Treasure (14 page)

"You were nearly killed by mermaids and need time to recover from such a traumatic—"

Krasny gave a bitter, brittle laugh, causing Kyo to freeze in the process of standing up. "Highness, I have suffered more attacks, in more places, than I care to recall. My life is more violent than people ever realize. None of those moments were as traumatic to me as the day I had to send my own sister to the Fires as a sacrifice. I know the look of a man who is facing his own demise. I thought I saw it in you back in Kundou, but could not be certain, for you hide your thoughts better than men twice your age.  You have the exact look and bearing of a Vessel awaiting his final hour."

"I think you swallowed too much seawater," Kyo replied and stood up—and snarled in protest when Krasny jerked him back down and held fast to his wrist. "Unhand me."

"No," Krasny said and startled Kyo into stillness by resting a hand lightly against his cheek. His hand was shockingly warm, almost hot, and Kyo did not realize until then just how cold he felt. "Fire warm and calm you," Krasny said, and Kyo could not tell if that was a prayer or an incantation. Either way, he did feel calmer as Krasny's hand slid slowly away. "Why do you look as though you are going to your death, highness?"

"Because I am," Kyo finally admitted, and he wondered why saying the words brought him so much relief that he wanted to cry. "Pozhar has their Vessels, Kundou has the royal family. Every one hundred years."

Surprise filled Krasny's face, and Kyo would have laughed at any other time to see the notoriously cold Krasny show emotion so plainly. But in the next moment, he recovered himself, and asked, "So why are you not being given a proper escort? I assume you are traveling because the sacrifice must be done somewhere else? I sense this must tie into the old tales of a lost island."

Kyo laughed softly. "Yes, it does relate to that tale. As to why I do not have an escort—that is complicated, and I do not want to say more about it."

"Complicated sanctioned, or complicated there will be people coming after you?"

"Why would you think to ask that?"

"I hunt for Vessels, highness. It might surprise you the things I know. So which is it?"

Kyo made a face. "The latter."

"I see," Krasny said. "Very well. I will do what I can to assist you. Whatever you are doing, highness, I advise you to cease trying to do it alone."

"What other way am I supposed to do it?" Kyo asked, mouth twisting.

Of all things, Krasny smiled faintly. "I said earlier that Culebra is so affected by everything because he is young. It is easy to forget, sometimes, that you are young as well, highness."

Kyo scoffed at that. "I am nearly thirty, hardly young."

"I think, when you are my age, you will see that differently, but my point is this: there are two types of Vessels. Those who go to the Fires alone, and those who ask that their family or friends be there when they die."

"I cannot see what is accomplished by dragging others into the mess. Who wants to watch someone die?" He certainly did not, and he could imagine forcing people to watch him die.

Krasny shook his head. "It's the difference between dying alone and afraid, or dying in peace, highness. Tell me this:  are you feeling better or worse for having told me what you are about?" Kyo said nothing, merely pressed his lips together in annoyance. Laughing softly, Krasny released his wrist at last to rest a hand lightly on his back, and Kyo hated that the touch was somehow reassuring. "I think that you should tell your secretary at the very least."

A brisk knock came at the door then, and at Kyo's call it swung open to admit a sailor. "Begging pardon, highness. Captain said to inform you that dinner is ready in his quarter, should you care to join him. If his grace is up to it, he is, of course, invited as well."

"Thank you, we will be along shortly." Kyo almost rolled his eyes at the way the sailor's eyes darted between them, noting the way they sat, where Krasny's hand rested; he suspected rumors would fill the ship before they made it to dinner.

The sailor left, and Kyo stood up. "I should go get dressed for dinner. I will send Taka to help you get ready since you certainly cannot wear that robe as it currently is."

Krasny rolled his eyes, but only nodded. "Think about what I said, highness."

"You may as well call me Kyo," he replied. "As I told the good Captain, it is pointless to hold with formality at present." He smiled and sketched a playful bow in parting, then returned to his own quarters. Culebra still slept, though from the way his blankets were twisted about it had not been a restful sleep. Kyo fixed his blankets and rested a hand against Culebra's brow, frowning when it proved to be a trifle too warm.

