"Look closely. There, hidden in the thick vegetation, lie the Stairs of Salvation. The p—" Boyar Hekla covered his mouth and muffled a wet cough into his hand. He cleared his throat. "Sorry, I got a frog tickling me. So, while the passage is too narrow for cattle or carts, it has saved Socota more than once."

Alex sunk into her seat as the Boyar of Socota continued recounting how his ancestors climbed to the citadel to flee from the emerging army of thousands. The carriage slipped up the steep hill. Lana, sitting in the position of honour next to the Boyar, smiled and nodded politely. Fixated on the grotesque jade rings around his fat fingers, her eyes betrayed her discomfort.

Alex remained on high alert yet feigned nonchalance. She peered at the thicket, catching glimpses of stones. Without the Boyar's story, she would have never suspected a path up the hill existed.

"But it can't be used anymore, can it?" Pan asked.

"Of course it can!" The Boyar spoke the words with such force, he hacked until his puffy cheeks were red. "Every week, a group of volunteers makes the climb, removing excess vegetation and replacing broken stones. We may not have needed the stairs in over a century, but one day we might, and the route better be in prime condition when we do."

"It's clever," Lana said.

Alex wasn't sure of the Princess' sincerity. Why all the work when the dirt road up to the citadel offered a better alternative? The citizens of Socota would be able to take more of their belongings; the weak and young could be transported on carts. Not to mention how slippery those stones would get when a tropical storm hit the city.

"No better shelter than nature's curtains," Pan remarked.

The Boyar didn't respond, which wasn't much of a surprise. The walking barrel of fat barely acknowledged the pirates since meeting in the harbour, as though they shared an unspoken agreement that neither would talk beyond basic courtesy. Had they still smelled like they had crawled up from the bottom of the sea, she would have understood the man's reluctance. Pan had insisted they all saw a piece of brown soap up close and wore their finest clothes.

Alex clutched the leather pouch containing her notes and the maps of Socota and the Southern Sea. If King Siga brushed the Krakens off as easily as the Boyar, they would never secure payments for their voyage into the unknown. Could all that hard work have been for nothing?

Lana saved them from an awkward silence. "Boyar Hekla, when I was young, my mother told me tales about the legendary white roses of Socota. Am I too late to see their bloom?"

"Alas, My Lady, the years see their blooming shortening. A few decades ago, the flowers stayed until the end of summer. Nowadays, the roses see the city's wealth and wither. We can't explain."

Pan moved closer to Alex, whispering, "I can. Look at the other plants—the grey speckles. I bet it comes from the factories."

Alex hummed. Down in the city, the big brick buildings spewed out clouds of ashes. What Pan said seemed logical, but if there were a link, the Boyar would know about it, wouldn't he? He was gross, not dumb.

"Even without the roses, Socota is beautiful," Lana said. She waited until the Boyar stopped coughing. "I was wondering..." She fidgeted with her fingers, cocking her head. "Has there been any news from the north?"

The Boyar played with the enormous gemstone dangling from his neck. "Multiple letters arrive from The Greenlands each day."

"Also from Sundale?"

"A few."

Lana bit her lip. He was getting on her nerves. "And how are things going?"

"As these letters are rarely addressed to me, I'm unaware of the content. Those I get to read either apologise for the delay of my goods, blaming the war, or beg me to increase the production of blasters and bullets. No offence, My Lady, I doubt your precious General is aware how long it takes to build a fully functional factory." He barked like a dog choking on a bee, then laid his hand on Lana's upper leg as he pointed outside. "That umbrella tree over there. That's as far as any army ever made it up the hill. They died beholding the citadel but never reached it."

"A union of Western and Southern Greenland," Lana said, trying to inch away from him. The carriage wasn't big enough, or the Boyar too large. "The year was eight hundred and seventy-four."

Boyar Hekla guffawed. He reached to touch Lana again. "You know the history better than I do, My Lady. All I remember is that it was a long time ago. The trade union between our countries is much more prosperous than any war fought in history."

