Meryn felt herself welling up when Mirelle, tears in her eyes, rushed over to her and threw her arms around her fellow princess’ shoulders. The taller woman returned her friend’s embrace and they both stepped back.

“It’s good to see you, Mirelle,” Meryn said. “I just wish it were under nicer circumstances.”

“So do I...” Mirelle said. “So you’ve heard?”

“The magistrate has caught me up to speed on what Nara has been doing. I’m sure she’ll be eager to get another shot at me...”

“Meryn, what are you saying?”

“Well, if she has Luna, there is one way I can get to her.”

Mirelle’s eyes became wet with tears again as the thought struck her. “You... you’re going to use yourself as bait!?”

“It will draw her out,” Meryn said. “And it would keep her away from you. From what I understand, you and Luna are vital to this whole unification thing. Esterlin needs you.”

“But we need you too! You can’t... what if something happens?”

“I’m betting on that,” Meryn said. “In all my time I’ve gotten good at a few things. I can avoid capture, if it’s possible and if not, Artema did teach me well.”

“In... escaping?”

“Exactly. Escaping, freeing Luna, getting those two warriors I’ve heard about, and getting out of there. And Nara’s guard would be down. Think about it. If I’m supposed to be captured, she doesn’t see me as a threat anymore. That’s when we move.”

“Right... but you didn’t escape from Nara last time. I’ve seen it. She’s better at keeping prisoners than anyone we’ve seen. What happens if you can’t?”

“We’ve got you to break us out,” Meryn said.

“Oh Meryn... I don’t like this plan,” Mirelle replied.

“I know. I don’t exactly look forward to it myself... but it might be our best option.”

Mirelle let out a long breath. “Okay... but there’s one thing.”

“What?”

“I have be there. For Luna. As soon as you get her out, I will be there to see her. And you have to promise to get The Griffin Knight and The Shroud out of there.”

“Mirelle...”

“Meryn, I mean it. They’re important. If it comes to a fight, and with Nara it will, they’ll be better for you than we will.”

“I can’t just leave you, Mirelle. We’re... we’re like family. The group of us.”

“Meryn... Luna and I will be together. We’ll find our way out, like we always do. Right?”

“Right but-”

“And pulling back doesn’t mean abandoning us. With those two, you can be there to counter against Nara and help save us if we need saving. And I know you will. I trust you. And I believe in you. You’re the Gold-Eyed Maiden. The Holy Sunlight. The amazing warrior princess of the Seven Islands of Esterlin. The Golden Wolf.”

“Okay...” Meryn said, feeling her cheeks flush a bit. “Enough with the praise. It’s embarrassing. Jeez, you’re almost as bad as Saira.”

“Oh, you told me about her in your letters!” Mirelle said, her mood shifting a bit as she spoke excitedly. “I’d love to meet her!”

Meryn smiled. “When this is over, we’ll all have to get together again. When everyone’s got their jobs done... we’ll have to find the time. Then everyone can meet everyone. It’ll be like old times.”

Mirelle smiled back sweetly. “That would be wonderful. So, with that mind, we have no choice but to succeed! Right?”

“Right,” Meryn said. “Let’s go get Luna.”

...

Nara’s darkened eyes smiled, matching her lips, as she spotted the black sails adorned with the sigil of the Golden Wolf. It had been a long time since they had crossed paths.

“Princess Meryn returns, does she?” she said to herself. “Let’s see what she’s got this time.”

The fleet of ships, six in total from the Royal Navy of the Seven Islands, surrounded The Blade and cut her off from the remainder of Nara’s fleet of pirates. But she refused to signal them to move in. Instead, Nara smiled to herself.

“Let them come,” she said.

With a wave of her hands, Nara practically melted into the shadows, disappearing from sight, and left her crew to defend as the lead ship of Meryn’s navy moved in. With Mirelle by her side, Meryn’s ship fired upon The Blade and crippled it, bringing down her sails and causing the ship to come to a halt.

