Chapter 159 - The Terrible Mistakes Of Ilona Black

Delaney eyed the attractive but dangerous pirate Captain who was now looking between she and Vincent. She didn't trust the woman but she was intrigued to hear what this deal might be. She hoped whatever it was that Vincent would talk to Ian before he answered her.

"Alright," Vincent said slowly, "Let's hear what you have to offer."

"These last months my ship sailed to the Red Lands and back," Ilona explained, "In case Ian hasn't told you, that's where we're from and nearly all of our pirates are from. Because of our father's success in pirating, even against ships from our own land, we are no longer welcome there."

Delaney looked to Ian for confirmation and he nodded. He was watching Ilona closely.

"While we were at sea nearby we were approached by a ship with white flags. We didn't attack and they didn't either. It was the captain of the King's army. He had brought word that the King would like to speak to us."

"Impossible," Ian shook his head, "He wouldn't. The King has ruled that all pirates are to be killed on sight."

"That was why we thought it was a trap," Ilona continued, "So Mother and I went to the castle with only a handful of men and the rest stayed aboard the ship. We were escorted by the royal guard themselves."

"What does this have to do with us?" Delaney questioned coldly.

"Well, the King spoke with us at length and he knows that father has made a deal with the Crown Prince and he was working to make arrangements with other nobles here. He is worried that once this is done and Father's pirates will no longer attack King Daniel's ships that most of our attention will go to the ships of his people. So he gave me this."

From behind her back where it must have been tucked in the band of her breeches, Ilona pulled out a letter sealed with a red wax seal. She held it out to Ian who took it and examined the mark.

"That is the mark of the King of the Red Lands," he told them almost in awe before he handed it to Vincent to examine.

"It's a letter to King Daniel. I'm sworn to deliver it to his hands myself. He said it has some kind of offer or treaty inside for him. But that is where my proposition for you comes in."

Vincent looked up at her then with a smirk, "You won't be able to get anywhere near the King or even in the castle for that matter. Not without a noble vouching for you. You'll need Delaney or I to get you in to see Daniel."

Ilona swallowed and nodded, "I tried to explain to the King that I wouldn't be able to get in. He said I would find a way."

"Or else what?" Delaney asked the woman, "If you're not allowed in that land anymore why not just burn the letter and be done with it?"

"Because," Ilona looked down, "It turns out it was a trap. While Mother and I were at the castle our men on the ship were overrun by the King's soldiers. They stole everything on board and took some of the men hostage... including our brother Isaac and sister Willow."

"What do you mean?" Ian demanded of her, stepping forward, "What do you mean the King has our brother and sister? Why were they with you?"

Ilona swallowed and didn't look up. Delaney saw tears shining in her eyes.

"I begged Isaac to go with me," she explained quietly, "I thought with him on the ship and following me the other men would follow me as well. I thought it would make things better."

"He's my crew Ilona! You can't just take our brothers to man your ship because your own crew won't follow you! Now you've let him get taken away! And what about Willow? Why is our little sister in the King's prison now instead of safely home with her mother?"

"She was a stowaway," Ilona looked at him desperately, "I didn't know she was on board until we were a week out. You and I had been on ships when we were younger than her so I didn't think there would be any harm in it."

"I can't believe this," Ian ran his hands over his face. Delaney reached out and lightly touched his arm.

"So what do you need to do then to get them back?" Vincent asked calmly but seriously, "If you take that letter to our King Daniel how do you prove it to the King of the Red Lands and get your siblings back?"

Ilona swallowed back her tears and dashed at her eyes, "He said the King has to agree to his terms... I don't know what they are..."

"How could you be so stupid Ilona?" Ian shouted, turning on her, "You never should have trusted that invitation to see the King!"

"He said if we would speak to him he would consider allowing us to be able to live there again! You know Mother and Father want to return home. We thought it would be worth trying."

"We can't promise Daniel is going to agree to whatever is in this letter," Vincent shook his head sadly, "Even if we do take you in to see him it isn't a guarantee."

"I know," she said quietly, "That... that was why we were here last night... In case your King says no I hoped to go back to the Red Lands with enough money and treasures to try to buy my siblings' freedom."

"Father will give you money," Ian shook his head, "He will give you all the money he has to get them back. Why didn't you just go to him?"

Ilona dropped her eyes, "I...I didn't want him to know... I didn't want him to know I messed up again and now Isaac and Willow are gone because of it... I thought... I thought if I could just fix it..."

"You can't fix this Ilona!" Ian yelled at her.

"Wait," Delaney shook her head, "So what did you intend to make a deal with Vincent and I for today? Money?"

"No," Ilona answered quickly, "I was going to offer my men and I to escort you back to the city. There would be nearly two dozen of us all together. We could be your guards until you get more. I will even send men back to your other estate with you for now if you're not able to hire enough to replace what you lost. All I ask is that you take me in with you to see the King and.. and help me to convince him to agree to these terms if you can."

The room fell quiet then. Ian had gone to sit on the stairs, his face in his hands. The two young Black brothers looked grave. They may not understand English but they understood enough to know what their sister had just revealed to the others. Ilona kept her gaze from everyone, dashing away tears if they managed to escape her eyes.

Delaney turned to look up at her husband. He met her eyes with a solemn expression. He took her hand and together they walked farther away from the others.

"My Love," he spoke quietly to her, "I do not care for Ilona Black in the least but I do think her actions, however misguided, were meant to do good. I have had a hard time believing that a sister of Ian's could be so cruel to have attempted what she attempted last night but now we know why she did it."

"You... You want to help her?"

"I will feel safer with us traveling with her men as guards and then we can send all of our guards we have left with the servants. It makes sense and... and Delaney I can't leave those children in the dungeon of that King and do nothing to try to help them. If I can help her convince Daniel to take the deal so that they can be free again then that is what I have to do."

Delaney smiled and reached up to brush the back of her hand slowly against his cheek. He caught it and took it to his lips.

"I knew you would want to do whatever you could to help Ian's siblings," she smiled fondly at him, "You are a wonderful man my Love and I am so glad you're mine."

His dazzling smile filled his face and he took her in his arms to give her a deep kiss. Together they walked back to face the Blacks.

Ian pushed himself up off the stairs and walked over to stand with his siblings now. It hurt Delaney's heart to see how much pain the man was clearly in over the loss of his two younger siblings. He was distraught.

They all looked anxiously to Delaney and Vincent for their answer.

"Alright," Vincent nodded, "You have a deal."