by A. K. Wilder
“Salila,” he says, his voice more commanding than I’ve ever heard it. “You will harm none!” Then he turns to me. “Keep to the center of the bay, lass, whatever you do. I’ll be right back.” In a graceful motion, he dives over the railing and into the water.
“Kaylin!” I stare after him as the sea closes over his head. How can he hope to find the child? He’s a powerful swimmer, but Tyche is weighted with chains, and the ship’s moving fast. She’s at the bottom of the channel, and no doubt the sharks are in a frenzy, looking for more. “Bones be chac.” I press my lips together, holding to Kaylin’s last command—keep to the center of the bay.
Fortunately, the sloop is slowing down. Or, unfortunately… In a moment, I have to reassess. “It appears I might have overturned the wheel.” No one listens to me. Would they have advice if they heard? The sails flap like sheets on a line, spilling wind.
“Keep us safe, to the center of the bay.”
I hear the command, his voice in my head. And not a moment too soon. The ship turns decidedly sideways and drifts back toward the Isle and its razorback reefs. To make matters worse, several vessels come into view, heading straight for us. From a distance, they might think we’re sailing to meet them, the siege complete. Up close, with me at the helm, stunned savants on deck, and a Mar licking her blood-soaked lips, it might be a different story. A Mar! I stare at the woman again, in awe. Kaylin called her by name, Sah-lee-la. Currently, she’s ripping the Sierrak guard open with her bare hands and teeth—a messy and disturbing process. As she continues to eviscerate him, it appears she’s lapping up his blood. I turn away, bile rising in my throat, but my gaze draws back to her of its own accord.
Salila stands over her victim, eyes all pupil, as far as I can tell. Finished with the Aturnian, her focus shifts to Marcus. He’s hunched between Samsen and Piper, who look on as shocked as I do. “Stop!” I gasp but then see by her posture she isn’t going to hurt him, at least not right away. There’s something quite different on her mind. She licks her lips clean and sucks blood from each finger until she’s alabaster again.
Marcus is too injured, and too dazed, to do more than hold up his bound wrists.
“Would you like me to help you with that?” Salila asks, her voice soft as kittens. She leaves blood and water footprints as she walks across the deck to him. Her hips sway and the ends of her hair lift in the breeze. “They can’t feel good.” She traces her finger over his knotted bindings. “Poor hands.”
I’m surprised that Marcus finds his voice. “It is a bit tight for my liking.”
“Let’s fix that.” Salila grasps his bindings and draws him close. Will she gnaw the ropes off, or his fingers?
And ropes it is, as the frayed ends fall from the Mar’s teeth. Salila holds Marcus’s bloody hands in hers and gazes into his eyes. “You’ve fought hard against the traitor.”
My heart skips a beat. Traitor? What does she know?
Marcus startles as if coming out of a deep sleep. “Mar?” he whispers.
“That’s right,” she says. “You can release the others.” Salila pulls a short knife from the dead guard’s midriff belt, which is nowhere near his legs at this point, and hands it to Marcus. “Then have a spell with your healer, while I introduce myself to this girl.” Salila turns and heads for me.
“Tyche will drown.” Piper points to the railing where the young savant went overboard a quarter mile back. The healer’s serpent is moving, scenting as it rearranges itself around her body. “You can save her.”
“Let’s let the little brother be a hero this time, shall we?” Salila turns my way, hands on hips, gaze combing over every inch of me, up and down. “Now, what does he see in you?”
I’m tense as a bow. The little brother? They’re related? I keep my mouth shut, struggling with the wheel, trying to hold to course.
The ship continues to drift toward the Isle, and I have no idea what to do about it. I’m about to ask her if she can offer a suggestion when Marcus comes staggering up to stand between me and the Mar. Piper’s snake is latched onto his neck, and he is recovering somewhat, but I find him almost scarier than Salila in his bloody, battered state. “Just don’t say your name, whatever you do.” I send the thought to him, like I do with his phantom. Maybe one of them will hear me.
