“Zak.” Zaborah’s low voice cut through Jade’s question, and Jade tensed at the warning in Zaborah’s tone. “We have a tail.”
Jade and Krista both stiffened. Jade cast a wide-eyed look over her shoulder, but all she could see was the empty street, small pockets of light illuminating the cobblestones. Who was following them? Where were they?
Zak snapped his fingers at Weston’s burly bodyguard, and the two exchanged a few terse words. Jade turned to Krista. “Stay close to Briar and my mother.”
Krista pulled a band from her pocket and tied back her braids. “What about you?”
“I’m not going anywhere without Zak.” Jade longed for her sword, her wrench, anything that could be a weapon. She’d have to trust the Monomi and Weston’s guards to keep them safe.
Zak wrapped his arm around Jade in a brief side hug. “Zaborah and two of Weston’s men will get them off us,” he reassured. Shadows hid his face of all the tells Jade looked for as he gently steered her into the middle of the group. He nodded at Weston. “Stay near him.”
Jade’s protest died on her lips as Zak returned to the edge of their small group. He spoke to Samantha and Briar briefly, and Samantha steered them toward Jade, her steps quick and eyes narrowed.
“They’ll be quick,” Weston stated encouragingly. He hitched a thumb over his shoulder. “My guards are excellent, and Zaborah is downright frightening. They’ll take care of whatever problems there are.”
A quick grin lightened Jade’s mood for a second before the humor faded. Even the best could be surprised. She’d learned that lesson. Jade focused on keeping pace with their group, reluctant to leave the other three behind, but eager to get to relative safety.
Darkness obscured most of the buildings, and the moon provided precious little light as they turned the corner. One block to go until they reached Francene’s. If only they’d left earlier in the night, while the steamtrans was still operating. Jade silently cursed her desire for freedom. Weston had offered to glow for a carriage when they were leaving the Sapphire, but she’d turned it down. Regret hammered against her ribcage.
Briar’s whispered oath drew Jade’s attention from her feet to the road ahead of them. A solitary figure stood under a gaslight, his white top hat glowing in the dim illumination. He lifted his hat and bowed, then raised his face to the light.
Jade gasped.
Victor.
Chapter Fifty-Six
Weston
A chill swept down Weston’s spine when Jade gasped at the same time as Zak’s burst of profanity. The man standing before them in the wide street looked vaguely familiar, possibly someone whom Weston had seen in the palace, or when traveling the city on one of his night ventures. He exchanged a concerned glance with Niles before stepping closer to Jade. “Who is he?”
“Victor.” She choked on the name, horror and hatred draining her face of color.
“The tail was a diversion to split our numbers,” Zak muttered, grim.
The traitor that some of her friends were searching for? Startled, Weston looked up again at the slender man who stood so casually before them. Only now did Weston notice the sword on his hip. Three silhouettes formed from the shadows resolved into three men who settled behind Victor.
“He’s likely here for the princess,” Weston declared. He reached behind Jade to tap Zak’s arm. “Get her and the group back to Francene’s. My men and I can detain him.”
Zak’s jaw set. “Don’t underestimate him.” His hands clenched. “He’s a murderer, and he needs to answer for his crimes.”
Victor lifted his hands as if in surrender. “I’m just here to deliver a message. No need to be so alarmed.” His voice was smooth, cultured, perfect for holding court or working as a negotiator. Something about it set Weston’s teeth on edge. Victor’s smile glimmered in the dark. “Hello, Princess.” He rested his hand on his sword hilt and started walking toward them. “Miss me?”
Weston strode forward as Zak moved Jade back. Jade’s sharp inhale clued Weston to spot two more men behind them. So they were trapped. Whales.
“I have nothing to say to the chef or mechanic. Or even you, Captain.” Victor flicked his wrist at Samantha. “You may leave without my interference. In fact,” he motioned to one of his men who stepped forward, and lifted his arm magnanimously, “I insist you leave.”
Samantha shook her head. “I’m not leaving without my daughter.”
Victor rolled his eyes. “Suit yourself.” He shrugged, drew his sword, and rushed at them.
