I do not recognize the people before me.
I note fifteen of them, wrapped in furs and deprived of weapons. Some are in bad shape with arms in slings or bandages on their heads. Too thin and haggard from not enough nourishment. I recognize not a soul among them, but I know immediately who they must be.
The crew of the Wanderer.
And they’re being herded by the undead, forced to come straight in my direction.
Chapter 19
THERE’S AT LEAST TEN undead for every single Islander. They surround the crew of the Wanderer, blocking them in a fence made of undead clutching one another’s arms. They move as one unit, seamlessly forcing the living to keep pace or be trampled underfoot.
I watch one of the larger men try to punch the closest undead. It does nothing, of course, just results in more shouting from his crew.
“Dammit, Nydus, stop hitting them!” one of the women says. “You’ve as much brains as they do.”
“I suppose you’d rather I wait until they force us off a cliff, then?”
“Quiet,” another man says.
“Have you a plan, Captain?” The woman says his title like it’s an insult.
“No, Shura. I just don’t want to hear your bickering any longer.”
When I finally make my presence known, the undead halt their march, and the Islanders within the circle of arms stop, too.
No one says anything for a full minute. Then, “Who the hell are you?” This comes from Nydus, the man who’s supposedly all brawn and no brains.
“Quiet,” Shura snaps. “You know the natives can’t understand us!” She’s a tall woman, probably nearing six feet, and her figure has all the support to bear such an impressive height. Her cheeks have a rosy tint to them, which contrasts beautifully with her onyx-colored skin.
She is not the only woman among them. There are six in total, and I pray each of them is one of the women Alosa sent me to find. I’d hate for any of them to have been lost because I took too long to reach this cursed place. Since the Wanderer was a large ship, I can tell they’ve already lost two-thirds of their crew as it is.
“My name is Captain Sorinda Veshtas. I was sent by Queen Alosa Kalligan to find what became of the crew of the Wanderer and bring any survivors home.”
One man steps in front of the others, coming as close as he can to me before reaching the wall of undead bodies. He’s older than the others, perhaps in his forties. A stern chin sits beneath chapped lips. “I am Toras Warran, captain of the Wanderer. Neither I nor my crew have any need of being saved by pirate filth.” He spits on the ground before stepping back toward the rest of the survivors.
The rest of the crew exchange looks between themselves.
“Speak for yourself!” Nydus says. He’s about the same height and build as Shura, and he rubs his hands together before blowing warmth into them. “I would very much like to be saved, and I’ll kiss the pirate queen’s boots if that’s what it takes. I’ve had it with this stars-forsaken place.”
Another man asks, “Why should the pirate queen take an interest in the crew of one of the land king’s ships?”
I meet the eyes of Shura, and she winks at me.
“Do not trust any offer made by pirates,” Captain Warran says. “If they offer food with one hand, the other is sure to hold something sharp. Obviously the Kalligan girl means for us to serve her or die. That is always the way things go.”
I manage to withhold an eye roll. “I’m to drop you off at the Seventeen Isles. What you choose to do after that is up to you. The only thing I expect in return is more sea hands for the return trip.”
“Sounds pretty good to me,” Nydus says. “I’m an excellent sea hand.”
“Count me in,” Shura says. The rest of the girls nod or voice their assent.
In fact, the only person not in agreement appears to be the captain himself. The rest of the crew is perfectly happy to be saved, by pirates or not. He stands behind the others, arms crossed and face turned away.
“This is the best crew His Royal Majesty could bequeath me with? Defiant arselings is what you all are. You think you know best, gallivanting off with pirates?” He zeroes in on me with his hateful gaze. “Do you have an army behind you in those woods somewhere?”
“No, my crew lies to the south. We will rendezvous with them.”
Warran looks victorious. “Then how, pray tell, are you supposed to free us from these cursed individuals?”
Threydan said it was a present, but I can’t believe he wouldn’t want to be here to witness this. To see my gratitude—not that I would give him the satisfaction. But I note with horror that every single pair of blue eyes is pointed right at me.
He is watching my reaction.
I say, “Release them.”
At first, I think nothing will happen and I will look the fool. Then the undead drop their arms and cross into the woods without a sound, leaving only me and the crew of the Wanderer behind.
“Neat trick!” Nydus says.
“You fool,” Warran says. “She’s obviously controlling them! This is no pirate, but some scheming enchantress sent to put us under the same spell that lot is clearly under.”
“Warran, for just once will you shut the hell up?” Shura says.
The captain looks mortified by her words. “It’ll be prison for you when we return. I’ll have you—”
“Surely even you have heard of Sorinda Veshtas, the pirate queen’s assassin? She’s notorious, if not recognizable, given she wouldn’t be a very good assassin if everyone knew what she looked like.”
“I don’t know what you—”
Oh, but Shura loves cutting him off. “You need more convincing? Fine. I serve Alosa Kalligan, and I have for months before I ever stepped foot on your ship.”
At that, Nydus’s gaze cuts to her so quickly his neck cracks.
“Pirate filth!” Warran says, pointing to her.
“You’re unbelievable,” Shura says, stepping up to my side. “Thank you for the rescue, Captain. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” She extends her hand, and I take it.
When done, Shura turns back around. “Have my eyes changed color? No? Can we please get the hell out of here, then?”
The rest of the girls step to my side of the clearing.
“Not you lot, too?” the captain asks.
“We were sent to keep eyes on the land king’s endeavors,” Shura says, “and you should be grateful for it. I don’t see King Ladell sending forces to rescue you lot, do you? You ought to praise Alosa’s name for extending an invitation of rescue to you as well, even though you don’t serve her. And don’t deserve it, in my opinion. Where to, Captain?” The last sentence is directed to me.
“This way.” The girls fall into step with me.
Nydus is the first to join us, stepping up to Shura’s side and taking side glances at her when he thinks she’s not looking. More men quickly follow, until it is only Captain Warran and another man left behind, likely his first mate.
But soon, even they follow. Just at a distance.