He made a note to have the ship surgeon sent to look him over and set about tidying up for dinner. Though he tried to ignore them, Krasny's words churned over and over in his mind. Should he tell Taka? But it still seemed pointless. Taka would be angry and upset. Then he would try to fix the situation and the hard truth was that there was no fixing it. All Kyo could do was die to return the magic his family had stolen rather than die to keep the magic with his family.

No, Krasny was wrong. No good would come of making Taka miserable by giving him a problem he could not fix. Whatever Krasny thought, it was ultimately better if Kyo went to his death exactly as he had planned from the start: alone.

Raiden poured himself more wine as he glanced over his dinner companions:  Kin looked surly and restless, and as if he would sooner kiss a mermaid than admit he felt insecure; Kyo seemed weighed down by his thoughts; Taka appeared troubled by Kyo; and Lord Krasny looked as though he were seated at his own table and they were all
his
guests.

Hiding his amusement, Raiden picked a roll out of the basket near his plate and passed it to Taka, who was sitting beside him, before he buttered his own. "You look remarkably fit after your ordeal, your grace."

"I have endured worse," Krasny said. "Though, I admit I have not endured more dramatic. It was his highness who suffered the most in the attack. I am eternally grateful to you, Master Raiden, Captain, for the fortuitous rescue. I did not relish becoming a meal for the fish or the mermaids."

Kin grunted. "I am astonished they did not eat you."

Krasny shrugged. "I am told I look better than I taste. I guess they agreed."

Raiden laughed. "There is no good response to that, and so I shall not give it, but I am glad that you and his highness were passed over for supper. We will make all haste to get you home to Pozhar, and I am sorry we cannot take the time to take his highness home to Piedre."

"You have done more than enough, and I doubt after this his highness will be in any hurry to return home. There are many who will be grief-stricken at the loss of Master Granito, his highness' bodyguard, and it will only give the Brotherhood of the Black Rose more fodder to declare his highness a thing of evil."

Kyo's mouth twisted with disapproval. "I hope you will take care of Culebra, Krasny."

"Of course," Krasny said, looking amused. "I am nothing if not adept at serving royalty, highness."

On Raiden's other side, Kin stabbed with particular viciousness at a piece of fish. Raiden made a note to harass him later. They were not even a day into the journey and already there seemed entirely too much going on. He hoped they survived to the end. Eating some of his own fish, murmuring in pleasure at the flavor, he then said, "If I am not mistaken, your grace, you are related to the Tsar, are you not?"

"He is my cousin," Krasny replied. "His father married my mother's eldest sister. The Tsar's sister, Princess Sonya, and I are very close in age, and it is through her that I found a path to becoming Zarya's Advisor." For a moment, he looked tired, but it was gone even faster than it had appeared. "They will not know what to do with me when I arrive several months ahead of schedule. But enough about me, please. I would know more about my rescuers. You are clearly a merchant of no small talent, Master Raiden. What do you trade?"

Raiden leaned back in his seat and sipped at his wine. "A little bit of everything. My ancestors started the business a very long time ago. We were amongst the first world-travelling merchants. I own nearly thirty ships and have licenses to trade whatever, wherever, though the royal offices do make it storming difficult to renew said licenses when they expire."

Kyo laughed. "That is only because they are always hoping to find new ways to tax you, but unfortunately you are a rare instance of a merchant who operates fully within the law. I do not believe there has been as much as a citation on your record for the past half-century."

"Only a fool cheats," Raiden replied. "It's more difficult and expensive than just being an honest citizen."

Kin snorted and ignored the look Raiden shot him in favor of draining his wine and pouring a fresh cup.

"So it is a family business," Krasny said. "I would have a care with such a proud lineage, as well. Do you run the business, or work alongside another family member?"

"I run it. I took it over a couple of years before my father died, several years ago now. He was a good man, all the more because I am not actually his son, but adopted." Raiden refilled his own wine cup and ate a bite of bread before he continued speaking, amused by the expectant looks on their faces. He loved a rapt audience, and he was good at getting them, much to Kin's annoyance. "He found me at sea many years ago when I was quite young. I have no memories of whatever happened before the moment I woke on his ship, but we decided I must have been on a ship attacked by mermaids. He had only daughters—my sisters, though they are scattered across Kundou and one now actually lives in Verde—and so took me in as his son. In light of that, I could never do anything, but my best by his business."