The lead naval ship pulled up alongside her. Meryn and Mirelle led the boarding party and battled their way onto the deck, beating back Nara’s pirates before Mirelle spotted something.

“Meryn! Look!”

Above the fray, Meryn heard Mirelle’s call and looked to the mast. It was a familiar scene for her. Not so long ago, Meryn was tied to the same mast, sitting on the deck covered in rope and stripped to her undergarments. This time, however, the dark-skinned, raven haired woman with intense pale eyes stared back at her.

Rope pinned her arms to her sides, framing her chest, and held her wrists behind her back. More rope kept her tied to the mast sitting in in upright position with her bare legs spread out before her. With only cloth wrapping covering her body and acting as her undergarments, the woman was sweating even in spite of the chill sea air. She had been struggling, to no avail, since her hands were locked in leather mittens that forced her to clench her fists. With her legs bound at the ankles and above the knees, she was also gagged with a leather panel over her lips and strapped on behind her head, filling her mouth with something soft and bulging her cheeks to keep her silent.

“It’s The Shroud!” Mirelle said. “We have to save her!”

Leila shuffled in her bonds, watching the battle unfold on the deck in front of her. She had been endlessly struggling since being captured by Nara and her body was drenched in sweat from the effort and strain, unable to free herself.

She suspected that Nara had been using her as bait when listening in to the pirate captain’s plan as she discussed it with her crew. Nara knew Mirelle would be coming after them but she did seem surprised, and quite pleased, when Meryn had showed up unexpectedly.

But the plan remained the same and Leila wanted to warn them.

“Mmmrrpphh!” Her voice remained muffled and unintelligible behind the gag and she was still helplessly bound. Neither Meryn nor Mirelle had reached her but the first to do so would likely be in for an unpleasant surprise.

Leila’s own ability to become as shadow meant she had a good sense for similar power and the ancient book of The Faceless, Midanyami, had given Nara so much power that she could now do what Leila could. When she wasn’t bound and gagged, anyway. Though she couldn’t see the pirate, Leila knew she was waiting. Strangely, Leila looked to the golden eyed princess, sword in hand, battling the pirates and noticed that she, too, could sense something wrong. Like a trap. She seemed to do everything in her power to keep Mirelle away from Leila for the time being, directing the smaller princess to others in need while slowly battling her way toward The Shroud.

The pirates were no match for Meryn’s fighting prowess and Leila found herself impressed with her ability. But why was she knowingly walking into a trap?

Meryn, keeping up appearances, fought off two more pirates and stopped in front of the captive woman in front of her.

“You’re The Shroud?”

“Mmmnphh! Lmmk mmmt!”

Meryn nodded. “Don’t worry. I’ll get you out of that.”

“Mmmmph!” Leila said, shaking her head. Meryn ignored her and knelt down anyway to behind untying her... when a puff of red dust, in a cloud, appeared from nowhere and surrounded her head, filling her lungs, and making Meryn feel faint.

Nara appeared, small flintlock pistol in hand, and grinning from ear to ear.

“Nice to see you again,” Nara said. “Shall we... pick up where we left off?”

“Nara...” Meryn coughed when the strange powder hit her, collapsing to her knees.

“That’s right. Here we are again. You’re here for the ice princess, right? Well, good news! I’ll take you to her!”

Nara put a hand on Meryn’s shoulder, just as she was about to collapse, and snapped her fingers. They both disappeared in an instant, leaving Leila alone again and still tied up, gagged, and struggling to free herself.

Luckily, Mirelle saw it all happen and rushed over to Leila’s side.

“I hoped Meryn wouldn’t try something like that... but I guess she’ll be getting to Luna from the inside.”

Leila raised an eyebrow.

“It was part of her plan to get caught,” Mirelle said. “Get Nara’s guard down and all that.”

Mirelle removed the gag first and began untying the ropes on Leila’s body. “Risky... but clever,” Leila said, her voice a bit hoarse from disuse.

