I was the luckiest idiot on the peninsula. And I hated it.

“We’re going straight back to the ship,” Kienna hissed over her shoulder as she darted into an alley ahead of me. “Captain’s orders.”

I nodded at her back, too short on breath to reply. My life was starting to involve a whole lot more running than I was used to.

“Do either of you know where the ship is?” Sterling called from behind me. “We were wandering for a while before we found Kas. Thanks for telling anyone where you were going, by the way.”

“Captain would have stopped me,” I protested. After a breath, I added, “Think the water’s to the left.”

“He woulda stopped you ‘cause your idea was stupid,” Kienna said over her shoulder, then veered left between two buildings.

I followed, a little embarrassed and more than a little shaken. The street up ahead wasn’t empty, and Kienna stopped, leaning against the building next to her as she caught her breath.

“Except climbing out the windows, that was brilliant,” Sterling added as he stopped next to us. “How many times do you think he’s gonna fall for that?”

I shrugged at him. In my opinion, that was nowhere near the coolest part of my plan. The frustrating thing was, it was also the only part of my plan that had worked.

Technically, I’d done exactly what I’d set out to do; Carter had been sufficiently distracted, and according to Sterling, Tarriva’s own Sheriff hadn’t put up much resistance as the crew took their supplies. But at the same time, I’d put the puzzle together completely wrong, and it had almost meant the end of my freedom.

Not only had I misread Carter’s motivation, I’d underestimated his raw skill, just like everyone freaking else did. My shoulder still ached where he’d nearly gotten it out of socket. It wasn’t just that he was stronger and faster than me; he’d gotten me into some sort of hold where I couldn’t even try to move without yanking my joints past their breaking point. If the other two hadn’t found me at exactly the right time…

“Arrokas,” someone insisted.

I blinked, focusing on Kienna’s pale blue eyes in front of me. Her prior attempts to get my attention were still fading into the alley’s wooden walls.

“I forgot to give this back.” She pulled Carter’s revolver from her sash and held it out to me.

I shook my head. “You should keep it. I’m a terrible shot.”

“Oh.” Her eyes widened, darting between me and the gun. “Are you sure?”

I stared at the revolver, its golden inlays glinting in the sun. As a weapon, it would be better in someone else’s hands. But it was more than that, wasn’t it?

I snatched the gun from Kienna’s hand.

“C’mon, let’s move,” Sterling pressed.

Kienna gave me an ‘after you’ gesture. I rolled my shoulders back and ran into the street, the other two on my heels. We darted past the few startled people and between two houses on the opposite side. The next street was even more populated, but no one was eager to get in the way of three sprinting hooligans with pistols, and we continued into the next alley without slowing down.

Clopping hooves sounded in the street ahead. This time of day, it was probably the loggers returning with lumber from the mountains, which meant no easily-stealable wagons. That was alright; we had to be near the edge of town by now anyway.

We ran into the street, and I glanced to the side.

I froze, and my boots caught on the cobbles. Sterling smacked into my back, barely grabbing my shoulders in time to keep me upright. “What?”

I backpedaled, shoving him into the alley we’d just come out of. Kienna, who had managed to stop in the alley, gave me a questioning glance.

“Tarriva’s Sheriff was out there,” I breathed. “Brown, or whatever his name is. Couple officers, too.” I shook my head as I spoke. It should have been obvious that it wasn’t the loggers; we were at the edge of town furthest from the mountains. And I hadn’t heard any wagon wheels. I wasn’t thinking clearly after my encounter with Carter.

“Sheriff Brown is injured,” Kienna noted. “Saw Roxy get him good before Captain sent us to find you—two bullets right through the shoulder.”

I blinked, then furrowed my brow at her. “Captain sent you?”

“Yeah. We’da come anyway, though,” Sterling spoke up. “Can’t exactly leave you behind after you rescued me. Much as I wanted to,” he added with an elbow to my arm. “Anyway, the officers could still be a problem since there’s only three of us. Did you see how many?”

I stared at them for a long moment. This wasn’t supposed to be a big deal. The whole point of being a crew was that we all helped each other out. But I vividly remembered Morrissey’s hardened face as he argued against me going back for Sterling. A few days ago, he no doubt would have felt the same about risking the others to save me.

‘I’ve already lost one deckhand today. I’m not keen on losing another.’

Kienna met my eyes, and her expression softened. “Of course we’d come back for you.” After a second, she added, “I mean, you’re part of the crew now. And-”

“Horses getting closer, you guys,” Sterling interrupted, tapping my shoulder.

I bit my lip. The hoofsteps were getting closer. “Let’s walk,” I suggested finally. At the other two’s confused looks, I clarified, “We’re far enough from the bar that word about us may not have spread. Act like we belong, and they might believe it.”

Kienna frowned. “I don’t know if that’s gonna work. We don’t really look like civilians.” She patted the pistol on her hip.

“Okay, so cover it.” I untucked my shirt from my belt and pulled it over my revolver. If someone looked closely, it would be obvious, but if we played the part well, no one would have reason to look.

