Page 5 of Daughter of the Dark Sea
“They’reourships,” Kora repeated confidently. “We know their weaknesses.”
Shock raged on Blake’s face; his knuckles clenched white at pirates using their prized fleet ships. Vengeance coursed through her body, propelling her into action.
“See there,” Kora pointed to a small archipelago of rocks southwest of Peril Cove. “We can lure them in there and use the reef and rocks to slow down and break apart their ships.”
Blake’s gaze followed as he surveyed the reef, before his face hardened and he nodded. “We’re faster than them.” He ran his hand through his hair, pushing it out of his eyes. “If we can trap them, they won’t realise until it’s too late.”
A little spark ignited within Kora as their plan knitted together. It felt like old times—working together to achieve the best outcome forthem. It’d be so long since their duality had surfaced, and she vibrated with anticipation. Blood pounded in her veins with a rush and the ship rocked, the ocean waves cresting along with her heart.
Blake met her gaze once last time, studying her face, before sprinting down to the main deck to deliver new orders. The sailors behind Kora quivered, their longbows and swords armed in their hands, shields hoisted against their backs. She lingered on the nearest sailor, his broadsword slack in his grip, as if he couldn’t bear the touch. He returned Kora’s inquisitive gaze, his own sparkling stare reflecting curiosity, and a hint of fear.
Once the ships were close enough that Kora could count the feathers of the fallen-angel figurehead of the red ship, its eyesmade of malachite stone, she braced her legs as she deftly spun the wheel ofHell’s Serpent. Her nostrils flared, heat consuming her. She knew that figurehead anywhere. The empire’s navy prided themselves on their uniquely tailored ships. Each one purposefully designed to be lethal; reflected in their figureheads.
“Come about!” She gritted her teeth against the rough turn, her ship swiftly avoiding colliding withFallen Angel, and a sudden, warm southern wind propelled them towards the archipelago. Kora sent a prayer up to the gods as they narrowly avoided a round of cannon fire.
Hell’s Serpentwas the fastest ship in the armada, and she patted the helm in appreciation as they gained speed. “Atta girl.” Adventure speared through Kora, and she grinned as they sailed away from the jaws of evil—until a foghorn sounded behind them.
The sound of war.
The sound of pirates.
Cold crept up her neck, around her skull, as an echo of a memory crashed through her body and she faltered, losing her grip against the currents.Hell’s Serpentrocked aggressively, and sailors cried out as they stumbled, their lances skittering across the deck.
The foghorn roared in her ears, murky ocean mixed with blood swirling in her mind as an unforgiving pain swept through her. The Mist filled her vision . . . beckoning her . . . inviting her . . . to succumb to its inky depths. She reached out, her mask falling away as she cried out from the agony.
What in the gods was happening?
“Captain!” the sailors yelled, and they braced her body as she sucked in a breath, her mind clutching at fragments of a memory fading as quickly as it appeared. She regained her composure, remembering she was the infamous Captain Kora Cadell. The fiercest captain in King Staghart’s armada.
And she would not be conquered.
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They destroyed the first ship. An all-black small vessel, with a similar serpent figurehead asHell’s Serpent.A pitiful attempt at replication. It bewildered her as to why the pirates had brought along an imposter; the vessel clearly made of shoddy woodwork. They didn’t even fire a cannon or launch any arrows. It was horrifically laughable—and satisfying—when the ship had exploded into pieces, shattering into the high coastal cliffs of Peril Cove. But it was an easy win, and Kora desired a challenge.
The archers ofHell’s Serpentwere swift and lethal, their arrows raining down in quick, waved succession ontoFallen Angel, causing it to fall back for protection behind its remaining flotilla. The ship was a staple in the empire’s armada, and how it washerewas a mystery.
A new ship commanded the front, with golden-yellow patchwork sails, and a harpy creature figurehead featuring an eagle-bodied female. Malachite stones embedded her wings, buther eyes had been removed, altering her usual serene face into one of sorrow.
Golden Harpy.
Kora winced, she’d once stood on that ship, prowled its chambers when she’d achieved her captain rank, searching for her dream vessel. She’d nearly chosen that ship, but the bare bosom on the figurehead didn’t screamterrifying female captain, and elicited the wrong kind of attention.
To the right, a ship with torn grey sails defied the odds of sailing on the winds. Cannon blasts scattered across the weathered, peeling wood, which was constricted by shredded, ashen-green ropes, as if they’d never bothered repairing it from battles.
A misted grey aura, that even sunlight couldn’t pierce, shrouded its deck. Kora strained, rubbing her eyes. It must be dehydration . . .right? A laughing-skeleton figurehead, clutching an unlit iron lantern with a malachite stone in its iron candle wick, stormed the front.
Bone Rattler.
A reject in the empire’s armada, used only once in battle before it was deemed a failure. It’d been abandoned in a shipyard years ago, its purpose reduced to spare parts for other vessels.
Lastly, to the left, sailed a magnificent ship with royal blue sails. It was the second largest of them all, and in the most pristine condition. It gained onGolden Harpy, the crew in uniformed formation, never missing a beat as they armed their lances and cannons.
Kora swerved her ship as a cannon blast flew past them starboard side, the sound ringing in her ears.She panted, glancing to the blue-sailed ship, eyeing its mermaid figurehead. Her face was stretched into a tortured scream, exposing fanged teeth made of the malachite stone the Talmon Empire favoured.
Demon Sea Siren.
The fiercest ship the empire had ever built—and it was now commanded by filthy pirates,threatening the world and murdering innocents. . .like her forgotten family.
