He moved behind her. “I see only the ship I expected.”
Willing him to see it as it really was, she put her hand back over her shoulder, reaching for him. He rested his hand over hers, and immediately leapt back. “Lord almighty, Nathaniel, what treachery is this?”
Sunny’s hopes soared. He’d caught sight of what she saw.
Fox growled like a beast. He shifted suddenly, thundering over and wrapping his hand around the back of Sunny’s head, jerking her toward him, forcing her to look into the depths of his bleak and terrifying eyes.
She saw an offer there.
He nodded. “What would you trade to save him?”
Sunny stared right back at him, determined not to let him see she was unnerved. “So...he does need saving!”
Cullen shoved his arm between them, prying them apart. “Unhand her or I will be forced to take action.”
“What would you be willing to trade?” Fox said, ignoring Cullen.
“It’s negotiable,” she shot back, increasingly unsure.
Fox tightened his grip, his fingers clawing into the back of her neck. A moment later, Cullen’s fist landed in the side of his face and his grip on her slackened. Fox staggered back and collapsed into the water.
Struggling to his feet, he glared at Cullen, wiping his face.
Cullen drew his sword.
They circled one another, both of them battling the rising tide to stay upright as they faced each other off.
Beyond them, Sunny saw the crew on the dark galleon had gathered in numbers and were baying at the pair of them, a horrible creature-like sound that wrapped itself up in the wailing wind and ran right through her like a howling demon.
Fox looked furious.
Sunny looked at Fox’s belt, but saw no weapon. A grim thought occurred to her...perhaps he didn’t need a weapon.
A fierce gust nearly took her off her feet. She felt the sharp rock face at her back. Turning sideways, she clung to it, desperate to ground herself.
?”Nathaniel, you are my oldest friend,” Cullen bellowed. “I have no reason to distrust you, but I must insist you explain what’s going on here.”
“Perhaps he’s changed,” Sunny shouted, grappling for time. “This man has lived a very long time. I’ve seen him in my world, two hundred years from now. Why does he have this power to travel through time, and why does he want you to go abroad so desperately?”
Cullen looked torn. “I have explained it to you, Sunny. I have a debt of honor to pay.”
She shook her head. There was more to it. Her frustration was growing by the moment, she could see the time slipping away as clearly as if there had been an hourglass hanging right there in the sky. Even though she didn’t fully understand why, she knew her chance to save him was hanging by a thread.
“I cannot squander this chance, lass. If you’ll not come with me, I must leave now.”
“You can’t board that vessel, you saw its treachery!”
“Don’t listen to her, Cullen, she’s wrong in the mind. The ship is sound. She’s trying to turn you against me. She doesn’t understand we are friends and I’m working for your benefit.”
Cullen looked from one to the other of them, but he didn’t lower his weapon and Sunny clung to the hope he believed her.
“Can’t you see the dark galleon, the red sails?”
Cullen looked where she pointed. “I did, for a moment, but now I see only my true ship awaits, and they are rolling the rope ladder in.”
“He’s lying to you every time he opens his mouth.” Maybe it was just a gut feeling. Maybe it was her grandmother’s voice echoing in her mind, telling her to turn to look in his eyes again. Maybe it was superstition. Maybe she’d been trying to teach her how to face up to people, but Sunny knew it was important that she’d remembered that now. She had to unveil his treachery to Cullen.
She reached out and grabbed Fox’s arms. “Let me look into your horrible soulless eyes again. I will see the truth and you’ll show me the reason why, you can’t hide it from me!”