Reluctantly, Bastion let Ulla go.
She steadied herself against the beam, and Bastion leapt onto the cargo.Innocuous boxes surrounded the crate, some of their lids askew.A glint of gold caught Bastion’s attention.Instead of reaching for the weapon, he pushed the lid off a neighboring box, peering inside with growing unease.A third, fourth, and fifth followed.He stepped back, counting.
So much treasure.Silk, tapestries, raw fibers in vibrant hues, coins, statues, and jewelry.Acarijewelry.
Bastion swallowed his disbelief and seized the lid of the long crate.
Inside, cushioned by a bed of straw, a thin metal rod ran almost the length of the box.Bastion reached in and grasped it, his fingertips just meeting as he lifted the heavier end.A wolf’s head, almost as large as his own capped it, an articulated tongue dancing in its yawning mouth between vicious teeth.He glanced over his shoulder at Ulla.Her eyes were locked on the object, and he saw the same question in her eyes.
How wasthisa weapon?
Another blow shook the ship from below, reeling Bastion back to reality.
He leapt off the cargo, leaving the weapon and gold behind.Fear and urgency threaded deeper into his gut, like a root reaching for water.
“Haddrick, what is that?”Bastion asked.
“I don’t know!”he whimpered.“But I know it’s dangerous.Lord Kyrith has something they want, and they intend to use it to get it from him!”
“What do they want?”
Haddrick shook his head, hugging Rowan tightly.“I have no idea.”
Bastion struggled to put the pieces together, but he was missing something.Ulla touched his arm and caught his eye.She was right.There would be time later to sort out this discovery.
He turned to Haddrick again.
“Let’s go.Now.While they’re distracted.”
Realization spread over the healer's wan face, and tears glimmered along his lashes.He looked like a man who was about to see sunlight for the first time in a year.
He nodded.Bastion’s gaze fell to Rowan.Then, to Ulla.
“Where is the whale?”Without hesitation, she pointed to the left.“When we’re topside, run for the opposite rail.”
They emerged onto the upper deck, mad with movement.A flat shelf of dark clouds reached for them, sheets of rain visible as it moved closer.Men yelled as something collided with the side ofThe Basilisk.They raced to secure sails and cargo, while others paced the rails with swords drawn and harpoons ready.For a moment, Bastion felt all but invisible.
Then, a shout drew his attention and Bastion turned to look.
At the helm, Buck stood with Bastion’s sword strapped to his side like a man freshly hung.He pointed at the four of them, his eyes wild and angry as he wrestled with the wheel.
“RUN!”Bastion yelled.
Haddrick picked up Rowan, and Bastion pushed Ulla ahead.The nearest of Buck’s men turned, their expression twisted in brutish surprise.
Bastion met them with his sword raised and his teeth clenched.He parried their strikes and blocked each slash to give the others time to reach the starboard rail.Buck thundered commands from the helm, his face purpling in rage.
Wind sliced at the pirates.Bastion danced with it, darting backwards and then forwards, spinning to sever and thrust.They leapt back, giving him room to take them down with whirring arcs and sweeping cuts.
The rocking of the ship grew less violent, and a new swarm descended on him.He tried to force them back, but there were too many now.He was losing ground.
A sound like a boulder hitting water exploded across the deck.Six men dropped in its path.Suddenly, Haddrick stood beside Bastion.A shimmering ball of energy hovered between his hands.It snapped and hissed as it grew.
“Go!”Haddrick exclaimed.Desperate determination joined the fear lining his face.
Bastion dragged his eyes from the power Haddrick wielded and lifted them to Buck.He was loath to leave his sword in such a man’s possession.Bastion shook his head and tried to push past Haddrick.The healer blocked him, his eyes wild.
“SAVE MY SON!”
