Aesira sucked in a breath next to Stone, like she was waiting for Nora to lash out or pull her sword but instead, the knight smiled, dimpling her freckled cheeks.
“We can’t just sit here,” Birdie said. “We need to leave. Now.”
“We aren’t abandoning our post.” Nora and Birdie threw a slough of curses at each other, arguing about leaving or staying andall the while Stone’s head pounded harder and harder. The pain would take his entire head soon, behind his eyes, down his neck.
“We can make it,” Birdie said. “We’ll push the Aquila as far as we can.”
Stone shook his head. “I already told you there isn’t enoughastra.”
She slammed her fists on the tabletop, hard enough to rattle his mug. “Then do you suggest we go andfindsome?”
Silence stretched across the table, digging into Stone’s sides, making it difficult for him to breathe. He ran an unsteady hand through his hair, pushing it off his forehead. “Bird–”
“Hold on.” Aesira grabbed his arm and he felt it clear down to his toes. Where her fingers dug in. Where their bodies connected. “What do you mean, findastra?”
Stone’s nails drew lines down the tops of his legs. “Nothing,” he said, keeping his eyes trained on Birdie. “She misspoke.”
Aesira’s hand was still wrapped around his arm and he wondered if she realized she was still touching him. Maybe if he didn’t move, she wouldn’t either, so he held his breath and stayed put.
Birdie’s eyes pinned him like cornered prey. “Bullshit,” she hissed before facing Aesira. “Of all the rumors of Ravki, Commander, I’m shocked you haven’t heard the most famous one.”
“Birdie,” Stone warned but she blazed on, ignoring him and everyone else in the room.
“There’s an old drifter story of a place whereastragrows from the ground. Where it blooms on petals and through the spines of trees.” Birdie’s smile tightened. “That place, of course, is Ravki.”
“This is blasphemy,” Nora said under her breath, standing from the table. She frowned, all cheekiness, gone. “Astrais agift from Celestria.” She turned to face Patch. “I hope you’re right about prayer not reaching the gods out here, maybe your words won’t reach Her, either.” The door slammed behind her and the remaining cadre cast a few wavering glances.
“Astra…” Aesira stretched the word out, her brows furrowed, fingers still wrapped around Stone’s arm, searing through his shirt and leaving a mark on his skin. “You believeastragrows from the earth?”
Stone shook his head. “No, we don’t.” Birdie’s boot collided with Stone’s shin under the table but he dropped his voice low and when Aesira’s gaze met his, frightened and wide, it was like they were alone in the room. He rested his hand atop hers which seemed to snap her from her daze. She pulled away, leaving the warm spot on his arm to run cold. “It’s just another rumor.”
She frowned. “A rumor that would entice a smuggler to take a job.” His stomach tightened. They spent the last few days being honest with each other. Learning bits about each other. Becoming friends. He could have told her at any moment his real motive behind finding Ravki was not just to find the king, but to see if the story was true. Ifastradid grow from the earth. If there were more bodies of water like Piscis Spring. But he didn’t because he knew how it would change the way she looked at him, like it just had.
Patch’s fingers strummed against the tabletop, his eye watching the doorway as if he could conjure Nora back by staring hard enough. Stone could see Aesira watching him from the corner of his eye. His heart pumped faster knowing she was looking at him, but he couldn’t find it in himself to look back. “We vote, then,” Patch said. “All in favor of turningback, say ‘aye’.”
“Aye.” Birdie raised her hand.
Silence.
Painful, uncomfortable, stretching silence.
“Bee,” Birdie snapped.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I love you Bird, but we’ve made it this far and the idea of getting stranded in the desert during stormy season doesn’t sound at all appealing.” She turned her attention to Stone. “What are the chancesastragrows in Ravki? What are the chances there’s enough there to fuel the ship all the way to Vargah without issue?”
Birdie laughed. “Slim to none. They’re just stories, Bee.”
“And what about the Strix?” Aesira asked. “What if that kills us instead?” There was something cold in her voice, something detached.
“We’ll be smart,” Stone said. “The people here were unprepared for the attack because they didn’t know it was coming. We have that to our advantage. We travel during the day when it sleeps, and hide at night. If by some chance the story is true,” he said, “there would be enoughastrato get us safely home. It’s our best option.”
Stone had never begged for anything in his life, mostly because there was never anything to beg for, but the thought of dropping to his knees and asking them to trust him was right on the tip of his tongue.
“Again, all in favor of moving forward, say ‘aye,” Patch said, locking his gaze with Stone’s. An understanding. “Aye.”
“Aye.” Bee gave Stone a slight nod, but her wide, honey eyes gave her away.
“Aye,” Aesira said to his right, relief pumping through his veins.
