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“Stories parents tell their children to make them behave,” Kearan says. “Nothing more. They’re not real.”
“You said sirens weren’t real once. And now look at our captain!” Enwen looks to me. “Meaning no offense, Captain. You’re all right.”
“Thanks, Enwen.”
“You happened to be right one time,” Kearan says. “That does not make the rest of your superstitions real.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because—” Kearan cuts himself off. “How am I having this conversation? Enwen, go blather to someone who wants to listen.”
“You like listening to me.”
“I really don’t.”
“Stop it,” I say to the two of them. “We’re going ashore. End of discussion. Niridia! Get everyone on the deck.”
Though I don’t have eyes on her, she answers from below. “Aye, Captain.”
In a matter of seconds, everyone is amassed together, the crew eager for change after two days of our slow pace.
Wallov has Roslyn on his shoulders so she can see me from the deck. Lotiya and Deshel have Riden cornered at the edge of the ship, where he’s sitting atop a barrel.
He slept for a full day after his accident. Once he could stand on his own, he left my room, left my sight. He won’t even look at me now as I give out orders.
“We’ve no clue what we’re going to find on this island,” I say, “so everyone needs to be on their guard. What we do know, though, is in the past, my father’s men met a group of sirens in the water off this island. Very soon I will order the men to have their ears covered until we’re far enough inland that it shouldn’t be a problem. Is that understood?”
I pointedly look at each man on the ship. They in turn nodtheir heads. Except for Enwen, who seems to have covered his ears before I reached the end of my sentence.
“Though sirens are the only creatures we know exist for sure, we need to understand that there could be many other sorts of magical beings out there. Don’t be afraid, only cautious. We’re in uncharted waters, but remember, my ancestors reached the siren island just fine, and they couldn’t have had half of our talents.”
The girls laugh lightly.
“We’re here to find us a new mast. I want to be on and off the island as quickly as possible. We stick together. I’ll pair the men up with women while their ears need covering. Someone will always be on watch. Radita will take the lead.” She’ll know the perfect tree for our new mast. “As soon as we have this ship sailing again at full speed, it’s on to the Isla de Canta and treasure beyond our wildest dreams!”
“Rah!”
And then I will take everything from my father. It is the greatest punishment I can think of for him, but it doesn’t nearly equate to keeping a girl from her mother.
“Allemos,” I shout. “Get over here.”
I worry he’ll defy me in front of the whole crew and I’ll have to punish him again, but to my relief, he obeys. He can be furious with me all he wishes, but I am still his captain.
I pull him off to the side so we can have a private conversation.
“You can stay on the ship to guard it while we’re gone or youcan come help us find a new mast. Those are your choices at this point. Regret it though you might, you’re stuck being a member of this crew. It’s impossible for you to leave, and I won’t have you being an idle passenger the rest of the way.”
His face is unreadable. “You’re giving me a choice?”
I don’t break eye contact. “I think you’re an idiot. You’re alive because of me, yet you’re determined to hate me for it.”
His jaw twitches. I know he means to argue, but I press on. “Nevertheless, I did break my promise to you. That is why you have a choice.”
He’s quiet for a moment. “I don’t hate you.”
“All evidence to the contrary.”
He doesn’t have anything to say to that. I think he won’t respond at all. Then—
