Here, There Be Dragons

On the Black Dragon, the other Shadow-Born also removed their hoods, and a nod from Bert confirmed that they were the other two kings, Clubs and Diamonds.
“They wouldn’t join you, so you stole their spirits and compelled them to serve you,” said Bert.
“The exceptions that prove the rule,” the Winter King shrugged. “It makes the others who do that much more determined not to disappoint me.
“Still, they are merely servants, and as powerful as they are, not always as useful as the Wendigo, who have more…”
“Life?” said John.
“I was going to say, ‘substance,’” said the Winter King, “but yes, life. Which is what I’m offering to young Jack: life eternal. The chance to never grow old. Willingly cast aside that which makes you human, and weak—set aside your spirit, and become truly Shadowless, and you will discover a power that makes you greater than any king.”
He looked again at Jack. “So what’s it to be? I know you are conflicted, but that’s what life is—the choices you make, and the consequences they bring. Do you want to become a pirate king, and take a path of adventure with me? Or do you want to stay with this broken-down old vagabond and become one of his lost boys, spending your days entombed in stacks of dusty books?”
“I—I have to think about this,” said Jack.
“Jack!” Charles hissed. “You can’t possibly be considering…He—he murdered the professor!”
“Jack,” said Aven, an uncommon sincerity in her voice, and oddly, a gentleness, too. “Please. Don’t listen to him. You’re better than he is—you know this.”
Jack looked at the earnest, pleading faces of his companions, then drew himself up and looked at the Winter King. “Thanks anyway. But I can’t go with you.”
The Winter King looked at Jack and stroked his chin with the gleaming hook, considering. Suddenly he moved closer, and Jack puffed up his chest in what he hoped looked more like a gesture of defiance than fear.
Jack could feel the hot breath of their captor as the Winter King leaned in and began to whisper in his ear. He spoke too quietly for the others to hear, and Jack’s face gave no hint as to the content of the words.
A moment later, the Winter King straightened, spun about on his heel, and crossed back to the deck of the Black Dragon.
One of the Shadow-Born gestured at the Indigo Dragon and their captives, indicating a question as to what to do with them.
The Winter King hefted the parcel in his hand and snorted, giving the order without even a cursory backward glance.
“Break it. Break it into pieces, and let them drown.”

“I know all of the Children of the Earth.”
Chapter Ten

Marooned

“Well ,this is a fine how-do-you-do,” said Charles. “Although I think I may welcome being drowned if I don’t have to listen to this wailing.”

The Steward of Paralon had taken up with a high-pitched keening, punctuated by frequent snorts and gasps. Charles kicked him, which only made the terrified man wail louder.

“Leave him be,” said John. “He’s useless anyway.”

“It’s your own fault,” Bug said to the Steward. “You’re not a Shadow-Born, or a Shadowless. You’re not even a Wendigo. Didn’t you think your master might someday just get rid of you?”

“That’s pathetic,” said Charles. “He’s not even the Devil’s right-hand man. He’s just the lackey who runs to the corner to buy him tobacco.”

The Steward took a handkerchief from his pocket and blew his nose. “I’m just a contract worker—I don’t deserve to be treated this way.”

“Bloody hell,” said Charles. “Your hands are free, you fool! Untie the rest of us!”

“Don’t want to,” sniffed the Steward. “You’ll hit me, or pummel me, or something equally nasty. And I think, all things considered, I’d rather just drown without taking a beating first.”

“You idiot,” said Aven. “Can’t you swim?”
“No.”
“If we’re free, none of us will drown—including you!” The others all nodded enthusiastically, each of them keeping a watchful eye on the departing Black Dragon.
“Promise?” said the Steward, looking warily at Charles.
“I promise,” said Charles. “Untie us, and there will be no pummeling until we’re all safe on dry land.”
“Okay,” said the Steward. “Now, if I can just get that in writing…”
Charles screamed and kicked Magwich in the head. The Steward of Paralon dropped to the deck, out cold.
“Great,” said Jack, as the other ship wheeled about and began speeding toward them. “He was our only chance.”
“Sorry, sorry,” said Charles. “But can you blame me?”
“Not really,” Jack admitted.
“Brace yourselves,” said Bert. “Here comes the Black Dragon.”
The companions had hardly any time to react further before the great black ship had rammed the defenseless Indigo Dragon, cracking her in two.
They were thrown violently into the water as the aft section of the ship began to sink almost immediately. The fore was still buoyant, but sinking fast, and more torches were extinguished with each passing moment, plunging the companions into darkness.
The Black Dragon had already begun to move away. The Winter King was apparently confident that there would be no recovery for the helpless companions.
His mistake was one that any of them might have made themselves—he’d underestimated Bug, whose hands were free instants after they hit the water.
Swimming swiftly among them, Bug freed first John, then Aven, who untied her father and Jack. Jack freed Charles, who then realized he’d have to take responsibility for the unconscious Steward, lest he drown.
“Drat,” said Charles.
Jack and Aven swam away from the sinking pieces of the boat, while John swam toward it, disappearing