She took a deep breath as she weaved between the rusty buckets and the one-belters sitting on their knees, eagerly scrubbing the deck with stiff bristle brushes. The swishing, sloshing sound of the morning duty and its soapy scent filled her nostrils with a longing. Her fingers itched. Soon, they would set course to Socota, the wind blowing in her hair as the waves crashed against the hull. At night, she would lie in her hammock while the sea lulled her to sleep. 

Not yet. Close to the rudder stood Pan, his arms crossed. Under a white stubble he hadn't bothered to shave, his jaw was tight.

At dawn, the infamous Scirocco winds had coated the ship with a layer of ash-like sand, ruining their plan to hoist the sails today. The adult Krakens returning from their nocturnal celebrations in the bagnios or hookah parlours of Alburkhan would have to swallow their hangover and roll up their sleeves, if they had any.

With a confident step, she hurried up the stairs to the quarterdeck. "Aren't you glad we're Islanders?" she said to the white-haired Captain an inch away from slumping over the rail.

"I bet we'll dig up sand for moons to come," he grouched.

"Two copecks?"

"Make it three. If I lose, I'll clean the deck on the last day of the moon of Mud."

They shook hands.

She leant against the wood. As usual, she would forget the deal until someone reminded her, which only happened when she had lost and owed them money, something she countered with another wager. 

There were two certainties in life: death, and a Jade Islander accepting a bet.

Pan hooked his thumbs to the belt around his waist, his gaze on the lower deck. There would be no sharing of worries over the ship or the crew, but she knew the look, had seen it before in both him and Seb. The fear of being less a leader than their predecessor. Sure, their subjects would grumble and mumble, but still followed wherever they were taken as long as there was a prospect of a full belly and an even fuller pouch. But what if they missed an opportunity, or worse, led their people into a storm they wouldn't survive? The responsibility weighed on them, an invisible noose around their neck that time didn't loosen.

She helped Pan how she helped Seb. By being there, both distracting and focusing them on matters at hand.

"Did you manage to speak to that Scorian lad who wished to join your crew?" she asked.

"Had to refuse him," Pan said. "His father's a famous trader—he'd send half his fleet chasing us if we took his eldest child. It's a battle I won't pick. If we make waves to disturb the Scorians, I already wanna be far in the Southern Sea." 

A hint of mischief twinkled in his eyes as he glanced at her.

Alex bit her lip. Memories of their almost-kiss rushed back to her, unreal, like a drunken dream she had pushed to the back of her mind. On second thought, asking the Jade Islander King to fund their voyage into the unknown seemed a stab in King Thomas' back. They couldn't go to King Siga without offering the opportunity to him too.

"About that," she said. "We should inform Lana about our intentions, give her a chance to speak for the Greenlanders, to see whether they are interested too."

Pan lifted an eyebrow. "Will they?"

"We should at least ask—I mean... as long as we have enough coin for rations and repairs, do you really care in whose name you claim the land?

"My own—Panland or Pania or Panmark," he said, gesticulating at nobody in particular. He shrugged. "But I don't have that kind of money, and I reckon I can still claim the honour. So no, I don't care, but we must lead the expedition—not some pompous merchant."

"You should talk to Lana then."

"Or you," he said casually. "As our Boyar."

Alex snorted. "I thought you always believed my role was strictly ceremonial."

"Well..."

When a stupid smile filled his face, she elbowed him. "Such a son of Pride."

"I'm allowing you to be useful, Greenie. You should thank me." He was still grinning.

"Muttonhead."

"Witless baboon."

"Gullskull."

"Tom's fool."

"I'm not K—," she said but didn't finish the sentence as their gazes locked.

Smiles faded as the Goddess of Lust struck her once more with the desire to have him, all of him. Her ghost with eyes like a sunset, lips tasting of pure lightning and summer rain. The heat of his skin against hers. A strange tingle slid from her pelvis to her chest, panging, like an ache that heightened her senses but faded her surroundings until there was just him and her.

He didn't look away either, unblinking, his pupils dilating but otherwise frozen.