“I hope so,” Mirelle said.

“I wondered why she seemed to be wandering into a trap. She seemed to know.”

“That’s Meryn. She seems fond of doing that. Some kind of double bluff nonsense. You ask me I think she plays cards too much... but she is smart. And good at escaping. Almost as good as Artema, I think.”

“Artema?”

“Another friend of ours. Maybe you’ll meet her one day.”

“That seems likely, if I keep bumping into you and your wife,” Leila said.

Mirelle finished untying Leila’s legs and began sawing away with her knife on the ropes around Leila’s arms.

“You... have your clothes nearby?”

“I can make them come to me,” Leila said. “And yes. I can fight.”

“Good. Because we’re one down now. We could use you.”

“And what happens when we subdue the pirates?”

“Head below decks. Look for Starling and Luna. And Meryn now.”

Leila nodded. “Understood. And hopefully this is the last I’ll see of rope on my limbs for a while.”

“Those hopes don’t last long with us,” Mirelle said, with a smile to herself. She finished cutting Leila free and helped her to her feet. “Come on then. Let’s get back into the fight.”

...

Someone’s voice, a woman’s most likely, was speaking from... somewhere. Her senses were still scrambled from the strange red powder fired from Nara’s gun.

But, as she was coming to, Meryn didn’t bother trying to stretch her limbs. Or even speak. She knew Nara would have tied her up. There was no mistaking the familiar feeling of rope on her body.

I’ve got to find a new line of work someday Meryn thought. I wake up like this way too much.

She kept her eyes closed and decided to simply flex her muscles a bit and get a feel for her bonds and what she was wearing.

As expected with Nara, Meryn was stripped down to her undergarments and her weapons and equipment removed from her. A tight leather shirt, low cut at the chest and baring her midriff and black, cotton panties were all she was wearing. That much she could tell by feeling the air of the drafty brig against her bare skin.

Her legs were bent back toward her hands, held behind her back. Hogtied. Of course. Makes things that much harder she thought.

Her wrists were tied to her ankles, arching her back so far her hands and feet were nearly touching. Her elbows were tied tightly together and bound to a harness of rope that framed her chest and kept her arms pinned to her back. More of the rope encircled her bound ankles, calves, and thighs. Though, strangely, she flexed her hands and found she could move her fingers. No weird mittens this time? She must have been distracted. Enjoying herself too much maybe?

Several rags filled Meryn’s mouth, bulging her cheeks, and she felt something tightly wrapped around her mouth. It stuck to her lips and sealed them shut. Is that... tape? I guess there have been some technical advancements in Esterlin while I was gone.

The tape was quite shiny, a dull grey in colour, and pressed tight to Meryn’s packed mouth and rendered her completely silent.

Lifting one eyelid, she noticed then that Luna was beside her, in her black leather bra, panties, and blue knee high sandals, tied up and gagged in the same way as she was. Hogtied in rope, gagged with tape, her mouth stuffed full... but she wore restrictive leather mittens on her hands and her long braid was tied to her bound wrists, forcing her head back rather painfully and reducing her will to even struggle as it pulled on her long, shiny pale blue locks.

Wow... maybe it’s that weird gas Nara hit me with. But Luna looks... pretty nice. She has gorgeous skin...

Meryn had to shake her thoughts away as she eyed the beautiful ebony skinned woman tied up and gagged right beside her. Her mind then found the drumming voice that had sounded wordless as she awoke but was, in fact, an all-too-familiar sound.

“I think our dear princess is waking up.”

“Nmmpphh...” Meryn grunted, flitting her eyelids open and glaring up at their captor. Nara stood proudly over both of them, her eyes gone black and a strange, powerful aura seeming to emanate from her very being.

“So lovely to see you again. I do enjoy our meetings, Princess.”

“Mmmrrpphh...” Meryn said, still simply glaring with her golden eyes. She flexed her muscles again.

