Season of Sacrifice (Blood of Azure Book 1) Jonathan Michael (red novels .txt) 📖

loops both around it, knotting it just the same, and ties each to a separate boom on opposite sides of the deck. The immense strength ripping through that tail nearly makes the lines null.

Now, with three lines secured at its head and three around its tail all pulled taught in separate directions, the river monster is strung up like a man condemned to the rack. It continues to wiggle but not nearly as wildly as it was. It’s only a matter of time before it snaps, though.

“What is it?” I yell. Surprisingly, I only get a few dumbass glares.

Thinking we’re in the clear with the river monster wrangled, I let go of the pulley I’ve been holding steady out of sheer adrenaline and anxiety.

“No!” Several voices yell. The head of the monster drops to the deck. It remains in place with all the other lines binding it, but it doesn’t last long. The beast rolls and quivers frantically and breaks free of its bindings, toppling over a couple men in the process.

I no longer see Chunk on deck. Cudgel and Boomer seem to have the same idea and are dragging Edgerin, one of the downed men, below deck without hesitation. The helmsman and Gentry not too far behind. Only five remain to handle this monster.

I make a sudden movement to bolt below deck too, but a firm hand plants itself on my shoulder, holding me in place. Captain Crowbill merely shakes his head without a word.

The heroes of the crew, and me, remain on deck to battle the monster. Shiner, not too quick on his toes, keeps his distance while attempting to get the beast’s attention. Stave, Stripe, and Captain Crowbill all pull kukri blades from their belts and plant their feet in fighting stances, waiting for an opportune moment to pounce. They’re crazy if they think one of those blades will puncture it’s thick, bulging hide.

I remain frozen in place like a moron.

The monster ignores Shiner’s effort to get its attention. Instead, it fixates on me and moves to strike.

Not knowing what to do, I run toward the poop deck, assuming the steps will hinder it. I’m wrong. The monster has me cornered on the stern of the ship. The four other men move in behind it. My only options are to dive into the river where I’ll be just as quick to die, or fight. But with what?

To my surprise, Captain Crowbill leaps through the air and lands on the river monster’s back. He gets a firm hold, but the river monster doesn’t allow for much of an attack. The captain manages to pierce the beast’s thick hide a few times before it rolls.

“Captain!” The men cry out.

The captain refuses to let go, slashing as he rolls with the beast. Three belligerent rolls and the captain’s strength is snuffed out of him. He lets go, lying limp on the deck. I gawk in bewilderment. It takes me a moment to realize the other three men have already moved to attack.

Shiner snaps the end of his mop and jabs at the beast, but it only aggravates the monster more. It’s not sharp enough to penetrate the hide.

Stripe moves in to leap on its back, but the monster anticipates his actions. Its jaw wraps around his leg, and he shrieks with pain. The monster, fighting for its own life, whips him back and forth several times before his limp body tears away from the leg still clenched within the beast’s jaw. His body slams against the rail on the far side of the deck. He doesn’t move.

Two down. Only three to go.

Shiner rushes over to Stripe’s body and steals his blade.

The beast shifts toward me, whipping its spiny tail and uplifting Stave as he was about to pounce. The first mate hits the deck headfirst and lies motionless.

We’re going to die.

Shiner gets back in on the action with his newly acquired blade strapped to the end of his mop. A long-range weapon perfect for such a beast. But the blade is too small to do any serious harm. Shiner prods the beast’s abdomen several times before it turns its attention from me to attack him with full force.

Shiner back peddles as the monster scrambles toward him with jaws open wide.

Tigershit! The entire crew is immobilized. Maybe dead. All except for Shiner and myself. And the intelligent ones who tore into the cabin. Damn. The door is right there. I can sprint to it while Shiner has it distracted.

“Save yourself, lad. I got this scallywag roight where I want ‘im.”

I want to. I want to run away as I always do. But where will running get me? Those that are left alive will blame me for all the deaths. They’ll use me as bait instead of sockeye. The captain is the only one who deserves to die. And even then, I know he’s an honorable man beneath his lousy decision. He’s only trying to protect his own. Just as I am. Goose was right. I always run. I ran from my parents’ deaths. I’m running from the Taoiseach. I ran from Greenport. Goose is on his way to find a solution, and I’m contemplating running from another problem. And I’m tired. I must stop running. I can’t leave Jay to fight the Taoiseach on her own. Just as I can’t leave Shiner to fight this river monster on his own. He’s the only one that has befriended me. If any of them deserve my help, it’s him.

A guttural bellow erupts from within me and I carelessly leap onto its back. My arms lock around its neck. Unknowing what to do next, I dig my fingernails into its throat, hoping to find a tender spot. Or a miracle.

I hold on tight while the beast shifts uneasily yet remains focused on the blade in Shiner’s grip. It