Chapter 167: Aella’s Journey
Three days of fair sailing passed. The Grand Admiral spent her time on deck, watching with sharp eyes, making sure no one treated her youngest son any differently now that the cat was out of the bag. They explained a second time to the crew that had not been there for Egaz’s possession, that he was shadow-touched but not a demon. She kept her ears out for rumours, but no one spoke of it in her hearing. Nothing seemed to change. Even the ones who had been questioning at the first reveal were silent on the matter. Dymion reported that he’d heard nothing either. As one of the cooks, he was able to walk among the crew in ways she could not.
There was a gift in being overlooked.
Still, it was inevitable that their fair-weather would bring about its own kind of trouble. As they approached the small Sylph village, the next closest port, Epelda reported there were a pair of demon ships leaving port. If they slowed, they could avoid a two against one battle. But if the Sylphs needed their help, delay would cost lives.
“See if you can tell what class of ship they are, Captain,” Aella ordered, hating the words that tumbled from her lips. Her daughter could get information, information that was necessary for a decision. She’d not risk her people, not for strangers, if it could be avoided. Aella gave her spyglass to Epelda, told her to keep low and safe, and return if she became tired.
“Might I have Jules trail me?” Epelda signed. “If I fall, he can rescue me. A failsafe.”
“Permission granted,” she replied, signing as well as speaking. “We will keep on course, but will hoist the sails so that we slow.” She looked over to Caleb, who was acting as First Mate while Evander slept. “See to it.”
“Aye,” he replied crisply.
The crew set about their task, no one hesitating when the prince issued orders. He joined them, as best he could with his one hand. He was strong and far more at ease on the sea than his brother-in-law had been.
“Admiral?” She looked down toward the lower deck. Carlos was waving at her. The older man had befriended her wife, but he had not addressed her more than a handful of times.
“Yes, crewman?”
“May I have a word?” When she nodded, he approached. “I’d like your permission to use some of the damaged armour for a project.”
“What kind of project?” she asked, looking him over.
“A gift for the prince,” he replied, looking back at Caleb. “I served a captain that had lost his hand. He had several of us who could maintain his hook. I’d like to try at making something the prince could wear. A hook would let him grab the ropes in an emergency.” Aella stared at the man, trying to figure out his game. He hardly knew Caleb. Why would he put work into something like that? But Carlos did not flinch under her stern gaze, he just clasped his hands behind his back and stared back with a neutral expression.
“Why?” she finally asked. “The damaged armour may still be the difference between life and death, so answer well.”
“It chafes at him,” Carlos replied softly. “He is suffering, and there is an answer. Why would I let that continue?”
“Why indeed,” she mused. She glanced across the deck, watching as Caleb was pulling a rope and bracing, holding it for another who was doing the complicated knots. “You have my permission to use the leathers and whatever tools you need. See the quartermaster. However,” she added, when a smile had started to bloom on the man’s face, “you must ask him, directly, if that is something he wants. Not all of us like surprises, even ones meant in kindness.”
“Aye, Admiral.” He gave her a crisp salute and headed off, though he did not go straight to Caleb. That was likely for the best, as the prince was on his ass on the deck, having lost his footing when the rope had slipped. He had a stormy expression that she could read from a distance. He did not lash out with fire, however, only a tirade of swearing that made her chuckle. She hoped Alejo wasn’t on deck, or he would have a new vocabulary.
The scene had managed to distract her from worrying about Epelda. Aella turned away as the realization washed over her, and went to look out over the open sea. The waves were relatively calm, and she could see Epelda’s form far off. She looked like a strange bird at this distance, her form blurred by the mists that sometimes rose from the cool sea waters. She could not see Jules, but trusted that the young man was out as well, protecting his wife. Aella gripped the wooden railing until her knuckles went white and Epelda finally began to return.
The young Sylph was exhausted when she returned, landing on the deck without grace. Several crew scurried over to toss the rope ladder down to Jules. Epelda had commissioned several ones long enough to go from the deck to the waters. She had explained to Aella that since they had so many sirens on board, they needed to make it easier for them to get aboard, and not have to lower a rowboat down to collect them each time.
