Page 128 of Pirate Witch

“Killing the messenger is so overdone,”Opal grumbles.“You’d think messengers would have gone on strike by now.”

“Focus,” I whisper, keeping my attention on the five spirits still in the room.

I slip into the corner, activating my camouflage sigils before dropping out of the spirit realm to assess the situation.

The room has three walls, with a third open to the sea and the bay beyond. The room is set out like a war room, with maps and charts on the tables and crystal enhanced binoculars on tripods overlooking the bay. Catherine must have been watching the battle from here. Even without the mage implements, I can clearly see the ships still locked in battle. So many are listing in the water, burning as those still fighting weave their way around them. The noise of cannon fire is constant and amplified by the stone walls.

My stomach plummets as I realise the two children are here. They’re being kept occupied at a table on the other side of the room by a stern-looking woman who must be their governess. They either haven’t noticed the dead body in the centre of the room, or they’re so used to such sights that it doesn’t bother them.

Catherine, the Eagle of Galmere, stands over the shifter, bloody sword in hand, with Lily beside her. The Alchemist looks exactly the same as the last time I saw her, dressed in her black and white robes, but the Eagle is wearing armour today. The mail won’t do anything to protect her, but without her corset and poofy gowns, she’s more agile, making her a more dangerous opponent.

“Fool led you right to me,” she says, whirling on the spot. “Give it up, Shadow. I can smell you.”

Shit. One of the effects of her stupid ‘cure’ must be shifter senses.

I don’t drop my magic, and she doesn’t attack.

“Imelda, take the prince and princess to my ship,” Catherine orders.

The governess does as she’s told, scooping up a child in each arm and fleeing back through the door. I want to sigh in relief.

I was worried that she might try to use them as shields, but thankfully it seems there are some lines even the Eagle won’t cross.

Two defenceless children caught up in this battle wouldn’t end well.

With the door open, Kier will have an opportunity to slip inside, and I know he’s taken it when a brush of frost touches my shoulder.

With Opal, that makes it three on two, but that doesn’t mean it will be an easy fight. I take a deep, shuddering breath, readying myself.

“I’ll make you a deal,” Catherine continues as soon as they’re gone, her eyes searching the wall where she thinks I am. “You are going to leave here.” She can’t seem to pinpoint my location exactly, and I use that to my advantage. I work my way around the room, spreading my scent to confuse her further. “My forces will allow yours to surrender, and I will permit the witches to self govern their little snowy hovel in the north.”

I want to snort.

“You’ve broken my barriers,” Lily croons. They’re back to back now. Both the Queen and her Alchemist turn on the spot slowly as they search for me. “But you’re playing with fire, little Shadow. You don’t know how quickly the madness sets in. How easy it is to forget yourself. Spare yourself the pain and take Her Majesty’s offer.”

I summon a spirit blade into my hand.

One shot to take one of them out. Then we can finish the other two-on-one.

The dark blade flips through the air, making a perfect line for the Alchemist’s throat.

End over end. Slipping between the spirit plane and the material one at the last second.

Lily ducks, the dark blade missing her entirely as she tucks her body in and rolls in my direction.

Her palms glow as she summons a golden barrier between her and where I was. But I’ve already moved, heading for the Eagle with a single-minded determination.

The human queen has a mage circle glowing beneath her as she holds her sword out. It’s a muddy brown colour, which flickers to yellow, then to black as I watch.

Stolen power.

I have no idea what it’s for, and my own urgency convinces me to disregard it. Whatever it is, it won’t work if she’s dead.

I draw my sword when I reach her back and dive out of the spirit plane, aiming my sword at her spine.

The blade makes contact, but the instant my arm crosses the threshold of her transmutation circle, I’m crippled with debilitating pain. I almost drop the sword, but I keep hold of it with sheer determination.

Catherine stumbles forward, clutching her back. Her mage circle moves with her, and the moment my arm passes out of it, the pain disappears.