Page 167 of Sword & Sacrifice

“Top secret,” they replied with a wink. They didn’t even let the joke sit before bursting into laughter and explaining, “I’m the first mate of Captain Moira Rhosyn of The Queen’s Garden. Also known as Everett’s biggest rival. They’ve been fighting over territory for years: trade routes, fences, hideouts, everything they can squabble over.”

“So you don’t really work for … Everett.” Emmaline wasn’t sure how to refer to the man, but after witnessing him bargaining with Varro, she didn’t want to call him ‘father.’

“Rafe Hackett does,” Echo replied with a shrug. “Unfortunately for Everett, Rafe only exists in this eyepatch.” They pulled the black circle from their pocket and tossed it onto the table in front of them. “Worked for that prick for almost two years before I got the good dirt on him.”

“The good dirt?” Emmaline echoed.

“His relationship with Varro. Y’see, some of our mutual clients are legitimate. They don’t mind working with pirates, but they do mind pissing off the government. Once the Bellacosta Coup failed, my captain cut ties with anyone named as traitors. All those old council members who betrayed the king? Our captain’s ordered us to drown ‘em, skewer ‘em, what have you, then delivery their heads to the king.”

Emmaline’s lips parted in shock. “Did Silas really order their deaths?” It shouldn’t have surprised her—the traitors had tried to kill him more than once. He deserved to take whatever measures he deemed necessary to protect himself and his country. But she remembered the man who had mourned the death of the soldiers sent to drag him back to Alistair. Remembered his anger and sorrow, how he defended them even as he acknowledged the danger they posed. That didn’t seem like a man who would hire pirates to kill for him.

“Silas?” Echo repeated. Then they sat up straighter, eyes narrowing on Emmaline. “Wait, you’re on first name basis with the king?”

“I—” Emmaline shrank back, startled by their sudden enthusiasm.

Sensing her hesitancy, Echo settled against the back of the couch and held up their hands in a gesture of peace. “Sorry, sorry, just wasn’t expecting that.”

How would they react if they knew about Emmaline’s close friendship with Archer? She decided to keep that bit of information to herself. “He’s my friend,” she whispered softly.

“Captain’ll be thrilled, honestly. She’s been looking for an in with Bellacosta for years. When she finally found one, he was on shaky terms with the king at best, but wait until I tell her you’re an actual, genuine friend.”

Emmaline did not particularly want to meet another pirate captain, and she still didn’t trust the shapeshifter who had first kidnapped her. But the problem with being stuck on an island was that she could only leave it on someone else’s ship. She didn’t have the funds to pay for her passage, and she wasn’t prepared to tuck her tail between her legs and seek out her father. Although she would like to hear an explanation about his relationship with Varro, she didn’t know him enough to parse out the truth from lies. Whatever trust they’d built during her stay on his ship had already snapped like the thinnest twig. Her best chance to get off the island would be on Echo’s ship.

“When we met, you said you could send a magical message. Was that a lie?”

“Oh, that?” Echo scratched their chin, eyes downcast. “That uh … I’m still learning that trick.”

Disappointment coursed through her, but she quickly shook it off. Regardless of their ability to send a message, her goals remained the same. “Can your captain get us off the island?”

“Yes! She’s got a sloop waiting at the docks for us as soon as its safe.”

“Were you already planning to leave the Eyolf?”

“Sort of. We try to meet up wherever the Eyolf docks in case I need a fast getaway.”

Emmaline nodded. “Good. If I arrange a meeting with Silas, will your captain promise to take me to Litus?” At this point, she didn’t trust anyone outside of her personal circle to help save her mother.

Echo’s eyes lit up. “I can’t speak for her of course, but if I had to guess … absolutely she would.”

Finally, it seemed like Emmaline’s luck was turning for the better.

Chapter Twelve

“Since I’m stealing the captain’s daughter, Rafe and Lady Carmine are proper burned,” Echo explained as they stood up. They sauntered over to the wardrobe and threw both doors open. “Pity, I liked being a famous courtesan, even if I was my only customer.” They began sorting through the clothes inside, examining the skirts and fingering the seams. “Oh well, I can adjust the glamour in some of these, so they’ll still be good for something. Here, put this on.” They hefted a dress from one of the hangers and tossed it over the back of the couch.

“Will it make me look like … Lady Carmine?” Emmaline asked. She’d been about to say ‘you’, but that didn’t feel quite right, since the current version of Echo looked nothing like the seductive lady.

Echo hummed and shrugged without further comment. They sorted through clothes, tossing some to the side while hanging others back up in the wardrobe.

Emmaline clutched the dress to her chest and scooted behind the dressing screen. The fabric was a soft, elegant maroon. Even without trying it on, she could tell the bodice would be daringly low cut, like nothing she’d ever worn before. Heat suffused her cheeks and she considered asking Echo for something more modest. Then again, perhaps a courtesan considered this modest since the fabric was opaque and the skirt would completely cover her legs.

She undressed quickly before she lost her nerve. As she set her old clothes aside, her hands lingered on the fabric of her skirt. She’d left her and her mother’s satchels on Everett’s ship. Her medic kit, Mama’s supplies. Unless she returned to her father, they were lost now. This dress was the only thing she had left of home.

But her father’s men had seen her in it. The necklace changed her features, but it didn’t change her clothes. Anyone who looked closely enough might identify her, and Emmaline needed to leave the island without alerting her father.

Sighing, she set her dress aside and stepped into the one Echo had given her. It would be a bit long, and a bit loose around the bodice, but hopefully it would add another layer to her disguise. She slipped her arms into the three-quarter sleeves, then reached behind her to tighten the ties. As she did, something felt … off. Oddly tight and full. She looked down at herself and gasped. “Rafe!”

From the other side of the dressing screen came a barely suppressed giggle. “If you’re going to call my name, I’d prefer it’d be one for a character I didn’t just kill.”