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.”
“You know how he is.”
Yes, but I’m still going to have a long talk with him when this is all done.
Tylon captains one of the ships in my father’s fleet. And lately he’s gotten it into his head that the two of us need to be … involved. A notion my father no doubt
persuaded him of. I, however, want nothing to do with the arrogant piss pot.
“Wouldn’t be too harsh on him, Captain. His men helped a few of the girls up
top when they were in a tight spot.”
“I’m sure. And how many times did the girls have to assist his idiotic crew?”
“Plenty.”
“I thought so.”
“Shall we go join the fight, then?” Mandsy asks eagerly from where she stands between Niridia and Sorinda.
“Sword?” I ask.
“Here, Captain.” This from Sorinda. The raven-haired girl produces my
sword out of seemingly nowhere. Sorinda hides more weapons on her than a spy
does secrets.
Ah, my cutlass. One of the first gifts my father ever gave me. I had Sorinda
hold on to it for me while I went on my mission. I can see she took good care of
it. There’s no one I’d trust more with a weapon than Sorinda.
Seeing them again warms me. Now I want nothing more than to be back on
my ship, but first things first.
“Let’s help the boys and girls upstairs, shall we?”
“Aye,” they all respond together.
We trod above deck and engage in the fight. It’s utter chaos. I have only a moment to register friend from foe as I try to remember the faces of all the men
from the Night Farer. This would be far easier if Tylon’s men weren’t mixed in with Draxen’s. Instead of simply killing all the men on the ship, I now have to be wary of the pirates who serve under my father in Tylon’s crew. To be fair, a couple of the men are mine. But I know every member of my ship so well, it’d