The Pirate's Legacy: New Identities

Chapter 36: Rogue Assistance

"You cannot go with us. I forbid it."

"You cannot be alone on a ship full of men—"

"I'll be on the same ship," said Leo. "I can protect her—"

"I don't need protecting," Em said, barely holding in her temper. "For more than a year now, I've sailed among the lowest examples of mankind." She glanced toward the dark figure standing in doorway in front of them. "No offense," she added.

Dread Pirate Robin crossed his arms over his thin chest. He wore the same clothes that he'd worn the day he brought the assassin to the basilica. His black eyes were transfixed on the ceremony that the High Council was holding before Em's swearing. He and the other three were inside the adjacent room. "Can't argue with the truth," he muttered over his shoulder.

Em continued, turning back to her advisor. "I am far more capable of taking care of myself than you think. I won't be in as much danger as you'd be. You need to stay here."

"What of the danger to you?" Cecil demanded. "Your life has more value than mine. We cannot afford to have you killed."

"I know how to fight—"

Cecil harrumphed. "And my years as a soldier count for noth—"

"I am not old," Em snapped. "We are dealing with hybrids with superior fighting skills. Only those at the top of their game can hope to kill a Draconian."

The princess of Tarym wore a royal blue and gold silk damask gown. Patterns of Tarym's former national symbol, the lit candle and phoenix coming out of the flame, had been woven at the front. Atop of Em's head was a silver circlet which Roger had presented to her the night before. Cecil complemented her colors with dark blue and black fabric for his breeches, shirt, and jacket. Leo wore his armor but this time he had his helmet tucked under one arm.

Roger spun on his heel to face the inside of the room. "Save this squabbling for later," he ordered. "The princess has to say her vows now."

Em exhaled deeply to calm her nerves before she headed outside with lifted chin. Roger waited for Leo and Cecil to recollect themselves and follow behind the princess before he stepped into the main part of the basilica after them.

All four stood next to the magistrates' dais as prayers were said by priests and priestesses of various Politickan and Tarymian gods. Em raised her eyebrows when she noticed the priest of Portunus had been invited. One glance at the three men to her left reminded herself that she and Roger didn't tell anyone else but their little group about the alliance between the god protector of ports and harbors and the Draconians' god, Dragus.

When the invocations were completed, all holy retainers but the two high priestesses of Calypso and Helena withdrew to the other far side of the main floor.

The representatives and the magistrates stood from their seats. Everyone else from the galleries to Cecil, Leo, and Roger straightened their postures as the magistrates went down the dais and Em stepped forward. The magistrates, representing Politicka, and the princess of Tarym walked onto the speaking platform and faced each other.

The high priestesses came in between the two groups. In each of their hands was the drawn up agreement that Em and the High Council had hammered out over the last few days. The high priestesses took turns reading aloud the separate oaths for each side to repeat. As they spoke, Em heard Helena's voice and another voice she didn't recognize but knew belonged to Calypso. Em was brought nearly to tears of joy. She swallowed the lump in her throat to make the first vow.

Em swore her personal loyalty to Politicka. She swore her kingdom to Politicka's service in the event of external invasion by sea. She ceded the crown islands off the coast of Delta Point to Politicka, subject to the High Council's jurisdiction without any interference from Tarym. Any act on Tarym's part that would otherwise take back this cessation would be considered by Politicka as a move to put asunder these oaths of loyalty. Lastly, Em swore on behalf of herself and her heirs to uphold these agreements, binding the two nations together at that moment in time.