I’m tied up pretty tight. But my fingers are free. If I can find any knots...

“You know, I think that old witch was onto something.”

Meryn raised an eyebrow.

“Jhana. The one I sold you to, remember?”

“Ggrrmmmpphh...”

“Yes, she wanted you all to herself. As permanent prisoners. Decorations, I think she said. And I’m beginning to see the appeal. You two look pretty damn good like that. I think I ought to finish the collection. Soon as Esterlin is mine, I’m sure the rest of your pretty friends will show up to rescue you. Like old green hair up there.”

“Nmmm! Lmmf hmmr mmlmmnnn!!” Luna said, struggling uselessly against her bonds.

“She’ll be with you soon enough, ice princess,” Nara said. “And then I’ll only need... four to complete the set? And maybe your cute little brunette guardian too. Not to mention those warriors, the knight and the traitor. Already got me both of them, though I suspect green hair set the traitor free... for now.”

Meryn rolled her eyes and sighed, lowering her head. Why can’t they ever just skip the evil speech?

Nara sighed. “Won’t it be nice to have my own little harem once I’m Empress? All of you, surrounding me all day struggling away, gagged and silenced, free to do with as I please, while I sit and just watch you from the throne of Esterlin, thinking of what to do... what a dream. I can’t wait until it becomes reality.”

Oh, I’ll keep you waiting, you damn pirate Meryn thought.

Nara turned away from her captives and they both watched her disappear into the shadows once again. They heard creaking on the stairs nearby as someone ascended them and then opened and shut a door somewhere above them.

Gone to her quarters then Meryn thought. Time to go to work.

She pulled hard with her legs and found no give to her ropes. It wasn’t like Nara to leave any slack and these ropes were no exception. Meryn let herself rest, slumping into her bonds and laying her head on the wooden floor. She flexed her biceps and pulled on her wrists, slowly moving down her body and flexing all her muscles to keep testing the ropes. All they did was bite in further and feel tighter when she did so she relaxed again.

Okay... that’s really tight she thought. No way I’m getting the gag off either... Any knots within reach?

Meryn rolled onto her side, facing Luna and meeting her eyes.

“Mmmph,” Luna grunted, nodding at her. It didn’t seem so much an attempt to communicate but was more of an informal greeting. It had been some time since they’d seen each other, though Luna had helped her out in Weston...

Usual terse greeting... nice to see you too, friend Meryn thought. Not the first time we’ve been together in a situation like this either... we live weird lives.

Meryn let her thoughts return to focus, giving her head a shake. She bent her back and pulled her legs up, reaching down with her arms and searched for any knots on her ankles first... and found nothing but the smooth, coiled rope.

Must be tied off up higher. Maybe on the rope between my wrists and ankles... She felt around again and there was nothing. She was staring to worry.

Hope she didn’t use some kind of crazy magic trickery on these ropes. Let’s see if I can feel... Meryn flexed her arms again and wriggled her elbows back and forth and felt something in the small of her back. A bunched up... something. It must have been the rope. And that was where all the knots connected.

Crap... She tied the knot there? What about my wrists? She picked away at her wrists, finding no slack in the rope, and there was no knot to be found there either. She was beginning to understand why Nara hadn’t bothered with the leather mittens.

These must all be long ropes. I can’t find any knots to pick at and they’re all tied off on my back, under my elbows... great. I’m stuck then. Mirelle was right. Nara is good at this.

Meryn rolled onto her stomach again and turned her head toward Luna. They glanced at each other and Luna nodded again, grunting into her gag. Meryn nodded back.

“Thmmt smm...” Luna said.

Meryn studied her fellow captive’s body and noticed that the ropes used to tie her up were shorter and several knots would have been in reach if Luna had been able to use her fingers. This gave Meryn an idea.

“Lmmnmm.”

Luna eyed Meryn again and watched her roll on her wide with her back to Luna, waving her hands behind her back. “Cmm hmmr.”

