Mikani caught a glimpse of a frown from Ritsuko. He loosed his senses enough to take her measure. Under the circumstances, he didn’t think she’d mind. She was deeply troubled. In doing so, he also read the Major General, and she was hiding her true emotional state beneath a calm facade; the older woman boiled with barely suppressed excitement. Abruptly, he had the sense of unseen currents hidden beneath a thin layer of ice.
“Do you feel we’re guilty of treason?” Ritsuko asked. “Have we harmed your house?”
“No, my dear. You did what you thought best.”
“So you’re not arresting us?” Mikani was surprised, but it seemed as if the woman had already dismissed them from her mind, as if she had more pressing business.
Bronze gods if I know what. Something about this smells off.
“Definitely not. That would be exceedingly ungrateful. Unfortunately, I lack the political power to protect you from the storm that will surely sweep you up.” She gestured at the town, and the sea beyond, tinged red by the approaching evening. “House Skarsgard will demand your blood for destroying the mines. House Magnus will recover . . . earth elementals are easier to find, and apparently more willing to work with humans.” She turned toward them. “My House, Thorgrim . . . we’ll be hit hard. But I am honor-bound to let you go. You saved Northport from the raging salamanders . . . and from a fleet of cragger savages, according to your story and Lord Magnus’s scouts. You will need friends when everyone realizes that steam engines are gone for good, and you’re to blame. Perhaps you have some allies elsewhere?”
“Yes,” Ritsuko said.
She put down her untouched cream cake. “If that’s all, my lady, we should return to Dorstaad to make our report there as well.”
“I don’t envy you that task. But thank you for everything you’ve done.” The Major General moved to the door and opened it with an air of abstraction.
This isn’t the reaction I expected at all.
Mikani didn’t say a word until they left Lady Thorgrim’s property, then he and Ritsuko both began speaking at once. “That was—”
“She was lying.”
“About what?” Mikani asked, quickening his pace. He had the feeling they needed to get away before the woman changed her mind.
“Everything. I don’t know what to make of it, but she seemed pleased by the damage we’ve done to the Houses, albeit unintentionally.”
“But she’s Thorgrim,” Mikani said, frowning. “Without the mines, they’ll lose prestige and income, almost as much as Skarsgard.”
Ritsuko glanced over her shoulder. “It doesn’t ring true. She’s letting us go for her own reasons. I just don’t know what they are.”
“Me either. But it makes me nervous.”
His partner nodded, and Mikani hoped they’d be clear of Northport before Lady Thorgrim’s scheming caught up with them.
CHAPTER 28
THE GULL SHOWED SIGNS OF READINESS WHEN RITSUKO examined it down the length of the pocked pier. She picked a careful path around the holes in the wood. Close-up, she smelled the remnants of burned wood. We’re lucky the whole thing didn’t collapse. She hurried up the gangplank to find Irahi and Miss Braelan waiting on deck.
“How did it go?” the other woman asked.
“Eerily well.”
Miss Braelan nodded. “I must admit, I was expecting to have to mount a rescue to pull you and Janus out of the Major General’s dungeons.”
“You were looking forward to it, you mean.” Mikani smirked as he stepped off the gangplank and onto the Gull’s deck.
Miss Braelan lifted a shoulder, but she wore a smile that suggested Mikani might have a point. “Well, this is certainly easier. We’ll set sail at dawn. I’m sure we’re all eager to put Northport behind us.”
“I don’t like this,” Ritsuko said.
“We were due a break.” Mikani did not sound fully certain, though. “All the same, let’s knock on wood and get back home before our luck turns.”
She nodded. “If you don’t mind, I’ll retire for a rest.”
Though she didn’t let on, healing was exhausting work. The others murmured their assent, and she headed to her cabin. Ritsuko lay down on her bunk, but she took a notebook with her, where she documented everything that had happened since they left Dorstaad. I’ve been slacking. How can I be expected to remember everything? Once she had a record of recent events, she set aside the pen and paper and closed her eyes.
