As soon as we landed Bastian started shouting orders to his crew in rapid fire. Everyone sprang to attention as the boat crested up on a wave and heaved down, water spilling over the sides. Driscoll, Leoni, and I flew backward, our bodies hitting the railing.
Bastian shouted, but I could barely hear him with the frenzy happening in front of us, feet pounding on the main deck, some crew members climbing the ratlines to the top of the mast, others running belowdecks, while Bastian stood at the helm, rain barraging him as he steered the ship. Lightning flashed behind him, illuminated his face, stark, all hard lines and sharp angles, his dark beard scraggly, which was so unlike him. His beard had always been neat and trimmed, but I supposed he’d been a bit busy the last few days.
“Does anyone else feel really useless right now?” Driscoll asked.
Leoni huffed and got to her feet just as another wave rammed the side of the ship and sent her straight onto her ass.
“Might as well get comfy,” Driscoll said. “I don’t think we’re going anywhere.”
We could try and use our magic to calm the waters, but my magic was weak from using it to get us to Bastian’s ship, and controlling a storm like this wasn’t an easy feat.
Bastian wrenched the wheel, steering the ship in the same direction as the wind blew. The white sails billowed above, the ship gaining speed, riding on the waves. The flag, a skull with a sword rammed through its eye sockets, flapped wildly.
Driscoll held his stomach. “Oh, I don’t feel so good.”
“This doesn’t make us pirates, right?” Leoni tapped her chin. “Because pirates are criminals, and I cannot be labeled as a criminal. I’d lose my position as captain of the guard if anyone found out?—”
“We’re not pirates,” I snapped. “We’re on a rescue mission.”
The rainfall slowly lightened to a drizzle, the sky still dark as we sailed through the storm. Crew members paid us no attention as they went about their duties like clockwork, none of them the least bit frazzled by the vicious winds and rain.
Leoni nodded her head toward Bastian. “What are you going to do when he finds out you don’t have the pixie dust?” She gasped. “What do you think he’s going to do to us?”
Driscoll’s head snapped in our direction. “I’m sorry, what?” He leaned his head closer. “Did she just say you don’t have the thing the pirate lord wants? The thing that you’re using to bargain with him?” He stuffed his head between his knees. “Oh, blood and earth.”
I stared straight ahead. “Luckily, I know who does have it and where it is. All I have to do is give Bastian the information he needs. Then we can go to the shadow court and get my brothers.”
“Just your brothers?” Leoni whispered.
“Of course not. Once I figure out where they are, then we can also save our boys.”
I wouldn’t come home without every single one of them.
Driscoll raised his head. “And let me guess: the pirate lord isn’t aware of that either?”
“He doesn’t need to be,” I replied.
“I think I’m going to be sick.” Driscoll shoved his head between his knees again, roping his lanky arms around them.
That made two of us. I couldn’t believe I was here. On Bastian’s ship. Missing my own coronation.
I gasped.
“What?” Leoni straightened. “What’s happened now?”
“You were supposed to tell my mother where I went. She’s going to be worried sick?—”
“I’ll send a message,” Leoni said, voice calm. She always had a solution. Thank the spirits for that. “I’ll write to her, put it in a bottle, and let the sea deliver it.”
My shoulders slumped in relief. That would work. “But don’t tell her we’re with Bastian. The fewer details she knows the better. Just tell her that we got a lead that we’re following and we hope to be back home soon with all of our boys.”
Leoni bit her lip but gave a curt nod. She hated lying, and it was going to be especially hard for her to lie to her queen. But this was a lie that needed to be told.
Leoni stayed silent as we sailed until the sky lightened from black to a murky gray, the rain finally stopping. Waves slapped against the ship, splashes of water plopping in front of us. From the helm, Bastian put two fingers in his mouth and let out a loud whistle.
“Everyone on the main deck,” he bellowed.
There was a rush of movement as people congregated before us, eyes darting between us and Bastian. I couldn’t imagine what they must think of these three bedraggled strangers Bastian had brought aboard. I wondered if they knew of his plan or if we were a surprise. As Bastian descended the steps of his ship, his crew stood at attention, a mixture of both men and women, aboutthirty in total if I had to guess. They didn’t hesitate to follow his orders and stood ramrod straight. He must’ve been just as fearsome as all the rumors said.