Now, however, Epelda was leaning against the main mast, her cheeks red and her damp clothing clinging to her body. Aella sent a crewman off to get Alejo so the boy could sing his sister dry, and another to get Nereida to tend to Jules. She sent another to get blankets for both, given how much Epelda trembled.
“You flew too low,” Aella chided, sitting beside her daughter, being mother and not Admiral.
“Had to,” she signed, shaking. “Think they saw me. Changed heading.”
“Dragon’s three day old shite,” Aella muttered. “Alright, Epelda, rest. Admiral’s orders.” Epelda nodded.
“Yes ma’am.” She looked up. “It wasn’t two ships, Admiral. It was three. The smallest one was between them, we’d never see her from this angle. The bigger two are schooners, but had cannons. Little one was some kind of merchant or messenger ship, maybe a lugger. Didn’t see any weapons on her. She’s not changed heading though.”
Aella felt a cold dread roil in her stomach. She wasn’t sure if it were her magic or if it was intuition. She didn’t care.
“We can’t let that little one get away,” Aella said, more to herself than to her daughter. Alejo had arrived, and was already singing a child’s song about the joys of summer, calling the water from Epelda’s clothing. It splashed onto the deck, but he kept singing until the little puddle of water was dragged back into the ocean where it belonged.
“I can sing the sails,” Epelda said, struggling to her feet. “I’m better now. Warmer.”
“Eat,” Aella commanded. “Rest for an hour.”
“They’ll get away!” Epelda protested.
“No. You are not our only ace, Epelda. Rest.”
Aella called for All Hands, and then Battle Stations. She had no doubt that the two ships would come for them. However, she did not plan to sit still and let them catch the Tooth. Instead she called for the three sirens. Alejo bounced excitedly, overjoyed to be included. Nereida did not look pleased that he was there. Jules was not in nearly as tired a state as Epelda, and boasted that it was simply a “refreshing swim” and that he was ready to assist however the Admiral needed.
“Good,” the Grand Admiral said. She stood firm and looked over them. “You’ve practiced, at least the two of you, in making the waves lessen. I want you to call the waves. Push us through the two. We have wind enough, but with the waves on our side too, we can break through the two to catch the little one.”
“Won’t we end surrounded?” Nereida asked, chewing her lip.
“They’ll have to about face to come for us. We will be closer to port, and able to stand against them better. And, with luck, we will take out the smaller ship before the larger ones even reach us. Can you do it?” Nereida and Jules exchanged glances, before the younger man nodded. Nereida sighed heavily.
“Oh we definitely can,” Alejo piped up. “I won’t make you disappointed, I promise!” Aella managed to not flinch at his words, but only just. She very carefully did not look at Nereida. She did not want to see her wife fuming.
“Just do your best, crewman,” she said to the boy, ruffling his hair. Let him think it was a game, or a chore, something that wasn’t dangerous.
There would be danger enough soon.
The Grand Admiral went to join Gregors at the helm, and she told the man her plan. He grunted uneasily.
“Won’t be good for the rudder,” he muttered. “I won’t have much control. I try and turn too hard, Admiral, and we’ll be flippin the Tooth.”
“Just keep her steady,” Aella replied. “Nothing more.”
“Get me Caleb, I’m going to need his muscle.” Gregors snorted. “I hate your plan, Admiral. Give me good old honest sailin’ any day.”
“Could be worse. We could be the Brick.” Aella patted the wheel. “She’s seen us through worse.”
With that, Aella moved away and blew her whistle one last time. It was her signal to the sirens to begin. Their song lifted in three-part harmony, though Alejo’s voice kept getting lost between his mother and Jules. The magic poured over her like a deluge of rain. It wasn’t painful but it was unpleasant. A few others shivered, likely feeling the same thing. Others moved to the rails and held tight as the sea beneath them began to roll and roil. Aella smiled grimly to herself. The demons would never see this coming.