“No,” Krinny said. She waved him off, snapping me out of the recollection, reminding me it had no place here. “What I would like is your opinion on why there’s been no further attacks, no sirens, and the gods’ finest sailing winds? The Freedom doesn’t normally have such luck.”

He shrugged one shoulder. “If I’m being honest, I’m not sure. I had Smitter get a message to King Delphi, asking for reports of his and the other kingdoms’ fleets’ encounters.” Rylander tossed the slice in his mouth and chewed.

“And?” I questioned. Now that I knew Smitter could pop in and out whenever he wanted, I wondered what else he did in his spare time.

“That’s what has me worried. Not one ship has seen a single siren in a fortnight.” The sharp edge of his blade carved into the apple’s skin. Juice sprayed in mist. He popped another piece into his mouth.

Krinny and I gaped. Where were the sirens hiding and why?

He chomped and swallowed. “In fact, there’s been little to report of any misdoings at sea. It’s as if all the pirates have docked and the sirens have chosen to surrender. The only creature happy right now is Poseidon.”

Krinny laughed, thinking it was a joke. I, on the other hand, knew Rylander spoke literally. Poseidon probably assumed the sirens had been dealt with, sparing his kingdom of corpse litter.

“So, what do you think is the cause?”

Rylander shrugged. “I don’t know, but we should be ready for anything. Sirens don’t concede.”

Later that night, when everyone but the night shift was fast asleep, I decided to take a walk along the deck to clear my head. A gust of wind whipped my tresses into my face, stinging my eyes and plastering to my lips. I paused to braid my hair, cursing Anemoi, the god of wind, for his nightly fury.

Saltwater clung to my skin, and the moonlight glossed the planks. With the cool air caressing my skin, I felt at peace. Lost to the rare moment, my unease flew away on the gale. Life on The Freedom had proven uncomfortable, and now, readying for the battle of our lives, ease was the enemy. My father imparted that life lesson when I was young. He’d say, Greatness never came to those in comfort. The moment you fall prey to its care is the moment you die. To achieve the unthinkable, one must remain unnerved. So why were the sirens dangling a lure of false peace? What could they be planning? And what had my fellow pirates so terrified that they’d dock their vessels and pause their exploits?

As I reached the quarterdeck, my eyes fluttered in disbelief, choked by my heart in my throat. A siren hung on my deck, and she had Rylander in her clutches.

Chapter twenty-one

Rylander