Sins, Sons, and Siren Songs: The Pirate Hunter Chronicles, #2

By Sarah Rodecker and Helena George

A song on the wind.

A broken crew to mend.

A family's honor to be upheld.

 

Leading a crew is harder than Adi thought. Six months after she took up the mantle of Captain, she finds herself facing more problems than she bargained for: a grieving crew and rumors of sirens attacking local ports. But the crew of the Red Wind might have finally found their match in the underwater warriors of legend.

 

Ravin's life was almost normal, until he finds an assassin lurking outside Master Jermaine's shop and is forced to flee once more. But Treynair del Mankayl cannot be avoided forever and Ravin has to decide his fate: to run for the rest of his life or stand up and face his greatest nightmare by fighting his father. Only this time, he isn't just trying to save his own life, but that of another as well.

 

When Adi and Ravin's paths cross once more, they are thrown into a storm of myths, assassins, and consequences. But will they be able to weather it with the crew tearing at the seams?

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sarah Rodecker
• Release date: May 4, 2021
• ISBN: 9798215557105

Book preview

Glossary

ADIMA RADI KASHINDA (Adi): Princess of Antovan, captain of the High Dragon.

Alharden: Country outside of the Alliance. 

Allidean: Coastal town in Belfarren.

Allirayn: Country outside of the Alliance.

Andolin: County in the Alliance of Kingdoms.

Antovan: Head of the Alliance of Kingdoms. Houses the yearly Scaera Dumeda for the testing of new Alliance Ambassadors.

Arrothray: Ravin’s homeland. Part of the Alliance of Kingdoms.

Arrow: An orphan with no family, last name, or papers. Sailor.

Ash: Former thief, newly released from prison.

Bataraval del Mankayl: One-eyed assassin, Ravin’s uncle.

Belfarren: Country in the Alliance of Kingdoms.

Belhallen: Coastal town in Hifen.

Bonnie Clearwater: A noble girl and Adi’s cousin, presumed dead.

Colyn: Pirate captain, presumed mad.

Elias: Adi’s mentor.

Flannigan: Country in the Alliance of Kingdoms.

Garrenad del Mankayl: Assassin.

Genady: Coastal town in Antovan, where the royal family lives.

Gerrard del Mankayl: Ravin’s three-year old son.

Halfa ‘sad: Coastal town in Allirayn.

Hawthorn Ballard: An army general’s son. Bookworm.

Heather Hill: Expectant widow of Jay Hill, healer.

Hifen: Country outside of the Alliance of Kingdoms.

High Dragon: Ex-pirate ship.

Jaco del Mankayl: Assassin. Treynair’s second son, and Ravin’s younger brother.

Jay Hill (James Renwick Martin): Deceased captain of the Red Wind, son of Rev Martin.

Josiah Wornstaff: Son of a violin-maker, sailor.

Justin Case: Ex-pirate, tea enthusiast, sailor.

Kelsy: A siren, and good friend of Justin’s. 

Liz Telveda: Scaera Dumeda contestant. Deceased.

Malachy Aladale: Deceased assassin.

Marius Blackstone: A son of a mobster, presumed dead.

Maxence Kashinda: King of Antovan. Adi’s father.

Merrida Hill: Jay’s aunt, noblewoman by marriage.

Nissa Hill: Jay’s cousin, noblewoman.

Ocean’s Mist: Merchant ship.

Port de Catru: Coastal town in Viccily.

Ralivaen (Rah-lee-VAY-un) del Mankayl (Ravin): Ex-assassin, now on the run.

Red Wind: The fastest ship to ever sail the seas. 

Rev Martin: One of the most feared pirates to ever sail the seas. Deceased.

Rillian: Country outside of the Alliance.

Riyar: Country in the Alliance of Kingdoms.

Rykinsvik: Coastal town in Belfarren.

Sandaline Ferense: Orphaned sailor.

Shade: Bad-tempered sailor.

Theobald (Theo [pronounced tay-OH]): Prince of Antovan. Adi’s brother. 

