Page 71 of The Fractured Prophecy

“If I don’t, a worse fate will befall me, and if I do, I may be able to help.”

A sharp breath was all I managed before Galan and Lou stepped around us to interrupt the game. At least if she were with me, I could keep an eye on her and maybe prevent more harm from finding her.

“Excuse me, gentlemen,” Galan said. “Who’s looking for work at sea? We need a swift and sturdy vessel and only the best, and most…discerning crew.”

The largest of the crouched men rose, looking down his crooked nose at my friend. Unflinching, Galan merely smiled widely. The man rubbed a hand over his face.

“What’re you paying?” he demanded, then glanced at Lou. “Money or services?”

“My lady friend is off limits as are the entire crew we bring along. You’ll find out the hard way they aren’t to be messed with if you try. But we do offer coin.” A small velvet bag materialized in Galan’s hand, and he dangled it like a treat in front of the man’s face.

When the man tried to snatch it, it flew into Galan’s opposite palm, and a gust of wind nearly knocked the man off his feet. Galan tutted.

By this point, the rest of the vagabonds had gathered around, even more coming out of shadows and boats at the dock. I shifted my weight, not liking the numbers with my sister present and vulnerable.

“Let’s start with a ship,” I said, taking charge as I stepped away from Sharlyne and the others to draw the focus. I rubbed my hands together as I assessed the sad lot of the three boats big enough for our purposes at the dock.

One tilted ominously to the left, scraping the side of the wooden boards it was tied to. That wouldn’t do. Another was painted ostentatiously bright with gold and orange flames. On the outside, it appeared too fancy, probably hiding problems beneath, and meant to take tourists out on excursions to relieve them of their money. The next and final boat boasted tattered sails with faded pirate symbols etched over them as warnings. This one had seen some action, but what that may have entailed made my skin crawl. I’d raided boats like that to free innocent souls. I’d slaughtered men, probably a lot like the ones who stood before us, for taking part in such evils.

“She’s mine,” a hoarse voice whispered.

I turned to find a rough looking man limping out from the crowd. He wore a tattered uniform I’d seen before. It was a favorite among pirates. Faded red and black coat with heavy metal buckles and hidden pockets filled no doubt with various blades, thick leather thigh high boots that would withstand feet of water, and a tilted hat with a long brim folded upward on one side. An old captain then.

“She’s seen better days, but she’s sturdy and seaworthy,” he continued when I said nothing, “and I’m hankering to go back to sea. I offer discretion and advice from a man who’s experienced most everything and somehow lived through it. The name’s Jym.” He offered a hand with dirt imbedded around his nails.

Sharlyne nudged me from behind, so I shook his hand firmly, maintaining eye contact. “Do you have a crew?”

It was a trick question. Of course he had men he worked with. But hiring a boat full of pirates to take us out to sea where we would theoretically be most vulnerable was not my intention. Even if several of us could wield with the ocean. There was no promise he and his men didn’t have magic themselves. In fact, it was likely they did if they’d survived this long.

Yellowed eyes narrowed, measuring me carefully. He seemed to consider something silently then nodded, relaxing his stance and pulling out an old pipe, which he casually lit with his finger. It was an old trick of fire wielders, subtly letting others know not to underestimate, but it didn’t mean much in relation to the actual strength and longevity of his power.

“I have men I work with often, but I sense ye be looking for more of a motley crew. Men and women who’ll just as easily slink back into the quiet shadows when all’s said and done.”

Galan caught my eye with a raised brow. This man had surmised quite a bit in a short time. He’d been doing this long enough, I supposed. And while part of me seethed at having to deal with the type of person who took on any crew for nefarious purpose in exchange for funds, I also knew I had little choice in the matter.

I nodded once, curt and quick, letting the flames in my eyes flare. A bit better than the parlor trick he’d done for me. But he only grinned around his pipe, puffing out a billowing cloud of white smoke into the pale, pre-dawn light.

“If you’re paying, I’m ready to ship out,” a scrawny younger man called, stepping forward. His trousers clung low on his thin hips. His orange hair reminded me of Carn’s scales, and the smattering of freckles across his youthful face softened some of my mistrust. But not much.

“You have any experience?” Lou asked, hand on hip as she drank him in like he was one of her potential girls.

The boy’s face darkened with a blush. “Yes, ma’am. I’ve been sailing since I was ten. I’m a water wielder,” he said proudly. “The name’s Bonch.”

I fought the urge to smack my hand over my face. He seemed eager enough, but he wouldn’t last long if he announced his abilities to everyone he met. Lou grimaced toward me. The clear message was that his loose lips might make him a liability. Which meant I had to choose between making him forget this happened—and I wasn’t about to kill an overeager kid—and keeping an eye on him until it no longer mattered.

“Welcome aboard, Bonch,” I said, offering a hand.

He beamed at me, but his smile faded when he felt the strength of my handshake. He didn’t pull away, though.

Jym puffed at his pipe, observing, then sidled up to me to mumble low, “I’d steer clear of the three at the end. Been trading stories of looking for bounties.”

My gaze drifted over to the three burly men at the edge of the dock, whispering and stealing glances, more often than not at Lou. There were bounties out on our heads for certain, something Jym had rightly surmised. Hopefully the burly men hadn’t.

“The captain gives good advice,” Sharlyne chimed in from my other side. She lowered the hood from her head, her mass of dark curls spilling out. “Even so, we need at least two more from here.”

“Are you in charge now?” Galan challenged with a wink, throwing an arm around both our shoulders. He did it to prevent me from losing my temper with my sister. I didn’t like her taking unnecessary risks, and that included showing her face and maybe abilities to the scum around us.

“If you want good advice, then yes,” she answered with a grin. Then she lifted her hand and pointed down the circle of shifting forms who’d gathered, vying for work. “That one.”