Ruru perked up. “Brilliant idea, Kiera.” He immediately threw off his blanket and splashed into the freezing water to help pull the rowboats to shore with his one good arm.
I smiled and helped people out of the boats.
Ruru asked each of them if they’d ever seen a young man who looked like him named Daire. They all shook their heads.
But then the next boat came, and he assisted an old man to the beach, asking the same questions.
“Eh?” the man shouted, cupping his ear. “Oh yes, handsome lad, but he’s dead, isn’t he? Got killed in the battle.”
Ruru paled. I felt the blow to my chest like a drum. Hollow and loud.
“Gods damn it, I’m sorry, Ruru,” I whispered, embracing him.
He trembled in my arms and gave me a fierce, one-armed hug. “I... I can’t believe I found him. And he’s gone. I thought... I thought I would know if my brother was dead. But I guess not.”
My heart ached. I used to think the same. That if something happened to Everett or Delysia, I would know. But I’d been sulkily eating a grand dinner when Mother died. I had no idea she was gone until Renwell came back and announced it.
Ruru pulled away, wiping his eyes. “Thanks for helping, Kiera.” He turned back to the old man, who wore the thin garb of a prisoner and was sitting on a large stone nearby, catching his breath.
“I’m sorry to bother you again,” Ruru said. “But you seem like you knew Daire, and I really want to know more about my brother.”
“Daire?” The old man looked confused. “I thought you were asking about Tarel. But yeah, sure, I know Daire. He’s right there, isn’t he?”
He pointed a gnarled finger atMynastra’s Wingsto where a young man with brown hair and brown skin climbed the rigging. I couldn’t see his face in the murky light, but Ruru let out a strangled cry.
He ran into the water. “Daire! DAIRE!”
The young man glanced over. “Ruru?” He dove off the rigging and sliced through the water.
I grinned, tears falling like rain to my bare feet.
Daire swam to his brother while Ruru kept waving and shouting. They met in a splashy hug, jumping and yelling with joy.
And just like that, my heart healed a bit.
Ruru dragged his brother toward me, wearing the biggest grin I’d ever seen. Daire wore a matching one. He looked to be a few years older than Ruru, scars and weather aging his face. His long hair swept his broad shoulders. A brown patch of skin marred his throat.
“Kiera, this is Daire,” Ruru said proudly, shoving his brother toward me. “Daire, this is one of my greatest friends, Kiera. She’s saved my life a few times now.”
Daire’s eyebrows lifted, but he threw his arms around me. “Then it’s the highest honor to meet you, Kiera.”
“The honor is all mine,” I said, “to be his friend.”
Ruru smiled at me over Daire’s shoulder. “Now, come on, come on, tell me everything!”
Daire laughed. “Still as impatient as ever, little brother.” He plucked at Ruru’s sling. “Seems like you have a few tales of your own to share.”
“More than a few,” Ruru said, his eyes gleaming.
We sat on the beach and traded stories under the rising moon.
Daire had been in the mine for a few years until last year, when the Wolves had lost some of their sailors in a storm. The mine let them have replacements, and Daire volunteered, saying he was an excellent sailor.
Ruru laughed. “You’ve never sailed in your life!”
Daire grinned. “They didn’t know that, and I learned quick.” He sobered. “You had to on that ship. The Wolves weren’t very forgiving.”
He told us about the fight between Skelly and the Wolves, and how he’d helped defeat the Wolves and switch the warriors with the prisoners. He’d offered to go back to free the mine, but Skelly had told him to help sailMynastra’s Wingsinstead.
