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I glanced at him. The way he stood made him look ready to fight. I looked back at the ayèl above. Wasn't she part of his crew? He needed her to accomplish this heist successfully.
"And how the rot did you get your hands on a stareagle?"
Aisha lifted her chin.
"It's my job to have connections."
Her Avarien accent was thick. I had to strain to understand her. Her eyes were hardened as she looked from Engèli to Yakobba.
"High Prince."
Several of the Ashweaver crew snarled at her. Yakobba stiffened beside me but said nothing. Engèli seemed to glow. It took a moment for me to realize he was drawing on his ethèr. When it was clear Yakobba would not respond to her, she continued talking. Her voice shook, but she pressed on.
"I'm bowing out. I won't risk war with the Aziziens. Sea angels are vicious." Her eyes fell on the frowning Seaveillers. "No offense." She looked back to Yakobba as it was my turn to bristle at her rude statement. Vicious? We were a dominant kingdom for a reason.
But vicious? I shifted irritably.
"I'm ending here. I won't enter Azizi with you. You want the Atlanthyst Stone, you'll have to find it yourself. I can't risk being attached to war with the sea kingdom."
Yakobba said nothing for a long time. I subtly floated closer to him and brushed his hand with mind. Something like an electric shock leapt through our hands, fading just as quickly. He didn't face me, but I could feel Yakobba's pull to me. Feel him drawing from me.
The moment I pulled away, he floated up into the sky. We all watched Yakobba and Aisha. The storm in his steel eyes told me he had so much to say. He titled his head to the side, studying Aisha.
"So be it. You have not failed your captain this dawn." Yakobba rose his voice. His eyes shook violently like thunder storms. "You have failed your king."
The Ashweaver crew glared at her. Aisha lifted her chin as tears streamed down her cheeks. Without another word, Aisha dug her heels into the sides of the stareagle, then she was flying off, headed west.
Yakobba floated back down, the ease he had on his face moments ago, gone. The hardened pirate had returned. Wretched ayèl. I silently cursed Aisha for bringing back his foul mood.
Yakobba started barking orders.
"I heard enough to know we're ready to go. So move! Aisha leaving changes nothing." He paused, looking across the sandy shore at them all. "Unless any of you are also ready to bow out."
"Never!"
"We'll not be made into cowards."
"We sail for Azizi!"
Yakobba nodded pleasantly at their cheers. He jerked his chin to the Ashweaver. "Aboard you go!"
A chorus of "aye" rang through the air as the crew quickly grabbed whatever was left on the beach and flew to the ship to finish loading. Yakobba floated over to me, those piercing eyes locked on me again. I shivered under their weight.
"Here." He took my hand with a gentleness that softened all of my hearts. "This was my mamè's until she passed it to me. It's one of my payè's signet rings. Wear it. Keep it. Once we're back on the sea, the crew will see it and leave you be. Go wherever you'd like. Leave the ship and swim." His eyes glowed.
I could've folded over crying there and then. He wasn't done.
"You're a guest, not a prisoner on my ship. I am no fan of captives. You're free, Ayella. I want you to know that. You're not shackled to the deck, or your cabin. You're free. This is just a token to keep you from prying questions. Anything you answer should be on a need-to-know basis."
He winked at me, brushed his lips over my knuckles, and spun away to help his crew gather the remaining items. I was rooted to the spot with his signet ring weighing down my index finger.
I was apt to stay there and just watch him until I heard Engèli's laughter. When I turned to him, everything about him was dancing like he was in on a secret about me I'd never know. Then his grin stretched. I flew off to find Kianga with Engèli's booming laugh trailing me all the way.
Chapter 20
A Graveyard of Lies and Treachery
RAESHELLE
