Forcing herself up, she went to help him only to be stopped by Will. He shuffled her along, straight to the cabin where the large man bashed in the doorway only to immediately punch Pete in the face before he could draw his sword.
Serra pulled out her sword to block one of the other crew members from attacking them from behind. She whirled the sword further away from her, causing him to lose balance. With her new advantage, she kicked him hard in the chest, sending him backward.
She searched for Theren who successfully ended the man who attacked her. Relief flowed through her. He was all right.
Behind her, Tully screamed curses as he was dragged from his cabin. Will laid the blade of his sword on his shoulder, happy for their victory.
Cheers roared through the night air as Will declared their victory. Six of the remaining men loyal to the captain were tied to the post. Serra felt a little sick knowing they were the only survivors. She wasn’t sure if she would’ve gone through with the plan knowing Will would have his men kill so many of the crew. But there was little choice. The Blackbird was his now, which meant she had to play by his rules.
Theren and Finn were mostly unscathed by the battle to her surprise. It was odd that Will even wanted her help, knowing his men were so efficient. With this strength, he could’ve taken over the ship a hundred times over. It raised questions as to why he was willing to help them.
Will laughed as he ordered his men to toss the captain overboard. The ship was still miles away from the nearest port, and the captain would die before he could swim anywhere. Tully screamed as his hands were tied behind his back, his feet restrained, his mouth gagged, and his weapons removed.
“Throw him overboard!” Will shouted. The loud splash from the impact made Serra wince. Yes, very unlikely he would survive. He would be dead within minutes. Will proclaimed himself the new captain of the ship. The crew cheered, chanting his new title, “Captain Will.” Serra and her friends remained silent, staring at the new captain.
Will made his way over to her then smacked her shoulder hard, making her groan. “Great work there, girl. I may need to keep ye’ on my ship for good luck!” Serra gingerly touched her shoulder, forcing herself to stand straight.
“Didn’t seem like you needed our help there, Captain. With your fine crew, I could’ve stayed back and made us all dinner,” she joked. The men, in response, laughed out loud. Will smacked her shoulder again before he made his way to the six remaining members of Tully’s crew.
“The way I see it, men, ye’ could swear loyalty to me and live or ye’ can join ye’ former captain in the sea.” He pointed to the edge of the ship where they tossed Tully off. The men shook their heads and pleaded for their lives. They swore loyalty to their new captain in exchange for their lives. Will let his men cut them loose then ordered the survivors to clean up the mess. They made no argument and ran their way down below deck to get their supplies.
The men cheered and laughed but ceased when Will ordered them to back to work. “Where we headin’ Cap’?” one of the men asked.
Will glanced over his shoulder and said, “We are headin’ back to Adhelm to drop off our guests.” The man nodded then went to climb the rope on the main mast toward the top.
Will wrapped his arm around Serra, pulling her in tightly as he led her to his new cabin. A member of the crew was already inside organizing the paperwork. “Here you are, Captain. Tully’s records.” The man handed Will the paper. Serra’s eyes widened, noticing it was the same records she’d discovered earlier. Will ordered the man out, closing the door behind him, leaving Will and Serra alone.
He poured her a drink then sat in the chair behind the desk. She sipped on the wine and propped her feet on the chair beside her. “I have to say, Captain. In all seriousness, I don’t think you needed me and my friends’ help in the mutiny. With the men you had under your belt, you could’ve taken over this ship anytime you wished.”
Leaning back, he chugged the entire contents of the glass. “Aye, girl. But some of the men still questioned if I was mad about the money Tully kept from us all. Ye’ simply confirmed my suspicions.”
“How did you convince your men to work with a woman, a dwarf, and an elf?”
Will smiled. “Ye’ make a fine meal, girl. The dwarf is funny, and I imagine ye’ wouldn’t want ye’ lover stuck behind in the brig. Figured he was a hard worker. He can lift a sword.” Serra winced at the word “lover,” causing her to almost spit out her wine.
“He’s not my—”
He raised a hand. “Ain’t no business of mine, girl. But I know ye’ can do better.” A wink followed his attempt at flirting. She ignored him and refilled her glass. “Ye’ kept yer’ word and I’ll be keepin’ mine. I’ll be taking ye’ back to Adhelm where we will part ways.”
“I appreciate it.” Despite the events to get her here, she was thankful to be returning home. Several days at sea were causing a terrible itch to her skin. She wanted nothing more than a hot bath right now.
Tapping his fingers on the desk, his lips turned downward. “Still, though. Ye’ be a tough woman. If ye’ ever get bored being some hero, yer’ welcomed to join my crew. I could use a girl like ye’ on my ship”
She was shocked by his offer, considering the crew—including his men—were superstitious of having a woman on board. The whispers of the bad luck she would cause rang through her ears the entire time she served them their dinner, only to silent when they ate. Still, it was nice to be offered something even if it was out of the question. “I’ll definitely keep you in mind. Though, if I become rich beyond belief being that said ‘hero,’ who’s to say I won’t buy my own ship?” He whipped his head back and laughed.
“We sure this new captain won’t suddenly change his mind and decide to lock us back up or, in this case, throw us overboard?” asked Finn.
