railing close to them.
Suddenly, the pirates were everywhere. Running along ledges on nimble feet, using swords to flip over piles of rope, and jab behind casings.
Another flare shot skyward, exploding in red fluorescence.
Some of the other Grave runaways fled past them towards the bow, screaming.
The boy drew Retra and Cal down into the shadowy hollow of the barge’s curved side.
‘Keep quiet,’ he said.
They were close enough to the cabin to see a Riper emerge from down below. When the Riper reached the top of the stairs a pirate jumped on him from above. But the Riper shifted, leaving the pirate to crash to the deck. Then the Riper leapt upon him, moving with unnatural speed, dragging him downwards.
Shouts and deep growling noises emanated from below.
‘What was that?’ Retra whispered.
‘Sssh,’ said the boy, pointing upwards.
A tall figure straddled the railing immediately above them. Long legs slid over, boots almost scraping Retra’s head. The boy reacted quickly, pulling Retra hard against him so that the pirate missed stepping on her.
The booted figure jumped down lightly, sword in hand, and sprinted towards the stairs. Long hair flared out over leather-clad shoulders. One agile leap took her down into the cabin and the growling stopped abruptly.
Retra felt the boy holding his breath; imagined she could hear the thud of his heart. Or maybe that was hers? She was used to fear, but not closeness; her chest on his stomach, his knee resting against her thigh, his breath close enough that she felt its damp warmth.
She began to pull away but he didn’t let go.
‘Wait! Watch. In case …’ He tapered off.
Retra tilted her head back towards the cabin. What did he mean?
A moment later the tall pirate exploded back up the stairs, half-dragging, half-carrying a limp form – the over-ager, Retra realised. With her free hand she brandished her sword. She retraced her steps, bringing her to the exact spot alongside Retra again.
The boy, Cal and Retra huddled closer as the pirate dropped her sword to lift the body over the railing. The weapon clattered down close to Retra, spattering her with something wet and sticky.
‘Catch her,’ said the pirate, in a stern and commanding voice to those waiting in the stingray boat below.
‘Please, don’t hurt me,’ begged the scared young woman.
‘I’m saving you, if you keep quiet and do as you’re told,’ said the pirate. She reached down for the hilt of the sword and saw Retra.
Fierce eyes peered at her and the point of the pirate woman’s blade flicked up against Retra’s temple, lifting her veil.
Retra froze, paralysed by her own terror. Would the pirate kill her? Or take her?
But the pirate frowned with recognition at the veil and let it slip back in place. The boy hauled her away onto his lap, arms sliding around her as if he were protecting a child.
The pirate stared at them both and the moment lasted longer than any Retra had known; longer than when the warden had stapled on her obedience strip.
Then the woman gave a wink and, as suddenly as she’d come, her sword flipped away and she was gone.
‘Ruzalia,’ breathed the boy. ‘Hair redder than fire and her blade as quick.’ He laughed, shakily. ‘I guess she got what she came for, and that was enough.’
As if the pirate captain had heard him, her sharp voice bellowed from below, ‘Ditch this tub!’
Retra slid off the boy’s lap and sprang up to watch. Several pirates leapt from the barge to the water and the cruiser swept around in a tight arc to scoop them up.
‘No one can catch Ruzalia. She’s too fast,’ sighed the boy. He and Cal were standing now as well. ‘And smart.’ He sounded impressed; envious, perhaps.
‘And lucky,’ said Cal.
Retra strained to follow the fading wash the stingray boat left behind in the dark as Ruzalia sped away.
Quiet settled on the barge and the party lights came back on. A spotlight began to rove the decks. It revealed groups of the runaways still clinging to each other at the bow. Ripers moved about the deck, urging them back to the stern.
Retra turned to the boy. In the spotlight she saw him properly for the first time and her stomach knotted. Smooth skin and full lips framed by hair that curled around his ears and down onto the collar of his coat. His eyes might be hazel, she thought, or grey, and his deep, soulful look made her eyes sting. She dropped her gaze to her feet in case he thought