32

Everything had been chaos for Gael. Waking up now, she didn't remember much of it—fire and flashing blades and so much shouting. Cobblestone scraping painfully against her legs as she was dragged away, into a dark alley. Panicking and trying to shove the assailant away, until the smoke in her eyes cleared and she realized it was only Nathe, pulling her away from the fight and to safety.

He had supported her on his arm the way he had when she was a youth, new to the Finch and too tired and shaky to walk after a near miss with another ship. He led the way to a tavern that had already been searched by the soldiers and paid for a room, only one, and together, they waited.

The crew trickled in slowly, regrouping in ones and twos as they found their way to her. No one said more than a few words—perhaps they didn't know what to say, but they arranged themselves in a ragged circle on the floor, sitting on the floor or on the few chests and boxes pushed up against the wall. Gael sat cross legged on the bed, numb and unable to form a single thought. When Ed appeared in the doorway, he headed straight for where she sat, dropping his head on her shoulder. She ran her fingers through his unkempt hair, holding him close to her as though he was a child in need of comfort, even though she wasn't all that much older than him.

Providing comfort for others did nothing to heal the dull ache in Gael's chest. Ainsley was lost, taken to a place she could not reach. She had failed the princess, and she had failed her crew. What were they without the Finch?

Gael barely noticed the tears that trickled down her cheeks. It was late, but everyone seemed reluctant to leave. At some point, Ed had fallen asleep against her, so she shifted him carefully onto the bed and tucked the pillow beneath his head. A few of the crew members began to relocate, paying for another room to clear up space in the one they currently occupied, but others approached the hosts and inquired about blankets to bring up for Gael and those who stayed.

Nathe was the one who gently manoeuvred her onto one of the makeshift beds on the floor, just like he had when she had been fourteen and too afraid to go to sleep, surrounded by the unfamiliar creaking of a ship that was not yet hers. She provided little resistance, allowing herself to be lowered to the floor. Nathe stayed, hovering over her. The sound of the men, fast asleep, had long since filled the little room.

"I'm so sorry, Gael. Will you be alright?"

She rubbed her thumb against her opposite arm, washed in pale moonlight through the window where she sat.

"What are we going to do?"

"I don't know."

"We can't leave. We should run away before we're found, but..."

"But you can't leave without Ainsley."

Gael let out a long sigh that seemed to leave her empty and hollowed out inside. Rescue seemed impossible. How were they supposed to infiltrate a heavily armed palace? They needed to leave, but the Finch was taken, and she couldn't bear the thought of splitting her crew to leave separately.

Nathe gave her a small, sympathetic smile, reached out and rubbed her shoulders once, then turned to leave.

"We'll talk about it more tomorrow."

She nodded wordlessly, waiting until the door clicked shut behind him before lying down on the makeshift bed, unable to see the ceiling above through her tears.

—

Gael was awoken by pounding footsteps. She jerked to her feet, stumbling over the sheets that wrapped around her legs, just as the door was shoved open from outside. Around her, the pirates that had spent the night in this room began to get up as well. In burst Nathe, leaning in with his hand still clutching the knob.

"Gael, that soldier friend of Ainsley's is here to see you."

"What? What does he want?" Even as she spoke, Gael was already reaching up to twist her hair back and tie it in place with her bandana, stepping around her crew to get to the door.

"Don't know. But he says it's about the princess."

That was all the encouragement Gael needed to take the steps down to the main floor two at a time, searching the tavern for a face she recognized.

He waved her over from a table near the corner of the room. She had barely taken a seat, other pirates filing in to stand or sit behind her, when he spoke, leaning over the table.

"You have to help her."

Gael blinked, then sighed. "Luca..."

The words tumbled one over another out of his mouth. "No, I'm serious. I'll help. I can get you in the castle and give orders to some of the men on your ship before we leave. I'll tell them the king has ordered them back. That'll leave the Finch easier for your crew to retake. And we'll go get Ainsley, bring her back here, and be gone."

Gael's heart pounded in her throat. Was it possible?

"I want this as much as you do—"

"No, you don't understand," he interrupted. "I got word from a few of the guards in the castle. They say the king wants her questioned. Hell, that was a day ago, so he's probably done it already. He's been driven mad with his anger. He won't stop until he's killed you and your whole crew."

Beside her, Nathe's fingers twitched on his scabbard. Dread pulsed in her chest.

"And he thinks Ainsley can tell him where to find us," she finished for him. Luca nodded.

"Exactly. He doesn't need her anymore. I do not think he'll kill her, but..."

His implication didn't need to be worded. Gael was already standing up again, gripping the edge of the splintering table.

"Alright. We need to leave as soon as possible."

Luca was standing as well, this time apparently unbothered by being among the pirates that surrounded him.

"Luca, Nathe, and I will retrieve Ainsley. I need the rest of you to take back the Finch and sail it to the nearest harbour outside of the king's city. Wait for us there—travelling to get Ainsley will take about a day if we move fast, and we need to leave swiftly, too. So be there by the time we need you."

Around her, people nodded, faces solemn. Despite the anxiety that made her insides quiver, she managed a smile.

"Come on. We don't have a moment to waste."

—

The Finch's masts stood empty and quiet against the sky, like trees stripped of their leaves. On board, the fires no longer burned, but several men stood in small groups on the deck, talking amongst themselves and apparently unconcerned.

From where they watched in a narrow alley, Gael turned to Ed.

"You'll need to row the Finch out to open waters so you can put up the new sails. Do you think you can manage that?"

The young pirate nodded. "We can do it."

"Alright. Luca, it's on you. Do you remember what to tell them?"

Luca nodded and left the group, walking purposefully up to the dock. From where Gael stood, he was no more than a smudge of chainmail armour, quickly finding a group of soldiers and engaging them in conversation. Her heart pounded in her chest—he had to succeed.

One of the soldiers called out to the others and gestured, speaking in words that Gael couldn't make out. As she watched, they followed Luca off the deck of the ship and down into the guts of the city, leaving only a few men aboard the ship. Luca didn't look in her direction, still keeping the soldiers occupied with whatever tale he wove.

She turned to her crew. "Alright, it's time for you to go take her back. Row her out to open waters and put up the new sails. Nathe and I will wait for Luca to find an opportunity to find us again, and then go retrieve the princess. You know where to wait for us?"

There were nods all around. Gael looked once more at the Finch, her second home, the place where she'd made her fondest memories, then reached for Ed, pulling him in close for an embrace and giving him a light clap on the shoulders. He pulled away, eyes downcast, but gave her a nervous smile anyways.

"You can do it. I trust you all. I'll see you in a day's time."

The crew began to move out, taking the narrow streets that led towards the docked ship. Gael turned back to Nathe, sighing and shoving her hands in her pockets. Anticipation tickled her veins.

"Nathe, find us some horses. I'll go search for Luca."

it's time for a daring rescue,,, but will they succeed? 👀 also, we're about eight chapters away from the end—it's getting close! don't forget to vote and comment your thoughts <3