Page 40 of Ballad of Sea and Sky

“You expect me to dochoresnow?“ I asked, incredulity making me sit back up with a start.

Caspian slid his gaze to me, mischief twinkling in his golden eyes. “Everyone on board works, Urchin. Even royalty.”

“You took me prisoner,” I snapped. “I didn’taskto be kidnapped.”

“True, but I did give you a rather enjoyable day in Nordhavn, which, based on the wonder I saw on your face, was something your royal parents would never have allowed,” he replied, turning to blow out the candle. The moon was still new, and the cabin plunged into darkness as we left the lights of the trading port behind. “And a rather beautiful gift. You’re welcome for both, by the way.”

I huffed, pulling the blankets over me a little higher.

Caspian sighed again. “I’m not your enemy, Marina,” he said softly. “If you give me—my people—a chance, I think you’ll see that. If you’re willing to hear the truth.”

“Good night,” I hissed, pulling the covers up around me to signal that I was uninterested in talking further.

Caspian was still and silent for a moment, and I could almost see him pursing his lips in annoyance in my mind’s eye. Eventually he shifted, the bed creaking under his weight as he settled for the night.

“Good night, Princess.”

Chapter 14

Iwaswokentothe sound of the ship being torn apart plank by plank.

A storm had arrived, despite the clear skies from the night before. Thunder rumbled as rain lashed the side of the ship, and in my newly awakened stupor, I thought that must be the source of the terrible groaning, breaking noises.

“Shit,” Caspian swore as he rolled from the bed, the whole cabin lurching as the ship caught a particularly rough patch of sea. My stomach turned, and I rolled out of bed myself, disoriented by the sound and movement.

The sounds of shouting on deck alerted me that I wasn’t the only one awake, and Caspian’s prolific swearing held an edge of panic that told me this might not be normal.

“Storm?” I asked blearily, pushing up from the ground and trying to steady myself against the bed.

“There were no signs of a storm coming,” Caspian grunted, grabbing a sword and nothing else as he barreled toward the door. “This is something else.”

The voices of the crew began shouting outside, Zephyr’s voice barely audible over the storm shouting orders. An eerie wailing song broke out, and I covered my ears reflexively.

“Stay here,” Caspian growled, wrenching the door open and throwing himself out into the night.

I rolled my eyes, not bothering to put on clothes or boots as I followed after him, the wind whipping my hair as I emerged to utter chaos.

It wasn’t a storm.

The sky was clear as I emerged on deck, the wind and rain and tearing coming from the swirling vortex of water that seemed to be forming around the ship, the waves crashing high and then dipping low as the ship was sucked into a spinning maelstrom.

“Fire!” I heard Zephyr shout, as sirens shot arrows into the water from the rail of the ship, aiming at the outside edge of the vortex. They had stopped singing, opting for weapons over voices against whatever foe faced them.

I ran to the rail, squinting out into the darkness. My heart sank.

There were selkies in the water, all soldiers from their sealskin and shell armor and spears, the blue sheen of water magic glowing from their palms as they grew the maelstrom that had captured the ship.

I heard a familiar voice call out, the sound barely audible above the raging sea, “Return our princess and no one has to die!” Vitulus had come to rescue me, and he was going to destroy the siren vessel in the process.

“I told you to stay inside,” Caspian growled, catching me around the waist as I stumbled, his gaze fierce and accusing. “Did you do this?”

“What?” I shrieked, my voice more shrill than I would have liked as I stared at him incredulously. “How would I have orchestrated this? I didn’t know he was coming!”

“Who?” Caspian thundered, dragging me with him as we slid across the deck toward Zephyr. A great crack sounded, and Caspian cursed as the shouts of the crew shifted to panic.

“Vitulus,” I said, gasping as we were tossed by the maelstrom and Caspian tightened his grip.

“Your betrothed,” Caspian said, an accusation rather than a question. “Who did you speak to in Nordhavn?”