I helped ease Maz onto a makeshift stretcher we lowered over the side of the ship. The Yargoths below caught him and gently carried him to a waiting longboat.
The rest of the injured followed.
Aiden caught my arm before I could clamber down the ladder. “I need to speak with you when we get back to camp.”
His eyes were hard and determined. My stomach sank. Was something wrong? Holy Four, I didn’t think I could handle any more bad news.
I nodded, my throat tight. He released me, and I hurried down to the beach. My broken chains rattled over the pebbles. Yarina assured me we’d destroy them when we reached camp.
Isabel barreled into me, flinging her arms around my waist. “You’re alive! Oh, I hoped you were! Mother said you saved our lives at Caddik’s manor and that we should pray for you.”
My seemingly endless tears rose again. I hugged her tightly, smelling snow and smoke in her hair. “Thank you, little one. I’m so glad you and your mother are safe as well.”
She pulled away, beaming. “We quite like it here. Ruru was right—there are so many animals, and my job is to take care of all the horses and dogs and chickens. Pax helps. I even have a pet rabbit! He likes carrots. Do you want to see him when we get back?”
I gave a watery chuckle. There was something blissfully sweet about listening to a happy child. “Yes, but I need to help my friends first.”
“Of course,” Isabel said, nodding solemnly. “Mother says we are to help first, then play later.”
I looked over Isabel’s head to where Helene was watching us, a tentative smile on her face. The dark circles under her eyes were gone.
“Caddik?” she asked.
I shook my head.
Sorrow creased her eyes. “May the gods find his soul. Anything you need us to do, just ask.”
I bit my lip. “The Rellmiran prisoners need food and water and possibly someone to ask about their families.”
“I would love to.” Her chin quivered, but then she lifted it. “Is Calimber truly destroyed?”
I thought of the monstrous waves and explosions and lightning storm. “Every bit. No mine will ever exist there again.”
A few tears dripped over Helene’s smile. “That’s good. Very good. Garyth would be... He’d be so pleased.”
“I wish he’d gotten to see it,” I said softly.
Helene stroked her daughter’s curls. “He didn’t want it only for himself.”
I offered a small smile, then moved out of the way as more warriors and prisoners disembarked.
Soon the beach was full. The injured went in the first longboats while the rest of us waited our turn. Aiden went with the injured to lend his healing skills.
Exhausted to my bones, I watched the light fade from the sky, huddled under a thick blanket Frieda had given me. The old woman’s eyes were sad. She’d likely received a list of the dead. One that included Nikella’s name.
Wrapped in his own blanket, Ruru sank down beside me. “I’ve looked everywhere. I’ve asked everyone,” he said glumly. “He’s not injured. No one recognizes his name or me.”
I squeezed his uninjured shoulder. “I’m sorry, Ruru. But perhaps Daire was never at the mine. Perhaps they sent him elsewhere.”
“Like the prison tower in Aquinon? He would’ve been executed by now, and I always checked. I never saw him at thelogging camp. I don’t know where else he’d be.” Ruru dropped his chin to his bent knees.
Dead.But, gods, the last thing I wanted to do right now was steal the last bit of hope Ruru had of finding his brother.
“You said Shadow-Wolves took him, right?”
Ruru nodded.
I pointed atMynastra’s Wings,where the crew had started unloading the prisoners they’d taken from the Wolf ship. “We should ask the sailors from the Wolf ship if they remember Daire from any of their voyages. Then we’d know if he left the city by boat.”
