Where are you going, Silverfin?
Behind their stern, at a safe distance, he could make out the white sails of theTempest. While in the moonlit water around the hull, Silverfin could spot the shimmer of the sleek tails of the other Mers.
“I could ask you the same thing,” he replied quietly, knowing that his kin did not need to hear his voice to feel his response.
Nor did he need to hear their reply. It was obvious what was happening around theOrca: Hawk’s ship had sailed right into a Mer-army headed the same direction as them. Some swam along aided only by their own arms and fins, while others rode their mighty horses and wielded their tritons. So much more beautiful than land-horses, Silverfin couldn’t help but think. With their ridged brows and their curved tails, and none of those unsightly hoof things, that required metal “shoes.” How poorly was this land animal made to require such crude biped intervention?
We’re going to sink the Portuguese treasure galleon.
“Not if we get to her first,” Silverfin smirked.
Hubris, Silverfin, is what got you into trouble in the first place.
“I thought it was my vanity,” he replied, running his fingers through his hair. Yes, it was coming along nicely. Soon, at least, he would be able to compensate for his lost appendage with having his magnificent locks back.
For Mami Wata!rose up the cry all around him.Mami Wata!echoed the horses.Mami!Mami!came the dolphin cry of the rear guard.
FOR MAMI WATA! FOR MAMI WATA!
The din of the marine cacophony pierced Silverfin’s eardrums with its rising pitch, forcing him to cup his hands over his ears. How unaccustomed he’d become to this! How used to the soothing, gravelly tones of Hawk’s voice as he murmured human sweet nothings into his ears. No, he could never leave Samuel. He was his home now, not the sea.
“Ugh, go away!” he hissed to his kin below as he scrambled back up to his feet, swaying unsteadily against the railings.
The din of the merfolk died away in the distance as quickly as it had started up. They were lucky, Silverfin supposed, that they held nothing on board that the merfolk would deem of great value, or else they could have easily sunk theOrcaon their way to shipwreck theEstrela.
He needed to wake up Hawk now and tell him about a shortcut that he knew towards the coast of Phallandia. It was a good thing, after all, that he hadn’t written any of the schedule or course down: this way, at least, he wouldn’t have to explain himself. There was no time to waste. They had to get to theEstrelabefore it followed the Siren’s call.
Even in the early morning light, Hawk could see the storm clouds that teemed on the horizon, black against the purpling of the sky. Angry winds whipped at his coat as he stood on the forecastle deck of theOrca, the sea-spray cooling on his bare skin. Despite Silver's assurances, there was no hint of anything on the horizon before them.
"Storm looks like a bad one, Captain!" Ruiz yelled from the main deck, voice raised over the sound of the wind. "Can't outrun her on this course! We need to turn aside!"
Hawk glanced at Silver. He gave the barest shake of his head, tight-lipped. Hawk leaned over the rail to call down to his quartermaster. "Steady as she goes, Ruiz! If we turn aside now, we'll lose the prize!"
"I hope to God you're right about this," he murmured, looking at Silver again. "If theEstrela's not there..."
"She'll be there," Silver insisted, eyes narrowing as the growing winds whipped at his hair. "We won't get another chance at this."
"I'm well aware of that, Mr. Silver." Hawk turned at the fall of Ruiz's boots as the quartermaster hurried to join them.
Moments later Ruiz was at his side. "Prize or no, even if we catch up to her we're not going to be able to take her if the storm catches us first. Our navigator is getting mighty antsy about this wind."
Hawk once again fixed Silver with a querying gaze.
"We're going to catch her," Silver insisted, an undeniable ferocity in his eyes. Hawk’s cock stirred disobediently, forcing him to bank down his arousal. He'd kiss Silver silly for it later - if there was a later.
Then, a cry came down from the crow’s nest that was music to his ears. "Sails!"
Hawk searched the horizon. There - a hint of white. He lifted his spyglass, trying to focus. The galleon was big, flying thePortuguese colors. And riding low in the water. Undeniably fat with gold.
"It's theEstrela!" He called, and a cheer went up from the men. "Signal theTempest, Ruiz! Raise the t’gallants!"
"In this weather, Captain?"
"Can't be helped, we have to catch her before the storm does!"
"And before they do." The words Silver murmured were so low that Hawk wasn’t sure he’d heard him correctly. But there was no time for questions. The battle would have to be fast and sure if they were to secure the ship's surrender before the storm hit.
In the distance, theEstrela’s sails grew larger as they gained speed. She was traveling under full sail, but the weight of the treasure would slow her down. Hawk eyed the approaching storm clouds, trying to judge their speed.
