PHOENIX
Leading the way, Daegel hops out and I follow first.
Our carriage is parked at the edge of the harbor, right next to the water where a small boat with four oars awaits us. With ease, Daegel hops down into the boat and holds out a hand for me. I take it and hop in. The rest of the group follows.
It’s tight as we squeeze onto the wooden benches, our shoulders brushing. Daegel takes two oars and The Giant takes the other two.
We’re on the move in no time.
Tonight is one of those rare nights when the sky is cloudy, the moon hidden behind a thick veil of dark clouds. I can count the cloudy days and nights we had in Ekios on one hand since the day I got here.
My stomach twists, uneasy. I shrug off the prickling at the back of my neck.
It’s good the moonlight isn’t present. It’s easier for us to approach the enemy without getting noticed. Dark water swishes around us as the boat soars forward with The Giant and Daegel oaring in tandem.
When I peek over the side of the boat, all I see is pitch blackness. As if what’s beneath us is a bottomless sea.
Finally, we slow next to a large ship. Daegel maneuvers our boat close to the heavy metal chain of the anchor. Wordlessly, he gestures up. I nod and step forward first.
Daegel blocks my way with his forearm. He points at The Giant and jerks his chin up. The Giant squeezes past me and climbs first. Despite his size, he’s scaling the iron chain with ease.
I can’t believe this.
My cheeks burn, hidden behind the Ezkai mask. If Daegel plays favorites like that, others will start to notice. I’ll have to have a serious conversation about this with him once we’re done with the mission.
Once The Giant reaches the top of the chain and climbs onto the small ledge leading to an open window a few feet away, Daegel removes his arm and gestures for me to move forward.
Protective asshole.
Thank fuck for the leather gloves. The chain is sticky with tar, and stinks horribly. Yet, I climb up quickly using the strength of my legs, arms, and core. Once I’m at the top, I follow the route The Giant took.
It’s harder than it looked from down there.
The ledge is tiny. There’s only space to stand on tiptoes. I grapple with anything to hold on to so I don’t plummet down into the water and announce to everyone on the ship that the Ezkai have arrived.
My lungs heave when I finally reach the window and carefully jump inside. My feet land on solid wood floor with a creak. I cringe, and freeze. Even in the darkness, through the mask, I feel The Giant’s burning gaze on me.
One by one, our group climbs inside. Daegel’s the last one. He takes the lead again, and we navigate our way through the dimly lit belly of the ship.
As we pass the barrels and crates full of supplies, not a single soul meets us. Most of the crew must be sleeping in the floor above us while the others are on the deck.
We approach the back of the ship where the stairs to the next level are. We climb up the stairs, our feet light, backs pressed to the walls. At the top of the stairs is the sleeping quarters.
A few snores come from the hammocks fitted between wooden beams where pirates snooze. Most of the beds are empty, though. Immediately, all hair on the back of my neck rises.
The Giant approaches the first hammock on the left, where a fae woman sleeps on her side. He slides a blade across her throat. Gentle snores are replaced with the gurgling sound of her choking on blood.
Fern and Bloom make quick work of the other few sleeping pirates. Daegel stalks towards the galley to take care of the cook. I follow. A human man with a large belly sits on a low wooden bench, snoring.
Daegel’s lethal in the way he moves, the way he wields the blade as he quickly ends the man’s life without him even realizing it. Right as we turn to go, a young dwarf boy emerges from the narrow door on my right.
He halts, eyes going wide as he takes us in.
He’s young, oh, so young. Not even sixteen years old.
Daegel behind me tenses. Slowly, I unsheathe the blade strapped to my thigh. Kid’s eyes dart to my hand with the blade and then back up to my face.
He shows no signs of fear as he whirls on his heel and darts right back where he came from. Unfortunately, my blade sinks into the middle of his back before he can get far enough.
