Caledonia is left to chart her own course on the dangerous and deadly seas.
The crew has to stay alive and take down Arics armed and armored fleet.
The epic fantasy hits shelves on Aug. 28.
Credit: Random House
Pre-orderSeafirehere, and check out the exclusive cover as well as an excerpt below.
Shed scarcely reached her chosen perch when she yelled to the team of girls on deck below, Haul!
Eager voices repeated the command, and four sets of strong hands took hold of the lines and heaved.
Random House
She shouted as the gaff rose level with her chest.
The girls below began to secure the ropes while Caledonia moved to balance atop the beam.
The horizon was burning yellow now, and the approach of the sun brought a smile to Caledonias lips.
Below, she could see Amina perched on the starboard railing, tracking her with shrewd eyes.
It wasnt necessary for the captain to secure the sail.
The sail angled toward sunrise just as the first gentle rays slid across the surface of the ocean.
It was like fire.
It lasted for only a moment, then that dazzling morning fire was gone.
Everything on the ship was a mixture of old-world tech and whatever natural resources they could find.
And they made it work.
TheMors Navisnow carried a crew of fifty-three girls, six cats, and one goat.
Theyd made this ship both a weapon and a home.
Four years ago, this had been a fantasy.
It came as they bent their minds to the task of recovering their ship.
It came one girl at a time.
Caledonia and Pisces had stitched this ship and its crew together from odds and ends discarded by the world.
That team would scout a few miles ahead of theMors Navis, looking for trouble or opportunity.
Some days it seemed the girl had been in the water since the attack on theGhost.
When she came up for air, her sobs left jagged stitches in the hushed morning.
That grief was like a fever, one Caledonia could feel burning in her own blood.
So much had changed in four years, but some things were very much the same.
Pisces was in the water every morning as early as Caledonia was in the rigging.
Just as Caledonia knew the surface of the ocean and her ship, Pisces knew what lay beneath.
Sunlight glinted off Piscess smooth head and shoulders before she dove once again, vanishing from sight.
I want it gone, shed said.
You want what gone?
My hair, Pisces said, voice quiet.
Tears slipped down her cheeks.
It drags in the water.
And I need to be faster.
Caledonia began to cut, pausing every so often to blink away her own tears as she worked.
It had been the first of many sacrifices.
One day, they would take this fight all the way to Aric Athair himself.
Hows the view this morning, Captain?
a voice called as Caledonia reached the deck.
Lace was always among the first to greet her, no matter how early Caledonia rose.
As bright as your hair.
Caledonia asked, turning her steps toward the bridge.
She was calm and competent, with a laugh as grizzly as Rhonas had been.
Her skin was pale as seafoam and her curls, while not rusted red, were defiant.
Lace matched Caledonias pace and began her morning brief of the days activities.
She covered changes to the duty roster, maintenance issues, health concerns.
Lace had a knack for reporting dismal situations without sounding dismal, a talent that was exceedingly rare.
And finally, Lace began.
And finally, Caledonia repeated with a sigh.
Its been five days for the past three, Lace.
The soup is starting to look like water.
Are you sure we can survive for five more days?
Laces smile was as sturdy as the deck beneath their feet.
Weve survived worse than thin soup, Captain.
Five more days of meager fare would make for a weaker crew.
Caledonia felt the pinch in her own stomach amplified fifty-two times.
Beside her, Lace had grown unusually quiet.
All around them, the deck buzzed with activity.
Laces smile drooped when she answered, We lost Metalmouth.
Caledonia stopped in her tracks, hands settling on her hips.
Far thinks she got into some rot.
Mustve been bad to kill her.
That was an understatement.
No goat meant no milk.
Even less sustenance to go around.
Finding a replacement wouldnt be easy.
Lace asked, her smile resurfacing.
Well have meat for dinner.
Youngest first, Caledonia spoke quietly.
Her mind was already calculating the distance between them and the familiar waters of the Bone Mouth.
If they changed course now, they could be there before they ran through their supply of beans.
With any luck, theyd be able to forage on the islands and cast their lines for fish.
Gather the command crew.
Before Lace had a chance to comply, a whistle pierced the air.
It was followed by a shout from Amina high in the rigging.
Bow boat on approach!
That was quick, Lace mused, shielding her eyes to peer over the ocean.
The boat cut a straight line across the water, moving with strict urgency.
It meant it was time to do one of two things: run or fight.
Redtooth was over the railing in an instant.
Her blue eyes bulged like the muscles in her persistently burned arms as she made for Caledonia.
Captain, she said, clamping one hand on Caledonias shoulder.
Caledonia could see the future in Redtooths eager expression.
Trouble was code for a fight.
Judging by the smile Redtooth couldnt hide, this wasnt just any fight.
This was a chance to hurt Aric Athair, and that was impossible to walk away from.
Can we eat it?
Redtooths lips spread in a devilish grin.
Sure, she answered.
Were the crew of theMors Navis.We eat Bullets for breakfast.
