Nothing would stand in her way of helping her sister, not even a table full of Odegas.
“Are you sure you’re ready to go?” Kamari paced Aesira’s small room. She was biting her nails again, a habit their mother hated when they were children.
“I’m sure.” Aesira slipped her chestplate on, tightening the buckles. “Areyousure you can handle things here while I’m gone?” Kam stopped her pacing and her nostrils flared.
Shit.
Aesira was good at that. Saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. In fact, sometimes she wondered if it was all she was good at. But the heaviness of the sword at her side reminded her that she possessed more skills than being a shitty sister.
“I told you I’m not completely useless,” Kam snapped. “Plus I have Hanna. Nev. I’ll be fine.”
Aesira crossed the room and placed her hands on her sister's shoulders. “Am I not allowed to worry?”
Kam sighed and her face softened. “I’m worried too. About you. About Desmond. About this damn list and the people of my city.”
My city.
Aesira didn’t miss the way Kamari claimed Vargah as her own and for whatever reason it stung like a wasp, sharp and quick. She knew her sister was the Queen of Vargah. Knew she had been arranged to marry Desmond. Knew their lives no longer coincided after she took the throne but if the last few months being stationed here had given her anything, it was hope. Hope that she and her sister could still pretend they were young and careless andfree.
“We’ll find him, Kamari,” Aesira said. Kam nodded, the furrow of her brows back in place. “I have to go. I’ll try and send a hawk when we get to the Outpost. I’ve heard they still navigate through the winds.” Her sister’s eyes snapped to hers and hermouth dropped open. Like she had something right on the tip of her tongue but couldn’t bring herself to say it. “What? What did I say now?”
Kam shook her head. “Nothing,” she reassured. “But yes, hawks can navigate through the winds.” Shit. Another wrong thing to say. Hawks could fly through the storms, and Desmond hadn’t sent one. The door flew open and Nev popped her head in.
“I've been sent word, the ship is ready to fly.” Nev stood, arms positioned behind her uniformed back.
“Thank you.” Kamari pulled Aesira close and hugged her so hard she thought the metal of her chestplate might break a rib. “Take this,” Kamari said as she pulled away. She handed Aesira a small blade, insignificant enough to fit in the palm of her hand.
“What is this?”
“Desmond gave it to me,” she said. “It’s supposed to be lucky or something.” She shrugged, closing her fingers around Aesira’s. “Just take it. Be safe. Be smart.”
Aesira palmed the blade and shoved it into her pocket. She couldn’t imagine a use for such a small weapon but if it made Kamari feel some sort of ease, she’d do it. “See you in a few weeks.”
Kam looped her pinkie with hers. “Promise.”
“Promise.”
The Boneyard District was in absolute mayhem. Turns out, Kamari’s plan for discretion hadn’t been a successful one. Children and adults lined the district. Others stood toward the back, arms crossed and faces somber. It was those people, the ones with blatant doubt plastered on their faces, Aesira related to.
This won’t end well,she thought. Between the piss-poor crew Stone had put together and the uncertainty of what lay beyond the Outpost, finding Desmond was sounding more and more like a nightmare.
“Nora,” Aesira said, “get to the ship and see where we can post up.” Nora nodded but before she left she turned to Nev. Their matched freckled faces and bright red hair mulled together as they hugged tightly.
“Don’t do anything stupid.” Nev pulled back. They may be twins but there was no confusing the two, not with Nev’s permanent scowl and Nora’s smile she gave too freely.
“Me?” Nora bat her long lashes. “I would never.” She punched Nev’s arm and reminded her she was the fun twin.
“I don’t know where she gets that wild streak,” Nev said.
Aesira huffed a laugh. “I don’t know how it survived the Order.” She turned to Nev, ignoring the rising sounds of the crowd. “You need to watch Kamari and keep tabs on Lord Raffe. Make sure–”
“I’ve got this, Commander.” Nev squeezed her shoulder, her grip firm and reassuring. “Safe flight.” Then she disappeared into the crowd and Aesira had nothing else to do but board the ship.
“Commander, you made it. I was starting to worry.” Stone wiped his oil-stained hands on a rag before throwing it over his shoulder. “I take it your evening went on just fine after I left you at the Phoenix?”
She gritted her teeth, leaning into the weight of her sword for comfort. “Let’s save the pleasantries,” she said. “We both know you’d rather me not be here so spare me the false politeness.”
He chuckled, a low and gravelly sound, before waving her forward. “Come on,” he said.
