Chapter 19 Devilish Bargains
Hours later, we left the Silence, completely entering the Hall of Sheets.
The Sheets collapsed more quickly than the Silence, and the rain that lashed down was hard.
But the wind had picked up as well, and Worley was right.
We were making good time. Still, with the Endorathil dogging our tail, there was no rest for our spinners, and both crews were exhausted.
I helped Echo and Nan with food and drink and oilskins as needed, for while the rain was warm, it inevitably brought the chills.
That evening, Thanavar called us into his quarters. Worley had set up the large table, and I was proud to have a chair alongside Fahr, Echo, Smoke, Buck, Ben, and Broom. There was no wine or rum tonight. Not tonight, when plans would be made and laid.
“I do not like being chased,” said Thanavar. “Tonight, we change that.”
Smoke grunted but said nothing.
“Mr. Buck, when we’re half a league from open water, we will pitch one of your rafts into the gap. We will equip it with lanterns so it will be visible to the Endorathil, while we stormveil and tack starboard. We will come around during the night and rake her hard by morning.”
“In the Hall of Sheets?” asked Fahr.
“In the Hall of Sheets, yes,” he said. “If it were the Silence, I would hesitate, but we have navigated the Sheets before.”
“And we’ve almost lost the ship in the Sheets before,” said Smoke. “Just because we’ve done it doesn’t mean we should.”
“Understood, Mr. Oakum,” said Thanavar. “And do not think I am dismissing the danger of taking on a larger ship in a collapsing corridor, but I have no faith that we will be clear once we hit open seas. No, I know Ilvalour. The Endorathil is up to something, and I have no desire to let her play us because we are coy.”
“The crew is tired, sir,” said Echo. “The Endorathil’s pursuit is pushing them to exhaustion.”
“And that will not change, for the Endorathil will be chasing still once we hit open seas,” said Thanavar. “No, we must take the fight to her. She will not be expecting it, and both surprise and the weather gauge will be with us.”
“You’re right,” said Fahr. “We need to control the engagement.”
The captain looked around the table.
“We are agreed, then,” said Thanavar. “Gentlemen, prepare your sta—”
The ship thundered with impact, and we all staggered to our feet. The sounds of shouting carried down from the main, and a terrified Worley appeared at the door.
“Another ship, sir,” he gasped.
“Rhi’Ahr?”
“No, sir. From the corridor ahead of us.”
Thanavar slammed his palm on the table.
“I knew he was up to something,” he growled. “Beat to quarters. All hands on deck.”
“Beat to quarters! All hands on deck!”
I followed him above decks as a second cannon roared over the drums and the rain.
“Down!” cried Fahr.
I hit the deck as a ball tore across the main, shattering the bulwark as she went. Lines snapped, whipping above our heads, and the foremast creaked as she leaned into her stays.
“Back to stations, lads!” cried Smoke. “To your posts!”
“Chase guns, return fire!”
And they did, booming shot across the choppy seas toward the dark shape pitching toward us. I was glad Thanavar had left the guns there, else we’d be hard pressed to round cannons or swivel guns in time.
“She’s Navy, sir!” shouted Neale from the wheel. “I think it’s the Templemore!”
“Bracey’s balls!” said Smoke as he scrambled to the helm. “What the hels is she doing in a gap?”
Behind us, the Endorathil’s long guns boomed. She was still too far behind to be a threat, but we were soundly pinned. The captain cast his eyes across the seas and growled again.
“This does not fly, Devanhan. There is a devilish bargain to be found here somewhere,” said Thanavar.
“The soul aboard?”
“I will find him, and I will keelhaul him,” he hissed. “Mark my words.”
“Consider them marked, sir.”
“Mr. Buck, target the Templemore!” the captain bellowed. “Prepare to fire!”
“Wait!” I cried. “No!”
He whirled, his eyes flashing like lightning in stormy skies.
Oh fog, what was I doing?
