Killian gave the plan some thought as he locked the wheel of the ship in place with a reinforced bar. The crew of the Liliana came to life as word spread that they’d soon land, and Lilith watched them scuttle around like rats with a bemused expression. Arden folded his arms across his chest expectantly. He had seen Killian’s concerned behaviour before and awaited profanity.

“You see,” he began, setting the bolt across to secure the bar against the wheel’s supports. “I’m fairly sure I told you to never burn down on of my ships again.” He glared.

“This isn’t your ship, though.”

“Technicalities won’t get you out of the fact you want to use the Queen’s epitaph vessel as a decoy.” He prodded an accusing finger at the swordsman. “You need to find another way.”

“Then bring us another ship,” Lilith interjected. She turned back to the duo and slipped from the crate. Upright, she was an imposing visage of beauty and sincerity. “The Innari aren’t going to welcome us with open arms if they see a fully armed and manned war ship moored of the coast of their territory.”

“They might.” Killian rummaged in his pockets for his pipe. “Not everything has to be quite so dramatic.”

“How do you figure?” Arden watched the captain empty and refill his pipe and set it alight with a flick of his forefinger and thumb. The faint smell of parlour magic briefly filled the air.

“Well,” he took a deep drag and exhaled some rings. “What’s the one thing the Innari hate more than everything else?”

The siblings looked to one another for inspiration but could only muster a mutual shrug.

“Themselves.” The captain said flatly.

“Oh.” Arden raised an eyebrow. “Oh I don’t like where this is going.”

“Starr has always been reluctant to get involved in his own affairs. Some shite about being a scholar, not a warrior. But if he wants peace amongst his people he’s going to have to prove his worth.” Killian continued to smoke as he waled to the stairs and descended them with gusto. The duo followed close behind.

“Killian…” Lilith murmured.

Lost in a train of thought he barked orders at any sailor foolish enough to not look busy and those he commanded disappeared below deck. He stopped at the edge of the cargo hole and watched the hatches raise and slam sideways. A dark abyss greeted them.

“Killian,” she repeated, a little louder as her concern raised.

“Watch.” He pointed the end of his pipe into the shadows.

Lilith and Arden edged closer, wary of the growing ruckus from below. Shouts and cries in a medley of familiar languages broke away to the ravaging cries of something not human. The assassin’s gut instincts told her that the thing being raised from below deck on a pulley was the very thing they were trying to save.

“How the hell do you have Skein onboard?” Arden roared when he realised the shapes cowering in the iron cage were members of Starr’s clan.