«Why are you following me?» Alexander asks while I tale after him. «We've agreed that you would hide in the room.»

«Yes, that's right. But the pirates are still far from here. I'll go hide when they are closer. I want to help in the meanwhile.»

«You're supposed to be safe.»

«I will be.» And it's not like the pirates will sell me as a slave. I'm Duke Kyre's wife. He'll pay any price to have me back.

Which means that we're not in life danger as long as we survive the first attack.

Still, I have to protect my baby from any distress.

«Are you a hundred per cent sure those are pirates, by the way? They seem a bit off to me,» I point out, looking at the weird flag they're using.

It has a sun in the middle, which reminds me of the symbols of Polis. Ah, how nostalgic. Yet, this one is turned upside down. Like a setting sun, with that orange colour.

«They use random flags to trick other ships,» Alexander explains. He feels slightly better after finding something to do.

«They didn't have to turn it upside down.»

«I don't think it's intentional, Thea.»

«No, but still...»

The sailors have started managing the ship to flee away from the vessel, but none of them is preparing for battle.

«How do you fight back pirates' usually?» Alexander asks, seeing the way they're working without a break.

«We don't fight back, milord. We run away.»

«Oh. And do you usually manage to do so?»

«There weren't many pirates in these waters once. They started crowding the place in the last couple of years. It was a peaceful sea.»

«Oh,» I mutter. «What bad luck!»

«It's the second time this month, the third in our whole lives. People will stop moving at sea if this doesn't come to an end.»

«You're sailing following Ethiro's shores, right?» I ask. «You should be under the Empire's protection.»

«No one cares about what happens out here, milady. They're focused on grabbing tax money when we dock.»

«That must be why there aren't many merchants travelling by sea...»

There are many roads on the ground, and it's much safer from what I've witnessed so far.

«It's a pity. Seaways are faster and more convenient...»

«You can save the world later, Thea,» Alexander replies. «Now go hide. I'll call for you when we've escaped the vessel.»

«Are you sure you don't want me to stay with you?» I inquire. He's still so pale, I'm worrying. What if he stumbles on a rope and falls into the sea?

I'm not even sure he knows how to swim.

«Why don't you come and hide with me?»

If we're going to escape, there isn't any need for him out here.

«I have to make sure we're ready to fight if they catch us.»

«It won't help, milord,» the captain exclaims. «We have no clue about fighting. And we don't want to risk our lives because of the stock. We'll deliver everything. We don't have much worth onboard regardless...»

Except for the man second in line for the throne.

If the capital receives the ransom request, they might ignore it to have a threat to stability taken care of.

«Alexander, your value is higher than mine. You're the one risking to be taken by the pirates,» I whisper, clutching his arm to make him listen with attention. «You better come with me.»

«It will be all right, Thea. I'm not leaving you,» he replies and hugs me tightly. It hasn't happened in a while, but he's now back at how I saw him when he had a fever or was dead drunk.

Or crying for a death that he witnessed in another life.

«I will protect you, no matter what,» he continues. He's reassuring himself, not me. I'm not that worried.

«I don't want you to get hurt in my stead, though.» That wouldn't solve anything. Also, I felt what he felt the day Queen Theodora died.

I don't want to despair that much. I don't want to hate the whole world and want to burn down everything.

I'd prefer to be the one leaving first this time as well. If it wasn't for making Alexander suffer again.

«We should both be safe,» I realise. «Because it won't be an improvement from the first time if either of us got hurt or died. Please, be careful.»

«Are you worrying for me, my Duchess?»

«I am,» I confess. «For you, for me, and our child. You wanted a family, didn't you? Stupidly dying in the middle of the sea isn't worth it. You won't even see our baby when it's born. He won't ever meet you and call you father.»

Alexander drops his jaw, and his shoulders curl down. Incredulous, he stares at me for a while before returning to his senses.

«Let's hope it doesn't come to that,» he then says, shrugging with calm. Yet, his expression is solemn and focused.

He's collected his thoughts and is now finally rational.

His face is still pale, but he doesn't seem in a hurry anymore. And he's hiding his discomfort to make me feel safe.

We turn to walk below deck when a ship, smaller than the first one, appears out of nowhere.

I widen my eyes and cling to Alexander's shirt, startled by the apparition.

Where're in the open sea. Where the heck can a ship hide? Why haven't we seen it before?

I look upward and find the crow's nest empty. The deckhand should have been there, observing the horizon and looking for dangers. He came down after locating the first pirate ship, and he couldn't notice the second waiting for us.

A bunch of harpoons sink in the soft wood of the railings and the deck, and the second ship moors to ours. A few men jump on board while the rest of the pirates wait to be close enough to set a footbridge.

The door is far, we can't make it in time.

Alexander plucks his sword out and pushes me behind him.

Without a word, I take a step behind him in silence. I don't want to distract him now. My back hits the wall, and I stay there with my hands on the wood.

The crew of the ship raise their hands, except the captain that is steering the helm. Only Alexander and the two knights with us are still on alert, ready to fight.

This doesn't look like something we can solve with brute force. There are too many enemies in front of us, and more are coming on the second ship.

We have to use diplomacy. At least to avoid bloodshed.

I haven't had much to do with pirates, but I know they can be stubborn and easy to provoke. From the moment the first drop of their blood appears, they won't give up until obtaining their complete revenge.

Even though their appearance here is rather suspicious. Did they know this ship was going to be unguarded and loaded?

«We have some guests this time,» the man that looks like the leader mutters, observing us. «Weren't you supposed to be a cargo? When have you started taking passengers?»

The captain of the ship just crooks his mouth without replying with any word.

Is he panicking or obstinate? I wouldn't risk upsetting some pirates like this.

While most of the crew is nervous, the captain continues to keep the helm. The deckhand walks to him and stands by his side, and I begin to notice that not all the sailors are equally scared.

Some are just annoyed or nervous, while others don't show any reaction. They do keep their hands in the air, but I'm not sure if it's all a facade or blending in.

«You're scaring my crew, damn it. I was clear about it, wasn't I?»

«You weren't clear about the passengers,» the pirate replies. «How much can we make from them?»

«Not much,» the captain sighs. «They don't have much money with them.»

«Where you find a woman, you can find jewels...»

«Not on this one. I haven't seen any except for those she's currently wearing.»

Hey, I'm right here! Pretending to be unconcerned about my thoughts? But, the man on the deck is awfully familiar as well...

«They look like nobles to me. Nobles travelling with fake identities,» he adds, eyeing Alexander's refined sword and the knights' calm demeanour. It doesn't look like we're outnumbered by our expressions.

Only after a moment or two, Alexander's shoulders twitch. He shakes his head, looking at the men starting to move goods from the pirate vessel to the ship.

Shouldn't it be the opposite?

Ah, they're working together. The merchant sells the goods the pirates collect. And they split the profits.

«What do we do with the guests?»

«Nothing. We don't need that much money,» the captain mutters. «They paid the trip, and they will reach the destination in one piece.»

«Every single gold for the cause isn't too much.»

«What cause, you old hag? You won't touch my passengers, period.»

I try to glance from Alexander's shoulder while he unexpectedly lowers his sword.

«I am not the one that can solve this,» my husband says to me.