Black leather boots appear first, thudding softly on the wooden steps. Then come the matching trousers, the dark shirt—clean, pressed, purposeful. Elio ducks through the narrow scuttle, his shaved head catching the low lamplight as he enters. “Rune.” His hazel eyes flicker briefly towards Odelia, adjusting to the dim glow cast by the swaying oil lamp above us. “You’re needed up on deck.”
There is still so much I need to find out, but being the captain of a ship comes with certain requirements—barking orders on deck was one of them. I nod in Elio’s direction. He takes the action as my reply before he heads back up the stairs.
I throw a glance over my shoulder towards the woman. “Don’t go escaping on me.”
Both her hands grip the iron bars, panic etched in her eyes. “You promised me water.”
A slow, deliberate smile forms across my face. “Yes . . . but I didn’t say when . . . Odelia.”
I don’t stick around to see her reaction. Instead, I duck my head and stoop through the narrow opening that leads up to the top deck. A stretch of darkness and an empty stomach might do her some good—give her time to sit with that damn stubbornness.
The full moon bathes the deck in a silver, watery light. A striking contrast to the dull yellow glow in the hold. Sea water sprays over on the starboard side of the ship. The salt in the air comforts my lungs as I drag in a deep breath.
Above me, the velvet night sky is a blanket of glittering pin pricks strewn across the vast expanse. My compass stays in my left trouser pocket, where it currently keeps Odelia’s necklace company, but so long as there are stars I’d never be lost.
Elio leans over the edge of the ship, his forearms resting on the dark spruce. I join him, both of us staring out into the inky darkness. The only sound is the waves slapping against the bow ofThe Gilded Hartas she plows through the water.
“You said you needed me?”
Elio shoves his hand into his trouser pocket, pulling out a small green cylindrical bottle. He hands it to me but doesn’t meet my gaze. I can tell he’s pissed. He’d rather I’d left Odelia to her watery grave.
Perhaps I should have.
The cork lid makes a popping sound as I wedge it loose from the narrow neck. Tipping the bottle upright, I catch the hand rolled paper that falls free. It’s sealed with a pearlescent wax in the symbol of a trident and a six spoked crown. Myfather’s sigil.
With a soft sigh, I snap the seal, and unfurl the paper. It’s from Selene—my sister. Father’s pride and joy. The next ruler of Nareth. My eyes scan her perfect handwriting. I swear everything she does is always just so.
“Is it from Selene?” Elio murmurs, his voice low.
I nod. “She is just doing the elderly sister thing, checking in on our whereabouts. Says father is keen for me to visit soon.”
The sea breeze tugs at the edges of the delicate paper in my hand, threatening to carry it away. I roll it up with care and slide it back into the glass bottle. I’d been eighteen when I left home. Ten years later and I’m still not ready to return. Someone has to clean the filth off these seas . . . and I won’t turn back until I find some clue of what happened toher.
Besides, I have a score to settle, with a certain captain. I won’t let him slither away this time.
Boots scuff behind me and I twist around to find Killian. I’d sent him out earlier to learn the outcome of the Headtaker's ship. I need to know if there is any point in going after them again in the future, or if the Vipers wiped them out completely.
Killian’s short, curly black hair still glistens with droplets of water, clinging to the inky strands. Pale blue eyes take in the surroundings. His pointy, webbed ears poke through, confirming to anyone who might see, that he is indeed a siren. He nods in greeting. “Captain.”
“Killian. What did you find?”
He shakes his head, a slight smirk playing on his lips. “It’s good—for us. As for the Headtaker's, their ship is wrecked. Destroyed. I’m surprised it’s still afloat.”
My mouth forms a thin line. “And the Vipers?”
He shrugs. “I stayed long enough to see them celebrate their win. Most of them seemed to sport a few injuries but the casualties were far less than those of the Headtakers.”
Beside me, Elio huffs. “Fucking pirates.”
I’ve been idle too long, so I pace with a slow gait, as I ponder my next move. Killian waits, patient as always. So close . . . I’d been so close to the Vipers. I could have attacked from the other side. But the opportunity surprised us. I need to know more—how they fight, what their numbers are, what weapons they’ve got on board.
“Kil, rest a moment and then take Eithne and follow the Vipers. I expect reports for every movement. Use the inktopus system to send word.”Eithne hated trailing our ship anyways. Kelpies much preferred the thrill of the hunt, and I happened to know Killian liked the little inktopus that ferried messages between us.
He nods, twists on his heel and heads towards the galley. Most likely to fill his stomach with Bear’s cooking before ranging underwater narrows his options down to, well, food of the raw variety. Who could blame him? I wish I’d done the same thing. Instead, I’d skipped dinner to interrogate my prisoner and what did it get me? Nothing . . . nothing but her name.
Odelia. Who are you?
Watching her fall from theSea Banehad me hoping she was an innocent caught in the crossfire, trying to escape. She’s certainly not what I would have expected. Even now, her voice iscaught in my head.
