Page 16

Alosa prefers it that way. Simply put, women make the best pirates. They think with their heads instead of their privates. They feel they have more to prove, so they work harder. They’re more honorable and trustworthy. There are, of course, the exceptions. Wallov and Deros, stars grant him rest, were fine pirates when they were on Alosa’s crew. And I’ve known women who double-crossed their own crews.

Still, numbers are numbers.

One of the men went below. Two others stand above the bowsprit, chatting with each other.

Dimella catches sight of them, too, and we both take their measure.

“What are we starin’ at?” Enwen joins us up top, placing himself between Dimella and the helm, where Kearan is stationed.

“The men,” Dimella answers for me, nodding at the fore. “They’re rather big.”

“Lerick and Rorun?” Enwen squints in their direction. “They’re not as big as Kearan, I suppose, but I’ve never really thought about it before.”

“That’s because you’re a man,” Dimella says. “You don’t have to worry about who’s bigger than you.”

“I don’t follow.”

“She means,” I say, “that you don’t have to think about the fact that half the population is capable of overpowering you. We women are always wary of big men.”

Kearan shifts slightly.

“Truly, Captain?” Enwen asks. “I didn’t know women worried about such things.”

“Because you are not in as much danger of certain violences as we are,” Dimella says.

Enwen swallows, takes a look between Dimella and the two men at the bow, then steps between her and them.

Dimella rolls her eyes. “Unnecessary, Enwen. I carry around pointy objects for just such reasons.”

“Sorry, Miss Dimella, you’re just so small, and if there’s anything I can—”

“Don’t call me small!” Dimella snaps. “I’m merely in a better position to stab a man where it’ll do the most damage.”

Enwen crosses his legs almost involuntarily.

“Best stop talking, Enwen,” Kearan puts in. “You’ll only make it worse.”

“Sorry, Miss Dimella,” Enwen says before slamming his lips closed.

My first mate rolls her eyes before turning to me. “I’m going below unless you have need of me, Captain?”

My skin crawls. I am not used to ordering people about. It feels so terribly wrong. Alosa should be here to do this. Not me. But she has entrusted this to me. Better get used to it now. These decisions are trifling. The harder ones will come in time, I’m sure.

“Take a well-earned rest,” I say. “There’ll be plenty to do later.”

“Aye-aye.”

When she leaves, the other two men fall silent for once. I stay where I am, only because it is a good place for the crew to spot me right now, overseeing our heading, and it gives me a good vantage from which to start memorizing new faces, though I have to repress cringes when eyes meet mine. Normally, people don’t know it when I’m observing.

I tug at the sleeve of my new coat, pulling it past my wrist, even though it hardly needs adjusting.

Kearan speaks up. “They seem like nice lads.”

At first, I assume he’s talking to Enwen, but then his eyes settle on me.

“Lerick and Rorun,” he explains. “I’ve had occasion to speak with them at the keep. They seem polite. Don’t speak ill of any of the women around them.”

“Do you think Alosa would permit them to sail with us if they did?”