Marcus ducked and took hold of the end of the gangplank in his off hand, while Raesina grabbed it with both of hers. They lifted the folding wooden bridge until it was clear of the Rosnik’s deck, then let it fall, scraping against the side of the hull as it went. Once it was clear, Marcus grabbed Raesinia and dragged her down again, as three or four muskets boomed from the pier. Balls zipped overhead, and at least one thocked into the hull.

“You all right?” Marcus said, one arm over Raesinia’s shoulders.

“Always,” she said. “Remember?”

“Marcus?” Andy shouted. “I think there’s more of them downstairs!”

“Balls of the fucking Beast,” Marcus said, rolling back to his feet and running hunched over across the ship. The deck of the Rosnik was several feet higher than the pier, which meant the musketeers there didn’t have a good shot at anyone who didn’t expose themselves along the rail, but that didn’t seem to stop them from trying. By the volume of fire, there had to be at least a dozen of them.

At the bow, Viera was aboard, along with two more women volunteers, Maple and Zimona. The pair were sisters who’d been targeted by the seedies after they cracked the skull of a man who’d come to demand protection money, and they’d been eager to help. Maple, the elder, was moving to Raesinia’s side, but her sister was on her knees and looking a little gray, spattered with blood Marcus assumed was Peter’s. Viera, knife-slim next to the pair of formidable Docks women, followed Marcus toward the midships stairway.

Andy was already waiting there, the Patriot who’d been on guard unconscious and bleeding freely. She held his musket in one hand. With her were Gavin, a balding, muscular Borelgai who had once been some sort of gardener, and another former Leatherback named Brask. Nell, another one of Jane’s young women who’d left the troop to stay behind with her sweetheart, was just coming up the rope ladder. A set of stairs went from the level of the main deck down to a thin wooden door, which already had one splintery hole in it.

“I tried to open it, and he took a shot through the door,” Andy said. “Missed me, but not by much.”

“Is there another way down?” Marcus said.

“There’s a cargo hatch,” Brask said. He had the thick, heavy build of the men who loaded and unloaded ships for a living. “But you need a crane t’ get it open.”

“Marcus!” Raesinia said. “They’re climbing up!”

Marcus swore again. “Andy, get the guards’ muskets and pistols. Fire off a few shots to make them keep their heads down, but don’t stick yours up if you can help it. Get the bow crew to help you, but send Viera back here.”

“On it,” Andy said, hurrying toward Raesinia.