The long boat hit the water and the ropes were loosed. The boat glided over the small waves and the tingle of Mer power flowed up through Cousin’s feet. Half way the boat slowed to a stop. Cousin could feel an Al’Ri water-mancer push Gabb’s power away, and take control of the boat. She let it happen.
At the side of the Al’Ri ship, the long boat rose to deck level on a soft pillar of water. Cousin stepped from her boat, and it sank to rest beside the ship.
The Hunter was alone on deck. Multiple powers mingled. The ship pulsed with contained energy.
“You’ve grown since last I saw you,” the Hunter said. “The child’s body long gone.”
Cousin looked into flat eyes. She said nothing.
“Kraken called for this parley. I’m surprised he would allow you to come alone. All the easier to free you.”
“I am free. It is my choice to be here alone. You are familiar to me.”
The Hunter nodded. “As I should be. Protector helped us both. I will take you back to him. I will take you home.”
Cousin looked out over the ocean at Haven. She let the probing fingers go over her unchallenged. “No. There is my home. My family. I came to send a message. I am home. I am happy. I am free. Do not try to take me from the life I choose.”
The Hunter shook his head. “I can not believe you. No Al’Ri can be free until their Depth is known. When I look into you I see no Depth. None.” Power washed over Cousin. “Even now, only steps away, I can feel nothing of your power. I feel the human, the Mer, but not you. I can only conclude that you are enslaved.”
“You are familiar to me, so, I give you one chance. Leave us be, and I will let this whole ship go. Try to take me or harm mine, and I will obliterate you.”
The Hunter’s lips pulled back from his teeth. “Protector will have you brought to him. You are needed for the war. We fight the Masters. You will aid the battle.”
“I have no interest in Al’Ri wars. I am not a soldier. I am a pirate.”
The Hunter started a series of hand motions. Power built around him. Flat eyes flared into vast starry space. The spell grew until it was a shifting, pulsing cloud around him. He hurtled it at Cousin.
Cousin stood calm. The spell was tremendous and terrible. The charm at her neck sang while it feasted on the Hunter’s power. Faster than he built it up, the spell was gone. Cousin closed her eyes. “Kraken doesn’t kill without reason,” she said. “He wouldn’t kill all those on this ship. He would sink it and let the survivors fend for themselves. Kraken tells me that once killing becomes your only answer to a threat, you have become your own worst enemy. I don’t have Kraken’s moral code. Perhaps, I am my own worst enemy. Right now, I am yours as well.”
Cousin waited for the Hunter to draw his sword. His breath was ragged, and the confusion was clear in murky eyes. He slowly closed the distance, the sword held at an angle across his body. He feigned left and slashed right.
The sword met Cousin’s Sor-von covered arm. She didn’t counter.
The Hunter danced back. “What are you doing?”
Serpent Shadows cross deep in Cousin’s eyes. “I am learning.”
The Hunter closed. Cousin ducked under his attack and sliced deep gouges in his torso. The Hunter didn’t stop. He turned and swung at Cousin’s side, and tried to put a dagger through her shoulder. Taking the hit in the side, she seized the dagger from the Hunter’s hand, and put it through his eye. He stumbled back removing it. Blood washed his face.
“Your training with the Sor-von has progressed, but you have no hope of winning.”
“No buts.” Cousin felt the other Al’Ri on the ship feeding power to the Hunter. His eye healed. The bloody rips in his shirt framed unmarred skin. She counted the wielders by their different power signatures. Twenty-six individuals funneled their power to the Hunter. Three more focused on Haven. Five waited, watched, and recorded events. Cousin shook her head. “Your power won’t work on me. None of the powers here will.”
“Your over confidence is surprising. Protector taught you better.”
“No.” Cousin could hear Kraken’s voice in her head. “When in battle it is best to learn all you can of your enemy.” Cousin had no more patience. She was tired of being spoken down to. Tired of the poking and prodding and probing. She only wanted to be rid of the Hunter and his ship. To be rid of all those who would use her. Own her.
The Hunter dropped his hands, the tip of his sword touching the deck. “I feel nothing from you. My spells should work against you and that pathetic ship. So, why is it that they don’t. It isn’t the wielders on that crew. It feels like . . . a vacuum.” The Hunter stared hard. “I know it is you.”
“I deny nothing.”
“Then you will serve Protector’s will.” The Hunter hurtled twenty-six spells.
Cousin drew a rune on the air. Every spell became a leach, drawing the power from the wielder who cast it. An energy orb grew as screams came from around the ship. Each wielder tethered to the orb first lost all their power, then began to loose their life force.
The Hunter lost sight of Cousin behind the leaching orb. He pulled his own power inside and shut himself off. He hadn’t felt her build power for the orb. He hadn’t seen the movement she had made. He retreated.
At the helm, he looked back at the growing orb. How? How had she done this?
A Sor-von taloned hand burst from his chest. Cousin whispered in his ear. “I will never serve at the end of a leash.”
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