Page 58 of Of the Stars and Sea

“So, if there isn’t a curse then whydoeshe chase after black pearls?” Tommy asks.

I shrug. “The bastard just finds them pretty, I think.”

From the corner of my eye, I see Grayson peer back at me with a ghost of a smile on his lips. I don’t know why it makes my heart skip a beat, but I save that to ponder over later as we arrive at the eastern tunnel, the three groups now gathered on a ledge risen about twenty feet from the water’s surface.

Grayson steps forward and I can’t help but notice how much taller he is than the other men here. The edges of his scar crinkle together as he flashes a wicked smile, donning the mask of the ruthless pirate lord.

“Now that we’ve all arrived, let the meeting commence.”

Chapter 15

“What did you learn from your interception of the merchant ship?” Seger asks.

Zaos walks forward and I see the men from the other two crews start to look at one another. Some of them shift their hands to mount the pommels of their swords now that Grayson’s trained assassin has entered the midst. It makes me wonder how many of them have actually seen Grayson in action. I realize that it must be very few who have witnessed what he is truly capable of doing with a weapon—and that naiveté is likely orchestrated by Grayson himself. It’s one thing to allow others to know you’re dangerous, and it’s another to reveal your hand.

He’s always wearing a mask. Always thinking three steps ahead of those around him.

“We recovered their route in the captain’s logs,” Zaos responds. “Their plan was to secure the packages from a seller in The Pit and take them to the Northern Realm.”

“So, they’re expanding their shipping routes then?” Hawke looks between Grayson and Zaos.

“It appears that way,” Grayson offers.

Seger runs a hand over his beard. “I’m not sure that all members of the trade are expanding. The last interception wehad with a fishing vessel showed routes that led back here—to Emerald Cove.”

“It’s rare for a trafficking trade route toendat Emerald Cove. They’ve orchestrated dealings to steal children from the island in the past, but I have never heard of anyone herepurchasingfrom the trade until a few weeks ago.” Hawke shoves his hands into his pockets.

My heart plummets as I notice Tommy’s skin turning ashen. Not caring who might see, I place a hand on his arm in comfort. The notch in his throat bobs as he swallows, and I know his mind must be whirling with memories better forgotten. He keeps his gaze trained ahead, but there’s a gloss that makes his eyes shine and I know he’s not here with me, but lost to his painful past.

“I wonder if the head of the trade has caught wind of our interventions and is trying to cause confusion by encouraging the route runners to carry inaccurate information in their logs,” Grayson offers.

Suddenly, I’m furious with him. How could he summon Tommy to this meeting knowing what would be discussed today? Knowing his past and where he comes from? Every word they speak is a cut to Tommy’s heart. I can see it in the way his hands have a slight tremor and his knees maintain a bend, as if he might flee this place at any moment.

Being here is killing him. Ripping apart all the pieces of joy he was able to recover after enduring such horrid, unspeakable things.

My heart aches and screams at me to do something. To sayanythingthat might stop this conversation so I can take Tommy away from here and never expose him to the evils of this world again. But I know he would hate me for it. That it would only embarrass him in front of the one person whose opinion he holds most dear.

So, I stand in silence, holding onto Tommy so his mind doesn’t carry him away.

Hawke shakes his head and everyone shifts their attention onto him. “While you were both in Esoros, I scattered my crew across the island to listen for information after Seger sent word that there might be buyers here. One of my men overheard the madame at The Hen Housespeak of receiving some new girls, but they would need to betrainedbefore she allowed them to start working.” He spits the words out like they’re acid on his tongue, burning him from the inside out.

Grayson’s face is unreadable stone, but malice drips from his every word as he says, “I assume they were taken care of?”

Hawke shows his teeth in a vicious grin that raises goosebumps along my arms. “Let’s just say the madame is taking a long rest in a watery grave.” The men behind him snicker to themselves and a part of me relishes in their murderous revelry. If the madame’s death means the children of this realm are safe from her—at least for the time being. I know it won’t be long before another madame rises.

“We still need to identify the head of the trafficking trade. Are there any theories as to who it might be?” Seger asks, a sense of urgency to his tone.

Everyone looks around at each other for a moment, their curious whispers bouncing off the cavern walls. I see Grayson look toward Tommy and I step forward, having no idea what he’s about to say, but I don’t want Tommy to have to face whatever Grayson has in store for him.

Then something shifts and Tommy comes back to himself, as though just alookfrom his captain is capable of snapping him back to the present moment. The color comes back to his skin and there’s a newfound determination written across his face, replacing any signs of the terrified child that lurks beneath.Next to me, I watch a young man rise, and before Grayson has a chance to beckon him forward, he walks up next to his captain.

“During your time in The Pit, did you ever hear anyone speak of the trafficking trade?” Grayson’s tone is gentle. It washes over me in a gentle caress and I’m surprised that he would reveal any sense of tenderness in front of two other pirate lords, let alone several members of their crews.

Tommy’s shoulders straighten as he looks to Hawke and Seger. They both eye Tommy carefully, and I know they have to be wondering how he survived The Pit without becoming something . . .else.

“There are many who believe themselves to be the rulers of The Pit. When I was forced to become a fighter in the cages, I was owned by a sea witch named Elspeth. Anytime her chosen fighters would win, she would invite us into her chambers to . . .” He pauses, looking down at the ground. My heart lurches, banging in my chest like a rabid animal, screaming at me to stop this. To protect him.

Instead, I stand quiet. Utterly helpless and forced to watch his discomfort.

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