Epilogue

  Zari rested her forearms on the ship railing as a strong wind blew past her, carrying with it the salty aroma of the sea. After making her agreement with Sannan, she anticipated it would be some time before she would experience that familiar scent again. Well, perhaps not. Alorria was a coastal city, after all. Their vessel, the Wavecrest, had already set sail, carried forth along gentle waves.

  “Expect a long trip to Port Besaar,” Isan explained. Plump, with a prominent hunch to his back, the Zaran merchant was more than happy to accommodate an additional two passengers. In exchange for some of Erbosa’s gold, with some additional persuasion required to bring the artifice on board as well. “Ideally Jar’haava would be the ideal spot to stop by and restock supplies, but I hear the situation is getting tense between the pirates and the High City’s recently formed navy. I refuse to be on that island if it ever devolves into a battleground.”

  The merchant captain went on about expectations regarding their food supply, as well as what they would do in the case of a pirate attack. Isan’s connections to the Pirate Empress should ensure their safety, as it was these connections that had allowed him access to Jar’haava as a docking port. Zari’s attention turned to the nearby pod of pelican whales just off Isle Durna’s coastline. With their immense size, they were magnificent yet frightening creatures to encounter out at sea. A fountain of water erupted from the blowhole of one of the adults. It only took her a second to realize that Sannan, accompanied by Khanrea with newly replaced arms, was gazing out at sea too, watching the animals with an evident look of familiarity.

  …

  Coruscating swirls of flame consumed the Yujin hulk known as the Crimson Pearl, charred wood flaking off like the skin of a decaying carcass. A few panicked shouts continued to sound from the dying vessel’s deck, only to be snuffed out by the fire. Drenched in cold seawater and fighting to catch his breath, Captain Zevros clung to a drifting plank of wood with every ounce of strength left in his body. Burn marks covered three quarters of his face, his lower body crippled from the explosion such that he could hardly feel his legs.

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  Erbosa, well played, he thought to himself. Hard to think you would be the one to make the first move. The deaths of Setah and the others, that could have been more subtle. He had no doubt that was what tipped her off. The excruciating pain throughout his body was already beginning to fade, his mind growing numb by the second. So this is how it ends. Well played, Pirate Empress…

  His eyes opened to a view of a figure cloaked in black. Nothing showed with the exception of a perfectly smooth, white mask. Smooth, indeed. No eye holes or facial features to speak of. Then it came as a shock that he was not clinging to a drifting plank of wood anymore. Zevros was lying on his back atop a hard surface that felt like stone, his body still partially submerged by shallow water.

  It is too early for you to die, Captain Zevros. His eyes, sore as they were, widened in abject horror. That voice came not from the cloaked figure, but from within his own head. An inner voice, distinctly feminine with a musical ring to it like the sound of wind chimes. I can grant you a second chance at life, but in return you will owe me a favor. Sounds fair?

  This…this thing terrified Zevros to no end, but he surprised himself by accepting her offer. Good. The process will be painful, but I can assure you it will all pay off in the end. In response, Zevros surprised himself even more. He laughed. A ragged, dry laugh but laugh he did.