Page 51 of By the Flames of Her Fury

Just like that, we finished our trek through Ash Serah. Another blossom of hope withered and died with the prospect of leaving this island and heading to the third and final destination.

“You ready to go?” Tessa asked as she strapped her bag over her shoulder. We stood on the dock of north Ash Serah, loading the Grand Dragon. She and Kieran had been gentler with me over the last few days. I caught them whispering when they thought I wasn’t looking, flashing me smiles full of pity and patting me on the back.

I didn’t want their pity. I wanted to find her. But as we looked out into the vast, endless waters of the Imarian Sea once more, that resolve was becoming harder and harder to keep.

We sailed west for Twin Tides, keeping an eye out for any strange anomalies. Chancellor Bay said most of the disturbances took place in the center of the Imarian Sea, between all three of the island states. The deadliest storm patterns and disappearances had been reported up north, close to a place called Shipwreck Cove.

Each afternoon, I would stand at the rail of the ship, watching the sea change from shimmering turquoise to deep blue as we moved farther from the island. Two days went by, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The most we were met with was rough currents and a couple of small storms. But on the third day, the skies darkened dangerously. A thick fog settled over the waves, making it impossible to see anything beyond the ship.

“Storm’s a-comin’,” Captain Rossa said next to me, pipe between his lips. The smoke rising from the end of it blended with the sinister fog, and a shiver crept down my spine.

“Captain! There’s been a sighting!” one of the crewmembers called.

We both jerked around. “What is it?” Rossa asked.

“A ship. On our bow.”

We strode to the front of the ship, squinting through the haze to see a large vessel. “How did it get so close without us knowing?” I called out.

“Fog’ll get yeh every time,” Rossa growled. “Hmm…friend or foe, friend or foe?” he hummed in a scratchy, sing-song voice, those keen, beady eyes surveying the water.

Not a moment later, a horn sounded from the opposing ship, vibrating through the waters.

“Return their salute,” Rossa told the nearby crewmember. “We don’t want any trouble.”

“Our horn is damaged, sir,” the crewmember informed Rossa, twisting his hat in his hands. “From the Shattered Spine.”

Rossa grunted. “Well, that’s a bit of a problem.”

A moment later, a blast erupted in the distance. My head snapped to the side just in time to see a black cannon ball barreling straight in front of us, barely missing the bowsprit.

Realization dawned on me, and I cursed. “They think we’re an enemy ship.”

“Load the cannons,” Rossa ordered. “This may get ugly.”

24

Everett

Ileaned over the rail and waved an arm, trying to get someone’s attention on the oncoming ship. Figures became more clear as it loomed closer. There was a blond, bearded man staring at us near the rail, and beside him was…

A woman.

My fingers tightened on the wood. She turned and retreated out of sight, but not before I caught her face.

It can’t be.

A thousand memories flooded me, crashing harder than the waves below. I felt warm hands on my skin, saw golden eyes piercing mine, heard her voice humming through a stone wall.

“Don’t shoot!” I yelled back at Captain Rossa, not taking my eyes off the spot she disappeared. “They’re not our enemy.”

“What’re yeh talkin’ ‘bout, boy? They just fired on us.”

“Trust me!” I shouted.

“Ev, what’s going on?” Tessa asked as she and Kieran came up the steps from below deck. Her eyes were as sharp as her dormant jaguar half, her humor left behind in the face of danger.

I ignored them. “Rossa, raise a peace signal!”