She didn't catch many rumours on the road the second day. Too busy contemplating how she would deal with both the pirates and the demands of the royal family. There was no doubt that she would choose Seb if she had to, but deep down, she didn't want to choose. They had to coexist. Complement each other.
Also, she rather saw herself back on a ship than stuck in Sundale. Seb would have to understand that she couldn't stay. He would have to convince the Queen if his aunt didn't believe her betrothal to Pan.
But would he do that for her?
If he had to decide between her and his family, who would he pick?
The white towers of Sunstone Castle appeared like a beacon at sea. Unable to miss. A welcoming sight that they were still heading the right way, but with nervousness churning in her stomach. Other than aboard the Kraken or the barge that had carried her to the Greenlands, she couldn't lay low.
By the harbour, even before entering the side gate, she caught sight of a tall half-Jade Islandic Serjeant. His cornrow braids so long he had tied them together in a knot. He was part of Nick's patrol. Her heart leapt with joy. Perhaps her favourite booklover was around as well.
She waited for people to pass, for merchants to receive instructions from the Serjeant before entering the city. Shouts went back and forth as ships docked and cargo was unloaded. A man was running behind his pigs.
No small straw-haired boy.
She approached the Serjeant. "I'm a friend of Nick. Do you know where he is?"
He glanced at papers that a man in long robes pushed into his hands, then nodded at him. His eyebrow went upwards as he scrutinised her. "If you were really his friend, you'd know he has left Sundale a while ago."
Alex swallowed. "Old friend, then. I've been away for some time."
"Brought some relatives with you from the Islands?" He visibly clenched his jaw. "Where are you lot from? Socota? Mora? Hamra?"
"Malva," Captain Ilona said. "We have a meeting with your King."
The Serjeant's lip curled downwards. "You don't look as though you have an appointment with His Majesty."
"I'm friends with Nick and Prince Sebastian. King Thomas and Queen Crystal are my guardians. I'm Alex. I need to get into the castle."
"You're the girl who—" He paused. A glimmer of recognition in his eyes. "I can't help you b—"
"Please?" Alex begged.
"But... seek Patience within you, Miss Alex..." he continued. "There's a new Captain in town. Stephen... if you tell the truth, he should recognise you. He'll get you in."
"Where can I find him?"
The Serjeant looked over her, his blue eyes moving rapidly. He put two fingers to his lips and blew a shrill whistle.
"Stephen... Captain... Over here," he shouted. Then he grabbed her shoulder. "Today's your lucky day, girl."
The long-haired Lieutenant—now Captain—approached them with an atypical stern look on his face. He held his arms open, gesticulating, "What?"
She remembered Stephen as the guard with whom she could have a laugh; who rolled his eyes when Seb threw a tantrum and picked sides in debates over dinner. He always knew where everybody was in the castle. Nick's brain capacity, but not as serious or book-smart as him.
Then the expression on Stephen's face changed into a smile. "Alex?" he yelled right away. "Alex, is that you? You've returned."
"With company." The Serjeant grinned.
"With company?" Stephen repeated. His smile faded.
Before he could bombard her with questions, she asked. "Can you take me to the castle? I need to see Seb or King Thomas. General George is alright too—if he's well—just anyone." She shot a fleeting look to the Krakens. "We travelled from afar way. We... " She needed something for Stephen to act quickly. "We bring news... important news. I need to talk to them as equals... I am the Pirate Boyar."
"Err..." Stephen blinked. "Sure, I'll take you inside."
"Ilona—My Captain—she needs to come too," she said. "And my fiance as well, Panu."
"Fiance... Captain..."
She missed Captain Jonathan. Stephen was nice, but the old man would not have crumbled with uncertainty.
"Can you? Stephen?" Alex asked.
"Sure... sure." He nodded.
As they crossed the bridge and headed into the city, Stephen unsubtly tried to come in between Alex and Pan. She knew better than to allow the young Captain in her midst. He was too eager to know more, and she wasn't going to tell him anything until she was truly alone with him.
