“No. You’re the daughter of a friend of his.”
Abigail reared back. “My mother did not know Thor as far as I know.”
“No, but your father did.”
“My father?”
“Aurvendil. Remember the story? Of how his spirit became a star?”
Abigail frowned. “I should know, of course, but there was a lot happening. You said something about a long journey and getting frozen.”
“Yes. Aurvendil the Brave was a friend to Thor and traveled with him. When they journeyed across the frozen lands of Jotunheim, Thor carried him in a basket on his back, and Aurvendil’s toe froze. Thor threw it into the heavens, and it became the morning star. Thor knew your father.”
“Oh.” Abigail took a deep breath. “Then that might help. Unless he doesn’t like witches.”
“No one likes witches,” Hugo said with a grin. “But he might like you.”
Abigail rested her chin on her hand, staring at the rolling waves. Her nose was frozen, but she didn’t want to go below yet. Thor had known her father. Had spent time with him. Maybe he would tell her more about him.
A flickering shadow caught her eye. Two wheeling ravens kept pace with the ship. Her heart turned cold. Madame Hestera was having them followed. They were not on some lark. This was life or death. If they failed, witches would perish. Robert might lose friends.
Abigail turned away from the ravens and went below.
Chapter 10
Endera stepped onto the deck of the Balfin warship, dressed in black from head to toe. At her side, Glorian and Nelly waited silently, with Safina trailing behind. Honestly, the firstling was a nuisance, but seeing her tagging along never failed to annoy Abigail, so she was worth keeping around.
“Is everything as Madame Hestera commanded?” Endera asked haughtily.
The captain hardly glanced at her. He had a grizzled face that had seen years at sea, and a thin scar ran across his cheek up to the corner of his eye. “I don’t take orders from no witchlings,” he sneered, turning his back on her. “Get below and stay out of me way.”
Endera let her rage burn into a white-hot glow. She raised her hand, calling up a ball of witchfire, and threw it at the man’s behind. He squealed in pain as his trousers caught fire, sending him running to dunk himself in a barrel of water as he shouted threats at her.
Endera snapped her fingers, and the man’s lips froze. “Do not ever speak to me in such a manner again. I represent the High Witch Council, which you serve. You will do as I say without question, or I will report you to Madame Hestera, and I assure you, she won’t just singe your trousers.”
The man glared at her, then must have decided it wasn’t worth it. He pulled himself out of the barrel and sketched a quick bow. “As the witchling commands.” He began snapping orders at the others to haul up the sails. “Where might we be headed?”
“Keep that ship in sight.” Endera pointed at the small ship on the horizon.
The captain drew an eyeglass from his pocket and squinted into it. “That scum bucket can’t outrun us—we can overtake them in an hour.”
“Fool, I don’t want to overtake them. I want to follow them. Make sure they don’t see us, or you will pay. Lose them, and I suggest you not return home.”
He nodded, then whirled away to yell at the sailor keeping watch in the crow’s nest to keep an eye on the ship.
“Where do you think she’s going?” Safina asked.
“Doesn’t matter,” Endera said. “It’s our job to follow her and report back to Madame Hestera. She’s entrusted us with proving once and for all Abigail Tarkana is a traitor to the coven. I look forward to seeing the day she is stripped of her magic.”
Chapter 11
A deep roll of the ship awoke Hugo, nearly tossing him from his bunk. Lightning flashed through the tiny porthole and lit up the cramped cabin. He sat up, putting his glasses on.
“There’s a big storm,” Abigail said from the other bunk. She was sitting up with her arms wrapped around her knees.
“Where’s Jasper?”
“Up top. He said not to come up.”
“You think he’s okay?”
Abigail shrugged. “He didn’t seem bothered. I imagine he’s been through storms like this before.”
It was their third night on board. The first two days had dragged as the small ship endured endless rolling seas with no sign of land. Thick clouds had turned everything gray. Cold winds had pierced Hugo’s coat, chilling him to the bone, and his nose felt permanently frozen, but staying below meant leaving Jasper alone. Hugo wanted to help, and so did Abigail.
Another streak of lightning lit up the sky, and thunder rumbled loud enough to shake the timbers of the ship.
“Is that normal?” Abigail asked.
“I don’t know. The storm must be awfully close by.”
A sudden dip threw Hugo forward, and this time he hit the floor. Abigail landed on top of him. They untangled as water rushed in at their feet.
Jasper ripped the hatch open. “Need some help.”
Hugo and Abigail scrambled up the ladder.
On deck, they held on to the railing as gusts of wind threatened to blow them overboard. Rain lashed Hugo, soaking him to the skin. Lightning painted the sky, hitting the water in endless strikes. Thunder boomed so loud it hurt his ears, and the sea just rolled and rolled, crashing against the side of the boat as though it wanted to break it to pieces.
“Those sea witches don’t want us coming in,” Jasper shouted. “I’ll need your help to steer.”
“Sea witches?” Hugo asked.
“Mermaids. They guard the entrance to Jotunheim.”
Lightning danced on the horizon, and Hugo saw the danger. Stone spires began rising out of the water, jagged points glistening in the moonlight, just waiting to tear their ship to pieces. Behind the channel, steep cliffs rose straight up.
“Grab the wheel, both of you,” Jasper ordered.
They fought their way against the wind, grasping on to the wooden spoked hub.
“Pull hard to the right when I say the word.” Jasper made his way to the main sail and began hauling it up. As the wind snapped it full, he shouted, “Now!”
They spun the wheel, forcing the ship into a hard right turn. The ship rolled onto its side as the wind pushed it, and it narrowly avoided a rocky spire. Jasper shoved on the boom with both hands, pushing the sail to the other side as he shouted at them to turn the wheel back. Their hands slipped on the slick surface as they followed his commands, weaving in and out of the rocky barriers.
A spire rose out of the water directly in front of them. Jasper shouted at them to turn, but they couldn’t spin the wheel fast enough. There was a horrible grinding noise as the hull scraped against stone.
And then they were through.
The winds died down to an eerie stillness. The moon cut through the clouds, casting gleaming light across the silent sea. Something ruffled the surface of the water. Hugo caught sight of a silver tail, and then it was gone.
A shiver ran up his spine as more ripples marred the surface.
“I think there’s something down there.” He leaned over the rail as Jasper shouted at him to stay back.