My hands twist in front of me, as tangled as the knots at my back.
This is a crossroads, forged on the deck of a pirate ship. I don’t know which fate is worse or which captors are more brutal.
Better the devil you know, but what happens when the devils are always new? Always strangers creeping up unexpectedly to snatch you away?
Short of Midas coming in to rescue me, I have no hope of escaping the pirates or the soldiers. And where would I go if I did? We’re in the middle of the frozen Barrens, miles of arctic waste all around. I could wander for days on my own, easily get lost in the white blanketed wind, or caught up in a blizzard and never find my way.
But maybe that would be better. Maybe it would be a blessing to fall into the snowbanks and never wake up. A gentler embrace than what these men have in mind, that’s for sure.
Despite not knowing which captor is worse, I do know that the thought of being split up from everyone I know fills me with panic. Even though the saddles don’t like me—some might even hate me—at least they’re a part of home. A reminder of safety.
A particularly large knot at my back makes my ribbon stab with pain, but I suppress my wince and keep at it as I stand on the deck. Alone. I’m going to be here, used by the captain, completely alone. If I can just get my ribbons undone, I might have a chance. Maybe just enough to buy me some time.
Near the middle of the ship, Captain Fane and the commander are deep in discussion, the commander once again wearing his black helmet.
They go back and forth for a while—negotiating it seems—until at last, the captain nods. A deal is struck. Just as a previous pact was made—one made between two kings.
Men making deals on the behalf of women never seems to go very well for the women.
I see the commander nod over his shoulder, and one of his soldiers walks forward holding a trunk. Captain Fane opens it, eyes glinting and mouth dropping wide at the overflowing coins inside.
He grins, his mouth curling in wicked gratification. “Well, you have yourself a deal.”
He starts to take the trunk, except the soldier doesn’t let go. Captain Fane shoots a look at the commander. “Problem?”
“I’ll take my purchases now.”
The captain nods. “Of course. Quarter will accompany you to the other two ships. You’ll find Midas’s men and horses there.”
The commander nods, and his soldier releases the trunk at last. The captain takes hold of it with a grunt, before quickly passing it off to two of his pirates to haul off.
“Enjoy the rest of your night, Commander. Give your king my best,” the captain says with a tip of his hat.
“One moment, Fane.”
The captain stops, turns. The pirates carrying the loot pause. My wringing hands waver.
“The amount agreed upon is for all of Midas’s people,” the commander announces.
The captain blinks, brows pulling together in a frown. He’s confused for a split second, but I know. I know it a moment before the commander’s helmet-clad head turns in my direction, cutting through the people standing in front of me, as if he were aware I was standing here all along.
A gauntlet raises, a finger pointing at me. My heart freezes in the center of my chest. “That includes her.”
Captain Fane gapes as understanding crashes over him like an unforgiving wave. “No,” he begins with a sharp shake of his head, his black feather wavering on the top of his hat. “She isn’t for sale. Never was, because I’m keeping her. You bought all the others.”
Commander Rip’s hand lowers as he looks at the captain. Even from this distance, I can sense his displeasure. “I said all, Fane, and I meant it.” That rocky, jagged voice is as harsh as the Barrens’ cold. “Did you actually think I was giving you a trunk’s worth of gold just for some saddles, snow stallions, and half-dead soldiers?” A shake of his head. “No. Midas’s favored will be coming with us as well.”
My chest goes tight, stuck, like the weight of that coin-filled trunk just slammed down on top of me. My drum-beat heart rhythm is back in full force, reverberating in my ears.
Captain Fane’s fists clench at his sides, eyes blazing. “And if I refuse?”
A callous, cruel chuckle comes from the commander. It’s the kind of sound you hear before being tortured by a madman. The kind of laugh from a cold-blooded villain. “You won’t like what happens if you refuse. But by all means, the choice is yours.”
A tic appears in the captain’s jaw as he takes in the soldiers standing at attention, their stoic postures unwavering. Even though the pirates outnumber them, I have a feeling it doesn’t matter. “How did you know about her? I didn’t mention her in any of the messages I sent.”
“You had your tip, and I had mine.”
I have no idea what that dubious answer means, but my palms begin to sweat.
Quarter says something in the captain’s ear, but he just shrugs the man off, expression seething. He shifts on his feet, and the two leaders become locked in a stare-off.