“These cannonballs are laced,” I shouted over the howling winds. “We can’t loose them on a Navy ship!”
“We can,” he snarled. “And we will.”
“No!” My heart had leaped to my throat, hammering to the point of choking so that it was almost impossible to speak. “I laced them myself! I can’t be responsible!”
He strode across the deck, and my legs trembled at his approach.
“They aim to sink us, Ensign,” he seethed. “Without hesitation. Without mercy.”
I could feel the eyes of the crew on me. Oh suns, help me. Please, Forge. Ember, please.
I flung up my runescarred hands.
“I was on the receiving end of chimeric-laced shot,” I barked. “It was not a fair fight, not even close.”
I struggled for breath but met his eyes. Forge, he was terrifying, a stormshear wrapped in fury and vengeance and the sea.
“I’m still Navy,” I said. “I can’t do that to them. I won’t.”
The crack of cannon fire echoed across the waters—from the Templemore or the Endorathil, I couldn’t say. The hull splintered and railings snapped and splinters sprayed wide across the deck, but he and I stood face to face, frozen in time, locked in a battle all our own.
“Orders, Captain?” cried Fahr from the mizzen.
“One day, we will not be able to run,” he said, his voice low and ominous. “And that day, it will be on you.”
I felt sick. Everything inside me said flee, hide, back to your crab shell and weather out this storm. My muscles were trembling, my legs wire tight, but I lifted my chin and pushed the hair from my eyes.
“I understand.”
He snarled and swung back.
“Stormveil and take us into the Sheets!”
“What?” Fahr glanced between the two of us, appalled and accusing.
“You heard me. Stormveil and take us into the Sheets!”
Swiftly, Fahr swung to the quarterdeck.
“All hands, Adamanthus Tempestet!”
“Adamanthus Tempestet!” The cry rose across the decks.
“Hard to starboard, Mr. Neale! Take us into the Sheets.”
“Hard to starboard, aye.”
Another blast from the Templemore, this one thudding into our gundeck. I could only imagine the chaos below.
“Doctor, spin to run dark,” said Fahr.
Run dark, crew, if you will.
And the cries fell silent as seconds rushed to the main and assembled into diamonds, and rune sprang up literally from all hands. Lights, lanterns, and candles were snuffed, and the ship tacked hard into the Sheets before rippling into darkness.
Thanavar turned and stepped toward me, looming over me like a shadow or a wraith.
“Never undermine me in front of the crew,” he growled. “I will not abide sedition.”
Another shot from the Templemore, but we were gone, disappearing into the stormy seas like a ghost, and her ball struck the water at our stern.
“I won’t be the reason a Navy ship sinks,” I said quietly, keeping my voice steady and my eyes focused on the hawk pendant glistening with rain. “You asked me to stay Navy. That was your choice.”
“I would not choose for you,” he said finally. “But one day, you will be forced by the moons to make that choice between the Navy and the Ship of Spells. Pray choose wisely. For all our sakes.”
I swallowed, glanced over the aft rail to see the Templemore roll hard at the sight of the Rhi’Ahr cruiser behind us. I hoped they’d take each other out before being crushed, in turn, by the Sheets. I avoided the accusing glares of the crew as they silently steered the ship into the storm.
Thanavar released a breath and stepped back as Fahr bounded up to the pup. He looked up at the captain, wiped the rain off his face.
“Looks like you’ll get to Bilgetown after all.”
Thanavar grunted.
“It is not the cut I would have chosen,” he said. “But I will take it. Continue the veil until we have well and truly lost them. And once we have, send the chaser over the side.”
He spun on his heel and disappeared down the steps. I didn’t watch him go, but gazed over the rail into the savage, snarling seas. Fahr peered over my shoulder.
“You may need more rum for that,” he said.
I nodded bleakly. Days ago, I had been proud that Thanavar had called it my chimeric, but I knew now that it was only a matter of time before either pride, chimeric, or this crew killed me.
Two days later, we came upon Bilgetown.