Tillum: Used to be a Belhallen town, now a small self-proclaimed country.

Treynair del Mankayl: Known as the Blooddrinker, Treynair is the leader of the del Mankayl assassin clan.

Viccily: Country outside of the Alliance.

1

Every time I hear the sea, there are words on the crashing of the waves. Words that say he is long, long gone; he is long, long gone. Legends say the ocean is the best keeper of secrets, for she never reveals where someone has gone once they’ve left the land behind. But I won’t stop searching until I find him, no matter where the water has taken him. I will find him.

WHERE DID THIS STORM come from? Adi pulled her hat lower over her face to keep the heavy rain out of her eyes and squinted through the darkness. Just ahead, the faint outline of the pirate ship the crew was after plunged downwards and out of sight for a moment as a wave swelled behind it.

It came out of nowhere! the High Dragon shouted back. I didn’t even feel the winds changing!

Hold on! The bellowing voice of Shade broke through the howling winds. He gestured to the rolling sea.

Another wave pushed the High Dragon and her crew upwards before allowing them to crash back down. The rope around Adi’s waist cinched tight, keeping her from getting swept overboard as the High Dragon dipped low to the side.

"Pull back, Dragon, she shouted. It’s no use trying to catch them right now!"

The High Dragon eased her straining against the waves and righted herself.

Adi’s heart sank as the pirate ship vanished in the thick downpour, a feeling of failure sweeping over her like the waves around her. She needed to let them go. She knew that. The High Dragon couldn’t handle the buffeting winds and before long she and the crew would be at the bottom of the sea. But deep down inside, she couldn’t help but tell herself that Jay would have kept going.

I’m not Jay, she told herself, no matter what anyone else thinks.

What is that noise? Sandaline cried, breaking through Adi’s thoughts. The girl stood at the other end of the ship, her ears tilted towards the sky, listening.

You’re just hearing things, girl! Shade called back, though his face held an attentive look, as if he were listening as well.

No, I’m not! she exclaimed. There’s a song. I can hear it!

Adi strained to listen. Sure enough, floating along with the wind, barely audible over the rain, were the faint notes of a song. Its eerie melody unsettled her. I hear it, too! she yelled. Another wave splashed over the side of the ship and filled her mouth with salty water. Sputtering, she coughed the water onto the ship. Is it the pirates?

I don’t think so, Justin replied. His face pinched together as he looked up at the sky.

A shriek cut Adi’s attention away. Arrow strained against his rope, his eyes bulging as he stared off into the sea. Arrow, what is it? she called.

He turned his frightened gaze on her. Something flashed at his side and, before she could react, he used his saber to cut himself free from his rope. As the blade clattered to the deck, he began to scramble towards the hold.

Someone stop him before he gets swept overboard! Adi fumbled for the knife she kept close to her chest. The wet hilt slipped from her grasp. Frantic, she reached for a second, but another shriek stopped her. She glanced up and spotted Shade on the other side of the ship, gripping Arrow tightly, while keeping his other arm securely around the mast. 

Still yelling incoherently, Arrow struggled against his grip. Shade’s arms bulged from fighting against the buffeting winds and the agitated boy. Easy there, lad, or you’ll get us both killed!

Look! Sandaline pointed upwards.

Adi tipped her head back. A patch of clear sky broke through the clouds above. In seconds, it expanded, overtaking the darkness.

Without so much as a goodbye, the storm disappeared from the sky, leaving the seas reeling from its sudden departure. Adi’s hands slapped down on the railing as the High Dragon lilted. The waves leapt up to strike her in the face. Her eyes blinked hard against the stinging salt water.

Once the waves settled enough for the crew to walk about the deck safely, Adi cut away the rope around her waist and struggled up the mast. Shielding her eyes from the sun, she looked around for the pirate ship. All around them, nothing but sparkling water could be seen.

Did they sink? Surely a ship couldn’t just disappear? Could they?

I don’t sense them anywhere, the High Dragon confirmed her suspicions.

