Page 33 of Lightningborn

A massiveboomrocked the island, the sound of explosions and cannon fire causing everyone on theQueen’s Bladeto jump. Gem gasped, grabbing the railings, as more cannon fire rang out, echoing on the wind.

“What in the world!” Captain Cutlass strode to the edge of the deck, grabbing a rope as she leaned over the railings. “Who is attacking the island? Where is it coming from?”

A black plume of smoke began curling into the air, coming from the other side of Cutthroat Wedge. Watching it, Gem felt her stomach squeeze tight. She had never seen violence; in the capital, she was always protected, safe behind the castle walls or in the company of royal guards. The closest she had been to actual violence was seeing a guard chase a thief through the market square. Watching the billow of smoke curl over the island, the echoes of cannon fire ringing in her ears, she suddenly felt sick with genuine terror.

“Ease up, Mr. Tuhga,” the captain ordered, holding up a fist. “Slow her down a little; if the island is being attacked, I want to know what is happening before we go rushing in.”

“Yes, Captain.”

TheQueen’s Bladeslowed, flaring the wings on its side, and as it did, another vessel suddenly appeared. This one was enormous, almost as big as her father’s ship, theRoyal Bastion, back home. Despite its size, it was sleek and built for speed, though its armored hull, the numerous cannon ports along its side, and the painted, toothy face of a grinning shark made it perfectly clear: This was a vessel of war.

“TheWindshark,” Jack muttered as they watched the other ship cruise easily around the island. “Looks like Jhaeros is here, after all.”

“Turn us around, Mr. Tuhga,” ordered Captain Cutlass. “I don’t know why Jhaeros is firing on the island, but it is not something I want to get involved with. And I especially do not want to get into a firefight with theWindshark. We’ll return to Cutthroat Wedge in a few days, when things have calmed down a bit.”

“Aye aye, Captain.”

They were leaving? Now? “Wait!” Gem whirled around, glaring up at the aftcastle. “Captain, can I speak with you privately?” she called. She wanted to protest then and there, but she knew, from dealing with her father, that questioning authority in front of that person’s subordinates would only anger them and make them less likely to listen. “Please,” she added as the captain’s lips tightened. “It won’t be long. Just hear me out.”

The pirate captain gave her an impatient look, then sighed. “Stay the course, Mr. Tuhga,” she said to the first mate before walking swiftly down the stairs to the deck. “In my quarters, then, Miss Featherbottom,” she snapped as she passed Gem. “Make it quick.”

In her quarters, the captain didn’t even go to her desk, but turned to Gem as soon as the door closed, crossing her arms. “What it is, Princess?” she asked. “I assume this is important and could not wait until we are safely away from the island?”

“Yes,” Gem replied. “Captain, I need to get to Cutthroat Wedge now. I can’t wait even a few days. Please reconsider your decision.”

“No,” Captain Cutlass said immediately. “Captain Jhaeros and theWindsharkare too dangerous to cross, especially if I don’t know why I’m crossing them in the first place.”

“But—”

“You want me to risk my crew and go back?” Captain Cutlass bent down to look Gem in the eye. “Tell me why you need to go to Cutthroat Wedge so badly. What are you looking for? Maybe if I understood that, Princess, I’d be more inclined to put my ship and crew in danger for you.”

Gem clenched her fists. She knew she couldn’t tell the pirate captain everything. Even if Captain Cutlass had kept her secret about being the princess, if Gem told her the real reason she was there—to save the islands from falling into the Maelstrom—she doubted the captain would take it well. And if Cutlass told even one member of the crew, the word would spread, and there would be panic and chaos and everything her father was afraid of.

But the captain was asking for her trust, she realized. She had to give her something.

“I…I have to find someone,” she said at last. “An old sky knight, by the name of Sir Bartello. He left the capital years ago, and his last known location was on a ship headed to Cutthroat Wedge.”

“Sir Bartello.” The captain frowned thoughtfully. “There’s no one by that name in Cutthroat Wedge. Unless you mean old Crusty Bart, the storyteller at the Salty Barrel.” She snorted, shaking her head. “Are you telling me that crabby old windbag was once a sky knight? I find that hard to believe. Although”—she tapped her chin in thought—“it does make a certain amount of sense. All he talks about is dragons; he won’t shut up about them. Still, I wouldn’t have pegged that sour drunkard to have been part of the king’s shining squadron of elite dragon riders.” She gazed down at Gem once more. “So what is it you have to ask our old storyteller, assuming heisa sky knight like you claim. Or was, rather.”

“That is…classified,” Gem said, making Cutlass narrow her eyes. “But it is about dragons; I can say that much.”

“I see.” The captain continued to ponder. Gem held her breath and tried not to let her impatience show. “So,” Cutlass said at last, “the question now becomes whether it’s worth risking a confrontation with Jhaeros and theWindsharkjust to see if Crusty Bart is indeed a rogue sky knight like you say. The smart choice, the safe choice, would be to leave the island until Jhaeros is finished with whatever business he has with Cutthroat Wedge.

“Of course,” the captain went on after a moment, and smiled, “if we always went with the safe choice, we wouldn’t be pirates, would we?”

Gem felt a flutter of hope and gazed warily up at the pirate captain. “Does that mean…?”

Brushing around Gem, the captain strode out onto the deck. “Mr. Tuhga!” she called to the first mate. “Turn this ship around. Full speed. We’re going back to Cutthroat Wedge.”

CHAPTER

SEVENTEEN

The narrow streets of Beggar’s Row were empty as Remy pushed himself through the mud and weeds, sliding between houses and through alleyways, trying to reach the tavern. Most everyone had fled into their homes, doors shut and shutters closed against the chaos happening outside. If Remy peered up past the ramshackle roofs, he could just see the last curls of smoke writhing into the sky from where the cannons had destroyed Bart’s old house. The residents of Beggar’s Row knew something was happening and responded as they always did: by hiding and hoping it went away.

A tremor went through the ground, causing Remy to stumble and nearly fall into the mud. Clenching his jaw, he kept going, ignoring the fear crawling in the pit of his stomach. He couldn’t think about what was happening to the island, about the cracked storm crystal in the hidden cave. He had to reach the tavern and warn Bart that Jhaeros was coming for him.

Lightning flickered overhead as Remy stumbled up the hill to the Salty Barrel, and in the flash, he could see a small crowd outside the tavern. Along with something else that made his heart sink. TheWindsharkfloated in the air above the tavern, casting its dark, imposing shadow over the ground and the crowd gathered outside. Including Bart.

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