-I'll only warn you once. And I don't usually give the second message. Don't mess with me, or I'll create more problems than you'll be able to solve...
Philip sighed. Ah, what a waste of money!
A varied crew. There always existed certain hostilities between captains. And the captain of the Revenge didn't like Thalagar one bit. The feud was personal. Dispute for territory. He was never going to subject himself to obeying orders precisely from the miserable, traitorous captain of the Star of Tomorrow.
Thalagar and Cassie faced each other in mock tolerance. Thalagar was a wretched bastard who had attacked Madame Lili's tavern. His anger only grew. His children were there.
Was she intended to be tolerant or friendly? Definitely not, especially after the damned rumors the people of Thalagar had spread about her. Not after she's been away from everyone she's known before...
-Philip could be an excellent option. He has enough resources and means to support a woman and a house...
Cassie's eyes darted with fury. Men. They thought they were the kings of the world. They never knew how to hear the word no. Philip was no different. And it was not to be expected another attitude from Thalagar.
-He's been overdoing it with opium tonight, comrade. If he had been kind enough to drink rum he would have been drunk already and not bothering me. She forgot one small detail. In the piracy business... I also know how to lead Revenge. Corner ended up handing over the helm of the ship. Of course we had some disagreements, but... And you stink like a pig.
Thalagar's eyes burned with fury. Damn. He hated that woman. If it weren't for the bloody family money... He could get rid of her. But Philip's ambition had laid down basic guidelines. Divide to conquer. It was a rat that prowled the edges waiting to attack.
To think that before perhaps it had been easy to dominate the woman... Months before perhaps... But everything had suddenly changed. Heavens. And she didn't even know about the setups and all the cheating. A carefully crafted plan over the years. Philip had been waiting for the perfect moment to attack.
-I think she bumped into Philip. - Thalagar spoke with some boredom. - She tends to be a little nicer when she doesn't hear his name.
-Or maybe when you don't see the damned bastard's face. She missed the detail that the Revenge crew is tight-knit. The bosun was very clear when she warned. Better stay away from a miserable traitor. Better an enemy close than far? I don't have the patience to put up with it.
-Nothing like a few months to show yourself who you are!- Thalagar looked at her seriously.
-So it is. Daughter of sorcerers. James isn't very lenient, and his brother... I think they've been messing with the wrong people. After all, the whole truth always comes out, doesn't it? Cheer up. You might still be fine. You only get good friends when you set limits. do not be part of your ilk.
Thalagar breathed the world. Uncompromising. Intolerant. Cassie was going to make trouble. But simply disappearing with her... It was going to be impossible.
-Could be a little more malleable. With all the problems... Phil is not in good health... His heart...
Cassie burst out laughing.
- And the infamous mouse has one? It's none of my business if you guys have problems. Honesty never hurt anyone. What is always missing from you.
-Do you really not know how to forgive a betrayal?
- Absolutely not. And the whole story that the wretch was going to die in six months... Oh, it's already seven and he's still walking around. I hate melodramatic people.
-Maybe his brother doesn't like the way you've been treating Philip and...
Cassie turned cold and unfeeling. Did she not like it? Since when did it matter what he liked or disliked? That he wouldn't dare ask for a wretch like Philip Morgan.
- I think I made myself clear earlier. I don't want anything from your damn people. And if he hangs out with people like that... he better stay away. And since when do I care whether Richard likes or dislikes?
Cassie tossed a handful of coins onto the tavern table for drinks. She didn't intend to be sociable at all. It didn't matter what they did.
She wasn't going to worry. Richard Morgan was just past. And as for Philip... it was good that she understood at once... It was to keep her distance... He didn't expect her to be quiet and wait for a great hero. She made her own life.
The hurts from before... He took a deep breath, swallowing the tears of betrayal. It had already been the subject of enough laughter. A ruined reputation. And what did it matter? All the papers found by the ship to lay her fame in ruin... The Council had done better than they expected.
She was never going back to the Armada.
