While I hadn’t exactly expected us to be able to slip through Velancian territorial waters without an issue…

  I hadn’t expected a Dwarven patrol ship to come upon us nearly as soon as the continental shore came into view.

  They had made their demands very clear, from the gathered crossbowmen ranks milling about on the stout warship. That wasn’t even considering the shouted demands that had sounded like they were being broadcast from a megaphone, no doubt the product of a Skill or Spell of some kind. I had, initially, considered trying to make a run for it not long after they appeared on the horizon. I was incredibly confident that the bleeding-edge construction of the Astray could easily outrun a dumpy little Dwarven patrol tub.

  But I wasn’t Bella. I wasn’t a goddamn pirate, or one of the revolutionaries that they were no doubt searching for. I wasn’t interested in getting on the wrong side of the law. It was too…convenient to be able to travel where and when I wished, now that I possessed a real ship of my own. Especially so in the nation that had once condoned my own stint of slavery.

  At least…not yet, and not for such a trivial manner. Besides, if it came down to it, I was sure we could take these guys in a fight. Hell, I might have been able to do that by myself, never mind the help from all of my battle-hardened and tested companions. Thankfully, I’d already squirrelled Aveline away into our shared Captain’s quarters below deck at the first sign of their sails on the horizon. She had no place up here on deck, in the event things went…badly.

  Honestly, in the event of a skirmish here, the safest place was probably with me.

  The other me, that is.

  However…there was one other noticeable person absent from those who had gathered on deck with me. After all, we still didn’t know his legal status within the Principality, after everything that had gone down last time we’d been in dwarven lands. The Savoy might have put a price on his head. As a result, my oldest friend had decided to stay out of sight while I tried to prevent his from rolling.

  I’d furled the sails obediently and let the comparatively slow Dwarven vessel catch up in time.

  I’d just have to try and talk them down.

  Leading us to now.

  “Captain…Hart, was it?” The Dwarven Marine asked, his thick brow furrowing as he read the papers in his hands, shuffling in his hardened leather armor bearing an emblazoned...squid, I think. These were the official documents I’d been given by the Astray’s shipwright, legally designating me as the owner of the vessel. Not only that, but I’d received a perpetual writ of safe travel through Kawamaran waters, something that I’d been told only merchants who were very highly regarded by the Imperial throne ever got. While I don’t believe we were still in Kawamaran waters, it was still a good excuse as to why we were so close to them. The bald-faced naval officer frowned at me on the deck of my own ship, looking deeply suspicious. “You don’t look like a Riverman, and yet these are Kawamaran documents, and a…somewhat Kawamaran ship,” He said, a confused eye briefly sweeping over the Astray and all of its gathered ‘crew’. None of us had really bothered to strap on our full combat dress, and were thus kitted out lightly in the heat of the summer sea. We were still lightly armed, though. At least for us. “You understand how this appears confusing to me, of course. Where…exactly did you say you were bound, Captain?”

  I smiled slightly, making sure to deliberately twitch my elongated ears. I hid the depths of my amusement at how uneasy the sight made him. It might just be useful to have him off guard. “I haven’t yet, in fact. If you’ll recall, you immediately asked to see my papers once aboard my ship, Captain…?”

  At my prompting tone, the Velancian Naval Officer managed to drag his eyes away from my ears long enough to nod tersely. “Of course. I am Captain Giancarlo Bronzle of the patrol vessel Lancia del Mare. Under the guidance of the Principal Convocation, and with the full support of Lord Alessandro Cesare Venier of House Venier, I have been tasked with the inspection of all vessels I deem suspicious. Now, Captain Hart, if you would answer my question?”

  “Of course, Captain Bronzle,” I said easily, nodding at him. “It’s no great secret. I and my eclectic crew are traveling southward, bound for the city of Blutstein ultimately. We have a minor stop along the way due to some business with the Hill people of T?r Gronn, but that shouldn’t take long.”

  Captain Bronzle frowned at me before briefly looking down at my papers. “And your port of origin was Hinaga?” He asked doubtfully. “As I said, you don’t appear Kawamaran. I find it somewhat…suspicious that an obviously Herztalian man is sailing in Velancian waters, aboard a very strange ship, and bearing equally odd papers.” For a moment, he eyed the massive form of Sena, sitting off to the side on her haunches and watching the proceedings with calm eyes. “And just what exactly is that…beast?”

  I waved his concerns away with one hand flippantly. “Oh, pay no mind to Sena. She’s an exotic Familiar I picked up while adventuring within Kawamara. You have nothing to fear from her, Captain. Sena is very obedient, aren’t you, my girl?”

  “Meow,” Sena said dryly in response. She received several odd looks from the gathered Velancian Marines at the word she had spoken instead of actually intoning. Sena didn’t budge an inch under the pressure and simply sat patiently

  I saw Captain Bronzle furrow his brow harder in her direction in confusion, but apparently, he decided it wasn’t important. “You can understand why I might find this odd, Captain Hart.”

