Page 94 of Found at Sea
“There’s no way anyone could’ve known where we were going,” I said, grabbing his hand.
“They could if someone told them,” another voice said.
Bumps formed on my arms upon hearing the words. I hadn’t heard anyone enter the cabin.
Alek looked at me before turning toward the door. After leaving the sleeping quarters and entering the study, he released my hand and stepped in front of me. Protecting me.
I wasn’t the one that needed the protecting, though.
Dax stood beside the captain’s desk. He gave a chilling smile as he looked down at the map before lifting his gaze to us.
“And that someone was you,” Alek stated. “Your loyalty to your captain is astounding. Truly.”
“Loyalty?” Dax scoffed and slammed his fist on the desk before striding toward us. “The captain lost my loyalty the day I discovered what you really are, ya filthy mage.”
“So that’s when you decided to betray all of us.” Alek balled his fists, and I wondered if he was trying to call forth his powers. He’d told me that until he reached age eighteen, his abilities were unpredictable and seemed to only arise during moments of strong emotion. “And for what? Some coin that you’ll spend in a week?”
“What I do with my payment matters not to you, for you’ll be dead.” Dax walked closer, and Alek put me more behind him. “That ship should be upon us any moment. Make it easier for yourself and come with me willingly. But I’ll force you if I have to. It’d be my pleasure.”
Canon fire pierced the air right before the ship jolted.
I grabbed onto Alek’s arm as fear coiled inside my gut. Orders were shouted on the deck, but my heart was pounding so hard I couldn’t hear anything other than its beating in my ears. Another canon blast, but that one sounded as if it came from theCrimson, countering the initial attack.
“Time’s up,” Dax said with a cold smile. “Looks like it’ll be force then, eh?”
He moved to grab Alek.
The next moment happened so fast. Just like the night all those months ago in the tavern when I’d attacked the drunken man who’d had his hands on me, I acted on impulse. The closest thing within my reach was my lute. I lunged for it and grabbed the neck right as Dax clutched Alek’s arm.
And then I swung as hard as I could.
The body of the bulky instrument slammed into the side of Dax’s head, causing him to lose grip on Alek and fall into the table. The lute broke in two, and I tossed the piece I held to the floor before taking Alek’s hand and running for the door.
Right as I opened the door, another cannonball hit the ship portside.
Alek covered my body with his and shielded me from flying debris. I buried my face against his chest as my whole body shook with fear. He then took charge and dragged me away from the cabin and toward the stairs leading to the upper deck. It seemed to be the safest spot at the moment.
“Where’s Kellan?” I shouted above the roar of chaos.
Alek shook his head, taking in our surroundings. I did the same.
The attacking ship was about the same size as theCrimson Nightand canons jutted out from the gundeck.
Byron, being the master gunner, could be heard yelling above the other shouts, issuing orders of attack. Smoke rose from one side of our vessel. The waves were jagged with the commotion, and as the wind picked up speed the sails sounded like claps of thunder.
I searched the men and still couldn’t spot my captain. My heart.
That’s when another hit came toward the center of the ship, causing the vessel to jolt again. I stumbled at the impact, falling into Alek. Quickly, I righted myself before taking off down the stairs and to the main deck. Panic constricted my throat as I saw men lying near the center spar, blood pooling around their heads and around their lifeless bodies.
Kellan, where are you?My heart raced and I felt ill at the thought of him being among the dead.No. He’s alive. I know it.
Men from the other ship swung from ropes and grabbed at the nets of our masts. Making contact, they slid down and onto theCrimson.
“Fletch!” Alek tackled me to the deck just as a bullet whizzed over my head.
A man from the other crew stood to my left, holding a pistol. He grinned, showing his rotten teeth, and aimed it at us. Before his finger even touched the trigger, a sword exited the front of his throat. Blood spurted on the front of the man’s shirt as more dripped from his mouth.
When he slumped to the deck, I saw Kellan standing behind him.
