The first of them Eva recognized immediately.
Vaska. The young pirate had apparently recovered well from the brawl in the cornfield. Her blonde hair was once again pinned up at the back of her head, her monocle glinted in her right eye, and her lips were pressed into a thin line. Two men stood to her right and left—one tall with a protruding chest, the other wiry and slim, wearing a coat made of so many fabric patches that he looked like a walking patchwork rug. Both wore their daggers concealed, but they rested their hands so obviously on them that Eva couldn’t help but notice. “Grandmaster,” said Vaska, stepping a little too close to her. “Glad you came alone.”
Eva stood her ground and kept her shoulders straight. “You asked for it.” She paused briefly, then decided to test her opponent’s nerves: “How’s baldie doing? Did he survive his little flight well?” The tall man snorted like a bull ready to charge, but his companion nudged him in the ribs, calming him down. “Very funny,” said the pirate flatly. “But we’re not here to exchange jokes.” She took a step closer, her boots crunching on the frosty stone floor. “Let’s speak plainly.” Eva stayed silent. She waited.
“You wanted to know why we ravaged Goldendale but hardly looted it. Why we aren’t after riches. And of course”—a narrow smile tugged at her lips—“you’re interested in your friend.”
“That’s what matters most to me,” Eva interrupted. “I hoped you’d have brought her along.”
“She’s in a safe place,” Vaska replied. “A useful lever to ensure your loyalty.”
Eva grimaced. “My loyalty? You don’t have it, and you never will. What you did to Hochsaat is disgraceful, even for pirates.”
“What a pity,” said Vaska coolly. “Because we need you. More precisely: the Order. For a long time, we’ve suspected that the merchant guild is cheating the islands. The Silver Griffin wants to hold accountable those who enrich themselves unjustly. He just needs proof.”
The two pirates flanking her moved imperceptibly closer.
“How noble,” Eva retorted dryly. “So the ‘Silver Griffin’ has discovered his conscience. But what part do I play in this?”
“You’ll help us,” said Vaska. “You’ll publicly accuse the guild of exploiting Goldendale. People will believe you.”
Eva shook her head. “And where are your proofs? Those are serious accusations—coming from people who just deprived Goldendale of most of its supplies in the middle of winter. I bet you made this up to weaken the guild after they strengthened the defense network around the trade routes.”
“That has nothing to do with it!” the pirate snapped, losing her composure for a moment—something Eva noticed at once.
“You’d better find another puppet,” she added. “The Council of the Cloud Islands has plenty of those. I don’t give statements on command.”
“Yes, you will.” Vaska’s voice took on an almost gentle tone. “You’ll say what we need—and accompany us to prove it.”
“No.”
Vaska’s eyes narrowed. “I was afraid you’d say that. No more time for banter.” She raised her hand.
The two men moved simultaneously, like a well-rehearsed duo. One reached for the dagger at his belt, the other crouched, ready to spring. Eva stepped back. She could have fought. But that wasn’t the plan.
At that very moment, a thunderous roar echoed. Thunder rolled across the square as if a massive airship had just taken off behind the hills. The ground trembled, the pirates whirled around. “What—?” was all Vaska managed to say. Then came the second sound: a whirring, like taut wires, and a shadow detached itself from the clouds. Light, fast, like a large bird of prey. A glider shot past in the distance, tracing a curved line through the air, sparkling in the sunlight, and vanished toward the edge of the forest. The wiry pirate shouted: “A scout! They’re sending reinforcements!” The other pulled Vaska by the arm. “We need to go! Now! They’re coming!”
The pirate gritted her teeth. She studied Eva for a heartbeat—angry, assessing—and then a furious smile flickered across her face. “Oh, that was very foolish,” she hissed. “I’ll pass on your farewell to your friend.” Then she ran off with her men, disappearing over the low wall and into the frosty fields, where the wind trap continued to make the air tremble.
Eva stood alone on the stone floor of the old execution ground. Her heart pounded. The wind blew a blonde strand across her face, and beneath it, a secret tear slipped down her cheek.