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I didn’t think it would end like this between us. ‘Marianne.’ His voice is a fierce whisper. ‘Stop.’ I press the dagger closer to his skin. ‘Make me.’ ‘I’m not here to hurt you. I came to help you.’
‘I don’t need any help.’ ‘No, I can see that.’ And to my utter surprise he smiles. He’s impressed.
‘The King is a fool. He should have known Father would simply send you to retrieve me.’ ‘He sent Turner and Choke. I followed them to keep you safe.’
It’s not the answer I’m expecting, but I’m too disconcerted by the momentary tenderness in his voice to form a response. He hasn’t spoken to me like that in years.
‘Where are you going?’ ‘To get Grace.’ I’m out of the door before Bronn can voice his surprise, though perhaps he already suspected this is where she’d be after she disappeared from the Maiden.
Eventually I find a hazardous spiral staircase that plunges into uninviting darkness. Looks about right.
Grace nods. ‘Was just waiting for you to give the word. So what’s happened? Why the late-night escape?’ ‘Things haven’t exactly gone to plan.’ Now she’s the one to smile. ‘They rarely do.’ ‘Bronn’s here.’
Grace fixes him with her most menacing gaze. ‘I know what being a Snake means to you. And you didn’t exactly hurry to join Marianne. You’re sure you want to do this?’ ‘I’m here now, aren’t I?’ He easily holds her stare, until Grace relents and nods her compliance to his coming with us.
but if ever there was a sailor mad enough to attempt it, then it’s Bronn.
‘You can’t outrun me.’ My father’s booming voice carries on the wind, echoing my thoughts. ‘You’ve already led me straight to her, Bronn. So predictable. I’ll spill your guts and eat them raw for this betrayal. Do you hear me?’
‘And it’s OK to admit you killed Briggs. I understand. He stole something precious from you. But you need to make peace with it before you get yourself killed.’
Then the Captain knew. He’d underestimated my feelings for you, and I’d overestimated my ability to hide them.’
Because I loved him as a child and never stopped. I should have known him better, should have seen what was happening, but I was as blind to that as to everything else around me. We’re both products of my father. Both of us broken into pieces and stuck back together all wrong.
I nod at his wrist, where the string bracelet has slipped into view again. ‘You kept it.’ ‘Of course.’
‘Do you remember when we were young and you used to sneak into my cabin during a storm? You’d lie on the floor beneath my hammock and when I reached my hand down you’d take it, holding it until I fell asleep?’
‘Every night since your Initiation, I’ve reached my hand down for you. I will always reach out for you.’
but Bronn and I are rarely far from each other’s sides, a sort of unspoken intimacy returning to our relationship that is mirrored in our physical proximity.
‘He used to ask me, you know. How you were, if you were happy. Never able to forget you no matter how hard he tried.’
Bronn’s seen it too and he’s squinting in disbelief. ‘It can’t be.’ But it is and I think I’m going to be sick. The Floral Island is on fire.
‘Or they can catch you.’ ‘There’s a time for running. This isn’t it.’ I see something flash in his eyes – a spark of respect? Or affection?
And to my complete astonishment he leans forward to brush a light kiss on to my good cheek before he’s off, shielding his face from the smoke as he takes the long route round the island.
He swings his axe over his shoulder, watching me closely. ‘I’m not the only man aboard who’d switch his allegiance should the right person challenge the Captain.’
‘Go, quickly, someone will get you to safety,’ I say, and once they’re gone I cast around for any sign of Bronn. My eyes fall on someone else instead. Looking as gorgeous as the day we met, his unkempt appearance only improving on perfection, my fiancé is helping an elderly couple towards the boats. Well, that explains the presence of the King’s Fleet then. As if he can sense my eyes on him, Torin looks up and meets my gaze.
His lack of confusion upon seeing me suggests he’s already found Grace and I raise my arm in greeting as I run towards him. The warm embrace he gives me is utterly unexpected. ‘Grace said you went after Adler’s men? I was worried.’
