Born Of Darkness (Book 7)

CHAPTER ONE

LIGHTNING CRACKLED ACROSS the storm-black sky. A gigantic wave broke against the bow of the Kraken’s Reach, smashing down on the ship with the force of a hammer blow.

Salt spray stung Kormak’s eyes. The howling wind lashed his tall lean form. It rippled his greying black hair as he braced himself against the wooden guard rails.

A few grim-faced marines huddled in the pools of light the storm-lanterns left on the deck. Kormak understood their thinking. If the ship foundered, anyone down below would drown in darkness as the shattered hulk plunged to the seabed.

Overhead sailors inched along rain-slick spars like human spiders. He did not envy the men atop the masts. The height amplified every roll of the ship, turning it into a monster that sought to shake seamen off like a dog ridding itself of fleas.

Rhiana strode over to his side, shielded her gaze with her long white hand and peered into the distance. The translucent second lids over the merwoman’s green eyes made her look cataract-blind but she could see better in this gloom than any of the crew.

“This is not good,” she shouted. She was a tall, powerful woman and her voice carried over the storm’s howl.

“Thank you. I needed your expert opinion to tell me that,” Kormak bellowed. He fought to keep his balance on the rain-slick deck as the ship heeled over. The motion threw them together. Her skin felt icy cold.

“Looking for a last kiss, Sir Kormak?” Her white teeth glistened in the gloom. Splashing seawater made the gills in her neck pulse. With her strange eyes and cropped silver hair she looked alien.

“Now hardly seems the time for romance,” Kormak said.

Rhiana’s eyes widened. Another huge wave broke. White foam surged over the forecastle, clawing at them. Rhiana held tight to the guard rail but the force of the flow lifted her free. Kormak’s hand clenched her wrist. His other arm held firm on the wooden barrier and kept them from being swept overboard.

“That was close,” she said. Her mouth was close enough to his ear so that he could hear her words without her shouting.

“It would not be so bad for you,” he said. “You could survive out there.”

“I would need to dive deep and far. The currents could still smash me against the ship. The Shadow-cursed waves could break every bone in my body if one hit me the wrong way.”

“At least you can get clear of the ship, if we go down.”

“Why so gloomy, Sir Kormak? We have not sunk yet. I have survived worse storms than this.”

“Really,” Kormak said.

“Well, perhaps not quite so bad. This is a real ship-killer. Damned if it had to happen to us so close to the Siderean coast. Maybe the sailors are right and this ship is cursed.”

“It was cursed by the Quan’s presence,” Kormak said. “But the Kraken’s demon allies are gone, along with their master.