Page 56 of Pirate Witch

She’s needling me, searching for a reaction I refuse to give her.

Nilsa seems to sense my distress, because she heads straight for me.

“Now that we’re all here,” she announces. “Shall we get on with it?”

Sade gives her a once over and nods. “Yes.”

The vampire queen moves to face the table, immediately capturing everyone’s attention. Across the wood, a painstaking representation of the islands has been painted. Everywhere from Vertling to Picosnia mapped and surrounded by tiny flags indicating the positions of ships. Isablis is surrounded by the markers, and amidst them, are two blue flags with snakes drawn on them.

Leviathans.

“Our scouts have all reported the same thing,” Sade begins. “The Eagle and her pet Mage Councilman are rallying half of their fleet to head for Coveton.”

Nilsa, Reva, and Elsie turn to one another, eyes wide.

“She’s going after the witches,” Reva says.

“She knows the Goddess will only send more and more Shadows after her unless she wipes us out.” Nilsa frowns as she stares at her old home on the map.

Elsie’s eyes go wide as she finally catches on to what the other two are thinking. “We’ve gathered all the witches in one place.”

“Painting a colossal target on your backs,” Cirio finishes.

“This grants us a unique opportunity to attack Galmere while it’s relatively undefended,” Sade continues. “Catherine won’t be travelling with her troops; she’s sending her pet mage to do that for her. We can stamp out her evil and focus on the lesser target after she’s defeated.”

“And leave the witches to fend for themselves against an army of trained mages who already destroyed Sanctum?” Cas growls. “You’re talking about allowing the genocide of an entire race. That makes us no better than her.”

“The remaining witches could rebuild,” Sade’s enforcer, a well-built, heavyset woman objects.

“The only witches whoaren’tin Coveton are standing right here,” Nilsa growls. “The three of us aren’t enough to preserve our culture, our way of life.”

“Even if we kill the Eagle, my father will destroy the witches in petty revenge,” the mage kid—Cooper—butts in, flushing tomato red as he realises he’s drawn all of our attention.

“And my aunt won’t be so stupid as to remain completely unguarded while the fleet is gone.” Princess Amelia rubs at her temples. “Galmere is a fortress. The walls are thick enough to withstand cannon fire, and the position of the castle means it’s almost unassailable from the land. Even with a small force, they could hold it for weeks until Councilman Castleman returns to attack us from behind. They have the advantage.”

She could just be saying that because she’s secretly in league with her aunt. I don’t say it, but I’m thinking it.

So is everyone else. Of course, that means it’s only a matter of time before—

“You could be saying that to protect your murderous family,” Val says, cutting through the quiet with his customary bluntness.

Princess Amelia doesn’t scowl at him, or return his fire with her own as Nilsa might have. If anything, she shrinks further into herself.

If she’s a spy, she’s a very good one.

It’s Cirio, not Sade, who takes Amelia’s defence. “When we found the lass, she was running in chains from the explosion of the Claw. It was a complete co-incidence. She hates her aunt as much as we do.”

“Then she won’t mind confirming that in front of a fae,” our captain challenges.

Amelia meets Val’s triumphant look with a flat stare and a grim nod. “If that’s what it takes.”

There’s a hint of steel in her tone, which surprises me. Perhaps there’s more to this waifish princess than meets the eye. Kier flickers into view directly in front of her, making her jump out of her skin.

Perhaps not.

With a hand pressed to her chest, she takes a deep breath and looks him square in the eye. “I am not working for my aunt, and I never will. I’d rather die.”

Kier nods, hesitates, then speaks. “She’s telling the truth.”