Ezra answered with a nod. He met my eyes one more time before he turned, pushing through the door and disappearing back into the corridor.

“What is it?” I asked, watching the door close.

“A gift.” She set her hands back onto the desk. “For the Trade Councils of the Narrows and the Unnamed Sea.”

The tea set had to be worth a ton of coin. If it was a gift, she was getting ready to make a request of the Trade Councils. One that required persuasion. But I still couldn’t figure it out. She’d dealt with Zola, leaving only Saint to contend with in Ceros. But she didn’t even trade there. I’d never seen a ship with her crest at a single port. After seeing her operation, it didn’t make sense that her route excluded the Narrows. She was known far beyond the Unnamed Sea, her power and wealth legendary. So, why didn’t she trade in Ceros?

The only explanation was that for one reason or another, Holland couldn’t sail the Narrows.

“You don’t have license to trade in the Narrows, do you?” I said, putting it together.

She looked impressed. “The Trade Council in the Narrows thinks that if I’m allowed to open my route to Ceros, it will sink the Narrows-born traders.”

And it would.

“I built this empire with my own two hands, Fable,” she said. “I had nothing when I started, and now I’ll leave the Unnamed Sea with the most powerful gem trade anyone has ever seen.”

I could see in her eyes that this was what she’d wanted me to witness. The success. The power.

“There’s only one problem. This empire has no heir.”

West went still beside me, the tension rolling off him in the deafening silence. Clove, too, watched me. But my attention was on Holland. My eyes narrowed, my lips parting as I tried to peel back the words. “You don’t even know me.”

She gave me an approving smile. “I want to change that.”

“I don’t need an empire. I have a life and a crew. In the Narrows.” The words stung as I spoke them. I was so desperate to get back to the Marigold that I could feel the tears threatening to rise.

“The offer isn’t just for you.” She looked to West. “I’d like you to consider coming onto my fleet.”

“No.” West spoke his answer so quickly that Holland had barely finished when he opened his mouth.

“You’re not even going to hear me out?”

“No, I’m not,” he said, unblinking.

She didn’t look amused anymore. She looked angry. I took an involuntary step closer to West and she noticed, looking between the two of us. I’d given too much away.