Page 115 of A Flash of Golden Fire

“As you like.” Perhaps wehadbetter stay close to each other.

“Do you smell smoke?” Domingo asked, sniffing the air.

I sniffed and caught a whiff of woodsmoke. “Fuck. Is the ship on fire?”

Then I heard the sound of running men and a voice—Hanes, possibly—yelled to clear the way. I met Domingo’s gaze, and we turned toward the door as it swung open.

Two men carried the captain inside.

“Put him on the bed!” Hanes instructed Lahiri, who was helping him.

“What happened?” I cried, letting go of the bedpost and rushing forward.

Dinesh!

“Lightning strike,” Hanes said.

“Lightning strike!” Domingo gasped. “The ship’s been struck? We’re all going down!”

“Nah, it glanced off the side. We snuffed the fire,” Lahiri said with a calm and confidence I envied.

“Shard of the rail came off and went through his leg,” Hanes explained. “He’s bleeding pretty bad.”

I grabbed one of the oil lamps, struck a match, and lit the wick, then adjusted the flame and hung the lantern back on the hook. I stared at the blood soaking the cloth wrapped around Dinesh’s thigh.

“I’m all right, White. I’m fine,” Dinesh said, with a brave attempt at a smile.

He was alert but looked pale as a ghost as he gazed up at me before turning to Hanes. “Go back on deck and help Hillier. We’ve got to be at the back of this weather soon.”

“Aye, Captain,” Hanes said. “Here, White. Look after him. Keep pressure on that wound. Faraday’s on his way.”

My blood ran cold, but I wasn’t giving in to despair.

“All right,” I said, steeling my nerves and calling all the last vestiges of my bravery. “Go on, then.”

They left and I kept my hand firmly on the cloth that covered the captain’s wound.

“Figures the two of you’d be canoodling,” Dinesh said. “Found some time whilst I was otherwise occupied, I see?”

I frowned at his ill-timed humour. “We were terrified and trying to convince each other we’d live to see tomorrow.”

He nodded and looked chastened. But I didn’t like his sudden lack of confidence.

“Are you truly going to be all right?” I asked him.

“Of course. Merely a flesh wound. But if this storm doesn’t let up…”

“It’ll stop,” I stated, not willing to consider other options.

“Here,” Dinesh said. “I can hold this.”

I lifted my hand from the bandage on his thigh, and Dinesh replaced it with his own, holding the fabric firmly.

“I’m not sure theArrowwill withstand this,” Captain Martin said. “Why don’t you try to call on your powers?”

“My…powers?”

I knew what he meant but pretended I didn’t to buy myself some time.

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