His behaviour, as slimy as the frog in his throat, nauseated Alex.

"I want to punch him in the face," Pan said through his teeth.

"Me too," Alex whispered. It took all of Kindness' strength to stop her hands from balling into fists. "We can't. He's a fleabag, but he's an important one."

"We can always say he choked."

"Don't act like a drunken monkey," Alex hissed.

"Anything you wish to share, Captain Panu, Boyar Alexandra?" Boyar Hekla asked with disdain.

Pan spoke up before she could. "I was just saying that even though no foreign army ever managed to take the citadel, the crown did change owner more times than any of us common folk cares to remember."

"No matter how thick the walls, no fort can keep out treason growing from within. I'm sure the history of the pirates is riddled with backstabbing and betrayal too. I can only imagine what happened to you lot to nominate a thirteen-year-old Greenlander to become your representative."

Alex looked over the man's balding head. Now was not the time to reveal her election resulted from a joke taken too far. "I'm eighteen now. And my role is strictly diplomatic."

"And what do you think the crown is?" The Boyar squeezed Lana's arm. "Don't you agree, My Lady?"

"Oh, I would say it's more than that," Lana said, ever as polite. Her face was pale. "I can only speak for my country—of course. Without a sovereign, power would become too fractured. As you said, we operate better as a union."

"Sure, but diplomacy manages the union. That is why you are here—to maintain the relationship between our countries."

"My duty is clear, Boyar. But I wouldn't confuse my role with that of my father, nor compare it to the responsibilities of a Pirate Boyar. I mean no offence, Alex." Lana looked straight at her, her demeanour subtly screaming for help.

The God of Charity sent aid in the form of a hobbling, bobbling carriage that sent the Boyar into a coughing fit.

"Perhaps, you and Lana should swap seats," Alex told Pan. "This type of road will trigger the Princess' motion sickness."

"Doesn't she have the bracelet?" Pan mumbled.

Alex elbowed him. How could he be so oblivious?

He shot up as Lana said, "It's a great idea. I'm getting queasy."

Lana practically fell into the empty spot next to Alex, mouthing a quick, voiceless 'thank you'. At the other side of the carriage, Pan sat down, his legs spread dominantly. The Boyar blew out a noisy breath, huffing at the Pirate Captain.

For the rest of the ride, he continued telling tales of Socota while coughing. Alex hardly listened. She found the humid air hard to breathe as well. It was different from the soggy warmth she had experienced at sea or on any of the other islands.

She missed the dry heat of Alburkhan already. And, frankly, she missed Seb too.

Not much later, a gate appeared up ahead. As they approached, the dark iron construction opened. They rode into a courtyard filled with ancient trees, wrinkled oblong fruits hanging from the broad branches. She heard water splashing down into a pond, but no matter how she turned her head, she couldn't figure out where the noise originated from.

In front of a grand entrance, seemingly another gate, the royal family stood stately in a near row, seemingly unmoving. The King and his three sons were dressed in colourful robes; the Queen and Process Bodi in a wide salmon-coloured dress. As Alex descended the carriage steps, the row broke. The wind picked up the black tower hat of one of the two smaller boys; he leapt and chased after the object until it flew into Desi's hands. Perplexed, he stared at her with an open mouth.

"Here, this is yours," Desi said.

When the boy didn't move, King Siga shouted. "Don't be shy, Rein. They're our guests."

The little prince snatched the hat and darted back to the open spot between his older sister and twin brother. The Princess rolled with her eyes. With the tiara and pearl earrings, she had clearly copied her style from Lana.

"The Gods forged you a younger twin," Alex said to Lana.

"Or her parents did," Lana muttered. "She's cute, though."

Alex trailed behind Lana, accepting the warm welcome of the royal family.

"I wish to apologise for the long wait—your arrival took us by surprise," King Siga said. He had a calm voice, his lilt soft compared to the standard Socotian accent. "You're more than welcome, my friends."

