I made sure she would have enough magick, Trixie said. Let’s go, we have children to save.
Chapter 15
The battle for the children
I had no idea how I was going to get over to the other ship. My swimming skills were subpar and my mind balked at the thought of what was likely freezing cold, shark-infested water.
The water fae have warned any of the sharks off, Roxie. They have several dolphin shifters with them, as well as that black and white behemoth. I believe all of the selkies and seal shifters are on the other boat-thing, Trixie said helpfully. The water isn’t even that cold in this area.
Vaguely, I wondered about the distinction between seal shifters and selkies, then shook my head, pushing that and the question of how she could possibly know how cold the water was out of my mind. I needed to get over there. Would that orca give me a ride if I asked?
You don’t need a ride. You can walk over there.
She seriously could have pushed me over with a feather and I would have fallen. If she’d had hands. Or a body.
Care to explain?
Use your shields. Her tone made it sound like it was the most obvious thing in the world. It is. Layer your shields over the water between this boat-thing and that one.
Could I do that? My shields were pretty solid, I knew that, since they’d stopped everything from bullets to a small bomb. But would I trust them enough to walk over the ocean? Even if it were only twenty or so feet of it?
I will not let you fall.
Zara had said something similar once. And I was pretty sure Trixie didn’t want to end up at the bottom of the ocean for who knew how many decades. Or longer.
Okay, how do I do this?
Turn your shield flat. You angled it over the boat when you needed to—this will be much the same.
Hesitantly, I formed a shield and turned it, making sure it was flat. I could feel where it began and where it ended.
Good. Now put it out over the water.
Rotating it over the boat, I pushed it out over the water. My arms shook with the effort, but I could see the shimmer of the magick a few feet above the surface.
Now anchor it to the boat, like you did the glamour.
That took a bit of thought, because I didn’t understand exactly how I’d done that. I took what felt like a single strand of magick and attached one end to the rail of the Sea Witch, the other to the edge of the shield.
Now walk out onto it and repeat each step until you make it over there.
Easy for her to say. I started to close my eyes as I stepped out, then decided I’d better keep them open. I knew Sam, Tess, and the coven were all watching me. I hoped they remembered to keep their own shields up. I scanned the upper deck of the other ship, looking for the cloaked figure or anyone with a gun. If someone shot at me while I was doing this, I didn’t know if I could maintain shields under me and in front of me at the same time.
The shield felt solid as I carefully placed one foot in front of the other. I couldn’t look down at the dark water beneath me or I would lose my concentration and end up in said water.
I formed another shield and attached it to the edge of this one. There was a small gap between them, but I was able to step over it. The last shield was smaller and carried me over the final few feet until I was able to step onto the rear platform. It was all I could do not to fall to my shaking knees and hug the deck. I seriously considered doing so, until the smell hit me and I began to gag. Searching the deck ahead of me, I saw the still-smoldering husk of a body. The water fae that the cloaked figure had burned. Covering my nose and mouth with my sleeve, I ran past the body and several big metal cargo containers, heading for the front of the vessel. The ship was several times the size of mine and all of the screams and sounds of fighting now came from somewhere near the front and up the stairs. I glanced over and saw Sam watching the decking above and around me, gun at the ready. She waved me on. I hoped that meant it was all clear. Hunching down as low as I could, I ran for the stairs that led to the upper decks. My back started to ache from the hunched position I was in, but I ignored it, knowing I’d pay for it later. I stopped just short of the top of the stairs. It sounded as though there was a scuffle right around the corner.
Sebastian? I’m on the ship, um, second level, I think. Where are you and Rand?
Why are you whispering? He sounded annoyed. He has shot two kills that should have been mine, then tied them up before I could finish them off.
What part of ‘leave some of them alive’ did you not understand?
His disgusted chuff sounded in my mind. I told you these humans know nothing. With what they’ve seen of our world, none can be left alive. We only need the balding human and the one the humans believe to be a witch.
He must be referring to Harris. I flattened myself against the wall beside me as a body flew past, hitting the rail with a