Krista screamed and grabbed Briar’s wheeled chair from Samantha, pushing Briar to the side of the street.
Weston waved at Zak. “Go!”
Zak yanked out a short sword and pulled Jade after him. Samantha followed.
Niles stepped in front of Weston just as Victor met Weston’s first guard. Weston drew his sword, his grip firm. He didn’t have Andre here, but he had Andre’s training. And he would buy Jade time to escape. With his life, if needed.
Victor’s men fell upon Weston’s group with a crash of swords. A strangled yell echoed in Weston’s ears, and he turned as one of his men dropped. Weston swore. He’d already forgotten about the two men from behind. Andre had warned him that he was over-reliant on guards watching his back. He raised his sword in defense as one looked at him. The man shook his head, a demented grin twisting his lips. He pointed over Weston’s shoulder.
“Highness.” Victor’s voice came from too close.
Weston whirled and stepped back, surprise radiating through his core. How had the Elph managed to get so near? Only Niles and one other guard stood, battling. How had Victor dispatched his guards so quickly?
“I have a message for you to deliver.” Victor grabbed Weston’s arm, his strong fingers digging into Weston’s bicep and leaving bloody smears on his sleeve. “Tell your father to call off his hunt. Or I’ll let his precious nation know all about his business with me. Your people would love to hear about his hand in so much death, wouldn’t they?”
Weston struggled to break Victor’s grip on his sword arm. Where the Void was Niles?
A blood-freezing shout drew Victor’s attention, and he snarled. Weston risked a glance out of his peripheral, and relief soothed the edges of his fear. Zaborah rushed at them, red-stained sword in hand.
Victor leaned closer to Weston, Victor’s white skin nearly glowing in the dark, looking almost like a skull in the shadows. “You get to live tonight, boy. But all gifts come with a price.”
Victor let go of Weston and jumped back. A moment later, Niles rushed to fill the gap between them, his back to Weston, sword out at Victor. Victor tossed his hat at Niles, then turned on his heel, running into the night. He disappeared like a phantom.
Weston staggered.
What was that about? Rage poured through him at the sight of two of his men crumpled on the ground, blood soaking the stones. Three of Victor’s men were also dead. The other two vanished just as the traitor had.
Zaborah reached his side, her breath coming out in harsh gasps. “Where’s Jade?”
“I sent them ahead to Francene’s.” Weston regarded the way Zaborah held her hand to her side. “Are you hurt?”
She winced and lifted the hand that she had pressed against her side. It glimmered wetly in the dark. “They ambushed us. I’m sorry, but your men didn’t make it.” She hissed through her teeth. “Void-cursed son-of-a-whale.”
Niles turned slowly, scanning all around them. His shoulders were drawn back, face tight with anger. Weston’s remaining guard motioned at the street. “Highness, we need to get moving.”
Weston looked at Zaborah. “Get to Francene’s, tell them everything. I need to talk to my father.” Outrage churned in his gut, leaving the acrid taste of bile in the back of his throat. “He has some sort of tie with Victor, and I intend to find out what it is.”
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Ben
Ben shook his head and gripped the railing, watching the shadow in the dista
nt swells. After being aboard the Phoenix in the air, it was odd to feel her in the water, with the rise and fall of the waves and the not-so-gentle swaying. Apparently gravity stones didn’t work with the water surface.
Ben peered out in the darkness, trying to make out the shape of the boat by the light of the barrier, despite the rain and ocean spray. The purple gave off just enough of a glow that a lighthouse wasn’t needed—it was simple enough for ships to look for the black shape of an island between the ethereal light. The barrier cut right through the island on the left, eerie light backlighting the trees, casting nightmarish shadows that they could barely see, and the island to the right loomed over them in the gloom of the storm. But their target landmass remained dead ahead, and Rebecca focused on steering through the storm and night by Keene’s navigation.
Raine stayed on Ben’s left, grim determination just barely visible on her face while she stared out at the barrier, sorrow in her eyes. She pulled her ponytail out and shook her hair before re-braiding the rain-slickened strands.