“I’m Marcus Adicio, the Heir to the throne of Baiseen,” he says as his eyes swim in red sockets. “Anything you have to discuss with her will be said directly to me.”
“Dead bones and rit’n stuggs, Marcus! Can you not remember the importance of anonymity, just once?”
Salila shrugs elegantly. “Thank you, Heir. I know who you are, and I’m not interested in you or your realm at the moment.” The Mar pats his chest as her eyes go to me. “I’m interested in her.”
Marcus staggers in my direction like he means to intercede.
“It’s all right,” I say. “Salila and I can chat, but I think we have more urgent concerns.”
Marcus follows my gaze to the horizon where the approaching ships tack into the wind, getting closer every time they make a turn.
“Them?” Salila laughs; her voice is a melodic stream. “I’d be more worried about the reef. It’s just under the hull, don’t you know?”
My whole body goes cold. “Can you help, then?”
She cocks her head. “Let me think. What do you reckon will remedy our situation? Hard to port? Starboard? Fifty-fifty chance either way.”
And that is all I can take.
“Samsen, hold the wheel.” He comes up beside me and I plant his hand on the polished wood and walk away. “Keep the nose pointed toward the center of the bay. This won’t take long.”
The Mar woman laughs. “What won’t take long, little starfish?”
I step up, grab her wrists, spin, and drive my knees in behind her legs. In a breath, I flip her onto the deck and press my knife against her chest. “This. You can talk to me all you like, Salila, but I’ve got some things to say first.”
The Mar smiles up at me. “By all means, please do.”
“Either you help me turn this ship around and find Kaylin and Tyche, or you die here at my hand.”
Salila glances at Marcus. “I think she means it.”
“I assure you, she does,” he says through swollen lips.
“A lot of pluck for a lander girl, I’ll admit, especially a non-savant.” Salila erupts from the deck, flips me midair, and slams me down hard. The wind rushes out of my lungs in one giant exhale, and I can’t breathe or speak. Samsen lets go of the wheel and jumps the Mar, but she ducks and rolls him off her back. Piper comes at her next. Marcus follows, though he can barely hold his stance. Salila springs through the air, jerks the blade from my hand, and lands behind us all. She has Samsen around the chest in a viselike grip and holds the blade under his throat. “Does this one mean anything to you? If so, I suggest you back off!”
I’m trying to breathe as I struggle to my feet in time to stop Marcus from lunging forward. “Don’t.” I recognize the rage in his eyes. He’ll get himself killed. In the background, the Aturnian ship continues tacking toward us. The man in the crow’s nest waves a warning. Just then our sloop makes an awful groan as the wheel spins freely. The hull grates over the reef and catches for a moment before rolling forward again. I lose my footing, and Marcus falls on top of me.
“Grab the wheel and turn hard to port!”
“Kaylin?” I whisper, my face pressed flat on the deck.
“Let’s avoid the razorback reef, shall we, lass?”
I push Marcus off. In two strides, I’m at the wheel, wrenching it to port. When my eyes find Kaylin, he’s on the railing, dripping wet, his fisherman’s pants hanging low on his hips, hair plastered to his face and shoulders. Draped over his back, he carries a drowned girl.
64
Kaylin
I swing wet hair out of my face a
nd shift the girl’s weight. Her manacled hands are looped around my neck, limp body hanging down my back. It probably doesn’t look good. “Samsen, you and Piper toss the guard.” I check the distance of the approaching vessels. “Salila!” I growl her name.
“You didn’t drown,” Ash says, her voice small.
“Not enough water in the sea for that.”
Salila chuckles. “At least you’ve kept her in the dark. It might help your case with Teern.”
“Shut up, sister.”
I let Tyche down on the deck, where she lies like a broken doll, her head lolling to the side, lips and skin blue. Piper tries to resuscitate her, the serpent latching onto her wrist, but there’s no response.
I tap Piper on the shoulder and tip my head toward Marcus. “Take him below before he topples overboard.”
