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Malta gave a tiny nod of acknowledgement.

‘He is a more patient man than many. When first we came aboard, he excused your lack of courtesy towards him. Surely, he told me, the captain is busy with all the men he has taken aboard. He has reports to hear, and decisions to consider. The Satrap knows what it is to command, you see. He said to me, “Contain your impatience at this insult to me. When he has had time to prepare a proper reception, then the leufay will send an envoy to this poor cabin, little better than a kennel, that he has provided for me.” Then, as day after day passed, he found excuse after excuse for you. Perhaps you have been ill; perhaps you did not wish to disturb him while he was recovering his own strength. Perhaps you were ignorant as to the full honour that should be accorded him. As a man, he makes little of personal discomfort. What is a bare floor or poor food compared to the hardships he endured in the Rain Wilds? Yet as his loyal servant, I am offended for him. Charitably, he supposes that what you have offered him is your best.’ She paused, and looked about the chamber slowly.

‘Such a tale this will make in Jamaillia,’ she observed quietly, as if to herself.

The captain came to his feet. He rubbed the side of his nose nervously, then made a dismissive wave to the mate who still stood at the door.

The man whisked himself out of sight immediately, and the door shut solidly behind him.

Malta could smell the tang of sudden sweat, but the captain appeared outwardly calm.

‘It was such a wild tale, I scarcely gave it credit. This man is truly the Satrap of all Jamaillia?’

She gambled. All pleasantness faded from her face as she lowered her voice to an accusation. ‘You know that he is. To profess ignorance of his rank is a poor excuse, sir.’

‘And I suppose you are a lady of his court, then?’

She met his sarcasm squarely. ‘Of course not. My accent is Bingtown, as I am sure you know. I am the humblest of his servants, honoured to serve him in his hour of need. I am acutely aware of my unworthiness.’ She gambled again.

‘The demise of his Companion Kekki on board a Chalcedean galley has grieved him greatly. Not that he blames the captain of the galley. But surely if first his Companion, and then the Satrap himself dies in Chalcedean hands, it will speak poorly of your hospitality.’ Very softly, she added, ‘It may even be seen as political intent, in some circles.’

‘If any were to hear of it,’ the captain pointed out heavily. Malta wondered if she had overplayed her game. But his next question re-armed her. ‘What, exactly, were you doing up that river anyway?’

She smiled enigmatically. ‘The secrets of the Rain Wilds are not for me to divulge. If you wish to know more perhaps the Satrap might choose to enlighten you.’ Cosgo did not know enough about the Rain Wilds to betray anything of significance.

She breathed out. ‘Or not. Why should he share such secrets with one who has treated him so shamefully? For one who is nominally his ally, you have shown yourself a poor host. Or are we your captives in fact as well as in circumstance? Do you hold us with no thought but to ransom us, as if you were a common pirate?’

The directness of her question jolted the man. ‘I … of course not, not captives.’ His chin came up. ‘If he were a captive, would I be bearing him with all haste to Jamaillia?’

‘Where he will be sold to the highest bidder?’ Malta asked dryly.

The captain took a sudden angry breath, but she went on before he could speak.

‘There must, of course, be that temptation. Only a fool would not see that possibility, in the midst of the current unrest. Yet a wise man would know of the legendary generosity of the Satrap to his friends. Whereas the largesse of a man who pays you blood-money brings his disdain and shame with it.’ She cocked her head slightly.

‘Will you be instrumental in cementing the friendship of Chalced and Jamaillia? Or will you forever tarnish the reputation of Chalcedeans, as turncoats who sell their allies?’

A long silence followed her words. ‘You speak like a Bingtown Trader. Yet the Traders have never been fond of Chalced. What is your interest in this?’

My life, you idiot. Malta feigned scandalized surprise. ‘You wish to know the interest of a woman , sir? Then I tell you: My father is of Chalced, sir. But my interest, of course, does not factor into this. The only interest I consider is the Satrap’s.’ She bowed her head reverently.

Those last words lay like ashes on her tongue.

In the silence that followed them, she watched the careful working of the man’s mind.

He had nothing to lose by treating the Satrap well.

A healthy, living hostage would undoubtedly bring more than one on the point of death.