Her arm was not her own as her hand moved towards his high cheekbones. She stood on her tiptoes. His mouth parting, his gasp rang in her ears until...

"Boyar Alex, Captain Pan! We have a visitor." Verban's boyish voice called them back to their reality. 

They were on the Kraken, in a dock, in Alburkhan. They couldn't be: too different, too much at stake.

She touched Pan's cheek, muffling a cough. "You had a stray hair..."

"Thanks," he mumbled.

On the deck below, the one-belters had dropped their brushes. They had risen to their feet and bowed as Lana walked aboard, lowering the headscarf she wore to venture through the city inconspicuously. The edges of her long cerulean lace dress were dirty from the dusty streets.

"Speak of the monkey, and here's her tail," Pan said through his teeth. Louder, he said, "Welcome, My Lady. What brings you to this dock, so far from the palace?"

"Boredom, freedom, and a curious nose, Captain Panu." Her eyes shot towards the sails. She grimaced. "Not too much damage, I may hope."

"Had there been rain in the air, I would have left in this condition. Out here in the desert, such luck isn't ours. Sand is a slow murderer. I'm afraid we must delay our travels until all is cleaned."

"Of course, Captain. Your ship is your castle, and you must defend it as you see fit. I'm sure the rest of your crew shall arrive shortly to assist you."

"Certainly. They should start trickling in."

Lana nodded. She continued to scan the sails and inspect the deck, though her knowledge on ship maintenance was limited to what she had read in books and picked up on the voyage out, which she had spent mainly with her head in a bucket or heaving over the rail. Her game of pretend was laughable, a tad predictable even. She looked lost, but she was too much a Princess to admit that.

This was Alex's cue. Even though she dreaded Lana's reaction, the Kraken's Kiss would shortly be bustling with activity. The fewer ears heard their conversation, the better for all parties involved.

"Lana," she called her friend. "There's something you and I need to discuss."

The Princess was clever enough to catch the need for them to talk privately. She lifted her skirt to climb to the quarterdeck, then entered the captain's cabin as Alex opened the door. A foul, sickening odour wafted out.

"Oh, Gods, it smelled like someone died, was cooked, and then left to rot," Lana said, disgusted.

Despite the early hour, the heat in the cabin was immense. Lana's description was hilariously accurate. 

The Princess' vomit bucket had been left by the bed, forgotten by those who slept at the Queen's palace and not a concern to those who hadn't received the order to clean up the mess. Surely those sleeping below the deck must have smelled this ghastly stench. Damn their obedience to stay off the quarterdeck.

Holding her breath, Alex grabbed the bucket. She held it as far from her face as possible as she hurried outside.

Pan's face screwed up. "What in the Seven Hells..."

"If one of the Krakens grumbles too much about the work, you can throw this at their head," Alex said to Pan. She dropped the bucket as soon as she could. The smell would haunt her for the rest of the day.

"This is horrible. I'm gonna hurl this into the bay! I can't... what even, Alex?" His gagging was either exaggerated or very real. 

She didn't stay to watch.

Inside the cabin, Lana sat on her knees on Pan's bed, pushing open the round window. The stench was still overwhelming.

"Before we leave, these sheets must be replaced, and someone needs to deep-clean this place," Lana said. "I don't care how much soap or perfume you need to purchase, I'm not re-entering this ship, not in this state."

"Normally—"

"This isn't normal, Alex," Lana cut her off. "There will be no argument—I refuse to sleep in such disgusting quarters."

Taken aback by Lana's assertive, practically hostile stance, Alex folded the sheets into a bundle. "I'll get these washed." 

 They had no other set. The crew slept in a hammock, and those that had a blanket for the rare cold night, usually gave them a sea's bath once every odd moon. A few days into a journey, everything and everyone reeked of salt and sweat—it was the pirate way. 

"And they'll clean it, won't they?" Lana waved her hand in front of her face, searching for fresh air.

"I'll ask," Alex said firmly. She couldn't resist adding, "I'm neither deaf nor your servant."

