Chapter 21

  She hated waiting. Nereida stared at the ceiling, counting the nails she could see. Her brother was supposed to have brought her a book, or even just come by with the boys, but Alejo had developed a runny nose and Dymion was adamant that the sick and the injured not mingle. Ael was out doing “admiral” things, Epelda was still recovering. There was no one to speak to, nothing to do.

  She wanted desperately to go back to their early morning, to be held by Ael. But the moment had passed, and once the crew were moving around more, Ael had become the Admiral, all business. Her face changed, became a mask, and she left Nereida alone with a promise to return with lunch, orders not to get out of bed, and a chaste kiss on the cheek.

  The door creaked open, and Nereida sat up, expecting Ael. Instead, a vaguely familiar man came with a tray of food; hard cheese, jerky and an apple. There was a knife on the pte.

  “Begging’ your pardon,” he said awkwardly, pushing the door closed. He shifted nervously from foot to foot. “The Admiral thought you could do with lunch.” A wave of disappointment crashed over Nereida. Ael was probably dealing with an emergency. It was not a snub, she was not being rebuked. She chewed on her bottom lip anxiously.

  “Oh. Certainly, bring the tray here.” She shifted to the side so that there was a space on the mattress for the silver tray. She found she wasn’t hungry any longer.

  The man limped over to her, the silver tray rattling as he approached. She grimaced, and pulled the heavy wool bnket up higher. He was afraid of her, afraid of the siren. She wondered briefly if her anklet was still in her boots by the window. She’d have to ask Ael about it when she returned. At least if she looked like them, they’d have fewer reasons to be afraid of her.

  “D’you want your apple cut, miss?” The man asked, picking up the knife. He pced the tray next to her. She bit back a sigh. She would not snap at this man.

  “No, that’s alright…?” She left a question hanging at the end, hoping he’d give her a name. He blinked at her stupidly for a moment, either missing the invitation or ignoring it completely.

  Exhausted and unable to deal with his prejudice any longer, she y down, waiting for him to leave. Instead, catching her completely by surprise, he leaned onto her, pressing the knife to her throat. It was then she recognized him; this was the man who had cut Evander. She froze, unwilling to provoke him.

  “You’ve ensorcelled the Admiral,” he hissed. His breath smelled of old cheese and rum. “If you let her free of your spell, I will make your death painless.” He pressed the knife into her just enough that it drew forth blood and stinging pain, before he pulled back enough that she could safely breathe. Nereida’s hands shook with fear. He climbed onto her, pinning her arms beneath his knees. If she so much as started to wiggle, he pressed down on the knife again. She felt a hot, angry tear escape.

  “I didn’t,” she began, but he pressed the knife to her throat again. She froze.

  “Don’t you dare lie to me, sea witch. She just decred that any who were “uncomfortable” with you on board could resign and be dropped at the nearest friendly port.” He leaned in, his weight nearly breaking her arms. She cried out and he cmped his dirty, oil-stained hand over her mouth. It took all her willpower to not gag. “So, once more, and quietly, witch, what did you do?” His words were an angry hiss. He lifted his hand just a bit so that she could talk.

  “I haven’t done,” she wasn’t able to get any more out when he spped her, hard. She saw stars and struggled to stay awake. If she passed out she was certain he’d kill her.

  His sweaty, disgusting hand pressed down on her mouth again.

  “You aren’t taking me seriously, witch.” He cmped down hard, pinching her nose as well, so hard she could not breathe. He dragged the knife along her exposed colrbone, drawing blood. She tried to kick, tried to scream, but he was much rger than her. “Last chance, before I gut you and hope your death frees my Admiral.”

  She was out of options. He loosened his grip enough that she could take a shuddering breath. In that moment, she bit the disgusting hand as hard as she could. He roared in pain, bringing the knife down hard but it mostly caught the colrbone. The pain was terrible but the wound was not deep. She tore her head as hard as she could, spit out the blood and grime and screamed as loud as she could.

  People came bursting into the cabin, spilling harsh sunlight in through the open door. Men grabbed her assaint, dragged him off her as he screamed.

  “That witch bit me! Kill the siren!!” Someone punched him in the mouth so he’d stop. Nereida heard the cracking noise before she saw who had dealt the blow; Evander.

  Everyone froze when Ael stormed in, pistol drawn.

