twin paused and rubbed his whiskered chin. “What good came of it anyway? Your daughter is a disloyal brat. Her reputation is ruined, tainted. She will never be anything in Maris now.”

Christopher raised his head slowly to meet Datherious’s gaze. He was still smiling, mocking the lord, waiting for him to snap. The dark twin was succeeding—he could see the old man’s eyes burn with rage.

“Unless….”

“We do not bargain with my daughter, Datherious Reed.”

“No?” the prince furrowed his brows. “Did you not bargain with William? Murder Jess Reed in exchange for her hand in marriage?”

“A marriage I knew would not last.”

“It will not last now—her affection has turned to Barren. I suppose girls make mistakes. She has merely fallen into the trap Barren has led her into. He does not love her, she will see. Once he is dead.”

Christopher gnashed his teeth together, glaring at the prince. “Barren may die, but my daughter will not see a future with you.”

Datherious shrugged. “Then she will die, too.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

The twin raised his hands in defense. “If she is not my wife, she is nothing to me.”

Christopher moved his cane into both hands—it was his instinct, but as he did, a dangerous smirk spread across Datherious’s face.

“Careful, Lord. I am a prince, and the definition of treason can include raising arms against royalty.”

“I gave your king my
life
,” said Christopher through his teeth. “I will not give you my daughter, too.”

“You really think she’ll come back to you after this? She has a choice now—she has always had a choice, you just kept her sheltered, immobile. Not teaching her how to swim…that was a good trick. It kept her away from pirates for seventeen years, but I am afraid Barren has done what you would not.”

Christopher turned from the twin and headed for the door. “What are you going to do? Go get her? She is my prisoner—a fugitive until I say otherwise.”

The old man stood rigid, angry, but just as he was about to turn and face Datherious again, a knock sounded at the door and one of the privateers appeared.

“Your majesties, Lord,” he bowed. “Better come take a look at this.”

The three men filed out of the captain’s quarters. They didn’t need to go far to see what the privateer had been talking about—it was right before them. It was night, and all around was darkness, except for the horizon, where light ripped through the sky, illuminating it. The clouds were like billows of smoke piled upon one another. It was both frightening and deadly, and none of the men onboard wanted to go near it.

“There’s no way we’ll make it through that storm. Our mast will be the first thing to fall,” said the privateer.

“Were you asked for your opinion?” Datherious’s dark voice cut the air. The man shrunk away, and Datherious’s blue-gray eyes turned to Christopher Lee.

“Can you navigate us through that?”

The old man scoffed. “You sailed with Barren Reed and cannot navigate a ship through a storm?”

“
I asked you
.”

“Of course I can’t—all that I remembered from those days are gone.”

Datherious looked at his brother, and the brother shook his head. “Not me, but there is one who could do it.”

The twin waited.

“Barren.”

“I will not bring him to this helm. He will kill us all for vengeance!”

Natherious shrugged. “He has a vested interested in reaching that island just as you do.”

The twin thought for a moment, running his finger across his bottom lip. “Hmm. Bring me Barren Reed!”

***

Larkin traced the scars that bubbled across Barren’s skin. He watched her do it for a long moment, thinking it strange that she felt so comfortable touching them. Each scar had a story, and they were mostly all well-deserved. Some were small and unthreatening, some were long and frightening.

She started on the path of one scar that ran from his thumb and disappeared beneath the sleeve of his shirt. It had been a deep cut, severing muscles in his shoulder. Leaf worked long and tirelessly to save his arm, and he came out fine in the end.

“My skin is a map of scars,” Barren said quietly. “None have been good. Those that look the best were mostly Leaf’s handiwork. I have him to thank for my survival.”

“He is a good man.”

Barren smirked. “He is an Elf.”

Larkin stopped tracing his scars for a moment and looked at Barren.

“Was Estrellas the first place you thought you might die?”

“Hardly the first where it was possible, but I have never thought of death in those situations.”

Larkin’s fingers moved to trace his palm, causing an electric sensation to run from his stomach, through his chest and flush his cheeks.

“If we do make it to the bloodstone, have you decided what you will do with it?” asked Larkin.

This was the question Barren was dreading. He would have to tell her—the only way they could destroy it was together, with their blood, but that could mean their deaths, and Barren would not ask her to pledge to that uncertainty. “Barren?” she shifted to look at him, seeing worry pull at his features. “What is it?”

He rubbed his face before speaking, as if trying to erase what he knew was clearly written in his features. “Destroying the bloodstone is a harder decision than it seems, Larkin.”

“How? There must be a way! You cannot hand it over to Tetherion.”

“It can be destroyed,” Barren said evenly. “But dark magic is tricky and there is no way to tell what will happen after it’s destroyed. If it were only my life in question, I would destroy the stone without a second thought, but that is not the case.”

Larkin narrowed her eyes, and Barren could tell she had already guessed what he was going to say, but she asked anyway. “What do you mean?”

Barren stared at her for a long moment, taking in her fierce gaze.

“The bloodstone can only be destroyed if it comes into contact with the blood of Sysara and Kenna—our blood.”

“And that means we may die?”

Barren nodded.

“Then we have to take that chance, Barren.”

“
You
should not have to lose your life for this. This isn’t…this wasn’t your doing.”

“And it wasn’t yours, either,” Larkin reminded. “But what Tetherion does affects both of us, and if we don’t at least try to end this thing…he will defeat us and everyone we care about.”

Barren swallowed hard. “It’s not so simple. It’s the magic—that’s what determines my life or death—your life or death. Lord Alder said that if it chooses to let us live, it’s expecting something in return. I can’t imagine what’s worse, dying or being a slave to such a terrible thing.”

“Well, it doesn’t sound like there’s a choice,” Larkin argued. “Barren, I know you feel you need to protect me because of the code, but I hardly think that applies now that we’re held hostage by my father and the twins.”

“It’s not about the code, Larkin,” Barren said and then he bit his bottom lip, as if trying to stop the words from coming out of his mouth. “I don’t want you to die. I mean…it matters to me that you live.”

It wasn’t about the code anymore. It hadn’t been for a long time. He watched Larkin as she leaned in toward him, and he was sure she would kiss him again, but in the darkness beyond the yellow lanterns, a loud boom escaped into the air, and two men came forward, their eyes set on Barren. They jerked Barren from the floor and unlocked his shackles. 


“His majesty wants to see you,” one said, his voice rasped.

“What are you doing? Leave him alone!” Larkin cried. She reached for one of the guards, but he slapped her away. “Better not defend him, Lady. You’re in enough trouble.”

They dragged Barren away, and all his crew could do was watch and wonder what the twins needed with him.

Barren entered the hostile night. The wind picked up and gusted over the ship. The sky pulsed with fire, just waiting to explode in pounding thunder. Barren recalled Devon’s words, and knew this storm was not good—they’d be lucky to survive it, and their only hope lay in the fact that this ship was built for battle.

The guards kicked Barren in the back of his knees so he fell before the twins.

“What do you want?”

“So much anger,” Datherious chided. “You must learn to control your temper; you are speaking to your superior.”

“Traitors can never be superiors.”

“Oh, but you are a pirate—everyone surpasses you.”