As they flew out from between the islands, the wind exploded against them, and the vessel tipped, the port side hull lifting out of the water.
“Lean!” Ahnna screamed, and Aren and the others threw their weight outward, trying to counterbalance the intensity of the wind.
The ship flew, faster and faster, seeming to barely touch the waves. Rope cut into Aren’s hand as the port side rose higher, lifting him and the others into the air.
We’re going to flip.
Aren’s lips parted to scream a warning at Ahnna, but from deep within him, something stronger and more primal than fear bellowed,Trust her.
Sea spray stung his eyes, but Aren fixed his gaze on the island that was their salvation.
Faster.
Ornak grew in the distance, and Aren made out a few flashes ofsteel. Motion in the dense jungle across the cliffs. Most important, the tiny opening into the cove, and the gleam of chains being lifted.
Almost there.
Against his will, Aren looked backward, andalmost therefelt nowhere near close enough. Two clippers were right on their wake. Their decks were swarming with soldiers, archers with arrows nocked, and a heartbeat later they let a volley fly.
Aren watched the arrows soar through the air, knowing that there was no way to evade them. No place to hide, because to move from his position would see the ship keel over and they’d be overrun. “Steady!” he screamed.
Ahnna’s expression was tight. Focused. Not once did she look over her shoulder, and he knew there was nothing but the wind, the ship, and the safety of the cove ahead. They’d either beat them, or they wouldn’t. They’d either all fall to arrows, or they wouldn’t. Ahnna sailed on a razor’s edge, her nerves not faltering.
Surf hammered against the hulls of the Harendellian ships as they gained ground, and Aren could see the individual faces of the archers. The anger on them, because they believed that this pursuit was just. Believed that Ithicana was the enemy.
Crack!
The noise was faint, but Aren spotted a boulder soaring through the air to land with a splash in the water.
Not much farther.
An arrow thudded into the deck. Another grazed his forearm, but Aren barely felt the sting.
Another boulder hit the water.
So close. They were so close.
Lia screamed, an arrow jutting from her side. Aren reached for his friend, but their fingers only brushed as she fell, disappearing into the waves.
“Lia!” Ahnna screamed, her weight shifting, and Aren shouted at her, “Stay the course!”
But more arrows were falling.
Two pierced the sails, and two more screams cut the air, figures falling in Aren’s periphery.
The vessel tilted precariously, Ahnna forced to turn away from the wind lest they go over entirely.
They had been so close. So damned close. The clipper was nearly on them, but Aren stared at the island where the love of his life was watching. “Lara!” he screamed, not wanting her to see this moment.
Crack!
A boulder flew over his head, sending a wave of water over them as it struck the sea.
Crack!
Another boulder flew, but this time, his ears filled with a crunch instead of a splash. It had struck true, taking out one of the clipper’s masts. It fell sideways, taking another mast with it.
Crack!