Piper looks up at Marcus with tears in her eyes.
“Samsen, check the water level in the hold.”
Piper ignores me and keeps searching for Tyche’s pulse. I can tell from here there is none. Samsen helps her up as her serpent retracts its fangs. “It’s too late.”
Ash holds the wheel, her tear-filled eyes resting on me. “I know you tried.”
“Lass, wait for my signal.” She’s about to protest, but I cut her short. “Salila, revive the child.”
“Revive?” Ash’s eyes go round. “She can do that?”
Piper looks over her shoulder and shakes her head. “We’re too late.”
I don’t try to explain but climb the rigging to retrieve the jib line that’s lashing against the mast. Salila needs watching. She’s unpredictable at the best of times, and the blood has to be driving her crazy. I know it is me. “Quickly, Salila.” I wave toward the lead Aturnian ship. “On Teern’s wrath, you’ve made a mess of it.”
“I’ve made a mess of it? Oh, that’s rich.” She lets out a snort but goes to Tyche.
“Samsen,” I call down the hold from my perch on the mast. “Water level?”
“Ankle deep.”
“Excellent!” I feel Ash’s teary eyes on me and give her a wink. “There’s a distance viewer in the galley, Samsen. Get it and go aft. Keep watch on the pier.” I check the horizon. “Ash, hold the wheel tight. She’s going to want to spin to starboard.” I jump and catch the jib line, riding it down to the deck. Once my feet touch, I haul it taut. “Now, Ash. Hard to port. More. More. Enough! Hold it for all you’re worth!”
The sail flutters for a moment then billows full. The sloop comes around fast, the prow heading toward open water. With the wind in the sail, it arrows straight past the approaching vessel, leaving the bewildered Aturnians behind, but not before they take in the deck with its spilled intestines, drowned child, and a tall, naked woman.
I’ll have to deal with them later. Right now, there’s too much else at stake. “Salila!”
65
Salila
Kaylin’s throwing orders around like the King of the Sea. Sure, I’ll play along, just to see where he takes this, but really, it’s getting up my nose. I kneel down to the child, putting all my focus there. “You have a pretty face, don’t you, polyp?” I touch her freckled cheek. Her skin is leached to gray, cold to the touch. I put my hand on her chest. No heartbeat. “Tell me she’s savant.” I glance at Ash.
“She was, peace be her path.” The girl challenges me through red-rimmed eyes. Landers are such an emotive race.
“Good thing I’m reviving her, then.” I say it under my breath, but she hears me. Her eyes widen and her mouth gapes like a fish. “How big’s her phantom?” I ask.
“Impala.”
“Describe?”
“A half-size deer. Long neck. Like a goat only more—”
I brighten. “That’ll do.” I ball my fist and slam it into the girl’s chest. It seems to go straight through her to the deck while the girl arches her back and opens her eyes. From her chest explodes the impala. What a creature! It flies into the air, brown eyes wide, ears flapping, and tiny hooves flailing. In a flash, I catch it around the neck and shove it back into the girl’s body. The little savant sits upright, sucks in a huge breath, and coughs violently before rolling over on her side to throw up half the bay.
I grin at Ash while patting the child’s back. “Not so dead after all, is she?”
Ash’s lips form a perfect O.
“Free her!” Kaylin commands.
He’s so cocky in his captain’s hat. “Not a prisoner, then?”
“Hurry up, Salila. You have a fog to raise.”
I toss him a dirty look. “Aye, aye.” I examine the girl further. “What’s your name?”
“Tyche.” She coughs. “Who are you?”
“Call me Salila.”
“Are you Mar?”
“Obvious, isn’t it?” I laugh. “Come, little nudibranch. I saw your phantom. All’s well in your world, so show me your bindings.”
Tyche sits up and holds out her hands. Her wrists are chafed and bruised.
