Page 61 of Take No Prisoners
"Fuck." It was a trap, as they'd guessed. Now, she was ensnared.
Efren rushed to the prow. Beatrice was already halfway to shore. He wrapped her in a protective bubble of water and slowly dragged her back to the ship. She had her own water magic, and air magic to push his water aside, but he was stronger. Eventually, he reeled her in and lifted her onto the ship with a rogue wave.
She was still fighting his hold, her gaze set on the shore where Klaus had indicated the trap was set.
"Damn it," he said. "The trap must be stronger than she expected." Now that she was caught in the snare, it would take her time to break free.
"Do you think she's learned what she needed to learn from the thing?" Tovey asked. "We have just enough daylight if we turn back now."
"We have days on Coryn, too," Stan said. "She won't expect us to work with Vadim's crew. Bea will be safer at home, even if she can't break free of the trap."
Efren gave the commands to turn toward Aquarion, full speed ahead.
"I'm so sorry," Klaus said. "If I'd have known, I would have stopped her."
"Don't beat yourself up," Efren said. "Did it seem stronger than it was before?" They had been closer to the island when Klaus had originally noted the anomaly.
"Yes. Is that possible? Could it gain power the longer it sits?"
"I don't know." Efren hoped one of the other elders had an idea, if not about the trap, then about ways to sever its ties from Beatrice. If not, their brief trip could bring the imperial navy down on them before they were ready.
∞∞∞
Niall
Niall's second day of training wasn't nearly as successful as the first. That morning, his grandmother had tried to walk him through fire and ice, but he couldn't sense them. Fire was hot and ice was cold, but beyond that, he didn't recognize their corresponding emotions. He expected fire to be fury, thanks to Emperor Hugo's scowl stamped on every coin in Embertide, but only the wind answered his anger.
"That's enough for today," she had decided at lunch. "I expect to be back in time for the evening meal tonight, and then we'll start with earth tomorrow. Until then, work with Vadim and Martiz again."
He was surprised when she leaned in and whispered, "Watch your back."
"Efren has warned me."
She nodded. "Good."
Niall wanted to ask more, but the rest of the crew arrived, including Codger Tim with mangoes for dessert. Niall was surprised Efren and Stan weren't with them. Tovey confirmed they were preparing the ship to sail out.
"They could have asked me," Vadim grumbled as they left.
"Aren't you still a prisoner?" Niall laughed at his dark scowl, which only deepened when Martiz beckoned them toward the barracks.
"Let's go see what that asshole wants."
The afternoon training was a repeat of the previous day. Martiz injured the island's chickens, and Niall tried to heal them before they bled out. On one occasion, he failed, and the hen died. Only then could he sense her life force and push it back into her body.
"That's ... not life magic," Vadim whispered under his breath. "How did I not know I could do that?"
"It's death magic?" Niall felt too hot beneath his sun hat, like the world was fading around him.
"It's both. You gave that hen some of your own life force." Vadim clapped him on the back and hooted. "We'll save Hugo yet!"
"Aren't you already giving Klaus some of your life force?" Niall asked.
"Fuck." He nodded. "You're right. We'll have to resolve our life bond first."
"What's the commotion?" Martiz asked. He'd ignored them to talk to Frost, which was how the animal had bled out in the first place.
"No commotion." Vadim hastily retreated from the hen, pulling Niall with him.
