Chapter Eighteen: Friends from the High Seas

A day after the attack that claimed the life of Shántruk and Inísel's parents, in the eastern cardinal, the morning sun filtered through the heavy curtains of Lyanna's room, bathing the chamber in a warm golden glow. The young woman lay in her bed, wrapped in silk sheets, but her sleep was not peaceful. Sweat beaded on her neck and light whimpers escaped her dry lips. Her breathing was irregular and occasionally she twitched, as if trying to escape from something invisible.

In the dream, Lyanna found herself in a vast pavilion. Its large white marble columns gleamed under the relentless sunlight. Desert sand swirled around her, and the warm wind carried with it a constant murmur, as if the earth itself whispered ancient secrets. Around her, dark-skinned people in light clothing moved gracefully, their faces serene and solemn, listening intently to a man standing in the center of the pavilion. He looked like a king, with his majestic bearing and a gold crown that shone with an almost supernatural intensity.

The city surrounding the pavilion was arid, its stone buildings worn by time and sand. The air was thick with the aroma of exotic spices and the distant sound of drums resonated in a hypnotic rhythm. The king's voice, deep and resonant, filled the space, uttering words that Lyanna could not understand but felt charged with profound meaning.

Suddenly, without warning, the pavilion erupted in a whirlwind of fire and destruction. The scorching heat and the force of the explosion threw Lyanna to the ground, her body hitting the marble slabs with a dull pain. Around her, everything disintegrated into chaos and despair. The figures that moments earlier had moved elegantly were now running and screaming, their faces distorted by fear and suffering.

Lyanna emerged from the debris several seconds later, coughing violently from the thick smoke filling her lungs. Her heart pounded wildly and a wave of suffering and sadness enveloped her, so intense that it almost brought her to her knees. The people she had just seen perish, though strangers, affected her deeply, as if their souls were connected to hers in some inexplicable way.

Looking around, Lyanna's eyes filled with tears as she saw the devastation of the place. The remains of the pavilion were in flames and the pain in her chest was almost unbearable. It was then that, lowering her gaze to her own arms, she noticed something even more disturbing. Her skin, once smooth and human, began to transform into silver scales, reflecting the firelight with a cold, metallic sheen.

Frightened, Lyanna tried to understand what she was seeing, but her thoughts were mingled with pain and terror. She tried to touch her skin, hoping the sensation would bring her back to reality, but the scales were real, hard and cold under her trembling fingers. A strangled cry escaped her throat and tears began to stream down her cheeks.

Suddenly, the fire engulfed her again. The flames, voracious and merciless, surrounded her and Lyanna felt her body consumed in a torment of suffering and sadness. Everything around her faded into a whirlwind of heat and pain, and despair took hold of her.

Lyanna writhed in her bed, the sweat soaking the sheets and her lips moving in anguished murmurs. Her body trembled as she tried to break free from the oppressive dream. Finally, with a ragged gasp, she awoke. Her eyes opened wide and her breathing was fast and shallow. She looked around, finding herself once more in the safety of her room.

The morning sun still filtered through the curtains, but Lyanna felt the cold grip of fear on her skin. She brought a trembling hand to her neck, still feeling the moisture of sweat. The dream, although it had ended, left a lingering sense of unease and a latent question: what did it all mean? And why did she feel as if she had been living a terrifying experience through someone else's eyes?

With a ragged sigh, she rose from the bed, her sheets tangled and damp. She quickly moved to a corner of the room where there was a porcelain bowl filled with fresh water. She plunged her trembling hands into the water, splashing her face vigorously, trying to erase the remnants of the nightmare from her mind.

As the water dripped down her skin, she began to feel calmer. However, the memory of the dream still haunted her, the image of her arms covered in silver scales not fading easily. A few minutes later, the door to her room opened softly and several maidservants entered, ready to start their daily routine. They immediately noticed Lyanna's altered state.

"My Lady, what happened to you?" Elise asked with concern.

Lyanna shook her head, forcing a reassuring smile.

"It's nothing, just a nightmare..." she replied, trying to downplay it.

"A nightmare? My grandmother always told me that dreams have a deeper meaning than what we see on the surface. Maybe what you saw is an omen..." commented another maid, causing a worried look to appear on the redhead's face. Seeing her lady's distress, Elise decided to reassure her...

"Let's not dwell on it. A dream is just a dream. Sometimes our mind manifests sad situations that, due to the stress of our daily lives, turn into nightmares. Do not worry, Lady Lyanna, do not look for a deeper meaning."

Lyanna nodded with a smile, but her expression did not reach her eyes. The nightmare still troubled her, plunging her mind into a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. The maidservants did not insist, though their looks showed concern for their lady's distress. With the intention of making her forget the dream, they proceeded to prepare her for the day, brushing her hair and helping her dress in an elegant blue silk tunic.

