“You… you didn’t knowhow to come to me?” I raise both hands, slightly leaning over as if it will make the words clearer. “You could have justappeared. And what do you mean starting as Ern? I would have really liked a hug first, or a ‘How are you,’ or a ‘Why are you back in Skull’s Row.’ Not theinnkeeper.”
I glance up at Soren, about to demand him to read my father and strip every emotion bare so I can understand, to break through whatever barrier the Scorpion has in place. But when our eyes connect, I realize he’s devouringmemore than my dad.
With whatever finesse I have in situations like these, I try to motion to Soren what I want; Iknowhe can feel that. Instead, he just nods toward my dad as if telling me to keep talking.
Nearly huffing as I look back ahead, I tap my foot and arch a brow. “You’re oddly indifferent. You don’t seem like the man Iremember. Honestly, it would have been better if you stayed in the shadows. Then at least the imaginary version of you could have comforted me when I missed you, versus whatever you arenow.”
I expected to see him tense or even—if I was lucky—to witness his heartbreak. Instead, he merely smiles, revealing the rather straight teeth of his. It’s a detail that stuck with me for so long when so many pirates from Skull’s Row have teeth ravished from scurvy.
He’s been in good health all this time, it seems…
My father dips his head in a single nod. “Sometimes I liked to think your tenacity was from me, but I think it was from your mother. Or more sohermother. That woman couldn’t be molded into anything. Getting her to like me was one of my greatest feats.” He turns around and walks back to his seat, sighing as he reclaims it. “The trait you got frommeis your temper. And since now we’ve had the proper reintroduction, let’s talk about what’s important.” His head slightly lowers while his fervent gaze is on me. “You’re being hunted, Jane. And it’s not by something that any of our men can fight.”
The temper he mentioned is ablaze inside, but there’s a bit of Kathleen’s voice telling me to hear what he just said.Kathleen.Make good choices for her safety, at least.“What does that mean?”
He looks at me almost apologetically. “What I’m going to say will be alotto take in.”
My tutting laugh echoes as I place my hands on my hip. “Right, don’t want to shock me or anything,” I sarcastically reply. “Get us somewhere to sit, at least. Soren needs it.”
The Scorpion nods to some of the reclaimed barrels.
“Soren needs something more substantial. Get him an actual seat,” I order.
Something about that clearly pisses off my father, and Soren coughs out a chuckle that’s almost enough to distract me before I point to the open space in front of us. “I’m serious. Here. Put somethingrealhere.”
The Scorpion begrudgingly complies, his eyes narrowing as he calls out to the empty room, only for someone to appear in the threshold that gets everything moving. Whether his attitude while requesting his men to fetch something is from annoyance at me giving orders or his aversion to aiding Soren, I’m too overwhelmed to care.
The sound of hurried footsteps echoes through the room as things are set up for us. It’s only when a large chair, one matching the Scorpion’s, is brought out and Soren sits in it with an extra flare for drama—as if rubbing it in—that I suspect he’s more so upset to accommodate the other Zenith.
“Continue,” I state with clear articulation, still not sitting myself.
Soren inclines his head to my dad, rolling a hand as if he’s Bones and supporting my demand.
The Scorpion’s gaze rakes over the floor like he’s hopeful that the situation will somehow get better. “Alright, let’s resume, then, about being a skin shifter. It’s one of the reasons I’ve gotten to where I’m at. Unless there’s someone like Soren nearby that can sense someone no matter what skin they wear; I can become whoever I want and infiltrate wherever I want.”
“Are you—are youcommon?” I dimly ask, still completely dumbfounded.
“I am very rare over here. The reason we hear about it across the Black Sea is because magic exists with more order there. More definition. We—those living in the Balar Coasts and its mainlands—are the bastards of people from overthere,breeding with those that livehere. The connection to the gods is subsequently weaker.” His gaze holds mine when I’m aboutto interrupt, “Magic existsherelike a broken language that only a handful are fluent in. It’s why sometimes the magic seems to appear randomly, like withme.”
To be completely honest with myself? My mind is absolutely blank. “Did Mom know?”
“Of course,” he replies, almost offended by the question.
When Dad is about to speak again, I throw a hand up to silence him as I face Soren again. “Is any of this true?”
“I want to keep hearing what he has to say,” he answers, still staring intently at my father while leaning his chin into his hand.
Okay, it’s not a clear answer, but we can work together here. I’ll keep the Scorpion talking, then.
“I wanted to tell you so badly, Jane. I wasn’t permitted,” Dad immediately explains with a clipped tone, pulling my attention back to him. “After I got you to Melona, I waited in Skull’s Row with the skin of another man, waiting for the signal that you had made it to Coalfell. Once I received it, I shifted into another that became known as Ern in Talon’s Perch, taking over the tavern, waiting even more… until it became clear I’d have to watch you turn into a woman from afar. I was even present the night the village burned down. As soon as I got word of Coalfell, I left and went through the woods, killing those that I could. You even looked in my direction, once… I hoped you’d come my way… but then you didn’t.” I admit I hear a tremble of emotion breaking through, only for everything to go cold in his expression before he adds, “And then I watched Soren pick you up and carry you off.”
I strain to listen as the words reach my ears, their meaning sinking in, but accepting them is an entirely different, overwhelming task. “You could be lying. It doesn’t make any sense. Why couldn’t you approach me? Let me know it wasyou?”
With slight acknowledgment to one of the rubies growing out of the wall, the Scorpion’s knuckles turn white as he calmly states, “Because of a web we’re stuck in that I’m desperate to get you out of.”
J A N E
There’s a bittersweet sensation to having so much information, and yet so overwhelming to hear what sounds like I might be in a complete pile of shit.
