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HAWK CRINGED AT AIRMED’S laughter as it echoed across the water for the whole world to hear. It was hard holding on to Anna under such conditions. Not because she struggled to get away, but because he was in bondage just as much as she was.
What choices did he have?
To succumb to Airmed? To watch his brother and the sorcerers kill the king?
Or to do the right thing which would cost him his life.
“What fools they are! Look at them scramble!” Airmed stormed across the deck pointing at the blazing fleet, at people jumping into the water, and the sailors launching boats to try and save them. Her eyes followed every torch that lit up the sky.
“I believe that your king is still alive, Anna.” Airmed turned to her, catching Hawk’s glare. His hold on her was more an embrace than how a captor would restrain a prisoner. Airmed sneered and studied him with eyes that sparked fire in her green irises.
“I would execute you now, Anna, if it weren’t that your king is still alive. I need you for bait. You’ve done well so far. When the ashes die down and we can see again, we’ll summon him here once more. With all his ships sunk, maybe he’ll be a little more congenial.”
“He won’t ever trust you,” Anna spat. “He knows who you are and what you would do to him.”
“Is he a coward then?” Airmed asked.
“He’s no coward. But he would stay alive for the sake of his people,” Anna said.
“Then he’ll come on board when I call him, and I’ll be ready for him.”
Airmed nodded to Hawk. “Take her to the belly of the ship. Tie her up tightly.”
“Let her go, Airmed.” Geraldo grumbled, fighting against the ropes that tied him. “You’ve already started a war. You’ll be exiled from the Allotrope Isles. All the benefits and status the king granted you will be withdrawn, and he may come looking to hang all of you.”
“Do you think that bothers us? We’re not attached to your island nor were we to the Neverworld. Our work is universal. We are universal. We can live and thrive anywhere because you see...” she flicked her fingers and a spark of power lit up the space in front of Geraldo. He flinched.
“You’ll be defeated, Airmed. You were before and you will be again. Your hate won’t keep you alive!” Anna said.
“Take her away. Now! And Hawk, tie her tight or you’ll be going overboard with her when we finish up here,” Airmed said.
Hawk jerked his head, lifted his chin, and squinted at her. Oh, how he’d like to destroy the witch!
“I’ll tie her nice and tight, Airmed, don’t you worry.” Hawk said. He nodded to Fengard. “You take care of the admiral.”
He yanked Anna toward the hatch. For show, of course, but Airmed would never know. She was so wrapped up in her own glory; the greed of power had made her blind.
“Very well,” Airmed said. “Fengard, take this fool captain to his cabin. Let him rot there. When we’re done with this bit of foolery, we’ll sink your ship, Geraldo. And your king of the Isles will blame you for losing it. He’ll never see us again.”
Hawk pushed Anna ahead of him, but whispered in her ear, “Forgive me.”
He released her arm once they were out of Airmed’s sight. Anna spun around and kicked him.
He staggered, off balance and fell against the wall.
She pulled the pistol from his pocket and dodged away from him.
What does she think she’s doing? She’ll be killed.
He chased her down the hatch. She dashed through the dark stairways of the ship, from the gear deck down to the bottom-most layer of the ship, passing no one, not even a sailor. No sunlight leaked through to guide the way. Once in the hull, a dead end, she spun around. She couldn’t escape unless she killed him.
“How do you expect me to forgive you?” she hissed, pointing the gun at him.
“Give it to me,” he held out his hand, panting. “It will do you no good to kill me. You have only one bullet and twelve warlocks to contend with. Plus Airmed.”
“No!”
“Anna, please!” He could barely see her but for the white in her dress. Force would not work with a high-strung baroness, that was clear, and he had no intentions of hurting her anyway. “Anna, just let me have it so I can help you. I’m powerless against these people but I might be able to get you free if I had a weapon. You would just get yourself killed.”
When she stepped into the moonlight seeping into the hull, she looked pathetic. Her ringlets were dripping water and her cheeks were flushed from the cold. Hawk took off his coat and offered it to her.
“Don’t tie me down here! Help me get out, Hawk!” She moaned. “I don’t want to die, and I don’t want Barin to die.” Anna dropped the gun on the floor and sunk to the ground.
He picked it up.
“If anyone comes down here you must look like you’re tied up. Otherwise, they’ll be even more brutal.” Hawk handed her the rope. “Do you think the king will return?”
“I don’t know if he’ll come back for me but he’s not going to let your people steal the island’s magic.”
“They’re not my people,” Hawk muttered. “I don’t know if they ever were. I’ll do what I can for you.”
Hawk wanted to kiss her again, hold her, somehow get her dry and warm. He attempted to put the cloak on her, but she brushed him away.
“If your brother sees me wearing your cloak, he’ll know you’ve been kind to me. He might even think you’re helping me escape. Take it. I’ll survive.”
This wasn’t right, leaving her here at the mercy of the sorcerers, but Hawk never stood up to anyone. How could he stand up to his brother now? He backed away, his stomach churning with guilt.
“Go. Get out of here. Be of use somewhere,” Anna barked.
“I’m going to help you, Anna, if it’s the last thing I do.”
It might be.