The Captive Kingdom by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Author:Jennifer A. Nielsen [A. Nielsen, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2020-11-14T16:00:00+00:00

While Roden might have been correct about the Shadow Tide being empty, the area around it was better guarded than I had anticipated. Vigils stood watch on posts in all directions, and for added security, others stood in a line that extended across the entire length of all the ships, six warships in total now. Most of the vigils on the beach appeared to be Bellanders who had been forced into service, but they were doing their job with strict observance. I wondered if those who were forced into service eventually became those who were rewarded for service, and if they then became willing servants.

Maybe Roden would eventually turn against me. He felt he’d had no other choice but to enter Strick’s service, and maybe that was true. But at what point would he choose service to her? At what point would his loyalties to me feel foreign?

I also wanted to know if Darius considered himself a servant to her. He had been quick to go to his knees at the captain’s arrival and even quicker to beg for her mercy when she threatened him. Darius wasn’t a fighter, but he had never been one to cower before an enemy either. Or maybe he was. He and I had never faced any real threats when we were younger.

I made my way through the bushes beyond the beach, keeping myself hidden and eyeing the vigils near me for any signs of weakness. If I was spotted, would I be reported? I had to assume it was possible. The Bellanders surely knew the consequences of disobedience better than I.

But I did intend to get on the Shadow Tide. Both my sword and Darius’s were there, and if I happened to find anything useful while I was in the captain’s office, I would steal it too.

With that in mind, I snuck far past the last vigil on duty and silently entered the water, then swam beneath the waves toward the Shadow Tide. When I reached a mooring rope that led directly onto the deck, I wrapped my arms and legs around the rope and began to climb, grateful for increasing clouds to mask the moonlight.

I peered over the rail and saw no one, but I had no sooner rolled onto the deck before a vigil came from behind me and let out a heavy groan.

I looked up to see Teagut on patrol, this time alone. He cursed at the devils. “Not you again.”

I did a quick check to ensure that all my weapons were still in place, and found the one best suited for any confrontation with Teagut. “Twenty coins, my friend, to forget I’m here.”

“That bag looks lighter than twenty coins.”

“You’ll get the rest when I’m safely off this ship.”

I reached above the door frame and felt around until I located the key to the captain’s office. It was there, exactly as Roden had described. I grinned and whispered my thanks to him.

Teagut added, “For a second bag, I’ll tell you where they are holding Amarinda.

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