Page 6 of Rebel in the Deep

They slide their chair to the map. “Might as well get this over with.” They spread their graceful fingers and press them to the edge of the map. “Nox of theAudacityhere, ready to give my report.”

A disembodied voice sounds almost immediately. “Report.”

They glance at me, gray eyes considering. “We took care of the beastie.”

“Classification?”

“Unknown. It was similar to a kraken, but more fish than squid.”

“Noted. Please hold for your next target.”

“No rest for the wicked.” Nox rolls their eyes. “I actually have a question about theCrimson Hag. We’ve heard reports of her sinking in Drash’s bay. What happened there?”

The voice ignores that. A few seconds later, they come back. “Travel to the sandbar in the west.”

I frown, Nox mirroring the expression. “Excuse me?”

“Travel to the sandbar in the west. I will patch through coordinates, but I expect you’re familiar with the location, as you’ve been sailing these seas for well over a decade.” The voice is so prim it makes me want to sneeze.

“Lovely of you to notice my wealth of history and experience. What, pray tell, shall I do at the sandbar when I reach it? Find and fight some sand sharks?”

The voice goes colder. “We have no current reports of sand sharks in that area or any other.”

“I’m aware,” Nox snaps. “Now, stop playing with me and tell me what my full orders are.”

“You will be acting as support and escort to theBone Heartwhile they transport a highly dangerous prisoner to Lyari.” The faint sizzling sensation of the connection fades, signaling the conversation is over.

TheBone Heart. That’s going to be a problem. It’s the one ship I’ve gone out of my way to avoid ever since Morrigan took overas captain. She’s the only person who knows who I truly am…though she currently believes I’m dead.

There are seven members on the current Council that rules Threshold, each more corrupt than the next. Usually they’re voted in by a ridiculously complex system that’s rigged to ensure only a certain type of person is allowed to occupy one of their precious seats. Council members spend the rest of their lives as metaphorical dragons, hoarding their power and doing their best to never do more than absolutely necessary in terms of their actual jobs.

Morrigan is the exception. She has been a member of the Council for years now, and she’s the youngest to hold the position. Rather than stay in Lyari and play politics, she became captain of theBone Heartand has spent the intervening time carving out a fearsome reputation.

She’s also my sister.

“No one does anything halfway in this mess.” Nox curses. “Guess I don’t have a choice after all.”

I should have anticipated this turn of events. TheAudacityhas one of the best track records of all the Cwn Annwn. It started because the last captain, Hedd, was a violent jackass who never met an enemy he didn’t want to beat to death with his bare fists. Nox taking over has only cemented that reputation. Their success rate is nearly one hundred percent.

Of course the Council would want them playing escort to the ship carrying Bastian to Lyari.

“There’s always a choice.” I force my spine straight and any emotion from my face. “I can’t make you.”

“Don’t pull that mystic bullshit on me right now. I’m not in the mood for it.” They meet my gaze. There’s so much in theirgray eyes, old pain and resilience and determination. “I’ll do this for you, Siobhan, because you’re right: there isn’t another choice. I’ll get him back.”

There’s a ringing in my ears, and it sounds like someone screaming my sister’s name while flames roar. Deep down, I knew I’d have to see her again someday, but someday was nevernow. A small, foolish part of me had hoped that someday would never come. My throat is so dry, I have to swallow twice before I can get words out. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me.” They take a step back and motion for me to leave. “Figure out what you’re going to do once you have him back to protect my crew and every other person who’s pledged themselves to fulfilling your vision of a better world.”

I walk out the door and back into the sunlight without answering. Because Idon’thave an answer. Not yet. The confrontation between the Cwn Annwn and the rebellion has been coming from the moment I recruited my first person. Ten years ago, when I was filled with fury at an unjust system, I was sure that there would come a day when we would prevail, when Threshold would become the realm its people need, a place safe foreveryoneand not just those with crimson sails.

I’m not sure when things changed. There was no finite point where fear began to outweigh anger, no single loss that tipped me over into the shadow I am today.

I have people on most of the Cwn Annwn ships at this point, reporting on their movements and bringing others into the fold. Most of the crew members aren’t local to Threshold. As the hub realm between all realms, we get more than our fair share of people and creatures who take a wrong turn, step into the wrong spot, and tumble from their realm and into ours.

The rebellion does their best to see these people home instead of into the hands of the Cwn Annwn.

If the Cwn Annwn finds them? Well, they are given a choice: join the crew or die. It’s the most efficient way they have of bolstering their numbers to continue to “protect” Threshold from monsters. Some of those refugees take to the murderous intent of the Cwn Annwn naturally and embrace everything that’s toxic and awful about them. Most don’t. They’re trapped and doing what it takes to survive.

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