Page 99 of Crossbones
I stand up and groan, grabbing my head as a headache of massive proportions grips me. Caspian is practically running around the cabin. He throws my shirt and jacket at me.
“Fuck—slow down,” I grumble.
I slowly drag my clothes on.
“Here—” Caspian shoves a glass of rum towards me. “A shot will dowonders.” I grimace but throw it back. “Now, come on.”
Caspian is a fucking whirlwind on the quarterdeck as I emerge into the bright sunlight of early morning. The light reflects off the icebergs and glassy surface of the ocean making my head hurt even worse.
“Find us passage through the ice, Harrison,” I order.
“Through the ice,” he states.
“Aye—we’ve never venturedintothe ice field,” I insist.
He frowns, his mouth in a thin line. “For good reason.”
“Just fucking do it,” I bark.
His insolence is beginning to get real old, real fast, and I’m not in the mood to give orders twice.
“Lan, get some spotters up in the rigging,” I command. “I don’t want us running into any of these icebergs.” I turn back to Harrison. “Slow and steady does it.”
The entire crew is on the rails. It’s silent except for the light breeze brushing through the canvas and the lap of the water against the ice. It’s like a collective holding of breath as we make our way slowly through the maze of floating islands—some nearly as big and wide as mountains.
Two hours go by. I’m continually getting distracted by Caspian pacing the quarterdeck. Lan and Flynt are helping navigate through the ice while Van has been trying to get Caspian to calm down. I know it’s a lost cause—we’re all at the end of our ropes. Tension is high, but so is the palpable excitement that maybe—just maybe—it’ll be around the next bend.
The sun has started its afternoon descent when there’s a shout from the crow’s nest.
“Captain!”
All eyes look up.
My barrelman is hanging off the edge of the perch.
“Captain! I see something!”
“What is it?” I shout.
“I—I don’t know! Straight past the next two icebergs!”
Everyone’s attention turns ahead, and the ship falls deathly silent as we slowly sail past the two icebergs. The way opens up, and there, sitting on the banks of a frozen landscape, are the icy ruins of a fortress. The deck erupts in cheers as everyone crowds the rail to get a better look. I’m staring at it—unwilling to believe what my eyes are seeing.
“Well fuck me,” Harrison mutters.
“Oh my God,” Van breathes. “It’s real—it’s fucking real!” He’s shakingCaspian, a wild look of excitement in his eyes.
“What did I tell you, Captain?” Caspian says.
He comes up to stand next to me, his eyes greedily taking in the sight. The fortress is a crumbled ruin, but the stones are encased in ice giving it a blue hue that blends in with the landscape. Snow drifts obscure the walls, and towers poke through where ice has encroached on it over the millenia.
I clasp Caspian on the shoulder, the excitement is contagious—but all I feel is relief.
“Anchor us here, Harrison,” I say. “Let’s go in for a closer look.”
CASPIAN
There’s a reverence that takes over as our boat gets closer to the shore. The reality of what we just found is settling on everyone, me included. As the crystalline blue pillars tower above us, I’m hit with the realization that I’m staring at a city that has been lost for so long it’s become a myth. Something most people don’t believe exists. And I’m about to explore it.
