Page 37 of Lightningborn

No. Gem felt her heart plummet. Sir Bartellowashere. But somehow, he was involved with Jhaeros, and now both were on board that monstrous pirate ship.

“They took him?” Captain Cutlass demanded, frowning at the men. “Why? Jhaeros isn’t into kidnapping, as far as I know. He’s more likely to kill everyone on board a ship and then sink it into the Maelstroem. Why did he take Bart?”

The men shrugged. “Dunno. Said he needed someone to ‘take care of the dragon.’ That’s all we heard.”

“I see.” Captain Cutlass sighed and took a step back. “That’s unfortunate. I kind of liked the old geezer.” She turned with a shrug. “Well, there’s nothing we can do about it now. Back to the ship, men. We’ll prepare to cast off in an hour—”

“Wait.” Gem quickly put herself in the captain’s path. “Captain, we have to go after them.”

The captain stared at her for a long moment, then gave a rather brittle smile and turned to Jack and Lysander, who were waiting off to the side. “Excuse me a moment, boys. I need a private word with Miss Featherbottom.”

Cutlass took Gem’s sleeve and pulled her around the side of the tavern.

“All right, look, Princess,” she said in a quieter voice. “I was willing to fly you here, to Cutthroat Wedge, one of the most dangerous pirate outposts in the Fringe, because I trusted myself and my crew to keep you safe. I was willing to do you a favor, because you are the princess and it seemed like a good idea not to let the king’s daughter go gallivanting into danger without any idea of what she was getting into.”

“Because you’re hoping for a reward when this is over,” Gem said.

“I thought that was obvious,” Cutlass responded. “And I’m trusting that you will remember what we did for you when you do return to your father. However”—she raised one gloved finger—“I didnotagree to go chasing after one of the most infamous sky pirates in the Fringe. You saw the size of theWindshark.That ship has destroyed countless vessels, and Jhaeros is not someone you want as an enemy.” The captain straightened, giving Gem a firm look. “So I’m afraid I’m going to have to refuse, Princess. I’m not going after theWindshark. I have my own ship and my crew to think about, and this isn’t our fight. We’ll be returning to the inner islands after this; you’re welcome to join us. We’ll be happy to drop you off at whatever town you please, and from there, you can easily find your way home.”

Gem clenched her fists. “No,” she said, making Cutlass arch a crimson eyebrow. “I can’t. I can’t go home. I have to find Bart. He’s the only one who might know where the True Dragons are.”

Both of the captain’s eyebrows now arched into her hair. “True Dragons. That’s what this is about?” she asked. “The True Dragons are a myth, old sailor stories. No one has seen a True Dragon for hundreds of years.”

“Bart has,” Gem said. “He might know where the True Dragons are. That’s why I need to talk to him.”

“Why?”

Gem bit her lip. “I can’t tell you that.”

Cutlass shrugged and started to walk around her. “Well, then I suppose you’re going to have to fly home alone.”

“Wait!” Gem held up her hands, making the captain pause. “If…if you help me,” she began, hating the fact that she had to negotiate even more, “if we can get to Bart and rescue him from Jhaeros, then I…I’ll make sure my father rewards you with anything you want when we return to the capital.”

Captain Cutlass blinked. “Anything?” she asked softly.

“I mean…within reason,” Gem stammered. “I’m sure he wouldn’t be able to give you the whole island or every ship in the city. But…yes, whatever you want, I’ll see that you get it. That is a promise.”

“Hmm.” The captain crossed her arms, thinking. “I will admit, that is a very tempting proposal,” she mused. “If we’re talking about wants, I can think of a lot. But you still have to be alive to enjoy them. Besides, we don’t even know where theWindsharkis going.”

“I know where they’re going,” said a voice behind them.

CHAPTER

NINETEEN

Remy’s head ached.

His whole body hurt, really. He’d woken up with his face pressed into cold mud, the back of his skull throbbing and a dull pain radiating below his eye. But that was nothing compared to the sudden hollowness in the pit of his stomach, telling him both Storm and Bart were gone. That Jhaeros had taken them both, and he’d been left alone. Again.

Remy clenched his fist, feeling mud squelch between his fingers. The loss of his dragon felt almost physical, like someone had reached into his center and ripped out something vital, and now there was a huge, gaping hole inside. For a few seconds, he’d just lain there in the mud, trying not to vomit, as his head throbbed and his thoughts spun wildly. There was only one thing on his mind now: how he was going to get Storm back.

Storm. Closing his eyes, he thought of his dragon, searching for that strange feeling that had awakened when he’d touched the storm crystals.Where are you?

For a moment, there was nothing. Remy felt nothing but cold mud beneath his hands, the frost-laced wind against his face. But then a surge of fear and anger bloomed inside him, making him gasp. Opening his eyes, he gazed out over the horizon. He could suddenlyfeelStorm, faint and far away. He knew which direction his dragon was going.

Abruptly, he became aware of voices, speaking quietly a few yards behind him.

“True Dragons,” one of them said. A woman’s voice, low and cynical. “The True Dragons are a myth, old sailor stories. No one has seen a True Dragon for hundreds of years.”

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