Dragon Raider (Sea Dragons Trilogy Book 1) by Ava Richardson

Author:Ava Richardson [Richardson, Ava]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-03-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Danu, lessons

Over the next few days, Malata was a hive of activity. It was different from my time at Sebol. Never before had I seen half sozzled men leap into a harbor with joyous whoops first thing to drive the sleep from their minds. Never had I experienced so many voices rising in shouts and arguments as when the night catch was brought up onto the harbor and divvied out between the various Raider families.

But all island life–whether on a pirates’ island or a witches’—had some similarities, it seemed. There was the business of fishing, the cleaning and beating of linens, the rekindling of cook fires. These were tasks that everyone knew and turned to as a matter of course – although the Raiders often did it with louder voices and laughter, whereas the witches usually regarded every task in solemn silence.

I found that, just like Sebol as well, there was no such thing as a useless body. After having a breakfast of rolls, cheese, and cured goat, I was quickly commandeered by one or another loud Raider to help haul in a net, hold a line, or lift boxes. On Sebol, most of the time everyone was busy studying or meditating, and so those of us who might be younger or more able bodied were often sent to perform the necessary tasks that kept the community running: cleaning, cooking, minor repairs.

I found a pleasing sort of numbness to this physical work. I didn’t have to worry about the prophecy all the time, but instead could laugh with the other Raiders at their workmanlike jokes, or groan when a line snapped, or a catch was poor.

I had discovered that the chief’s plan was to get the Ariel back in a shipshape state, and to send her out to scout for the three Havick galleons, and to tow the other Raider warships to just inside the reef, ready to move if danger was announced. There was an argument between he and Lila, right on the docks, when he also announced that he would be captaining the Ariel, and that she had to stay behind here on Malata – and not even serve as his first mate. I watched as the chief and his foster-daughter argued, feeling frozen. Should I say anything? Intervene in some way – and if I did – would that help or harm the prophecy? Would it set Lila on her rightful path, or encourage her against it?

I wondered why her father had made this sudden move. Was it because he feared what damage Crux might do to his beloved boat? Or that he just wanted her to be safe? I could tell from the way that Lila heard the news, that she had taken it as a personal rebuke as her father sailed off without her.

But we had our own problems, I reminded myself. The more time that we had to get the Raiders used to the dragon – perhaps to even learn how to ride a dragon – was better, in my opinion.

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