Hollyn took a step forward and stopped at the sound of another body crashing into the door, but it remained closed. She crossed the hold and grabbed the handle from her side.
Kai steadied himself by her side. “What are you doing?”
“Just get ready. Whatever is on the other side of this door really wants inside. Let’s give them what they want.”
He nodded in agreement and readied for a fight. Maybe this was the captain’s idea of ringing the match bell.
Hollyn pulled on the door, grunting with the effort it took to inch it open. With effort, she managed to get it open halfway, when a white blob came hurtling through the opening and slammed into Kai, knocking him backwards a few steps. The object fell to the floor in a heap as small, white feathers floated on the air around them.
Kai rubbed his chest where the sensation of what the target of a catapult felt like still lingered.
“Bertie! Are you okay?” Hollyn rushed over and scooped up the mass of feathers mounded on the ground and hugged it to her chest. Damn lucky bird.
“Been better. You? Did they hurt you?”
“No. I’m fine, Bertie. I’m just glad to see you.” She turned toward Kai and held up the mass of white fluff. “Look! It’s Bertie! Here to rescue us.”
Kai couldn’t say he wasn’t happy to see the seagull, but he wasn’t ready to count the chickens...er...gulls before they hatched.
“What’s the plan, parrot?” He knew his jab would irritate the seagull, but he just couldn’t help himself.
“Need glasses, flyboy?”
“I see just fine. Now, tell us how we’re getting out of here.”
The bird hopped out of Hollyn’s arms and landed on a nearby crate. She began grooming herself meticulously while she explained. “Most of the crew are asleep, even the captain. There’s only a small contingent of guards. I say, we head up to the deck, lower the dinghy with us inside, and we rev up its motor and make our get away.”
“That is such a good plan, Bertie.”
“I don’t know. It sounds a bit pie in the sky to me. There’s no way the dinghy will be that accessible that we’ll be able to take it right out from under their noses.”
“Can you think of a better plan?” Bertie challenged Kai, and Kai hated to admit he couldn’t think of a better plan.
He knew Hollyn said she would put the crew in a trance with her siren song, but he didn’t want to force her into that position. He wasn’t going to ask her to do that.
“No, but plan B is we throw the crew overboard and steal the cargo ship.”
“That’s plan NWH, as in no way in hell, flyboy.”
Kai shook his head and rolled his eyes. Bertie might talk a good game, but what they were about to attempt would test even the craftiest of gamers. He’d just have to be ready to silence anyone who might jeopardize their escape.
Kai stepped outside the brig and grabbed a wrench leaning against a wall. “Well, what are we standing around here for. Let’s go.”
