In Deeper Waters by F.T. Lukens (best business books of all time txt) 📗

laughed, the sound scratchy and dry. He did. He did. He could burn the ship down around them and send them all to the depths. He could boil the sea. He could wrap Captain Zeph in chains of fire and taunt her as she’d taunted him. He could blast the lock open and waltz out of the cage onto the deck. But that’s what they wanted. He might be as soft hearted as his siblings claimed, but he was stubborn. He shook his head. “No.”

Her face fell. “I would like to see magic,” she whispered. “Like in the stories of the great mages, and the unicorns, and the merfolk. My grandmother used to tell me about swimming with them in the waves when she was a girl.” Poppy leaned in closer, as if imparting a secret. “Sometimes I dream about diving all the way to the depths and staying there, waiting for them, and living in the sea.”

“You’d drown.”

“No.” She shook her head and shifted on her knees. “I’d make a bargain with the witch.”

“And what would you have to offer in a bargain with a powerful witch?”

She wrinkled her nose. “My servitude, of course. I’d pledge my life to her if she’d let me live in the sea with her.”

Tal sighed. That actually didn’t sound terrible at all. He wouldn’t mind living on the ocean floor with Athlen if it meant escaping. Athlen. He missed Athlen. “Tell me more about the merfolk.”

“I already told you what I know from the stories. They hid when the land burned because they knew they’d be next. They stay below the waves now, never to emerge lest they be stolen for their magic. Now, I shared about the sea magic—you tell me about your fire.”

Tal pressed his lips together.

She sighed. “It must be terrible to carry that secret. Not being able to tell anyone about the things you can do.”

“I know what you’re doing.”

She furrowed her brow, puzzled. “What do you mean?”

“The water and the promises.” He waved his hand. “You came to me as a friend, someone to confide in, and when I let my guard down, you’ll run to Zeph as a hero. This is part of it. You’re part of it.”

“You’re out of your head.” She pulled a wrapped package from her pocket and slid it toward him. “Here. You must be hungry to be having delusions. I took it from the stores when no one was looking.”

The small bits of tough red meat smelled awful, but Tal shoved them in his mouth anyway, barely tasting the salt and the sinew before choking them down. They scraped his throat as he swallowed, then sat leaden in his gut.

Poppy eyed him. “I don’t want to see you die, but that’s what’s going to happen. You’re not eating enough and you’re not drinking enough. Your wounds aren’t healing. They’ll turn.”

“If you’re so worried about me, tell me where we are.”

She wrinkled her nose. “I can’t do that.”

“Why not?” Tal rubbed a hand over his eyes, knuckling away the grit. He perked up, sleep sloughing away with the extra food and water, and with the way Poppy peered at him with wide blue eyes.

“I can’t betray Zeph. She’s my captain. My family.”

“Family?” Tal huffed. “She’s a tyrant.”

“She saved me.” Poppy slapped her hand against the bars. “She is fair and good to the crew, and that’s all that matters. The opinions of princes be damned.”

“Then why do you dream of the bottom of the sea?”

That brought Poppy up short. She narrowed her eyes. “This is why Rot didn’t want me talking to you.” She wagged her finger. “You’re trying to trick me.”

“Please,” Tal said, voice cracking, “just tell me where we are.”

“How will that help you? How does knowing where we’re anchored stop them from working you to death?”

“I’m not magic,” Tal said. Denying his truth hurt, but he forged on. “I’m the fourth child of Queen Carys of Harth, and I’m not a threat like the rumors would have everyone believe. I’m not the heir to our throne. I’m not strong or smart like my brothers. I’m not cunning or beautiful like my sisters. I’m nothing.”

Poppy sighed. She bowed her head. “You’re still a prince. You’re still worth more than my life ever will be.”

“That’s not true. Everyone is of worth.” Tal closed his eyes and sank back against the bulkhead. “I just want to go home. But if I can’t, I’d at least like to know where I am when I die.”

“We’re in the Morreline Sea.”

Tal’s throat clogged. He opened his eyes to peer at her. “What? Are you certain?”

“Of course I am. I’ve been sailing these waters all my life.” She cocked her head. “Now tell me you have magic. Show me. I want to see.”

Tal laughed. “If I had magic, don’t you think I would have used it by now?”

“I think you’re not as good of a liar as you think you are.” She stood. “But Zeph was wrong. She thought that if you wouldn’t break from the physical demands, you might crumble at a show of kindness.” Poppy kicked the cage. “Maybe I wasn’t kind enough, or maybe you’re too smart for your own good.” She turned her back on him and walked to the ladder. “I hope it’s quick when you die.”

Once she was gone, Tal scrambled for the cloth and the tooth. He didn’t have much time, but he scratched “Morreline Sea” into the scrap of sail and hovered his hand over the words. With a muttered incantation, it lit in gold, then disappeared.

Tal closed his eyes and slumped. The Morreline Sea was indeed open water, beyond the bay that surrounded their kingdom’s southern border. But it wasn’t large, nor uninhabited. Several island nations called the sea home. For Tal not to be able to see land on either side meant they must be located right in the middle.

Tal touched the tip of the tooth back to the sail to add details, but the sound of