"Most welcome," Queen Helgi assured them.

Prince Ola bowed to Lana, mumbling a greeting.

"Kiss her hand," the Queen said to her son.

The Prince, perhaps nine or ten, shook his head. He looked down, flustered.

"You don't have to," Lana said to Ola. "Meeting new people is scary."

Queen Helgi smiled. "Oh, no, he's sulking because we had to cut playtime short today."

"All because of us. I would be upset too," Lana said, which made Ola glance up. "I'll take the blame."

When Alex passed him, he gave her a hand and uttered an audible 'hello'. He was still looking at his feet, and she couldn't help but think Ola and Seb would have a lot to talk about. Two heirs to the throne who hated being paraded by their family.

"It's such an honour," Princess Bodi said to Lana. She said the same to Alex, then added, "Is it true you are the first female Pirate Boyar?"

"I am."

The girl's eyes twinkled.

"Pirate," the little prince said to Alex, kissing her hand.

His twin brother struggled to pronounce the word, but his enthusiasm wasn't any less. "Piwate! Piwate!"

King Siga insisted on greeting all the Krakens, even if it was with a brief handshake. Then, when all had passed, he asked who was hungry. A choir of aye's and softly grunted yeah's filled the courtyard.

The second gate opened.

As she watched Boyar Hekla sneaking back into the carriage, Alex tapped the flap of her pouch. The Gods of Virtue were strong with the King. Perhaps reaping the fruit of her hard labour wouldn't be as impossible as she feared.

They entered a second garden, the path narrow and flanked by thin trees with skeleton-like tree trunks. The leaves looked like blades but were surprisingly soft. Also here, a grey layer covered the vegetation. Both the twins and Princess Bodi had the coughs too, though not as frequent as the Boyar.

The next gate brought them into the actual citadel. As thick as the walls were outside, the interior yielded a warm and cosy setting, breathing recent wealth rather than an elaborate history. A detailed portait of the old King, Siga's father, and a recent—practically lifelike picture—of the royal family that could hardly be a few months old adorned the entrance hall. With a central low table surrounded by two-seat sofas, she could imagine businesses being conducted here before people met with the King or Queen.

"I could give you a tour of the citadel," King Siga said. "But I suspect your crew is more interested in filling their bellies than in hearing me yap about stones."

"Not only my crew, Sire," Pan said cheekily. "Boyar Hekla already talked a lot."

"I see." The King grinned. "I hope you don't mind—it will be a simple meal—wine, bread, salted whitefish, and dried fruit. We had to improvise."

"Anything's a feast after a long voyage. Bread and fruit don't last long at sea," Alex said.

Pan chuckled. "You had me at wine."

Wishing the God of Pride would strike him down, Alex shot Pan a menacing look. He pretended not to see her.

King Siga took them to another garden where the last glasses were hastily added to a round table in the back. A rock-filled stream rippled noisily, separating the terracotta terrace from the mass of palm trees looming on the other side.

"Do you want to tell our guests where they can sit?" the Queen asked Ola. 

The boy shook his head.

"Come, we'll do it together." Bodi grabbed her brother's arm.

Together, they approached the Krakens and showed them their tables. Upon mentioning wine, the pirates hastened to fill their cup and bickered about who got to hold the clay jug, drowning out Ola's attempts to tell them there was more than enough.

Once again it was Bodi who spoke up. "True gentlemen let ladies go first," she said to Milo.

"Who says they're ladies?" the tree-belter replied with a thick accent. He was thrice the size of the Princess. "And I sure ain't no gentleman."

"Then I hope you like to burn because the God of Greed drags sinners to hell."

Milo cocked his head. His confusion gave the others around the table, including Desi and Liene, the opportunity to fill their cup.

The little Princess stuck up her nose as she turned on her heel, but the one smirking was her big brother, Ola.

