A Spark of Seas by Susannah Welch

Author:Susannah Welch [Welch, Susannah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Silky Sky Publishing, LLC

22

Her crew sagged in relief as the Resistance ships departed, but Rhielle yelled at them to stay focused. “We aren’t safe yet! Isandariyah will not just let us go. I kidnapped their prince, remember? Multiple times. They will not just let us sail away.”

Jazhara said, “We are no match for the Isandariyan crossbows, Captain. With the rune not working and the ship dead in the water, we have to hand over the prince and surrender.”

The word sent icy fear racing down her spine. The Isandariyans would take her ship and lock her up. Being trapped on land in a prison cell was the worst fate she could imagine. She jerked to her full height and let her voice ring out across the ship. “I wouldn’t surrender to the Resistance, and I won’t surrender to Isandariyah. Prepare for a fight.”

Edric strained against his bonds. “Rhielle, just let me go. I’ll tell them to let you escape.”

“Do you think I’m an idiot?” she snapped. “They won’t just let us go on our way. We have to fight.”

“Do you want your crew to die? Some of them are just young girls.”

She stormed closer to him and hissed, “They’re pirates, no matter their age. They knew what they were in for.”

He dropped his voice to a low growl. “Even if you are content to die at sea, Rhielle, it doesn’t mean the rest of them are.”

She choked down the bile rising in her throat. There was no escape. No way out. Surrender was the only option. The thought was so terrible, a part of her just wanted to let the ship burn down around her.

But her crew …

“Surrender,” he whispered. “I promise you, your crew will not be harmed.”

She closed her eyes and released her held breath. “Untie him.”

A collective sigh rose from her crew, which filled her with equal parts guilt and disappointment. Edric massaged his chafed wrists, then walked to the railing and raised his hands to wave at the lead Isandariyan ship.

How long would it take for them to recognize the blond man in red was their own? Jazhara handed him a spyglass so he could answer that question for them.

“My brothers are on that ship … two of them … Strange, but that explains why they were so aggressive.”

“Will they attack?” asked Jazhara.

“They’ve recognized me. They won’t destroy the ship.”

Rhielle squinted at the ship. “They still have soldiers with bows raised.”

He lifted a brow. “So do you, Captain.”

Rhielle’s nails dug into her palms as she gave the order that went against her very nature. “Stand down.”

Chysu lowered her bow, and every archer on board followed suit.

“They’ve lowered their weapons.” He handed Rhielle the spyglass.

She spotted the two princes on the deck of the lead ship. One wore a dark blue uniform, the other a fashionable jacket, unbuttoned a little too far.

Two women stood tucked into a line of soldiers—one with black hair, one blonde—both dressed in sumptuous gowns highly impractical at sea.

“Who are the women?”

“My brothers’ wives.” His brows drew together.

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