There was a moment of silence between them, then Lana stopped waving, looking crestfallen. "I apologise, Alex. It was uncalled for."

"I forgive you." Alex dumped the sheets at the foot of the bed. "But I can't offer you the luxury of Sunstone Castle or the Queen's palace. This is a ship."

"You're right. I'll adapt—I always do." Lana brought her hands to her lap, her posture slumping. She gazed through the window.

Something was wrong. Alex couldn't deny the cabin smelled worse than a week-old carcass, but Lana was upset about something more than a forgotten bucket of vomit.

"It wasn't just boredom that drove you to this part of Alburkhan, was it?" Alex asked.

"I needed to see you," she said with a quivering voice. "I didn't know who else to talk to. Seb doesn't care. I'm not close to Jhara or Sahabi—you're the only friend I got. They told me you were here."

"What happened?"

"It's Nick... our engagement has ended." She swallowed. "It was awful. I was having breakfast with the Queen when she mentioned a letter written by Uncle River. She assumed I knew, that I had received a personal note. I didn't. It was so embarrassing, Alex. My heart shattered into a million pieces. I had to leave... the room too small... the palace too small... the city too small. I wished to sail to the middle of the sea so I could scream... cry... Why! Why! Why!"

As tears welled up in the Princess' eyes, Alex tiptoed towards her, sat down, and held her friend in her arms. Lana's head dropped onto her shoulder, unleashing her repressed grief in violent shakes.

The news didn't surprise Alex, but Lana's reaction did. The wedding would happen when the Ician Sea melted, she had said but a few weeks ago. Deep down, she must have known their engagement only existed in dreams and letters. They had spent a few moons together when they had been eleven and thirteen. Two know-it-alls who loved to read and share books. She the Princess, and he quickly announced as Seb's future General. Two lonely peas placed together in a fabricated pod.

Out of sight, out of mind, Nick would have latched onto any person interested in hearing stories. For all the knowledge he possessed, he was quite the simpleton.

Lana's anguish wasn't any less real, so Alex rocked her. "All men are sons of Pride, Lana. That stupid Porktail can stay in Ice, freeze off his manhood for all we care. He isn't worth your tears—not a single one of them."

"In half a year, I'll be twenty and unmarried. I'm going to end up like my mother—a spinster waiting for a miracle."

"Your mother became Queen of The Greenlands."

"But I can never be Queen. I would have to marry Papa or Seb—both of which have wives. And both of either would be absolutely revolting. My father or my cousin."

"See, there are more disgusting things than sun-heated vomit," Alex said jokingly.

Lana snorted a hiccup, then continued sobbing.

"Besides," Alex said. "That wasn't what I mean. Nick is an Ician nobody who needs others to write his letters for him. You can get any man in the Five Kingdoms. Who knows, King Siga might have a handsome son..."

"Last time I saw Ola, he still wore diapers. Rein and Ulf are even younger, six or seven—no thank you."

"Maybe he has a brother."

"No." She shivered but freed herself from Alex's embrace. "Mama should have married me off to David before Seb came to court. She won't see any other option but to go against Papa's wishes and give me to George. He might not give me children, but at least I like him. He can be funny and kind. And I can remain in Sunstone Castle to help Papa, especially now that Seb is on this side of the world."

"What happened to the girl who didn't want to be married?" Alex said, saying the words she thought out loud.

"She grew up and realised her role in this world." Lana paused to take an embroidered handkerchief from her purse, then dabbed her tears "And she's alright with that. Please don't feel sorry for me—I've long accepted my God-given duties."

"I wish there was more for you."

Lana squeezed her arm, grateful for the affection."It's a shame we're both women, Alex. A wedding to the Pirate Boyar would have been quite the statement for The Greenlands, our alliance solidified by bond and blood."

"There's a tribe in the Tounian jungle where women..." Alex shook the thought from her head. "Nevermind, it's not important. Let's talk about other things, more exciting matters."

"Like your marriage to Pan?"

She tsked. "Lana, no!"

"I would bet on it like a proper Jade Islander, but I wouldn't want to rob you of your coin."

