As Theris approaches, I send Cromis and Niffon to keep Vordan busy. I can
only enchant three at a time. Vordan quickly stuffs the wax back in his ears before fighting for his life, one against two.
Riden’s breaths are short and quick from where he lies on the ground. I wrench the key from Theris and send him to fight Vordan as well while I unlock
the cage.
Vordan, deciding he can’t possibly best three men at a time, turns around and
runs for it.
I demand a pistol from Cromis, who is the nearest with a loaded gun. He rushes over, pulls the weapon from his side, and offers it to me. As I hold the pistol out in front of me, I slow my breathing and take aim at Vordan’s back.
Right where the heart rests under his skin. It’s difficult because I now have to make the ball dodge Theris and Niffon.
Get out of the way! I order the two of them. As soon as they both leap aside, I fire.
The shot rings out and Vordan falls.
Riden coughs. “That was impressive, but you were wrong. I’m still the better
shot.”
I toss the gun aside and turn to him. I’m unable to say a word to him because
I have to keep the other three occupied with my voice, but I still shake my head
at his ridiculous claim.
He asks, “Can we go now? I’m sort of bleeding over here.”
I shake my head once again, this time with determination. Oh no. I’m not finished with these three yet.
I quickly reach Vordan’s body. Once I do, I pluck the paper detailing out my
abilities from his greedy paws and tear it to shreds. Then I wrestle the map encased in glass from his pocket and place it within my own.
With that done, I take the sword from his side and turn toward the remaining
three men. I have no qualms about slaughtering them while they’re helpless.
They were prepared to do the same thing to me.
But then another thought strikes me. What about Vordan’s map?
I turn back toward his body and search him thoroughly.
The power of my voice is running out, but the map has to be right in front of
me. I can’t stop now. If I gave both maps to my father at the same time … I can only imagine how pleased he’d be.
I pull off Vordan’s breeches and shake them out, praying to the stars that a slip of paper will fall out of them.
“What are you doing?” Riden asks weakly from far behind me.
My guess is he knows what I’m doing but is startled by the manner in which
I’m doing it. I haven’t the time to search Vordan carefully, and I don’t see why
anyone would feel the need to. I hope wild animals feast on his rotting flesh.
When I don’t find the map on him, I kick his limp body.
Bastard must have it on his ship.
That’s when the last of my song leaves me.
With Vordan’s sword in my hand, I turn toward the three men who have regained their wits.
“This should be fun,” I say.
Chapter 19
THREE SWORDS SLIDE FROM their sheaths. I pounce onto the closest man, Niffon.
He deflects the blow as Cromis tries to get behind me. I jump to the side so I have both of them clearly in my sights.
“Keep her busy,” Theris says. “I’m going for the rest of the crew. Don’t let her get away.”
“Stay,” I tell him. I thrust at Niffon while sliding under a slash from Cromis.
“I’ll have all three of you face-first in the sand in no time.”
He doesn’t delay, rushing off along the shore in the direction Vordan’s ship
must be anchored.
Fine, then. I’ll deal with him next time we meet.
The two pirates in front of me are good at keeping me on my toes. They strike
simultaneously, hoping that one of them will be able to hit their target. The movements I have to make to dodge them are dizzying, but I don’t slow down. I
lash out with my sword and legs, but successfully striking one of them would require taking a hit from the other if I’m not careful. I have to wait for an opening.
It comes when they make the mistake of stepping back from me at the same
time. One, to regain his footing from my last strike, the other, to get more force behind a timed blow. I fling my sword at Niffon, who was preparing to strike. I
have just enough time to see my sword catch him in the neck before I turn to Cromis, who is still off balance. My closed fist pummels into his stomach. When
he doubles over in pain, I take his own sword from him and use it to help him take his last breath.
When both men lie dead at my feet, I try to get my sights on Theris, but he is