Page 151 of The Sea of Zemira (The Zemiran Chronicles 1)

The queen directed her dragon to the pirates, commanding Dergis to release a blaze of fire upon the Sybil Curse.

The pirates quickly took cover, looking up as she disappeared back into the clouds. Mazie could no longer see Cassia, but they had caused damage to the Fae’s ship from the cannonball.

Ardley held the spyglass to his eye, counting the Elven warriors who fought with the black-haired elf. “Eight elves fight with us,” Big Red said. “Not sure why they are helpin’, but it seems as though we share a common enemy. The queen’s protectors outnumber us, though.”

“Fire off the cannon, Kitten!” Boots said.

The golden-eyed pirate pointed the cannon again while her love loaded and lit the barrel.

“Fire!” Hill shouted. Another cannonball flew across the air, hitting the queen’s ship again, rending the vessel unable to move or return fire.

Mazie looked to the clouds, trying to locate Lincoln, but he and Anaru had disappeared from their view. She heard a roar through the clouds but could not see from where it came from.

“Alright, little pixie,” Mazie said, turning back to her palm.

The pixie’s wings fluttered so fast Mazie could barely see them.

“I need your help now,” Raven said. “It is the reason I freed you from the Fae. I need to get to the sky.” Mazie pointed to the clouds. “Up.”

The pixie frowned, placing her hand back on her chest, then, mimicking Mazie, pointed up to the sky.

“You want to fly?” The pixie said in a tiny voice. Mazie’s lips grew into a wide smile.

“You speak?” Raven asked, feeling elated. It would make things a bit easier between her and the pixie.

The tiny creature nodded again and fluttered above Mazie, holding out her hands. Speckles of pixie dust sprinkled from her fingers.

The colorful particles of pink dust clouded the space between Mazie and the pixie, tickling the pirate’s nose.

Mazie looked down, watching her feet lift in the air. She felt her body tilt forward, so she raised her hands out to her side to steady herself.

“I’m goin’ to fall,” she said. Though nervous about being so high up, a smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “I’m flyin’.” She looked down again, the ship becoming smaller as she glided higher in the air. “I’m actually flyin’.” For a moment, Mazie’s heart remembered her sister. Now she will fly for them both and for those lost to the king’s atrocities. “Thank you, little one. Let us get everyone else up here.”

The pixie bowed her head and zipped to the right, heading towards the rest of the crew, releasing the remaining dust from her palm, and watched as it landed on Kitten, Boots, Ardley, and Hill.

Mazie wielded her sword as the crew’s eyes grew wide, watching their bodies float into the air. Nerves pulled at Mazie’s chest. She would fight and fight like hell.

“Avast ye, hearties,” Mazie shouted through the sound of the cannons. “Look at your enemies. Fight for our lives and for the freedom of Zemira. Let us rid this world of that bilge-suckin’ bastard of a king. We must win freedom in the sea, and if we fall to the depths of the ocean, may our bodies feed the fish, and our souls fly high to the clouds!”

Ardley flew to the mast, raising the Jolly Roger.

“For the Captain!” Boots cried, lifting his sword in the air, pointing the tip of the blade at the sky.

“For the Sybil Curse!” Kitten hollered.

Hill smiled widely, raising his sword above his head, pointing to Lincoln and Anaru, who glided gracefully above the ship.

“Ahoy, mates!” Tipsy said, “Let us fly!”

* * *

The crown was within Elijah’s reach. Both the prince and his father dashed for it. Elijah’s fingers reached for the stones, wrestling his father until the metal of the crown broke. When his fingers met the emerald, he ripped it from the crown.

King Matthias’s eyes darkened in horror as Elijah slammed the gem hard against the deck. Tiny shards from the crystal pierced into his skin as the emerald shattered under his palm.

“No!” the king shouted, right as a green glow of power flashed through the sky and over the seas. The gem’s extinguishing power lit brightly around them. The energy moved quickly, covering the Portland Sea and all that lay in its path. Instantly, the sight of magic was restored across the kingdom.

Elijah shifted his body, his elbow crashing into his father’s nose. The prince jumped to his feet, picked up his sword, and pointed it at the king’s bloodied face.

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