Page 264 of The Priory of the Orange Tree

Harlowe brazened out the island, his expression set. Loth searched his face for any sign of hope.

“Belay last order,” Harlowe commanded. “Let fall all anchors and douse all sails.”

“We can’t stop now,” Plume shouted to him.

“We can try. If theRoseruns aground, she’s finished. And that, I cannot allow.”

“We can avoid it. Risk the storm—”

“Even if we could somehow turn around in this reef, we’ll be blown farther south and becalmed when it’s done,” Harlowe barked. “Would you like to die that way, Master Plume?”

Melaugo traded a frustrated look with Plume before she relayed the command to the crew. Rope was hauled, the sails stowed. Seafarers clung to the yards above, boots planted on footropes, and heaved at the canvas with their bare hands. One of them was lashed off and slammed into the deck. Bone shattered. Blood mingled with seawater. With a calm that belied the chaos around him, Harlowe descended and took the wheel from his quartermaster.

Loth held on. All he could taste was salt. All he could feel was its burn in his eyes. When the first of theRose’s anchors hooked into the seabed, the lurch seemed to unseat his organs.

The crew let fall the second anchor, then the third. Still they did not slow. The leadsman counted down the fathoms. Loth braced himself as three anchors towed in vain at the ship.

Thunder boomed. Lightning flashed. The final anchor plunged beneath the waves, but the sand was too close now, far too close to avoid. Harlowe kept hold of the wheel, his knuckles taut.

It was the reef or the beach. And Loth knew from the look in his eyes that Harlowe would not risk the destruction of theRoseby steering her into the teeth of the reef.

Melaugo let out a blast from her whistle. The crew abandoned their work and cleaved to what they could.

The man-of-war shuddered beneath them. Loth clenched his teeth, expecting to feel the hull being shredded. The quake went on for what seemed like eternity—and then, quite suddenly, theRosewas almost statue-still. All he could hear was the patter of rain against the deck.

“Six fathoms,” the leadsman said, panting.

A riotous cheer went up from the crew. Loth rose, his knees trembling, and joined Melaugo. When he saw the waves around them, still buoying the ship, he pressed his head into his hands and laughed as if he would never stop. Melaugo grinned and crossed her arms.

“There you are, lordling. You’ve survived your first storm.”

“But how did it stop?” Loth watched the sea lap at the hull. “We were going so fast . . .”

“Don’t give a fuck, myself. Let’s just call it a miracle—from your Saint, if you fancy.”

Only Harlowe seemed loath to rejoice. He looked up at the island with a flicker in his jaw.

“Captain.” Melaugo had noticed. “What is it?”

His gaze stayed on the island. “I have been a seafarer for many years,” he said. “Never have I felt a ship move as theRosejust did. As if a god had pulled her out of the storm.”

Melaugo seemed not to know what to say. She slapped her sodden hat over her hair.

“Find us dry powder and muster some scouts,” Harlowe said. “As soon as we’ve cleaned up Master Lark’s body, we need sweet water and food. I’ll take a small party ashore. Everyone else, including those in the Inysh retinue, should stay and help patch up the ship.”

“I should like to come with you. If I may,” Loth cut in. “Forgive me, Captain Harlowe, but after that experience, I have rather lost my sea legs. I would feel more useful on land.”

“I see.” Harlowe looked him up and down. “Do you know how to hunt, Lord Arteloth?”

“Indeed. I often hunted in Inys.”

“At court, I assume. And I imagine that was with a bow.”

“Yes.”

“Well, we’ve no bows here, I’m afraid,” Harlowe said, “but we’ll teach you how to use a pistol.” He clapped Loth on the shoulder as he passed. “I’ll make a pirate of you yet.”

TheRose Eternalwas left anchored and with all sails furled, but the wind still swayed her dangerously. Loth climbed into a rowing boat with two of the Knights of the Body, who had both refused to carry pistols. Their swords were all they needed in a fight.

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