The wind’s force was enough to carry him to his death if his grip faltered. And it only grew worse as he ascended. Higher, the ship’s listing felt ten times more powerful than on deck.

“Hold fast, lad!” He bellowed, peering through the stinging rain.

Hand over hand, Kennan dragged himself upward, fighting with every bit of strength he could muster.

As Runner swung past, the lad stretched out his fingers. “Captain!”

Thank God he was still alive.

Kennan wrapped his elbow and one foot around the rigging and caught the lad’s wrist. “I have you.”

“I-I’m sorry, Captain. I n-never fall.”

“Wheesht, wrap your arms around the ropes. I’ll try to untie you.”

Moving upward, Kennan clawed at the knot tied at Runner’s waist. His wet fingers fumbled. The coarse rope had cinched too tight. “I need to cut it.”

The lad’s teeth chattered as rain made his face gleam with a sheen of water. “Careful with your blade, sir.”

“There’s nay other option.” Kennan drew his dirk, but rather than wield the knife near the lad, he launched himself into the crow’s nest where it would be safer to saw through the hemp. “As soon as you’re free, skitter down to the deck! Ye ken?”

“Straightaway, sir.”

Wrapping an arm around the mast, Kennan held tight. He sawed his blade back and forth for what seemed like an eternity. Slice after painstaking slice, the rope began to unravel but refused to give way. Just when he thought it would never cut through, all at once it snapped. The lad’s body plunged downward with a bloodcurdling scream. But years of climbing the rigging had made Runner strong. He caught himself on the lattice rigging, looking up with a grin that expressed both fear and youthful confidence.

“Go on now!” Kennan bellowed while thunder shook the mast. He, too, needed to descend, but first he took a moment to scan the horizon. Black clouds surrounded them to the east, but to the west, a bit of moonlight lit the gray. As the ship crested a wave, he caught sight of a dark shadow on the water.

A ship? Here?

He swiped the rain from his eyes, but his view was blocked by waves and pelting rain. How far off course had they sailed? They shouldn’t come across another ship for leagues unless the vessel had been thrown outside the trade routes. Nonetheless, the churning in Kennan’s gut was not to be ignored.

* * *

Divana turned her head away from the bright sunlight as Petey led her onto the main deck. The blackguard had bound her wrists again, leading her with a rope as if she were a goat.

All hands must have come up top, because the sultry air stank with sour male sweat. The sea of pirates looked on with their mouths agape as if they’d never seen a woman in a garish dress before.

Claude Dubois stood beside the captain with an ugly smirk. If only the Frenchman knew how much Vane detested him. Divana had seen the entry in the ship’s journal—the captain considered Dubois to be a gluttonous thorn. Aye, he’d been useful in leading Vane to Cameron’s treasure, but since, he’d become “expendable.” So, Dubois wanted to commandeer a slaver ship? In payment for his informant services, Vane had just the vessel for the snake—one with plenty of rot.