Page 4 of Blood on the Tide

“This is a rescue mission, which I suppose makes me one of the good guys. For once.” Their nose, which I am horrified to discover is rather cute, wrinkles in distaste. “How novel.”

I don’t know what I would say to that, because I don’t get a chance. Hurried footsteps approach, revealing someone I actually do recognize. My chest goes tight, and something resembling a sob lurches into my throat. “Nox.”

“We’re getting you out of here.” They stop in the doorway, their expression going pinched. “Is there a reason you’re blocking the exit, Lizzie?” Without waiting for an answer, they shoulder past her. “Ignore her. She’s just mad she didn’t get to kill more people.”

Lizzie. What an unassuming name for such a terrifying woman.

Lizzie nimbly shifts to the side. “Just getting a feel for our little captive.”

I can’t quite read Nox’s expression, but they seem worried. “We need to get moving. The Audacity is almost here to collect us, and it’s important that we don’t linger. It will make people ask questions about what happened to the Drunken Dragon and its crew.”

“So, what you’re saying is that it would be better if there was no ship for people to ask questions about.” Lizzie steps out of the cell and walks to a lantern hanging across the way.

I haven’t had cause to be on many Cwn Annwn ships, but I’ve been on board the Audacity a few times, and it’s nothing like this cesspool. The Drunken Dragon is only a ship, with no convenient pocket dimension to house the crew. They all sleep in one massive room, swaying on hammocks. And if the smell is anything to go by, there’s no indoor plumbing, either. The ship will go up rather quickly if Lizzie sets something on fire.

“I realize that I brought you here for a specific purpose, but it’s incredibly disconcerting how much you enjoy violence,” says Nox.

Lizzie shrugs, her expression curiously blank. “Dead men tell no tales.”

Nox narrows their eyes. “Is that supposed to be a joke?” They shake their head sharply. “Never mind. Don’t answer that. I should’ve brought Bowen with me.” They hold out a hand to me. “Let’s get you out of here.”

I don’t know what to make of their interaction, but I do know I want to get out of here. Nox is a known entity. That’s good enough for me. I slip my hand into theirs and allow them to lead me past the curiously still Lizzie. Even in this body, my senses are enhanced. I shouldn’t be spending time focused on the stranger, but her breathing is significantly slower than a human’s, and her heartbeat is as well. What is she?

Nox leads me past a massacre. There’s no other way to describe it. But the strangest thing is that there’s no blood spattering the worn wooden planks. It seems like most of the crew just dropped where they stood. The only evidence of violence is the same as that for the men in the brig—blood from their mouth, nose, and eyes.

I know Nox is capable of killing with their elemental magic—they can trap the air in your lungs until you suffocate. Or summon actual water and drown you on dry land, which is obviously something that happened here, judging by the puddles near some of the people’s heads. “So many.”

“This crew has been a problem for a long time. You know that as well as anyone.”

I do. There are ships among the Cwn Annwn for which the locals know to avoid getting caught alone with members of the crew. To keep the pretty ones tucked away so that they don’t catch the eye of the captains. Technically, the Cwn Annwn aren’t supposed to conscript locals into their ranks, but some of their captains care less about the rules than about the power they wield. The Council doesn’t care as long as they continue to kill monsters. There’s no one to stop them... Or at least there never was before.

This rescue is still a bold move, even for Nox. “It was a risk to come for me. You shouldn’t have done it.”

They shoot me a charming grin. “Come now, Maeve. You know I wasn’t going to leave such a lovely lass to these bastards. Let’s get you out of here and safe.”

Safe. It’s a nice thought. I don’t know if it’s ever been true, though. Maybe my childhood, when the only thing I had to worry about was keeping within the rocky shores of the bay near my home on Viedna. Or waiting for the seasons to change and my favorite kind of fish to come back for hunting. Or living up to the expectations set forth by my mother and grandmother.

I haven’t been that kind of safe in a long time. Certainly not since I joined the rebellion, but even more so now that I’ve lost my pelt. It’s like what I imagine losing a limb might feel like. I keep instinctively reaching for it only to remember its loss all over again, as if for the first time. “I have to go to Khollu.”

“We’ll talk about what happens next after we get you back to the Audacity.” They hustle me across the deck to another crimson-sailed ship.

Reality catches up with me and I dig in my heels. “Wait. I can’t be on Hedd’s ship. It’s just as bad as this one.” Maybe Nox can shield me a little, but ultimately they have to keep their cover. They can’t let the Cwn Annwn know that they’re a double agent for the rebellion.

Which means they can’t protect me.

I look at all the death around me, and all the evidence of rebellion. “What have you done?”

Nox, instead of seeming as worried as they should be, slings an arm around my shoulders and guides me to the railing. “A lot of things have changed since I saw you last. I’m captain now.”

I twist to look at them. “What?” There’s no way Hedd would have given up the position, even if he was voted out. Which means he must be dead, but... how?

“I’ll explain when we get over there. This isn’t the place for that chat.” They motion to someone on their crew, and it feels like a giant hand wraps around my waist and lifts me gently into the air. I freeze, too aware of how easy it is for a telekinetic to do more harm than good when they carry someone. My heart is in my throat. I’m not afraid of heights, but there’s something deeply disconcerting about staring at a long drop between my helpless body and the surface of the sea. From this height, it would feel like crashing into a solid surface if I fell. My concern is apparently for nothing. A few seconds later, I’m deposited safely on the deck of the Audacity.

A person with shoulder-length blond hair and suntanned skin hurries up with a blanket. “You must be freezing. I’m Evelyn, she/her. Did they hurt you?” She drapes the blanket around my shoulders with a warm smile. “It looks like Lizzie killed them all, so I guess that’s... Well, that’s something.”

This woman is pretty in a way that makes me blush, but her bubbly energy immediately sets me at ease. She’s about my size, full body poured into a pair of skintight pants and a shirt that shows off a significant portion of her chest, most of which is covered in vaguely familiar magic glyphs. A witch, though I’ve never seen one who tattoos their spells onto their skin.

I’m saved from having to say anything by Nox and then Lizzie landing lightly on the deck. Behind Lizzie, the Dragon is already alight in flame.