A chill ran down Bastion’s spine.Over his shoulder, Rowan cried, “Da!Da!”
Bastion’s heart jumped into his throat, but he nodded.He turned on his heel and ran.
“DA!”Rowan screamed from Ulla’s arms.
She reached for Bastion across a yawning abyss of slick deck.Thunder cracked across the sky as their palms connected.
Together, they jumped into the voracious sea.
Chapter 10
The sea spat them out like wine soured to vinegar.
Bastion and Ulla staggered away from the reach of the waves and collapsed, catching their breath while Rowan emptied his stomach of saltwater.
Bastion lay there and allowed himself a moment to justbe.He stared at the sky, exhaustion leaving him easy prey to thoughts of regret over leaving Haddrick, followed by relief that he’d shepherded Ulla and Rowan out of danger.
But at what cost?
On the heels of that were the strange words he’d spoken while being tortured.They felt like they’d been pulled from a memory he couldn’t quite grasp, and the thought disturbed him.
He let his head fall to one side to face Ulla.She watched him through eyes drawn with fatigue.His stomach bucked at the sight of the cut on her cheek, now dark and scabbed over.Then it swooped as a flicker of suspicion flashed across her face.He sucked in a slow, deep breath, willing his hands to stay where they were instead of running them through his wet hair.
They stayed like that, eyes locked, until Rowan’s teeth began to chatter.
At the sound, Bastion shot to his feet.They needed to get moving before Buck sent men after them.He wouldn’t waste their hard-won escape or Haddrick’s sacrifice.
Bastion turned his attention inland, to the camp Buck had left, abundant with food, supplies, and horses.He didn’t relish the idea of another fight, especially since he’d had to drop the cutlass once they were in the water.All they had were Taro’s and Haddrick’s daggers.It would have to be enough.
He helped Ulla to her feet, and her exhaustion seeped through his palm.Between healing him and the swim, he was surprised she could stand on her own.Bastion’s gut clenched with guilt.She’d exhausted herself to save him.
Stubbornly, Ulla drew Rowan to her side and walked without aid.
The camp nestled in the embrace of an old landslide.Huge chunks of rock had settled at the base of a sheer cliff, forever gazing up at where they’d come from.
Bastion led Ulla and Rowan away from the exposed sand and into the boulder field, where they could disappear if things went sideways.She continued to study Bastion as she held Rowan, a faint glow emanating from her palms.His teeth no longer chattered, but silent tears streamed down his face.
Avoiding Ulla’s eyes, Bastion took Taro’s long knife and made his way towards the camp.He moved slowly while the wind harried him, strategizing.They needed to get away from the coast before the squall hit, or the pirates would be the least of his problems.
He scrambled over the rough rock, getting only glimpses of the camp as he crested crags and dipped into crevices.Soon, soft whinnies reached him, but he didn’t hear anything else: no laughter, swearing, clanking pots, or music.
Hackles up, Bastion crept closer, wild possibilities spinning through his mind.Had Buck warned them?Did he keep messenger birds?Or were they communicating some other way?
Everything looked grey and featureless, cast in the shadow of the oncoming weather.Bastion adjusted his grip on the hilt of Taro’s blade.He wrinkled his nose, wishing for the comforting weight of his sword, but he’d succeeded with less.
Keeping his body low and flat, he wriggled his way to the top of the boulder nearest to the camp.A surge of wind plucked at him, but he hung on like a tick.
A whinny rang out.One he recognized.
Bastion lifted his head and scanned the scene.This didn’t make any sense.
Tents lay in shambles alongside a few bodies, still and bruised.Banners with the silver crescent of Moonwatch flopped in the wind, like snakes caught by the tail.Splintered boxes littered the sand, and the remains of a fire struggled in the growing gusts.
In the center of it all stood Finn.
Half a dozen other horses milled about, their ties broken.Finn’s ears pricked as Bastion slid off the boulder.The Thatian trotted forwards and pressed his face against Bastion’s chest.Bastion exhaled and felt his body sag in relief.
“What on earth have you been up to?”he asked, righting Finn’s reins.