After the maidservants were done, Lyanna headed towards the dining room. As she walked through the castle's hallways, her mind kept wandering over the details of the dream. The stone walls and familiar tapestries of the place offered little comfort.

When she passed by a window, something outside caught her attention. A carriage was parked in the rear garden area, which was unusual, as her stepfather, Lord Stormride, had returned to the castle only a few days before and was not expecting visitors so soon. Curiosity drove her to change direction and head towards the courtyard leading to the servants' entrance.

Stopping at the threshold of a slightly open ground-floor window, she saw two figures heading towards a carriage where several rough-looking men were waiting for them. The first figure was an older man, around fifty years old, with sun-weathered skin and a gray beard that gave him an authoritative air. The other figure was a younger woman, probably in her twenties, with fierce eyes and a marked expression of indignation on her face. The castle guards seemed to have escorted them outside, and Lyanna watched them return inside.

The redhead turned her attention back to the two mysterious figures. Their clothes, while pretending to be elegant and formal, were adorned with details that revealed their seafaring and roguish life.

Lyanna watched as the two argued loudly and vehemently.

"This is unacceptable!" exclaimed the young woman, her voice full of fury. "They treated us like scum! We didn't even get to see the lord of the castle! These nobles think they're superior to us just because they dress like buffoons!"

The older man shook his head...

"Calm down, my dear, we won't achieve anything by insulting and provoking them..." he assured firmly.

"And you're going to let them treat you, Captain Valerian, the only man who has managed to unite all the other pirates of the cardinals under your leadership, like garbage?"

Lyanna watched intently from her hiding place behind the window, her heart pounding as she observed the pirates. She knew that any approach towards them could cause trouble with her stepfather, Lord Stormride. As the pirates neared the carriage, something seemed to stop them. Suddenly, the young pirate, with a determined expression, spun on her heels and headed back towards the castle entrance.

"Mara, come back here!" Captain Valerian ordered, his voice full of authority.

But the young pirate, faster and more stubborn, ignored her father's command and headed straight for the place where Lyanna was hiding, watching furtively. Mara agilely jumped and leaned on the window sill, pushing the glass and entering the castle. Immediately her eyes met Lyanna's. Both women stood staring at each other until the pirate, with a mischievous smile and a glint of curiosity in her eyes, greeted her.

"But look at the lovely thing that was spying on us! What a sight! Hello, beautiful, I'm Mara. What were you doing spying from the window?" she said in a soft but confident voice.

Lyanna, surprised and a bit indignant at being accused of snooping, crossed her arms and responded.

"Sorry, but I could ask you the same question. What were you doing sneaking into the castle?" The pirate widened her smile and, with a vain look, replied...

"Well, the pretty thing knows how to respond. You caught me; I was sneaking into the castle to talk to Lord Stormride. You see, beautiful, they treated us very badly, and I wanted to make the castle owner understand how rude he has been. All we wanted was to propose an alliance that could benefit many, including Lord Stormride..." Lyanna raised an eyebrow and with humor, replied...

"Well, good luck, I doubt he will listen to you. That man has an unrivaled ability to ignore other people's requests. By the way, I'm Lyanna..." she explained with a friendly smile on her lips... "The stepdaughter of the lord of the castle."

Mara looked at her intensely, her eyes shining with a mix of interest and admiration. It seemed that Lyanna had made a great impression on the young pirate. Mara's seductive smile widened, revealing a row of white teeth.

"Lyanna, huh?" Mara repeated, stepping a bit closer... "I didn't know the lord of this castle had a stepdaughter like you. So beautiful and with such virtues. Wow, it really is a pleasant surprise..."

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Lyanna felt a shiver run through her entire body. Never before had she been so close to someone with such a carefree and expressive way of speaking.

"It's a surprise for me too. I didn't expect my stepfather to invite pirates to his home. He's usually quite distrustful of any foreigner, especially when they are people of your kind..." The pirate's left eyebrow rose and, with exaggerated indignation, she asked...

"Kind? Is that your polite way of calling us scoundrels?" Lyanna immediately shook her hands, trying to rectify her words...

"No, of course not. Everyone has their own way of living, their own circumstances that have driven them to act in different ways. From your attire, I assumed you were pirates, and that's fine with me. As I've said, everyone has to face their own circumstances to survive... and, well..." The words began to stick to her lips, and her mind had difficulty continuing to explain herself. She didn't want to offend the pirate and wanted to rectify her previous words.

However, Mara laughed softly; her laughter was musical and light, like the sound of waves gently breaking on the shore.