"Oh no, it's on, My Lady. You said the words—there is no going back. Three copecks."

"Two."

"You're not sure of yourself anymore?" Alex teased.

"I am." Lana cocked her head. "I bring back the original three copecks, and raise a gold piece."

"I'm willing to add two Scorian asses too."

"Plus five silverlings and an Ician circle." Lana stretched out her hand.

"A deal to cover all five kingdoms—I'm in."

They shook on the deal, a deal like any other where she would forget until Lana came to collect her prize. And even then, the gloating would be all the reward the Princess needed. 

Though her cheeks were still damp and the sobs not far away, the jest had lifted Lana's spirits. She tucked her handkerchief away, opened her compact, and powdered her face.

Alex crossed her arms. "At the wedding, a man approached Pan with a proposition. He's planning an expedition to the unchartered territory south of Scoria. He seemed interested in the Krakens."

"And Pan declined because you work for my family."

"Now, yeah, but once you're safely back on Greenlander soil."

"You'll join the other pirate bands to defend our borders against Uncle Storm's antics," she said from behind the upside-down sycamore tree on the lid.

"The Kraken is only one ship."

"My bastard cousin is but one person," she said as she stuffed the puff back into the compact. "Don't be blinded by these tall tales, Pirate Girl. For centuries, the Scorians have tried to find land. All they've discovered so far have been barren rocks and one island where fruit trees grow. It's a waste of time and resources." She clicked the box shut. "Don't we pay enough?"

"It's not about money. We're free folk, always looking for an adventure. If we had the means, we would start the journey on our own, but we don't. We intend to ask King Siga to finance the voyage, claim any land we find in his name."

"Siga—why him?"

"Mostly, to prevent the Scorians from annexing the land. We're Islanders, so King Siga came to mind—he's a young King, perhaps looking to distinguish himself from his predecessors. Out of courtesy, I want to offer you the same deal. Your father pays for our resources, and whichever rock or tree we find would be Greenlander territory."

"Is this you who wants this, or Pan?" Lana asked.

"That's irrelevant."

"I disagree."

An uncomfortable feeling settled in Alex's stomach. Were they talking, friend to friend, or Pirate Boyar to Princess of The Greenlands—she couldn't tell. The lines blurred. The next words potentially damaging or potentially strengthening her position. She forced herself to consider them before speaking.

"The day I left Sunstone Castle, I was the happiest woman in the world. On a mission, but free at last. I told myself I would never be chained again, not by money, power, or simply because it's my duty. I have the greatest respect for what you and your family have done for me, but as Pirate Boyar, I have to think about the future of my people. Wars are never eternal. What will your father do with us once he has defeated the Silvermarkers?"

"You speak as though you already know what mysteries the Southern Sea holds. They may not exist, Alex. The Gods may well have created land scattered from Ice to Scoria, but nothing beyond. Do you really wish to die a sailorman's death, surrounded by water you cannot drink, moons away from any shore to hold you?"

"How is it any different from dying for a foreign King in a foreign war?"

"You are still a Greenlander."

"I may be, but the rest of the pirates aren't. Ideally, we would help you fight the magicians, all of us. But the race to the south has begun. We don't want to miss it."

Lana pursed her lips in thought. "Only the Kraken," she said. "And only after you've taken me to Socota, and from there back to the Port."

"Certainly, we finish our current mission."

"I do not have the authority to fund this quest of yours," Lana said. "And you do not have the time to travel to Papa in Sundale to renegotiate the agreement with him. Let King Siga finance you, if he wishes. Whatever land you may find—Gods in the Heavenly Halls bless your voyage—let the Islanders plant their flag. But my advice to you, woman to woman, Princess to Boyar, is to rule the land as Queen of a new queendom. I'll assure you Papa will give you his blessing, and so will Uncle River, and Queen Rainah through Jhara and Seb."

"And what if the country already has a ruler?"

"Three words." She showed her middle fingers. "Trade, marriage, alliance."

Alex nodded. "See, I might not marry Pan after all."