Page 71 of Spar of Hearts
Anya nodded. “On three!”
“One!”
“Two!”
“Three!”
She summoned every ounce of strength into one strong heave, but the sail only made it halfway up.
“Again!” Anya shouted, struggling to keep her balance as the ship listed to the side.
“One!”
“Two!”
“Three!”
She growled, digging her claws deeper into the rope. With a final pull, the sail coiled up tight.
“I’ll tie it off!” Gail shouted, crawling onto the cross mast.
Roderick’s voice came from below as Anya slowly began her descent.
“Bernard, go check on Annette, then double check the hatches!”
“Aye aye!”
A monstrous wave slammed against the port side, flooding the deck and flowing down the steps.
Roderick’s commands carried over the howling winds.
“Octavio! Get Lady Rowan below deck! Now!”
Fear drove Anya’s descent as she swung down, landing beside Roderick.
“What is it like below?” she panted, swiping water from her forehead.
“About as good as up here,” he answered, slicking his hair back.
The ship quaked as a colossal wave drowned the stern, knocking Yomira off her feet. Captain Verden slammed against the helm with a shout and a sailor’s curse.
“Yomira!” Roderick yelled.
“Captain!”
They ran to the stern. The captain was muttering curses, a single hand held to his head. “Kelpie-lickin’ son-of-a blubber belchin’ bastard…”
Anya hoisted the captain up.
Yomira roared, each terrifying bellow blending with the cacophony of thunder overhead. The pupil within Yomira’s single ruby eye was a tiny, fearful slit. Roderick went straight to her without an ounce of fear.
The wyvern huffed through her nares, craning her neck to keep him in her sights. On the surface, she was all predator—but Roderick approached her as a frightened friend. He held his hands up as he drew closer. “Shh, Yomira, it’s all right, You’re not in the dungeon. It’s me. It’s just me.”
Screeeeeeeee!
Tiny sparks flashed in the wyvern’s throat.
Roderick didn’t flinch. He took a bold step and hugged Yomira around the neck, rubbing her scales in soothing circles. The screeches slowly subsided, devolving into anxious grumbles. It seemed the talk of the lord’s beast-taming ability was no idle chatter. He was truly incredible.
