“Maybe they do, Blue,” he said. “Maybe they do.”
“My mother used to say that they are an elemental people,” I said. “That they can speak to wind and waves the way we speak to each other.”
“Bollocks,” said Smoke. “Why would they need battlecruisers and cannons if they could just ask the waves to sink an enemy ship?”
“Perhaps it’s more complicated than that,” said Echo.
“Maybe the waves say ‘No, I’m sorry, Mr.Rhi’Ahrcaptain. I think I’ll natter about a bit over in Braithe. Flood their capital and surge their canals for a day or two if it’s all the same to you. But ask me next week and I’ll sink ’em hard.’”
Echo laughed softly, and it carried over the waters.
We hung over the rail, the three of us, and it felt good to be here with them, even in the middle of the Silence. This crew had awakened something inside of me, something I never believed needed filling. I was a crab without a shell, now, susceptible and soft. I stared into my cup, seeing nothing in its syrupy darkness.
“What’s that?” asked Echo, and we all looked to see a glowbobbing beneath the waters.
“Suns, not another dragon eel,” I said.
“Oh, I do hope it is,” said Smoke. “We could use some more steaks.”
“Is it the chimeric?” asked Echo.
“The captain wants me to go to the ship at first light, to see if I can find what was calling the chase,” I said as I watched the glow bob and pulse just beneath the surface. “But that thing’s not making my scars dance.”
“Oh, look! There’s another!”
Two glows, now. Then, three.
“Why, they’re jellyheads!” said Smoke. “Be careful when you head over, Blue. Some can be deadly.”
“One sting can kill,” said Echo.
A shiver raced along my spine.
“Can’t believe we found that old wreck in the middle of the Silence like this,” said Smoke, and he furrowed his brow. “She’s been gone for years.”
“A ship.” I gripped my cup hard. “Please tell me Buck didn’t lose his leg and Kit lose her life all because Thanavar was looking for another fogging ship.”
Smoke rolled along the rail, propped on his elbow to face me.
“Well, Blue, before you tempt our dearTouchstoneto kill you yet again, I suggest you go ask.”
I glared at him before tossing back the last of my grog and pushing the cup into his chest.
I marched toward the hatch and didn’t look back.
It was dark inside the ship, with no stars or moons to guide me,but I moved by candlelight and memory alone. For the second time in as many nights, I approached the captain’s cabin, only to hear Fahr’s voice on the other side of the door, so I paused, hesitant to enter, unwilling to knock.
“I should have known,” Fahr said. “I can never trust you to do what you say.”
“And what would you have me do, Dev? She will not live as half, and if I do not right this soon, she will not live at all.”
“Then, Forge forbid, she does not live!”
There was wine. I could tell.
“Forgive him, Kirianae.He’s speaking out of turn.”
Kirianae. That was the name of the RuneTree from Moonforth’s book.