It took Luna a moment to figure just what Meryn was trying to mime but she took a moment to feel around her own bonds and, despite her trapped fingers, she found several knots within reach. Maybe she can untie me Luna thought. It’s worth a try.

With some effort, Luna wriggled her way sideways toward Meryn and rolled onto her side, back to Meryn, and shuffled up until they were touching. Luna realized that her backside must have been resting against Meryn’s and found herself blushing a bit.

Damn... she’s been working out. Almost as nice as Mirelle’s ass... Luna shook her head. Focus, Luna. I know it’s been a while since you’ve seen Mirelle but this is important.

While mentally scolding herself, she jumped a bit when she felt Meryn’s fingers brush against her skin.

“Smmrrmm...” Meryn said, trying to apologize.

Luna said nothing, closing her eyes, and thinking of Mirelle. She imagined it was her wife’s touch against her bare skin and felt herself beginning to feel much calmer and happier and remained perfectly still while Meryn found a knot in Luna’s ropes and began picking away at it.

She had no way of knowing where exactly on Luna’s body the rope was tied but any knots at all meant progress. Though it was slow going.

These knots are tight... of course. Nara knows what she’s doing...

Meryn picked away and picked away, feeling around the knot to try and discern where the rope was.. and found a bunch of strands all tightly packed together but didn’t feel any of Luna’s skin around it.

Must be the connecting rope. Meryn pulled on it a bit.

“MMMMPH!” Luna grunted, feeling her hair suddenly pulled back.

“Smmmrrmm!” Meryn said. Oof... Must have pulled on the one attached to her hair. Sorry, Luna...

Picking away carefully, Meryn finally began pulling the rope loose. Luna felt the rope on her hair slacken and her neck moved down instinctively, her muscles relieved with each pull before, finally, Meryn had the rope loose and Luna sighed with relief and let her neck slump down. Though she was still hogtied, the rope tied to her hair was now loose and no longer attached to her ankles. She sighed again, feeling the sweat from merely being held in that position begin to chill her body a bit.

“Thmmkpph...” Luna said.

Not done yet but... at least she’s more comfortable. Meryn thought. That’s not nothing.

It took some more feeling around, to find the next knot. She accidentally rubbed up against Luna’s skin and felt something tight and leather attached to her body and realized then....

“Mmmph! Mm smmrrmmm!”

Meryn felt herself turn beet red, her cheeks hot as Luna flinched at her touch on her rear. Not quite like Saira but... pretty nice, actually. She must have been getting fit. Gah! Shake those impure thoughts from your mind, Meryn! Find the knot!

Knowing where she was on Luna’s body, Meryn shuffled a bit to move upward and found herself brushing something else leather. It was unmistakable then. She felt Luna’s fingers twitch beneath the leather. The mittens! Now I’ve just got to find the rope on her wrists...

It didn’t take her long as Meryn soon felt rope and then, finally, found the knot nestled right between Luna’s wrists, pulled tight and unreachable by Luna. And even for Meryn, it would be a lot of work with her own wrists tied. But she nodded to herself that this was doable. So she plucked away, picking at the knot until strands of rope began to pry loose.

Luna remained as still as possible, eyes closed, breathing steadily through her nose, thinking of Mirelle... and felt the rope around her wrists pulling looser. It was gradual and Meryn had her work cut out for her. The effort took quite some time but Meryn kept pulling away at the knot until, eventually, the rope was loose enough to pull loose. Luna wriggled her hands and pulled one wrist free of the loops as it was just loose enough, working the rope off her wrists and letting out a long breath as she set her aching legs down on the floor. Though her elbows were still tied, much like Meryn’s, having her wrists loose meant just a little bit more mobility. Though she couldn’t remove the mittens or her gag.

“Thmm mmtmnnph!” she said. “Mm nmmd thmm mmfff!”

