Most people in Ios know better than to challenge Vivarre and its powerful navy. Queen Thea, however, is not afraid to challenge anyone who gets in her way. For years, her kingdom has been supported by pirates. They sail the Iosian sea and raid any ship they come across for resources.<br><br>When Thea takes the throne she is challenged by enemies and allies alike. Though women can be warriors, they can never be true rulers. She hopes to change that belief, but she cannot do it alone. Driada is the only female pirate enlisted in Ios. She has served her kingdom faithfully for years, her dedication inspired by her father’s work on the royal ships. When she sees injustices being done against innocent people, she cannot simply sit idle while they suffer.<br><br>When these two bold, powerful women meet, it is obvious that they must form an alliance to keep Ios safe. But this alliance quickly shifts from being solely a political move, to one of the heart. Thea is forced to decide which path will lead to victory -- fighting Vivarre without divine help or betraying her promise to never bow down to the gods ever again.

Thea

This must be the “queen” that has taken the dead king’s place.“Your Highness, I’m not simply a merchant. I’m also a traveler with a great interest in your society and customs, including your worship of the gods. In Vivarre, for example, we do not have women in positions of power as you do here.” He dropped to his knees. “Please, allow me to see what beauty Ios has to offer. Do not let the errors of my kinsfolk mar your opinion of me, before I have had a chance to prove my worth.”


Thea looked down at him with something of a grimace on her face, as if he were a drowned rat the cat dragged in. “Perhaps we could learn valuable things about each other, Vivarrian.”


Driada rolled her eyes. “You can’t be serious…”


“For that reason, I will allow you to enter into my city,” the queen continued.


“I’d rather go back to firing arrows on sight,” Driada said.


Chapter 38