Page 161 of Sword & Sacrifice

Braz, her father’s first mate, raised his arm for the bird to land on with the ease of many years of routine.

Emmaline immediately abandoned her current task and bounded up the stairs to the quarterdeck. “Is it a letter?” A thin, white strip of paper wrapped around the bird’s leg. She would have snatched it off if she wasn’t afraid of startling the poor thing.

Braz carefully unwound the paper anklet. It unfolded into a much smaller letter than usual. It didn’t look large enough to carry good news. Once the bird was free of its burden, it flew off to the other side of the deck to receive its reward.

“Is it about my mother?” Her fingers itched with the suppressed urge to snatch the letter from him and see for herself.

He ignored her and called out an order for someone else to take the helm, then stepped past Emmaline on his way to the captain’s quarters.

She doggedly followed him, determined to hear news of her mother the moment it arrived. When he opened the door to her father’s rooms, she stopped it from shutting and slipped in behind him.

Everett glanced up from his maps and arched a brow at her forceful appearance, then turned his attention to his first mate. “I take it a message has finally arrived?”

Braz silently handed him the letter.

Everett read it carefully, his expression giving nothing away.

Emmaline craned her neck to see what it said, but Braz put his hand on her shoulder and forced her back several inches. “The captain’s business is private,” he scolded with an unyielding scowl.

“Don’t put your hands on my daughter,” Everett said without looking up from the letter.

Braz released her and clasped both of his hands behind his back.

Everett finished reading the letter and said, “Braz, you’re dismissed.”

The first mate grunted once and left the office, closing the door behind him.

“Have a seat,” Everett said, gesturing to the chair across from him.

Emmaline hurriedly sat down and scooched the chair closer to the desk. “Have you found my mother? Do you know where Alistair took her? Is she safe? How do we rescue her?”

A soft smile flickered on her father’s lips before his expression mellowed. “I don’t have your mother’s exact location. However, I do have a lead on how to get her back—someone who has information on Alistair and his plans.”

Her heart raced faster than a startled rabbit. “What did they tell you?”

“Not much. Committing these things to writing, even with a code, can be dangerous. Birds aren’t the most secure message system. They can be coaxed or shot out of the sky, their messages can be read or replaced without your knowledge. My contact wants to meet in person on Dreamer’s Isle.”

“Where is that?”

“It’s a small island between Bellacosta and Percosa. It’s a good place for ships to refuel on the long trip between the two continents.”

She worried her bottom lip between her teeth. “How long will it take to get there?”

“Another day or two.”

“And how far away is it from Litus?”

“I don’t visit the capital much, but if the weather is good, it’ll take us three days.”

It seemed like a reasonable detour. Even if her father’s contact couldn’t offer direct help, perhaps the information they provided could still be useful. They could stop by the island first, then travel the rest of the way to Litus. “All right. I want to hear what they have to say.”

He idly folded and unfolded the letter, deepening its creases. “You’ll need to stay on the ship while I speak with them.”

She sat up straighter. “No, I need to come with you!”

His expression darkened. “Dreamer’s Isle is not a safe place. You accused me of piracy once, but I’m nothing compared to many of the crews who dock there. If I take my eyes off you for a second, you’ll be swept away onto someone else’s ship, and they’ll disappear into the waves. I won’t lose you like I lost your mother.”

Everyone always wanted to protect Emmaline. They never believed she could protect herself. The worst part was that her father had every reason to doubt her capabilities. After all, if his men could kidnap her so easily, what stopped another crew from stealing her away? Swallowing her protests, she nodded in silent agreement.