A dark shape on the water had to be the boat they were chasing. And in it had to be Lucio. Was Victor there too? No one had seen him at Kelstone, but there had been a different man, Christopher, if the information Brandon had shared before leaving was correct. Christopher, the Void Born. If Victor wasn’t up ahead, then where was he? What trouble was he causing?
Michael moved past Ben, and Ben turned to snag the mechanic’s arm. “How are we doing?”
“Making good speed right now,” Michael replied, gesturing to the sails. “The wind changed direction and is helping us.” He unclipped his safety line from the horizontal lines and reclipped it to one that ran up the mast. “But that isn’t going to last long, so we have to be ready to pull up the sails at a moment’s notice.” He slammed his heel against the deck, and a small spike popped out of the toe of his boot. He did the same to his other, then tossed Ben a two-fingered salute before jamming the boot spikes into the mast and shimmying up to the crow’s nest, undeterred by the rain lashing against him or the wind whipping about.
Raine leaned forward suddenly, tilting at the waist to be almost half over the rail. Ben lurched to grab her, but she popped up, whirling to face him, her eyes wide.
Ben latched on to her arm anyway, her expression sending ice down his already cold back. “What’s wrong?”
“Serpent!” Rebecca cried out just as Raine’s mouth opened. “All hands on deck!”
The Phoenix shuddered and rocked as something slammed into it. Raine fell into Ben, and he grabbed the rail, steadying both of them. She clutched at him, jaw working. “We can’t let it take us down. We have to get to that island,” she whispered. Fear shone in her eyes.
“I know.” The deck vibrated as the serpent rubbed against the boat. Ben squeezed her in a fast hug before running down the stairs to the main deck. He reattached his safety line by Geist’s.
“No lightning spears!” Schultz called out as she pulled a regular spear off a rack on the wall. “Not in the rain!”
Ben lifted his hand to his mouth, hoping she’d be able to hear him over the storm. “What about swords?”
She gave him a helpless look. “We have to risk it.”
He nodded and waited until the serpent neared them again, hardly visible, just a movement that didn’t fit with the waves. Then he leaned over the rail along with Geist and Ash, all of them hacking at the tough scales as the beast slammed into the ship again, the hide scratching at the metal, unleashing a cacophony like nails on a chalkboard. A few scales chipped off, and the serpent sank below the waves. Then the crew on the other side of the deck shouted as they attacked the serpent.
Above them, Ben could just make out Rebecca’s shriek over the crack of waves as a familiar kree-ya split the air. Ben automatically ducked, searching the night sky in vain for the terrors. Dread turned his feet to lead and weighed down his sword arm. How would they fight these creatures in the dark? The rain seemed to be lessening, but they could still barely see. Maybe the terrors would use their lightning attack, and electrocute themselves?
Raine came all but flying down the stairs from the bow of the ship, running past him, and climbing up the steps to the aft where Rebecca steered from the water wheel. A lull in the din of battle let him hear Raine, who was drawing her sword. Then the ship rocked again, caught between a swell in the waves and the sea serpent.
“This isn’t normal,” Geist shouted. “Terrors don’t come out in rain and storms. Serpents typically turn tail after a few blows, so why—” He swung over the edge of the railing, chipping off a few more scales. “Why are they still fighting us?”
“This is why you don’t say things in absolutes,” Roska shouted behind Ben. “You jinxed us!”
“He didn’t jinx us,” Raine exclaimed over the rail of the top deck. “You need to get over the superstitions already.”
Fire whooshed by the side of Ben’s face, drying the water on his skin and sending steam up from his hair. The flames burst against the side of the dragon, and the waves rippled, shaking the ship from an underwater bellow. Finn came alongside Ben and clipped his safety line on the rail with one hand, holding a blazing ball of fire in his right. Ezekial shouted from the other side of the ship, and a terror squawked overhead before falling to the deck, blackened. Another bolt of flames brightened the deck as Ezekial held it ready.
Geist whooped. “That’s how I like them! Crispy!” He shot Ben a grin, his pupils dilated with adrenaline. “I’ll take a sage over a lightning spear any day.”