  “Drag him outside.” Her voice was cold enough to freeze the ocean. “Out. Now.” The gaggle of men dragged him out as he screamed for the Admiral to believe him. She smmed the door.

  During the pandemonium, Nereida had scrambled to the innermost corner of the bed, pressing her back against the wood so she would have leverage if the attack continued. She was breathing hard, shaking.

  “Ner?” Ael’s voice was soft, no trace of her Admiral persona. Nereida moved slowly toward her, inch by inch, until she reached the end of the bed. All her fear and anger and grief crashed into her. She threw herself into Ael’s arms and sobbed. Ael’s strong arms tightened around her protectively.

  “Can you stand, Ner?” Nereida nodded miserably. “Good. Let me clean you up, love.”

  Tenderly, Ael washed the wounds, applied dressing that was there from Dymion treating her shoulder. Nereida held still, trying not to feel. She didn’t want to feel the wound or the feelings.

  “I have to go deal with him now, love,” Ael said softly. “Will you be by my side?” Nereida stared at her, not comprehending. After a few slow blinks, Ael looked grim. “He has to die for what he did to you. You are under my protection. That was mutiny.” She brought her hand up to Nereida’s cheek, gently used her thumb to wipe the tears away. There was anger in her tone, but muted by something else that Neireda couldn’t identify.

  A moment passed before Neireda could answer. Her sons were sirens too, and it would not be long until the crew considered that.

  “Not like this,” she said, motioning to her blood-stained clothing. “I can’t send the message I’m weak.” She took a breath, then another. This was ending a threat, like ending the demon ship. They had to walk this path. “Will you help me get dressed, Ael?” She paused, looked down. “And get someone to help me with my hair?” Ael took her hand.

  “May I?” Her voice was quiet and shy. Nereida curled her fingers around Ael’s strong ones.

  “Yes,” she breathed, knowing, at least a little, what she was agreeing to.

  “First, murderous mutineer, then we talk,” Ael said, her cheeks red and her eyes bright.

  Twenty minutes ter, they both emerged, first Ael, cd in her full armour, her hat and even her dramatic cloak that billowed impressively as she walked. Her clothing was all in reds and bcks, absolutely striking and visually distinct. Nereida followed half a step behind her, barely dodging the cloak. She came out in a red and bck dress. The fit was tight, since the clothing was Ael’s, and the Admiral was trim and lean. It was not quite court apparel, but it was not inappropriate for day to day wear. Ael had twisted Nereida’s hair up into a braid that sat on her head like a crown. She had offered up the anklet, telling Nereida about her trip to speak to Basiano, but Nereida refused.

  “Let them see me as me. If I’m to trust them, I can’t lie to them.” She smiled ruefully. “But we will still want that for outsiders.”

  As she stepped onto the deck, Nereida caught sight of her brother. He was leaning casually on the railing going to the top deck, but his eyes were dark with fury. He met her eyes, looked over her outfit and mouthed “really?” in disbelief. She felt heat rise to her cheeks.

  Wearing Ael’s colours was a very deliberate choice, it showed them as united. She’d just have to expin to Ael after that there were implications because she had done so, just as she imagined that there were implications after Ael did her hair. She wouldn’t hold Ael to anything, and she knew Basiano would never betray this moment to their father. He’d not enforce it. It would be fine.

  It was difficult to maneuver on the deck, with most of the crew here. When the two moved together, however, all eyes were on the Admiral and the Siren. No one whispered, no money changed hands, the crowd was so still it was almost deafening. Nereida scanned the crowd but did not see Epelda. That was good, she did not need to witness what was to come.

  The assaint was bound in irons, chained to the deck, his head forced to bow.

  “The charge is mutiny, assault and attempted murder.” She was not Ael now, but the Grand Admiral; judge, jury, executioner. “You may plead your case, Jonas Smithson.”

  “Admiral, please,” his voice cracked in fear. “She has bewitched you!”

  “She has not. Moreover, she has sworn a blood oath to protect this ship and this crew. Sadly, you no longer qualify.” Her voice was low but clear. Everyone held their breaths. “I would kill you as you threatened her. Disembowelment.” Someone in the crowd swore softly. The Grand Admiral did not turn or even acknowledge the interruption. Nereida felt her mouth go dry. That was a cruel death.

  “Mercy,” he begged, bending to kiss the boot of the Grand Admiral. “Please!”

