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“Then you shall come to my rescue. I know.” Avera leaned up and bussed his cheek, a first, but her affection for the grizzled rook had her no longer willing to hold back. “You are the most loyal protector I could have asked for.”

“Bah.” Gustav grunted but he didn’t stop her from entering.

The bright light in the chapel momentarily had Avera blinking. As she took in the space, she noticed it lacked pews like she’d seen in other places of worship. No chairs or even stools. Just a large open space with an altar at the far end made from an enormous bone with a hollowed basin in the center holding a puddle of dark fluid.

A lantern sat on a floor made of more crushed coral and shell sealed by a lacquer. The door groaned shut. Avera whirled to see a man standing between her and the exit.

A very large man.

He towered over her and would most likely be taller than Gustav as well. His broad shoulders strained the fabric of his linen shirt while the sleeves outlined his thick arms. Hair dark as night crowned his head, matching his eyes set against his swarthy skin. A distinctive coloring for a very handsome man.

“You’re Verlorian,” Avera blurted, losing her manners for a moment.

He arched a brow. “What gave it away?”

“I’m sorry, it’s just rare to see anyone from Verlora these days.”

“You don’t say,” he drawled. “Hadn’t noticed.”

She ignored his sarcasm. “You’re the captain of the ship currently docked.” A repeat of Gustav’s question but she had to start somewhere that didn’t insult.

“I am, and you are the missing queen everyone’s been looking for.

Her heart stammered to a stop. “That’s ridiculous. Do I look like a royal?”

His lips held a hint of a smile. “I think you look like the bastard daughter of Calixte Voxspira. Rumor has long claimed you’re half Verlorian. Your appearance confirms it.”

No point in lying. Her status might help the negotiation. “I see you’re well-informed.” She lifted her chin. “I am Avera Voxspira, Queen of Daerva.”

“It’s new king disagrees,” the captain said rather than introducing himself.

“Benoit is a liar and a traitor,” she spat.

“Odd because he’s making the same claim about you.”

“How would you know what he’s saying?”

“Because I make it my business to know the politics and news of the places I do business with. Those knights who arrived today had much to say about the bastard queen who had her family murdered.”

“It wasn’t me,” she huffed. “Benoit was the one behind it.”

“Says you.”

“Yes, says me! And I didn’t come here to discuss my right to rule. I need transport.”

“To Verlora.” At her surprise, he added, “Korr mentioned it to me.”

“And?”

“And what?”

“Will you take us?”

He laughed, a deep baritone that brought a slight shiver. “No.”

“Why not?”

“For one, you have nothing of value to pay me. And secondly, no one with any intelligence goes anywhere near Verlora.”