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How is there still water on my skin? How can there be so much of it? The truly terrible part is I could whisk it away, but I don’t know what the consequences would be. Would I lose myself and become the siren? Or could I manage to keep my head like I did those few times with Riden’s help? I don’t know, but at this point, I can’t risk it. Not with what’s about to come.
I don’t know how much time passes before I give up being quite so careful. I sing a low tune to the man who looked up at my taunt. He seems to be the weak one of the bunch.Get me a blanket!I hurl the words at him in the form of a harsh song. Only he can hear the intent of the song. To the others, I’m making meaningless noise.
Abruptly, he gets up and leaves.
“Where yeh going?” another one asks him. He doesn’t receive a response.
The enchanted man returns shortly. He hands me a blanket through the bars. “Just to get you to shut up,” I have him say, to throw off any suspicions the others might have.
“About bloody time,” I say. I rip the cloth from his hands and use it to wipe the water from my skin. Then I wrap myself in it. So much better. I can actually think clearly.
All I need now is to wait out the rest of the day. Possibly the night, too. I don’t know how long it will take.
Yesterday and this morning have thoroughly exhausted me. I drift in and out of sleep. First I dream of Riden. He’s healthy and well. He tells me again he’s a better shot than I am. We take turns shooting at dummies. In the end, he wins. But this makes me realize this is a dream. In reality, he couldn’t possibly beat me.
Then I dream of my father. He’s demanding the map. Screaming at me from where I rest behind bars, refusing to let me out until I produce it. I search through my clothes, where I know I’ve put the map, but it’s mysteriously not there. He tells me I’ll never see the outside of the cell. The bars start moving closer, crushing my skin.
I gasp out loud. The men on the other side of the bars snort before going back to their dice and drinking.
A few moments later, I slink into blissful sleep once again, thinking about the last song I uttered before being pulled back aboard this ship.
It won’t be long now.
***
I wake to the sound of gunshots. A huge smile stretches across my face.
It’s time.
“All hands on deck!” Draxen shouts from above. My guards all hurry up the stairs, leaving me alone below.
After flipping over the table in my cell, I check the leg for my lockpicks. They’re still here. All that time and Riden couldn’t figure out how I got out of my cell.
The fight above is loud. There’s screaming and grunting. Swinging limbs and clanging metal. Cursing and collapsing.
Eventually, I hear rapid stomping; it’s distinct from the rest of the ongoing battle. Probably because it’s closer. If I had to guess, I’d say someone rolled down the stairs. Shame, that. Probably will hurt like mad the next day if the poor bastard isn’t already dead.
“Captain, you down here?”
“Over here!” I shout back.
Niridia’s face comes into view, followed by two more members of my crew. I could jump for how glad I am to see them.
“Got your beckonings. Wallov came to me the moment he heard you singing,” she says. She looks me up and down. “You can’t be in a good mood. You look terrible.”
I cringe. “Don’t remind me.”
Niridia grins. She’s one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen, but that’s not why she’s my first mate. We met five years ago, both the daughters of pirates. Niridia’s my senior by one year, but she follows orders and fights nearly as well as I do. With hair the color of the sun and bright blue eyes, she’s a complete contradiction, as anyone who’s seen her fight can attest.
“How’s the situation up top?” I ask.
“Shipshape, Captain,” Niridia says. “Tylon’s men have nearly half of them on their backs already.”
“Tylon’s here?” Venom creeps into my voice.
“Sorry. He caught me leaving. I didn’t tell him where I was going, but he followed.”
“Bloody hell, that man needs to learn to mind his own business.”
