Page 73 of Fearless

“Not even twenty minutes on the sea and you’ve already come up with a new nickname for me.”

“I’m sure many more will come to mind in the days ahead.”

His eyes roam over me, and I’m reminded how much I enjoy the feel of it. “I missed you,” he finally murmurs, voice low.

Something flutters in my chest, and it might just be those nerves he determined I feel around him. “I never left.”

A shake of his head. “And yet, I felt the absence of you all the same.” He looks out at the water, his gray eyes mirroring the sea before us. “I suppose that is my sentence for the rest of this life.”

I scramble for words, fight for the strength to speak them once they’re found. But the moment shatters when a figure approaches.

The captain extends a hand to Kai, shaking it sternly. “Enforcer, sir. It’s an honor to be sailing with you.” When he turns to me, his greeting is far less enthusiastic. With a nod of his head, he offers a soft “My Lady.”

I nearly jump when he claps his large hands together. “Now, I’m Captain Torri, and this beauty”—he smacks the railing beside me—“is theReckoning.”

The long brown hair beneath his hat ripples when he shakes a thick finger at us. “I haven’t sailed in nearly a decade because of that damned decree to stay out of these damned waters.” His dark eyes flick to me. “Excuse my language, miss. But, shit, if you ask me, this voyage is long overdue. We need to take back the Shallows.” He all but caresses the railing. “And she is our reckoning.”

“Of course.” My tone has Kai’s lips twitching. “Now, what was that about not sailing for nearly a decade?”

“Well,” Torri stutters, “the Shallows has been legally off-limits, so this will be my first crossing in some time. But I assure you,” he booms, “that the crew and I are up to the challenge.”

Kai nods to the captain. “Well, we greatly appreciate your willingness. It’s not easy to find sailors in Ilya anymore.”

My stomach churns at the reminder. Ilya’s experience with theShallows is as limited as it is alarming, and the countless shipwrecks are a testament to that. No one of sane mind has set sail on this sea in nearly a decade, which would make this crew incredibly out of practice.

Any hope of survival has severely dwindled.

“Well, you won’t see me running from these waters, sir,” the captain practically yells with a puff of his chest. “Not even the creatures could keep me away.” He points to a thin scar slashing across his weathered cheek. “Oi, but the devils have tried!”

He laughs, belly shaking beneath his buttoned coat. An uncomfortable sound climbs from my throat while Kai manages a polite laugh with the man. After taking a moment to recover, Torri continues with a wheezing cough. “Now, let’s get you acquainted with theReckoning, eh?”

After an incoherent shout from the captain that makes me flinch, a man hurries over to his side. “This,” Torri says nonchalantly, “is my first mate, Leon. He will be showin’ you to your rooms and around the ship.”

Leon nods curtly, his dark skin glistened with sweat beneath the bandanna tied around his head. The loose, white blouse he wears catches the wind like a sail of its own, the fabric flapping against him. Warm, brown eyes fall to me, and for once, it’s not hatred I see within a gaze. Rather, curiosity.

“If you need anything,” the captain continues, “it will be Leon here you go to. I’ll be busy ensuring this damn ship makes it to shore.” He laughs deeply at his own words, even while stepping away with a toothy grin. “Leon will give you a nice little tour of our lovely lady. But don’t get too comfortable. We’ll be docking at Izram in six days’ time. Hopefully.”

With another bellowing laugh, he’s heading for the helm, coat billowing behind him. I glance at Kai before obeying Leon’s gesture to follow him. He leads us toward the stern of the ship, where a pair ofwooden doors sit beneath the quarter deck at the rear. I’m forced to dodge bustling crew members as we walk, though they make an effort to steer clear of the Enforcer in front of me.

Two sets of wooden staircases lead to the deck above where Torri now stands at the wheel, conversing with the man who is likely his navigator. Gaze falling back to the doors before us, I watch as Leon shoves them open to reveal a slim hallway. He points to the particularly large doorway at the end of the corridor. “Captain’s quarters. If he invites you to dine with him one evening, you’ll get the chance to see it.” His voice is deep, tone dry in a way that makes me assume he’d rather be doing anything else. “And these are your rooms,” he informs, turning to the left and opening a pair of doors.

I peek inside one, finding a small bed crowding most of it. My packed trunk lies on a rickety dresser that creaks with every rock of the ship. A small porthole allows foggy light to stream in and drape the cot beneath. And there, on a small bedside table, sits the stack of books Calum brought for me.

Leon doesn’t allow much time to examine the cabin before we are walking again. Leading us back onto the bustling deck, I blink in the searing sunlight as he lifts a large grate from the wood floor. “This is the cargo access,” he says simply before stepping down the steep stairs that lead to the ship’s underbelly.

With a reassuring glance, Kai descends first into the dim room below. I’m halfway down the steps when the ship rocks, forcing me to wrap my fingers around the wobbly railing beside me. Leon is talking again before I’ve even reached the floor. “This is the berth deck. Otherwise known as the gun deck.” To emphasize, he gestures to the several cannons that innocently line the room. “This is also where the crew sleeps.”

I stare at the dozens of swinging hammocks, most of which arehaphazardly hung between the ominous cannons. “All of them?” I blurt, unable to help myself. “In this one room?”

“Yes, miss,” Leon responds plainly. “Only the higher officers receive cabins. The rest of the crew live and sleep here.”

I swallow at the thought, already feeling nauseous at the sight of each swinging hammock. But the first mate pries my gaze from the assortment of hanging fabric when he points to the right. “The gun port lies that way, along with the caskets of rum and water.” He swivels in the other direction. “Some officers’ quarters and the infirmary lie that way.”

Leon then points down at the deck beneath our feet where another grate rests. “Ship’s stores, cargo hold, spare sails, rigging, and your crate of roses. Oh, and the galley.” At my look of confusion, Leon adds, “The kitchen. That’s all down there where you will never need to go.”

With that, he starts up the stairs again, saying over his shoulder, “That’s about it. Not much of a tour.” Once again, I find myself blinking in the sudden brightness when we reach the main deck. “You’re free to head to your rooms or stay on the main deck. At the front of the ship”—he points toward the pointed bow—“you’ll find the head, or simply put, a place to relieve yourself.” With a glance at me, he continues, “For you, miss, and the other women on board, we’ve added a bit of privacy to one of the toilets.”

I smile thinly. “That is much appreciated.”

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