  I shrugged at the Marine. “Apologies, Captain, but I’m afraid we’re nothing more than what we appear. The ship and the papers were gifted to me as services rendered toward the Imperial Throne of Kawamara. I assure you, we’re not hiding any escaped slaves in my hold-”

  (Technically true, since I was here on the deck with him right now.)

  “-nor are we transporting any goods. In fact, we’re not ferrying anything more than what belongs to us,” I said with a light laugh, cocking one arm on my hip. “My Astray is a very recent boon for me. I’ve hardly had time to furnish it beyond the bare minimum that it came with.”

  Captain Giancarlo regarded me with black, beady little eyes for a moment, looking entirely unmoved by my levity. My smile faded as he silently folded the papers I’d given him and pointedly did not give them back to me. “Captain Hart, I’m afraid I’ll have to insist on a full inspection of your vessel,” He said gravely. “This shall involve you following my own until we make port at the regional headquarters for the Venier naval forces in the area, Fort Bouldammerung. There, we shall conduct a full investigation into you and your…apparent ‘gift’ from the Kawamarans, including full Observe proceedings. As part of the Decree of 2106, I must also inform you that you may be subject to legal forfeiture due to the period of extended unrest within the Principality, even if you are found to be clear of wrongdoing.”

  The mood on the deck immediately changed. I lost the smile I’d kept on my face as I felt Venix, Liora, and Renauld step up to stand shoulder to shoulder with me. Sena, too, finally stood from her watchful position to prowl behind our gathered line. I could see that more than a few of the near dozen Venier Marines on my ship shifted uneasily at her bestial movements, while the line of crossbowmen across the gap on the patrol vessel tightened their grip on their weapons.

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  I met Bronzle’s eyes evenly. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible, Captain,” I said, almost idly resting one hand on the pommel of Terractus. I saw the stout Marine’s body tense slightly at the movement.

  Good.

  “There must be some other way we can resolve this situation?”

  Because I was not going to allow myself to be taken into custody by Principality forces. After all, I was, technically, an escaped slave that belonged to House Savoy. From what I understood, House Venier and its Naval forces were not quite aligned with my former enslavers, but they were on good terms with them. After all, they quite often shipped the agricultural goods that House Savoy grew on their plantations. If I agreed to follow the Marines back to their fortress, I would no doubt be inspected not only with Observe, but physically as well. When that happened, they would no doubt find the faint, faded scar of my dummy brand that Azarus and Grey had inflicted on me.

  Even if it had never been fully enchanted, that wouldn’t matter to the Venier. With that brand, I was still legally a slave in the eyes of the Principality. I'd probably be immediately pegged as a member of Bleddyn's forces, since it was apparently common knowledge that he could free slaves with the gift I'd given him.

  I would be clapped in irons and shipped back to the Savoy, where I’m sure they would truly brand me, sealing away my Status for good.

  Well, until I forged a new Bond Breaker with Aetherial Melding, destroyed the binding, and then slaughtered them all. I would not suffer such an existence ever again in my life.

  Besides.

  That would not only place Aveline and my friends in danger, but I would probably lose my brand spanking new ship for good. And just after I’d gotten her, as well.

  No.

  I would not be complying with Captain Bronzle’s orders.

  Said Captain narrowed his eyes at me. “I’m afraid I must insist, Captain Hart. This is not a request.”

  “And yet,” I said into the suddenly still and quiet air around us. It felt like the calm before the storm deck, even though there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. “I will not comply. It appears we are at an impasse…Captain.”

  Before me, Captain Bronzle tensed, and I saw one of his hands slowly creep up to grasp the haft of the axe at his belt. In reply, I narrowed my eyes at him and allowed the hand on the pommel of my sword to shift onto the hilt.

  There was a single, tense moment in the air that felt like it could explode into violence at any moment…

  Before it was broken by an unlikely source.

  After all, he had explicitly asked for his presence to be kept secret.

  “What’s all this then?” I heard a familiar, irritated voice call out from behind us. Before me, I saw an extremely surprised look steal over the face of Captain Bronzle as he stared at something behind me. “Gods, don’t tell me ye've bungled it all up, Hart.”

  I barely managed to keep a smile off of my face as I instantly recognized the direction this was going. Instead, I affected a chagrined look and turned to look at the speaker.

  Standing at the top of the stairs that led to the below-deck rooms was Azarus. Only, dressed in a way I had never seen the Dwarven blacksmith. He was wearing much finer clothes than I’d ever seen him in, for one, wearing one of the extremely fancy Kawamaran kimono that he’d had all but forced on him by the River Court. Still, the rich gold cloth decorated with red sunbursts almost matched his crimson red hair, tightly pulled back into a ponytail. I’d never seen that either. Usually, he just let his locks drift freely. In another first, it didn’t look like my oldest friend on Vereden had a single weapon on him at all.

  Instead, the only weapon he bore was the haughty frown on his face, visible through his thick beard.

