From These Raging Seas: Keelhaul Jack Series by Brittany Czarnecki

Author:Brittany Czarnecki [Czarnecki, Brittany]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9798987518816
Published: 2023-06-09T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter

Fourteen

JACK

Trudging along the dirt streets of Ilykos, I clutch my empty stomach as it roars in disapproval at the lack of food. It’s been days since my last meal, and the hunger pangs have me keeled over. I need to find something, but I have no money, no family… I also have nothing to lose.

Midsarra is a small island that sits between Vulkan and Terrisøl, floating out in the middle of the sea, alone and forgotten. This is a good place for me.

After a few more hours, the sun starts to set, and I make my way to the marketplace. Vendors are beginning to pack up for the day. They wrap up food, pack away their goods, and discard anything spoiled. I eye a mass of rotting fish heads, though my stomach churns at the smell. I’m not that hungry yet. Moving along, I spot a small group talking with a vendor who sells dried pork, jarred vegetables, and other goods. I’ve stolen from this man before, and he knows my face, so I don’t get too close. Hiding behind a barrel, I watch the vendor talking with a tall man. Of course, everyone is tall to me. At seven years old, I barely come up to a grown man’s hips, but that also makes me a good thief.

This man is tall and lean, with a head of blond hair that falls to his shoulders. His tan cocked hat is singed at the front, leaving one tip black. With his long jacket, scuffed leather boots, and cutlass that hangs from his belt, I know that he’s a pirate. The pirate hands over a bag of coins as the vendor wraps up a whole pork leg and fills a small sack with jerky. My mouth begins to salivate at the sight, and my stomach grumbles again.

It’s only when the pirate turns to leave that I see how young he is. He’s just a teenager, with a smooth face, strong jaw, and murky green eyes. Somehow this gives me the confidence to try to steal from him, as if he can’t still cut me in half with his cutlass. Deciding my fate, I follow the man and the rest of the pirates with him as they head back to the harbor. The city is growing dark now, shadows lurking where the lanterns won’t shine their light. It makes it easy for me to follow the group. They laugh and chat lightly, talking about sailing to a place called the Isle of the Lost. I’ve never left Midsarra before and have no idea about the world outside of this small island.

As the blond pirate takes a corner, I sprint silently just behind him, reaching and carefully unlooping the bag of jerky from his belt. My heart hammers against my ribs as I catch the bag, then quickly hug the wall and listen to their retreating footsteps. Smiling triumphantly, I dig into the bag, stuffing a handful of the dried meat into my mouth.

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