“It explains quite a bit. And we can check the island.”

“All right. Find crew who can sail this ship and who are willing to help us for a reduced sentence. Secure the others below. Have Annika find those steer disguises. We’re going to need them.”

“Yes, sir.” Endre dashed away.

Valek studied the girl. Something about her blue eyes and sharp features seemed familiar. “What’s your name?”

“Zohav.”

“Are you willing to help us?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“It’s in your best interests. If your story is true, and you were forced to steal, then you won’t be arrested for theft.”

Annika arrived with a mass of sopping-wet cloth. “They were all swept into the ocean when the waves attacked us.” She frowned at Zohav. “Mikus is fishing the masks out now.”

“Wring as much water out as you can and hang them to dry.”

“Is there going to be another performance of Valek the steer?” Annika asked with a smile.

Zohav sucked in a sharp breath and scrambled away from him. She released her control of the waves and the ship bucked on the suddenly rough seas. When her back hit the bow, she huddled in a tight ball.

“What did I say?” Annika grabbed the railing to keep from falling.

He considered. “My name.”

“You are the most feared man in Ixia,” Annika agreed.

“It can be tiresome.”

“Then you should stop eating babies for breakfast.”

He laughed. “But they’re so delicious.”

Annika swatted him on the arm. “Behave.”

Valek returned to the problem at hand. The seas remained choppy, but the rain and wind had stopped when the storm moved inland. “Tell the others to prepare to reprise their roles as steers once we reach the island.”

Annika nodded and strode away.

Valek approached Zohav and she cried out in terror. He crouched down to her level. “Your magic failed to work on me. Who did you think I was?”

“I thought...you were protected with...with one of those...shields,” she stuttered. “You...you’re going to kill us.” It wasn’t a question. “That’s what Jibben threatened to do if we ever escaped—report us to you.” Zohav hugged her knees to her chest. “I’m not going to help you murder my brother.”

“Zohav, I’m not going to kill you or your brother.”

“You’re lying.”

“Look at me,” he ordered.

With obvious effort, she met his gaze.

“I promise that if your story is true, then I will ensure that you and Zethan are escorted to Sitia.” Valek knew that would make Yelena happy, plus it was the right thing to do.

She shook her head. “I don’t believe you. You’ve murdered thousands and are pure evil.”

Thousands, eh? His reputation had expanded another order of magnitude.

“You’re not reaching my brother.” Huge waves crashed over the rails, as if to prove Zohav’s point.

She planned to sink the ship. No doubt she loved her brother. Valek pulled a dart from his belt and pricked her arm.

Fury replaced her fear. “Poison! I knew you were going to kill us.”

“Sleeping potion. Good night, Zohav.” Valek waited until she slumped over, then gathered her in his arms.

He carried her to the main deck. Endre had assembled a crew willing to help sail the ship. In fact, they appeared eager to free their friends.

Valek handed Zohav to Endre. “Find a safe place for her to sleep off the potion while I brief the others.”

“Yes, sir.”

Valek explained his plan to the ship’s crew. It followed the same idea as when they’d ambushed the ship. He and the soldiers would be disguised as the steers. Annika and the other handlers would resume their roles.

“We’ll extinguish all but one lantern so it’s too dark to see. Once we reach land, my soldiers will attack and neutralize the pirates. The crew will climb into the rigging and keep out of the way,” Valek said.

“There are more of them than you,” one boy called.

“How many more?” he asked.

“At least thirty.”

A little less than double. “I don’t expect that to be a problem. Make good use of your darts,” he instructed his soldiers.

“What about Jibben?” another boy asked. “He’s huge and deadly with his sword. I saw him cut one of his own men in half.”

Nice guy. “Leave Jibben to me.”

“Please kill him,” a teen girl said.

“You think he deserves to die?” Valek asked.

“Yes. He locked my older sister in his room. She escaped twice. The first time they caught her hiding in the woods, and the second time she ran into the ocean and drowned herself.”

A heaviness pulled on his heart. He could well imagine what the poor girl had endured. “I’m sorry.”

“Why? It’s not your fault.”

“Ah, but it is. I’m in charge of keeping Ixia safe for all its citizens.”

“That’s impossible. My ma says there will always be sharks in the water. Nothing you can do about it except be careful where you swim.”

“Your ma sounds like a smart lady.”

“Yeah, she is. I miss her.”

“Then we should cast off and take care of these sharks so you can go home.”