‘It’s good to see you, Marianne.’ And he seems wholeheartedly genuine. ‘You too.’ Which is quite probably the biggest understatement I’ve ever made.
All trace of Joren’s fields will be gone, his beloved crops reduced to ash, and my chest aches with grief.
Torin had downed a large mouthful of rum. ‘There’s one important thing you need to know about me,’ he’d said, leaning forward to fix me with his earnest gaze. ‘I am nothing like my father.’ ‘Likewise.’
‘I’d imagined you to be working with your father, but instead I found a bird in a cage desperate to fly. I hoped then that we could become allies – in time.’ ‘Time is no longer a luxury we possess.’
‘So you think we should sever the promise between us?’ I’d tried hard to keep the hope from my voice. Because though I’m fast growing to like Torin, he has one flaw. He’s not Bronn.
I’d known he was right, of course. I’d always known it. I’d just hoped . . . ‘I’m not asking you to love me,’ he’d said with a small smile. ‘I know when a heart is already spoken for.’
‘Then we overthrow our fathers and restore peace.’
‘You’re going to marry him.’ It hadn’t been a question. ‘Yes.’ ‘It’s the right thing to do.’ His resignation was barely audible, but hearing it made my heart ache.
‘You’re going to have to kill him, you know.’ I’d turned to look at Bronn, the lanterns illuminating his cheekbones and brow, the rest of his face lost in shadow. ‘Who?’ ‘Adler. He’ll never allow himself to be captured.’
He’d considered this carefully. ‘It’s not enough that you’re his daughter. The crew will only recognise you as the Viper if you kill their captain.’ When I’d said nothing he’d tucked a curl of hair behind my ear. ‘What is it?’ he’d whispered gently. ‘Is your love for him so great, even after all he’s done?’
‘Then what?’ Bronn had continued to coax the truth from me. ‘I know you’ve done it before.’
‘I never wanted to kill anyone,’ I’d said. ‘I want to save lives, not take them.’ He’d given me a sad smile. ‘Sometimes they’re one and the same thing.’
And yet it’s the one kill I don’t regret, not for a second. It was him or you. And it was always you.’
‘You will find a way to do what you have to do,’ he’d whispered. ‘And you’ll restore the honour of the Viper. I know you will.’
‘I’ll do whatever you ask of me. But when we reach the Sixth Isle I think I should leave. For both our sakes.’
She walks with me towards Torin’s quarters. ‘Should I ask what’s going on with you and Bronn?’ ‘Nope.’ ‘Fair enough. But I’m here if you want to talk.’
The Prince is looking distinctly scruffy, his smooth face now hidden under stubble, his clothes a little worse for wear. I find myself liking him more every day.
Grace smiles. ‘So you finally admit the throne is yours to claim?’
I have to kill my father before he kills me. And I have no idea how I’m going to do it.
‘Make sure the crew know the risks – this is a voluntary mission. I won’t ask anyone to come who doesn’t want to.’ I force myself to look directly into his eyes. ‘That includes you.’ Now he smiles, a gesture filled with affection. ‘Where else would I be?’
‘I seem to remember I kicked your ass back at the palace.’ He chuckles to himself. ‘True. But I wasn’t really trying to hurt you. And there’s always room for improvement.’
‘You think I’m capable?’ It’s barely a whisper. ‘I know you are.’
He pulls away, holding my face in his hands, looking at me with such tenderness it hurts. ‘I love you.’ It comes out as a promise. ‘I love you.’ Vows of our own, ones that mean far more than any binding ceremony.
And then we’re kissing again, our bodies entwining with the urgency of two people who know they’re on the eve of death and want to make every last second count.
He presses a deep kiss on to my forehead.
I’m not. I don’t want to die, don’t want to lose this man I love so much, don’t want to condemn these sailors to a watery grave. But stronger than all those things is my determination to do what’s right; I cannot let my father continue his massacre of the Eastern Isles. I meet Bronn’s eyes, fire stirring in my belly, and nod. ‘Let’s end this.’