Shoulders sagging, she climbed back down and faced the crew. They’re gone. The storm likely sank them. We probably won’t get the letter now.

The crew gave a collective groan. Failure for them was rare and poorly swallowed. Adi hated not fulfilling their mission. She knew Belfarren was counting on them collecting information about the pirates’ intentions and now they might never know what was on that missive.

Her gaze fell on Arrow, who sat at the base of the mast, shivering. His face had a kelp-green sheen to it. Kneeling in front of him, she placed a hand on his shoulder. Arrow, what happened? Are you all right?

He threw her a seething glare before slapping away her hand and scrambling below deck. With a nasty frown at Adi, Sandaline turned on her heel and followed close behind him. Shade and Justin avoided Adi’s gaze as they moved to clean up the deck, leaving her and Josiah staring at each other.

Head to Genady, she muttered to the High Dragon. They needed to restock and figure out if there was any way to recover their mission.

WHEN THE COAST OF GENADY came into view, Adi marched along the deck of the High Dragon. Lower the sails. We don’t want to draw undue attention. While the High Dragon was able to move through the seas of her own accord, a ship sailing at top speed without so much as a single sail down often raised questions—questions Adi didn’t want to answer.

Heather waddled behind her, her hands resting on her swollen stomach. Shortly after Captain Jay Hill had died, Heather found she was expecting their child. The crew was overjoyed until Heather made it very clear that she wasn’t going to leave the ship, despite the risks to her unborn baby. Their worry for her safety, coupled with the widow’s constant reorganizing of the ship, caused a great deal of tension as they tried to accommodate her.

Jay would have come in without sails, Heather said behind Adi’s back. Our ships don’t need them anyway.

Adi sucked in a deep breath. "I’m not Jay and this isn’t the Red Wind. I’m Captain Adi and this is my ship, so what I say goes. She waved her arm to the crew. Now lower those sails!"

Without another word, they did as she told them, but Heather sniffed and then shuffled back into the hold.

Besides, the High Dragon said in Adi’s head, as much as I like the freedom of sailing on my own, I like my sails down. They make me feel glamorous. A ship needs to feel glamorous!

Adi smiled. At least someone was on her side.

As the High Dragon neared the coast of Antovan, signs of wreckage greeted them. First, just pieces of driftwood floated past them. Then empty longboats. Finally, awnings and chairs from the seaside businesses bobbed along with the current. 

Adi leaned over the railing, looking through her spyglass at the shoreline. Damage as far as the eye could see. Trees and shrubs were ripped up by the roots and were cast aside on the sand. 

What happened here? Josiah whispered as they pulled into the Genady port.

The dock itself was in shambles. Half of the planks were missing and most of the ships docked there were experiencing some sort of damage or another. One even was upturned, almost completely sunken. 

Sailors and merchants sifted through the rubbish, sometimes letting out curdling curses at their misfortune. The local constables scoured the damage. By the waving of their hands, it looked as if they were charged with the unfortunate task of keeping everyone calm.

As soon as the ship came alongside the dock, Adi jumped out and navigated her way over to the dock master. He stood near his little shack, now missing numerous boards, conversing in loud tones with half of the captains in port. He ran his hand through his hair so many times, it stood straight up, frizzing in the humid air.

Pushing past the agitated captains, she made her way to the front of the crowd. They grew silent as they took in her sopping wet clothes and hat.

You sail through this mess, missy? the harbor master asked, gesturing to the storm damage.

She lifted her chin. Captain Adi. And yes, my crew and I were caught up in a nasty storm. Is that what caused all of this?

Coughing awkwardly, he nodded. Right, forgive me, Captain Adi. Putting his hands on his hips, he sighed. That storm was something. Wasn’t like any hurricane I’ve ever seen. Came out of nowhere. Disappeared into thin air. I don’t know what to tell you.

It was something unnatural, one of the captains muttered. Some of my boys heard something.

She turned towards him. Heard something? The faint song replayed in her mind, sending chills straight down her spine.

