“What if another giant sea monster that may or may not be a kraken attacks the ship?”
“I would kill it before it could hurt you.”
“You make it sound easy.”
He smirks. “Probably is.”
“You’re that good with a sword?” I quirk my brow. I hadn’t seen him, or Ginna and Hanson for that matter, train, but Relic Hunters don’t scream ‘ruthless kraken killers’ to me.
“I’m good with all kinds of swords.” Callum winks at me. He seems lighter today, and I wonder if the fact that we have a lead has taken some weight off the heavy burden he must bear.
“Is that a dick joke you’re making, Callum?” I ask, playing along.
He feigns a gasp. “Me? I would never be so crude.”
We laugh as the carriage reaches the docks. The journey hasn’t even started quite yet but I’m already optimistic. Ginna is waiting for us at the end of the docks.
“MeetMidas!” She exclaims, gesturing to the enormous wooden ship behind her. On the hull, I seeMidaspainted in thick gold letters that can’t be missed. The ship is even bigger than I expected – with three large masts, the center proudly flying the blue and gold flag of Ashven. The rightmost mast is flying a flag I don’t recognize – a splattering of gold coins on a black background. People are bustling around, heaving large crates and barrels onto the ship and the smell of seawater overwhelms my senses.
Callum can tell this is all a bit too much for me, because he gentlyplaces a hand on my lower back. “Shall we?” He asks, nodding to the ship.
I hesitantly nod and allow Callum to lead me up the gangplank and onto the oak boards of the ship. He walks me to the bow, and I can see a figurehead of the ship, a prince with a gilded crown. I lean over the smooth railing and into the sea below, watching as the waves gently hit the side of the ship.
I become more excited the longer we stay there. “This is wonderful!” I exclaim, turning to Callum, finding him already staring at me.
He laughs. “I’m glad. Wait until we leave and pick up speed. Hopefully you don’t get seasick like Hanson does.”
Ginna joins us as the gangplank is removed. “We’re about to take off.” Ginna acknowledges me bouncing on the balls of my feet. “First time on a ship?”
“That obvious?”
“Sometimes I forget what it was like when I saw the sea for the first time. When we sail out farther, and it's just us and the water…” She sighs. “There’s no other feeling that can compare.”
“I can’t wait. And I was told if a kraken attacks us Callum could handle it.”
Ginna’s brows furrow, and Callum shakes his head. “Don’t ask. Elia thinks a monster is going to attack the ship.”
“It’s an honest fear!” I retort.
Ginna chuckles. “No monsters. You might see a couple dolphins. Probably a lot of gulls. But nothing that exciting.”
Everything is exciting to me. Seeing a dolphin? I can’t wait.
The ship starts to move and for a second I’m startled. Before I realize what I’m doing, I’m sprinting to the back of the ship, watching the docks shrink in the distance. Strong gusts of wind blow my clothes against my body, and I’m thankful Claudia pulled my hair back in my usual braid. I stay there until Ashven is no longer in sight, the turquoise waters now surrounding us on all sides.
When Callum approaches me, he remains quiet, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I lean against him, and he wraps an arm around me, pulling me in tight. This is the fresh start I’ve been desperately wanting. A new beginning. New life. And possibly…love.
Chapter 20
Elia – Eight Years Ago
Coming to this camp might have been the dumbest idea I’ve had. This is now my second time I’ve been sent to the dunes, and the third kick in the ribs I’ve received today. The dunes are the worst of the worst. The normal camp is relatively flat – at any point when I’m working, I can see almost everyone else digging and scavenging. Here, I’m surrounded on all sides by sand dunes at least fifteen feet tall. The wind makes seeing near impossible, and sandstorms happen frequently. We’re not allowed to wear glasses to protect our eyes, and half the time I’m searching for relics only by touch, eyes squeezed tight to protect against the blowing particles of sand.
I’m the only ‘normal’ person from camp that’s been sent here, as far as I’m aware. No one else I’ve met or interacted with has ever gone, and no offense to the people around me, but they look like hardened criminals compared to little seventeen-year-old me. My guess is most of them are hardened criminals and this is a punishment instead of my dumbass who volunteered to go to the camp. I mean, I never volunteer to come to the dunes, but still.
The last kick to my ribs was because I dropped my shovel and couldn’t find it. The wind was blowing so fast that the shovel was already covered when I opened my eyes again, and it took me at least ten minutes of frantic digging before I found it again. That was ten minutes of not working in the eyes of the guards – hence the kick.
When the day comes to a close with the ringing of the last bell, I try my best to keep moving before the exhaustion sets in. If I stop and rest, I know I may never get back up. The thought of reuniting with my parents tends to keep me afloat. I know it’s been years, but I can’t imagine them never returning to the farm for me. They always talked about travel and adventure, and most of their plans had included me. Any local trips always did. The other possibilities – that my parents are injured or dead or, the worst though, that they didn’t come back for me – are pushed to the back of mind. If I linger on those thoughts, I wouldn’t be able to survive.
