‘It was a lot more complicated than it sounds.’
‘But you do have magic? Like the Mages?’
I can hear his desperation. How much he wants this to be true for the sake of the woman he loves. And so I answer him as truthfully as I can. ‘Yes. But I have little control of it, and I lack the skill to do what you ask.’
‘Or perhaps simply the motivation.’
And taking a step towards me, he raises his pistol and points it at my forehead. At the same time his man moves behind me and presses his pistol to my back.
‘You will fix her,’ Raoul says, and his tone leaves me in no doubt he’ll kill me without a second thought if I refuse.
‘I told you, I can’t.’ My voice is equally forceful. ‘Threatening me won’t change that.’
He pushes the barrel hard against my skin. ‘I’ve heard all the rumours about you. You say you want to help, but you’re no different from the father you murdered. Or pretended to, depending on who you believe. Vipers are all the same – violent, cruel and selfish. I’m giving you a chance to redeem yourself.’
Doesn’t anyone have anything good to say about me?
I’ve had enough of this. With lightning reflexes I strike Raoul’s hand and snatch the pistol from it when his grip falters. Instantly I spin round and thrust the pistol to the other man’s throat, while simultaneously grabbing his wrist and pulling it to my hip, so that his pistol is now aimed directly at Raoul. I’ve disarmed them in the time it took them to blink.
‘You shouldn’t believe everything you hear,’ I say to Raoul, enjoying the look of disbelief on his face, as I slowly manoeuvre my prisoner so that I’m in front of them both.
‘And perhaps some things I should pay more attention to,’ he says, raising his hands in surrender.
Cautiously I lower the weapons.
‘Get out,’ Raoul says to his companion, who is more than happy to flee the room. I don’t offer to give Raoul his pistols back.
‘I told you,’ I say. ‘I can’t help Lilah. I wish I could. I’ll talk to her, but once we reach the Third Isle, I can’t stay.
‘Oh, you’re not coming to the Third Isle.’
I frown. ‘I’m not?’
Raoul considers me closely. ‘What do you know of my island?’
‘Very little,’ I say. ‘It has beautiful forests, and its people are reclusive – present company excluded.’
‘Have you ever been there?’ he asks, and it feels like a loaded question.
‘Once.’
‘And what did you think?’
In my mind I see Adler standing over the hooded figure, demanding I kill him to complete my Initiation. I remember my fear. I remember my decision. I wouldn’t become an assassin, not for him, not for anyone. That day changed my life for ever.
I meet Raoul’s expectant gaze. ‘I think it felt deserted. I didn’t see one inhabitant. In fact, you are the first person from the Third I’ve ever met.’
I’m not sure what answer Raoul hoped for, but mine seems to please him, because this time his eyes light up. ‘All right, Viper Princess.’
‘Marianne will do.’
He raises his eyebrows, but nods. ‘Marianne. It would seem I was wrong about you. And so, I’m going to tell you a little something about my people that they wouldn’t want you to hear. What do you know about the Seers?’
I’d seen them mentioned occasionally in the old books back in Torin’s library on the Sixth, but to be honest I’d been paying far more attention to the magic side of things. ‘Not much.’
Raoul sits down at the table, and gestures for me to join him. After a moment’s consideration I do – after all, I’m still holding two pistols and he has none.
‘The role that the Seers played in our islands’ history has been forgotten by everyone beyond the Third Isle.’
Raoul reaches for his rum and drinks before he continues. Perhaps he isn’t as comfortable sharing his people’s secrets as he claims. ‘Because they don’t want anyone to remember. You see, all the Seers came from the Third Isle, and long ago they used to pass their knowledge gained from foresight to the Mages, who would then, in their great wisdom, advise the royalty. The Mages rarely gave the Seers any credit for disasters that were averted. When it was prophesied that a war was coming, one that would either unite the Isles for ever, or bring about their permanent destruction, the Seers decided they’d had enough. They wished only to protect their people, and preserve their trees. And so they removed themselves from society, leaving the remaining five Isles to their fate.’
‘That’s why no one ever sees the Third Islanders?’ I don’t bother disguising my anger. ‘Because of a war they saw coming? The one I’m losing now?’ And he had the nerve to call Vipers selfish. ‘Who are you, Raoul? If your people are in hiding, why aren’t you?’
He doesn’t answer for a moment, but then seems to make a decision. Reaching into his pocket, he removes a small pouch and pulls it open, scattering stones on to the table between us. Small and perfectly round, they have engravings scratched into their surface, lines and patterns that hold no meaning for me, but mesmerise me nonetheless.
Raoul takes the stones into his hands. ‘These are rúns. My father taught me to carve them, my mother to read them. For years they’ve given me a prophecy of my own.’
I look at him expectantly.
‘To live,’ he says simply. ‘I don’t agree with my people’s decision to hide in isolation, which is how you find yourself on my ship. I didn’t want to hire couriers to move my precious cargo round, I didn’t trust anyone, and so I disobeyed my father and built the Nightshade.’
An interesting story, but I’ve become good at hearing lies buried in the truth. ‘So you’re a courier?’ I don’t hide my scepticism. ‘A simple tradesman delivering goods?’ I snort. ‘You’re a smuggler, aren’t you? Let me guess, the Third Isle grows more than just beautiful trees.’
The smile returns to his eyes. ‘You’ve seen the black flowers that carpet the forests? Well, let’s just say they have a pleasing effect when dried and burned.’
I raise an eyebrow. ‘I imagine the tax would be high on such goods too, am I right?’
Raoul shrugs. ‘Such luxuries shouldn’t only be for the rich.’
‘You’re quite the hero.’
He ignores my sarcasm. ‘I don’t think the Viper has any authority to judge my morals.’ He sighs as he puts the stones back into the pouch. ‘Recently the stones are saying something different to me, though. Not just to live any more, but to fight.’
‘You want to join me?’
He laughs. ‘Not even a little bit. No, I’m prepared to fight – to the death – for one thing only. My family. To protect them, keep them safe.’
And just like that everything starts to make sense. ‘The problem is Lilah doesn’t remember you.’
‘Exactly. Which is why I asked you to help her.’
Now it’s my turn to laugh. ‘If that’s you asking, I’d hate to see you demand anything.’
Raoul simply shrugs, saying, ‘Don’t know why you’re complaining. You’re the one with the pistols.’