Eagerly, as if competing with his sister, the boy told Alex, Pan, and Lana that they could dine with the royal family. Since there didn't seem to be any apparent order, Alex sat down in the chair closest to her. Before Lana could sit down, Bodi slipped in the seat next to Alex. She asked Lana if she could join her, which she did.

Servants carrying trays full of food entered the garden. Upon first glance, they wore simple white robes, but the fabric revealed a clever pattern of light-coloured seashells and fish. 

The Krakens were served first. In the citadel, the guests ate before the King, a long-standing tradition from poorer times that had survived the ages. When the next trays were placed on their table, the royal family waited until she, Pan, and Lana had taken their first pick. Only then did the twin boys receive a nod from their mother. They ignored the fish and went straight for the pile of miniature buns and dried banana slices.

"It's a shame the circumstances prevented us from attending Prince Sebastian's wedding," King Siga said. With half an eye, he watched Bodi taking some fish.

"Yes, my father and cousin wish it could have been different," Lana said. "They wanted to keep it small and uneventful, as to not raise suspicion to our northern neighbours."

Small and uneventful was not how Alex would have described the wedding in Alburkhan. However, it was equally easy to imagine Queen Crystal inviting half the Greenlands and all of Ice.

"After the war, when the Prince and Princess renew their vows in Sundale, we shall be there. Bodi, especially, is so excited about attending her first royal wedding."

"Mummy and Daddy will buy me the prettiest dress in all of the Islands. Only Princess Jhara and Princess Alana will be even more beautiful." With the same breath, she asked Lana "How was the kiss? Was the ceremony as romantic as the fairytales describe them to be?" She fluttered her long eyelashes.

 "Better," Lana said. "They combined Greenlander and Scorian traditions."

Alex grinned. Seb had been a Muttonhead for most of the ceremony.

"Why are you laughing?" Bodi asked.

Alex quickly chewed her food, then drank some wine. "I have fond memories of the wedding," she said tactfully. "I've known the Prince since we were both infants—childhood friends. I was the one who gave him to Princess Jhara."

"You did?" she squeaked. "Mummy, Daddy, I want that too. Please tell me Virpi can do that at my wedding too."

"We'll see," Queen Helgi said.

"Boyar Alex did so because Prince Sebastian is an orphan, and neither his uncle nor aunt could attend his wedding."

"And I gladly gave Alex the honour," Lana said.

"What's an orphan?" Rein burped. It could have been Ulf too. His plate was already empty.

The Queen smiled weakly. "Are you done?"

The boy considered the question for a while, then nodded.

"Wait for your brother to finish. You can leave the table to go play."

"Okay." 

The young prince had already forgotten his question, urging his twin to eat faster so they could learn to become a real pirate.

"I had an interesting conversation with a wealthy merchant in Alburkhan. He was trying to gather a crew for an expedition south," Pan said. He waited for King Siga to acknowledge him, then said, "But why work for Scoria if we can do so in your name?"

The King said nothing, too busy eating. Then he clicked his tongue against his teeth, drank some wine, and asked. "And where would this voyage lead to?"

"New land."

"Isn't the Jade Islands big enough?"

"It's not so much about the size of your monarchy, Sire," Alex said. "It's about claiming property before anyone else can."

"Property that might not exist." He had stopped eating, which meant he was interested. 

"Imagine Scoria discovering a new civilisation, a new trading partner. Why should we let them be the first?"

"Because they'll be the ones taking the risk of returning home empty-handed. I've heard the rumours but don't believe them. If there's land south of Scoria, our ancestors would have long found it."

King Siga played right into Alex's cards. "Excuse me, Sire, but if you go long enough in history, our ancestors didn't know Scoria existed. Go even further, and they didn't know an entire continent lay east of here. How many centuries have passed since Socota discovered they were surrounded by other islands?"

King Siga eyed his wife.

"All rumours have their source," the Queen said. "What makes you think you can succeed where the Scorians failed."

