Page 86 of Ship of Shadows
“You didn’t listen,” Driscoll said. “I told you to use a soft voice.”
Leoni joined me at the railing. “How’s it going?” Her tone was hesitant, like Driscoll was right and I was some wild animal she’d scare if she said the wrong thing or made the wrong move.
“I’m fine,” I said. “I got what I wanted: the pirate lord’s help saving my brothers. And the truth along with it.”
I’d told Leoni and Driscoll the long, sordid tale, and they’d been just as horrified as I was.
“I don’t think that’s all you want from the pirate lord.” Driscoll stood on my other side now, waggling his eyebrows.
“It doesn’t matter what I want.”
A pod of dolphins swam in the water alongside the ship, their gray bodies so sleek and majestic. I could spend all day watching them, standing here, just taking in the beauty of it all.
“I told you talking to her was a bad idea,” Driscoll said over my head to Leoni.
“You need to snap out of it,” Leoni said. “We’re going to Sorrengard. We’re entering this mysterious island run by a mysterious shadow king whom we know nothing about. Shadows will be attacking us. Pixies will be attacking us, and through it all, we somehow have to reunite the boys with their shadows.”
“Well, when you put it like that, sounds like a walk on the beach,” Driscoll muttered.
Leoni tapped her chin. “One part of the story I still don’t understand is why the shadow king wants boys.”
“Boys are malleable,” Driscoll said. “Think about it. If he was kidnapping grown men and women, they’d be storming his castle, constantly trying to escape, constantly trying to get answers about what he was doing. They’d plot against him. They wouldn’t just bow down.”
“Wow,” I said. “That’s a really good point.”
“It is,” Leoni agreed. “He’s smart. Taking orphans who have nothing to lose, who will see the shadow court as a paradise instead of a prison. But why not any girls?”
We all fell into silence at that, none of us having any answers.
I sunk my head into my arms and let out a groan. “What was I thinking?” I said. “Why did I ever think this would be a good idea?”
“Because you’re reckless,” Leoni answered.
“Thanks,” I said.
“But also brave. You’re attempting what no one has before.”
I lifted my head and looked up at the blue sky.
“Listen,” Driscoll said. “It’s clear Bastian is obsessed with you. And I’m sorry he blue-balled you.”
A crew member passed us, frowning as he overhead Driscoll.
He kept walking, and Driscoll yelled after him, “Metaphorically speaking! She doesn’t have actual balls.”
“Why don’t you just talk to him?” Leoni asked.
My fingers curled around the railing. “You mean for the hundredth time? You want me to go to him and once again beg him to what? Love me back?”
Leoni let out an exasperated sigh. “I meant maybe ask him why he’s avoiding you.”
I threw up my arms. “I’m tired of being the one who has to go to him. He knows how I feel. And I know how he feels. He’s being stubborn and hardheaded and a complete idiot.”
“He’s trying to protect you,” a voice said from behind us.
I turned to see Mia standing there, that yellow bandana tied around her head.
“We’ll give you guys a moment.” Leoni clapped her hand on my shoulder and nodded her head at Driscoll, who stayed rooted to his spot, gaze bouncing between me and Mia. “Driscoll,” Leoni snapped.
