“Now tell me about your scars,” Riden says.

A deal’s a deal. So I tell him. But I don’t want him to feel sorry for me. So I state everything like it’s fact. No feeling. No remorse. I tell him about my endurance tests. My rigorous fighting practices. The regular trials my father gave me. I don’t go into too much detail. He just needs a sense of life with my father in order to be satisfied that I didn’t lie to him by saying I would share if he did.

At the end, Riden asks, “And are all your father’s men trained in the same way?”

“Well, I’m the only one he’s trained personally, but—” I cut off quickly.

“What?”

“Why do you want to know about their training? Is this another blasted interrogation?” I jump out of the bed in an instant, shoving half of Riden’s weight off me in the process. “I can’t believe you. What the hell is this, Riden? You show me kindness and then expect me to open up to you, is that it?”

Riden shrugs. “You’re a woman and the pirate king’s daughter at that. Something tells me you wouldn’t budge under torture. We needed to approach you in a different way.”

“Damn you. And your blasted crew. Is any of this real?”

Riden sits up and regards me seriously. “Is any of what real?”

“Your story? This?” I gesture about the room. “All the niceties? Are they just a way to get me to open up?”

He stands and puts his hands on my shoulders. “Most of it is real, Alosa, even though it shouldn’t be.”

I shove him back and wince at yesterday’s wounds. “What is that supposed to mean? You’re playing a part. The conflicted first mate. You’re a lie.”

“So are you. Why don’t you tell me what you’re really doing on this ship?”

“I’m not doing anything!” I scream. “Just let me go. I want to go now!”

It’s hard keeping up appearances when I’m so furious. But it needs to be done.

“Can’t do that. Not unless you want to tell me where your father’s hideaway is? Then we’ll take you right to him.”

I can feel my whole body tense. I’m going to explode if I don’t hit something.

“Ah,” Riden says. “I’ve come to understand that look. I’ll leave you alone for a while.”

He leaves right before my foot connects with the door.

* * *

I try to tell myself that it doesn’t matter. What do I care if Riden’s been trying to gather information from me? I already knew he was doing it. I just hadn’t expected him to try using a sentimental approach.

Nothing’s changed. I’m still trying to get the map. And as long as I keep the location of my father’s keep a secret, I can continue searching for it. So what if Riden gets a little clever now and then? He can’t touch me.

I’m sitting on the edge of Riden’s bed, waiting out the day, when the door opens. Was it too much to hope it wouldn’t be Riden?

He grabs my upper arm. “Captain wants to see you.”

I try to punch him in the stomach, but he’s expecting it. He catches my fist. “Come on, Alosa. Let’s see what he wants.”

“I don’t want to see what he wants. Every time I see Draxen, something terrible happens. I want to be left alone. I’m done with you, and I’m done with being on this ship.”

“Come on.” He drags me toward the door. “Something terrible won’t happen.”

I give him a look.

“Something terrible probably won’t happen. Just give Draxen whatever he wants.”

“How about if I give Draxen what he deserves?”

He laughs as he drags me the rest of the way. Up the companionway. Into Draxen’s quarters.

“Ah, here she is,” Draxen says. He has a couple of men already in here with him: Kearan and Ulgin. I suppress a shudder. “I think it best that the princess be kept in irons when she’s not locked up.” He nods toward Ulgin, who pulls a set of manacles from his belt.

“She’s still weak from yesterday, Captain,” Riden says, jerking his head toward my wrists. “I don’t think that’s necessary.”

“If you say so, Riden. Alosa, have a seat.”

“I think I’d rather stand.”

“I wasn’t asking.”

Riden moves me in front of a chair and puts pressure on my shoulders. Reluctantly, I sit. If I don’t like what happens next, I can always get back up.

“We received word from your father yesterday.”

“How’s that? I was told no one knew our location.”

“We’ve been using yano birds.”

I don’t expect to hear that. Yano birds are used for carrying messages out to sea. They’re very fast and excellent navigators. They’re also perfect for silent communication, because the birds don’t utter a note of song. But they’re extremely rare. My father himself has only five of them.

“How did you come by one?” I ask.

“I’ve a crew of men who are very good at getting things done. Your concern should be what happens to you within the next five minutes. I want to know where your father’s keep is.”

“He didn’t tell you in his letter? Shocker, that.”

Draxen scowls at my tone.

I ask, “What exactly did his note say?”

“He’s willing to negotiate a ransom. I just have to name an amount and location.”

“So do it, then.”

Draxen smiles his evil smile, baring his gold tooth. It’s a calculating, malicious grin matched with cold eyes. So different from the way Riden smiles when he thinks he has the upper hand on me. Riden’s is victorious, even cocky, sure, but harmless somehow. But Draxen—his is laced with poison.

“See now,” Draxen says, “I have this feeling I would show up and be surrounded by ten of your father’s ships. I think it would be far better to surprise him and negotiate when he is unprepared, don’t you?”

“My father’s promise of peace isn’t enough to sway you?”

“Riden’s informed me that you are special to your father. It seems to me that when it comes to you, we can’t count on promises. We need something more to work with. I told you what would happen if you continued to be uncooperative with Riden. I’ve grown impatient. I need your father’s location now.”