Serra shook her head and leaned onto the railing next to him and Theren. “I doubt it. Though, if he does, we could also try for another mutiny.”
“It is doubtful, but you are resourceful, Serra,” said Theren with a smile. It was rare to see it, but she welcomed it every time. It brought out a better side of him compared to the silent, angry emotions he expressed to everyone else. His smile warmed her heart. Her stomach flipped as she tried to ignore the urge to pull him into a kiss. She stared at him, trying to permanently engrave this image in her mind.
“With her luck? Where have you been the past couple days? This girl gets me into more trouble than she’s worth!” Finn said.
Serra turned her body to face him. “You got something to say to me, dwarf?”
“Only that I love you, child.”
In these moments, Serra could forget everything that preyed on her mind. The past scars that haunted her dreams. The emptiness in her heart. Their mission didn’t go exactly as planned, but they found the information. More than what Sharlea had hoped for. Tully was out of the picture, and the Blackbird had its new captain at the helm. Will had given his word that he wouldn’t repeat Tully’s choices. He had no interest in elves or slaves. Serra was inclined to believe him as he could’ve betrayed her at any moment, but he didn’t. Will was a bit of an odd man, but she had no reason to doubt him.
As she stared out toward the sea, she wondered what it would be like to see the world. To travel the ocean with a new adventure every day. She could meet new people with a similar dream of a free world. No more slavery. No more torture. The elves could be free and be a part of the human society as equals. It felt too good to be true as she knew that wherever there were good people, there was also bad. Two halves of the same coin.
If she survived Sharlea’s rebellion, she could take Will up on his offer. But as Serra looked at her friends, she wondered if all of them would make out of it alive. She silently repeated her vow that she would give them a new home. A new life. No matter what it took.
They reached Adhelm by nightfall. Finn had offered his cargo to the crew to do with as they pleased. It wasn’t much, but they could hoc
k the vases for coin and keep the food for stock. To their surprise, many of the crew shook each of their hands before saying goodbye.
Captain Will made a special farewell as he gave Serra one of Tully’s bottles of wine. “If ye’ make it out of that mine alive, drink this,” he told her. She took it and thanked him for the thoughtful gift. He reminded her of his offer to join his crew one day before they parted ways.
As they made their way to the beach, Serra hoped Caden was doing all right. It had been several days since they last saw him, though it felt closer to a few weeks. He stayed behind to help the sickly elves under Sharlea’s care. He was skilled as a healer, so she had no doubt he could save many lives.
She wondered how Sharlea would take the news of the mine. Theren offered that she would be more concerned about the elves than the humans, but it was worthy information regardless. Finn added that either way they would need a good strategy before they could do anything.
The moonlight shone brightly as they grew close to the main entrance. Their lantern’s light hummed behind its glass. Finn extinguished it as they saw two elves approach them. It was Ethrond and Aravar. An inseparable pair.
“You should’ve been back two days ago. Sharlea was getting worried you had met your end,” Ethrond mused, nudging Aravar in the arm. “Did you find the information?”
Serra glanced at Finn and Theren. “Sort of. It was more than what we could’ve hoped for.” The two elves shared a concerned look, before signaling them to follow.
The cavern was colder than she had remembered. Wind from the entrance seemed to head straight for her. A chill kiss touched her skin, causing her to shiver. She tried to bundle against the cold by wrapping her arms around her body as she trailed behind the others.
They turned a few times as they reached the dining hall where Sharlea was sitting on her makeshift throne. She was smiling as she spoke to her granddaughter Milena, who seemed happy to see them walk through the door. Her eyes gleamed as they fell on Theren’s face. Serra tried to hide her annoyance.
Sharlea didn’t bother to stand. “Ah, my new recruits have returned. What news do you bring me?” Serra almost rolled her eyes. Of course, she didn’t bother to ask how the mission went or if they were okay. She just wanted to know what juicy details they had brought her.
“We didn’t find enough evidence to pinpoint the former Captain Tully to the slave trade, but we did find out about a silver mine called Slaterock that’s about a day’s ride outside the city.” Sharlea’s interest peaked as Serra continued to tell her about the mission. Everything of getting into Tully’s cabin, to the mutiny. Finn provided the details of Slaterock and its defenses.
Her mind conjured what had happened between her and Theren. There were things that needed to be said, but those things were not meant for Sharlea and the others.
Serra. Theren’s voice filled her head. She remembered his scent clearly. She allowed herself to look at him. Just once. He stood straight with his hands behind his back. A soldier ready for orders. He’d grown much in a short amount of time. If only she had his strength. She felt like such a coward. Pathetic.
When Finn was done, Sharlea’s lips curled. “This is good. We will need time to prepare.”
Serra joined her friends for dinner that evening. They decided to remain with Caden as he took care of a pregnant elf who was getting close to birthing. She was a sweet woman who welcomed and thanked Serra for joining. It was more than Serra had expected but it was welcomed.
The elf’s name was Imra. Her husband died during an attack on her village before she learned of her pregnancy. She still felt his loss but knew that her child would be just like him. Strong and handsome. Somehow, she glowed despite her current situation.