Light flared over Ben’s shoulder, and heat rolled against his back. He gripped his sword, watching the waves rise and fall, waiting for the serpent to reappear. Maybe they’d scared it off this time?
“Land ho!” Keene shouted from the bow.
“Drop sails!” Rebecca yelled, her voice carrying over the deck.
Heavy canvas folded vertically overhead as they rode the track on the beam. The Phoenix slowed as the sails collapsed.
“Brace!”
Ben couldn’t tell who called it out, but he barely got his sword in his scabbard in time for him to grab the rail for dear life as the Phoenix broke through whatever dock had once been on Madrilla Island.
“Anchor!”
Chains clanked, and a hefty splash broke through the stunned silence of the combatants. Then everyone started clambering to their feet, or peeling themselves off the deck, patting down and checking for injuries. Michael came swinging down from the crow’s nest, shouting orders for Serena and Kerlee to get the ramp out.
Finn led the stampede onto land, a fireball held high in one hand, providing light in the purple-hazed darkness. Ezekial had a flaming orb of his own, standing a ways away, studying the vegetation as they passed it. Ben’s boots sank into the rain-logged sand, but it firmed as he followed the sages inland. Geist and Ash came up behind him, Schultz and Raine on their heels. Geist pushed past Ben, touching the plants, sniffing the air.
“Can you still track after all this rain?” Ben asked, concerned. All he could smell was wet plants and the fresh scent of ozone that lingered after the storm.
Geist nodded and rubbed his nose. “It’s faint.” He led past Ezekial and pointed at a path that they’d walked past. “This way.”
Ezekial rocked back a step, surprise painted on his face. “Great, let’s—”
The ground shook under their feet, like thunder rumbling through earth instead of sky. Ben bent his knees, absorbing the shock. “Is that the barrier?”
Finn shook his head. “No, it can’t be. It must be something else.” His eyes widened as he looked past Ben, and he shot his hand forward, sending a fireball streaking behind Ben.
Ben whirled around, pulling his sword in one smooth movement, then nearly dropped his blade. Dragons. Several that he’d never seen before. Long snouts, bony ridges on their faces, almost twice as tall as a man, and long tails. Dragons with vibrant colors on long, bill-like crests that he could see in the glow of the two sages’ fireballs. T
wo that looked almost like a scaly version of an ostrich, with long necks, sharp beaks, and clawed arms instead of wings. There were more, but that was all he could make out in the split second he had to see clearly. They shrieked, clicked, and roared as they rushed forward.
Ezekial and Finn shot fireball after fireball at the beasts, felling one, then another, and yet there were at least a dozen still there. Ben scanned the sky, but couldn’t make out any shadows announcing terrors.
The Phoenix crew poured up the incline from Ben’s left, and Michael paused for only a split second to stare at the dragons. He waved Finn on. “Go! We got this!”
Serena ran up to Ben’s side, twin daggers drawn. She nodded back. “You heard him. Go take that son of a whale down.” She dove toward one of the ostrich look-alikes, one blade slicing at an arm, while the other held the beak at bay.
He took a half-step forward. How could the crew survive this many dragons at once?
“Ben!” Raine shouted. “Come on!”
Ben groaned, then turned to follow the group that Geist led. The dragons were a distraction for them. And he could only hope and pray that the Phoenix crew would be strong enough to survive the onslaught.
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Christopher
Christopher swatted at a branch and rubbed a sticky spider web from his hand onto his pant leg as he followed Lucio through the plants. Loamy earth, a pungent zing from the rain, and sweet perfume from night-blooming flowers invaded Christopher’s senses, trying to lull him into relaxing, resting. But he’d seen, and pointed out to Lucio, the gleam of lights making its way across the ocean to them. There was no time for a break.
Already, they’d killed four guards as they trekked across the island. Christopher got one, and Lucio killed three with his Void magic, reducing them to nothing once he touched each man. And while Lucio said that such magic came with a price, Christopher couldn’t observe any physical differences for the sage. Maybe the price for Void magic was simply his charisma? If possible, Lucio had become more annoying since they’d arrived.
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