He looked in no better shape than Ahnna. One of James’s eyes was swollen, his left cheek was a mass of bruises, and his lip was split. “A shovel,” was the only response he’d given when Aren had asked. From the way he moved, his injuries were worse from the neck down. Still, he could fight.
If he chose to.
James had proven in Elmsworth that he was willing to fight his own people for Ahnna’s sake, but whether he’d choose to fight Harendell on Ithicana’s behalf was yet uncertain.
And not something he could worry about now. Aren scowled as he caught sight of one of the clippers moving to cut them off, shouted orders, and then guided his vessel between two islands that looked like blades of rock sticking out of the sea. “We get as close as we can to Ornak, then make a run for it. If we can get inside of the range of the shipbreakers, we’ll be safe.”
Though not for long.
How long could they hold out against the full might of Harendell’s navy? Maybe they could hold them off with shipbreakers and the island’s other defenses until storm season came, but when it did, the bridge and all the islands would be firmly under Harendell’s control, trade merrily flowing unless Zarrah and Keris were able to do something about it. Ithicana had fought back Maridrina and regained sovereignty, but circumstances were a thousand times worse now, and Aren did not see a way back to where they’d been before this all began.
He guided his ship out from between the islands, heading toward another scattering of rocky outcroppings while one of the clippers pursued, gaining on them.
“They’re almost in range,” James shouted, his eyes on the clipper as it closed the distance. Closer and closer. “Everyone who can, get down.”
Aren held his ground, their lives depending on his sailing skill.
Two arrows splashed into their wake. James caught hold of Ahnna and pulled her low, ignoring her growled protests as he protected her body with his own. More arrows soared toward them, striking the wood of the vessel with heavy thunks. One grazed Aren’s shoulder, leaving a line of fire across his flesh. He swore but didn’t duck down. To give an inch would see them overtaken.
And then they were between two cliffs, pursuit left in their wake.
They wove and twisted through the islands of Ithicana. Backtracking and hiding in small coves, using every trick Aren had garnered over his lifetime, but they could not shake their pursuers long enough to escape. Almost like the Harendellians had a strong idea of where they were going.
And it was no longer just three ships.
Other naval ships that had been in the area joined chase. No longer a trio of bears hunting two rabbits but a fleet. Aren managed to evade them time and again, but their other vessel was not so lucky.
As he watched in horror, arrows punched through one of their sails and the ship lost speed. In what felt like a heartbeat, the clipperran straight over the small vessel. His people dove into the water as their vessel smashed, but the archers picked them off from above.
“Don’t say it,” Aren snapped at Ahnna as the Harendellians aboard the clipper cheered and punched their fists into the air. “Don’t even think it. Even if we threw you and James overboard, they’d keep coming. You’re both an afterthought in the scheme to take the bridge.”
She stood, but James caught hold of her, his hair soaked with seawater and plastered to the side of his face. “He’s right! Listen to your brother!”
“I am listening! When we get through this group of islands, it’s a straight shot across the open sea to Ornak, but we’re not going to make it,” Ahnna shouted. “We’re not fast enough!”
“We’ll make it,” James argued. “The wind is picking up, which will make it hard for the archers to have any degree of accuracy. With sails intact, we’ll make it.”
“We won’t!” Ahnna pulled out of James’s grip and stepped over the others in the boat until she was face-to-face with him. “Aren, let me sail. I’m faster than you, and you’re heavier for a counterweight.”
No part of him wanted to relinquish control in this moment. Lara was on Ornak, and if he didn’t make it back to her, she’d have to stand alone. Fight alone. All it would take was one mistake on Ahnna’s part, and that nightmare would become a reality.
Yet as he stared into his twin’s eyes, he saw the half of a whole who had never faltered. Never failed. Who’d go to the brink and scream defiance into the void, then dive straight in. Because his sister neverevergave up on Ithicana.
“Don’t flip us,” he growled, then handed her control of the rudder. “If we end up in the water, we are all dead.”
“I won’t.” She switched positions with him, dress fluttering around her legs as they flew down a narrow channel between island cliffs, gray rock and brilliant green jungle blurring past them. “When we get past these islands, we are going to be hit hard by the crosswind. Butwith everyone on the port side, it will be enough weight to keep us upright.”
We’ll flip.Aren could see the wind bending the trees on the clifftops, and fear screamed that it was too intense for her plan. That the vessel would overturn, and the clipper would crush the wreckage into splinters while picking them all off.I have to get back to Lara. I have to get back to her.
He clenched his teeth. “Do what she says.”
Everyone made ready, taking handholds where they could. They were reaching the end of the channel, and beyond, across open sea, was a hazy blob.
Ornak.
It was armed to the teeth and Lara was in command, which meant they needed to make it inside shipbreaker range, and they’d be safe.
“Ready!”
