Page 44 of By the Flames of Her Fury

I tilted my head. “The other two chancellors?”

“The Triad Realm is made up of three separate island states, each run by their own High Council,” Bay explained. “Saltmourne, Ash Serah, and Twin Tides. We’re independent of one another. Myself and the other two chancellors keep up correspondence, but we have little bearing on how each other’s territories are ruled.”

“So, you have no king or queen?” Tessa asked. “No emperor?”

“We’re more of a democracy,” Bay said, stroking his auburn beard. “Our people elect the councils and chancellors. I’ve been fortunate to hold this position for several terms now.”

“Your people must really trust you,” Kieran said.

“I hope so. Which is why it was a risk, inviting a strange empire into our borders. But I was too curious not to.” Bay’s chair squeaked as he shifted forward, curiosity gleaming in his beady eyes. “The chancellor over at Twin Tides was staunchly opposed, you know. She’s worried your…abilities may pose a threat to us.”

My nose twitched at the word. Our abilities. It felt unusual to talk about our magic with outsiders. These people looked at us like they wanted to inspect us beneath a magnifying glass the first chance they got.

“We’re not a threat to you, any more than you are to us.” I said. “We both want the same thing.”

He held his hands in the air. “Oh, you don’t have to convince me. I like that empress of yours. She seems to have a good head on her shoulders. But Twin Tides and Ash Serah might take a bit more delicacy.”

“Then we shall go to them ourselves,” Kieran said. “Ensure them of our intentions and relay Empress Aris’s desire for mutual cooperation and peace between our realms.”

Fates, Kieran really was good at this.

Bay smiled, flashing a silver tooth. “I like the initiative,” he said. “But words like those are easier spoken than proven. Traveling between the islands is particularly rough right now.” He glanced toward the window, where the port could be seen in the distance. “The Imarian Sea has become…let’s just say, temperamental.”

“Tempermental, how?” Tessa asked.

“Strange anomalies, missing vessels and crews, freak storms and disruptions in our navigational systems, things like that. It started a few weeks ago. The patrol units of all three islands are cracking down on anything out of the ordinary until we discover the source.”

Kieran’s brow furrowed. “Do you think it’s internal? Some sort of attack from one of the other territories?”

“I don’t know what to believe,” Bay said, steepling his fingers. “It could be coordinated, it could be natural disasters. It could be…other.” His gaze lingered over the three of us, no doubt thinking once again of our “abilities.”

“If you truly wish to assure the other councils of your intentions, then I won’t stop you from going,” he said. “But once you’re out there, you’re at the whim of the sea, and she’s a flighty mistress.”

Kieran inclined his head. “If it will help foster trust between our people, then we’re willing.”

Bay stood, extending his hand once more. “Excellent. I would offer you passage on Saltmourne’s finest ship, but Captain Starke’s crew left for a trip a week ago. They should be back in a few days, if you want to wait for them.”

“No need,” I said. “We have our own ship.”

“Suit yourself,” Bay said with a shrug. “I have a meeting to get to, but if you can stay for a day or two, we can talk logistics and go over some resource reports.”

“That sounds wonderful,” Kieran agreed. Tessa shot me a look that said it did not, in fact, sound wonderful.

I cleared my throat. This was the best chance to ask about what was weighing on my mind. “Master Bay, I actually have a question. About one of your…citizens.”

Kieran’s jaw twitched as he looked at me out of the corner of his eye. He had specifically told me not to barge in asking questions about a fugitive Veridian who’d come here undetected. He was worried it would ruin any tentative trust, but I had to ask.

Bay arched an eyebrow, and I continued. “It’s about a woman. Her name is Vera Duma. Someone at the docks mentioned her,” I lied. “I’m not sure if she’s here or on one of the other island states. She might be an employee.”

I awkwardly rubbed the back of my neck. Why was this so difficult? It wasn’t as if I could ask, Hello, have you seen this woman? I think she secretly crossed into your realm to hunt down a sadistic, murderous Alchemist who escaped our empire and might be terrorizing your people. Oh, and she’s the love of my life.

Bay scratched his chin. “Can’t say I’ve heard that name around here. She doesn’t work for my High Council, at least. She might be on one of the other islands.”

I nodded. That was what I expected, but the words still made my heart sink. “Thank you, anyway.”

“My assistant Rina can provide you with anything you need in the meantime,” Bay said, moving out from behind his desk.

Tessa let him pass to get to the door, then asked, “Do you think she can get us some new clothes?”