Page 26 of Vengeance of the Pirate Queen

“Heave!” Dimella calls in time, signaling the crew when to stroke. “Heave!”

Many grunt with each pull of the heavy oars, and I note that all the rowers are staring at me or Dimella. Where else do they have to look except right in front of them?

Dimella has a purpose, calling out the tempo of the rowing, but I am useless. There’s nothing I can do save stand over everyone and watch, yet there’s nothing worse than being the one laboring while someone near you isn’t.

I would hate me if I were down there, watching myself just standing around.

I should have asked to be put in the first rotation, but it’s too late for that now. I can’t switch with someone; it’ll be seen as a sign of favoritism, surely.

I rack my brain for ways to help the situation. I can’t talk to Dimella, as she’s keeping time for the crew. Kearan’s gaze is boring into me from the aftercastle, but I refuse to turn and acknowledge him. Maybe I should hide in my cabin? But the rowers will see me enter, think I’m being lazy. Or that I’ve gone back to bed. Sleeping while they’re working.

The internal struggle is making me irritable.

What would Alosa do? TheAva-leedoesn’t have sweeps. We all suffered together when there was no wind.

This is enough to give me a headache. I never had to worry about such things when part of Alosa’s crew. I was free to hide where I wished, do what I wished when I was off duty. But as the captain, I’m always on duty. I’m always expected to keep up appearances for the crew.

A figure comes up top, carrying a lute in one hand.

It’s Taydyn. He’s one of my able-bodied sailors, and he keeps to himself most of the time. But today he takes a seat among the rowers, pulls the lute into his lap, and starts to play. The introduction is upbeat as he strums, and his fingers move with the ease of a man who’s played the instrument a long time. It makes me miss Haeli. She was a rigger on theAva-leewho joined the stars during our adventures trying to secure the siren treasure. She, too, was gifted with playing.

Soon, Taydyn begins to sing in a rich voice:

Whenthewindisdeadandtheseasaredull,

’Tis my song what keeps me goin’

When the drink’s dried up and the food’s all gone,

’Tis my song what keeps me goin’

The music turns slower, more morose before the next verse starts.

When the captain’s dead and the crew’s all bone,

’Tis my song what keeps me goin’

Whenmylute’sgoneflatandI’mallalone,

’Tis my voice what keeps me goin’

He stops strumming his lute, his voice the only sound to be heard as he sings the last verse.

Whenthedarkarrivesandisoutforme,

’Tis my song what rests at sea

It’s no shanty I’ve heard before, and I think it a little dark, but those rowing seem to appreciate it. Taydyn plays it again, and this time, some of the rowers join in. When everyone has the words memorized, he moves on to another song and another, keeping the rowers company.

More importantly, Taydyn has taken the attention off me, which I desperately needed. I can think more calmly now. I make a mental note to thank the man later for sharing his talents and keeping the rowers in good spirits.

I turn to look up at the aftercastle, where the helmsman is tapping his foot to the music. I sigh as I force my muscles to relax from the tension of being put on display. Last night, I let Kearan get under my skin. I wasn’t prepared for him to show up during my silent snooping around the ship, and I’m still unsettled from the encounter. Which Ihate. I need to do something about it.

Then a thought occurs to me.

What better way to put Kearan back in his place than to show him he has no effect on me? To remind him I’m the one in charge?

Besides, if Kearan does anything I don’t like, I can always stick him with a knife.

---