“Oy!”
I ignore the shout that snags the attention of the pirates, ignore them as they finally see me, see what I’m doing. My ribbons keep shredding, keep tugging.
When the first pirate gets to me and snags my arm, a ribbon is already there to intercept him. It lashes out, slices into his arm, cutting through his thick furs like they’re as thin as a petal.
A muffled yelp of surprise escapes him as he stumbles back and lets go of me to put a hand over his wound, but I pay him no mind. My eyes are still up, my attention ensnared on Sail’s body.
Down. I want to get him down.
My ribbons work viciously, directed with barely a thought, fueled by anger as red as a fire claw’s flames, despite the fact that they’re soaked-through and heavy.
One after another, the bindings fall away from Sail’s body, until someone grabs me from behind and spins me around.
I come face-to-face with Captain Fane, his brown eyes searing, his face uncovered. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” he snarls.
His hands grip my arms so tightly that he pinches my skin despite the layers of my sleeves covering me. I shove at him, but the slaps of my hands do nothing against him. He barely even notices it, because he’s too busy looking behind me, looking up.
To where my ribbons are cutting through the last of the ropes.
The captain’s eyes widen. “Shi—”
Before he can finish his curse, Sail’s body is falling.
It crashes over us, cold flesh and stiff muscles knocking us down, tearing me out from the captain’s hold.
I land in a jolted heap, Sail’s legs sprawled over my torso. The sound of footsteps pound toward us, voices yelling through the whipped wind.
I roll out from under Sail and outstretch my ribbons again, making them wrap around his body. Around and around they go, until he’s bound from neck to hip, and then I start to pull.
He’s heavy and both of us are soaking wet, but my ribbons pull as hard as they can, refusing to let go. Inch by inch, they drag him across the puddling deck.
The strain is instant along my spine, the muscles at my back burning with every tug, already exhausted. But I have no time to slow, no time to rest between heaves, because the Red Raids are coming for me, the captain is snarling, vile anger in his expression as I pull Sail’s body toward the edge of the ship.
“Stop!” Captain Fane shouts—not at me, but at his men. “I’ll fucking deal with her.”
Dread swarms around me, but I don’t let it show on my face, I don’t let it stumble my steps.
Because I don’t care.
I don’t care that the captain has a promise of punishment on his face as he stalks toward me. I don’t care what he’ll do to me for this. Because he killed my friend. He killed him, and I couldn’t stop it.
But I can stop this. I can stop the Red Raids from dishonoring Sail’s body. So I will.
With gritted teeth, with sweat and sleet dripping down my temples, I heave. I keep two ribbons loose, poised at my sides, ready to lash out at any who approach or try to stop me.
But the pirates backed off at Captain Fane’s order, so it’s just me. Just me, dragging Sail’s body slowly—too slowly—as the captain stomps toward me, fists clenched and eyes raving.
My back hits the railing of the ship, and I waste no time to lean down, placing my hands under Sail’s arms. I pull as hard as I can, ribbons straining with me as we try to get him up.
Heavy. So damn heavy.
My back sags against the railing, panted breath butchering through my chest, the wind and rain making it hard to breathe, to see. My body is frozen through, my fingers slippery and numb.
Being this spent and labored is a consequence of my own idleness. I was too useless, too passive, all those years in my cage. My ribbons slip around Sail.
Weak, I’m so damn weak.
My golden eyes find the saddles where they’re standing off to the side, huddling in their circle, as if they can keep out the weather, the world. “Help me,” I beg them.
My eyes go to Polly, who managed to get my golden coat again, the gold fur wrapped around her to help ward off the rain. But she stays still, unmoving, unwilling.
“Please,” I plead, finding Rissa next. But she doesn’t move either. Maybe Rosh… But he looks away as soon as my gaze finds him.
Outsider. Even when I’m trying to help one of our guards, a guard who was kind to each and every one of them, I’m the outsider. I’m on my own.
Captain Fane laughs. “Not even your fellow whores are willing to help you.” His voice is so thoroughly pleased.
I sniff, forcing myself to keep it together, to not give up. Sail didn’t give up, not for a second. I can do no less for him.
I will do this.
I heave again, ribbons straining, pulling at the skin of my back, like sewing needles threaded through the muscles.
Captain Fane takes a taunting step closer to me. Close, but not close enough for my ribbons to lash at him. He studies them, taking in the way they curl, the way they tug. Vile eyes flick up, a crooked smile showing off those few wooden teeth. “Look, Reds. A true fuck puppet. She even comes with her own strings.”
Mocking mirth surrounds me. Their laughter horrible, their words worse.
I block it all out, my teeth clenched so tightly together that my jaw jumps. Amidst the ongoing snickering, I manage another hefty tug, and I get Sail’s body propped up at last.
My back screams with fire, while rain and sweat drip along my spine, but it’s nearly enough...it’s nearly there...
The captain’s mouth curves up in cruel amusement as he watches me continue to struggle. I
