These Sanguine Tides by E.S. Barrison

Author:E.S. Barrison [Barrison, E.S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: E.S. Barrison

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Cauterized

Even from the ship, I could see the flames rising over the port, engulfing the magic that defined its beauty. My heart broke for it; I didn’t mean to cause such destruction. But June and I had to get out of there; I’d only just claimed my freedom. I couldn’t have it stolen from me again.

My hands continued to pulse with fire. Once back on board the Sanguine Tortuga, I found a bucket of water and kept it close. Every time even a flicker of flame willed itself into my palms, I dunked my hands in the water to stop it from taking shape.

June and I told no one what happened. Once the rest of the crew returned to the boat, whispers traveled about an attack from the Eastern Coast, part of their ongoing civil war. The only one who probably knew the truth was Theo, who watched closely as I moved about the deck. June vanished almost immediately upon arrival to fawn over her new gem.

As we sailed off into the sunset, the ship returned to its quiet rhythm. I found a crate to sit upon and watch as São Caméliosa disappeared into the horizon, mangled by a cloud of smoke.

I felt worse about the gardens succumbing to my flame than the soldiers I harmed. If they survived, they would have a nice souvenir. But those gardens, the magic they held, I had destroyed it all with a single wave of my hand. Would it be like that forever? Would they regrow?

Or would they sit there, nothing more than weeds, burnt away by the clumsy hand of a pirate?

Pirate.

That word haunted my every thought.

I didn’t hear as Theo, Pickford, Callum, and Hari approached me that evening. My eye remained locked on the horizon.

“Leena, eat.” Hari handed me a bowl of fruit.

“Not hungry.” I glanced at the fruit. The colors were far too bright for today.

“Fine, I’ll eat it!” Pickford reached for my bowl of fruit, but Hari smacked his hand away. He brought it to his mouth and kissed it.

“You haven’t left this spot in three hours. Are you okay?” Hari pressured, sitting down on the crate next to me.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

Hari gave that look where I knew she wouldn’t drop the conversation.

I sighed, weaving a lie around my truth. “With the garden burning… and all this talk of the Eastern side attacking… I guess I’m concerned about the war in Gonvernnes. I didn’t even know about it. Having been on this ship… I lost a chance at a formal education or anything like that.”

“That war’s been going on forever,” Pickford said as he snagged a piece of coconut from the fruit bowl.

“Yes, but why? What if it impacts us somehow?”

“I don’t see it affecting us,” Theo said.

“But we have magic!” The lie started to get to me, filling my chest with anxiety. There was far too much to worry about here. “June said it had to do with magic or something. I don’t know. There’s so much I don’t know.

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