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The pirate tasked with reloading their weapons hands him his pistol. Riden doesn’t take his eyes off Alosa as he extends his arm and fires.

The hat upon the restrained man’s head blows off, and the crowd applauds.

“Are you ready to talk yet?” Alosa calls out to him. “Or are you going to let me win this wager first?”

The captive rolls his lips under his teeth to keep his mouth firmly closed, and Alosa is thrilled. She accepts another pistol, puts her back to the target, and rests the gun atop her shoulder.

“Wait!” the man calls out. “All right, all right. It was Draxen. Draxen sent me to kidnap his brother and—”

Alosa fires, and the crowd gasps as the shot skims the fabric of the man’s collar, not even an inch from his neck. He faints from the ordeal, and Alosa doesn’t bother to turn around to see if she missed or not. She’s simply that good of a shot.

“Show-off,” Riden says to her.

“Don’t be a bad sport just because you lost. Now,” Alosa says, turning to the crowd, “who’s next?”

No, not to the crowd. To the line of men and women bound with rope at the forefront, being guarded by the crowd.

Alosa approaches them, blowing the smoke from her gun as she does so. “You all came in on the ship bearing the newest recruits. This man was among you, and he was caught in Riden’s rooms.” Alosa gestures with her thumb over her shoulder to the one serving as her target. “Draxen’s far too obsessed with overkill to send only one man to do his dirty work, so who wants to offer themselves up willingly? Now’s the time. I’m in a good mood after winning that wager.”

Not a soul says a word, and I know exactly what’s to come next.

The queen starts singing.

To hear Alosa sing is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. It has no effect on me because I’m female, but it’s still achingly beautiful. There are no discernible words in the melody, as far as I can tell, but the first man with his wrists and ankles bound says, “No.”

The second says, “No.”

The third, “Yes.”

Riden steps forward and separates the man from everyone else.

On and on Alosa goes, singing down the line, rooting out the spies from her midst with just a few sung notes. Men under her spell have to tell the truth. They have to do exactly as she says. They are completely powerless to her will. And though it makes her terrifying, I have never once seen her abuse this power for her own purposes. Alosa keeps herself and those who serve her safe. Nothing more. Nothing less.

She is a queen I am proud to serve.

I catch a brief movement at the end of the line. A moment later, one of the pirates runs free, having cut his bonds with something he managed to keep hidden. Alosa could easily stop him with her voice. Instead, she gives Riden one look.

He takes after the escapee while she finishes her work, skipping the two females in the lineup. She’ll probably save them for me to question later. I have ways of getting information out of people without uttering a single word.

Another pirate tries to beat Riden to the running traitor. Instead, he’s disarmed and gives a weapon to the man fleeing.

That had better be a recent recruit. How green do you have to be to lose your weapon to someone without one?

Riden’s faster. The queen’s consort can run and fight, which is part of the reason he’s so insufferable. The man is cocky. He has lots to be proud of.

I have far more respect for those who know their skills and keep them to themselves.

Eventually, the running man has no choice but to turn and fight or be struck down by Riden from behind. They face off, steel against steel, while Alosa finishes her lineup.

That’s when she notices me hiding in the crowd.

“Sorinda, you’re back!”

“Just now. Heard the shots and came to investigate.”

Alosa puts her arm around me as she leads me away from the others. Her women are already carrying off the traitors and the two women for questioning. The others are being released. We walk past where Riden is still engaged in battle.

“First time we’ve had a breach on the island. And who’s behind it? Not the land king. No, Ladell is far too stupid for that. It’s whiny, useless, blasted Draxen. The perpetual thorn in my side. Riden, stop toying with him. You’re not even breaking a sweat.”