Songbird

Chapter Seventeen - Storm

The distant shore began to curve northward, and the Zanabaq was forced farther out to sea in order to avoid the treacherous rocks and reefs that dotted the shoreline, thrusting through the water like broken spears. Her voyage had now lasted almost two weeks, and Hamid had told his passengers that morning that their destination was within three days' travel.

Fog wreathed the sea that day, and it was as if the ship glided through clouds. Hamid had no choice but to slow their pace, lest they run afoul of some unseen obstacle and find themselves shipwrecked.

"Hamid, do you think that ship is still following us?" Kal asked.

The sailor glanced over his shoulder, where a ghostly light emanated from the mist. "It seems she is," he said. "But a storm is brewing—that will make it difficult for her."

Kal was perched on the bowsprit, with Wren and Aziz on either side of the bow, the boy's usual place in the crow's nest useless in the thick fog.

"Rocks to starboard!"

Hamid turned the wheel and Kal gripped the mainstay as the ship banked away from the threatening archipelago that jutted out from the coast.

Wren's grip tightened on the taffrail. "Be careful, Kal..."

He flashed her a grin over his shoulder. "Oh, you worry too—whoa!"

He teetered precariously on the narrow beam, and Wren's heart thumped in her chest.

"Kal!"

But he laughed as he recovered, winking at her. "Kidding!"

She frowned, clutching the taffrail with white knuckles. "Oh, you—! Don't do that to me!"

His grin grew sheepish. "Sorry, darling. I won't do it again."

"D-darling...?" Her heartbeat accelerated again.

Aziz pointed ahead of them. "More rocks, ab! Port side!"

The ship weaved through the obstacles, and they continued in the same manner for the rest of the day, the fog unrelenting. As night fell, rain came with it, the drops cold against Kal's skin. The waves grew large, as well, threatening to swell over the deck of the ship as she bucked in the turbulent waters.

The boards were slippery under Wren's feet, and Kal caught her as she almost tipped over the side, his arm wrapping protectively around her waist. She squeezed his arm in thanks before returning to her task of bailing water. For their part, Kal and Aziz dashed around the deck, lashing down anything that might be swept overboard and lost to the waves.

Lightning flashed overhead, the only illumination that they had in the downpour, followed by a peal of thunder that Kal thought would split the sky with its roar, and the ship groaned in protest as her hull was tested to its limit.

The biggest wave yet crashed over the deck, and Kal was momentarily blinded by spray, the cold water salting his lips.

"Wren, where are you?!"

"I'm here!"

She stumbled across the pitching deck and into his arms, clutching his shoulders for support. "Where is Aziz?"

He was behind them, frantically bailing water. Kal had just stepped forward to help him when a wave yanked the boy over the side.

"Aziz!" Hamid fought his own battle lashed to the wheel, fighting to steer the ship through the waves.