Page 64 of Crossbones
Harrison nods. “Few times.”
Lan pulls forward a more detailed map of the Isles. “If he has any naval sense, he’ll try and drive us into the shallows. These aren’t updated but last time we came through here, this channel was gone.” He points out a section on the map. “And this one—we’ll attempt to avoid heading any deeper into the Isles than needed but just in case, the western ridges have been inactive for a bit now, and will be our best bet for consistent depths.”
“Once her sails are lit, the objective is to get her between us and the Isles—cripple her and then board,” Harrison says.
“Make the preparations,” I order.
“Malik is mine,” Caspian announces as everyone moves to leave.
Murmured choruses ofayesrespond to his declaration. I frown, knowing he isn’t all the way healed but I wait until everyone is gone before speaking.
“You sure about Malik?” I ask.
He runs a hand over his face and looks at me in annoyance. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“That—” He waves his hand at me in irritation. “That tone. Like I can’t handle him.”
“I didn’t say—”
“I know what you didn’t say,” he cut in. “You saw me in a moment of vulnerability—”
I scoff. “I would call that more than a moment.”
“So what, that makes me weak now?” He frowns. “I appreciate all you’vedone, truly, but this is my fight.”
Like hell he’s going to play the martyr. “Well, it’s mine now too.”
“You can’t just claim it.”
“I can—this is my ship,” I insist.
He shakes his head. “I didn’t know you liked to play the savior.”
My lips curl in a humorless smirk. “That’s what you think this is? Me sailing in on white sails to pull you out of the fire?”
“Isn’t it?”
My jaw tightens and I lean my hands on the table. “First of all—theTempestdoesn’t have white sails.” His lips twitch at that like I knew they would. “And second, the thought of him touching you—” I cut off because I’m not sure what I’m trying to say. There’s a flash of something I can’t read that crosses Caspian’s face before he hides it and the irritation floods back in.
“How noble of you,” he says scornfully. “But I don’t need saving.”
“Most people would just say thank you,” I say dryly.
Caspian glares at me for a short length of time while I look on in annoyance at his stubbornness. I don’t expect him to say thank you of course, but when he doesn’t say anything at all I shake my head.
“I think you’re a lot of things Caspian, but weak isn’t one of them.”
“Good, because I’m going to kill him.”
“I don’t doubt it,” I nod. “Just don’t be surprised when you catch sight of me watching your back.”
That pulls a cocky smile of amusement from him. “So we’re watching each other's backs now?”
I shrug. “Aye—it’s part of that trust I’ve been talking about.” I move towards the door. “This’ll be good practice.”
He follows after me. “Stubborn bastard,” he mutters.
