In our crate, provisions also took up most of the rest of the space. Then, in the very front, in both crates were the cases of wine which would close us in, to maintain the ruse if we were to be attacked again or inspected.Seraphic forbid.The thought alone would keep me from sleep for the foreseeable future, I was sure. I truly appreciated the efforts the General was prepared to go to to try and prevent that from occurring. He would hear no protest out of me for the way in which he chose to best guarantee that safe passage.
The rest of our party were acting as simple wine merchants, making a delivery of wine to the markets in the River Kingdom. It would hold up to basic scrutiny as long as we didn’t encounter anyone who might know Nyx and Kol by face. Luckily their builds were significantly different enough that if they cloaked their faces when in port, we might get away with it.
I shuddered, looking at the two tiny cots side by side in the confined space. No one in their right mind would want to get in there for any length of time, but it was for our safety. Mine and, more importantly, Nova’s. After all, it was only for her that I was even still here. I turned to her, to ask if she was ready, and she was backing away, shaking her head vigorously.
“Nova?” I asked, but she didn’t seem to hear me.
She backed away from the crate so far, she hit Kol, who didn’t see her coming, as he had his back to her, discussing something with Faolan.
Kol spun on contact and caught Nova by the waist before she could trip over him. He held her up, looking confused as she continued to shake her head vehemently and mutter incomprehensible objections. Zaria rushed to his side, clearly concerned for him as much as she was for Nova. I had gleaned that everyone was treating Kol like he was made of glass, and this was not sitting well with him.
“I’ve got her,” he told Zaria firmly, ushering her away with a flick of the hand. But there was no resentment in his tone. He sounded strong and firm, which was good to see after the whole episode in the grand hall.
I joined them, and Zaria backed off.
“What’s going on?” I asked Nova, lifting her face to mine with my hands. I had to search her face to get her eyes to even focus, never mind meet mine.
“I—I can’t go in there,” she stammered, tears rolling down her cheeks,
With a jolt, I remembered her fear of confined spaces. How could that have slipped my mind?
“But you agreed to this plan,” I reminded her, now bemused as to why she would.
“I thought I could. I—I didn’t think it would be so small in there.” She tried backing away once again, but Kol firmed his grip, and she steadied.
“Shhh,” he whispered. “You’ve got this. It’s going to be alright.”
“It won’t—I can’t do it.”
“I’ll be with you,” I offered.
Nova just shook her head and stared intently at the open crate. Prince Alaric had already stepped into his, and it was our turn. We had to make a boat by dawn, and the crates still had to be carried by magic down to the dock. I searched my mind for anything I could offer or bargain to get her in that crate, but I drew a blank.
“It will only be for an hour at most, and then I promise once the boat sails, and we are safely stowed below, we will open the crate so you don’t feel so trapped. We will be with you the whole way, I’ll hum a tune for you so you know I’m there,” Kol soothed, seeming to know just what to say.
“Bu—but the crate is spelled against noise. I’ll hear you, but you won’t hear me if I panic and need to get out,” she countered.
Kol’s eyes lit, and he put a hand into his pocket, producing two black stones, polished smooth from use. He closed them in his palm and muttered some words, then blew a spark into his closed fist, causing a hiss to sound from the stones. He opened his hand and studied them, seeming satisfied, then handed her one.
“What is this?” she frowned, taking the offering with tentative fingers.
“It’s a gift. Watch.”
He rubbed his stone, and Nova shrieked and threw hers in the air, leaning away as it thudded to the ground.
Kol laughed and released her waist, bending to pick up the stone. He took her hand away from where it was clutched against her chest and replaced the stone in her palm.
“It’s a neat little trick I learned as a youngling. They are connected now. If one is rubbed, the vibrations can be felt by the other. See.” He rubbed his stone, and Nova gasped as hers vibrated.
“What’s it for?” she sniffed.
“You can let me know if you are freaking out, and I can help you. Nyx and I used to do three taps for SOS when our father was on the warpath.”
“So I can tap this three times, and you’ll open the crate? You swear?”
“How about this? A rub to check in.” He demonstrated the rub with his thumb across the surface of the stone. “Then you can tap once for all is well and twice for not so good. Then if it’s an emergency, the kind worth blowing our cover for, three taps, and I swear to the Goddess that no matter what, I will get you out.”
Nova looked at her stone for a long moment, then folded it into her palm and nodded. I mouthed ‘thank you’ to Kol and led her back to the crate, where she hesitated but looked down at her stone and found the strength to step inside.
