Page 59 of Ship of Shadows
I thought about what Mia had told me at the tavern the previous night. The rumors about the trident. I gasped and ran toward Bastian’s cabin.
“And she finally listens,” Bastian yelled after me. “Thank the bloody hells.”
I rushed into the cabin, where Driscoll sat on the bed, biting his nails. “You princesses know how to stir up trouble. It doesn’t matter if I’m with Liliath or you. You both attract danger.”
I ran to the little ledge by Bastian’s window, clicking open the compartment as a blast sounded outside. I had to get this trident before anyone got killed. If this belonged to them, they’d wantit back, and that meant they could give me some answers about why it was on the beach with my father and his crew, why he might’ve wanted it.
“Are you about to go stab someone?” Driscoll wrinkled his nose. “Because that’s a terrible idea.”
I ran back out of the cabin.
“Nice chat,” Driscoll shouted.
I bumped into Leoni, who launched balls of water at any seafolk who surfaced. “They’re using their powers to control the water,” she said. “I can’t fight against all that magic. They’re going to capsize us!”
A huge wave rolled over the deck, washing all of us away, and I swallowed a mouthful of it. My back slammed against the hard deck, a few of the crew members falling overboard, their cries echoing out.
“No,” Bastian yelled. “Get the damn ropes and get our men back!”
I banged against my chest, coughing and sputtering out sea water. Leoni yanked me to my feet, both of us now soaked. “Get back in the cabin. We can’t risk losing you!”
I held up the trident. “I think they’re looking for this. If I offer it to them, maybe they’ll stop attacking us.”
Leoni shook her head. “Absolutely not. That’s too risky. You don’t even know if that’s what they’re looking for.”
The boat rode up on a high wave, crashing back down as Leoni and I rolled backward, my body cracking against the deck for a second time.
“They’re going to capsize us soon,” I yelled, “and then we’ll all be dead. This could be our only shot.”
“So let me do it.” Leoni stuck out her hand. “Let me offer up the trident.”
I bit my lip. Knowing her, she’d just give it away without demanding information. No. It had to be me so I could ensure this was done the right way.
I ran to the railing, holding up the trident. “Is this what you want?” I screamed out in the void.
The water below stopped roiling, the waves slowing in their fury.
So I’d been right.
“Fucking hell, what is she doing now?” Bastian yelled down to Leoni.
“What she always does,” Leoni said back. “Whatever she wants.”
I held the trident up higher. Water lashed out at the ship, lancing the siding like a sword, punching a hole right near my legs.
“Not my ship.” Bastian groaned. “Damnit.”
“What are our orders, Cap?” a voice shouted behind me.
“Stand down,” Bastian said, surprising me. I figured he’d order them to drag me away and lock me up. “Drop the damn anchor.”
Water slithered up over the deck in the form of ropes, inching toward me, the seafolk using their magic to strike.
I had to hurry my plan along before they snatched me, and the trident, away. “We found this with my father’s dead body.” I swallowed. “Not even a dead body. Just bones. He and his entire crew died, and I need to know why.” I took a deep breath. “I’m Princess Gabrielle Aster of Apolis. My father was King Jaron Aster. We’ve always had a good relationship with the seafolk, and if you can help me understand why he’s dead—” My voice broke. “We mean no harm. We don’t intend to use the trident, and we’ll be happy to turn it over, but please give me the answers I seek if you have them.”
The water grew completely still, the boat no longer rocking, like maybe we’d imagined the entire attack. The crew shot each other uneasy glances.
Then I saw it. Heads emerging from the water. Their eyes were twice the size of ours, their noses and lips smaller, shimmering scales covering their necks and arms. Razor-sharp teeth poked out of their mouths. The hair on their heads were vibrant colors, and as they emerged from underwater it looked like a rainbow painting the dark sea.