And the gratitude of the Satrap might be worth more than what could be wrung out of his nobles for his return.

‘You may go,’ the man dismissed her abruptly.

‘As you wish, I am sure,’ Malta murmured, her submission tinged with sarcasm. It would not do for the Satrap’s woman to be too humble. Kekki had shown her that. She inclined her head gravely, but then turned her back on him rather than reversing from the room. Let him make what he would of that.

When she stepped out into the chill evening wind, a wave of vertigo spun her, yet she forced herself to remain upright.

She was exhausted. She once more lifted her head beneath the weight of her imaginary crown.

She did not hasten. She found the right hatch, and descended into the noisome depths of the ship.

As she passed through the crew quarters, she pretended not to notice any of the men; for their part, they ceased all conversation, and stared after her.

She regained the cabin, shut the door behind her, crossed to the bed and sank shakily to her knees before it. It was as well that this collapse fit with the role she must continue to play. ‘Exalted one, I have returned,’ she said quietly. ‘Are you well?’

‘Well? I am half-starved and nattered at by a woman,’ the Satrap retorted.

‘Ah. I see. Well, lordly one, I have hopes that I have bettered our situation.’

‘You? I doubt it.’

Malta bowed her forehead to her knees and sat trembling for a time. Just as she decided she had failed, there was a knock at the door. That would be the ship’s boy with their dinner. She forced herself to stand and open the door rather than simply bid him enter.

Three brawny sailors stood outside behind the mate.

The mate bowed stiffly. ‘You come to Leufay’s table tonight.

You, for you, wash, dress.’ This message seemed to strain his vocabulary, but a gesture indicated the men bearing buckets of steaming water and armloads of clothing.

Some, she noted, was woman’s garb. She had convinced him of her own status as well.

She fought to keep delight and triumph from her face.

‘If it pleases the Satrap,’ she replied coolly, and with a gesture bade them bring it all inside.

‘What will you do?’ Wintrow dared to ask the ship.

The chill night wind blew past them. He stood on the foredeck, arms wrapped around himself against the cold.

They were making good time back to Divvytown.

If Wintrow could have done so, he would have stilled the wind, slowed the ship, anything to gain time to think.

The sea was not dark. The tips of the waves caught the moonlight and carried it with them.

Starlight snagged and rippled on the backs of the serpents that hummocked through the water beside them.

Their eyes shone in lambent colours, copper, silver and warm gold, eerie pink and blue, like night-blooming sea flowers.

Wintrow felt they were always watching him whenever he came to the foredeck.

Perhaps they were. Coinciding with the thought, a head lifted from the water.

He could not be sure in the gloom, but he thought that it was the green-gold serpent from the Others’ beach.

For the space of three breaths, she held her place beside the ship, watching him.

Two-legs, I know you whispered through his mind, but he could not decide if she spoke to him or if he only recalled her voice from the beach.

‘What will I do?’ the ship taunted him lazily.

She could smash him at will. Wintrow pushed the useless fear aside. ‘You know what I mean. Althea and Brashen are seeking us. They may be lying in wait for us near Divvytown, or they may simply confront us in the harbour. What will you do, you and your serpents?’

‘Ah. About that. Well.’ The figurehead leaned back towards him.

Her dark locks writhed like a nest of snakes.

She put a hand to one side of her mouth, as if to share a secret with him.

But her whisper was loud, a stage-whisper intended for Kennit as he came step-tapping onto the deck.

‘I will do whatever I please about that.’ She smiled past him at the pirate. ‘Good evening, my dear.’

‘Good evening, and good wind, lovely one,’ Kennit responded.

He leaned over the railing and touched the large hand the ship held up to him in greeting.

Then he smiled at Wintrow, his teeth white as a serpent’s in the moonlight.

‘Good evening, Wintrow. I trust you are well. When you left my cabin earlier, you looked a bit peaked.’

‘I am not well,’ Wintrow replied flatly.

He looked at Kennit, and his heart came up in his throat.

‘I am torn, and I cannot sleep for the fears that roil through me.’ He turned his gaze back to the ship.

‘Please, do not be so flippant with me. We are speaking of our family. Althea is my aunt, and your long-time companion. Think, ship! She set the peg in you, and welcomed you as you awoke. Don’t you remember that? ’