Krasny nodded. "Your Captain seems as unique as you; if I am not mistaken, Captain … "

"You're not," Kin said shortly, then abruptly stood up. "I must go check on the men." He strode out of the room, leaving a resounding silence in his wake.

Raiden broke it with a chuckle, shaking his head ruefully. "Please do not mind Kin; he is not used to such illustrious guests, though as to that, I believe he and the Lord le Blanc got along quite well."

Krasny said nothing, merely sipped his wine. The silence resumed, and Raiden let it, content for the moment to have a chance to actually eat his meal.

It was Taka who finally broke it, asking, "How is Prince Culebra, Kyo?"

"I do not know," Kyo replied. "He has not woken since he fell asleep some hours ago. I think he is not in any hurry."

"I suppose not," Taka said. "I am working on sorting out sleeping—"

Kyo stopped picking at his food to glance up at Taka with amusement. "Taka, you are not my secretary, and I am perfectly capable of finding my own bed. I will probably remain with Culebra because I fear the state he will be in once he does wake. Krasny can have your bed, and I am certain Raiden or Kyo will be happy to find another bunk for you."

"Of course," Raiden murmured politely, and he added a bit of smirk just to watch Taka puff up. He could not wait to calm those waters sufficiently that he could drape Taka in jewels. Treasure enhanced by treasure, yes. All the better when Taka wore nothing but the jewels, wantonly spread on Raiden's bed, eager and ready for fucking.

He sipped at his wine and tried to cool his mind by contemplating all the tax reports he was avoiding. "How are you at tax reports?" he asked Taka.

Taka's mouth tightened at the reminder that he belonged to Raiden. "Excellent. I'm also well-versed in trade permits and licenses."

"Taka is well-versed in everything," Kyo drawled. "I promise that when my father finally gets a hold of me, he will be more upset I took Taka with me than anything else."

Raiden sincerely doubted that would be the primary source of the king's ire, but did not argue the point, merely said, "Well, as I have already oft stated, I am looking forward to seeing what order Taka can make of the chaos that is my paperwork. I keep a secretary about as well as Kin keeps—"

"If you finish that sentence, Raiden, I will feed you to the sea-bitches myself," Kin snapped from the doorway. He closed the door behind him with not quite enough force to count it as slamming, then strode back to the table and resumed his seat. "Skies are clear and the wind remains strong in our favor. I have never known the weather to be so favorable."

Krasny quirked a brow, then glanced at Kyo, but after some silent conversation, said nothing. Raiden did not know if he should have been amused or offended that they were so blatant about leaving everyone else
out
of the conversation. Beside him, Taka scowled at Kyo, but also remained silent.

Raiden let the matter go for the moment. "I say we enjoy it while it lasts because storms are like mermaids:  they strike hard and fast and give no quarter. They are murder on my profits and all too often, sailors who do not die, quit, and it is getting increasingly difficult to come by good sailors."

Kin rolled his eyes, but said nothing, merely finished his dinner in several quick, neat bites. Dinner concluded shortly thereafter, and Kin rose to call for the cabin boy to clear it all away. Raiden finished the last of his wine and caught Taka's eye with a gesture. "By all means, see that their highnesses and his grace are comfortably settled for the evening, then return to me by your pleasure. There is something I would like to discuss."

He did not smirk when Taka flushed, no doubt recalling their earlier conversation that had been so rudely interrupted by Kin, if for good reason. Raiden reclined in his seat as the cabin emptied save for Kin. "Something is troubling you."

"The weather is too good," Kin said flatly. "We are going exactly where we need to with all possible speed, and storms are so numerous now we should have hit rain at the very least. But save for the wrecked ship, it has been perfect the entire day."

Raiden traced the rim of his empty cup with one finger. "I would wager it is the doing of his highness. They say Dragon Magic does not work away from Kundou, but if anyone could find a way around that …" He shrugged then said, "I would also wager that his grace is the reason that he and Prince Culebra are alive. You said fire feathers were in his chest, and given his state as you described it, I would bet a couple of mermaids met a fiery fate and the knowledge they could burn frightened the others off. But that is only supposition."