Page 47 of Voice of the Ocean

“I’ll give you one more chance. Surrender or perish,” the captain shouted.

“I don’t think your threat is the deterrent you think it is,” Raiden said. “You haven’t even been in this fight, not until we were surrounded.”

The cargo ship’s crew shifted their feet. Torben, nearly a head shorter than all the others, seemed to disappear in the crowd.

“But you are surrounded,” the captain said, growing irritated.

“A temporary setback.” Raiden shrugged.

“Why don’t we just accept his gracious offer and be on our way,” one crew member said, his hands raised above his head in surrender.

“Shut up, Edmund,” Raiden said without looking at him. “The captains are talking.”

Edmund turned a brilliant shade of red and lowered his hands.

“He does make an excellent point. Why offer us our freedom? Why not kill us if you’re so confident you can do so?”

“Because unlike you, I actually make an effort to keep my crew alive.”

Raiden’s confident smirk slipped for a second. But it reformed as he turned to Bastian, who stood at his shoulder. “I think this old man is scared.”

“Oh, most certainly,” agreed Bastian.

“In fact, I bet I could beat him with my right arm tied behind my back,” Raiden said.

“Both arms, surely.” Bastian nodded solemnly.

“Quiet!” the captain shouted, the feather on his hat shaking.

“And blindfolded,” Raiden added.

“Enough!” The captain swept from the quarterdeck toward Raiden, each footstep beating a foreboding drum as he drew closer. Raiden’s eyes danced. He had planned this. He wanted to face off against the captain one-on-one. Perhaps if he could best him, there would be no need for further bloodshed.

Celeste hated to admit it, but she was impressed. Until the captain grabbed her instead of Raiden, placing her sword at her throat. “Surrender, or I cut her pretty neck,” he said.

Celeste stiffened. Her skin crawled where he touched her, just below the green bruising on her upper arms. The blade pressed into her skin, and she drew in a sharp breath. Her mind searched for something, anything, she could do to fight back. But she wasn’t used to fighting where swords were involved. One wrong move, and she’d be killed.

Raiden held his hands up. “Okay, perhaps we got off on the wrong foot, Captain... what was your name?” His eyes met Celeste’s, and she saw behind his act that he was afraid.

“Clarke,” the captain growled.

“Captain Clarke! Of course. You’re a reasonable man. Let’s not be hasty.”

“I am perfectly reasonable. I have given you your choice. Her death, or your surrender. I grow tired of your silly games, Sharp. Choose now, or I shall choose for you.” The blade pressed harder, its steel cold against her throat. A thin line of blood bloomed along her neck, and she hissed at the sting.

No one spoke. The moment was as delicate as coral—one wrong move, and it all could snap.

Raiden’s brows formed a hard line. “That’s hardly a reasonable request.”

Celeste’s eyes widened. What was he doing? Was he trying to get her killed?

“Raiden, let’s go,” Bastian whispered beside his friend, growing anxious.

Raiden’s gaze remained on Celeste. His eyes narrowed. He looked about as likely to surrender as the world was to stop turning. She wasn’t surprised. He had threatened to kill her multiple times now. She was certainly not the bargaining chip Captain Clarke thought she was.

“Fire!” Raiden yelled.

A loud bang echoed. It sounded almost as though it came from somewhere far away.

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