AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Fifteen
Aika
The world around me fades to a blur as I race through the city streets and dark alleyways, my mind focused on the quickest route to the harbor. The sound of my paced breathing fills my ears.
There’s still time.
There has to be.
The ships at port are always lined up in the direction they intend to sail, so I veer to the right, toward the southern docks.
There are still a solid fifty or sixty ships to search.
I increase my pace, my legs burning with the strain, until the frigid sea spray washes over me, and I can see the navigational lanterns lighting up the harbor. My eyes scan the flags of the ships, and I mentally check off the designs and colors.
None of them are red and black.
It should be here.But it’s not.
Starting at the first ship again, I carefully rescan each one, but it’s nowhere to be seen.
My heartbeats slow, each echoing ominously in my head as I search farther out on the churning sea. Four ships sail in the distance.
No.
I grab the compact spyglass from my satchel, cursing as I pull it open and line it up with the ships on the horizon. The first one bears the mark of a normal trader. The second one is a flag I don’t recognize, but the third…
No. No. No.
A red and black flag sways in the wind at least five miles out. Any morsel of hope I’ve had dissipates completely. I’m used to this, to children being possessions and sold or traded at will. Ishouldbe used to this.
But suddenly, I’m not.
Jessa’s face is blending with the orphans I knew from my time on the streets and the children like her that I’ve known since then.
Then all I can see is Zaina, coming back from days of extra “training” with Mother, her face gaunt, her eyes guarded, and I’m left feeling even more hollow than before.
I failed her. I failed them both.
I curse as I throw the spyglass back into my bag, running a hand over my face.
She’s gone. After all of that, Zai is gone.
Jessa.Jessais gone.
And there is nothing I can do for either of them now.
A rush of icy air fills my lungs and coats me with more of the ocean mist. Somewhere in my mind, I register that I should be cold, but I barely feel the wind at all. Taking a steadying breath, I pull the hood of my cloak down low.
No, I can’t help anyone now, but at least I can make the bastards pay.
* * *
There area few stragglers still at the tavern. It isn’t as packed as it was earlier, but there are at least sixteen of the Pillagers left inside.
Sneaking through the back with my hood still covering my face, I warn the few women working in the kitchen to leave. Their expressions take on a mixture of fear and confusion as they stare at me, wondering if I’m serious or not.
“Leave or die,” I say bluntly, and they spring into action, signaling to the barmaid before they all take off down the alley.
