Page 117 of Of the Stars and Sea

We cross the threshold of the exit and I blink against the sun’s assault, hoping to the heavens that theCaelestiais unharmed. Once my eyes adjust, I look behind Grayson to see she is exactly where we left her—anchored just outside of the mist that still lingers in the midday air.

“Where are they?” I ask, scanning the mist in search of Blythe’s ship.

“I can’t see anything beyond the fog,” Grayson responds, continuing to row vigorously toward theCaelestia. “Zaos hasn’t opened the gun ports yet. They must not be able to see where the cannon blast came from either.”

With bated breath, I keep watching the darkened horizon behind theCaelestia, waiting for Blythe’s ship to approach with his small armada.

A row of men appear along the side of Grayson’s ship, but they don’t call out to us. With no idea how close Blythe mightbe, I see them make hand gestures, likely alerting the rest of the crew of our arrival silently.

By the time we reach the base of theCaelestiaand Collin throws down the rope ladder, I’ve forgotten all about the barrier.

“The magick barrier. I didn’t feel it this time.” Grayson loops the ropes through the pullies attached to each end of the longboat, readying it for his crew to hoist up after we climb the ladder.

“The magick must be designed to only keep things out,” he says.

“I guess that makes sense.”

I bite the inside of my cheeks as I reach for the rope ladder and start the ascent. Grayson is right behind me, and as we’re about midway through the climb, another blast rings through the air.

I look down at him. “That sounded a lot closer.”

“Indeed.” His face is drawn as he looks back and forth down the sides of his ship, assessing for any signs of the looming threat. “Keep moving, Rowenya.”

Chattering questions of where the cannon blast comes from make their way to me as I near the ship’s edge. My pulse pounds in my ears as I swing my leg over and finally feel my boots land on the main deck. Grayson pulls himself over the side with ease and stands next to me.

Zaos’s brows are drawn together as he takes us both in. “What did you find?”

Reaching into my coat pocket, I pull out the tablet and raise it into the air. The crew gather’s round, all their eyes trained on the gold piece in my hand. Their attentions shift from scanning the mist for enemies, to Grayson and me, but no song is sung. No chant rings out. Not when our enemy is so close.

“This is the next clue,” I tell them all. I find Tommy toward the back of the crowd. A lopsided smile marks his mouth when our gazes collide.

Zaos steps forward, his dark eyes locked on the tablet. “Where to next?” His gaze slides over to meet mine.

Grayson’s deep voice breaks through the silence. “The Barren Wastelands.”

A hushed chaos of questions moves through the crew for a few moments, but as Grayson steps forward, they all quiet down.

“This is exciting news, I know. We are so very close to finding the greatest treasure this realm has ever known. But you hear that cannon fire?” He points toward the mist and heads swivel to look. “That is our enemy and they are hungry to take the prize thatyouhave fought so valiantly for.”

With my shoulders rolled back, I watch Grayson start to pace back and forth in front of his men, readying them for the fight that awaits us.

“That tablet holds the key to the final leg of our journey. Unimaginable wealth awaits us, just beyond Dead Man’s Passage. But the fight is not over yet. Not by a long shot.” He tosses a glance my way. “Blythe and his men want to take what is ours.” The air is still as he walks up to one of his men and stares him down. “Will you let them?”

Grayson’s crew member smiles viciously and unsheathes his sword. “Never,” the man growls.

Grayson walks up to Collin this time and asks him, “Will you?” Collin shakes his head and releases his sword from its sheath.

Grayson makes his rounds, asking several more of his men the same question. Once they’ve all given him their convicted responses, Grayson takes a step back and shouts, “Will you let them take what is ours?!”

All his men raise their swords and shout, “No!”

“To your stations!” Grayson commands them and the crowd scatters. He turns around and stalks toward me. Another cannon fire sounds, this time even closer, but I don’t flinch. “Keep the pieces on you. If theCaelestiagoes down, we don’t want them sinking to the bottom of the ocean with her.”

“She won’t go down. We can win this fight,” I tell him.

A glimmer of hope shines in his irises. “Let us hope you’re right, Little Pearl,” he says before he follows Zaos up the stairs to the quarterdeck.

Before I head up, I see Tommy talking to Collin and head his way.

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