Meryn understood what she needed and felt around until she got hold of one of Luna’s hands, finding the tightly tied laces and the strap that held it on. She was thankful the mittens weren’t locked on as she unbuckled the tight strap around Luna’s wrist and worked the laces loose enough to pull it off Luna’s hand and rest her own tired arms.

Luna took care of the other mitten and rolled over onto her side to inspect Meryn’s bonds and saw the knot lodged into the small of Meryn’s back.

“Hmmph...” Luna huffed. Though her reach was limited, she laid on her stomach and was able to keep her eye on the knot as she used one hand to pry away at the knot holding together all of the rope on Meryn’s body. It was a tight knot, difficult to work loose, but her extra movement enabled her to work it loose faster. It still took a bit of time but it finally gave way and Luna pulled the rest of the bonds, giving Meryn ample slack to work with. A strong woman like her would be able to pull free in no time like that.

Meryn flexed and tested the ropes, feeling them give way ever so slightly. But they pulled loose. First she worked on her wrists, pulling them free and resting her legs and back for the moment. Then she flexed her strong, toned biceps and it took her a bit of time to work the elbow rope free but it became just loose enough for her to slide it down to her forearms and wriggle out of it. The rest became academic.

The rope around her chest came loose next, followed by her thighs, her calves, and her ankles before she unwound the tape around her mouth, spitting out the cloth and working her jaw.

“Damn...” she said, her voice a bit hoarse. “Not easy, that one...”

She was still quite damp with sweat from just her movements while bound so her hands slipped a bit while untying the rest of Luna’s bonds, being extra careful with the rope still tied to her braid, before helping remove her gag and pulling her into a sitting position.

“Nice work,” Luna said.

“You too. Now... how about we get dressed and find the Griffin Knight?”

“Clothes are over there,” Luna said, leaning forward, resting her arms on her knees and taking in a deep breath. She pointed to a chest on the other side of the brig. She took in several deep breaths. “I hate this ship...”

“Me too. Spent too much time down here for my liking.”

“At least you got a break. This is twice for me in... a month I think?”

“Twice for me too,” Meryn said. “And the break didn’t make it more comfortable.”

Luna nodded as the two of them climbed to their feet and crossed the small, room in the bowels of Nara’s ship. “How’s Mirelle, by the way?” Luna asked.

“Doing all right. Had to keep her out of a trap though I guess she’ll be with that Shroud by now, fighting the pirates.”

“We should get up there,” Luna said, pulling on her dress and attaching her sword to her belt. Meryn fished around for her equipment, putting on her own skirt and sleeveless shirt, boots, belt and sword.

“The Griffin Knight is still down here somewhere. You know Mirelle won’t leave without her. Find her first, then head for the deck.”

Just as Meryn finished pulling on her clothes, they heard someone coming down the stairs, clashing swords, and then shutting a trap door to block them in. Mirelle had been the one battling, shutting the door, and pushing the other woman forward, who was carrying another, quite large and muscular woman over her shoulder.

“Luna!” Mirelle said, rushing down the stairs to meet her wife. “You’re all right!”

“We helped each other out,” Luna said.

“I told you it would work,” Meryn said. “It was... difficult. But we managed.”

Leila, The Shroud, stepped down to the bottom of the stairs, tossing her writhing, squirming package to the floor.

Starling was tightly chained up, wearing nothing but a one piece leather undergarment like a swimsuit. The muscular, green-eyed redhead had shackles around her ankles and wrists with lengths of chain around her thighs, waist, and arms, pinning her limbs tightly in place. A heavy leather muzzle gagged her, with locks dangling from the buckles holding it on and she glared at her rival who had carried her down here.

“I see you found her,” Meryn said.

“We did. Chained up inside a closet, as it were,” Leila said. “But we have no key to free her. So we decided to come down here. But the pirates followed us.”

“So now we... might be a bit trapped,” Mirelle said. “But not to worry! Her armour and weapons must be down here as well as the keys to all... this.”

