The King

The royal guards around the castle had moved in close, but they recognized the Adair crest on the carriage. Still cautious, they watched as Duke himself stepped out. It was easy to confirm the identity of the scarred man, and they eased back again.

The Duchess stepped out, and then Ian did the same, turning and helping Ilona down. It was all she could do to keep herself from running away.

She glanced up at her brother though, and saw him standing tall; every hint of worry washed from his expression. Despite being in the clothes of a noble, at that moment, he looked every bit the pirate.

Ilona took a deep breath, remembering she was a pirate too. These guards were nothing to be afraid of. She could cut them down in her sleep. There wasn't anyone in the castle that she needed to be scared of honestly. She was Ilona Black, Captain of The Black Tide, and she needed to remember that.

The head of the guards came forward and greeted Lord Adair, welcoming him back to the castle and asking him who his guests were.

"This is Captain Ilona Black and Captain Ian Black," Vincent announced, conveniently leaving off the title of a pirate, "We're here to see my cousin."

"Of course, your grace," the man bowed low, "I believe he was in the throne room the last I heard."

Ilona felt relieved knowing a guard could only question a Duke so much before he was putting himself at risk. She was sure they had made quick judgments about her and Ian but would likely stay close anyway until they were proven not to be threats to the royal family.

The Duchess looked up at Ilona and Ian, and a flash of surprise went across her face seeing they didn't still look terrified. Ilona looked from her to the Duke and saw he looked very serious with a slight frown creasing his scarred face. It didn't surprise her to see the dragon slayer looked intimidating.

Vincent led the way inside through a giant pair of doors with his wife on his arm. Ian was beside him with Ilona. She tried to keep herself from looking around too much, but she was in awe of the splendor of the castle and all the people in it.

They walked down the main hall, which was littered with nobles, members of the court, and other wealthy people hoping for the favor of the royals. Ilona watched them, each one dressed in some impressive piece of clothing and wearing many jewels. Once the first few had caught sight of the Duke and Duchess, Ilona was surprised as whispers and gossip began to fly around them, some loud enough for her to hear.

The nobles seemed eager to learn who Ilona and Ian were, but they were also keen to gossip about the scarred Duke. Ilona heard a few cruel words spat out about him and felt the familiar tinge of anger begin to build. How dare these people talk about Vincent in such a way? He was a great man!

In front of her, Delaney lifted her chin a bit higher and stood taller as they made their way through the crowd. Ilona was relieved to see the Duchess wasn't going to let the other nobles bring her down. She realized then she might actually be starting to like Delaney Adair.

At last, they made it to the two large doors that Ilona assumed by their grandeur would lead to the throne room. The guards standing there took in the sight of Lord Adair and, like the guards from before, knew precisely who he was. They didn't hesitate as the others had thought. They pulled open the heavy doors, and a servant stepped into the room to announce them.

"Lord Vincent Adair, Duke of Edgewood, and Lady Delaney Adair, Duchess of Edgewood."

Everyone in the throne room turned to look at them as they strolled forward, including the King and Queen. They had been sitting in their thrones, leaning over to speak to one another, but when they heard the announcement, they lit up.

Ilona saw the King was quite handsome with golden hair and deep blue eyes. Beside him, his wife was a stunning woman with long black hair and dark tanned skin.

The King was the first out of his seat, hurrying forward with arms open and a smile on his face.

"Vince!" he grinned before embracing his cousin the Duke, "I was hoping you would visit on your way back to Edgewood."

The man hugged Delaney as well before he continued, "How was the ocean? I heard my brother invited himself to stay for the summer. I hope he wasn't too much trouble."

Vincent and Delaney both chuckled at that but didn't get a chance to answer as the Queen came to give them light hugs as well.

"Knowing Mason, I'm sure he kept you all on your toes," the beautiful queen rolled her eyes.

"He was a fine guest," Delaney assured them with a smile.

Ilona remembered what Ian had said about the crown prince being more trouble than their younger brothers. The reactions of the King and Queen made her believe it was true.

"And who are your guests now?" the King asked, looking past them to where Ian and Ilona were waiting quietly.

The Duchess stepped back so her husband could make the introductions.

"Danny, this is our very good friend, Captain Ian Black, and his sister, Captain Ilona Black. Ian, Ilona, I would like to introduce you to King Daniel and Queen Sophia."

