Page 42 of Crossbones
He slides through the ropes, jumps over the crossbeams and lands with a thud of boots on the main deck. He tips an imaginary hat to me with a goddamn wink before turning to Van. My jaw tightens—his quartermaster is never far away from him and the ease when they’re around each other demonstrates their closeness. I’ve never felt jealousy before but that’s the only name I can think of to describe the burn going on inside me when I see their heads lean close together to converse quietly.
I relieve Harrison of the wheel and stay up on the quarterdeck until evening falls. The lanterns are lit, casting a soft glow over the deck and the sea air blows cool and calm. It’s one of my favorite kinds of nights—the kind that lets you linger in its caress, full of nostalgia and comfort. Voices and the sound of raucous laughter drifts on the breeze along with the smell of rum.
The men can feel it too, and I know tonight will be a rare night of revelry. Sure enough, a short while later, I hear singing—the voice is strong, clear and really fucking good. I don’t recognize it as any of my crew. Lan comes to take the helm and I walk down to the main deck towards the sound, thinking it must be one of the De’Vero men.
It is, but it’s the one I least expect.
It’s Caspian.
Sitting front and center, singing a song calledUp She Rises.
CASPIAN
I settle in, take a sip of rum and launch intoUp She Rises, one of my favorite shanties. I rarely sing—and by rarely, I mean never. Of course I singwithpeople, but nevertopeople—but as the night settles around me, it seems to drape the ship in a sanguine mood and I couldn’t resist. The song falls from my lips, rowdy and lively.
When she leaves safe harbor
Headed for the fishin' ground's unknown waters again
And you wave goodbye to the friends on shore
Steamin' with a northern wind
The waves they roll and the wind's pickin' up
And the night is comin' on fast
She turns her back to the Island shore
Through the high waves she will blast
I’m about to hit the chorus when I see movement in the shadows. I know who it is, and I smirk to myself swaying with the song as I belt out the chorus.
And it's oh, oh, oh, up she rises
The water rolls off of her deck
Oh, oh, oh, up she rises
Guided through the sea by her captain Jack
Oh, oh, up she rises
She's headed straight into the wind
Oh, oh, oh, up she rises
She goes back down, but she rises again
I can’t see Blackwell’s face very well, but warmth spreads through me that has nothing to do with the rum. I enjoy baiting him but damn if it isn’t turning into something more. We’ve been avoiding each other, but I know it can’t last. What he’d said to me in his cabin hit a nerve, tugging at something I don’t want revealed.
He wants to strip away the names and the titles I hide behind until there’s nothing left butme. I’m not sure I’m ready for that. So I ran—knowing I’m only proving my brother right—sometimes Iama coward. But I’ve been running from the nightmares for so long I don’t want to bring them out—with their gnashing teeth and tearing claws.
What will be left of me in the wreckage? The Fox? Or the Prince?
Or something else…
I find Blackwell’s eyes in the gloom and hold them as I sing the next bit.