Sterling copied me, looking nervous. Lowering his voice, he asked, “Would it be better to make a run for it?”

I shook my head. “That close range, they won’t miss.”

Kienna looked skeptical, but she untied the sash from her waist and stuffed it in her pant pocket before covering her gun. It was a good thought; the bright blue silk stood out on this continent. She’d stolen it from a noblewoman in Chrysanthes, during my first raid as part of the Starwatch’s crew.

I took a deep breath, nodded to each of them, and we strolled out into the street.

Sheriff Brown wasn’t doing well. He swayed on his horse, skin pale and gaze unfocused. Someone’s shirt was tied tightly around his shoulder, already stained red, and the two officers riding on either side of him were close enough to brace him if he fell.

The officers themselves looked fine, if pissed off. Each carried a revolver, likely fully loaded with six shots; even if we all could aim perfectly, we wouldn’t do well against them in a shootout, especially when my own gun only had the one shot left that Sterling hadn’t used in Hashton. The Starwatch really needed to invest in some more revolvers.

I steered down the street toward them, aiming for another gap between houses. Eyes focused on the Sheriff with a look of anxiety, just like everyone else’s were, albeit for a different reason.

“Hey, you three!” one of the officers called.

I tensed, the world in front of me blurring as I replayed the man’s voice in my head. Not accusatory. Just urgent.

“Sir?” I asked, slowing my pace but not stopping. Kienna and Sterling slowed with me.

“Run and get the doctor. Tell her to come quick.”

I hesitated, glancing between the houses next to me. Past one more street, I could see the black rock slope leading down to the shore. We were so damn close, I was tempted to just run for it like Sterling had suggested.

“I told you I’m fine,” Brown snapped.

“They can get the doctor anyway,” the officer insisted. “As your Deputy, it’s my job to make sure you’re cared for.”

I kept walking.

“Pirates!” someone shouted.

I froze. The Deputy and the other officer twisted around, alert, but not looking at us; they were focused on a woman who had run out into the street, panting, eyes wide.

She pointed straight at me. “That’s Arrokas Rhotar! That’s the pirate that beat Daf Carter!”

The words struck like a ton of bricks on the brittle cobblestones. Even here, fifty miles from Hashton, Carter’s name carried the kind of weight that caused everyone to turn at its mention. Sheriff Brown was quite a bit older than Carter, and had been in his position longer, but he had a fraction of the reputation. He also had a fraction of the skill and intelligence, as I was coming to learn firsthand.

I’d been trying to blend in. It usually worked for me. But now I was wishing more than anything we’d run for it when we had the chance.

Instead, I gave Brown a grin. “Pleased to make your acquaintance, Sheriff.”

“Don’t move,” the Deputy barked, whipping his revolver from its holster and leveling it in my direction. The other officer nudged his horse forward to cover the Sheriff.

They actually looked…scared of me. Three experienced men, suddenly looking at me like I had the upper hand here. It was a little thrilling.

Maybe I could spin that in my favor. “I didn’t hurt Sheriff Carter,” I told them. “Just wanted to give him a challenge.” I took a step forward.

The air cracked and something smacked into my shoulder. My feet caught, the cobbles tilted toward me, and then my elbows impacted the ground, shooting pain up my arms. Kienna let out a shrill scream. “Arrokas, come on,” Sterling’s voice called from a distance. Hands pulled my arm, and I leaned into them, struggling to get my feet under me. I located the gap between houses and ran for it, and the person who had grabbed me let go to follow.

Sterling made it through the buildings ahead, moved out of the line of fire, and turned to wait for us. His eyes flicked to my side, a look of alarm twisted his face, and even with my ears ringing and my head spinning, I put it together.

The Deputy’s ready gun, which I’d looked at as a symbol of my newfound status, had been very real and very deadly, and it very well might have killed me if Kienna hadn’t shoved me out of the way. From Sterling’s expression, she’d taken the hit for me.

I dragged her to the side as soon as we cleared the houses, frantically scanning her over. Her eyes were glazed with pain, but she pushed me off, shaking her head. My eyes landed on her upper arm—on the glistening patch of red crawling outward from a hole in her shirt—and nausea surged up my throat.

“I’m fine.” Kienna waved me off, turning toward the rocks ahead of us. “Almost to the ship, I can fix it there.”

I peeled my eyes away from her wound and saw that she was right; in the distance, familiar black sails cast their lengthening shadow on the water.

“You’re sure you-”

“Arrokas, for god’s sake, let’s run before they come after us,” Sterling interrupted.

They weren’t coming after us. We’d be able to hear them, and besides, they’d only shot at us once—enough to make us run so they could focus on getting Brown to the doctor. But right now, my logic felt less trustworthy than my aim.

“Kienna in front,” I was able to get out. Kienna nodded and started toward the Starwatch at a not-quite-run, picking her way down the rough slope with her hand clasped over her wound. I followed, concentrating on not spraining my ankles as I half-slid after her. Sterling followed close behind me, his footsteps only slightly less chaotic than mine.