"Because we're Islanders," Alex argued. "And we've had some luck on our side. We've received maps from Alafin Cyrus, a parting gift, created by an explorer who has sadly fallen from grace for.... unrelated matters." She didn't dare say his family were magicians. She moved some trays and stacked the twins' plates on top to make space, then she spread out the map of the Southern Sea. "We've noticed a trail of miniature islands at the edge of the known world, no bigger than a rock. Where there are these kinds of formations, there is land, eventually. The phenomenon is known here in the Jade Islands, Northern Scoria, and even in West Silvermark. There's a chance the same rings true for this unknown land—that's what we want to explore."

"And you're looking for a sponsor?" The King's question wasn't a question. He darted a look at Lana.

"My father has other priorities. I had to decline."

He nodded. "How much?"

"Fifty thousand copecks." It was more than they needed, but haggling would land them the budget they actually needed.

"How many crews?"

"Just the Krakens."

The King bit into a piece of fish, chewing slowly before swallowing visibly. Behind Alex, the twins were entertaining the guests with childlike stereotypes of pirates walking with one leg and one eye. The Krakens were easily charmed. Alex wished the King was as easily swayed to take part in the grown-up games.

"Forty-five thousand," Alex suggested.

King Siga raised his hand; he wore but one black ring around his thumb. "You worked hard to try to convince me, but I cannot say yes at this moment. The time is not right."

The sugary dried fruit fell to her stomach. "Why not? Is it a matter of money—we might be able to do it for forty thousand too, but then—"

"No," he interrupted her, his voice still calm. "Though I honour the healthy rivalry with Scoria, I must honour my northern ally more. At this moment, the Greenlands needs all resources they can get."

"It's one crew. My father will understand," Lana said. "When the war is over, my country won't be able to keep the pirates occupied forever. We don't wish to return to the situation where their actions threaten the bond between our nations."

"I agree, but the war is far from over, My Lady. In fact..." He took a sharp breath. "There is neither a good time nor way to tell you this. Word from Sundale reached the citadel the day before yesterday. Grave tidings—I'm afraid. There was an attack on your father."

Bile rose in Alex's throat. 

"How?" Lana whispered.

"He and the General were riding in the early morning. There were no details about the nature of the attack, but it cost the life of General George and a few renowned officers. I must apologise for not knowing their names."

"And my father?"

"There's not much news."

Alex cursed the Jade Islandic Princess for sitting between her and Lana. She wished she could grab her friend's hand, tell her all would be fine, and that she was so sorry for the General's death. The man had been stoic, distant even, but a brilliant mind when it came to strategy. The Greenlander army had lost a great leader.

Biting her lip, Lana composed herself. Her voice was shaky. "Who wrote the letter?"

"The Captain of Sundale."

"Stephen." Lana nodded, heavily frowning. 

Alex had spent enough time among royalty to understand the significance of this seemingly insignificant fact. A letter signed in a royal's name meant all was well. For Captain Stephen to sign implied King Thomas' condition was so dire he could no longer rule. The young Captain was in charge of Sunstone Castle, the army, and the country. All the duties of a General and a King but not the name.

"We must inform Seb," Alex said.

"No, I'll go home. The less he knows, the less likely..." She swallowed her words. "He must stay in Alburkhan."

"The message has already been sent to Rainah. We deemed the message too important not to pass on," Queen Helgi added.

"Send another message. Tell him I order him to stay Alburkhan," Lana said sharply. "As for myself, I'm afraid I must cut my visit short." Her eyes moved from King Siga to Pan. "Captain, prepare the Kraken. At dawn, we set sail to the Port."

Pan nodded, his grip on the cup of wine tight. "I see now why you said the time isn't right, Sire."

"I wish I could say yes." He gesticulated at Alex's pouch. "If you can leave that here, I'll see how we can help each other."

"After the war," Alex said.

King Siga nodded. "After the war."

Whenever that would be. If the Silvermarkers managed to get to the King, the nation itself was at risk. For the first time, Alex feared they were on the losing side.