She didn’t mean to sleep so long, but when she opened them again, her head felt thick and achy, as if she’d been out for hours. I’m surprised nobody came to check on me. After sliding off her bunk, she put on her shoes, combed her hair, and stepped into the hall, where she followed the sound of voices, punctuated by the occasional burst of laughter, to Miss Braelan’s cabin. It must be dinnertime.
Her stomach gave a growl, reminding her that she hadn’t even eaten that cream cake at the Major General’s. She hesitated over the etiquette; technically, she hadn’t been invited. So her hand fell away from the door and she wheeled in the narrow corridor, instead making her way to the galley. The cook seemed surprised to see her.
“Can I help you, miss?”
“I was hoping you had something left?”
“Of course! You could’ve sent Sam for a bite.”
She suspected he was serving in Miss Braelan’s quarters, and she hadn’t spent enough time on the ship to be sure of proper decorum. “It was no bother to come myself.”
Smiling, the grizzled sailor fixed her a plate of poached fish and vegetables, simple fare, but impressive for being cooked on a ship. She took the tin dish up to the deck for some air, where she leaned on the railing and gazed across the water to the flickering lights of Northport. In the morning, we put all of this behind us.
A soft sound caught her attention. It sounded like low voices, and she was about to dismiss them as dockworkers out late when she realized they were coming from the side of the ship away from the pier. She scanned the dark waters for a moment until she spotted a darker shadow bobbing up and down on the waves.
That’s odd. I would think they’d light a lantern. They could smash on any of the wrecks, or even a ship.
The faint splash pulled her attention back to the Gull; a longboat pulled up to the clipper with the scrape of wood on wood. Ritsuko did not need to see the men clambering up along the side of the ship to know they were not meant to be there. Heart racing, she ran to the bell meant to alert the ship to the possibility of invaders and yanked on the rope with all her might. The resulting clamor echoed over the deck. Sailors came in response to the alarm, and the boarders scrambled up faster, vaulting on deck while unsheathing weapons. The Gull’s crew grabbed what weapons they could reach—poles, clubs, and hatchets meant to cut rigging in an emergency.
The raiders were dressed in dirty, ragged clothes. Their weapons looked new and well cared for, though; Ritsuko had a close look when one of them swung at her and she barely avoided the blow. She darted around the mainmast, but the brigand froze when he got a good look at her features.
Then he swore, his expression ripening to murderous intent. “Got one!”
He advanced on her as she scrambled back, seeking a weapon of her own.
They’re looking for someone particular? For me? Who are they? What do they want?
She spun and ran aft through the chaotic melee as ill-prepared sailors tried to fend off the surprise attack. Despite their appearance, the raiders were too well organized for common thugs. They pressed their attacks with too much precision, and while Ritsuko did not recognize the barked orders, she could tell these men were highly trained.
She stopped short. A knot of six invaders blocked the way belowdecks. She recognized Mikani’s voice swearing at them, then she glimpsed the flash of an axe and one of the attackers stumbled back. His sword landed at her feet.
Ritsuko had no experience whatsoever with a weapon of this type, but it seemed better than nothing. She snatched the blade up and
tried to remember how to hold it. A skilled swordsman could probably wield this one-handed, but she needed two. Before she could wade in, Irahi smashed through the wooden wall next to the door in a burst of shattered planks and splinters that did nothing to disguise his rage. The three assailants who could still walk pulled back; Irahi grabbed one and bashed him into the deck, while Mikani pushed through the hole, swinging his axe wide.
The blade thunked into the cretin’s neck and opened his throat in a gurgle of blood. His comrade tried to run, but Irahi took him down with a ferocious kick to the back of his knees, then his dagger flashed. Ritsuko remembered using that in battle herself—and with more skill than this sword. But the danger wasn’t past.
All around, the ship swarmed with more and more invaders, all armed and calling out to each other when they spotted Ritsuko and Mikani. A torch flared nearby, and the moving light trailed over something on the fallen man’s skin. Suddenly cold, she knelt to examine the tattoo on the man’s forearm; the movement pulled her burned skin taut, but she ignored the pain.
