1 hour later, the Valkyrie
~Selene’s Perspective~
“He got away,” I tell the Bellona.
“Shame,” he says. “Although I’m surprised the Shining Pirates would try to kill him.”
I hold back a retort. No one is stupid enough to protect someone who knows too much. But I don’t tell him that. There’s no telling how he will respond.
“I’ll continue hunting my target right now,” I say. I get up and walk out the door.
“Why?” the Bellona asks. “We’ve only just begun to talk.”
“Do you want your man or not?” I ask. I don’t wait for his answer as I walk out the door.
I walk off the ship and to my caravel. I untie the rope and sail out the cave.
I look around as I leave the cave. I feel like I’m being watched. But I see no one looking at me.
Meanwhile, The Bloody Mary
~Archon Alethia’s Perspective~
Cassius Kestos stands in front of me.
“It must be important for you and your men to show up here after the chaos at Navina,” I tell him. “We saw the smoke and AG ships. What happened?”
He sighs.
“Kellan Bellona hired the bounty hunter Selene Liannos to capture or kill Baron Adrius,” he begins. “Unfortunately, he followed her to Navina. We were also sent to kill him. We set off a diversion but as we left, the Bellona was rounding up the inhabitants trying to escape the chaos.”
I think about the information for a few moments. Baron Adrius is our contact to the Shining Pirates, ensuring our deal goes well.
“I take that this means the deal is off?”
“Yes.”
“Very well,” I say. “We’ll allow you to hunt him down. But he is a powerful member. Only I outrank him here. I cannot assist you in any way.”
The captain nods.
“Understood. And another thing. It’s about the bounty hunter.”
I look at him in confusion.
“You can’t possibly be asking for me to spare her life, are you?”
“Exactly. Bellona has bargained the welfare of her home if she completes her end of the deal.”
“The Lageros taxes and tariffs,” I muse. “He’s promised to lift them, hasn’t he.”
“Yes.”
I look at him.
“That clears up many things. No one is foolish enough to go after a baron unless they have something important to them on the line. Very well. I will not order a hunt. But if other members try to kill her, I cannot stop it. But I require a condition.”
“I will hear it.”
“Spare Baron Adrius.” I smile as the captain’s face falls. “And bring him to us.”
“I don’t think I can-”
“But you obviously desire for me to spare this Liannos girl. What will it be?”
He looks at me with disgust. He thinks about my proposal for a few moments.
“Fine,” he spits. “You have a deal. I swear on the River Styx.”
I smile. We shake hands.
“Pleasure doing business with you.”
Evening, Bellen
~Cassius’ Perspective~
I grab a newspaper from the stand and pay the vendor, being careful to keep my face hidden. The bitter taste still hasn’t left my mouth. I haven’t told the other captains about the deal I struck with Archon Alethia. I feel like a piece of shit lying to them, but I just couldn’t leave Selene in danger.
I read through the newspaper until my face lands on one article. I freeze in shock.
“Holy shit,” I murmur.
I get up and run to the ship to get some sky skates.
End of Chapter XXXI