Page 37 of Empire of Death
His eyes shifted back and forth between mine. “That you’re in trouble. That you’re a prisoner to a god but you can’t tell me.”
“I’m not a prisoner,” I said as I looked him in the eye. “He truly offered these gifts to me freely. He’s different from his predecessors, trapped in a position he never wanted. He’s different from all the others, and that’s why he cares what happens to mortals.”
“To all mortals…or just one mortal?”
Maybe Hawk did know. Maybe he knew I’d given my heart to someone who could never give it back. I continued to eat my apple and refused to entertain this conversation further, knowing he would never understand.
“I’ve witnessed your strength in battle. And now I’ve witnessed your ability to raise the dead. I don’t think we need allies, not when you can sink their ships beneath the waves and crush their army on land.”
“This enemy is different.”
“Even if they are, we’re thoroughly prepared.” He took another bite of his apple, taking it down to the core. He tossed it overboard, the splash not seen or heard from the ship. “What’s the next step?”
“We fly to the Northern Kingdoms and speak with Aunt Eldinar.”
“The Northern Kingdoms are bound by their alliance with us to fight.”
“Yes, but it’s always good to give a friendly reminder. Then we’ll return home. Now that I’ve earned Jack’s respect, I want to ask him where we can find the antidote to the gold. If he doesn’t know, then perhaps Aunt Eldinar has figured out something since we last spoke.”
“I doubt Jack would know. He would have mentioned something the second you told him about the cursed blades. But he can tell his pirates to be on the lookout for whatever it could be.”
It was sunset, the bright sun dull as it sat on the edge of the horizon, about to dip over the edge of the world. I was always sad to see it go, but I loved a sky full of stars during the darkest part of the night. That always reminded me of my father, when he would get me out of bed so we could see them the most clearly. We’d bring bedrolls to the courtyard and lie under the stars and learn them together.
All those memories of everything my father imparted to me slowly came back to me during this journey. Made me realize he’d truly molded me into the person I’d become. There really was no Lily Rothschild without Talon Rothschild.
Jack came to my side where I stood on the starboard, the spray of sea salt occasionally hitting my face. “Where’s the next stop on your journey?”
“The Northern Kingdoms and Riviana Star.”
He gave a nod like he understood, but Riviana Star was just a spot on a map that he’d never seen because it was far from the sea.
“I need a favor.”
“Anything, Pirate Queen.” His attitude toward me was subtly different. Not enormously, but something in his tone, the way he chose to look over the bow of the ship rather than stare directly at me. It reminded me of the way my father’s general would stand at his side, like too much direct eye contact was insulting.
“You’re really going to call me that?”
“Queen Lily Rothschild of the Southern Isles is a little long, and we’re not part of the Southern Isles.” He turned slightly to look at me. “What do you need?”
“I told you about the effects of the cursed blades. The inability to heal. I need to find the antidote to save my father. To save everyone who’s going to need to be saved in this war. Perhaps you can ask your constituents to keep their eyes peeled on their journeys.”
“Of course I can ask. But it would be a lot easier to know the properties of the cure and search for it that way. I’m sure most people will be completely unaware of these cursed blades, so it’s hard to find a cure to an affliction that no one knows exists.”
“I understand what you mean.”
“But yes, I will ask.” He stepped away as if the conversation was over. The sun finally slipped beneath the horizon, and the sky immediately changed colors. Now it was mostly pink, the world growing quiet.
Then I felt him, a presence that made the air warmer and thicker and harder to breathe. It was a quiet ringing in my years, a subtle warning in my heart that I wasn’t alone. My eyes flicked back to where Jack had been a moment ago, and I saw the kingly man beside me, his cape lifted by the sea breeze. A mammoth of a man who would terrify men in battle with just a look, he physically fit the bill as god of the underworld, but his heart wasn’t suited for the title whatsoever. “Thank you for your help today.”
He turned to look at me, dark eyes taking me in with thatlook, like he wished we were alone together. Like he wished my voyage was over so he would whisk me away to our island to make love in the sand near the shore. “Everything I have is yours,Xivin.”
He always knew exactly what to say to drag me deeper into the depths of his rivers. I wanted to move into him, rest my head against his chest plate, feel those strong arms envelop me like my favorite blanket in front of the fire. “For as long as I have your strength, does that mean you lack yours?”
He considered the question for a long time before he answered. “I have the strength of the mortal man I was before—and not a god.”
“Then take it back. The battle is over?—”
“And war has just begun.”