-Tell them to prepare the Revenge. We're heading for more hospitable waters. We left the harbor with the tide. There are better waters to earn money on Ravlen.
-It should have worked! because it did not work? - Philip Morgan's voice was booming.
The old sorceress of the Coven stared at him thoughtfully, looking into the past. Destiny could never be changed.
"-Look, Cassie… – he didn't really know what to say. -We'll need to get back to camp. James is in town and you can be sure Morgan is looking for you.
The green eyes stared at him devastated.
-I'm not going back to camp. She shook her head with annoying stubbornness.
Adam was beginning to regret the decision to force him to drink some rum to shake off the frustrating lethargy. He looked down at the visible cut on her arm, cursing under his breath. How was he going to explain all this?
"It was just a small cut. The Black Order wasn't ready to start the damned ritual yet. It only wanted the Pieces of four. Then when it finds them it intends to sacrifice its own daughter. For now there are no problems yet!"
- I'm a... A... Well, I'll go after James. Ask for help.No. I'm going after jackWill.
The woman was sobbing, her eyes blurred and distant.
Adam let out a string of curse words. Oh, Morgan was going to skin him. At least he had managed to get the woman out of James' clutches. He frowned at the memory. Totally incredulous. Phil was going to kill him for sure...
-You fool, you don't go after Jack. He sighed as he rested his chin heavily on his hands. "Did you hear what the bastard said?"
Kassuim shrugged indifferently and picked up the liquor bottle to fill his mug. The taste was nothing attractive or tasty, but she was beginning to discover the reason for the habit of men to gather in the tavern to drink. Her head felt like cotton flakes.
-Of course I will! – she was irritated. She was going to make him deny the whole damn story. That damn man couldn't be her father. - I'll bewitch him. I'll force him to release... James knows what he's doing. It will break free and...
Adam was looking at her with certainty of serious problems. Her eyes gleamed silver and furious.
-No, you won't. You've already been bewitched. "He was starting to get nervous. How was he going to tell a story like that to Morgan?
Kassuim obviously distrusted the relationship, but her astonished reaction to having confirmation was hell. Sir, if that man really was her father he naturally wouldn't sacrifice his own daughter. He looked into her face...
- Well, of course I will. – She seemed not to notice that they were in a tavern full of people around. -
Cassie wasn't sure why she wanted to do that, her head was starting to spin dangerously. That bastard had said something that had upset her, except that the drink had made her so relaxed that she didn't even remember.
- Come on, Cassie. I have to get you back before they find out. Morgan will be furious when he hears you're in town. Jack is insane. A monster. If he manages to get his hands on you... Hell, what was on your mind coming to town alone?
She straightened as she looked him in the eyes with determination. Heavens! The surrounding tavern was swirling. She tried to get up without much success.
-Eeeeepa! - She protested as she collapsed in the chair in a disastrous way. She looked at him in total confusion. "Oh, it was something with a rock. I can't remember the name.
Adam forced his best smile. The woman was drunk. They were totally in trouble, he didn't know what to do and her naturally reckless as she was could create more confusion. Perhaps he would tell Morgan. In fact, he needed to tell Morgan. Hell! Padraic having found them in the city wasn't going to help.
-Cassie...
-You could let me handle that. - She was dreamy when daydreaming. She had the feeling that she was walking on clouds. Her gaze flashed suddenly black for a fleeting instant.
Adam got even more irritated by grabbing her by the hand. He couldn't believe what he was going to do.
-None of that, you fool. We need to find Morgan and...
Her horrified look was a curse. It was a surprise for both of them as Kassuim burst into a torrent of tears. He cursed even more distressed. They were even going to find out that she wasn't a little boy like that.
-I will not come back. I'm leaving! I can take care of myself. Want to see how I can take care of myself? - She was staring at the bottles of liquor on the counter neatly lined up on the shelf as she reached out her hand. - Do you think James is... is dead?
-Don't drink anymore! Hell. How would I know?" Adam protested, swallowing hard.
The bottle floated in the air for a few moments before shattering on the floor.
