Brightling by C. E. Page

Author:C. E. Page [Page, C. E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780992554873
Publisher: Enchanted Castle Press

They waited until nightfall before piling into several small boats and quietly navigating to the foot of the admiral’s ship. One of the crew threw a grappling hook and caught the rail before deftly climbing out of sight.

Moments ticked by and then a thump sounded, and a rope ladder was rolled down. Wren caught it and darted up it, followed by Penny and Gendry. Emil indicated Margot go next. As she started up the ladder, it shook and slid to the side, and she shut her eyes, bitting her lip and gripping the rope white-knuckle tight.

“Keep moving,” Emil whispered from beneath her.

Drawing a deep breath, she started climbing again. As she reached the rail at the top, a large hand grabbed the back of her shirt and hauled her onto the deck.

“It gets easier with each ship you infiltrate,” Gendry whispered with a grin.

Margot had been expecting the crew of the admiral’s ship to fight back, but Wren’s men had them rounded up in no time.

“You have two options,” Wren said as she paced in front of the bound crew. “You can be lowered to the waiting boats and taken safely back to the dock or you can remain on this vessel and aid us in taking on the leviathan. Any attempts at mutiny will see you tossed into the Shadow Trench.”

The crew all shared a look.

“So, what do you want to do? Go back to dock and find a seedy mug of ale and a warm bed?” Most of the captives nodded. “Or come with us? I could use a few hands, and I pay fairly, not like your admiral.”

A pair of identical women at the back of the group raised their hands. “We’ll come with you,” they said.

“I thought you bound them all securely.” Wren cast a glance at her bosun, Rufus.

He shrugged. “Tight enough they’ll have purple fingers if you keep gasbagging any longer.”

“He did a fantastic job. It took us much longer to slip out than normal, but we love a challenge,” one of the women said, lifting a coil of rope.

One of Wren’s brows rose, and a satisfied sort of smile crossed her lips. “What are your names?”

“I’m Pippa, and this is Kiki.” They stepped around their old crewmates.

“A pleasure, ladies. I am Captain Wren.”

“Oh, we know.” Pippa grinned.

“Alright, Gen, lower the rest of them down to the boats. You lot,” she directed at the crew, “get to work. I want this ship through the break as soon as possible.”

Everyone moved at once, and before long the anchor was lifted. Wren stood at the bow, her eyes closed. Her keen prickled up Margot’s spine and stood her hair on end. A soft breeze stirred, picking up momentum until it was a steady wind filling the sails. The ship edged forward with a creaking groan, water sloshing along the sides as it gained speed towards the break in the wall of stone that ringed the harbour.

A horn sounded, and Margot chanced a look back at the dock.

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