The Runaway King (Ascendance 2)

“The pirates have a code about women and children,” he said. “They don’t touch them, not if they’re innocents. It should be the thieves’ code too.”

“Maybe the code will protect me,” I said. “Do I still count as a child?”

Erick tilted his head. “You don’t count as an innocent.”

Fink brought me an extra serving of breakfast soon after. “Not because I’m a servant,” he pointed out when he handed me the bowl. “But just because we’re friends, right?”

“Did you spit in it?”

“No.”

“Then we’re friends.”

When it was time to leave soon after, Fink made a last-minute appeal to come with us. He didn’t bring out the tears, so I suspected he’d already played that card.

“You’ll be in the way,” Erick said.

“I can help,” Fink protested, but Erick shook his head.

“Erick doesn’t have time to look after you,” I said. “He’s going to have enough trouble just watching me the whole time, making sure I don’t run off.”

Erick sighed, then he noticed my grin. “All right, you can come,” he finally said to Fink. “But you’re too young to become a pirate, so you’ll only be there as my boy. And you will keep an eye on Sage any time I’m not around.” Then he walked up to me as he untied his horse. “Don’t think you’ve tricked me into taking him,” he muttered. “I chose to bring him. He’s useful to have around.”

I chuckled lightly and mounted Mystic. “Here you go,” Erick said, handing me a sword. “You earned this.”

It was cheaply made and not weighted properly. Even if I were only a thief, I still wouldn’t have accepted it. I gave it back to him. “This isn’t mine.”

“But it’s good enough for you.”

I snorted. “Hardly.”

He tried again. “Take this sword.”

“I want the one I came here with.”

“Why that one?”

“The stones in the handle match my eyes.”

“Take this one or none at all.” When it was clear I wouldn’t accept the sword, Erick frowned at me, then kicked his horse forward, the rejected sword in his white-knuckled grip.

I prodded Mystic ahead as well, only I turned him toward the tent where they still kept my sword. Charging forward, I used my knife to slice through the tent fabric, flashed the blade at the startled thief inside, then grabbed my sword off the table. When I rode out again, Erick was waiting for me.

“You’re incorrigible,” he said.

“More than you know.” I attached the sword and its scabbard around my waist, then said, “Shall we go?”

Erick continued to look at me. “I think I may grow to hate you before this is over.”

“But you don’t already and that’s got to be some sort of record.”

To my surprise, Erick laughed. Within minutes we had left the thieves’ camp behind and were on our way to the pirates. Erick could barely contain his excitement.

“Tell me about the pirates,” I said. “What I should expect.”

“Who knows what they’ll think of you. You’re young, but they’ll accept boys your age if they think you’re useful. Devlin got in four years ago after making a deal to kill the younger prince of Carthya. He later killed the priest who was suspected of hiding that boy. Not long after, he became the pirates’ king.” He looked my way before adding, “Fink already told you about the priest, and I can see it upsets you now.”

“I knew him once.” Of course that was only half the reason that my fists were clenched and my heart was pounding.