Solveig slept better in the open air, without the “intolerable suffocating hull that creaked with each movement of the ship,” as she put it. He didn’t want to get stabbed, which she was capable of even in her weakened state, so he didn’t point out that the ship made just as much creaking noise out here.
He laid her down and tucked her in, placing a kiss on her forehead.
“I’m going to grab a bite to eat. Can I get you some crackers?”
Solveig shook her head and he left her to rest. He’d bring her some water at the very least.
Halfway to the galley, an odd sensation surged through his magic, attuned as he was to the sea. Sails that had been billowing in one direction paused, flitting backwards before filling again with a jerk of the ship, just as the current surrounding them shifted.
Something was disrupting the waters.
“Sol,” he called.
Her weak grunt reached him. He couldn’t help the smile that tugged at his lips. His poor mate. But all humour evaporated quickly as his magic trembled—whatever it was, it was coming closer. Despite his better judgement, he leaned over the edge and peered into the sea.
Shadows rippled under the surface.
He thought he saw a shimmer of scales, but he couldn’t be sure.
“Solveig,” he called again, louder so she could hear the alarm in his voice.
“What’s wrong?”
Westley didn’t have time to answer. Something big collided with the bottom of their ship, knocking it sideways. He flew across the deck, slamming into the foremast with a loud crunch, wood splintering beneath the impact.
Righting himself as quickly as possible, he raced over to where Solveig had been thrown. Panic for his mate replaced the dread of the attack. The mattress had landed on top of her, and he couldn’t see any movement until he reached her.
His knees hit the deck with a painful bite. Ripping the mattress away with one tug, he scooped her up. Her eyes fluttered open.
“Don’t scare me like that,” he whispered, placing a kiss to her forehead as he helped her stand, her legs visibly shaking with the effort.
“Sorry, next time I’ll aim to land on top of the mattress.” He didn’t have a reply to her sarcasm so he just held her tightly, forcing his heart to calm and silencing the roaring in his head.
His mate was hurt.
Their ship rocked from whatever swam in the depths of the sea.
“What the Hel was that?” Solveig asked.
“No idea, but I bet it’s not something good.”
Whatever it was knocked their ship again, throwing them back towards the quarterdeck. Westley caught Solveig in midair before she was tossed over the edge. They landed with another hard crash, but this time, Westley ensured Solveig landed on him instead of the wood.
Before he could react, a serpent tail resembling a deep lapis gem emerged from the water, taller than any building he’d ever seen, and came crashing down. He only let a split second go by before reacting, throwing a wave of water at the monster, knocking it out of the way and shielding the ship from its deadly course.
“What the fuck?” Solveig hissed again as the tail continued its onslaught.
“Any chance you feel well enough to help me fight this thing?” he said, sending another wave towards the serpent.
Her weakened state filtered through the bond. He was alarmed at how drained she was. But he had to trust that she could fight through it if she needed to, and she definitely needed to.
The tail came at them again at the same time its giant body crashed into the hull. A spike skewered up the middle of their ship, wood splintering and flying everywhere. Westley had to split his focus, staunching the water that gushed through the hole while battling the invisible monster from below.
Solveig cast her magic, throwing bolt after bolt of light at the creature.
Storm clouds thundered overhead, lightning blasting from the sky and straight into the monster. Westley marvelled at their luck.
The serpent tail disappeared into the depths of the ocean, swimming out of his magic’s reach.
