Eira nodded. “I first gain an understanding of the person’s channel by becoming accustomed to their magic. Once I can sense it, I can almost place my own power underneath it andthen use that to draw more magic from their channel. It’s a bit like shifting the flow of a tide, and my power acts as the current.”
“You speak as if this is something you’ve done.” Adela rested her elbow on her armrest and leaned forward.
“I have. Twice. I was beginning to get a better mastery of it during the games. But then when I confronted Ulvarth, I attempted to use the magic in reverse to close his channel.”
“And closed yours in the process because you had connected your magic with his by hastily establishing this flow you speak of,” Adela murmured. Eira nodded and took another sip from the glass. Adela had barely poured her half a finger. But it was enough to nurse as the chills stopped wracking her body. “I don’t think I need to tell you that trying to block a channel in that manner was foolish.”
“So I’ve learned.” Eira set down her glass. “But I wasn’t exactly taught how to open or close channels, and when a religious zealot is trying to murder everyone I’ve ever loved isn’t the best circumstances under which to learn.” The thought sobered her. It was Eira’s turn to stare out the windows at their side. Thoughts of her family were distant with shock. Or perhaps she had become completely numb instantly whenever they crossed her mind. It was a different pain than Marcus’s death because she didn’t know, for sure, if they were dead. She wasn’t going to mourn until she did.
But what did that mean if she never found out the truth? Would she live forever with hope? Or would the mourning be a slow, dull ache rather than a sharp stinging wound that could be faster stitched and mended?
“We can work on closing channels once your magic has returned to you.” Yet another reference to a future working together. “It’s this opening of a channel that I am most interested in.”
“You’ve never done anything like that?” Eira was shocked to hear it. Especially after last night. After learning more of the true depths of Adela’s power, and combining that with what was in her journals, Eira thought she could truly do anything.
“No.” Adela wore a thin smile and had a glint to her eyes. “Though I now think I would very much like to. Start at the beginning.”
The rest of the afternoon was spent with Adela working on her channel and Eira telling the pirate queen all the details of her work trying to learn how to open and close channels. The discussion became intense at one point around the theoretical nature of magic. Adela was adamant that channels flowed one way—from the unknown source all magic drew from. For Eira to “reach in” to a channel would require it to go both ways. Eira disagreed with the theory because she had, in fact, done it.
By the time the daylight was turning orange, Eira was exhausted in body and mind. But oddly delighted. Even Adela wore a slight smile as she leaned back in her chair a final time.
“You have more than earned your right to stay alive today. I’ll see you in the morning.” She lifted a hand, summoning her cane.
“Wait.” Eira held out a hand and stopped Adela from calling Crow. The pirate queen arched a brow at her boldness. “I wanted to ask… May I go back to the other vessel for tonight?”
“You try my good will,” Adela said curtly. Though she still wore her slight smile. “Is your life not enough of a reward?”
“You can’t really be surprised I’m trying for more, can you?” Eira cocked her head to the side. “Please? I believe you that they are all right. I have stopped asking after them…but I want to see them before Ofok.” Before they disembarked and Eira stayed on board, a captive of the pirate queen forever.
Adela said nothing and Eira braced herself for disappointment. The surreal sense of sitting back in her uncle’s office overtook her. Waiting for his verdict on her asking forpermission to start working in the city, like all her peers had. She struggled but succeeded in sitting tall and remaining calm, not giving in to her nerves and squirming like a girl begging for permission.
“Very well,” Adela said, finally. “But you forfeit your hammock for the night. I can’t be bothered to send you back and forth at your whims.”
10
Eira was already on her feet with restless excitement. “Yes, of course.”
“You would do well to remember this kindness.” Adela stood as well.
“I will not forget, Your Banefulness.”
Adela leaned back slightly, arching a brow, no doubt taking note of Eira’s use of Crow’s term of endearment. Eira smiled somewhat sheepishly and strode forward, leading the way out of the cabin. She could’ve sworn she heard Adela murmur under her breath. But the words were lost to her. Perhaps, when she had her magic back, she could listen for echoes in the room and find out everything Adela said about her when she thought Eira couldn’t hear.
“I will bring you back in the morning,” Adela said firmly as she came to a stop by the railing. “Be ready first thing when the sun rises.”
“Of course.” The other boat was adjacent and just behind them. She could see her friends on the deck, sitting in the back of the vessel. Though they had yet to notice her. Eira refrained from calling over, maintaining her composure.
Without warning, Adela flicked her wrist. The river swelled, collecting Eira off the deck and carrying her across to the other vessel. The rocking from the wave alerted her friends, drawing their attention before Eira was deposited—soaking—in front of them.
But her being dripping wet didn’t stop Alyss from scrambling over and slamming into her, crushing Eira in a tight embrace. “You’re all right!”
“I told you she was!” Ducot was visibly offended.
Noelle was the next person to throw her arms around Eira. Such outward displays of affection were rare from the woman and Eira stood stunned. “We were so worried.”
“Noelle?” Ducot grabbed his chest as though he were physically wounded. “You, too, didn’t believe me?”
“You are a fearsome pirate who can’t be trusted,” Noelle said lightly, pulling away from Eira. “It is so good to see you again. We were missing our fearless leader and troublemaker.”
