Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 144411 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144411 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Cruz pulls out a rolled-up chart from his back pocket and unfurls it out flat for us to read. “Now, we’ve been to Los Pintados before,” he says, slipping into his role of navigator with ease. He points to the crudely drawn chart with his canteen. “They will most likely anchor in the bay here where they are protected. If we come up on the other side of the island, where the ruins of the Reef City meet the sea, we’ll have the cover of the island. We can go across land.”
I’m nodding. “And then slip into the water on the other side, swim to the ship, crawl up the sides and the anchor. Get the captain and dispose of him.”
“They’ll be on the lookout for anyone approaching by sea, not by land,” Cruz adds.
“But what about the sea witch, Nerissa?” Thane asks. “If she’s not below the water then she lives near those ruins, does she not? She won’t let us pass.”
“Why not? She doesn’t have any business with us and we don’t have any business with her.”
“But we’re stealing a mermaid from her cursed crew,” Thane points out.
“Yes, but that mermaid gives her cursed crew magic. Believe me, she would want the mermaid gone.”
“In fact, the mermaid might already be gone,” Cruz says quietly. “If Nerissa finds it on board before we get there…”
“All the more reason why we need to do this as quickly as possible,” I tell them. “Quartermaster, inform the crew of the plans. We’ll need at least five others to come with me to secure the ship. The rest will bring the Nightwind around so we can bring the mermaid aboard.”
“You’re making this sound too easy,” Thane grumbles.
“That’s my job, isn’t it?” I snipe. “I make it sound easy, you make it sound impossible.”
He runs his hand over his jaw, the stubble scratching audibly. “Fine. I’ll tell the crew and get the teams together.”
He walks off toward the rest of the ship.
“Going to get the mermaid are we?” Crazy Eyes says to us from the helm.
I turn and go to him. “Aye. We’ll need you to bring the ship around the moment you drop us off at our starting point.”
Cruz comes over with the map, showing the bosun the plan.
“What are we planning to do with the mermaid?” he asks with a waggle of his bushy brows after he glances at the chart. “Will ye let us all have her or will she belong to ye like the princess does?”
“She will be evenly distributed amongst the crew,” I assure him.
“I can’t wait,” he says excitedly. “I’ve heard they have the tightest holes imaginable.”
I give him a look of disdain. “Bosun. You know that’s not what she’s for.”
“Bah, what do you think the skeleton crew been doin’ with her?”
“Conner,” Cruz says to him, trying not smile. “They’re skeletons. They have no cocks!”
“But I sure do,” he hoots.
Figures that’s where his mind would go. We only left port last week and yet he’s thinking with his cock already. Granted, I have been too but only because I’ve got a delectable creature caged in my room.
Which reminds me.
I leave the deck and head down the stairs to my quarters where I find Skip running across the room and hiding under the table, while the princess is looking sheepish in her cage.
“The cat bothering you?” I ask.
“Just making friends,” she says. “You may not believe this, but it’s getting rather boring being in here.”
“I can put you back with your husband if you want some excitement.”
Her eyes narrow icily. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Actually, I’m a very daring fellow,” I tell her. I stride over to my wardrobe and start taking off my clothes.
“Do you mind?” she asks, covering her eyes.
“I do not mind. But I can turn around if it pleases you.”
“Please do.”
“Interesting, I could have sworn you enjoyed the sight of me shirtless the other day.” I smirk at her, shaking my head, then step out of my breeches and shirt, placing them on the back of a chair, and into a set of darker clothes that dry fast, perfect for being stealthy while swimming. I need the least amount of restriction and accessories as possible, just a dagger and a cutlass and that’s it. A flintlock wouldn’t fire if it were wet.
I turn around once I’m dressed and as I’m buttoning up my shirt she peers at me through her fingers. “Can I ask, if the crew is already cursed and dead, how you’re going to go about defeating them?” she says.
“Slice their heads off. Dismember them. It won’t kill them but if they don’t get ahold of their bones, they can’t be put back together.”
“Fascinating,” she says under her breath, though she sounds sincere. “But they’ll see you coming, won’t they?”
“Not if me and a few mates sneak on their ship first. We’re getting dropped off at shore, then the Nightwind will sail around the island to pick us up. Meanwhile we’ll have dismembered the captain. Take out the captain, you take out the crew.”