Yeah, like a sort of music or something. He chuckled. Don’t know what kind of storm creates music, but it’s not something we’ve ever seen. Tipping his hat at her, he added, And I’ve seen everything. 

Tommy here lost half his crew, another captain offered. 

Yeah, they just jumped ship like they were being chased or something. Claimed they saw something. I didn’t see anything, but again I didn’t really look all that hard. Had my hands full trying to keep them from losing their minds. Wasn’t successful. Tommy shrugged. Good lads, too. Had solid heads on their shoulders. I don’t know what came over them.

Adi frowned at his words. Arrow’s panicked look haunted her. Had he seen something? If Shade hadn’t stopped him, would he have thrown himself overboard? What could possibly drive him to do something like that?

The head constable approached the group of captains, shaking his head. In his hands he held a board, likely from one of the destroyed ships.

How does it look? the dockmaster asked him.

Strangest thing I’ve ever seen. He held up the board for everyone to see.

Adi leaned forward to study the piece of wood. Her eyes widened.

Well, I’ll be, whispered one of the captains. The pitch is chewed off of it.

I found it over there. The constable pointed to the nearest dock.

That’s my ship, Tommy said. I just had it freshly pitched. Got a whole batch from Allirayn and everything. Spent a fortune on it.

Adi pursed her lips. What would cause such a mess that even pitch was torn off of the boards?

Footsteps clattered behind her. Josiah came to stand by her side. Did that storm cause this? His forehead scrunched as he took in the demolished state of the port.

Walking past him, she made her way back to the High Dragon, motioning for him to follow. Looks like it.

On the ship, Justin and Shade cornered her. How bad is it? Justin asked.

They all said similar things to what we heard and saw. Music on the air. One of the captains said some of his crew jumped overboard during the wreckage. He said they claimed they saw something. Glancing towards the hold, she lowered her voice. Just like with Arrow.

I’ve heard stories like that, Shade muttered. Of sailors jumping to their deaths, possessed by something otherworldly.

What caused it?

He crossed his arms. You wouldn’t believe it.

I’ve seen more unbelievable things these past six months than I ever thought possible. She laughed mirthlessly. Try me.

Still, he hesitated before finally replying: Sirens.

2

Seven months, one week, and four days. I’ve searched for seven months, one week, and four days. Sometimes I wonder if perhaps he is really gone. Vanished. Dead. But if he was, there would be some trace, some final clue, giving me this hard truth. But there is nothing, so he must still live. And so I will continue to search.

IT WAS JUST ONE FACE in a crowd. Easily missed. No one else paid any attention to the man in black as he strolled his way through the market. No one noticed the bulges in his shirt and under his kilt where knives were hidden. No one noticed the edge of a red and white tattoo visible on his wrist between his long black sleeve and black fingerless glove.

From his vantage point on the porch of the violin shop, Ravin watched the del Mankayl assassin approach. At first, he continued stringing the newly-made violin, whistling an Antovanian jig while keeping the assassin in the corner of his eye. Genady was a popular town, hosting not only the royal family, but also the yearly Scaera Dumeda. Assassins were often spotted in these streets, and they weren’t all there to kill him.

But when the assassin stopped in front of the shop to study the door, windows, neighboring garden and shops, Ravin knew he was out of time. Six months. He’d lived a normal life for six months.

A woman bumped into the assassin, apologized, and hurried on, an armful of packages blocking most of her view. It was enough to give Ravin a brief glimpse at the man’s scarred face and confirm his fears. Bataraval del Mankayl. Half-blinded by a knife to the face, Ravin’s uncle had only been allowed to live because he could still see well enough to fight with one eye.

Ravin tightened the last peg and plucked the string. The assassin glanced up at the porch, but Ravin ducked behind the stacks of wood Master Wornstaff kept lying around. He held his breath, ears straining for any sound.

Silence. Then slow, hesitant steps, leading off down the street. Ravin peered through the porch railing just to make sure his uncle was out of sight.