"Relax, pretty one, you haven't offended me..." she began, her words interwoven with her laughter... "Well, now that we've met, maybe you could do me a favor..." she said, leaning slightly forward, reducing the distance between them even more.

Lyanna felt Mara's intense gaze on her as she asked what kind of favor she wanted...

"What kind of favor?" she questioned suspiciously, slightly fearing what the pirate might propose.

Mara, with a mix of pride and conviction in her voice, began to explain:

"My father is Captain Valerian, leader of a powerful fleet of sea merchants. For years, we have been trying to unite all the pirates of the cardinals under one banner. And now we have become honorable sea merchants..." Lyanna raised an eyebrow, amused by the woman's declaration...

"So I have before me the first legal pirates, huh?" Mara laughed uncontrollably at the redhead's comment.

"We were tired of being hunted down, and as the naval fleets of the cardinals increased, it became more difficult and dangerous to continue our trade. But now, we have managed to unify, and with my father's will, we have changed our way of operating. And as proof, we have made a pact with the cardinal of the north. In exchange for food and supplies, they have provided us with their special wood..." Lyanna listened attentively. She knew that in the northern continent, specifically in areas closest to the planet's equator, unique trees called Borealis Pines grew, possessing exceptional, hard, and resistant wood. However, this wood was very difficult to refine and handle due to its firmness and the extreme climate of the North...

"Special wood? You wanted it for your ships, right?" Mara nodded, pleased by the redhead's insight.

"Exactly, now our ships are reinforced with wood that withstands blows ten times more, and we are also building new ships made solely from that wood, which will be much stronger. We will be practically unstoppable at sea..." The pirate's smile darkened as she announced their naval power... "My father has a goal to fulfill, and for that, we need the prestige and money that participating in the Estalita War can offer us. We want your stepfather, Lord Stormride, to hire us as privateers. We know that the war is in favor of the East, and I know that with our help, everything can finally be resolved quickly..." The pirate leaned against the wall and crossed her arms, her brow slightly furrowed...

"But Lord Stormride has flatly refused to receive us and seems not to want any alliance with us..."

Lyanna nodded, understanding the magnitude of what Mara was saying. She knew that pirates were motivated by money and that an alliance with such a formidable fleet could be very advantageous in the future. Knowing her stepfather Aedan Stormride's attitude towards her and how he would undoubtedly ignore any suggestion Lyanna made, the redhead realized that a direct request would be futile.

But then she thought of other alternatives. If the request came from one of his children, especially Rogan, her older stepbrother, Aedan would be much more willing to listen.

"My stepfather is naturally distrustful. He won't give in easily, and if he doesn't want to see you, it's because he doesn't want to know anything about you. Even if I tried to convince him that you have an interesting proposal, any word I said would fall on deaf ears..." Lyanna said, with a contemplative look. However, after thinking for a moment, she added:

"But I think I can help you."

Mara looked at her with a mix of hope and admiration. The pirate knew they would need all the help they could get to convince a man as powerful as Duke Stormride. Lyanna, making an impulsive decision, told Mara to follow her...

"Come with me, I know who we need to talk to..."

Without thinking twice, she took the pirate's hand, feeling the warmth and strength in her grip, and led her through the castle's hallways towards the room where she knew she would find Rogan.

Mara's heart was pounding, not only because of the possibility of achieving her goal but also because of the growing admiration she felt for Lyanna. The young woman's beauty and determination had completely captivated her. With a radiant smile, Mara followed Lyanna with great pleasure, feeling she was in good hands.

As they moved through the castle, Lyanna chose routes devoid of guards who might question what she was doing with a pirate by her side.

Lyanna walked quickly, still holding the pirate's hand as they made their way to her stepbrother Rogan Stormride's room. In the midst of the hustle and bustle, Lyanna realized she was still holding Mara's hand. She stopped abruptly and, with a slight apologetic smile, released the pirate's hand.

"Sorry, I didn't realize I was still holding onto you..." Lyanna said, feeling embarrassed for having been carried away by her impulses and the excitement of helping someone.

Mara returned a mischievous smile and responded flirtatiously:

"No problem. You can touch me wherever you want, pretty one..."

Lyanna, slightly taken aback by the brazen comment, let the provocation slide. She knew that pirates were known for their dissolute nature and didn't want to be distracted from her goal. They reached Rogan's room door, and Lyanna knocked twice. There was no response. Impatient, she decided not to wait any longer and opened the door without knocking.

Upon entering, they were met with an unexpected sight. Rogan was in bed, in a compromising position with a maid Lyanna knew well, one of her own handmaidens named Mariella.

The surprise made Lyanna raise her eyebrows, and an amused smile formed on her lips. Rogan, visibly upset, quickly moved away from the maid and began to dress hastily, showing the sensitivity of his body.

