65

Salila

Kaylin’s throwing orders around like the King of the Sea. Sure, I’ll play along, just to see where he takes this, but really, it’s getting up my nose. I kneel down to the child, putting all my focus there. “You have a pretty face, don’t you, polyp?” I touch her freckled cheek. Her skin is leached to gray, cold to the touch. I put my hand on her chest. No heartbeat. “Tell me she’s savant.” I glance at Ash.

“She was, peace be her path.” The girl challenges me through red-rimmed eyes. Landers are such an emotive race.

“Good thing I’m reviving her, then.” I say it under my breath, but she hears me. Her eyes widen and her mouth gapes like a fish. “How big’s her phantom?” I ask.

“Impala.”

“Describe?”

“A half-size deer. Long neck. Like a goat only more—”

I brighten. “That’ll do.” I ball my fist and slam it into the girl’s chest. It seems to go straight through her to the deck while the girl arches her back and opens her eyes. From her chest explodes the impala. What a creature! It flies into the air, brown eyes wide, ears flapping, and tiny hooves flailing. In a flash, I catch it around the neck and shove it back into the girl’s body. The little savant sits upright, sucks in a huge breath, and coughs violently before rolling over on her side to throw up half the bay.

I grin at Ash while patting the child’s back. “Not so dead after all, is she?”

Ash’s lips form a perfect O.

“Free her!” Kaylin commands.

He’s so cocky in his captain’s hat. “Not a prisoner, then?”

“Hurry up, Salila. You have a fog to raise.”

I toss him a dirty look. “Aye, aye.” I examine the girl further. “What’s your name?”

“Tyche.” She coughs. “Who are you?”

“Call me Salila.”

“Are you Mar?”

“Obvious, isn’t it?” I laugh. “Come, little nudibranch. I saw your phantom. All’s well in your world, so show me your bindings.”

Tyche sits up and holds out her hands. Her wrists are chafed and bruised.

“Hold them as far apart as you can. Like so.” I place one manacle over an iron ring in the deck and bring down the edge of my hand like an axe. Sparks fly and the iron cracks. With another lightning strike, I split the second cuff apart. Tyche clutches her wrists and tries to catch her breath, her wet hair dripping down her face. “The words you’re looking for are thank and you.” I glance at Kaylin meaningfully then sweep up the irons, flinging them far out to sea. “Only monsters put children in chains.”

Kaylin continues to fire orders at us all. “We have to sail across the channel as fast as possible. I’ll want—”

“One moment, oh Cap-i-tán.” I take the jib line from his hand and pass it to Samsen. “Do you mind?”

I push Kaylin in the chest, and he steps back. I push again, and he’s nearly to the railing. “We need to check the hull, little brother.” Before he answers, I shove him a third time, and he sails backward over the edge of the rail. “We won’t be long.” Their faces are stunned as I dive headfirst into the sea.