Coming Soon: Vowbreakers of Honor Volume 2: The Tombs of Akesh
As Kailo ascended the steps to the ship’s deck, he didn’t know exactly what he would do. His only thought was of the captain’s betrayal, which filled him with anger. His tiredness was gone as the rage overtook him. He strutted across the deck, unsheathing the sword of the deckhand nearest to him. It was a crude instrument, and the metal blade looked like a jagged saw due to the many chips created from hard use and no maintenance. It was enough. He marched up the stairs of the raised platform as each of the deckhands watched in stunned silence. The two hulking Qini twins who broke up any fights stood in his way.
“You have betrayed our pact, captain!” Kailo roared as he easily slipped past the slow twins and confronted the man.
The captain laughed, “And what will you do? You must obey the Vow of—”
The captain’s words were ended by the force Kailo put into the swing of the blade. The chipped metal bit deep into the bones of the captain’s neck, and blood ejected from the rugged gash. The captain’s eyes bulged for the few seconds of life that remained in him, and then the body hit the deck with a thump every crew member heard.
Kailo looked at Freiga. “You're the captain now.”
He looked down at the puddle of blood forming under the captain. Natri had been right: He could kill without breaking the Vow of Honor. Kailo looked back at the men. All were stunned and silent.
Freiga broke the silence at last. Her voice was strangled with fear as she gave her first command. “Get to work, men! We go to the Keshan Isles!” There were no confirmations, just a quick scramble as the crew escaped the horror of the murder.
Freiga refused to look at Kailo as she went to the helm. She stopped at the captain’s body and quickly looked away. When she finally looked at Kailo, her blue eyes held fear.
He sighed. “It was necessary, and now you have a ship.”
Freiga could only murmur, “At what cost?”
Coming out 2025!
Kailo Concept art by Shawn D. Welsh
© Jack Young 2024