Page 66 of A Yulean Sister’s Guide to Getting Kidnapped

Then I remembered the flyer. “Right here,” I said, hoping this was what he meant.

He looked surprised to see it, but took it anyway. “Where’s hers?” he asked, pointing at Anne.

“She’s my plus one,” I said, keeping up the charm. “Doesn’t every party let you have one?”

He looked between us for a few moments. “Fine. It’s three coins to get in.”

I took those three coins from the satchel.

“Each,” he said, as I handed him three.

Someone really seemed to love their job. I handed over the other three, and we stepped inside.

Chapter 22

Adrian

My eyes burned as I turned the last page on A Privateer’s Guide to Antiques and Lost Treasure. How Bramwell pored over these books all day was a mystery to me. I leaned back a bit, resting on my tail and sighed.

Every lead felt like hitting a brick wall, and it was starting to feel hopeless. Though I’d do anything to learn what happened to Tungesten, to Coltar, turning something over so powerful that not even the strongest mages could break it seemed like a moral failing.

If I could learn anything about it, I could weigh the costs, but right now, it was just all a guessing game. And I hated guessing.

“Find anything about enchanted necklaces or princesses that wear them?” Bramwell asked.

“Nope, you?”

“I found something about a bracelet that was enchanted to a monarch a long time ago, but that bracelet was actually a curse, and squeezed her wrist until her hand came off. I think if that was going to happen to Sage, it would have already happened.”

I shivered at the thought of it, but he was right, there was no real connection there. It felt like this necklace just surfaced from the depths of the sea and ended up around her neck.

“Have you asked her about how she acquired the necklace yet?” he asked.

“I haven’t.” But I should. “I will.” Maybe this evening, if she decided to stop being upset with me.

“Let’s have dinner and start again,” Bramwell said, standing. “And maybe gain some insight from Sage.”

He stretched out his arms, which was the wrong move. His white undershirt split at the seam of the sleeves, unable to contain his large body.

“Too big for your own good,” I told him.

“I’m aware,” he said. “At least now I have someone to fix it.”

“Sage, you mean?”

“Yes,” Bramwell said. “She’s quite adept at mending. It takes her almost no time at all. I think it’s her small fingers, she can do fiddly tasks like that.”

I’d put her with Bramwell because she knew how to read, and I thought she’d at least find some peace in reading, but it seemed she found a useful job all on her own.

The mess was basically deserted. There was no one who planned to miss a meal on land. Little Lou made some of the best food on the high seas, but there were limits to what could be cooked and kept on board, so when the crew had a chance to have something they usually couldn’t, they jumped at it.

But Alek was still there. He was Lou’s apprentice, stuck ensuring anyone still on board was fed. I remember being at the bottom of the food chain like that. One evening, I begged Tungesten to go out. Coltar had told me about a pub they were going to, and I wanted to join them, but he refused. I’d only been on the ship a year, so I was the one who had to stay back, make sure everything was in order, and keep a lookout.

Everyone has to do their part. And one day, you won’t be a scallywag and your part will be different. But today, this is your job.

Though at the time I was pissed, it was another thing he ended up being right about.

“Aye Cap’,” he said from behind the counter. “Ain’t goin out tonight?”