Page 80 of Found at Sea
Alek returned my embrace before pulling back. “There’s no time for apologies right now. We need to leave.”
My heart stopped when I finally looked at Kellan. He was holding his side and beneath his hand, red stained his shirt. I closed the distance between us, but was gentler with him than I was with Alek.
“Don’t look at me like that, boy,” he said with a small smile. “I’m not dead yet, though they tried. It’s only a nick.”
I cupped his cheek and pressed my lips to his. His light scruff tickled my palm, and the stubble on his chin was rough as I kissed him. He smelled like leather and pipe smoke, as well as rum, but beneath all that, I smelled the scent that was unique to him.
Kellan rested his forehead to mine as he gripped my lower back, drawing my body closer to him. He didn’t say what was on his mind, but from the way he held me, he didn’t need to. Whatever happened that night had been bad.
I needed answers. However, I didn’t get the opportunity to ask the questions.
Townspeople started gathering in the square, and their voices rang out into the night. I feared a riot would be upon us soon. The ship came alive with activity as men ran back and forth on deck, hoisting the sails and manning the oars to get theCrimson Nightmoving.
Ian took Kellan to our cabin to doctor his wound, and I’d tried following, but was stopped by Alek. We needed to help the crew.
Once we left the dock and the town of Bone Bay slowly grew smaller in the distance, Alek finally started talking.
He told me about Kellan finding him and them having a few drinks in the tavern. Then, he explained about the five men who’d attacked them. I listened and tried to keep a brave face, but as he described the men holding Kellan down and being so near to ending his life, tears escaped my eyes.
What he said next sounded like it could be from one of my fables.
“Even now, it’s hard to grasp what happened,” he said as we sat on the deck against one of the masts. “All I saw was the captain about to be killed and the next thing I knew, the men holding him were thrown a foot away. I saw red, Fletch. I’ve never been so angry in my life. They tried to flee after that, but I wanted them to be punished.” As he talked, his eyes shone gold before returning to their normal shade. “I silently told them to slit their own throats. And they did.”
“The crew knows about you now,” I said, afraid for him.
“Aye.” He grabbed my hand and squeezed. “When the people started shouting at me, it drew the attention of some of the crew, and they quickly went to gather the others. Kellan ordered them to set sail and they acted without question. Once we’re out of harm’s way, though, I know there’ll be a confrontation.”
I suspected the same.
When I saw Ian walk past us, I jumped to my feet. “How is he?”
Ian pressed his lips into a line as he studied Alek, but then his eyes drifted to mine. “He’ll be fine. The cut isn’t deep and looks worse than it is.”
Tugging Alek along with me, I headed toward the cabin I shared with our captain. The urge to see him had me walking so fast it was nearly a jog. Once inside the study, I released Alek’s hand and went toward the sleeping quarters. The door was already open, so I walked inside, seeing Kellan propped against the headboard.
He was shirtless and had a white cloth wrapped around his lower stomach.
“Wipe that pity off your face, boy, or I’ll have to teach you a lesson.”
Paying no mind to his empty threat, I pounced on the bed and curled up against his unwounded side. He put his arm around me and kissed the top of my head, and I buried my face against his warm skin, releasing a shaky breath.
“I was so worried,” I whispered, laying my head over his heart. I listened to the measured beats, thankful for each soft thumping against my ear. Looking up, I saw Alek in the doorway. “About both of you.”
Alek softly smiled, but fear still clouded in his eyes. He didn’t know what the crew would say, and his fate was unknown.
If they voted to cast him out to sea, not even Kellan could stop them from doing so. The captain had dodged one mutiny. I doubted he’d dodge a second. The first one had only been a handful of men too…if the whole crew decided against him, there’d be no stopping it.
I held Kellan closer at the thought.
A knock at the outermost door caused Alek to turn in the entryway and look into the study. Kellan called for them to enter, and moments later, Kris walked in. Alek stepped aside and let him pass into our room.
“Everything’s all set, Cap’n,” Kris said, nervously fidgeting with his hands. “I talked to the men and we agreed to wait ‘til the morrow to discuss the situation.”
The situation. Also known as ‘what to do with Alek.’
Based on the stories I’d heard, men had good reason to fear mages. Anyone who’d seen Alek kill those men would for sure be on edge around him, fearing his power. But Alek was kind and sweet. He didn’t have an evil bone in his body, and I’d spent every single day for the past five months with him.
Kellan gave a curt nod of his head. “See you at dawn.”