  I noticed the instant the Velancian soldiers realized they were standing before a member of the Dwarven nobility. Not just that, but someone who had to be a High Noble of some kind. After all, it was very easy to tell when a Dwarf was truly blue-blooded. Not only were beards restricted to the nobility in Velancia, but members of the really, really old houses all had gold eyes. The purer the gold, the higher they were in the pecking order.

  And…I was starting to suspect…the closer their bloodline might be to the long vanquished Dwarven God of War.

  These days, Azarus’s eyes might as well be cast from the purest twenty-four karat gold. His acceptance of the role of Envoy of Tarus had changed him, after all.

  “My Lord!” Captain Bronzle exclaimed, immediately dropping to one knee. All of his soldiers hastily copied him, even the ones pointing crossbows at us on the other ship. “I had no idea of your presence!”

  Azarus puffed up in a way I’d never seen from him. “That was the point, ya fool!” He bellowed almost petulantly, voice resounding over the waves around us. “I was meant ta travel in secrecy! Now ya’ve ruined it with your dirty little questions! How dare ya inconvenience an officially recognized Envoy on a secret mission!?”

  Envoy of what, I was tempted to ask him. Good thing I didn’t, though, because it didn’t look like the Marines were inclined to question him.

  “And you!” He suddenly rounded on me with overblown, arrogant fury. “Ye were meant to drive them away! What am I paying ya for, if ya can’t even talk down a bunch of Venier sea dogs?!”

  I bowed my head in the direction of the offended, once-upon-a-time noble. Partly to further the act and partly to hide the amused smile on my face. Azarus was trying, I could tell. But he couldn't quite erase his Hold accent. The result was decidedly odd. Azarus may know the words and the attitude, no doubt from growing up among people just like his act. But it was hard for him to copy it fully. Still, while I was doubtful this would pass inspection from another Dwarven noble, it sufficed for tricking a pack of Dwarven seamen.“Deepest apologies, my Lord. I’m afraid that the good Captain here was simply exceptionally dutiful.”

  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Bronzle turn his head slightly and shoot me an almost thankful look.

  Heh.

  Looked like we might avoid bloodshed after all.

  Good one, Azarus.

  …………………………………

  Barely twenty minutes later, the Venier patrol vessel was sailing away from us as quickly as it could. Still not very fast, at least compared to my ship.

  But I could tell Captain Bronzle wanted to be as far away from the Dwarven ‘noble’ that had spent nearly ten whole minutes chewing him out.

  Hell, I didn’t blame him. If I was in his shoes, I probably would have done the same thing.

  As it was, I crossed my arms in satisfaction as I watched the Lancia del Mare disappear over the horizon. The rest of my companions had wandered away now that there wasn’t going to be a confrontation.

  But not Azarus.

  Instead, the Dwarf joined me up at the helm and watched them leave with a surprisingly troubled eye.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked him quietly. “Your plan worked. They bought the noble act.”

  Azarus was quiet for a moment before answering. “Good thing they did,” He eventually muttered. “I…got some news out o’ the Captain, under the guise of wantin’ an update. Told him I’d been outta contact fer a while.” He sighed. “Turns out, if they had actually asked which House I was from, they mighta still fought anyway.”

  My eyebrows shot up at that. “Aren’t most Dwarves pretty deferential to nobility? Why would they attack?”

  Azarus smiled mirthlessly, not looking my way. “Because I probably woulda said Florens, and apparently, the Florens are not so secretly protectin’ ‘The Unshackled,’” He said with air quotes. “That’s the name Bleddyn’s resistance has taken, apparently. The Savoy are raisin’ hell about it in the Principle Convocation, and the Venier are standin’ with ‘em.”

  A frown stole across my lips at that, as I considered the political situation that was apparently developing in the Principality. Not because I cared about the Dwarven government, no.

  More because I wanted to know if it would hurt Bleddyn’s chances of tearing it all down.

  “And the other Houses?” I asked Azarus. “Where do they stand?”

  In response, he sighed and dragged a hand through his hair, freeing it from the ponytail. “Not sure,” He eventually said. “Didn’t exactly talk long, ya? But…if I had to guess…the other two are stayin’ neutral fer now. The Luminari might be waverin’ on the side o’ the slavers, I’m thinkin’, but probably haven’t committed yet. I think they will, though. They've always been a feckless, arrogant type. But the Orsini…they’re the ones that matter. After all, they’re in charge of the whole damned Velancian army. If they start deployin’ to crack down on The Unshackled…I ain’t sure just how much more time Bleddyn’s got.”

  My frown grew. “Are they likely to?”

  Azarus shook his head, then nodded, then finally shrugged. “No way to tell. In general, the Orsini are likely to fall on whatever side maintains their precious ‘Order’, but…” He was silent again, and I saw him stare off into space blankly for a moment. “I’ve…known some o’ them that are considered a bit…radical. And they’ve been gatherin’ political will fer some time now. Might be…that things are a toss-up, really.”

  I sighed and joined him in staring off into space.

  Damn.

  What a mood killer.

  And I’d been so satisfied with the trip so far.