“Mmmrrgghhpphmmmrrphmmmpphhh!” Starling raged into her gag, kept almost completely silent while she struggled, drenched in sweat.

“Be calm, Starling,” Leila said. “We will free you. Just... have patience.”

Starling grunted and growled into her gag, still battling the chains binding her. She wore herself out and collapsed, breathing hard on the floor, blinking as the sweat from her brow dripped down into her eyes.

While Mirelle searched for the keys, and the other two checked around for any containers that might contain Starling’s equipment, Leila knelt down to meet her rival’s eyes.

“I must... apologize for my behaviour in that dungeon. Something came over me and I just... I want our duel to end, Starling. We were allies once. Why not do so again?”

Starling practically snarled into her gag, writhing and thrashing about in her chains.

“Perhaps not... You are not ready to forgive. In truth, neither am I. But for now, Starling, until we resolve the issue of Nara... we cannot be at each other’s throats. We must unite again. For the time being. A truce, perhaps?”

Starling still glared but she was silent. Leila met her eyes again and Starling slowly nodded, her green eyes still blazing.

“More agreeable than an alliance, yes?”

Starling nodded again.

“Good. A truce then. Until Nara is dealt with and peace reigns in Esterlin... we will not do battle.”

Mirelle returned with the keys and smiled sweetly. “How wonderful, you two could agree on something. Maybe someday you can work with each other again.”

As Mirelle unlocked her chains, Starling growled again at the mere mention of the idea.

“But... not right away, of course...”

With her chains unlocked, Mirelle helped the Griffin Knight to her feet, who still kept her eyes trained on Leila. Even as Luna and Meryn returned with her equipment and she began to dress again.

“You and I are not finished, Leila. Remember that,” Starling said.

“I suspect we never shall be, Starling. But for the greater good... we can put aside what wrongs we may have done each other.”

“But never shall they be forgiven,” Starling added.

“As you say. Never...”

“Surely not never...” Mirelle said.

Both women remained silent, simply staring at each other while Starling finished putting on her armour, attaching the sword to her belt, and then placing the runed helmet back on her head. They all heard, then, the pirates at the top attempting to bash their way through the trap door.

Starling drew her sword. Leila snapped her fingers and the staff appeared in her hand. Meryn unsheathed her blade as well.

“You three... go on ahead,” Mirelle said. “Luna and I will fight the pirates.”

“We’re not leaving without you,” Meryn said.

“Remember what I said. You may have to. Nara is still on board and very dangerous,” Mirelle replied. “Please, Meryn. These two are great allies. They will be needed in the battle to come.”

“The battle to come?” Luna asked. “Mirelle... how do you know that?”

“Nara wants Esterlin. She will fight for it. All these setbacks have to be frustrating her. There’s no way she’ll be waiting around to scheme again. She wants Esterlin and wants it now. She’ll be coming.”

Luna sighed. “I fear you’re right.. If that is the case, The Shroud and The Knight will be our greatest assets in battle. As will Meryn. If something happens to us, I know you’ll succeed. And that you’ll come for us.” A rare smile curled Luna’s lips and she held out a hand to Meryn. Her fellow princess gladly shook it.

“We’ll all see each other again,” Meryn said. “You helped me out in Weston. It’s time I returned the favour.”

“All right. Get back to your ship and get them back to the Seven Islands. We’ll hold them off and do our best to join you.”

Meryn tensed herself as the pirates bashed at the trap door again.

“Okay. We’re going up first then.” She turned to the other two women. “At my back. We make our way back to the naval ships. Fight when we have to but keep moving. Understand?”

“And we’ll keep them off you,” Mirelle said. “As best we can.”

“Right... Good luck,” Meryn said. “Let’s go!”

Meryn bolted for the door, throwing it open and shouldering her way through two pirates, sending them to the floor. Starling and Leila followed suit, barging their way through and headed for the deck above. Mirelle and Luna came up right behind them and battled the pirates together.

