Page 7 of A Spell of Bones and Madness
The rose that bloomed in her cheeks and the way her lips parted just slightly was enough to bring him to his knees, but they were surrounded by the rest of the crew and he promised himself that he would not allow himself to want her—to even dream of it—until he was completely honest with her. About his past, about his duties to the kingdom they sailed toward. Even then, the laws were clear. And what was a commander without adhering to the laws? Ember shot backwards in her chair, looking away from Ajax, her focus now securely marked on her hand of cards.
A soft snicker came from the other side of Ajax. Thalia leaned in close to him, herdaimon-like grin haunting. “You better decide quickly,” she whispered, “whether you are going to claim her or not. Otherwise, I am sure one of these fine men will beat you to it. The Skiathans are enamored by confidence, a woman who fights for what she believes in. Why do you think she earned their trust so quickly?”
It took all Ajax’s strength to suppress a growl, but Thalia was right. “She is the Prytan and I am a commander—we are not allowed, even if I wanted it,” Ajax whispered back, although his voice was much sharper than the seer’s.
“If you have forgotten, Jax, the Spartanis have fallen. She may still hold the respect of rank, but the laws no longer apply.”
A buzzing in his ears sent him into a spiral. She was right and, gods, did Ajax hate when Thalia was right.
No—it wasn’t in his ears—it was coming from all around them. The very bones of the ship rattled, knocking over goblets of wine and sending gold and silver coins crashing to the ground. Shouts echoed from above deck. There was no time to think about whether or not having Ember was in the realm of possibilities.
Something was here.
Katrin
“Skatá!” Leighton cursed, running down the steps of the quarterdeck, practically knocking Katrin over in the process. “Alert the men below deck, a ship approaches swiftly at our stern.” Several of the crew scattered below, but Katrin turned toward where Leighton pointed. This could not be happening. Not when they were so close to reaching their destination.
There, just over the horizon, a large ship flew over the water toward them, its sails black with intertwined silver snakes.The Typhon.It had to be. No other ship, not evenThe Hydra, could outpace them in these seas. ButThe Typhonwould forever be seared in Katrin’s mind.
How had it approached so quickly? Was it spelled? Was Kohl aboard? Or the red-eyed man? Katrin would slit his throat if she had the chance.
“Leighton, we need you back at the helm!” Katrin yelled, scanning the opposite direction to see if they were approaching land, anything that would give them a slight advantage, a way to outrun the approaching threat. They weren’t anywhere near Nexian waters yet, and Katrin wasn’t even sure if King Nikolaos’s fleet would come to their aid, even for his son’s ship.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Ajax, Farah, Ember, and Thalia racing up from below deck. Each carried their weapon of choice, except Farah. Instead, black smoke threaded through her fingertips, extending up her forearms.What is she?Katrin thought. The sorcerers from Votios were supposed to be merely legends, but Farah was no god, nor god born. Unless she was not truly Kohl’s sister? Or perhaps the Athanas line had kept some of those ancient, mystical powers hidden over the last century.
“It looks like there are around twenty men on deck, most likely more below. They all bear the banner of Harrenfort,” Ajax heaved as he approached Katrin and Leighton at the stern. How did he know this? Katrin was still getting used to the fact that Ajax was, in fact, Nexian, and now he possessed some farsight even she did not have? How many people on this ship wielded powers she had not seen?
“We can take twenty men easily. We have more soldiers aboard than they do,” Katrin said, looking between the two men who both had their jaws clenched tight, brows furrowed deep.
“It is not the men we should be concerned with. It is the catapults they have,” Ajax replied as he raced down the stairs to where others were preparing their weapons.
Starlight flamed along Katrin’s skin. She didn’t know how to control it yet, but she would try. Maybe if she could direct her power to the ship before it reached them, she could sink the wretched thing and be done with it.The Typhonwas only a few ship lengths away—if she just focused, the ship could burn.
“Incoming!” Ajax’s voice boomed from the main deck.
Fire lit up the sky as a flaming oiled stone spun in the air straight toward the foremast. It was as if it moved in slow motion, the object that would surely destroy them all.
“Do I have to do everything myself?” Farah screamed as she extended her arms and black smoke flew from her fingertips toward the hurtling rock, shattering it to pieces on contact. But even though they downed one flaming stone, more followed. “Katrin, I could use your help with these!”
“I can try!” she yelled back.
Home.Home.She needed to remember Ander’s words, to harness his strength and resolve in the moment. Clouds swirled overhead and lightning struck near the port side ofThe Typhon.Starlight and electricity buzzed along Katrin’s skin, heating with every breath she inhaled. She had done it before, that day onThe Nostoswhen she set it ablaze.
“There’s a narrow pass between the shoals up ahead. I think we can make it through!” Leighton spun the ship’s wheel hard toward the port side. “The beam ofThe Typhonis too wide, it won’t make it. I need you and Farah to take out the catapults. We won’t outrun them fast enough and if those take us out we will sink.”
Katrin whipped back toward Leighton. “But I tried to burn this ship down and she did not fall.”
“The Nostoshas protection, but only against the will of the gods. She will fall if hit by true fire.” He gripped the wheel harder, fighting against the heavy gusts that came from the west.
“I will not let her sink, not without her captain.” Katrin went running toward the main deck. “Ember, prepare the long bows!”
Ember signaled the men stacked inside the rail of the ship, who moved in formation, pulling back their bows in tandem. It was magical, seeing the way these men followed her sister’s orders without judgement or question. The soldiers of Skiatha were as loyal as they came and somehow, in only a week, they had learned to trust a foreigner as a leader among their ranks.
“Light them up, Katrin!” her sister bellowed as her hand dropped and the arrows flew from each archer.
Inhaling the salty air around her, Katrin calmed all other senses, letting the light flood deep within her well of power. Starlight blasted from her like a searing hot flame, sparking the tips of each arrow as they soared forThe Typhon.Some fell just short of the oncoming ship, while others met their target, setting the jib sails ablaze.
“Prepare your second mark!” Ember ordered, but was cut off asThe Typhon’s archers sent a row of arrows right back.
