“Can I help you?” Vi asked aloud, not wanting to startle anyone. They hadn’t seemed to hear her approaching.
Mare wheeled in place, hands on her hips. “Kora’s trying to saddle me withboththe green gills now?”
Vi didn’t know what “green gills” meant, exactly, but she could assume it wasn’t a term of endearment. “Kora said I could help here.”
“Go back and tell her you’re her responsibility.”
“She’s going to say no.”
“Don’t let her get under your skin,” Mare said with a shake of her head. “She’s hard on new sailors. Especially ones who she thinks are encroaching on her job. She’s fairly new herself, and we put her through a pretty bad gauntlet. She’s likely just over-eager to put someone else through it.”
“I don’t want her job and I can put up with whatever tests she wants to throw my way,” Vi insisted, barely stopping herself from saying that even if she did, it wouldn’t matter because she’d be off the ship in a few days or weeks—however long it took. “I just want to be of use.”
“All right, help us tie these in place. Your friend is good at knots—she can help if you need.”
“She’s my sister,” Jayme corrected, and Vi realized she hadn’t done the same for Mare earlier.
“I don’t care if she’s your lover’s cousin once removed. All I care about is that these crates don’t go sliding into our friends if we hit rough water in the night.”
Doing as she was told, Vi began to slide rope through rings bolted to the floors and walls, wrapping them around the boxes. Her knot skills were quickly identified as sub-par, but the group didn’t immediately send her away, especially thanks to Jayme’s help—which was now a small victory. So she remained, clinging with every lurch of the ship to the same ropes she was securing, and trying to learn the knots Mare showed her.
“… we’re headed out again so quickly?”
The conversation continued around Vi as she worked.
“Maybe she heard?”
“Holly? That’s her name, right?”
Vi struggled with her current knot, trying to get it to hold as Mare’s could.
“She doesn’t know either.” It was Jayme’s voice that finally broke her from her thoughts. “And she’s not deaf or mute.”
“What, sorry?”
“They were saying your name, scatterbrain.” Mare gave her a thump on the head with her fist. Vi was certain that it was intended to be playful, but Mare had arms like tree limbs and she was left rubbing the crown of her head. “They’re asking about why we’re leaving so soon. Your sister and I already said you don’t know.”
“Oh, yes, who knows why we’re off so soon.” Vi gave another tug on her ropes, looking at the other crates. They all seemed secure—and not a moment too soon, as the ship lurched again.
“We? You just got here.” One of the Western men scoffed. “Don’t go talking like you’re one of the crew.”
Vi pursed her lips to keep herself from objecting. She didn’t need to be one of the crew. It didn’t matter if they counted her among them or not. In fact, the less they liked her, the less they’d be inclined to even think about her when she disappeared. It was better this way.
“All I know is we’re headed to a place called Beauty’s Bend.” She’d never seen such a place marked on a map before.
“Beauty’s Bend?” One of the Western men said a hasty string of words in the old language of Mashan. “Out of all the spots… we’re headedthere?”
“You’re sure?” Mare grabbed her shoulder.
“It’s what I heard Kora and Marcus talking about on deck. But I don’t know anything more.”
“They’re going to get us killed.”
“Cargo must be important,” Mare reasoned.
“Get us killed for cargo, even worse.” The two men walked ahead, griping, Mare just behind them.
Vi and Jayme brought up the rear. She stared at Mare’s back, debating asking why Beauty’s Bend was so important. She’d find out soon enough, she supposed.
