She poked her head out of the top and for a second couldn’t process what she saw.
❄❄❄
Kota paced the length of her cabin. The storm had been raging for hours with no sign of abating. T’Nahke had chosen to stay above deck while she retreated to the dryness of her room. He’d integrated himself with the captain and crew, joining in both their duties and the drinking and gambling that happened off-duty.
Someone knocked on the door. “Captain. We’ve caught up to our quarry and are awaiting your orders.”
Kota strode to the door and whipped it open. On the other side stood the first mate, Skeets. The hat in his hands dripped water on the floor.
“If you could follow me.” He spun and scurried for the ladder.
The captain had no taste in first mates. What a nervous little rat.
She followed the man above deck and into the storm. Rain struck her face, drenching her in seconds. The deck was slick underfoot and she struggled to keep her balance. The crew stared at her, while working to keep the ship from floundering. She crossed to where the captain stood and greeted him with a curt nod.
Hopefully whatever he wanted didn’t require much communication on her part. Paper wouldn’t survive out here.
The worry about communicating disappeared as a well-developed sense tingled. Her sword was in her hand within the space of a breath. She raised it and spun to catch the attacking blade. The power behind it and the wet deck almost caused her to lose her footing.
T’Nahke. The bastard.
No trace of sympathy showed on T’Nahke’s face as he pressed against Kota’s blade. The crew stood by, focusing more on the battle than on their work.
Her lips tightened and she unlocked her sword from T’Nahke’s, ducking away at the same time. Fury rose in her mind, but she tamped it down. Later. She would deal with it later. Now, she had to win. Her sword melded with her palm. They were one.
T’Nahke’s size didn’t worry her. She’d fought large men before. The reach of his sword was greater than hers. Speed and skill would be her allies.
He rushed her, his great sword arcing through the rain. She stepped aside, letting his momentum pull him past where she had stood.
Not waiting for the traitor to recover, she lunged. He spun just in time to place his blade in front of hers.
A strained smile touched his lips. “You should be proud of me following your example, Captain.”
She pulled back and gripped her longsword. The fight began in earnest. They danced across the length of the deck. Waves crashed against the sides, drenching them. The wind flung rain into Kota’s eyes, blurring her vision.
She ran behind a pile of boxes. Leapt atop one, and then another. T’Nahke roared and ran towards her. Kota jumped from her vantage point; sword held overhead with both hands. T’Nahke raised his sword to block hers. He grunted as her weight hit him. They fell to the deck and his sword spun away. A wave crashed over the side.
Kota regained her feet first. Grimly she strode to T’Nahke, sword clenched in her right hand. His demeanor cracked. He rose to his knees and desperately lunged for her. She skipped aside easily and slid the tip of her blade down his back as he belly flopped on the deck, slitting his shirt clean in half. Raindrops ran red down T’Nahke’s back as they fell on the wound. The crew yelled, but she tuned them out. Probably frightened to see their champion fall. This is what I get for hiring a crew with no loyalty.
She stood over the fallen mountain of a man and raised her blade for the killing blow. Just as she was about to thrust her sword into his exposed flesh, a wall of water hit her and swept her feet from the deck and pulled her to the railing. For the first time in years, fear wrapped itself around her heart.
Her sword was torn from her grip and lost to the sea. Screams from the crew echoed around her. Another wave struck and she panicked. Which way is up? Her head broke the surface. Coughing up seawater, she fought against the wave that sucked her towards the edge.
No! She lost the battle and the water carried her over the side. She flailed wildly and her hand struck wood. The railing. She clung to it while the ship righted itself. Kota dangled off the side of the vessel. Her icy hand grasped the slick railing.
Have to get both hands on the railing. Have to get up.
Panic wouldn’t help her now. She had to survive. After everything she had done, she couldn’t let this be her end.
It wasn’t supposed to happen this way. Never helpless. Never again.
Thick fingers closed around her wrist and yanked her hand from the rail. T’Nahke loomed over her, holding her above the waves.
