The Alcazar (The Cerulean Duology #2) - Amy Ewing Page 0,3

seeking the sacred shores of Braxos?”

“I carry nothing but a few platters, some rugs, several spools of copper wire, and a cracked urn that I paid far too much for in Old Port City,” Violetta replied smoothly. “My crew and I were grateful to leave that filthy country behind and return home. By the grace of the goddesses we have made the journey safely. But I must say, never in all my years has a Triumvirate ship stopped me before entering Arbaz.”

“Times are changing,” Rowen said. “All the eastern ports have been closed and no one is to dock without permission—the Triumvirate voted not four days ago. Three to zero in favor.”

Violetta looked surprised. “A unanimous vote?”

“Desperate times,” Rowen said. “Kaolins are pouring into this country, all seeking to pillage what is rightly Pelagan. Even the Lekke could see that drastic measures must be taken. Anyone harboring or aiding a Kaolin will be arrested and imprisoned. The dungeons of Banrissa are quickly filling up with Kaolins and traitorous Pelagans alike.”

“A bold move,” Violetta said, “and a wise one. Was it the Aerin’s idea? She has never been one to shirk from a call to action.”

That seemed to please Rowen—her mouth quirked into an imitation of a smile. “It was,” she said. Her gaze traveled down the line of sailors. “This is your whole crew?”

“It is,” Violetta replied.

“And you trust them?”

“With my life. We have no interest in Braxos—we only wish to return to our homes.”

Rowen smirked. “That would make you the only crew in the entire country that has no interest in Braxos.”

Violetta hesitated, then said, “Has anyone found it yet? As you can see, we have been woefully ignorant of the happenings of the world.”

“No,” Rowen said. “It has not been sighted since those damned Kaolins first stumbled upon it. Six vessels have vanished looking for it so far—at least, six that we know of. The Aerin is putting together an elite team with specially designed ships to begin her own search.”

“May Farayage bless their journey,” Violetta said, touching her forehead.

Rowen snorted. “They would not need the sea goddess’s blessing if Ambrosine Byrne weren’t such an uncompromising bitch.”

Agnes shifted, and Rowen glanced at her, but then one of her comrades was calling out, “Nothing belowdecks!” and Rowen’s attention was diverted.

“Very well,” she said. “Violetta Murchadha, I grant you leave to dock in Arbaz, by the power vested in me by our blessed queen, the Aerin.” She handed the captain a slip of paper. “Present this to the dockmaster when you arrive. May the goddesses go with you.”

“And with you,” Violetta said, bowing again.

Sera held her breath as the soldiers returned to their ship. There was another creaking of wood and then a splash. For a long while, no one on the Maiden’s Wail moved. Sera’s back ached and her legs cramped, but she stayed as still as stone, waiting. . . .

“Do you think they’ve gone?” Leo whispered just as the top of the bench was flung open.

“They’re gone,” Agnes said breathlessly, reaching down to help Sera out. She blinked in the sunlight and saw the ship off in the distance, a black outline against the horizon.

“This is not good,” Vada said as Leo climbed out after Sera, stretching his arms over his head. “Misarros stopping Pelagan ships?”

“Misarros?” Leo asked.

“The elite fighting force of Pelago,” Vada explained. “They guard the Triumvirate and some of the wealthier families who can afford their protection.”

Violetta strode up to them. “Never in my whole life have I needed permission to dock at Arbaz,” she said, waving the paper as if it personally offended her. “I fear what awaits us when we arrive. Things are changing.” She looked out across the water to where the Misarro ship was sailing away. “And not for the better.”

2

Leo

LEO HADN’T BEEN ABLE TO FULLY SHAKE OFF THE JITTERS left behind by the Misarros, but then the port of Arbaz had come into sight and he found himself momentarily struck dumb. He’d spent all his life hating Pelago so much, he’d never really thought about what it might actually look like. He was shocked to find it . . . beautiful.

Structures like terra-cotta fingers pointed up toward the sky, glittering in the light of the setting sun as if their surfaces were encrusted with diamonds. There were clock towers and spires and domed buildings made of yellow or orange stone, wisps of smoke curling upward from rose-colored chimneys, and somewhere far off Leo heard a bell tolling. The city