If I thought there was tension before, it’s nothing compared to this. Even Rip’s soldiers seem more rigid, like they’re ready for a fight to break out. My eyes bounce between the two of them, worry gnawing at my bottom lip.
I don’t know who I’d rather stay with, if I had the choice. Would I rather be left with the depraved Red Raids, or be sold to the terrifying commander of Ravinger’s army? I’m stuck between a rock and a hard, spiked place.
Finally, Captain Fane answers. “Fine.” The word comes out bitter, like a snap of reproach. Just like that, I get tossed down the lane of the crossroads. My fate sealed.
“Quarter, let them inspect the soldiers and horses first, make sure they’re to the commander’s liking,” Captain Fane bites out. “Then come back for the saddles so they aren’t standing around in the snow.” He gives the commander a look. “Wouldn’t want your goods to freeze before you’ve even gotten off the Barrens.”
The commander says nothing.
Quarter clears his throat and comes forward. “Right. I’ll take you to the other ships if you’re ready.”
The commander pauses, casting a glance at the saddles, at me.
“Fine,” he says, nodding tersely. “Captain, my soldiers and I will be moving out on the hour.” With that, he turns and walks down the ramp, six of his soldiers following behind him. The other six stay where they are, hands clasped in front of them, heads straight ahead to stand watch.
Captain Fane’s mouth tightens, but he turns to his men. “Put the trunk in my quarters.”
The two carrying the trunk immediately rush off to follow his order.
The captain casts a look at the saddles, eyes lingering on the ones with their eyes cast downward, their dresses still torn, shivering in still-damp clothes.
He glances down the line at a couple of his men. “Put the whores in the dining room until the commander returns for them. We don’t need one of them trying to get any ideas about jumping overboard so they don’t have to go with him. He’s already paid, and I’m not giving any of that gold back.”
I’m not certain, but I think I hear one of the soldiers snort.
“Aye, Cap.”
The saddles turn and dutifully begin to head toward the kitchen, three Red Raids leading the way. I go with the herd, my head lowered, my mind spinning. I almost make it to the dining room when my arm is grabbed, as is Rissa’s beside me.
“Quiet.” Captain Fane snaps the word to us like a whip, his grip unyielding.
The saddles near us glance over, but with the look of the captain’s face, they quickly look away. Without a sound, Rissa and I are pulled from the group and led toward the captain’s quarters instead. We’re lost in the mix, so the soldiers don’t see—or maybe they just don’t care.
My heart stutters in place, my feet stumbling their steps. A cold sweat breaks over my skin, chilling me instantly.
“Rip might think he’s so fucking clever, but I’ll be damned if I don’t enjoy you before he takes you with him,” Captain Fane mutters.
Terror splits me in half, threatens to topple me. Beside me, Rissa’s back stiffens.
“I went through a lot of fucking trouble to get here in time. I’ve earned a taste,” he grumbles, as if talking to himself.
My fear mixes with resentment. Anger.
This was supposed to be my one measly reprieve—mine and the saddles’. It’s only fair. If we get sold to the devil, the demons shouldn’t get to torment us.
But as I’m dragged closer and closer to the captain’s quarters, it becomes abundantly clear that there will be no such reprieve. I’m not escaping Captain Fane’s abuse.
All because he wants a taste.
Like we’re something to digest, to consume, to devour.
Why am I so cursed to endure the greed of men? Is it simply the gild of my skin? Or is it something more, something deeper, something inside of me that brought me this life?
The answer, I suppose, doesn’t matter. But the question still burns. It burns just as much as the scar on my throat.
I share a look with Rissa. Her blue eyes troubled, her brows lowered down, both of us trying to keep up with the constant spin of our fate.
The captain stops us at his door and fishes out his key, while the two pirates carrying the trunk of coins wait off to the side. As the captain shoves his key into the lock and lets the men in to deposit the trunk, my face lifts to the sky, my eyes searching, seeking.
But just like every time when anything bad has ever happened to me, there are no stars out. No light. No soft, glimmering shine. Just murky clouds over an endless night.
I keep waiting for rescue to come, for a dawn to bloom, for a star to hatch, for a hope to surface.
But it doesn’t.
It doesn’t, and I’m pulled into the room, away from the sky, like a candle’s flame snuffed at its wick.