“You almost had me, Captain. What a shame that I’ll have to tell Bludgaard you were lost at sea. When I bring back the girl by myself, I’m sure my efforts will be rewarded. Perhaps I’ll even get your position.”
Never in her life had Kota so badly wanted to speak. To berate the worthless coward and go to her death screaming.
He released her wrist and she plummeted, her mouth opened in a silent scream. Anger clouded her vision. The ship fell away as she tumbled towards the waves. Water rushed up to greet her. Cold and heartless. Like me.
She fought against the waves. Why am I fighting? Is there anything left to fight for? Water pulled her under, shutting out the noise of the storm. I wonder what happened to Mother? Which way is up?
Maybe this was a fitting end for who she’d become. And maybe there wasn’t anything left to fight for. But she’d never given up before, and she wasn’t about to start now. If the sea wanted her, then it was going to get every drop of fight she had in her.
She held herself steady and exhaled. Bubbles flowed to her left. She turned and swam in the direction the bubbles had gone. Hurry! Swim faster! Her head broke the surface. Air rushed into her lungs and she sucked it in greedily. The ship was far away now. I hope it sinks and takes that cur with it. Another wave crashed over her head and she tumbled underneath the water.
❄❄❄
The crew raced about the deck, shouting wildly to each other. Rain poured from the skies, blinding Cali as she inched her way forward. A hand seized her arm. She jumped and screeched. “What are you doing up here?” Angel’s voice screamed into her ear.
“I didn’t want to be alone down there. What happened?” The ship pitched and they fell backwards onto a pile of rope. Instead of answering, Angel pointed Cali’s head towards the mast. Or where the mast should’ve been. In its place was a jagged stump.
“Is that bad?”
Angel snapped, “Yes, that’s bad.” She climbed to her feet and pulled Cali up. “That’s not the worst of it.”
Cali didn’t want to know. This was a case of ignorance is bliss, but of course Angel didn’t hear the unspoken thought.
“The ship’s taken a beating and it’s struggling to stay abreast of the waves. We’re taking on too much water,” Angel said flatly, her face dark. “The hold is filling. We’re going to sink.”
Cali stared at her in desperation. Sink! We can’t sink! Angel’s being dramatic. She waited for Angel to smile and say ‘just teasing you, Cali.’ The words never came.
Voice’s glow cut through the downpour as she flew towards them. “What are you both doing up here? Oh, it does not matter. Quick, Captain Rebol is putting everyone into the longboats. We need to get away from the ship before it goes down.”
Angel led the way, and Cali was about to follow when she remembered. “Wait! Boo, I left him below deck.” Without waiting for a response, she dashed back to the ladder, ignoring the cries of her companions.
Out of the rain, she could see again, but the tilt of the ship was more noticeable. The corridor leaned to the right, causing her to stumble back to her room. She opened the cabin door and fell through. Huddled in the far corner, Boo mewed pitifully.
Cali slid and shuffled over to scoop him up. Now moving slightly uphill and only having the use of one hand, leaving the room proved to be more of a task. Boo’s claws sunk into her shoulder as he kept up a s
tream of meows.
Back in the hallway, Cali propped her free hand on the side and inched her way back to the ladder. Angel stood at the bottom of the hatchway. “You’re as mad as a crab! That cat isn’t worth your life.” She scrambled up the steps and reached down for Cali to pass up Boo.
Her hands now free, Cali climbed the ladder. Wind and rain lashed her face. Strands of hair escaped her braid and plastered themselves across her cheeks. Angel shoved Boo back into her arms. “Take him. He’s tearing my arms up.”
One arm holding an increasingly distressed Boo, the other being tugged by Angel, Cali ducked her head against the elements and walked unsteadily to where the men prepared the longboats.
“There ye are lassies. Intae th’ boat wi’ ye. An’ ye didnae forget ma Boo!” Captain Rebol gave Boo a quick stroke on the head, then helped Cali into the boat that now hung precariously over the side of the ship. Angel climbed in behind her.
