Then I glanced to the side and smiled.
Soon after I came to Mrs. Turbeldy’s orphanage, there had been one night when I took a beating after stopping one boy from kicking a much younger boy for stealing food. Afterward, Mrs. Turbeldy showed me an aravac plant in her yard, a dense, dark green bush with narrow leaves and bright purple flowers, and told me how chewing on its leaves helped numb pain.
I had just rolled beneath an aravac plant.
I gripped a branch tightly and ran my hand down it to strip the leaves free, then stuffed several in my mouth. The taste was awful, but the numbing effects began to work almost immediately.
When I’d gotten all the use from them that I could, I spat them out, then stripped another branch and began chewing on those. They didn’t stop my pain, but they did ease it a bit. As I chewed, I tightened the fabric around my leg brace, which also helped with the pain there.
Moving forward again was an act of pure willpower on my part, but I told myself that it would only get worse the longer I waited. Still, I couldn’t move until I pictured Roden walking up to me, seeing that I had made it here, but no farther. I could almost hear his laughter, mocking my failed effort to reach him.
All I could do to move was lie on the ground, pushing my body forward with my good leg while my injured one dragged uselessly along behind me. Though I was alone, I felt pathetic to have to travel this way, no better than a slithering snake. Even Fink’s rat walked with more dignity than this. Maybe this was what I’d come to. Was it possible for a king to run so far from his identity that he ceased to be anyone special? Because I had never felt lower, or less worthy of my title.
By the roars of laughter in the distance, it was easy to know where the pirates were eating. They weren’t far from me now. I passed the arena where Agor and I had dueled. The thin wooden swords were still hanging from the tree. Slowly I got to my feet, then grabbed two of them to use as crutches. They weren’t much better, forcing me to stoop over like a hunchback, gritting my teeth with every halted step I took, but at least I wasn’t crawling. About halfway to the pirates, one of them broke and I collapsed again onto the ground.
Once more, my abject position brought a smile to my face. A patch of Imogen’s flowers was right in front of me. It was hard to miss them. They seemed to be everywhere I was, or at least, every place where I might find myself in trouble. Imogen said she planted them for me, as constant reminders of the danger I was in.
Then I groaned as I finally understood. No, Imogen planted them because of the danger. They were for me. I dug beneath the flowers with my fingers and very quickly felt something hard beneath them. After a little more digging I pulled out a knife. Undoubtedly one of the many knives Agor had said were missing from the kitchen. Imogen must have buried them all over this camp. For me.
When I got up again, I hid the knife in my boot, then tossed the broken sword away. It had splintered into long, jagged edges that were completely unusable. I continued to use the other sword. If I let the wood carry my weight, I could hop forward while using my injured leg only when necessary for balance. I felt entirely useless, and I had never needed more determination than with each hop I took toward Roden.
A sweet smell filled the air as I got closer, and I guessed some sort of hot pudding was being served. On the outskirts of the camp, someone had left a pile of used dishes. Probably the serving girls who had to haul them back and forth from the kitchen. I quietly went through them in search of food, anything that was edible. Much of what I ate was nothing but gristle carved off the side of a roast, yet I took all I could get.
“Oh.”
I swerved around, too anxious and hungry to care how humiliating this was. Serena had spotted me. She faced me, frozen in her steps. I put a finger to my lips, a silent plea for her help. Her eyes darted in every direction before she walked over to some dishes farther away from me. She picked up a load and carried them to where I was hiding, setting them down in front of me. There wasn’t much more food on them, but every morsel was a boost to my strength.
With the food in my stomach and the effects of the aravac plant soothing the aches and pains, there was no point in waiting any longer. I was as ready as I’d ever be tonight.
I stood and used the sword to hobble my way into the dinner. The tables were arranged in a large square and Roden sat at the head of them all. The pirates were so engrossed in their conversations and eating, it took a while before they noticed me. When they did, it immediately became quieter than a chapel.
Roden stood and his mouth hung open. His eyes went from my bound leg to the wooden sword in my hand. “You can’t be serious.”
“Let’s finish what was begun in my gardens,” I said in the strongest voice I could muster. “Roden, I’ve come to challenge you as king of the pirates.”
Most of the pirates kept their seats as they waited to see what Roden would do next. He chuckled for a moment as if he was sure I must be joking, then when he saw I wasn’t, he nodded. “All right.” In a louder voice he ordered the tables to be moved so that a battle ring could be formed.
“I need a sword first,” I said. “People here keep taking mine.”
Roden chuckled again as he walked toward me. He gestured to the one I’d been using as a crutch. “You have one.”
“Made of wood. How am I supposed to stab you? It’s not even pointed at the end.”
Roden scratched his chin and smiled wickedly. “I wouldn’t have chosen that one either. But sometimes we have to live with the consequences of our choices. What did you think would happen when you came here?”
“The same thing I think now. Any pirate who doesn’t swear loyalty to me is going to die tonight. And you’re going to return home with me to Carthya.” I studied his reaction carefully to see if my words were having any impact. But I couldn’t tell, at least not yet. “I want you at my side, Roden. I need a captain of the guard I can trust.”
Along with several of the pirates who had overheard, Roden laughed out loud at that. “You’ve gone mad. Haven’t you noticed? I’m your worst enemy.”
“You don’t have to be. I’m convinced you’d be a far better friend than enemy.”
“I just broke your leg, and by the end of this night I plan to kill you.”
“Well, if you ask nicely, I might let you apologize for that.” I gestured around us. “This place isn’t for you. It’s Carthyan blood that runs in your veins.”
“That means nothing.”
“It means we don’t have to fight.” I lowered my sword to emphasize my point. “In fact, I’d genuinely prefer not to. I need you, Roden. War is coming.”
He shook his head in disbelief. “Yes, I know. I’m bringing you that war.”
With a grin, I said, “Then you can see my logic for coming here.”
A pirate approached Roden. “The tables are ready. A space has been cleared for you.”
Roden looked over at me. “If you back out now, I promise to make your death quick. It’s the best that I can do.”
“No, the best thing you can do is leave this place.”
“Make me,” Roden taunted.
“As you wish.” Planting my good leg as solidly as possible on the ground, I raised my sword again. “Your time as a pirate ends tonight. Either you will come with me as the loyal captain of my guard, or I will kill you here.”