King Daniel's deep blue eyes lit up with intrigue, and he looked a bit mischievous to Ilona, making her nervous.

"Black?" he asked curiously but quietly, "And captains? They wouldn't happen to be relations to Captain Luke Black, would they?"

"They are his children," Vincent answered only loud enough for them to hear.

"Ah," Daniel chuckled, "Perhaps we should all step into one of the other rooms for a bit more privacy."

Ilona glanced around her, wondering if all these nobles would hate them for being pirates.

Vincent agreed, and together, they all followed the King and Queen through the room as the crowd parted around them. A servant opened the door to one side as they approached, and they filed in before it closed behind them again.

The room looked to be some place where a King might plan battles. There were maps on the walls and a big table in the middle with more maps and papers. To one side, there were couches and chairs, so it was there that the group went.

King Daniel sat on a couch, and his Queen took a place next to him. Vincent stayed standing, as did Ian but Delaney sat down and quickly grabbed Ilona's hand to pull her down to sit beside her.

"Now correct me if I'm wrong," the King looked at Ian and Ilona, "But I believe the two of you find yourselves in the occupation of piracy, do you not?"

"Piracy?" Queen Sophia looked stricken at the word and turned with wide eyes to the Blacks, "You're pirates?"

"We are," Ian answered evenly, used to some of the bad reactions they got to the news.

Ilona grew tense. It didn't look like the Queen was accepting of pirates. If she hated pirates, how would they ever be able to convince her husband to agree to the terms to save more pirates?

"Vincent, why on earth would you bring two pirate captains into our castle?" the Queen demanded of the Duke, and Ilona felt her heart drop.

"It's alright, dear," the King answered before Vincent could, "If they're here, it's because Vince trusts them. Besides, Mace has had dozens of pirates in the castle to conduct business."

Ilona remembered then that the crown prince worked with her father. So the pirates the king was referring to were her own. The Pirate King himself in fact. No pirate was more dangerous.

"Then he should be punished for that," the Queen snapped, "It's not safe to have pirates here and not good for our people to see us socializing with them."

"And that is why I moved our conversation in here," Daniel answered, hurrying to continue before his wife could say more. "I am curious though Vince, why you've brought them here. Surely not just for an introduction?"

"No," Vincent shook his head and looked at the king seriously, "A critical task has been given to Ilona Black, so Delaney and I agreed to help her complete it."

"And what is that?"

They all looked to Ilona then and she felt her confident facade start to slip away and be replaced with the real fear that she felt. She took a deep breath.

"Your majesty I was tasked by the King of the Red Lands to bring you this letter," she said as she stood and held it up for him to see.

"The Red Lands?" King Daniel repeated her words, "I have no business with the Red Lands."

"I know," she answered, heart pounding hard, "I think this letter is an attempt to change that."

The King frowned, "How is it a pirate Captain came to be tasked with the delivery of such a letter?"

Ilona took a deep breath again then before telling her story to the King. She started with how the pirates had been banished and told of the trap the other King set. She finished by explaining this was so important to them because their younger brother and sister had been taken and the King had said he would never release them unless King Daniel agreed to whatever was in his letter.

As she talked Daniel looked surprised and then unhappy. He frowned and leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms. When Ilona came to the end his expression had changed to one of anger.

"So let me make sure I understand... He will keep your younger brother and sister in his dungeon, possibly for life, if I do not agree to his requests in that letter?"

"That is it exactly," the Duke spoke up, answering for Ilona who was choked up after retelling the story of losing her siblings, "That is why Delaney and I wanted to bring them to you ourselves."

"And what does the letter say?" he looked back towards Ilona.

"I don't know your majesty," Ilona answered, stepping forward to hand it to him, "It was sealed and written specifically to you so I didn't dare open it."

Daniel smirked as he took it, "Well you're better than me. I probably would have ripped it open the second I was out of his sight."

Ilona blushed and dropped her gaze. Everyone held their breath and watched as Daniel stood. He broke the seal and unfolded the letter. His expression was gave as he paced while reading it.

At last, he stopped walking and slowly folded the letter back up. He stood still, staring at it in his hands. The seconds of waiting felt like ages and Ilona thought her knots in her stomach couldn't get any worse.

Finally, King Daniel looked up and his gaze landed squarely on Ilona.

"I'm truly sorry," he said quietly, "I can't agree to these terms."