Voice floated aboard. “Do not ever frighten me like that again! If I had a heart, it would have been in my feet while you were down there rescuing that animal.” Through the rain, she shone an icy blue as she darted under Cali’s seat. “I have no idea if orbs can get lost at sea or drown, but I am in no hurry to find out.” Cali could barely hear her above the roar of the storm.
Two other boats, filled with men, lowered themselves into the surging water. Soon, they were swept out of sight. Cali’s boat swung in the gale and knocked against the side of the ship. Boo was soaked and a loud thunderclap sent him yowling under Cali’s seat next to Voice. Captain Rebol and Kileah joined them and together released the boat into the sea.
Both first mate and captain struggled to row away from the ship, which now leaned heavily to one side. “Put ye back into it, Kileah!” Within seconds, the towering waves caught up their boat and Cali focused on staying in her seat.
“We just hae tae bide it an’ hope fer tae best.” Captain Rebol’s words carried to Cali before the wind snatched them away.
Cali’s fingers grew numb and as the boat rode the peaks and valleys of the waves, she felt her nausea returning. Seaweed must be wearing off.
Exhaustion settled in. The constant state of panic and tension drained her of any vestiges of strength.
“Captain!” It was the first time Kileah had spoken. “That’s a bad one!”
Cali raised her tired eyes and saw a wave that reached for the heavens looming in front of the craft. Kileah yelled, “Hold on!” just as the wave crashed over them.
Cali’s fingers were torn from the seat and she tumbled into the roiling sea. Water closed over her head and she thrashed, trying to return to the world above. No! I don’t want to die! Voice! She opened her mouth to scream and water rushed in. She sank further into the ocean. Her lungs filled with seawater and her movements grew weaker.
Everything was so tranquil down here. No rain beating on her, no wind threatening to knock her over, no waves. Maybe death wouldn’t be so bad.
As her eyes started to close, she saw something moving through the water towards her. Hands grasped under the arms and began to drag her upwards. Leave me alone. Let me die in peace. She just wanted to sleep. To stop fighting.
Her head broke the surface of the water and the wind drove rain into her face. She coughed, spewing water and sucking in air.
“Cali! Cali!” Something rough was shoved under her arms. A plank. She hoped it wasn’t from their little boat. Angel’s face rose from the water opposite the board. Her eyes greener than ever. “Cali, you have to hold onto this. The others will find us soon.”
She’s just saying that. Hopelessness gripped Cali in its foul clutches. There would be no rescue and she was too weak to fight.
Angel’s hair had freed itself from its braid and flowed down around her shoulders, floating bright red in the water. I’ve never seen it that bright. It must’ve been really dirty before. Cali was sure she was losing it, thinking about Angel’s hair when they were both going to die. Get it together. Angel didn’t risk her life just so you can die without a struggle.
A wave poured over them, temporarily blinding Cali. She shook the water from her eyes and gripped the plank with grim determination. “Angel?” Nothing but water surrounded her, empty of life. “ANGEL!” Her scream rent the air.
❄❄❄
Angel swam to the surface and fought to stay above the waves. Stupid storm. Her nerves had been on edge ever since she’d seen Cali swept overboard. No thinking. Just reaction. Without hesitation, she’d plunged into the frothy waves. She’d already lost Kelpan. She wouldn’t lose Cali too.
Against all odds, she’d found her sinking beneath the waves. If they could just outlast the storm, maybe they’d be rescued. Then that huge wave had hit and now she’d lost Cali again. She looked around. Nothing. Swimming furiously, she tried to see through the never-ceasing rain. Lightning ripped through the sky and lit up the raging sea.
A wave carried her to its peak, opening a deep valley below. The wave sent her hurtling down and she saw the grey, unmoving objects waiting for her. Rocks! She furiously stroked to stay abreast of the wave that plunged her towards the sharp rocks. Too late. The normally submerged hazards lay waiting for her as she fought uselessly against the pull of the water.
Her skull cracked against the jagged tip of a rock. The waves rushed on, leaving her sinking beneath. Spots danced in front of her eyes. Gotta find Cali. Her thoughts faded as the throbbing pain took over. She continued to sink. The surface now a distant memory. The darkness of the water wrapped around her, promising freedom from her pain.
