Page 79

I shake off the worry before it can manifest in my voice. “Personally,” I say smoothly, “I’d like a little more insight as to what’s inside.”

“No.”

It’s so uncommon for me to run headfirst into a flat refusal that I’m more intrigued than irritated. “No? Why?”

“For the same reason I refused to have sailors on board or ships sailing behind. I’m not giving you or your people access to a room full of weapons that can be used against my crew.”

I stare at him in the flickering lantern light, listening to the splash of water against the hull.

“My guards have weapons,” I say.

“I expected them to have weapons.”

“Then we don’t need yours.”

“Exactly. The contents of the armory are unnecessary all around.”

His voice is so calm, so reasonable, that it’s making my demands feelunreasonable. I can’t tell if he’s hiding something or if his worries are genuine. I wish I had Rocco at my back right now. Kilbourne will defend me without hesitation, but I’ve learned that Rocco is a good partner from an offensive angle.

But it bothers me that Rian is refusing to open the door to what must be a simple room.

“I demand that you open the door to your armory, Captain Blakemore. That is an order. I am here by the authority of the king.”

He holds up his left hand, and his ring, the one bearing my father’s seal, catches the light. “So am I.”

Fury swells in me, hot and sudden. “My father is dead. Any power granted by that order is rescinded.”

“No, it’s not. The order is very clear that it’s backed by the Crown, not the man wearing it. King Harristan took no action to rescind my authority. I still bear the ring. I still carry the letter.”

My heart is pounding. I’m thrown, scrambling, trying to find my footing again. Was this an oversight? Did Harristan forget?

Iclearly did.

“Turn back,” I say. “Return to Artis. We can resolve this with Harristan right now.”

“I will not sail directly into a storm because you’re in a pique over a locked door,” he says, and his voice is grudgingly tolerant, as if I’m a toddler throwing a tantrum. “If you wish to dock in Sunkeep and send word to your brother, so be it. I will continue on to Ostriary and inform their king that you were belligerent and obstinate, and you delayed negotiations because I wouldn’t give you a key to a room youtrulyhave no need to access.”

My fingernails are biting into my palms. My pulse pounds in my ears now. I’m afraid to move, because I reallymightthrow a punch.

“Captain!” a voice calls from above. “Marchon needs you at the helm.”

Rian takes a step back. “We’ll be nearing Port Karenin in a day or so,” he says. “Inform me of your decision then.” He pauses, then holds out the lantern to my guard. “I’ll leave you with the light, Your Highness.”

I hate him.

The instant I have the thought, I remember how many times Tessa thought those exact same words about me.

“Captain,” I call, when he’s nearly to the stairs.

For an instant, I don’t think he’ll stop, but he does. “Yes?”

“You’ve gotten the wrong impression of me,” I say.

“I don’t think I have.”

“Oh, I know what the people say of me. I know the stories you’ve heard, and I see the way your crew looks at me. Rumor may claim that I’m cruel and thoughtless, and myreputationmay paint me as impatient and forceful, but you won’t be the first to learn that it’s a misstep to underestimate me.” I take the lantern from Kilbourne and take a step toward him. “So make no mistake. When I pick a fight, you’ll know it.”

CHAPTER TWENTY