The maid, visibly embarrassed at being discovered in such an intimate moment with Rogan, hurriedly left the room. In her rush, she struggled to dress, pulling down her skirt and adjusting her blouse while her face turned a deep shade of red. The door closed behind her with a soft thud, leaving Lyanna, Rogan, and Mara in silence. The pirate wore a bigger smile than Lyanna, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

”Lubricating the mast?” she asked bluntly. Lyanna couldn't help but let out a joyful laugh, while trying to cover her mouth to contain her delight.

Rogan, still trying to regain his composure, looked at Lyanna with a mix of anger and humiliation.

"What the hell are you doing here, Lyanna? Don't you know it's rude to enter a room without permission?" he exclaimed, his voice still laden with indignation as he frantically adjusted his pants.

Lyanna, gradually calming down, crossed her arms and looked him directly in the eyes.

"I won't beat around the bush. I need your help, Rogan, and don't try to deny it. You've just given me an effective way to blackmail you..." she said firmly...

"What I want to ask you is important to end the war that has been plaguing the cardinals for years. You see, the young lady beside me, Mara, is the daughter of a man who has managed to unite the other pirates. They want to obtain a contract to be recognized as the naval forces of the East and thus help to conclude the war. But your father has refused to give them an audience to explain their proposal, which I think is foolish on his part..."

Rogan snorted and turned, trying to calm his anger. He began to gather the rest of his clothes scattered around the room, dressing quickly.

"What father decides is none of my business. If he doesn't want to have anything to do with pirates, vile and ruthless, I don't think he's acted so wrongly. Besides, you know I don't want to meddle in my father's affairs and politics. So don't drag me into your plans, Lyanna. And do me a favor and get that pirate out of my room!" he replied, his tone still harsh.

Lyanna, anticipating his refusal, took a step forward, her voice firm and determined.

"If you don't help me, Rogan, I'll tell your father what I just saw..." she said bluntly.

"You know as well as I do that he doesn't tolerate such behavior. You'll receive a severe reprimand and, who knows, maybe something worse."

Rogan stopped dead in his tracks, his expression changing to a mix of surprise and fear. He knew that his father, Lord Stormride, was a strict man and would not approve of such behavior, especially with a maid. Over the past few years, since Rogan grew up and his wild youth led him to seek worldly distractions like alcohol and women, his father had kept him under strict surveillance, preventing the young man from exploring all the sensations that this world had to offer him...

"You can't do that, Lyanna..." he said, his voice now much lower and desperate.

Lyanna gave a victorious smile, knowing that the situation was in her favor.

"I can and I will, unless you help me. I need you to convince your father to accept an alliance with the pirates. His fleet could be decisive in the war and beneficial in the end..."

Rogan, with a furrowed brow, remained silent for a moment, weighing his options. Finally, he let out a sigh of defeat.

"Alright, I'll do it..." he said, resigned.

"But only if you promise to keep this a secret. You and your pirate friend."

Mara, still wearing a jubilant smile, nodded immediately.

"Of course, you're not the only one who sins by desiring carnal pleasures. If I told you how many times I've caught my sailors red-handed when we docked in a port...," she said, her tone cheerful and persuasive.

"Besides, what you do with your little friend is none of our business, as long as you keep your promise to help." Mara pointed at Rogan's crotch, causing the young man to immediately cover the highlighted area with his hand, forgetting that he was wearing pants that provided privacy.

Rogan sighed and nodded wearily, showing his reluctance to help. He knew he had no other choice. He turned to Lyanna, who now wore a triumphant expression.

"I'll talk to my father. But don't expect miracles. You know he doesn't easily trust anyone, especially not pirates."

Lyanna nodded, satisfied with the response.

"I know. But if anyone can convince him, it's you, Rogan. He holds you in high esteem and considers you his successor. He will listen to your words, and who knows, maybe he will even find your proposal reasonable and with that, you can regain your father's trust..."

With one last sigh, Rogan asked both women to leave his quarters so he could prepare. Lyanna and Mara agreed and headed for the door, leaving the room practically. As they stepped into the hallway, Lyanna felt a wave of satisfaction. She had taken a crucial step toward a possible alliance that could change the course of the war.

Mara, by her side, cast her an admiring look.

"Thank you very much, Lyanna. Not many would voluntarily help a pirate. I thank you with all my heart, and if you ever need a favor, don't hesitate to ask me..."

She proclaimed, gradually approaching the young woman and taking her hand. Lyanna returned the gaze, a gentle smile on her lips.

"Thank you, Mara. Your people's involvement can help end this war once and for all..."

The two women looked at each other and nodded in unison. Even if Rogan did not ultimately convince his stepfather, Lyanna knew she had just gained an invaluable ally for the uncertain future that awaited her.