Though they fought well, they were not the legendary fighters the other three women were. Mirelle was fierce, fast, and relentless. Luna was careful, measured, and precise in her movements. They were fine warriors. But sheer numbers overwhelmed them as they drew more and more pirates toward them.

Eventually, the navy of the Seven Islands had to back off as Nara’s reinforcements arrived and began battering their ships with canon fire. Mirelle and Luna fought on as their three allies left The Blade behind, returning to Meryn’s ship. They were hopeful the two princesses would be right behind them...

The overwhelming force of the pirates forced Meryn’s ship to retreat. Her golden eyes hardened as they left it behind, her friends still on board.

“We’ll get them. You hear me?” she said to The Shroud and The Knight standing either side of her. “We get them back no matter what it takes.”

The sheer force of determination in Meryn’s steady voice made them both nod, not only in respect, but in agreement. They would fight for the two princesses still trapped on board Nara’s ship.

As the navy sailed away, Luna and Mirelle were brought to the captain’s quarters, their wrists tied behind their backs, kneeling on the floor.

“I had hoped it would come to this,” Nara said. “Both of you. Esterlin’s greatest hope... before me.”

“We saved our friends,” Mirelle said. “You’ve lost.”

Nara shrugged. “A setback. Not a loss. I don’t need all the captives at my disposal yet. Not until Esterlin is mine and all your lordly friends bend the knee to their new Empress. While you two join my lovely harem... Until then, where top keep you?”

Nara turned to the window of her quarters and spied the shore nor far off. A dark tower loomed in the distance, part of the mainland, not far from the Seven Islands. She’d made the trip once, a while ago. It was the perfect place.

“That old tower the witch used to live in... yes. A fine place to stash a couple lovely princesses, eh?”

“Jhana’s tower...” Luna said. “Not again...”

“Oh yes. Again,” Nara said. She raised one hand. “Off with you!” With a snap of her fingers, Mirelle and Luna were gone. They weren’t yet fully restrained but Nara would see to that.

“Sail for the tower. I’ll meet you there,” she said to the gathered pirates in the room. “I have some loose ends to tie up.”

“You got it, Cap’n!” One man said, nodding to Nara.

With another snap of her fingers, Nara was gone.

At the top of the tower, in a dimly lit, empty room at the top of the tower surrounded by dark stone walls, Mirelle and Luna huddled together, their hands bound behind their backs, awaiting whatever Nara was to do with them.

“Well...” Luna said. “At least we’re together this time.”

Mirelle flashed her a weak smile. “Oh, it’s good to hear you look at the bright side. For a change.”

Luna smirked and chuckled slightly. “You’ve helped me see that. And besides... they’ll come for us. Or we’ll escape. We’ll find a way. We always find a way.”

“That we do. Especially when we’re together.”

Luna smiled. “Together... I love that word. When it comes to us.”

“Me too,” Mirelle said, leaning her head on Luna’s shoulder. “Here’s hoping she at least ties us together.”

“We can’t hope for everything, now.”

They both went silent as they heard someone thundering down the hall toward them. Their boots echoed off the walls as they approached. The sound stopped just outside their door.

“She’s here.”

“And look out there...” Mirelle said, peering out the window.

Spectral beasts of all kinds, in formation with weapons in hand, stretched out in the empty plains as far as she could see.

“An army...” Luna said. “She just... summoned it.”

“And she has her pirates,” Mirelle added. “How many is that?”

“Ten... fifteen thousand... massive.”

“All the armies of Esterlin put together... I don’t know if it’s even that many.”

“That would be a sight,” Luna said. “Let’s hope they come together.”

“Let’s hope...”

They both went silent again as the door slowly creaked open and the heavy footsteps thudded into the room. Nara smiled wickedly at them, her eyes once again black and the dark aura surrounding her glowing even stronger.

“Soon as you two are taken care of... tied nice and tight... I’ll let you get one good, long look at Esterlin’s future. Let’s get started.”