Page 192 of Tiger's Voyage

Mr. Kadam answered, “There is no need. We’re almost out of fuel anyway. We put down the anchor and decided that we will help to rid the ship of these brigands.”

“But Nilima—”

“Is fully trained in martial arts and weapons. She will be fine. And it’s about time this old man stopped sitting on the sidelines while the younger men have all the fun.” Mr. Kadam grinned.

The three of us surged ahead into the fray. Nilima was lethal. Men actually stopped when she approached and smiled at the beautiful woman. She took down man after man as they fell dead at her lovely feet.

I snorted. “At least they die with a smile on their faces.”

Mr. Kadam fought as a master swordsman. He was dignified and graceful as he slid away from his attackers before they could touch him. He did not linger over a fight. He simply disabled a man as quickly as possible and moved on to the next one, his bright sword flashing in the sun.

As we dispatched the pirates, I found myself back to back with Ren. Again, I puzzled over Lokesh and his plan. There was something I wasn’t seeing. The pirates had obviously been given instructions not to harm me, though several of them tried unsuccessfully to carry me off. Bodies lay piled at our feet.Why aren’t they using tranquilizers? This battleis almost child’s play.

Ren defeated a huge opponent and hissed, “I don’t want you up here. We’re doing fine. Move back where you were before. It was out of visual range.”

“You need me.”

“I will always need you. That’s why I want you to be safe.Pleasemove back.” He turned his back on the man attacking him and pleaded with his eyes. I sighed and blasted the man rushing at him then nodded my head. The battle would soon be over anyway. With Nilima and Mr. Kadam involved, there was little for me to do.

“Alright, but save some for me.”

Ren grinned. “No problem. And, Kelsey?”

“What now?” I said exasperated as he elbow punched a guy in the face without even looking at him.

“I love you.”

My lips twitched into a lopsided smile. “I love you too.”

Ren turned back with a whoop into the melee. I shouldered my bow and jogged back to my little alcove then pulled out an arrow and searched for another target. I relegated myself to being the backup, taking out men who came too close or were getting the edge on someone. I still felt involved with the battle though I stood apart. My golden arrows flew straight, and my lightning power was on target.

Closing one eye, I sighted along the top of the black ship and gasped. I yelled, but it was too late. The man I’d been sighting had set the harpoon and fired. The giant shaft shot toward Nilima. It would kill her.

Mr. Kadam saw it too. He shouted, “Nilima!” and stepped directly in front of her, hugging her to his chest.

I screamed, “Look out!” and dropped my bow, staggering out of my hiding place.

They were gone! I scanned the deck for their impaled bodies, but they weren’t there. The harpoon struck the deck and sunk deeply into the splintered wood, but Mr. Kadam and Nilima had vanished.

A voice behind me said, “There she is!” Three pinpricks hit me. One in the shoulder, one in my thigh, and one on my arm.

“No!” I staggered to the wall and pressed a shaky hand against it to balance myself.

Angrily, I wrenched the darts from my body. Heavy arms picked me up and threw me over a beefy shoulder. I tried to call out, but my voice was a mere whisper in the windstorm of noise from the battle.

Three stealthy pirates made off with me to the other side of the boat. The big man climbed, with me still over his shoulder, precariously down the makeshift ladder they’d used to board. I tried to blast him, but already my power had fizzled. I flailed, but he just laughed at my feeble struggles.

Lokesh wasn’t with them, which was a relief, but I knew my relief would be short-lived. I would be seeing him soon. Now I knew why he’d disappeared and why the battle, though bloody, was a bit one-sided. It was a trap. He didn’t care if all those men died. My body felt heavy, and my eyes started to close. Time was running out.

After shooting me with three tranquilizers, the men were smug enough not to tie me; instead, they busied themselves starting the boat and beating off sharks with oars. Apparently, the sharks were going to be my personal escorts. Trembling, I slowly raised my hand up to my neck and, when the boat jumped over a small wave, yanked the amulet off. I whimpered and turned to my side as if I was falling asleep and whispered instructions to the golden snake on my arm.

Slowly, carefully, I slid Fanindra off my arm and wrapped the amulet’s chain around her neck several times. My arm was heavy and lifting her to the edge of the boat seemed impossible. I tried and failed; my deadened arm jerked.

“Hey there! What are you doing?” A pirate twisted to investigate, grabbed my elbow and squeezed it painfully. His eyes lit up when he saw the flash of gold. He leaned closer, and Fanindra came alive, opened her hood, and hissed.

“Snake!” he bellowed and scooted to the far side of the boat. Taking advantage of his distance, I focused my eyes on Fanindra and swallowed thickly, trying to clear the waves of blackness lapping at my consciousness. With a monumental effort, I pushed her golden body over the lip of the boat and smiled as I heard the splash she made when she hit the water.

“The boss isn’t going to like that,” one man said.