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CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO

TZAIN

M OVING THROUGH THE ENEMY’S waters, I feel the weight of all we’re up against. We sail in near silence. The only sounds that rise above the black tides are the faint splashes of water against the shifting vines.

“Slowly.” I guide our vineweaver as she brings our videira to a stop. We anchor before the line of ships closest to the black shores. I survey each floating boat. Of the hundred ships we have to soak, I know Koa and I can take out the most.

Our weaver manipulates the sides of our vessel to create a woven ladder. The thick vines twist their way up the ship’s hull. The ladder hooks over the railing, and I rise. Koa and I prepare to board.

Sea sprays at my feet as we ascend. Koa takes the lead. My heart starts to hammer as we near the ship. I have to remind myself to breathe.

Koa extends his hand, pulling me silently over the railing. My feet land with a soft thud. The wooden panels creak under our steps.

“This way.” Koa follows me as we make our way across the deck. A shiver runs down my spine. Though the ship isn’t identical to the one we escaped, the memories of those long nights start to drift back.

We pass through the arched door beyond the lifeboats, moving down the stairs. When I come face-to-face with a row of cages, I freeze.

The sight is too much to bear.

“What is it?” Koa asks.

For a moment, I can’t speak. My body falls numb. I see the Skull who grabbed Udo’s neck. I hear the bones that snapped.

“Fight through it.” Sensation doesn’t return until Koa pushes his forehead to mine. “You made it out of the cage. You are here. You are alive.”

Koa grips the back of my neck until my shaking subsides.

“Your war is almost over.” Koa releases my head. “It is our time to win.”

I lead Koa past the second level of cages, past rusted cannons and rooms full of crates. On the third level, we discover four barrels of blast oil below the stairs. Koa carries two to the other side of the ship. I carry the others to the top of the deck.

I hold my breath and focus. The green light tingles as it comes to my fingertips. With it, I reach for the bone axe tattooed across my abdomen. The light sparks as the ivory weapon crackles free.

I still can’t get over the rush, the way it feels to wield an actual part of me. With one swift arc, I smash through the barrels. Blast oil leaks onto the deck, soaking its wooden panels.

Koa reunites with me, and we move to the railing. The videira sails underneath. The vineweaver creates a new ladder connecting our railing to the next boat. We move across the ladder with speed, careful not to lose our grip.

Together, Koa and I fall into a steady rhythm. We move from ship to ship, the vineweaver bridging our path. As we work, I see the silhouettes of the other Laminas across the bay. As the moon shifts in the sky, our collective forces cover all one hundred boats.

I slice through the final barrels of blast oil when Koa whistles for us to retreat. I join the warrior at the railing. Koa slides down the ladder of vines, rocking the videira as he lands. I allow my bone axe to re-enter my skin before doing the same.

As we sail back from their coast, the sulfur scent of all the leaked oil taints the air. I cover my nose and close my eyes, taking in the ocean spray. I brace myself for everything to blow away—

“Tzain.”

My eyes snap open. Jorah points me to a vessel in the middle of their fleet. Next to the ship, two Laminas wait in their videiras. Their vineweavers flag us over, and our vineweaver sails us in.

When we meet, the New Gaīans speak rapidly in their tongue. My forehead creases as Koa deciphers their words.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

The Laminas point Koa up the bridge.

“Come along.” Koa gestures. “There is something we need to see.”