Gin crumpled the note and hurled it into the ocean. Spirit and her friends had drilled holes into his ships and set back his timeline for this attack on Thoma. They also had a copy of the map from his study. Had they figured out where he was keeping Aki? Gods, they were pests.

“Send word to Skeleton and Skullcrusher to prepare their crews for immediate departure,” he said to Tidepool. “I want reinforcements at Dera Falls to guard Aki’s prison.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Tidepool jogged off to carry out his orders.

But how should he deal with Spirit? She was a fly to his bull, but even so, she could interfere again with Gin’s progress toward the Evermore.

I could capture Spirit and her wolf gemina. Their powers could be harnessed for Gin’s own purposes. In fact, he probably should have tried to do this earlier, but he’d been too busy with taking the throne and seizing control of the Society to bother with four rogue taigas. Now, however, if Gin guessed correctly, Spirit and her friends would attempt to rescue Aki.

And he could be there waiting for them. Dera Falls was on the way back to the Imperial City, and it was probably time that he paid his sister another visit anyway.

One of the ryuu who’d been guarding the Thomasian sailors ran down the shore. “Your Majesty, the prisoners have come to a decision.”

Gin took a deep breath, put on a mask of benevolence, and walked calmly back to the sailors.

The older man with the sunburned skin stepped forward. “As men and women of honor, we respect the customs of war, and we accept that we are at your mercy. If we may make a request, it is that you will take care of our families. Then we pledge to be your humble servants on the seas in the bid to bring your Evermore to earth.” He knelt in the sand and bowed his head. The rest of the sailors followed.

A smile bloomed on Gin’s face. He hadn’t needed to hypnotize these sailors to convince him of his cause. And they’d also given him an idea for making sure Spirit surrendered to him.

He thanked the prisoners and welcomed them into the Army of the Evermore, a fitting name for a force bigger than Kichona’s alone.

Then he took control of their minds anyway. It had been fun, toying with them, but he wouldn’t leave a chance for them to rebel.

Afterward, Gin retreated to his ship and called for Tidepool again.

She arrived at his captain’s quarters a minute later. “You asked for me, Your Majesty?”

“I need something done on the other side of Kichona,” he said from his desk.

“Not a problem,” Tidepool said. “How soon?”

“Quickly.” He relayed the details of what he wanted done.