The creature let out a sharp cry.At first, a rush of terror flashed through Kieran.Did I hurt it?Is it about to swallow me whole?
Then, though, its body began to glow, shrinking before Kieran’s eyes.By the time it was finished, the spirit had been reduced to the size and shape of a regular river otter, but with scales and fins like a blue-green fish.
It was, for lack of a better word, adorable.
The spirit made a delighted clicking sound, swimming in a circle before barreling toward Kieran.He yelped as it slammed into his chest, nuzzling into the front of his undershirt and squeaking happily.
Kieran’s heart was still racing, but he felt the fear begin to ebb.Gently, he reached out, letting the spirit rub its head against his hand.He scratched the side of its head, a small smile on his face.It may have lured townsfolk to their deaths, but it was under the influence of the Hilt when that happened.Considering what Hattie had said about its having served the town for so many years, he doubted that it posed much danger now.
Still petting the creature, he let his eyes slide to the Hilt in his hand.It was brilliant silver, heavy and solid to the touch.Even in his grasp, it seemed to fizzle with magical energy, as if it could spring to life at any moment.
I did it,Kieran realized through the din of the spirit chirping its thanks.I actually did it.
The moment he relaxed, the psychic strain hit Kieran.His limbs felt like jelly, and it was all he could do to go limp and hang in the water.As his head began to pound with a powerful migraine, the lake spirit grabbed hold of his shirt.It held the back of it like a mother cat with the scruff of her kitten, webbed feet flicking as it lifted him toward the surface.
As the light returned and Kieran’s vision began to swim with a painful, bright aura, the surface came into view above him.Moments later, his head broke the surface.
He gasped for air as a familiar voice said, “Kieran!”
He looked up just in time to see Sebastian on the rowboat, reaching out for him.Kieran wearily held out his hand.It was barely enough for Sebastian to grab it and haul him halfway into the boat.With a bit more wriggling, Kieran sprawled out, pulled the breathing device off, and gasped for air.
“I got it,” he whispered gently, holding up the Hilt.
“I knew you would.”Sebastian reached out and gently touched his wrist.“Now let’s get to shore before Elias’s mercs realize I cut the fuel lines on their boats.”
That was all Kieran needed to hear before he passed out, the Hilt held tightly against his chest.
Chapter Nine
Kieran awoke sitting in a hot bath.
He sat up with a start, eyes darting around.It took him a moment to realize he was in Briar and Delilah’s bathroom, seeing as their room was the only one on the ship with a bath.He glanced down and found he was still in his underclothes.His wrists and ankles were wrapped with angry red marks that stung as Kieran moved.He held up his arm and realized that the shape of the kelp fronds had been pressed into it.When he gently touched his neck, he recoiled as the raw skin stung at his touch.The kelp hadn’t cut him, but he was definitely going to bruise.
Not to mention the absolutely seismic headache rocking his skull.
But,he reminded himself,I’m not dead.So that’s a win.
He stood shakily and stripped off his wet underclothes before grabbing one of the clean towels that Delilah kept under the sink.After drying off, he tied it around his waist so he could head backto his room and put on eight or so sweaters before burying himself in a pile of blankets and, hopefully, napping for the rest of the day.Maybe then his headache would go away.
As he went to the door, it occurred to him that the Hilt was nowhere to be seen.
“Shit,” he whispered.“Shit!”
Without thinking, Kieran flew from the bathroom and, finding Delilah and Briar’s room empty, ran in search of one of his shipmates.He darted onto the top deck—empty as well.He did, however, quickly discover that they were no longer docked in Raven’s Roost: They had taken off again.
Kieran took the stairs two at a time before bursting into the dining room.He skidded to a halt in front of the table, where four pairs of eyes turned on him at once.
“Ah,” Sebastian said.At the sight of a towel-wrapped Kieran, the boy’s face went from stony and unreadable to wide-eyed and bright in a second.“You’re…awake.”
His eyes drifted from Kieran’s face down to his bare torso before immediately flicking back up again.
Kieran’s entire body seemed to blush bright red all at once.Ariel and Santiago were also at the table, trying and failing to contain their laughter, while Briar pressed a finger into her temple as if this was the most exhausting day of her life.Delilah was nowhere to be seen—at least for a second, until Kieran heard her voice behind him.
“Oh, you’re up!I was just grabbing some ice packs to put on those red marks all over you to try to bring the swelling down.”
Kieran turned to find Delilah holding two cheesecloth bagswrapped in twine in each hand.Which was all fine and good, but now he was nearly naked in front of the entire crew, looking as if he’d gone absolutely out of his mind.
Before he could linger on that thought too long, he cried, “The—the Hilt!I had it when I was in the water, but now I can’t find it—”
