The Azure Bottle: Chapter 10

 Chapter 10

The land mass grew in the distance and Hilda leaned out further over the edge of the ship. They were here at last. The sky was letting down torrents of rain and the whole crew was thoroughly soaked . Thyra looked around her at the men. In the past days she’d come to fear them more than the danger they could be approaching. There had been a dark glint in most of their eyes and their lips had turned up in crooked smirks. 

She didn’t like it and unease had grown in her heart as the days had gone by. It was potent in each man’s gaze now. Thyra pressed herself nearer to Hilda. The woman seemed heedless of the potential danger they could be in. The king had said it before. If the sailors heard about treasure, they’d revolt. Had they somehow heard? 

    Thyra bit her lip and backed away from the men. She walked away, keeping her gaze always over her shoulder and one hand clasped around the hilt of the sheathed dagger she had clasped on her belt. The leather bound hilt was rough under her touch and her nervous fingers toyed with the exposed edge. The underside was soft like a blanket, the over side of the leather was grippy and easy to hold. 

Her hand clasped tighter around it and she headed up the stairwell to Arne, who stood at the wheel. His dirty, rough hands steered the ship with the expertness of years worth of experience. Thyra watched him work for a moment, then looked back out at the men. She gulped down hard. If the crew abandoned the ship the whole vessel would fail. What would the men do to get the money they desired? Her stomach moved to her throat the more she thought about it. Arne glanced over at her then back out at the sea.

“Is somethin’ wrong?” he asked, pushing his captain’s hat back with one hand and wiping his brow. Thyra sighed and looked at him.

“Have you noticed how the men have been lately?” Her voice was hushed. If her suspicions were right, she didn't want the whole crew to know that she saw it. It might encourage them to act sooner. Arne glanced back over at her, a grim expression on his face.

“So it isn’t just me then.” He sighed and pulled his hat back down over his brow. A sailor walked by and the two fell silent. Thyra clasped her hands together, she could feel them shuddering. The king came up beside them, a hand on the hilt of his sword, which he had sheathed at his waist. He glanced at Thyra, his eyes filled with exposed fear. Would the sailors attack them? 

Hilda came up to them, a smile on her face and her hair blowing behind her in the wind. Thyra wanted to warn her of the danger, but her heart was wary. Hilda didn’t know about the treasure. Would she join the sailors if she did? Thyra pressed her hand to her gut. Everything inside her felt like it was twisted in knots. She forced on a cheerful face as Hilda approached, if she didn’t see the way the sailors were acting, or understand why, she was pretty sure she didn’t want her too. 

Hilda ran a hand through her fiery hair and leaned nonchalantly against the railing. Sweat slicked Thyra’s hands, and she clenched her fists, finding then that her fingers were still locked around the hilt of her dagger. Hilda straightened, and Thyra’s grip tightened. The king set a hand to Thyra’s shoulder, and she glanced at him with large eyes. He bent down to her and whispered so softly it was hardly audible.

“We are safe for now, but stay close to Arne, I’ll stay beside my cousin.” Thyra bit her lip and glanced at him. Did he realize that Hilda could be just as dangerous as any of the sailors? The knot in her stomach tightened. Did she have so little trust for her friend? Hilda had been there with her through so much, would she truly turn on her? Was any avarice so powerful as to destroy such a sure friendship? 

Thyra looked down at the wooden planks beneath her feet. The king's grip on her shoulder tightened for a moment then loosened and fell away. He moved over to his cousin’s side and stayed near her, one hand still clasped around the hilt of his sword. Thyra edged over closer to Arne. The fear she’d seen in his face a moment ago had faded, and he was still as stone. She guessed he didn’t want to give away the suspicions he held for his crew. 

Blonde hair stuck to Thyra’s forehead, and she bit her lip. The sailors glanced at her, and her grip tightened still further. She was sure by this point that if she drew her dagger it would simply slip from her grip, but she couldn’t will herself to pull her hand away and dry her palm. 

Thrya drew away from the others, backing closer to the rear of the ship. It felt like her heart was thrashing like the waves, and she swallowed down hard on the bile that filled her mouth. Breathing hard, she leaned back against the railing and squeezed her eyes closed, trying to calm her rattled nerves. 

    She couldn’t risk putting the others in more danger by exposing that she saw there the sailor’s act, nor however did she wish to go down below deck into the hull. She couldn’t risk being caught off guard alone by an armed sailor. There was little doubt in her mind that there was truly a threat. 

Thyra cast her gaze to the gray sky overhead. She blinked as a raindrop fell into her eyes and dribbled down her face. The flags danced about in the racing wind. The sails were unfurled, and the wind was pushing them toward the cove as was the current. Thyra turned away and moved over to the edge of the ship. 

The sea beneath her was wreathed in a white crown of spray. Almost nothing could be seen beyond the foaming maw. She tried to force her heart to calm, and her wild eyes to focus. 

Rain ran down Thyra’s face in rivulets and fell from her cheeks in streams. She ran her free hand, the one that wasn’t still clasped around the hilt of her blade, through her blonde hair. 

    Her body stiffened and her jaw clenched. The sharp edge of a blade pressed against her throat so tightly she couldn't swallow without choking.

   "Treasure aye? So where is your father's map?"

. . . . .

    Bum bum bum!!!! Thank you for Reading Chapter 10 of the Azure Bottle! Thanks to all my Alpha Readers for being so incredible! We are in the final chapters now! 3 more now I think. Please comment and subscribe if you liked this chapter and please join my email list to receive special perks. You can head to this link to join.... https://story-anchor.ck.page/b0d556afb4. Those on my email list know this, but for those on my email list there is a competition underway! Anyone who joins my email list can join in on this short story competition. 

    With that have a wonderful day!