His eyes passed over me. “Can you fight? It was a fine sword you had.”
“It’s an excellent sword,” I agreed. “And I’m a very good thief.”
“Ah.” Agor took the keys from the vigil and unlocked my cell door. He shook his head for Fink to remain where he was but held the door open for me to leave.
“Walk with me,” Agor said.
I fell in beside him once we stepped outside. The sleepy morning had blossomed into a bustle of activity. It was hard to know how many pirates lived here, but Gregor had been right in one thing: If the pirates and Avenian armies combined, my Carthyan soldiers wouldn’t stand a chance.
As we walked, Agor pointed out the various areas of Tarblade Bay. Everything was exactly as Erick had described it, with the meeting area farther up the hill, living area surrounding me, and sleeping areas on the beach below me. So other than a few details, I already knew the layout.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“Erick insists you know where Carthya stores its treasure. But if you have access to all this gold, why come to Tarblade? You know you’ll lose all of it to us.”
I smiled. “It got me here, didn’t it?”
“Do you think you can handle the life of a pirate?”
“I’d suggest you ask whether the pirates can handle me.”
Agor cocked an eyebrow, but still looked doubtful. “You claim to be a good thief. I want to see that for myself.” He pointed to the jail. “Go back there. Let’s see if you can steal the keys from the vigil and get your friend out without anyone stopping you.”
I shook my head. “Fink has this habit of getting on my nerves. I’m afraid I have no motivation to get him out.”
“Ah. And what is your motivation?”
“Hunger. Let me steal some food from the kitchen.”
“Too easy.”
“Maybe, but I’m going to steal the food anyway so it should count for something.”
Agor smiled. “There’s a meat cleaver in the kitchen. It’s well looked after since some of our other knives have gone missing recently. Take whatever food you want, but bring me that knife.”
I nodded and started to run off. Agor called behind me, “Be quick about it. I’m timing you.”
I slipped into the kitchen through a side window. The interior was sturdily built and amply stocked. The main room contained everything necessary to cook and prepare meals for an entire crew of pirates. Considering how well the exterior was concealed from view, it was actually quite impressive.
As I had hoped, Imogen was working there, kneading a large pile of dough. But she wasn’t alone. A dark-haired girl was washing dishes and another fair-haired one was tending a stew over an open fire. Imogen heard me enter and turned, momentarily, then went back to the dough. The dark-haired girl’s face lit up when I entered but the other girl barely paid me any attention at all.
“Agor asked me to gather some food for him,” I said to no one in particular.
Imogen stared at the other two girls, then threw up her hands. Whether she was actually irritated or pretending, I wasn’t sure. “Oh, all right, I’ll get it for you,” she said. “Come with me.”
I followed her down some stairs into a small room stocked with fruits and vegetables. As soon as she shut the door, I turned her toward me and hissed, “Tell me why you’re here.”
“I might ask you the same thing. Jaron, are you insane? They will find out who you are.”
“If they do, then you’ll be found out too. How did you even get here? Do you know what it took for me to get here?”
“It’s easier for a girl. I went to Isel and inquired about doing kitchen work. I asked around until someone said the pirates were always looking.”
“They’re always looking because no respectable girl would ever come here.”
“I’m perfectly respectable and don’t you dare suggest otherwise!” Imogen bit into her words with the same fierce anger as I felt. “Besides, they don’t touch us. Not as long as I do my work and stay out of their business.”
“But you’re not staying out of their business, and you’re not safe here. Why do you think I sent you away from Drylliad?”