a deep, vicious red.
“You trying to earn back everything you lost on Kerost last night?” Bastian teases, and I notice he’s toying with a small amethyst box.
Unbothered, Shanty bats her hair over her shoulder. “You wish. I don’t know how to lose money, pirate. All I do is win.” She clears her throat to draw our attention to the inside of her coat as she peeks it open, flashing a fat rose gold coin purse tucked into one side. She does the same with the other side, and this time there are two coin purses.
It’s all the rest of us can do not to gawk at her.
“That’s all from last night?” Bastian asks, not bothering to hide the jealousy in his voice.
“The house always wins, right?” Shanty muses. “For part of the night, I played as the dealer and pocketed some chips to use when I turned back into a player. Coupled with Ferrick’s winnings, we could have bought that whole den. You know, they ought to figure out some counters against enchantment magic. Everyone might as well have been handing me their money.”
Vataea’s bark of laughter is so sharp and genuine that it’s impossible not to join in.
“Stars, Shanty.” Bastian shakes his head. “You’re a monster.”
“I appreciate that.” At some point, without me noticing, she’s drawn out a thin knife. She stabs it into the grapes, piling them up onto the blade. As quickly as she maneuvers it, she never once misses. Several times though, she presses her blade down too hard and digs the steel’s tip into Keel Haul. Every time it happens, Bastian’s frown grows more severe.
“What’s the update on Curmana?” Ferrick asks Casem, trying to distract from Shanty’s clear attempts at irking the pirate. Sweeping some seagull jerky and cheese into my palms, I shift focus to my guard.
“I was able to get in contact with their adviser as we left Kerost,” Casem says between mouthfuls of jerky. “They’re expecting us in two days’ time, and are ‘thrilled to finally have the chance to have the queen on their soil.’ Apparently, it’s been ages since they’ve had a visit from the royal family, and they’d love to throw out all the stops. Baroness Ilia Freebourne will be there to greet you, and they’ll have all bachelors ready and waiting to sweep you off your feet.”
He pauses for some cheese, not bothering to force any enthusiasm. For him, this is nothing more than a trip away from Mira and all the wedding planning he’s dying to do. I’ve no doubt that half of his time on this ship has been spent using mind speak to communicate with his fiancée like the sappy romantic he’s become. “There will be food and wine, and plenty to restock on when we’re done with our celebration. All you have to worry about, Amora, is making them fall in love with you. That’s a note that comes directly from your mother, by the way. She’s not thrilled about the change of itinerary, but she’s glad you’re taking precaution.”
Gods, I can’t wait to find Ornell and end this ridiculous charade. When my people learn the truth of what I’ve done, they’ll either love me for it, or they’ll hate me. But either way, my job will be done.
“I can’t wait.” I manage to keep at least some of the bitterness from my voice as I tear off a bite of jerky. “Now what about the island itself? Have any of you been there?”
Ferrick and Vataea both shake their heads, while Shanty bites a grape from her knife and says, “I’ve been there on business. I’m happy to share the details if you’re all interested?” It’s clear she’s talking about more than the island’s geography.
While part of me hates to admit it, I am interested. Ferrick, however, looks queasy.
“I’ve been there plenty,” Bastian says, sparing us from having to hear the details. As he speaks he pushes the small amethyst box toward me, as if needing a distraction to do it. “It’s impeccably clean, but there’s not much to do. They grow hundreds of different herbs in the jungle that wraps around the northern edge of the island, and use them to develop powders, potions, and the majority of the medicine that gets shipped directly to Suntosan healers. Their spas are popular because of those herbs; they’ll throw them into the water you bathe in, or make them into tonics and oils they use as they massage your skin to relax you. They say