It saddened Serra to see so much loss in the camp. Imra’s story further drove her determination to help them.
Before Imra left her to eat, she said, “Hold onto whatever love you can find. This world is cruel and will not hesitate to take it from you.”
The words settled in her mind. Her thoughts immediately went to her friends. The thought of losing any of them was too much to bear. She would rather die a thousand times over than allow that. Finn was her father and partner in every aspect. He’d taken care of her and loved her as his own. Caden fought for her, supported her, and remained to help however he could. And Theren…
Theren.
He held her heart. She understood that now. But her heart was fragile after all she’d already lost. If something happened to him, she wasn’t sure if she could handle it. She had previously held interest in men, but no one touched her the way Theren did. It was as if he could reach directly into her chest and take her heart. The only question was if he returned her feelings. She saw no other way to know unless she told him how she felt.
Upon finishing her meal, she bid Caden and Finn good night as she followed Theren, who had left moments earlier. Sharlea provided them rooms with very little space available to move around in. She discovered he wasn’t in his room. When she asked one of the guards, he had told her he was outside.
She found Theren sitting on a rock with his legs hanging over, holding a bottle. He was alone, staring out to the sea. “May I join you?”
He was silent, only answering her with a nod. They sat there in a sullen silence as he handed her the bottle. Taking a swig, she almost spit out the contents. The wine tasted as if it had been filtered with water a bit too long then mixed with some strange spice she couldn’t place.
He sighed. “It’s not very good, but it’s better than nothing.” She handed the bottle back to him.
“No kidding. I must’ve been spoiled by Tully’s wine.” She looked forward to having the bottle Captain Will had given her. It at least would taste better than this one.
Theren chuckled softly. “Perhaps. It’s my first time trying it. The most I could consume was my master’s ale, and I only had it because there was little else to drink some of the time.” This was the first time he had spoken of his master in a while. She knew the scars that he’d caused Theren went deep. His back was a constant reminder of it. “I am not sure what to do now.”
“What do you mean?”
He stared at the bottle as if it had all the answers. “I have never been free. I have no home to go to. No family to speak of. I never thought any of this would happen.”
Understandable. It was like how she felt when she lost her family. If it weren’t for Finn, she never would’ve survived. “I’m sure you recall what I told you about my family. I know what it’s like to have nothing to go back to.”
“May I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
His eyes shifted from the sea to her. “Have you ever been so angry—so enraged—by what someone did to you? So angry that you felt you couldn’t live unless you returned the favor?”
In fact, she did. The anger she felt toward the men who murdered her family boiled inside her until she felt she could barely breathe. They took everything from her. She didn’t rest until she knew they couldn’t hurt anyone again. “I do, actually, but I’m not sure if you would want to know.”
He put down the bottle. “I do. What do you do when you feel that?”
It scared her to tell him what happened. She felt that it would make him think less of her... or he would learn to hate her for it. She pulled her legs up from the ledge and brought them against her chest, trying to ease her nerves.
“It was several years after my parents were killed. About two years ago now. I never stopped searching for their murderers. I… I eventually found them. They were drunk, heading back to their camp after drinking in a local tavern. I knew it was them because they held the same sigil of a boar. They were part of some raider group I’d heard about earlier. They went AWOL and most of them had been killed over the years. I followed them back to their camp, and… I killed them.” She watched Theren’s face, waiting for a look of disgust. But there was none.
“I set fire to all of their tents. Out of the
three, one of them burned as I slit the throat of the other, but I saved the leader for last. I incapacitated him then I choked him with a rope I found in the camp. I watched him as the life drained from his eyes. When he was finally dead… I broke down. Just cried and cried. I wasn’t sure at the time if it was just all the pain hitting me at once or what, but it was weeks later before I figured out why.” She could still picture his face with perfect clarity. The shock and fear that filled his eyes, knowing this would be his end.
“And what was that?”
“Happiness. Anger. I was happy they were finally dead. That my family could rest in peace, but I was angry that it didn’t change anything. My parents were still dead. My unborn sister or brother. No amount of death would ever bring them back.” It was a harsh reality. She may have avenged her family, but she would never see them again. Never see her mother’s smiling face or hear her father’s terrible jokes. All of it was gone forever.
Theren looked away from her. “Did their deaths bring you any peace?”
She wasn’t sure. It brought her some measure of peace knowing that those men could no longer tear apart any more families. Their deaths were absolute, no matter what she did. She had just made sure it came sooner than they expected. “I know that they can no longer hurt anyone, but I don’t know if it brought me any peace. Their deaths still haunt me. It was the first and only time I… took a life by choice and I took three of them. It makes me a murderer, no matter how you look at it.”
“I don’t think that makes you a murderer. You murdered murderers. It’s not like you weren’t provoked. If you hadn’t done what you did, imagine how many more lives would’ve suffered without your intervention. Imagine how many more little girls would’ve been like you.”
He handed her the wine. “Their deaths might not have brought you peace, but I think you saved a lot of people by doing it. Sometimes you have to do what’s necessary for the whole.”
Rise of the Champion (The Champion Book 1) Page 16