Night Study (Soulfinders, #2)(89)

This time, when Valek parried Jibben’s sword, he deflected the blade down. The tip of the curved sword missed him and Valek was able to cut into Jibben’s arm. When he blocked Jibben’s blade, knocking it high, Valek nicked the man’s thick leg. Each near miss increased Jibben’s frustration, causing him to make small but critical mistakes. Blood soon soaked the brute’s sleeves and pants. The man swayed.

Valek tried his takedown again, spinning and hooking his heel. Jibben landed with an oomph and Valek pricked him with a dart filled with sleeping potion. When the brute relaxed, Valek stood and surveyed the scene.

Most of the soldiers held their own, but a few struggled with their opponents. Valek helped those in need as they advanced inland. The sun rose and the trees cast long shadows. He engaged in a couple fights that ended in a few moves. Jibben should have trained his crew better. Weaving in and out of the other matches, Valek pricked the pirates with darts.

The last pirate fell not long after the sun’s arrival. Endre searched the buildings, while Mikus compiled a list of the stolen goods they found. Two other soldiers interviewed the young teens, who had been smart enough to keep away from the fighting.

Annika pointed to Valek’s shirt. “You’re bleeding.”

“It’s nothing.”

She pulled a first-aid kit from her pack. “Sit.”

He recognized that tone. It meant business. He sat on the steps leading up to the door of one of the island’s cottages. All the structures but one had been built atop tall pylons, probably in case the island was swamped with water. It would take a fierce storm for the tide to reach the living areas of the buildings.

Annika inspected his wound and decided it needed to be sealed. She pulled his shirt off before he could stop her. If she noticed his still-healing heart-shaped scar, she didn’t say a word. Instead, she concentrated on her task by cleaning the cut and applying Rand’s glue.

To distract himself from the pain, he studied the structures the pirates had built. Arranged in a circle around a giant fire pit, the one-story cottages appeared to be for housing and storage. One oversize building had a ramp leading up to the first floor—probably for the livestock. All the surfaces had been painted with gray, green and brown paint in a camouflage pattern that blended in with the surroundings. The color combination would probably work during all seasons. Further proof that Jibben was no fool.

The island’s trees had been cleared farther out to make room for the crops. Small green shoots poked through the newly plowed dirt.

Valek spotted Endre and waved him over for a report.

“We defeated all the pirates, sir,” he said. “The kids have corroborated Zohav’s story. There’s another ship docked on the back side of the island. It’s the Sea Serpent.”

Ah, the other one that had been lost at sea. “Secure the criminals in the Starfish’s hold. And get the names of all the survivors. We’ll match them to the manifest and ensure none of the pirates are pretending to be a victim. And find Zethan—he’s Zohav’s brother and should be among the teens.”

“Yes, sir. We also found a few older teens locked in a jail, but we couldn’t find a key and the lock is...complex.”

“Once Annika is done, I’ll open it. Have the soldiers load the stolen goods onto the other ship. Also find a crew for both ships. We’ll set sail as soon as possible.”

“Yes, sir.”

By the time Annika finished, the cut throbbed. “Thanks,” he said, donning his ripped shirt.

“What should I do now?” she asked.

“Check the others. Make sure no one else is wounded.”

“Yes, sir.”

Valek found the jail. It was on the ground floor of the only building not set atop tall pylons. The pirates hadn’t cared if the occupants drowned during a storm. Inside, four grubby boys stood on the other side of a row of bars. The rest of the cell had been constructed with thick wooden planks.

Purple bruises marked the prisoners’ faces. Their shirts had been torn, and dried blood stained the fabric, as well.

“I take it you’re the troublemakers?”

“Who wants to know?” a tall boy with black hair and blue eyes demanded.

The boy resembled Zohav and must be her brother, Zethan.

“The person who is rescuing you,” Valek said. He pulled his various lock picks from hidden pockets and worked on the complicated mechanism. After a few minutes, it popped open and he swung the door wide, letting them free. “Give your names to the sergeant. We could also use crew for the ships, if you’d like to help all of us get home.”

Three of the boys grinned and took off, but Zethan remained.

“Where is my sister?” he demanded.

Magic swelled around him, pushing against Valek. He held his ground. “She’s safe.”

“I want to see her. Now.”

“You’re not in the position to be demanding anything, Zethan.”

Zethan jerked back. “How did—”

“Zohav told me. She was worried that I’d kill you.”

“Why?”

“Because of that magic you’re gathering around you right now.”

Recognition was followed by fear. The power disappeared. His control was impressive.

“Are you...?” Zethan asked. His voice barely a whisper.