The Mermaids Madness

what it is. If it’s elemental-based, it’s ‘seeing’ us by sensing where we block the wind. A demonic or spiritual creature would taste the blood and life aboard the ship. Given the nature of the Phillipa , it would probably see the ship just as easily. Though it could be some sort of controlled projection, in which case its master is probably watching through—”
    Danielle tugged her arm again. “Guess!”
    “Guess?” Snow opened her eyes and looked at Danielle. Wind whipped her hair into her face, spoiling her offended pose. “I suppose . . . I don’t sense a scrying, which means it’s likely to be an independent creature of some sort.”
    A scream drew Danielle’s attention to the deck. One of the lifelines had snapped, and a man clung to the railing to keep from falling overboard. “Hurry, Snow!”
    Snow ripped a mirror from her choker. With her other hand, she pulled a short-bladed dagger from her belt. She nicked the ball of her thumb, then smeared the blood over the mirror’s surface. After returning the knife to its sheath, she brought the mirror to her lips and began to whisper.
    “Is she doing magic?” Lannadae asked from inside the map room. “I want to see!”
    “She’ll show you some card tricks later,” Talia snapped. “Snow?”
    Snow closed her fingers around the mirror. “We have to get this as far away from the ship as we can.”
    “Give it to me.” Danielle grabbed the mirror, then stepped into the room to swipe the remains of Lannadae’s snack.
    “Hey!” Lannadae tried to take it back, but Danielle was already moving out into the storm.
    Danielle paused only long enough to jam the mirror deep into the half-eaten fish. “Talia, I could use some help.”
    “That’s disgusting.” Talia shoved Snow into the map room and slammed the door.
    “Try changing a diaper.” Danielle managed a grin. “Think you can get me to the rail without letting me go overboard?”
    Talia pulled a small, spindle-shaped whip from her belt. Danielle recognized the zaraq whip as one of her preferred weapons. Talia pulled out the thin line and used it to lash her arm to Danielle’s.
    They crouched low, practically crawling as they made their way toward the starboard rail. Bad as the wind had been before, now it was all Danielle could do to maintain her footing.
    “Keep your head down,” Talia yelled.
    By now, most of the crew had hunkered down, clinging to whatever they could find. The sails were furled, the deck secured, and there was little to do but wait for orders and hope the storm passed soon.
    The whip bit deep into Danielle’s arm. The railing was only a few steps away, but Talia held her back.
    “Not yet.” The ship tilted again, rearing back as another wave passed beneath them. “Now!”
    Danielle stumbled forward and thrust an arm through the rail, clinging with all of her strength. The water was far too close for her liking. The ship settled again, raising her away from the waves. The ocean was too rough for her to see whether any sharks remained. Praying they hadn’t fled, she reached through the rail and threw the fish and mirror into the water. “Eat it and swim away as far and fast as you can!”
    The Phillipa tilted again. Danielle braced her feet against the rails and tried to turn around, but Talia held her in place.
    “Just wait!” Talia shouted. “Don’t go until the ship pitches forward.”
    “What?” Danielle shook her head. “You’re crazy.”
    “Don’t you trust me?” Talia grinned. The waves tilted the ship forward like a toy, and Talia shouted, “Come on!”
    Danielle lurched to her feet. Water flowed over them both as Talia dragged them onward. There was no way to stop, and she would have fallen if not for the whip tying her to Talia. Danielle held her breath, but the Phillipa settled flat, allowing them to recover. The stern began to sink, tossing them both back toward the map room. Danielle’s shoulder slammed into the door, cracking the frame further. Talia managed to catch herself with her free hand.
    Talia was laughing as she pulled open the door. “After you, Your Highness.”
    “You’re a madwoman,” Danielle said, though she could feel her own manic laughter struggling to burst free. Or maybe that was her last meal. She gave silent thanks for Snow’s magical tea.
    “Fun, wasn’t it?” Talia began untying her whip from Danielle’s arm.
    “Can you tell whether it worked?” Danielle asked.
    Snow nodded. “The mirror is racing