Rylander flexed the apples of his windburned cheeks. “What would you like, milady? Jewels? Gold? What riches do you fancy?”

I matched his smirk with a snicker. The wheels in my mind spun an answer of retribution. “We can pilfer our own fortunes. I want a different reward.” I crossed my arms. “I want a man.”

Rylander’s guttural laughter stirred the gulls. He tucked stray brown curls behind his ear. “I have hundreds of men who would love to lay their heads next to yours, Captain Lou.” He waved his hands around him. “You may have your pick.”

“I choose the killer of my captain. His head severed by my hand and served on a platter to this crew.” I motioned to my female fleet. “Only then will we assist you in ending the War of the Sea.”

Rylander’s mouth turned down, but it was young Lanard who asked the question. “How do you expect us to find the man who killed your last captain?” he snarled. “Do you even know his name?”

I smiled, taking long-absent pleasure in breathing the name of my father’s killer. “Captain Rylander Bordeaux.”

Chapter two

Rylander

My men outcried at Lou’s suggestion. A bold request, indeed, and one I empathized with despite my inability to concede.

Smitter snorted and gripped his belt, clenching the worn leather tight enough to whiten his knuckles. A threat toward his captain equaled a threat against his ship, the travelers he protected, but most importantly, his duty. “Sink me, you are a wicked woman. Thank the gods not all are created in your form.”

Lou beamed like he’d complimented her. She tapped her fingers against her biceps as if waiting for more laurels.

Smitter rotated to face the crew. “Calm down, men. The life of our captain is in no danger.” Having quieted their stomping and yawping, his focus returned to Lou. “Even if Rye were willing to surrender his last breath to you”—he glared in my direction, likely upset with my lack of argument—“he cannot make the exchange. Your request must be brought before King Delphi as the sponsor of our efforts. I am sure we will come to a mutually beneficial agreement on the details of our arrangement. But for now, our duty is to bring you to the Isle of Cava and be witness to your meeting. To hurry things up, as you so kindly requested… Are you willing, or not?”

Lou leisurely inspected her nails, taking several beats before answering. “Even if I say yes to conferring with the king, what makes you believe I will follow your ship to port?”

I stalked toward her, my heavy boots thumping with authority. “You and three of your crew will board The Sea Singer and sail with us back to the Isle of Cava, while Smitter follows at the helm of The Freedom. I’m confident your loyal crew will not stray far from your position.”