Something in my gut flared. This was some sort of trap, and I had run straight into it. “No,” I shook my head and crossed my arms. “I don’t believe it.”
The Crow reached into the deep pockets of her robe to retrieve a mirror. An obsidian compact mirror, engraved with a single eye whose vertical slit was set with amber. “Show me Prince Tarben of Solvardunn,” she commanded the mirror, then held it up for me to see.
At first, all I saw was my reflection staring back at me, eyes wide and tanned skin looking unnaturally pale.
In an instant, my reflection began to undulate and change form until my face was melting and dissolving into swirling,gray mists. The mists cleared to reveal a man, his handsome face set in steely determination, even as his body was flung around the deck of a ship that violently rocked from side to side.
“This is happening now?” I asked, my voice catching.
“Indeed.”
Prince Tarben was barking orders to a frightened-looking crew, but I couldn’t make out what he was saying over the chaotic choir of shouts and the relentless roar that could have been rain or wind or thunder.
My breath quickened. I pulled my eyes away from the scene to look at the witch. “Where is this?”
“Yonder,” she said, pointing in the direction of the distant storm. “But you’d better hurry—that vessel is not long for this world and there shall be no undoing the curse without Prince Tarben.” I could swear I detected a hint of glee in her voice.
I didn’t ask why she hadn’t portaled me onto the ship. Somehow, I knew crossing the storm was part of the task she had set for me.
I’d never attempted anything as idiotic as this. My powers would be useless against a storm of this magnitude. Not only that, but now the life of someone else rested on my shoulders; something I was wildly unqualified for.
Blowing out a breath, I tossed my golden tiara aside. I didn’t think as I stripped out of my gown and slung the leather pouch over my bare shoulder. Thoughts would only invite doubt, and I had no time to entertain either. Before hesitation could make itself at home, I dove into the unwelcoming waves.
“Best of luck, daughter of Sarina,” sang the Crow.
I felt the rage of the ocean immediately. The sea was furious and hostile. The ripples of the storm promised to annihilate everything in its path.
Every bone in my body barked,Danger!Yet, without looking back, I summoned my tail and swam.
Chapter 6
My heart was a cacophony of dread pounding in my chest as I swam furiously towards the surface. I knew the danger, knew it was stupid and reckless, but I was on this path now. I needed to keep going.
I forged ahead through the murderous sea, which was so dark and murky that I could barely discern what lay before me. Luckily, I didn’t need to see to know where I was going. I could feel it. The currents were pushing me towards the danger.
I pushed through the thrashing waves in search of the prince whose fate was now tethered to my own.
With every slash of my tail through the water, I thought,please don’t be too late. It became a rhythm in my body, propelling me forward.
Please don’t be too late. Slash.Please don’t be too late. Slash.Please don’t be too late. Slash.
Lungs on fire, I broke the surface. My thundering heart sank as the vision in the mirror unfolded before my eyes.
Above, menacing clouds were illuminated by streaks of lightning. Raindrops pelted from the sky like a volley of arrows. All around me, powerful winds breathed life into vicious waves, edging them forward as they rose and rampaged. Underneath, the currents shifted into a wild frenzy.
My body struggled to stay afloat. The weight of the leatherpouch wasn’t doing me any favors, but I persevered. I fought against the assailing waves until, finally, about one mile ahead, I saw it.
An enormous ship was being thrashed about by the wind like a child playing with a toy boat. It was on the verge of being completely submerged by gigantic swells.
Refusing to be paralyzed by the fear coursing through my veins, I dove into the waves. They tried to push me further away from my target, but my will was set. My body clashed against them, inching closer and closer towards the doomed ship, losing precious seconds in the resistance.
Still struggling to keep my head above the surface, I gawked at the manmade behemoth in front of me.The Queen Astridwas displayed on the soon-to-be wreckage. I watched helplessly as the vessel succumbed, piece by piece, to a far more powerful force. She was destined to bedeck the darkest reaches of the seafloor.
Treacherous waves struck from every direction, but I evaded whiplash by clinging to the side of the ship.
Why in confinement am I doing this?Swearing, I blinked against the heavy raindrops and searched through the chaos for any evidence of life. I squinted against the dark until I could make out signs of movement in the distance.
By some miracle, the mortals had escaped the death bound vessel. They had somehow managed to clamber onto smaller lifeboats, which they were fighting to steer away from the storm.
