“Dinner is ready.” Alyss motioned behind her. The rest of them had metal cups they were picking food out of.
Eira and Cullen joined.
Lavette and Varren were off toward the bow of the ship, still keeping to themselves. But they shot glances every now and then in Eira’s direction. Eira tried to ignore it. If—whenLavette wanted to talk, she was ready. But she wouldn’t push the matter prematurely.
The meal almost felt…normal. Fen and Krut joined them while they ate. Pine sat off to the side, keeping to himself in his broody, disapproving way. But even he chimed in from time to time on the discussion, weighing in on the state of Meru’s politics, or mild topics like the best port to get rum versus whiskey from.
By the time they went to the hold to sleep, Pine was the only one still up, seemingly keeping half an eye on them as he coiled the rope. Though his mild attempt at an imposing presence wasn’t needed, everyone went to the hold willingly, as though it were a bedroom and not a prison.
Eira was surprised but pleased to see that the pirates had made it a point to make her friends comfortable. There were blankets of varying quality. Some threadbare, but others thick with fluff. A lantern held a faintly glowing rock that emitted shining motes behind the glass like fireflies. Eira stared at it in wonder.
Noelle placed a hand on her shoulder briefly and said, “Ducot said it’s from the Twilight Kingdom.”His home. “I hear the name is apt because it is never night, nor daylight—eternal twilight. Most of the light comes from the stars and constellations above the city, or lanterns like this.”
“Useful on a ship.” Eira thought to what Ducot had said earlier about fire and ships.
“I think fire would be fine,” Noelle mumbled and dropped her hand from Eira’s shoulder.
“Incredibly useful.” Ducot yawned and crawled over to where Noelle was bundling herself. It was cold at night and damp in the hold. He placed an arm around her waist, pulling her back to his chest and holding her close.
Alyss had entered the hold and Eira glanced over at her friend, whispering, “Theyare the couple you should be using for your inspiration.”
“Oh, trust me, I am,” Alyss whispered back. “But they can sometimes be a bit…boring. Not enough drama to make an interesting tale.”
Eira tilted her head to the side and narrowed her eyes at Alyss. The woman laughed and crawled over to her pile of blankets, peeling one away and handing it to Eira.
“Here you are.”
“Thanks,” Eira said, taking it and returning by default to the spot she’d first woken in. Everyone, save for Ducot, had kept to their same areas.
Which meant she was almost next to Cullen.
It wasn’t until she lay down that she realized his face was a short stretch from hers. After seeing Ducot and Noelle, Eira was suddenly aware of just how cold the night was. How far he was and how good his body would feel.
Their eyes met as he lay down. Suddenly the gap felt larger and smaller all at once. Their words earlier had built a bridgebetween them. One she hadn’t expected to ever be erected over the ashes of the old. Or perhaps that bridge had never truly burned down. There was something still to save, and fortify, if they wanted.
Eira shifted onto her side to face him and extended her hand, placing it between them. Cullen’s hand crossed the gap. His knuckles brushed against hers as if to say,I’m here. Slowly moving her fingers, she slid them against his, weaving and unweaving. Coming together, apart, and together. Not entirely either, somewhere between.
Neither of them said anything. It was as though the spell would be broken with one word. So Eira continued to lightly brush her fingers against his and her lids grew heavy. His face was the last thing she saw before sleep claimed her.
12
There were more houses along the banks of the river the next morning. Gone were the flat, empty plains they had been winding through and in their place was a marshy delta. The river had begun to split, forking down like city streets underneath homes built on stilts overhead. In place of horse or carriage, people traversed on boats or suspended bridgeways that dripped morning dew as they drifted beneath. The citizenry oblivious to the pirates in their presence.
This must be the easternmost edge of Ofok, Eira realized. They would reach the coast before the day was up. The thought was so heavy she was impressed Adela could still carry her from one vessel to the other with ease. Her heart twisted as her friends were left behind.
She’d put her faith in Cullen to try and convince them to leave. But…what he’d told her…
There was no way they would go.
“You’re distracted today.” Adela folded her hands on the top of her cane as she sat in her usual chair opposite Eira. “Speak.”
“My friends won’t leave me.” There wasn’t any point in denying it. It’d be apparent soon enough.
Adela was as still as a statue. As unreadable as a book written in the ancient tongue of the elfin. Finally, she said, “Loyalty is a stronger force than even magic, is much harder to master, and wielding it requires far more responsibility.”
Eira sank back into her chair. She should be working on getting her magic back. On doing everything she could to reclaim her power before it was too late…but she also knew, without all doubt, that she was out of time. There wasn’t any way her magic would return in the next couple hours.
“I wish they would listen.”