Her mouth opened and water poured in. Her eyes fluttered closed as she surrendered to the heartless ocean. Cali.
Chapter 24
Cali moaned through her dry throat. Salt crusted her face, caking her eyelids. She couldn’t have opened her eyes if she’d wanted to. Not that it mattered. There was nothing but her and her little piece of wood adrift in the endless ocean.
Her arms ached from holding onto the plank. The occasional spray of water misted her face. The rain had stopped hours ago. At least she thought it was hours. Something scraped her knees, but she barely registered it.
Tired. Can’t hold on anymore. All throughout the night, the storm had raged around her. Several times she thought she wouldn’t make it, but the memory of Angel pushed her on. Angel. Her friend. She rescued me. And now she’s dead. At first, Cali had hoped that Angel would come swimming back. That somehow she’d made it. As the storm raged and she was tossed about by the merciless sea, that hope died.
No one could survive that storm without something to keep them afloat. Knowing that Angel had given her life to save Cali’s gave her the willpower to cling to that plank. She would not let Angel’s sacrifice be for nothing.
Now, though, her body had nothing left to give. Her arms slipped from the board and she lost consciousness.
❄❄❄
“We should have kept looking!” Voice paced along the shoreline. Her glow flashed. Blue. Red. Blue. Red.
At first she’d wondered if she’d been imagining the colors. It wasn’t like she could really see herself. But then she’d noticed the area around her was lit up in different shades. Cali and Angel hadn’t mentioned it, but they must’ve noticed. Probably thought I was malfunctioning or sick or whatever it is orbs might have wrong with them!
Her thoughts scattered and hopped from one thing to the next. The logical part of her knew she was being irrational, but she couldn’t seem to rein herself in.
Captain Rebol stood a ways off, petting a rather unhappy Boo and sobbing. Voice caught occasional ‘poor lassies’ from him, but the rest was lost in blubbering.
Kileah sat in the sand, forearms resting on her knees. “For the hundredth time already, no one could’ve survived that storm. Not for that long. We looked.” She shifted and pulled a shell out from under her. “People don’t just fall into the middle of the ocean and survive.”
Back to red. Voice seethed at the indifferent figure who flicked the
shell away. “You do not understand. Cali was—is not just anyone. She is my charge! I am supposed to protect her!”
Kileah rose to her feet and glared at Voice. “Well, you failed, alright? She’s dead.” She stomped away, shouting over her shoulder, “You’re not the only one who’s lost someone. There’s no sign of the other two longboats. A lot of good men died out there.”
Watching Kileah’s retreating back, Voice’s rage subsided. Yes, Cali was not the only loss. Angel, fearless Angel who dove into the water without a moment’s hesitation after Cali. Tucked under Cali’s bench with a cat pressed up next to her, Voice hadn’t known Cali was gone until Angel screamed for her and plunged headlong into the waves.
She’d moved out from under the seat, but could see nothing. No sign of Angel or Cali. It’d taken everything just to keep up with the longboat as its hectic ride carried it in every direction.
Her princess. Gone. Taken by the sea. Perhaps it is better that I was unable to find her. Useless orb. I would have had no choice but to watch her die. Helpless.
“Captain! Voice!” Kileah’s call drifted towards them.
Still refusing to let go of Boo, Captain Rebol moved in Kileah’s direction. Voice soon caught up and passed him.
Kileah bent over something in the sand as they came racing up. Voice circled her to see what it was. A cry ripped from her. She would have wept if she’d had the capacity.
Washed up on the sand, skin bright red and clothes torn, lay Cali. With her eyes closed, she could have been sleeping, but Voice feared the worst.
“Captain, help me move her out of the sun.” Kileah wrapped her hands under Cali’s shoulders and waited as Captain Rebol put Boo on the sand and lifted Cali’s feet. They slowly trudged away from the surf and into the forest that lay a short distance from the beach.
Voice followed close behind, wishing she could help. She must be dead. No. No, she might still be alive. But what if we’ve only found her corpse?
Heart of the Winterland Page 21