“Hold them as far apart as you can. Like so.” I place one manacle over an iron ring in the deck and bring down the edge of my hand like an axe. Sparks fly and the iron cracks. With another lightning strike, I split the second cuff apart. Tyche clutches her wrists and tries to catch her breath, her wet hair dripping down her face. “The words you’re looking for are thank and you.” I glance at Kaylin meaningfully then sweep up the irons, flinging them far out to sea. “Only monsters put children in chains.”
Kaylin continues to fire orders at us all. “We have to sail across the channel as fast as possible. I’ll want—”
“One moment, oh Cap-i-tán.” I take the jib line from his hand and pass it to Samsen. “Do you mind?”
I push Kaylin in the chest, and he steps back. I push again, and he’s nearly to the railing. “We need to check the hull, little brother.” Before he answers, I shove him a third time, and he sails backward over the edge of the rail. “We won’t be long.” Their faces are stunned as I dive headfirst into the sea.
66
Kaylin
“Was that completely necessary?” I snap at Salila as I run my hand along the hull, feeling for damage.
“How else to get you alone? You’re up there, shouting orders, playing swashbuckler, and the deep Drop knows what else with the girl.” She glides beside me but pays no attention to the hull.
“It’s not a game. The landers’ lives are in our hands.”
She gives me an incredulous look. “Since when do you care about landers?”
“Since I’ve gotten to know them.”
“Pfft.” Salila crosses her arms as we kick along, keeping up with the sloop. She finally turns back to me. “You look ridiculous in clothes.”
“I look like a lander.”
“Exactly.”
I press my lips tight. “Salila, have you forgotten why I’m here?”
“To assassinate the Heir and his company, which you have failed to do, though abundant opportunities presented themselves.”
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you. Teern has it wrong. Once he listens to me…” I pause to feel a crack in the hull. The ship will stay afloat if we avoid any added strain, or another rake over the reef, but a good jar might split her open.
“Have you lost your mind?” Salila pulls on my shoulder. “Teern’s not going to listen to you.”
I shake her loose. “If anyone’s lost their mind, it’s you. Showing yourself to landers? How long will Father punish you for that?”
“They won’t live to tell, I promise. When will you get it through your thick narwhal skull he wants them dead?”
I thrust out my chin. “Not going to happen.”
“Why not?”
I hesitate, studying the surface streaming by. “You don’t know the whole story.”
She throws her hands up. “Beca
use you haven’t shared it with me!”
“There’s no time now,” I say, pressing the crack again, testing its integrity. “We have to evade the fleet.”
She picks at the barnacles on the hull. “How do you suppose we’ll do that?”
“You’re going to call up a fog, remember?”
“I don’t want to.” Her mouth turns down. “It taxes me.”
“You will call a fog, Salila,” Teern’s voice booms.
We both startle. The sloop sweeps over us as we hang in the water, the ship sailing on.
“Father,” Salila recovers first. “We were just thinking about you and I—”
“Salila.” Teern cuts her off. “You will guide them now that you’ve interfered. I will help with the fog myself. And then…”
“Yes, Father?”
“You’ll come with me.” He thunders the command. “Kaylin, get back on that ship. Once you’re past Capper Point, run this sloop aground. When you do, find which ship carries Tann and get me Aku’s whistle bone. Understood?”
“Tann snatched Aku’s whistle bone?” Salila glares at me. “I could have heard this sooner.”
“He’ll have the whole damned crown if we don’t stop him,” Teern says. “Why are the landers still alive?”
Salila smiles. “Ha!”
I talk fast. “It’s not Marcus you’re after, or any of the others. I’m sure of it. He barely has rapport with his phantom, the girl is non-savant, and—”
“Sink the ship.” Teern’s voice sounds in my head. “Drown them all and get Tann’s whistle bone chest. Meanwhile, I’ll ponder your disobedience.”
I tread water, stunned that he wouldn’t even hear me out.
“Ta-ta, brother. I’ll see you in the fog.” Salila jets away. “I did try to warn you.” Her voice wafts back to me in a whisper.
