Free Dragon Sacrifice (The First Realm Book 3) by Klay Testamark Page B

to tell us how to do our job.”
     
    “How rude of him. Stane, tell him how we were only admiring their beautiful friendship.”
     
    “I will do that, Borghild,” Stane said. “My friend and I wish to make the outside world match the world inside your hearts.”
     
    “Not going to lie, plenty of people have fallen in love on this boat,” Borghild said. “We call it the Love Knarr, hey-ah!”
     
    They ran to the bow of the ship, which butted through the waves. Gulls flew past and dolphins leaped as they gripped the rail and shouted into the wind.
     
    “I can see the Heimdallr Colossus!” Borghild said. “Very small, of course.”
     
    “Whoo!” Stane said, pointing down. “Look at ‘em jump! Whoo hoo!”
    The dolphins sped ahead, sometimes bursting through the surface and hanging for long moments before slipping back into the water.
     
    “Do you trust me, Stane?” asked the squat and swarthy Northlander.
     
    “I trust you,” Stane said.
     
    “Close your eyes,” Borghild said. “Step up onto the gunwale. Hold on.”
    The taller Northlander climbed up the prow. Borghild held his ankles while Stane spread his arms and became a human figurehead.
     
    “All right,” Borghild said. “Open your eyes.”
    The blonde sailor gasped. The sea stretched out before him, and with the entire ship behind him it was like he was gliding over the waves. “I’m flying, Borghild!”
     
    “And I’m the king of tha world!”
     
    I expected their crewmates to hoot them down, but they just rolled their eyes and continued working.
     
    “Is this normal behaviour for your people?” Cruix asked.
     
    “We are more relaxed at sea,” I said. “Especially after ninety days.”
     
    “What happens after ninety days?”
     
    “A sail!” Stane said. “I can see a sail!”
     
    The skipper stepped forward. “Is it of human make?”
     
    “Nuh-uh,” Stane said. “Tall triangular sail.”
     
    Northlander sails were square, usually white with red stripes.
     
    “It’s tacking our way.”
     
    Everyone rushed to the side. Humans all, they squinted into the distance, trying to catch a glimpse with their keen eyesight.
     
    “Anything?” Cruix asked.
     
    “I can see something,” I said.
     
    “Can you point it out?” he asked. I did so and his eyes flashed.
     
    “It’s a racing yacht. There,” he said, pointing.
     
    I followed his hand to a ship sailing against the wind. It was small and fast. It was painted a pattern of greens and blues that flattened its shape and broke up its outline. It was almost part of the sea.
     
    The hair rose on the back of my neck. It had to be a pirate vessel. The crew realized that as well and started drawing weapons. My hand fell to my longsword.
     
    Now the ship changed colours. Greys, blues, and whites that made it hard to tell which way it was going, or how fast. Definitely elven make.
     
    “Stand by to repel boarders, me bully boys!” the captain said.
     
    I drew my sword. The pirates would regret attacking a Northlander ship!
     
    The racing yacht dropped its camouflage. Its hull was now shining white. Its sail was black, with a pair of skeletons drawn in red. One skeleton was bent over while the other mounted it. Neither had any flesh, but they looked happy grinding together. It was a pirate flag, clearly, not one I’d seen before.
     
    The crew dropped their weapons and groaned. The captain went around gathering clubs and cutlasses, making sure they were stowed away.
     
    “What the hell?” I asked.
     
    “Is this also normal?” Cruix asked.
     
    “It’s not!” I said. “Skipper! Why do you shrink from these pirates?”
     
    The captain shook his head. “It’s suicide, boy. These aren’t regular pirates.”
     
    “Just because they’re elves? I’ve fought elves. They die easily enough.”
     
    Someone laid a blue hand on my shoulder. “Why don’t you tell us all about it, big boy?”

Chapter 10
    I’ll admit, I jumped.
     
    “Whoa now,