“We don’t go to Nethersea,” said Echo. “We follow protocol.”
“And take them to High Temple?” asked Thanavar. “What fate would they meet there?”
“That is outside of our authority,” said Echo. “Our duty is to ferry prisoners to the Navy at the next port of call.”
“And what, good Doctor, would the Navy do withusonce we arrive?”
“We have our Letter of Marque.”
“You know how the Navy regards our Letter of Marque,” said Thanavar.
“Dev, please,” said Echo. “Talk to him.”
“Gav,” said Dev. “We take them back.”
TheMarelethanswept along our starboard side.
“Well fought!” shouted Smoke. “We’ll round up all the soggy, fish-facedRhi’Ahrjades, take ’em back to old Boney! Ah, no offense, Dev!”
“We fought well, but so did they,” said Thanavar quietly. “There is no shame in an honorable death.”
“We take them back,” I said abruptly, and they all swung to look at me.
I clasped my hands behind my back and squared my face on the captain.
“I’m here as Navy,” I began, “and as your keel. With the exception of Ilvalour, we don’t know if any of these sailors are responsible for the Tree. We take them to the king.”
I could see his jaw clench, his lips tighten as he fought to control his fury. I stepped closer, could almost hear the blood pulsing through his veins.
“You don’t want any more blood on your hands, Kier,” I said quietly. “You don’t need it.”
I could see the runes spinning behind his eyes as he searched mine.
“There is no dishonor,” he seethed. “A captain goes down with his ship.”
“There is no dishonor in mercy, either. And sometimes, you need to listen to the bell.”
TheTouchstonerose and fell on the cold waters of the bay. The wind plucked at our hair, mine as dark as the erthe, his as deep as the sea, hiding and seeking but free to be found.
It seemed like we stood for lifetimes, silent but storming, before he released a breath and stepped back.
“Have Mr. Oakum take the survivors into his hold.” His voice was low and barely restrained. “I will not have them on thisship.”
His eyes bore into mine, his rage barely restrained.
“But if Ilvalour is among the survivors, I will kill him myself. Do you understand?”
I swallowed and nodded stiffly.
And with that, he whirled and disappeared into the hatch.
My legs were trembling, but my nerve was strong, despite the cold he left in his wake.
“Thank you, Ensign,” said the doctor. “That was the right thing to do.”
I nodded swiftly and pushed the hollowness back down. I turned to the rail to watch theMarelethanslowly tack port toward theEndorathil’s watery graveandbegin to pull survivingRhi’Ahrseamen from the waters. Dev fell in at my side, saying nothing, both of us trying to quiet the lingering horror of what we’d just been through.
At some point, I noticed a sound. A hum in the distance that grew louder, angrier, and the waters of the bay began to rise. They rose and fell, like a Thrum and a Call, and the wind picked up, snapping what was left of canvas and line. I glanced around at the horizon, the roiling clouds, and the raging Dreadwall on either side of the island. The curtain of water was shimmering once more, alive with chimeric like tiny shards of glass.