“We have to fight,” Mikani growled. “There’s no time.”
Knowing he was right, she pulled a knife from the dead man’s thigh strap. I can use this, at least. She dropped the sword and followed Mikani. Irahi was already pushing to defend the boatswain, who had a pistol in one hand and a truncheon in the other. Her men were gathered around her, but most of the sailors weren’t properly armed; a few were fighting with broom handles or buckets. She guessed they had been caught during late-night chores.
A shot rang out up high. One of the boarders fell, clutching at his chest. Taking advantage of the distraction, Miss Oliver and Mikani pressed forward with a half dozen men. Another shot, another man fell.
Mr. Ferro shouted from high on the mast, “Watch your flank!”
Ritsuko spun just in time to avoid a blade in the side. She blocked with a forearm and slashed low, nearly nicking the thug’s femoral artery, but he danced back in time to soften the slice into a superficial wound. He bit out a curse and came at her again. She was distantly aware of the melee all around, but she was too focused on keeping this man from gutting her to be sure of what anyone else was doing. The soldier rushed again with his dagger, making her wonder why they weren’t using sidearms.
They have orders to kill us quietly, perhaps. So much for that.
“Put us out to sea!” Miss Braelan shouted from somewhere to the left.
She couldn’t tell if any of the sailors could fight free to get them away from the reinforcements swarming over the side of the ship. Ritsuko took a slice to her forearm in the next rush, but she timed her attack better, sinking her knife into the man’s chest. It required more brute force than she’d realized; she felt the impact all the way up to her elbow, soft squelch of flesh and pop of bone as the blade popped through. Her stomach lurched.
No, that’s the ship moving.
The sails swelled as someone hauled on the rope. She spun to see the attackers reacting; apparently, they weren’t prepared for a long voyage. Some of them dove overboard rather than continue the fight on the open seas. Ritsuko stabbed another one as he tried to escape. Her hands were slick with blood, and she stood panting as Mikani and Miss Oliver cleared the remaining attackers from the deck with brutal efficiency.
“What the hells just happened?” the boatswain demanded.
• • •
MIKANI GRABBED ONTO the rail, his hand slipping on warm blood. The Gull listed as they tore away from the docks and rushed into the darkness of the bay. A couple of men pushed past him, clambering over the railing and hanging precariously from the fore of the ship.
“Two points port! Obstruction ahead!”
Lookouts. We’re running at full sail through a narrow space choked with debris. We’ll be bloody lucky to get out of here in one piece.
He looked around, stumbling his way from the railing and back toward amidships. The boatswain was helping some sailors at the foremast, straining to get the rigging secured and running sails unfurled. Ferro called out instructions from his perch high on the mainmast; Mikani could not make out most of them, but he hoped that Saskia could. He could see a blotch of white at the wheel, Hu’s big bulk next to her.
Ritsuko must be with them. A sailor nearly bumped into him as he ran past, vaulting over bodies and the debris of battle. And bronze gods know, I’m little use down here.
Mikani stumbled along the swaying deck and up the stairs toward the wheel. The ship lurched, and he fell, hard, against the railing. He hissed in pain and grabbed tight with both hands, while the roar of waves and pained creaking of the ship being pushed to her limits filled his ears. He dragged himself up the last four steps, more by sheer bloody mindedness than intent.
“Hells and Winter, Saskia—” He stopped when she turned the wheel hard, again, threatening to slide him off the side.
“We’re being chased.” Her hair was flying loose in the wind. Hu was holding Ritsuko’s arm to keep her steady; they were both looking back toward three ships that had broken their moorings and were quite definitely coming after them.
“Who did you piss off?” Mikani peered, trying to make out the ships’ banners.
“Idiot. That’s more your forte.” Amusement laced her voice even as she pushed her ship to the limit.
“It’s House Skarsgard,” Ritsuko cut in soberly. “I recognized the insignia inked on the dead man’s arm.”
“Skarsgard. Because of the mines.” Hu shifted his weight, his knuckles whitening where he grasped the railing.
