“Soon enough.” Vi looked out across the ocean, leaning forward to press her forehead against the railing once more.
“You’re not going to puke again are you?”
“No, give me another biscuit.”
Jayme handed her another and Vi ate it, determined not to be bested by the sea.
* * *
It was the first crack of lightning that jarred Vi from sleep. She was upright in her bed in an instant, but still seemed to be the slowest of her group. The door was open, Mare and Kora a blur, Jayme behind them.
“Strike topmasts!” Marcus shouted as he ran out of his cabin behind them. “We’re running the storm!”
Sailors were quick, pouring out from below. Determined not to be the last on deck, Vi rushed out after them. The wind howled and carried the fresh smell of rain, but the storm had yet to reach the vessel. It was a swell blotting out the stars in the distance.
A brilliant flash raced across the sky, splintering an uncountable number of times and lighting up the darkness for a brief moment before thunder rushed in. Vi stared up at the sky, dazed. She did not see the ocean, or the boat, but the end of the world drawing ever closer.
Had the lightning been red?Had she imagined it?
Another bright flare of lightning. Vi stared, both eyes open, unblinking. The thunder boomed, rolling with her stomach.
“Red lightning?” one of the sailors shouted to no one in particular—confirming this was not a natural phenomenon to them either.
“I don’t care if it’s red, blue, green, or pink. We’re dead if we’re caught in it,” Marcus shouted.
It was red because Lord Raspian was gaining power—Vi was sure. What Taavin said was true. The dark god had been set free, and the world was slowly falling under his control as he gained strength.
“How can I help?” Vi pushed herself into motion. Gawking would do nothing.
“Out of the way, girl!”
Vi stepped back, heeding his warning. Other soldiers worked the ropes attached to the sail, wrestling with them in the wind.
Vi sprinted, narrowly dodging a rope snapping against the mast, to stand next to Jayme and Mare at the other end of the deck. Marcus had said to strike the sails. Doing so would drop the boom. Vi held out her arms.
“Vi—” Jayme didn’t have time to finish her thought.
The heavy weight of the already rain-slick sail and wooden rigging slammed into them, nearly taking them both out. Vi knew bruises coated her arms, but somehow she managed with Jayme’s help. But even her friend was struggling.
“Faster, crew!” Marcus shouted over the increase in wind. “If we don’t reef the sails, we’re not riding this!”
“I got you two.” Mare’s voice appeared over Vi’s shoulder. Her thick arms strained as she helped Vi and Jayme cast the topsail aside. It was just in time to ready a second one.
“Pull slack from the reef line!” One man shouted.
“Holly, help me secure this!” Mare dashed across the deck, not even looking over her shoulder to see if Vi was following. “Hold the line.”
Vi did as she was told, arms straining as the damp rope bit into her palms. She felt the muscles in her back strain as another gust of wind threatened to capsize the boat. The waves were picking up now, their white crests crashing nearly on deck, sloshing foam around her feet and the rest of the crew’s.
“You’re set, Holly.”
“Where’s my navigator?” Marcus shouted from the quarterdeck. Magic was heavy in the air around him and the raindrops caught on his power, slowing mid-air before falling limply straight to the ground.
“Here!” Kora called back, sprinting from the rigging she’d been helping other sailors with. Vi watched as she jumped to the quarterdeck.
Vi took a hesitant step forward. Kora had made it clear she couldn’t be of any help. Shaking her head, Vi turned, looking for Jayme. Her friend was clinging to a rope other sailors were in the process of tying off. Vi hastened over to help where she knew she’d be of use.
“Give me a heading,” Marcus shouted over the wind, loud enough for the whole deck to hear. “I can’t see shite in this rain and dark.”