-I'm a sorceress! – she even crying showed a breathtaking smile. - I'm thirsty. - The woman complained as she crossed her arms against her chest in frustration. - What do you think is better? Wolf or sorceress?
Adam ran his hands through his hair even more worried. He needed to get her out of there as soon as possible. God, he couldn't believe Valerius was hunting the woman!
-You are a mestizo. - The boy corrected very seriously.
Kassuim scowled at her as he tried to wriggle out of her grasp in another terrible attempt to get to his feet.
-Why are there two of you? she managed to ask the stumbles.
Adam cursed. Maybe the drink idea had been a bad one. Only the bastard had cast a spell on the girl to tell the truth and that became a problem.
-Cassie, you're really going to come back and now. Morgan will sort this mess out - he was pretty nervous. The woman had already explained in detail the unfortunate ritual and what the Pieces of Four were. In fact she was answering everything they asked. How long was the damn spell going to last?
-I think it's better wolf, isn't it? I want more drink, I'm thirsty. Why doesn't the thirst go away? - She asked herself as she stopped her eyes on a man farther away who was tattooing.
Adam could curse himself. It really had been a bad idea. The woman very awkwardly and balanced fell into his lap, laughing terribly. Those mood swings were also becoming another problem. He needed his brother urgently.
-Hey, we don't allow that kind of thing around here! - the tavern keeper complained loudly when he saw the scene. - If you want to have fun, try to get one of the women. This is a decent tavern. How do you think I make money?
Adam narrowed his furious gaze. It was hell.
Cassie blinked in disbelief as she was lifted by a firm hand gripping her arm. One of the security guards decided to show more decisively what the tavern keeper was shouting.
-Look, I don't want trouble. - Adam spoke looking for calm.
-He thinks...- she burst out laughing. -I'm not a boy. I'm a sorceress. Keep calm. – He said very naturally. - I can show you this and your eyes shone silver plucked several curses around.
Adam cleared his throat in astonishment.
-Cassie!
-You are a rude, ill-mannered, stinking brute. - She complained trying to get free. - The tavern keeper is only distracting your attention because he intends to rob the cashier. Is it really so stupid that you don't realize that money is always missing from the till?
The man was shaking with rage in front of her.
- He just drank a little more. - Adam apologized, seeing his chances of getting the woman out of there without fuss evaporate.
-Oh no. I'm still thirsty. She sighed as she shook her head. "It was because of the spell. He knows? Order of Light, Pieces of Four, and Sorcerers. He wanted to know where the Parts of 4 were? - Kassuim laughed even more. - Are they all that dumb? I saved the Pieces of four...' She was sobbing terribly again.
-CASSIE! - Adam interrupted the woman. He observed that several men began to notice their presence.
The big, tall, strong man holding Cassie narrowed his eyes greedily.
-Really, my dear? Mystical and cursed objects are a real fortune. I knew that?
-Oh no. They are more valuable than money. - Cassie was very frank while Adam rolled his eyes. - You knew...
-Can you please be quiet, Kassuim! – he got irritated when he tried to move towards the man who was holding her.
She went back to sobbing indifferently.
-But he asked, didn't he? – It was her innocent comment when she was dragged out of the tavern next to Adam.
The boy didn't respond. He felt the arm that was squeezing his neck in a cravat panting as he was immobilized as he was carried furiously into the cold night. His eyes glittered with anger.
-Very well, sorceress. – The tall man stopped outside in the alley and threw her to the ground. A sorceress is certainly worth a lot of money, but you seem to be better. It can be very profitable to utilize your skills.
Adam struggled to free himself with double rage. Not only was the woman drunk, she also had no idea what she was doing. She was a danger to herself. What mattered least at the moment was that Garro had exotic wares in his auction to trade. She was definitely going to worry about James later.
"Morgan!", His mind sought contact with the wolves. "
-It should have been me. I! - he screamed apoplectic when throwing the drink bottle against the wall.
The old sorceress looked him up and down.
- You were never the chosen one, Philip Morgan. The chosen one of the pack was always someone else.