Page 70 of Valour

“Honestly, I cannot even look at them,” Arnold said with a grimace.

“They could help track Charlotte. Surely Marjorie will,” Hester said, bending down to hold Marjorie by the cheeks. “Come now, girl. Where is Charlotte?” Marjorie sat down, tail wagging. Then lay down, rolling in the snow.

Hester huffed and stood. “No help there then.”

“Sooty!” Septimus’s voice carried across the ice. Hester turned to find him skiing towards them, Valerie and Mei in tow. They arrived, and Septimus raked a hand through his hair when he saw the hole in the ice and the discarded skis.

“Shit.” He hung his head. “This is all Sooty’s fault.”

“Technically it’s Satan’s fault. But look. No pile of clothes, and tracks leading in that direction.”

“You have guns?”

Hester patted the pistol that hung from her belt. “Of course.”

He nodded, tapping his own. “Let’s go.”

Odette had led Charlotte across the ice and into a tunnel cut into the snow. A tunnel that led steadily down until it opened out into glittering blue ice caves. It was silent under the ice, and no other souls stirred as they navigated the tunnels.

Odette brushed her lips against Charlotte’s ear. “How do you like my palace, love?”

Charlotte couldn’t bring herself to answer in anything more than a whimper. The siren’s voice affected her deeply, like Odette were the moon and Charlotte the tide, wanting to draw closer. All of her senses were heightened, every touch, every place where her body met Odette’s flooded with heat.

She must try to be brave. What would Hester do in such a situation?

Hester, her captain. For she did think of Hester as her captain, like she belonged to her in some way, like Hester had captured her heart and Charlotte was only too happy to let her keep it. Hester could get out of any scrape with a wink and a flash of that gold tooth of hers. And it was Hester’s spirit she needed to channel now. What would Hester do…

She straightened her back as they walked into a hall, an enormous ice-carved throne at the far end. On the floor beside it were two skeletons.

Skeletons.

Charlotte cried out and sank to the floor, shaking all over.

James and Victor.

Oh, God. To Hell with being brave. She was going to die. She was going to die, and all she could think of now was Arnold.

Of all the crew, he was the firmest friend she had made. The thought of never seeing his silly tasselled hat again, or the way he raked his hair back and his shirt would ride up a little. He was such a wonderful friend.

“Whatever is the matter, my love?” Odette said, crouching down beside her and holding her by the shoulders.

“You’re going to eat me,” Charlotte sobbed. “Like you ate James and Victor.”

“Oh, Charlotte. Is that what you think? That I’m going to eat you?” She tucked a finger under Charlotte’s chin, lifting her head.

Oh, that black eye. So beautiful, and so horrifying.

Odette sighed. “My dear, no. I wouldn’t eat you. You are merely bait.”

Charlotte swallowed, unsure whether to feel relieved at this news. “Bait? For what?”

Odette smiled, showing all of her teeth. “For your captain. Hester Orn.”

23

IN WHICH THERE ARE TWO SKELETONS AND A BARGAIN

The footprints led into the mouth of an ice tunnel. Hester hesitated at the entrance.