Page 55 of Vengeance of the Pirate Queen

Yet I feel as though I’m forgetting something. Or as if my subconscious is recognizing some danger that my brain can’t quite place. But it has nothing to do with the land we’re approaching.

I turn in my seat to look over my shoulder.Vengeanceis anchored far enough out that she’ll have plenty of warning if an attack comes from the shore. Then I look to my right and left, taking special notice of the shapes jutting out of the water. Now that we’re close to shore, I can see them all the more clearly. From the ocean, the land appears to curve with hills of snow and cliffs of ice. But from this angle, I can see that the solid block of ice to our left ishollow. The water within only had the appearance of solid ice. It’s actually an enormous water cave. Some trick of the light?

Whatever the case, I feel my heart sink toward the icy depths beneath me as I peer into that dark crevice. My eyes focus on the darkness, trying to make out any movement within.

And then I see it: a line of shadow more potent than the others. The shape of a bowsprit.

“Turn the boats around!” I shout. “Now!”

The order is followed immediately, despite Kearan facing the ship and having no reason to listen.

“What is it?” Enwen asks from the next boat over.

“Row faster,” I order.

And then we hear shouting. Roslyn yells something from atop the crow’s nest. Dimella barks out orders in return. Bodies scramble atop the deck ofVengeance.

I return my eyes to the left, and sure enough, a ship unlike any I’ve ever seen emerges from the ice.

The hull is pale white, the sails dark gray. Many of them are ripped and tattered, streaming uselessly in the sparse breeze. It doesn’t matter, because the mainsail is enormous and intact, and the sweeps carry it plenty fast. It approaches the bow ofVengeance, out of our cannon sights, which are only located at the starboard and port sides.

It is easily twice the size of our own ship, with two extra decks, and a massive forecastle.

A galleon big enough to do some serious damage.

The bows of the two ships face each other. One anchored, the other closing in fast.

As we try to race the new vessel to the ship, I force my tense shoulders to relax. The enemy ship will need time to get within range. Then they’ll need to turn and line up their cannons just so. They have more control with those sweeps, but we might have chance to reachVengeancein time.

And then I hear a cannon fire. Confusion settles within me until I see smoke billowing just below the bowsprit of the enemy ship.

Fore cannons.

Shit.

The first shot misses, but the second lodges into the hull ofVengeance. I hear the anchor of my ship slowly cranking, as Dimella must be trying to get the crew to weigh fast enough to turn the ship so we can face it with our own cannons.

“Come on, come on, come on!” Philoria shouts beside me. Her fingers twitch, and I’m sure she’s just aching to get behind a cannon and return fire.

We’ve still a ways to go.

“Scoot to the left,” I order Kearan. He moves over, allowing me to take the right oar and help him row. He was doing just fine on his own, but I need to do something before I go mad with anticipation.

I hear more cannon fire. Water splashes as missed shots connect with the sea. Wood shatters as another cannon hits its target. I’m at my limit, rowing as fast as I possibly can, and it’s still not enough.

Stupid. So stupid. I should have seen the enemy’s hiding spot sooner.

Another blast of cannon fire has my heart pumping at impossible speeds. It’s followed by an earsplitting crash and the creak of wood. I look over my shoulder, already knowing what I’ll see.

They hit the foremast, and it falls to one side, ropes snapping, and sails tearing.

Some sound escapes me. A throaty shriek of frustration.

And then we’re finally there.

I fly up the rope ladder, land on the deck, and survey the crew. Four girls are at the capstan, trying to get the anchor raised. Meanwhile, Dimella is at the helm, cranking it for the turn that will finally get our cannons in range. Radita is nowhere in sight, likely already below seeing to the damage.

Girls race to prepare the cannons. The anchor finally comes free of the water. The enemy ship is almost lined up with our cannons.

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