So much had changed to the Sundalers during Spring. Promotions in the army. A mission up north. General George getting rescued by Seb and King Thomas—if she had to believe all those rumours.
But Sundale was still Sundale, even when there were too many merchants and visitors swarming together in the narrow streets leading to the market square. The gilded gates gleamed in the sunlight. That one cobblestone in front of one of the blacksmiths that had been loose a few moons ago still hadn't been fixed. Groups of children were playing around the giant sundial.
And then they took the official stairs into the castle and entered the main visitor's hall.
As Stephen informed Lieutenant Patrick—who briefly waved at Alex before disappearing—Pan and Ilona's eyes feasted on the glittering marble extravagance and the abundance of statues and paintings. Their fingers slid over the curves of the effigy of old Queen Ophelia, whispering if the diamond necklace around her neck was real or painted on. They acted like children who had been told not to touch the freshly baked biscuits but were too hungry to resist Gluttony's temptation.
The young captain let it happen. He beckoned Alex to come to him.
"Don't be alarmed," he said in a low voice. Half a heartbeat later, he was touching her hips, searching her. "I have to do this. You're about to meet the Crown Prince," he shouted. "Have to make sure you don't possess any weapons."
Pan looked up briefly, then he moved onto the painting of King William. He sniggered, elbowing his mother. It helped. Ilona was distracted by the King's big nose as well.
"They're pirates?" Stephen asked under his breath. A clever trick to extract information from her.
She nodded.
He yanked her around, feeling her legs. "How many are there?"
Slowly, she stretched her hands three times, then brought her her hand to her cheek, her thumb retracted. "Including me."
A hum. "Do you control them?"
Alex shook her head. She could have told him about being the Pirate Boyar, but she didn't want to draw that card yet.
"Are they a danger to crown and country?" Stephen asked.
"A wounded deer leaps funnily."
"All clear!" Stephen yelled. "Ladies first—Captain, you're next."
Neither Pan nor Ilona offered any resistance. When Stephen touched her breasts, the Pirate Captain sneered that the Greenie must suffer from a lack of human flesh to invade a woman like that.
Captain Jonathan would have given a reply that would have shut Ilona up.
Stephen kept quiet. He moved onto Pan where he pulled a knife from the pirate's boot.
"It's blunt," Pan said.
Once more, Stephen kept quiet.
There came a thundering from the steps. Voices of warning carefully ignored by feet overeagerly stampeding down.
Alex braced herself.
Seb—she would see Seb again.
The door flew open. Not a chance in the world for Stephen to announce his presence.
Seb jumped down on her before she had the chance to see him, his lanky hundred-pound body nearly slamming her to the floor. His arms around her. His head rested on the nape of his neck. "You're back. You're really back."
"Yeah, Muttonhead." She rocked him, tears tugging at her eyelids. His spiky hair was still clammy, and he smelled of lavender oil and bee wax. Suddenly she became aware that she hadn't had a proper wash in moons. "Sorry about the stench. I might need a bath."
"Don't care—too happy." He squeezed her tight with a strength she didn't know he possessed. "I always believed you were still alive. You couldn't have died—the Gods aren't that cruel."
"I had help," she said, briefly remembering Len who had sacrificed himself so she could live. She turned away from his embrace. "I want you to meet Captain Ilona and her son, Panu. They found me drifting at sea and took me into their care."
Ilona gave a quick nod.
Pan stretched out his hand. "I'm her fiance," he said.
The Goddess of Envy shone through Seb's sea-blue eyes. Reluctantly, he accepted the invitation to shake hands. "Pleasure to meet you," he said.
"A lot has happened." Alex bit her lip.
"A lot has happened here too."
The calm, baritone voice belonged to the King and matched the serene way he came down the stairs. In his wake, Lieutenants Michael and Patrick.
Alex bowed. "Your Majesty."
"Come here, you."
