Page 97 of The Demons in the Deep: Extended Edition
“They’ve risked far more than this for you.”
“That’s true, Captain.” Jazadri approached, laying a hand on Flay’s shoulder—the hand missing two fingers. “I know how it feels to lose family. If you want to go back and spare Kestra from losing hers, I’ll stand with you, and so will the men. We’ll fight. About time someone put that bastard in his place, anyway.”
“Your father frightened you,” Kestra said. “Our whole time at Stragnoag was frightening for everyone. But we can’t run from this.” She patted the bun in his hand. “Eat. Keep up your strength.”
Flay nodded meditatively and bit into the dumpling.
Immediately his eyes widened. He chewed slowly, thoroughly. And then he said, “Blossom, I want to make it clear that I’m not doing this because of any outstanding, exquisite, marvelous concoction of yours. I’m doing it because it’s the right choice. And because I love you, dumplings or not.”
“Of course,” Kestra said.
“Jaza, about face. Let’s go back.” Flay sank his teeth into the dumpling again.
“Aye, Captain,” Jaza said, and he winked at Kestra when Flay wasn’t looking. She smiled back, a wordless pact between them to forever tease Flay about the “courage dumplings.” Which they did, for decades to come.
Hours passed, while Kestra fretted, occupying herself by baking bread and then cleaning the galley from top to bottom. By the time they made it back to the two ruined cities, the rain had eased to a light mist, and the gloom had lessened. Flay ordered his crew to make the guns ready, prepare their crossbows, and stay alert.
They sailed close to theAscendant, and closer—yet still there was no sign of weapons being prepared, and no one hailed them.
At last Baz climbed up to the crow’s nest and used the spyglass for a better look.
“What do you see?” Flay yelled up to him.
“By thorn and tide,” called Baz. “Looks like a bloodbath, Cap’n. Bodies on deck. Lots of blood, and—andparts.”
“Parts?” Flay shouted, his voice a little shriller than usual. “What do you mean, Baz?”
“Something’s torn them up,” Baz replied.
Kestra sucked in a sharp breath, and Flay glanced at her.
“Rake,” she whispered to him, and he nodded.
To her, Rake had always been a monster. She’d seen him lose his reason over a single touch. She’d watched him kill Queen Acrid, and then drag the other two mermaid Queens to their doom. He’d been an accomplice to the massacre of most of his race, all to save his little son. And she had no trouble believing that, gentle as he could be, he wouldn’t hesitate to slaughter anyone who threatened a person he loved.
“Someone’s coming on deck,” called Baz. “A big winged fellow, and a few others—and Rake—by the tides, he’s a sight—Mother Ocean save us—”
“Do you see Mai?” Kestra asked.
“She’s with them.”
“Thank the Mother Ocean,” Flay murmured. Louder he asked, “Any sign of Captain Feral?”
“No.”
Kestra moved closer, touching his arm. “Flay, Rake might have—if Feral tried to harm Mai, or stop her from leaving, Rake might—”
“I know,” Flay said. “I wouldn’t blame him for it.”
But Kestra noted the anxiety in his eyes.
When they came abreast of theAscendant, Rake and Mai were standing at the rail. Rake’s arms were sleeved in blood, his mouth painted with it. The two of them looked at ease, unworried. Plainly they had no enemies left aboard ship. The crew members behind them stood silent, unarmed.
“I don’t believe it,” Jazadri said slowly. “The fish took over the Prime Captain’s ship, all by himself. Trained hunters and fighters, those sailors were.”
“Hunters who thought themselves alone at sea, and didn’t expect an invasion on a dark, rainy day,” Flay said. “And certainly not by the likes of him. The champion of the Meridian Games. You trained him well, Jaza.”
“So I did.” Jazadri grinned. “Well now, Captain—all aboard who’s going aboard!”