  No one moved, or even seemed to breathe. The only sound was the ocean’s waves pping at the ship. Nereida wanted to touch Ael’s elbow, to bring her back to the present. She feared that if she did, the crew would believe the lie that she had enchanted Ael. And so Nereida stayed as still as a statue. The air was heavy with fear.

  “It is not me you must beg for forgiveness, for mercy,” the Grand Admiral sneered. Nereida looked up in shock. Oh no. The Grand Admiral lifted her right hand, holding it up for Nereida to take. She could refuse, but she didn’t want to. Damn the implications. She pced her left hand in the Grand Admiral’s right. She heard a hiss from the crowd, and recognized her brother’s strangled cough.

  Still holding hands, Nereida stepped forward.

  “Kiss her feet, Smithson, and beg her for mercy. The penalty is death, but perhaps the princess is kinder than the Admiral.” Whispers broke out at this. Nereida did not react to her full identity being shared. This was not how she would have chosen, but trust was not earned in lies. She stared ahead at the assaint, her face a mask as hard as marble. She would show no weakness.

  The bound prisoner looked up at her, hatred burning in his eyes. She remained impassive, and turned her heart to stone. He was already dead. All that was left was the how of it. A thousand emotions passed over the condemned man’s face before he did the stupidest thing he could; he spit at her. The glob nded on her boot. The Grand Admiral snarled almost inhumanly, but Nereida put a hand on her shoulder.

  “He may be too stupid to beg for mercy, Grand Admiral, but I ask for it anyway. I do not need his suffering.” She looked down at the hateful man. He looked almost smug, like he had won something. She smiled sadly at him, offering him pity.

  “Just his death.” The condemned man’s smugness turned to fear and rage. She could see the hate in his eyes.

  “You see! She controls the Admiral!” He screamed in fury. Nereida checked a sigh. Hatred like his would not respond to vitriol. It had become kill or be killed, and she had no tears to spare for a murderous bigot. She looked to the Grand Admiral, and gave a little bow of her head.

  “I’ll abide by your word,” Nereida said, projecting so that all could hear. It was theatre now, one that Ael had to puppet or things would get worse. She met Ael’s eyes, silently begging her to be smart, to grant him a merciful death.

  There was a terrible moment when Nereida worried Ael would ask her to kill the man. If she did, the crew would never trust her. Instead, the Grand Admiral stepped forward, dropping Nereida’s hand. She drew a knife; the one that he had threatened Nereida with. The Admiral motioned for Nereida to step back, which she carefully did. The angry woman stalked behind him, and leaned in to whisper in his ear. Nereida caught only the barest bit.

  “You won’t make my book. Join the Drowned Ones in hell.” Without any other preamble, she grabbed his hair roughly, forcing him forward and slit his throat. Blood sprayed onto the deck and she held the man until he stopped twitching. Nereida looked up at Ael’s face, but saw only an expressionless mask. The Grand Admiral might as well have been made of marble, for all the expression she showed. Even as the condemned struggled with the st of his life, she remained impassive and cold. Once he was dead, she threw a gnce back at two of the rger crewmen.

  “Throw it over the rails; no rites.”

  “Aye sir.”

  Without another word, Ael stormed into her cabin. She did not look at anyone, did not speak. The door closed quietly. The crew began to return to their duties. Nereida shifted through them, trying to reach the cabin, when her brother suddenly appeared in her way.

  “Shall I post the bans?” He asked quietly. She flushed red.

  “It’s not…”

  “She killed for you, Nerry. You are already in her colours and you’ve been courting a single day.” He sighed, a long suffering kind of sound. He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Talk to her, please. She doesn’t know what you just decred.”

  “And neither will they. It was necessary theatre; you’ve seen the same at court.”

  “It never ended in blood,” he muttered. She snorted.

  “You know that’s not true, we were just subtler about it.” She resolutely did not look behind her when a terrible spsh sound hit her ears. He put his big, comforting hand on her shoulder.

  “I love you, Nerry. I will do what is best for you. But please… don’t rush forward to a broken heart.” She smiled at him, stopping to hug him tightly.

  “Love you too, Bassi.” She gave him a quick squeeze around his waist. “But now I have to make sure she is alright… and then change before I see the children.” He sighed again, kissing the top of her head.

  “Father will not take this well.” She ughed, and then headed into the cabin, letting herself in.