Lia’s stare was pleading. This was everything she wanted. By contrast, Arent’s huge frame seemed to fill the great cabin, his massive shoulders rising and falling, like a bull pawing the ground. Here was the Arent of the songs, implacable and unstoppable, sent by heaven to topple kingdoms. But the god he’d served had disappointed him. There could be no forgiveness.
Sara knew that whatever she said next would decide whether Arent lived or died, and how many people lost their lives trying to stop him.
What was her heart’s desire? And what would she pay for it?
For a second, there was only the creaking of wood as they awaited Sara’s decision.
‘No,’ she said softly. There was an intake of breath from around the table. Arent tensed, ready to spring out of his chair. ‘No, I’m sick of being dictated to,’ continued Sara. ‘There’s a third way.’
‘I assure you, we’ve thought of everything,’ said Sammy, eyeing Arent warily.
‘Hush, Samuel,’ rebuked Creesjie. ‘What’s your third way, dear heart?’
‘Atonement,’ said Sara. ‘These passengers deserve recompense for all they’ve lost, and you’ve treasure enough to give them new lives, but you can’t saunter away afterwards like nothing happened. Too many innocent people are dead. You have to make amends.’
‘And how do you suggest we do it?’ queried Creesjie, cautiously.
‘By turning Old Tom to noble purpose,’ replied Sara excitedly. ‘By making sure he whispers to those who deserve to hear his voice.’ Sensing their gathering objections, she rushed on. ‘We all know there are hundreds of others like my husband who do terrible things, but are so powerful they go unpunished. What if that wasn’t the case? What if the next time a noble murdered his maid, Old Tom found him and made him pay God’s price? What if the next time a king led an army to slaughter, then fled the battlefield in cowardice, Old Tom was waiting in his castle?’
Sammy and Creesjie exchanged an incredulous glance, but Arent was smiling. As was Lia.
‘Look at the lengths you’ve gone for your revenge,’ pressed Sara. ‘Four years you planned this and Arent and I solved it in a few weeks. Lia invented The Folly to fend off boredom. Imagine what the five of us could accomplish together. Imagine the good we could do.’
‘We can’t avenge every act of evil in this world,’ protested Sammy, but his words were at odds with the eagerness in his voice. He wanted to be talked around, Sara realised. Here was a challenge that would last the rest of his life. She just needed the right words.
‘We don’t need to avenge every act of evil,’ said Arent in a low rumble. ‘But we can make people terrified to commit them.’ He stared at Sammy. ‘You’re a scheming, lying, betraying bastard, Sammy Pipps, but you were my friend until today, and I’d wish it so again. You blew up the Eighth Lantern because I asked you to prove I could still trust you. Now I’m asking for this.’
‘Creesjie, please,’ begged Lia, reaching for the older woman’s hand across the table.
Creesjie looked hopefully at her brother. ‘Is it even possible?’
‘We’ve treasure enough,’ mused Sammy. ‘A ship, an island. Not to mention cleverness and cunning aplenty. It just might be. I’d certainly like to find out for myself.’
Tentative smiles were exchanged, as a strange new contract was signed between them.
‘Then maybe it’s time a devil did what God will not,’ said Creesjie gaily. She turned her inquisitive stare on Sara. ‘Where do we begin?’
AN APOLOGY TO HISTORY. AND BOATS.
Hello, friend.
Sorry for barging into your evening uninvited. I wanted to turn up after the plot dust had settled and have a word.
You see, I believe a book is whatever you decide it is. The sights, the smells, the characters – everything you believe about them, you’re right! That’s why I love books. No two readers are the same, which means no two readings are the same. Your version of Arent isn’t my version of Arent, as demonstrated by the amount of people who think Arent’s hot. Sexy bodyguard really wasn’t my intention, but who cares. If you want sexy Arent, sexy Arent you shall have.
Equally, I don’t like pinning a genre to my stories.
I suspect as many genres will be pinned to
At a glance, they are.