I frowned and looked behind the ship.
Pitch blackness. “How can you tell?”
“They’ve snuffed their lights but I caught sight of them just a few minutes ago.”
“Merchants?” I asked.
“It’s too dark to see any coat of arms… or anything, really,” Destin said. “But I have a bad feeling about it.”
I stared into the darkness, rubbed my chin, and nodded. “Me too.”
I heard of Corallure ships patrolling their seas like hungry vultures. Whaling was illegal for miles off their shores.
Their whale supply was incredible. If we could hunt here, we’d never have to go to far off remote seas.
The Corallure King paid handsome sums to anyone who caught illegal whalers and brought them to him. So merchants would often patrol the shores, hoping to catch illegal hunters.
But we’re not whaling.Furthermore, it was the dead of night…
I suddenly turned to Destin. “Do you hear that?”
“What?” He listened.
Water lapped onto the sides of another ship, brushing its wooden planks, teasing us like a shark circling its prey.
“Look.” I frowned as a dark silhouette emerged from the starboard stern. It was sleek, lean, and closing fast. “That’s no pirate nor merchant,” I said.
It was too well-kept.
The boards were stained to perfection.
The bow had a well-carved mermaid, unmarred by time at sea.
Every inch of the ship was decorated with filigree and gold foil.
This ship belonged to royalty.
And then I saw it: the orange sun flag of Corallure Kingdom. What were they doing out here at this hour? And with no lights?
Before I could shout orders, the ship turned broadside.
“Brace for impact!” The firing of cannonsdrowned my words.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
There was no time to react.
Wood splintered the air.
Fire erupted.
Oil spilled from barrels left on the deck.
The Crimson Wake lurched and shuddered under the impact. Several of my men were sprawled out, injured from the first cannons. Blood hit the deck before wood or oil.
My ears rang from the noise, but I was already moving and shouting orders. Grappling hooks clanged against the gunwale, and ropes flew.
My insides tightened.
