Page 156 of Sword & Sacrifice

“How did I know you were in trouble?” Everett finished for her. He opened a drawer and took out a letter, passing it to her.

She hesitated before taking it, watching his hands. He held the letter opener like one might hold a dagger. A subtle threat? Or the unconscious stance of a fighter? He didn’t raise it against her, so she ignored it for now and examined the letter.

Everett,

Heard some odd news about an old friend today. Sounds like Valerian’s finally snapped. Always thought he would, after he almost killed you. According to a girl who arrived at The Hatchling Inn, looking like a drenched cat, Valerian has holed himself up with another mage at an estate in Sparrow Hill with the lord himself as a hostage. I’ll investigate it this afternoon but thought you would want to know, in case you wanted to send some of your boys out to meet him.

Funny thing about the girl—she looks damn familiar. Name sounded familiar too—Emmaline Orestes. Wasn’t that the surname of the little witch you were in love with? I only met her a few times and had the good fortune to never be broken enough for her to heal me.

Though it can’t be the witch herself since she says she’s only twenty-one. She did mention her mother was one of the hostages at the estate. It seems Valerian betrays all his friends.

The girl will, of course, have to remain in Sparrow Hill for the duration of the investigation.

Your Friend,

Gordon

Emmaline stared at the letter, wondering how something as simple as giving the constable her name had led to her presence on this ship. Did he use Lord Edgar’s accusations as an excuse to imprison me to keep me in town?

The letter crumpled in her hand. The bastard! She rarely cursed, even in her own mind, but she had no other words for a man who willingly endangered her mother. Constable Gordon had prevented Emmaline from running after her mother. From finding another source of help. And how long had it taken him to write and send this letter? If he hadn’t wasted time, would they have arrived at the manor before Alistair escaped?

“You’re angry.”

Emmaline’s head snapped up to glare at Everett through watering eyes. “Of course I’m angry! While my mother was in danger, this man falsely imprisoned me as a favor for you.”

“I didn’t ask him to.”

“Oh, like you didn’t ask your men to drug me.” She swiped at her eyes with her forearm, annoyed that her first response to anger was always to cry.

“Sometimes people act hastily when they’re trying to impress those with power,” he explained.

The word ‘power’ gave her pause. “What sort of power do you have?”

“I’m not a mage like your mother, if that’s what you mean, but I do well enough. I command seven ships and over five hundred men. My name’s respected on the seas and at the ports we do business with.”

“Business,” she repeated, pursing her lips. She glanced at the door, thinking of the crew she’d seen so far, too rough to serve a merchant. “You’re a pirate.”

“I’ve been called worse.”

“What power does a pirate have on land?”

Everett arched a dark eyebrow. “Not the question I expected.”

“You read the letter,” she said, tossing it onto his desk, in case he needed to refresh his memory. “My mother is in danger.”

He glanced at it dispassionately. “Yes, it seems her trust in Valerian finally failed her.”

Though Everett tried to shield his expression, animosity tainted his voice when he spoke Valerian’s name. Just a few days ago, Valerian had mentioned her father. What had their relationship been like before? How did Everett, Valerian, and her mother all know each other? Would Everett be more or less likely to help me if he thinks Valerian is the problem?

Emmaline worded her request carefully. “Valerian is unwillingly working with two other mages: Alistair Lindstrum and Niall Payton. They’ve taken my mother and my friend hostage. I don’t know exactly what their plan is, but Alistair is—”

“The advisor who tried to takeover Bellacosta,” Everett finished.

“You know him.”

“Even at sea, I hear things.”

She stepped toward him, her hands clasped in supplication. “You loved my mother once. I can’t save her on my own. Please, if you can do anything to help her—”