The king's hug was more reserved, but she still felt the sincerity in the reunion. He was genuinely happy to see her.
"I heard about George," Alex said. "How is he?"
"More than his usual self," the King said cryptically. Alex didn't know what he meant with that. "But he's alive—just like you."
Seb tugged at her arm. "I saved him, Alex. I went all the way up north with a part of Nick's old patrol." He showed her the sycamore leaf on his grey uniform. "I'm going to the Academy now."
"And Nick?" She almost didn't dare ask. Him leaving Sundale meant no awkward conversation about Billy, but it wasn't a proper reunion without her favourite booklover sauntering in the hallway, wondering what all the racket was about.
"As I said." The King smiled politely. "We have a lot to talk about. Private matters."
"I'm afraid I can't do that." Alex darted a look over her shoulder. "The three of us wish to speak to you."
"I'm sure these lovely people understand that you're part of the family," the King said. "And that families need quality-time together. Especially after a long journey."
Ilona crossed her arms. "The girl's family too. Which makes us relatives as well, Your Majesty."
"Uncle Tom, that man with the white hair... he's Alex's fiance. And the woman... she's a Captain. A female Captain," Seb said in awe.
"Anything is possible on the Islands, Seb," King Thomas said. "But as much as I appreciate them bringing Alex home, I have to ask to grant us some privacy."
Alex contemplated betraying the Krakens, but she couldn't. Too much had happened. They had put too much faith in her to backstab them now.
She stepped in front of the King. "They're with me. You either invite all three of us in, or I leave."
"No!" Seb yelled.
"That's my girl," Pan said.
The King scrutinised her. He looked at his Captain, the two pirates, then back at Alex, narrowing his eyes. She hated doing this—the King didn't like to be seen as indecisive and weak, but it was for a good cause.
She had to explain.
"They didn't just save me. They suffered because of a decision I made. We went north—to Silvermark—to Whitecliff Bay. We met another Jade Islander there. The Jade Islander. He had Fox. They wished to seek passage to the Islands."
Seb and King Thomas exchanged sharp glances—a secret between them that she didn't catch.
"Fox is alive?" Seb asked.
"I don't know if he still is," Alex said. "He sank our ship when we turned him in. He claims he killed King Ariel. And... I believe it. His powers are not of this world. He's a... He's a monster."
Seb's shoulder slumped down. His voice croaked, "I thought he was dead."
"He burnt down a ship. Their ship," Alex said. "He killed members of the crew. People I had come to know. Treasured. I'm sure Fox is dead now—executed by the new King of Silvermark. But we seek a new ship. That's why Pan and Ilona are here with me. We came all the way because we thought you could help."
"Caracal won't kill Fox," Stephen said. A musing or advice to the King.
"He won't." The King jutted his chin and pursed his lips.
"So you're not staying?" Seb asked her. "You want a new ship and leave?"
No. Yes. She didn't know. She had to make a choice between disappointing Seb and risking backlash from the pirates. Besides, she loved the freedom she had had in the past few moons. Sunstone Castle was a golden prison with too many rules.
She edged back to Pan and grabbed his hand. "I think we can come to an arrangement. Let's be allies. Not enemies."
"I cannot help you," King Thomas said. "Your information was very valuable though. You can stay if you wish, Alex. But I cannot give your crew a new ship—it's simply not something I can do. You're all free to stay in Sundale and enjoy the Summer Games."
"Fine," Pan said quickly. He leant in and pressed his lips against hers.
She wished she hadn't agreed to him kissing her.
"So, you'll give us nothing?" Ilona asked.
"I could have you hanged or beheaded for the crimes your kind have committed against my people," King Thomas said sharply. "I give you truce for as long as the games last. After that I want you out of my city, and out of my kingdom. My men will hunt you down if you steal as much as a copper piece."
"Then we shall enjoy the games, Your Majesty," Ilona said. The look in her eyes promised nothing good.
The devastating look in Seb's eyes was worse.