Then he dashed into the shop.

The front room was a mess, as always. Bits of half-made violins piled all across the floor, covered in half-wound coils of strings. Little bins of tuning pegs rested on every table, shelf, and flat surface. The perpetual smell of wood coated everything and everyone that stepped inside.

Jermaine Wornstaff sat in the middle of the store, bent over his newest creation—a full-sized violin of beautiful white wood, imported from Riyar. He glanced up and blew wood shavings out of his greying beard. Ravin! Something the matter?

Ravin set down the newly-strung violin on the closest workbench and forced a smile. Yeah. Yeah. I need to grab something from my room.

When he’d first started working at the shop, Jermaine had offered to let Ravin stay in the second bedroom. The tiny window and single door made Ravin nervous, so he had set up his own room in the corner of the kitchen. It was really just a bunch of blankets tossed over yet another stack of lumber, but it gave Ravin easy access to multiple escape routes—the door into the gardens, the door into the shop, a third door into the hall, and a few windows, should the doors not be an option.

Jermaine had made no comment when Ravin asked if he could sleep there. How much the old man knew about Ravin’s past, Ravin had no idea, but Jermaine never pried, and Ravin never volunteered information. They simply did their work, occasionally spoke, and mostly just enjoyed not being alone.

Ravin’s old pack was stuffed between the lumber pile and the wall. Everything he would need for a quick exit was always kept inside, should he need it: food, clothing, supplies, weapons.

It was time to run again.

Everything alright? Jermaine’s voice floated in from the shop. Do you need something?

Ravin swung his pack over a shoulder, heard a noise behind him, and spun around, knife in hand. Jermaine stood in the doorway, eyebrows raised, violin glue stuck to his right sleeve.

Sorry. Ravin lowered the weapon.

So you’ve been found?

Ravin checked the windows. No movements.

My son told me you were on the run from assassins. They’ve found you here?

I think so. If I leave now, they’ll follow me and won’t harm you. Something caught in Ravin’s throat, and he coughed a few times. Thank you, sir. For your kindness. For letting me stay here.

It’s the least I could do, Ravin. You saved Josiah’s life. Jermaine reached into a nearby cupboard and pulled out a small pouch. I kept this stocked, just in case you’d ever need it. Dried meat for the road.

Seven months ago, Ravin didn’t know what kindness was. His father had trained him to be an assassin, showing him no love or mercy. After fleeing for his life, Ravin had stumbled into the pirate hunters, who first showed him kindness instead of pain. Then Jermaine himself had been nothing but gentle and understanding.

How could he just say goodbye and leave?

Thank you, sir. Ravin took the pouch and stuffed it into the top of his pack. Thank you. And...goodbye.

Jermaine held out a hand, and Ravin shook it heartily. I’m sure you can outwit them, Ravin. Come back when you can.

Ravin opened the door to the garden, hesitated, and turned back towards the kitchen, breathing in one last breath of wood and metal and varnish. Jermaine tucked a hand into an apron pocket and nodded encouragingly.

May...may the shadows cover your trail and hide you from those who wish to seek you harm, Ravin stumbled over a few words, roughly translating an old Arrothraen farewell.

Then he left.

In the six months he’d lived in Genady, he had memorized every street, every hiding place, every possible quick-escape route. With practiced ease, he scaled the garden wall, crossed onto the neighbor’s roof as softly as a cat, and followed the road.

There wasn’t any time to stop by Hawthorn’s house to explain his sudden disappearance, and sorrow twisted in Ravin’s stomach. Today was the day Ash would be freed from her jail sentence. Ravin and Hawthorn had promised to be there for her...but now Ravin had to leave.

Even now, he might be tracked, and the last thing he wanted was to put his friends in danger. They knew Ravin’s past. They would know why Ravin vanished. They would probably even worry.

Funny, to think he now had people who would worry for his safety. Friends. Friends who would worry.

