Page 118 of Tell No Tales
"I'm not a good captain." Vadim met and held his former lover's gaze. "I wasn't even a good first mate. If all I am is second mate, that's fine with me."
"Second mate." Efren scoffed. "You'd be my quartermaster."
That was a promotion if Vadim ever heard one. "Why me? Why not Niall?"
"We all heard what you and Klaus can do. Nothing living or dead would stand a chance against you. Together, you are our greatest weapons. We'd be lucky to have you aboard."
Vadim had to blink against the harsh sting in the corners of his eyes. "You mean it?"
"I'll confirm with Beatrice, but I agree with you. You're a terrible captain and a lousy first mate, but you can navigate better than some water weavers I've seen, and you'll keep us safe from Coryn."
"Thanks." Vadim bowed his head. He wanted to say more, but he couldn't push the words past the lump in his throat.
"You start this afternoon." Efren's voice was once again gruff and commanding. "And if you make a single comment about anything you hear from my cabin, you'll be sleeping in the extra sail in the hold."
"Aye, Captain." Vadim leaned in and whispered, "But if you ever want to see who can be louder, Hannah said they'd be willing to judge."
It had been years since Vadim had made Efren blush like that, but it was worth it.
∞∞∞
Klaus
With Vadim at the helm and all his spare books in the hold with Hugo, Klaus found himself without anything to do. It was too cold to sit in the crow's nest with Hannah. They were much better at controlling their temperature with their water weaves than any coat or cloak Klaus wore. He stayed below in the galley, where the steel doors locked in the heat and he could read his last pirate romance in peace, now that Tim had stopped banging pots and pans every time someone spoke.
Niall and Milton had caught on to the idea that the galley was the best place to warm up after a cold eight-hour shift. They looked like creatures dredged from the depths in their strange hats with holes cut for their eyes and mouths, but once removed, they only had a bit of windburn.
"How did it go, lads?" Tim asked them once they'd shed their extra layers and deposited them on stools by the fire to dry.
"Captain says we might be moving to four-hour shifts," Milton said. "It's getting too cold."
"We're moving at a good clip," Tim said. "We should be there in half the time, regardless."
Niall thanked Tim for a plate of bread and cheese and moved to Klaus's table, sitting across from him in the corner.
"Vadim's suffering the most, and it's only been ten minutes."
Klaus glanced up from his book. Vadim wasn't warm, that was certain, but he wasn't suffering. He'd opened himself completely to his bond with Klaus.
"I'm sharing the galley's warmth with him through our bond," Klaus said. "He should be doing all right now."
When Efren met them a few minutes later, he confirmed Klaus's story. "Vadim stopped shivering. When I asked him about it, he said Klaus could keep him warm." Efren laughed and slapped Niall's shoulder. "I've half a mind to pair you with Olivia so you can keep me warm, too."
"You'd miss me at night," Niall said.
"Aye, but it's only one week." Efren shook his head. "The problem is, who would keep Olivia warm? It will be better for everyone if we switch to four-hour shifts."
"What about Hannah?" Klaus asked. "They're up there for sixteen most days."
"They're to come down every hour for a hot cup of broth," Tim said, handing Efren a steaming cup. "They're to stay until they can feel their fingers again."
"Jermain offered to take a shift, but he would break into a million pieces if he fell from that height." Efren shook his head. "Yes, he's an earth weaver and he could probably break his fall better than most, but I won't risk it."
"Frost would be happiest in the ice," Niall said.
"He would be the most comfortable, but he can't see past his nose, even with Hannah's scope." Efren shrugged. "I'll talk to Nola and Yvette, to see if they'd be willing to help."
Klaus felt a familiar presence nearby. A moment later, Hannah entered the galley, rubbing their hands together and breathing into them to warm up.
