Carina pulled my father’s book out of the stack and handed it to me. “I meant no harm by reading this.”
I stared at my father’s name on the cover. My chest burned with lingering guilt, still clouding my grieving soul. I tucked the book under my arm and nodded my farewell to Carina before making my way back to the shared crew cabin, where a thin hammock awaited me.
After a month at sea,the snaking, finger-like islands stretching south of the Death Dunes rose on the horizon. Barren, snowy cliffs jutted from the dark Atrulean Sea. The mouth of the strait waited in the shadow of the towering cliffs. Only a few miles wide, the straits stretched along the southern side of the Death Dunes, leading into the gulf.
Our ship crossed into the strait as a looming darkness materialized at our rear. The mage’s shield held firm as the massive shadow announced the arrival of the Mortis Shroud. My heart hammered as memories of our encounter with this evil rushed forward. We’d been on our way to Kayj when the sentient fog engulfed theEvecta.
Now, the cloud of shadows closed in on us, snaking up the center of the ship in a big arc over our sails and spider-webbing down the sides. The elven sailors kept to their posts as they watched the ribbons of death spread, choking out the light.
My breath became shallow. A tingling sensation pricked the back of my neck, and the darkness turned its attention to me. The shroud ripped back from its probe of theCenturion, and its massive form floated a few feet away from where I stood, white knuckling the rail. The Mortis Shroud speared into a living arrowhead as it floated with its tip pointing directly at me.
I waited for the roiling reaction of the Obscura power and found it sitting lazily in the center of my chest, unperturbed.
I stood there, facing the Mortis Shroud, aware all eyes on deck were pinned on me. That prickling sensation continued to nag at me. The Mortis Shroud slowly rotated in midair before it dissolved into its natural, cloud-like form, turning north asif searching for something. I blew out a breath as its attention released me.
My gaze remained pinned on the retreating darkness until Nerissa stepped to my side.
“That was something,” she murmured, eyes following my own on the horizon.
I didn’t respond, unsure of what had happened. I glanced to my right, where Vienah’s face had taken on the hue of the ashen.
“I’d better talk to her,” I murmured and stepped over to the young water witch.
Vienah did her best to hide the flinch that shook her shoulders as I stepped beside her. My heart winced at the fear in her eyes as she beheld me.
“I’d heard of it, of course,” she said quietly. “But seeing it.Feelingit.” She shuddered.
“I know.”
Vienah’s brown eyes turned back to me, assessing and curious. “It seemed like it could see you. Even with the shield in place.”
My swallow caught in my throat, and I kept my eyes pinned on Aquila, who sat perched at the quarterdeck. His gold and green eyes were hard on me, and he sent a wave of reassurance down our connection. I leaned into it.
A wave of storm clouds crouched on the horizon, and a shout from the captain reached us. We straightened at his approach.
“Vienah, may I ask your assistance with these?” He jerked his head toward the gray clouds forming on the horizon. “It would be best if we could make it through the strait with more visibility.”
Vienah scanned the sky, and her brows pinched in concern. “I’ll do what I can.”
The captain nodded his thanks.
The water witch placed her hands in front of her, palms up, and murmured a spell under her breath as she closed her eyes. The spattering of rain fizzled off into a light mist, and a massive blast of wind sent the storm clouds hurtling north. I glanced behind me to find the three elven mages with steepled hands, sending theCenturionchasing the retreating clouds.
It took two days to clear the strait, and I couldn’t stop myself from gazing southward. Despite the lingering tingling sensation, there was no sign of the Mortis Shroud.
As the earlymorning rays of the sun eclipsed the horizon behind us, I sighed through my nose. My morning routine with Vulcan was considerably more enjoyable inside the sheltered gulf.
Vulcan leaned against the foremast, staring past the bowsprit. His hazel eyes grew distant as he watched the mouth of the gulf approach. Vulcan was most at peace after our sessions. And I was content enough with his silence to come close to enjoying his company. I stood beside him and followed his line of sight.
Vulcan’s eyes narrowed, and he rushed to the edge of the prow, searching the horizon.
“Marisarma ship incoming!” he bellowed.
I flew to the rail and followed his gaze, straining to see the ship in the distance. Aquila’s screech filled the air in confirmation as he soared north. My stomach plummeted as sailors rushed across the deck, arming themselves for attacking pirates.