All the same, it made him feel guilty, but he would feel even more so if Jermaine or Hawthorn or Ash were hurt because of him. The del Mankayls prided themselves on killing only those they were paid to kill, but Ravin wasn’t a mission. Their hunting him was simply personal.

His father, Treynair del Mankayl the Blooddrinker, had been searching for him for seven months. No one had ever escaped the assassin order before, especially not for so long, and by now the entire del Mankayl clan would want revenge for the dishonor placed upon them by Ravin’s actions.

They might even be angry enough to hurt or kill others if they knew it would grab Ravin’s attention, and he couldn’t let that happen. So for their safety, he might never see them again.

Ravin spent the next hour weaving his way across the city, crossing roofs, sliding through alleys, hiding in the shadows, until he felt certain his uncle wasn’t following him. Then he cut a direct course down to the harbor.

Three minutes later he smelled a storm in the air.

The wind picked up, pulling at his hair. Handfuls of old straw skittered across the cobblestones, catching at the bases of lampposts and sidewalks. A woman in a brilliantly-pink dress stood at a street corner, both hands clamping her hat firmly to her head as she waited for a carriage to trot past.

Strange. Storms were fairly common in the fall, but usually there was a little more warning. Ravin faintly remembered standing on board a ship in the middle of the ocean, watching storm clouds rolling across the waves, closer and closer... He’d probably been five or six then, and, despite his fear, he’d stood his ground and watched as long as he dared, trying to be brave in front of his father.

The sky darkened, and Ravin ducked into the shadows of a blacksmith’s shop to wait. Darkness was his ally, but so it was for every del Mankayl. With no one to watch his back, a solid wall was better than empty space behind him.

Rain attacked the streets for a solid three minutes, and Ravin pressed his back closer to the wall. The roof overhang did little to keep him dry, and he risked squishing the contents of his pack to get even an extra inch away from the downpour. Starting journeys in the rain was the worst.

Then the storm was gone, as suddenly as it had arrived. The wind died away, the sun returned, and when Ravin peered up, blinking, at the sky, he saw only a few stray wisps of cloud.

Well. He wasn’t going to complain about that. If only it was a little warmer out, then he’d dry off faster. Autumn was only nice when one was out in the country, surrounded by trees of all different colors.

His boots squelched with every step, and he walked briskly, as if somehow that would dry his socks out faster. A dog, soaked to the skin, trailed him for a minute, begging for scraps, but Ravin ignored the shaggy creature. There was no place for a dog where he was going.

Even from a few streets away, he could hear some of the ships talking. After sailing on the Red Wind, he had been introduced to a well-kept secret—the voices of ships. Not all of them spoke, and some spoke only to select people, but other ships blabbed on, not caring who heard them, though their words might easily be passed off as yet another human voice in the crowds.

He ducked behind a wagon and waited for a moment, listening. One ship was loading up, likely going to sail in the evening, once the wind picked up again. Another ship would leave tomorrow, destined for Belhallen.

Where did he want to go?

Ravin checked corners, picked his next destination, and moved closer to the harbor. He felt like a traitor for stepping on board another ship after having so many adventures with the Red Wind, and even the High Dragon, the ex-pirate-ship. But there was no choice. He needed to get out of Genady.

Six months, he’d lasted in hiding. Seven months since he’d fled from his First Kill. Seven months, one week, and three days, if he remembered his dates correctly.

He’d been in the Belfarren castle. Middle of the night. Snuck past the guards into the bedroom of the Queen’s father. It only took him two minutes to decide—or perhaps he had decided it long before then—that he wouldn’t kill.

That night, he’d expected to die. He’d fled from his father many times, but never made it far. Every day he expected to be his last.

Now he had lasted seven months, one week, and three days.

I’m off to Riyar, a ship called, her voice soaring over the last few streets to reach Ravin’s ears. I’ve a new load of sea dragon blood, so we can risk the open seas. Have you ever been to Riyar?

Ravin shouldered his pack. Farewell to Genady, to Ash and Hawthorn and Jermaine. Farewell to the High Dragon crew and his friends. It was time to run again.