Page 74 of The King's Man 4

“I’m fine.”

I leave the cabin—with a warning look to Lykos, who smirks back at me—and after pocketing some ginger from the galley, I head onto the deck. I’m not feeling all that great myself, but the last thing I can do, having Lindrhalda’s touch, is throw up.

I walk around the ship, breathing in the salty air. The captain is at the helm, staring grimly out over the channel. I follow his line of sight.

In the distance, a great bloom of light dances over the water’s surface. My heart lurches as I hurry to the ship’s side.Is that fire? Is something burning on Iskaldir’s coast?No, it’s not onshore.

A ship is ablaze.

Flames leap into the sky, and breezes carry the first traces of burning wood to our ship. A distant boom and crackle follow a violent explosion. A burning ship in the channel would not be empty.

I turn to the captain, who bows his head at the distant sight. “Are we the closest ship? There could be survivors in the water.”

“Such sincerity. I might almost believe you have Lindrhalda’s touch.”

I rear back a step.

He faces me, his gaze settling on my arm. “I don’t believe gods and goddesses choose our fates.”

“Then why did you let us go?”

“My men believe.”

“They must be important to you.”

“We’re family. Indulging you satisfies their superstitions.” He steps closer, his golden hair falling over his shoulders like curtains. “I’m sure they’ll be disillusioned soon enough.”

“And if they aren’t?”

“Are you bargaining with me?”

“I want a promise that we won’t be sold into slavery.”

He pulls back, his gaze returning to the distant flames. “Lindrhalda’s touch is far too precious to keep to myself. If you prove yourself, I’ll present you to Prins Lief of Ragn. You could say he... adopts healers.”

Ragn?I’m not sure what kind of prince this Lief is, but if this bluff gets me to Ragn, I’ll be that much closer to reaching my mother’s systra. I gesture across the night-heavy waters to the flames.

The captain snarls. “I’ll never risk my men forthat.”

“Risk?”

His laugh is heavy, hollow.

I wait, dread tightening my chest.

“All ships to Iskaldir pass through that checkpoint. It used to be called Skogar. Now we call it Cinderbay.”

“Cinder . . .”

“It started a month ago. This is the fifth ship to be set ablaze.”

I stare across the dark, to the brilliant flames.Set ablaze?“This is deliberate?”

He grunts in affirmation.

I grip the dewy railing. “But the people—the crew, passengers...”

“It’s not the ship our stormblades are ordered to burn.”

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