Page 66 of Death’s Kiss (The Order of the Tide Raiders #1)
I distract myself by removing the gold pin I treasure above all other items from where it's currently hiding my hair back in a tight twist. Long white glittering strands fall before me, identical to those now gleaming on the heads of my crew.
I quickly pile them tight atop my head and Kleio demonstrates the accessory use.
She places the gold cuff around the base of my hair and slides the pin through the front-facing holes.
“You do know what you’re doing with all of this, right?” My voice is beseeching while meeting seven pairs of eyes. I need to know regardless of their good intentions that they understand what this will mean.
For good or bad, our futures will be tethered as one. Until the tides take us home.
“The TideLords—hell the Raider King and his entire court will be there tonight. I don’t— if I can’t—” I start stumbling over my own frantic thoughts and have to stop myself.
Breathing deeply, I try again. “If I can’t get you all where you deserve to go, I don’t want the rest of your careers to be tainted by this—by me .
I couldn’t bear it—if I—should things go poorly. ”
“We know what we’re doing,” Kleio states, her tone ringing with finality. “We can hand—”
“You can handle yourselves. I know.” I finish my second’s words and nod at my crew in agreement for once. I will not stop them in this sacred rite. I will allow them to make their own choices, as I should have probably done sooner. “But I need to hear it from each of your lips.”
“I understand, Captain,” Herse says immediately, her voice low and eyes bright, two streaks of loyalty now frame either side of her face.
Greer repeats my third’s words and she cracks one of her rare true smiles, strands of white dancing through her single fiery braid.
Their claim is followed by Nephthys, then Prisca, Nimra, and finally Davina.
Satisfied, I return my attention to Kleio.
“I have always understood the consequences, Captain," my second states proudly and firmly. "You know I was right, by the way,” she adds, her mouth twitching with that once-infuriating amusement. “We do make a great team.”
Her recounted words from years ago fill me with warmth. The warmth indicative of someone who knows what it is to be loved. Nodding tightly, I accept their decision and the tythe.
"Plus, it’s not like we can very well return them,” Nephthys comments airily.
Prisca does a terrible job of hiding her laughter. "Yeah, not to mention they’re permanent.”
My eyebrows shoot upwards and a choking sound parts my mouth. Kleio throws the twins a murderous glare before shrugging it off. “So what? We’ll all have white in our hair until all of our hair is white. We look badass, it's fine.”
Coughing out a laugh, I shake my head and turn to face the stone veranda. I then pretend to gauge how much light we have left before reporting down at the wharf. The hand covering my mouth trembles as I quickly wipe the tears that have begun fleeing freely down my cheeks .
Something internally starts to ache, like a faint splintering sensation coming from just beneath my affinity. Nothing major. Just a small crack, I think. A hairline fracture, maybe.
Ultimately, I decide it's not worth my attention.
I can only pray that the sea breeze dries any remaining evidence of my kvelling.
Unlike my experience with the third trial, we’re actually allowed above deck on the Cardinal North's cruiser while it pulls us ever closer to the final pillar.
Also, unlike the third trial, I don’t feel nearly as nauseous or half as anxious. Scratch that, unlike the previous three . Even knowing the monumental feat we’re about to undergo, I have my crew with me. I have Kleio with me.
Their presence enlivens some of the old swagger and confidence that made me such a little conniving shit in years past. Which is good, because that conniving little shit is now integral to winning this thing.
Beldham heads our ship while Skelm is aboard the one escorting Vash and his crew. So far no one has commented on the new tokens my crew members display. Although I’m almost positive that I glimpsed the shadow of a surprised-yet-pleased smile flit across our Regent’s face when boarding.
I couldn’t say if it was hours or minutes before the ship started to slow but most likely the former.
Either way, it’s too soon to feel real. Beldham calls us together with the purpose of reviewing the logistics of the pillar in place of Raider Dornon.
He is, of course, busy coordinating the event at the viewing colosseum .
The idea of the Raider King watching us—watching me —sends the adrenaline already coursing through my system soaring.
Our Regent explains we’ll depart from the ship and head for the ocean-bound docks to find our assigned port and speeder.
Once cast-off is announced, the cutthroat race into the k?rallian maze will begin.
From there, we can expect three checkpoints that will lead us down into the heart, where most of the blood is spilt.
But more importantly, it’s where The Vault lies.
I’m lost in thought, mulling over our planned strategy, when Beldham unties a cloth pouch from her side and pours copper seeds into an outstretched palm. I look at her with a dark scowl.
“Why?”
I don’t mean for my tone to hold as much hostility as it does but I’m too distracted by the detestable kernels to correct myself. As far as I’m aware, kratosbane has never been used in this final pillar. Not ever.
Beldham's lips flatten into tight parallel lines. “They were requested by King Nereus. He wishes to ascertain for himself whether those competing this year are truly Brek or Vek. Without the help or reputation of your affinities.”
My eyes scour the faces of those seven people I care about most in this world.
Each of them has turned varying pale shades of green while eyeing our Regent’s hand, and for good reason.
While I myself am no stranger to the seed, the same cannot be said for most raiders.
Skelm’s constant practice of using it on me is not typical in any way.
The presence of it during our second trial was only the third time Vash Larceon had ever consumed it.
Those in my crew have taken it once, at most.
My eyes flash back to the contents of Beldham’s outstretched palm. “He cannot possibly mean for my entire crew to be without their affinities.” I disguise the panic in my voice as disgust.
“Not exactly.” Beldham's next words are spoken with careful intent. “There is a choice for each captain.” Her piercing blue eyes nail me to the spot. “Either take the kratosbane yourself or distribute it to your crew instead. ”
I blink away from her intent stare. Then, giving a frown of nonchalance, I pluck one of the metallic kernels easily from her hand. The eruption of aversion is loud and immediate.
" Merena, I swear—”
“ Absolutely not you godsdamned—”
“This is not up for debate—“
“ Are you fucking insane— ”
My crew members' shout at me in a chorus of furious dissent. Ignoring the way every fiber of my being abhors my willingness, I flash them all a quick grin before popping the kratosbane into my mouth. Their angry bellowing becomes unintelligible.
Swallowing the seed so casually feels like a personal treachery. The sharpness of how effectively my affinity is cut off nearly makes me gasp out in pain. I never can get used to that awful sensation.
Artfully concealing any trace of discomfort, I gaze back at Beldham, completely unfazed. She studies me for a moment while Kleio and Herse continue to spew their enragement.
The others have gone eerily silent.
“You will now be entering the final pillar and making your way towards The Vault without access to your power, Captain Boreas. Those checkpoints are designed to maim .” Beldham’s words are sharp and reprimanding but her voice wavers, its tone alluding to one of deep concern.
“Many a skilled raider has been killed before even reaching The Vault’s precipice,” she states, almost gently.
I nod in understanding, my eyes sliding over to my seething crew. “But they will all have access to their powers. They’ll be safe.” Or, as safe as I can possibly hope for them to be.
Returning my attention to the stern face of our Regent, I'm surprised to find her eyes are closed. She swallows thickly before opening them and meeting my gaze, her irises brighter than ever before.
Resting the hand not filled with kratosbane on my shoulder, Beldham squeezes it tightly.
“You are unquestionably Brek, Captain Boreas. Without a doubt, the very best the North Order has ever procured. Flatten them for me, will you?” she asks, calling back to my promise made what now feels like a lifetime ago.
The ghost of a smile haunts my lips.
“I’ll see that we do.”