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I stand frozen as his words sink in.

“You were speaking different languages?”

“Yes.”

“And I…”

My eyes land on Drake again. He looks faintly amused.

As if sensing the question I can’t seem to voice aloud, he nods, slowly.

“You were answering him in them.”

CHAPTER 5

The Emperor’s Captain

Istudy Dezeeves, then Drake, then Dezeeves again.

“This is… strange,” I state.

“Do you think so?” Dezeeves asks, with surprise. “When a citizen exchange was discussed with The Assembly of State Craftsmen, your language skills were highly praised by the Queen, and her Ambassador to Hevalla, who was your mother, I believe?”

I’m still frozen. My head reels.

I rake through memories of my childhood. I suppose I did pick up Old Rhavnan from our tutor much faster than the other palace children, and I learned Hevallan easily from my mother in my very early childhood. I also enjoyed poring over books in foreign languages in the library and translating them.

But I had no memory of anyone recognising this as evidence of blood magic in me.

“I don’t know how that can be. I’ve never been aware of having—” Don’t say blood magic. “—a talent.”

Dezeeves pushes a strand of silver hair behind his ear. “Perhaps,” he says gently, “There was a time, once, when you were aware. Memory is a fleeting thing.”

I have so many questions.

“Why wouldn’t The Assembly have tried to use me, if they knew?”

“I’m afraid you would need to ask my brother that, who was the State Craftsman involved in those conversations. My guess would be that they would have used you, had other countries involved themselves in the war. As we all know – for better or for worse – as of yet, they have not.”

He claps his hands together.

“Excellent. Now that we are all acquainted, we can commence our boarding of The Emperor.”

I turn to Drake. Mutter to him, in Rhavnan, “Is he still speaking Hevallan? Or is this another language test I’m supposed to pass?”

“It is Hevallan,” Drake confirms. “He is taking us on his ship. As prisoners of war.”

Dezeeves waves his hand loosely. “Let’s just say I am something of a pioneer in the handling of prisoners. You will be, well, more like crew.” He looks smug as the king he was named after, whose avarice brought about the downfall of what was the Hevallan kingdom. “It’s so difficult to get any recruits these days – it does make my life harder. But that’s the good thing about times of need. They do encourage one to be creative.”

His words finally, fully, reach me. My breath leaves me as I ask, “We’re going into the sky?”

Dezeeves chuckles.

“For a girl who can understand any language in the world, you do seem to have trouble understanding your own.”

He grins, flashing bucked teeth. They’re actually quite sharp. “Make sure you pack up all your belongings!” he calls, gesturing to the empty room and then erupting into more hacking laughter.

Can the happiest man in the world get happier? he’d asked.