“They cannot be pleased about that. But they found out much sooner than I’d hoped.” Mikani grabbed a loose rope and lashed himself to the wheel post to keep from toppling every time Saskia turned the wheel. A muted boom rolled over them, followed by a splash a few dozen yards to their left.
“They’re getting a range on us. We need to get out to open waters, where we can outrun them properly, and soon. Those frigates carry two dozen guns apiece. They’ll shred us apart in minutes if they catch us.” Saskia corrected her course, grinning like a wild woman.
She’s enjoying this.
“I strongly recommend that they don’t, then.” Ritsuko sounded strained.
“Li’l White?” Hu pointed off to their left. “I do believe the Magnus’s ship is moving up ahead of us.”
Bronze gods. If they attack us on both fronts, we’re done for.
Two smaller ships were moving alongside the Pride of the North. They easily outpaced the war cruiser, then turned toward the Gull with a thunderous flapping of sail that Mikani could hear even at that distance. “We need to open the gunports, get ready.”
“We open up, we take in water. That slows us down and we’re well and truly sunk . . . trust me, Janus. I know those ships.” Saskia leaned hard on the wheel, aiming for the sloops cutting across their path.
Damned stubborn woman. But she usually knows what she’s doing. I hope she’s not wrong this time.
They were silent but for shouted orders and warnings for the next ten minutes. Mikani felt as if he held his breath that whole time; he held tight on to the railing until they were nearly abreast of the Pride and the sloops. Saskia held a steady course. The Gull raced past the smaller ships; they dropped their sails and turned toward the frigates as soon as the clipper had passed.
“Well, bloody hell . . .” Mikani looked back as they ran by; he could see a stout figure laughing and waving at them.
“That’s Captain Lev.” Saskia sounded relieved, though. “Met him while you were ashore that first day.” She was keeping an eye on the big Magnus warship, now.
“Did you get a chance to make friends with Lord Magnus, too?” Ritsuko asked. They were all watching the massive ship looming closer by the moment.
“No.” Saskia chewed her bottom lip and focused on steering the Gull in her mad dash for the bay’s mouth. A series of sharp cracks made Mikani turn: one of the Skarsgard frigates had turned aside thanks to Saskia’s friends; the quick shift in d
irection had tangled their sails and it was losing speed, fast. The other two Skarsgard ships had turned aside—their gun ports were open and he could see the smoke-dulled flash of Skarsgard guns as they opened fire on the fleeing Gull with their full broadsides.
A half dozen shots speared the water around them, shooting up thick spray that stung his cheeks. One landed a glancing strike against the Gull’s side, rocking the sleek ship with a loud sound of tearing wood. Before the Skarsgard ships could reload, though, the Pride opened fire.
Mikani lost his footing as the thunderous discharge of the cruiser’s guns rolled over them like a physical blow; the Gull creaked and shuddered . . . but the shots sailed well above their heads, splashing wide of the House Skarsgard squadron. The smaller ships, friend and foe alike, scattered to gain some distance from the behemoth.
“Well.” Saskia was wide-eyed, barely holding on to the wheel. “I guess Magnus hates House Skarsgard more than he hates us. But we’re clear.”
Mikani shook his head, barely able to hear her above the ringing in his ears. “The question is, how in the hells did Skarsgard know to come after us?”
The doctor wore a black scowl. “I have no idea. Did any couriers pass us on the road?”
As slow as they’d been moving, if a fast rider had blazed by, Mikani felt fairly sure he’d have remembered it. “Not that I saw.”
Ritsuko asked, “Is there a better route than the one we took? Quicker?”
Mr. Loison joined the group. Mikani didn’t know where the man had been during the fight, but he was disheveled, as if he’d done his part. “There is not. The train would be a more direct route, but the stations are closed. And the mountain trail you took on the way up is . . . unusable.”
A sailor tapped Hu on the shoulder, murmuring about the injured on deck, so the doctor excused himself to tend the wounded. Mikani caught a movement from Ritsuko, and he turned instinctively. There was a question in her eyes. If she was thinking what he was . . . he nodded.
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