“I know.” As best they knew how.
She wore a slight smile the entire time they finished preparing Fritz for his departure. Alyss gave him the largest hug and a letter to send to her parents when he returned to Solaris. She’d been working on it, apparently, since they were in Qwint and Cullen had sent one of his own.
Cullen shared a sturdy handshake with the Minister of Sorcery and a few words that Eira couldn’t make out. Though, she didn’t try. Some things weren’t meant for her ears, even if they burned with curiosity. What she did hear, though, was Cullen politely refusing Fritz’s offer to take another letter for him.
“I’ve already said all I have to say. There’s nothing more to send back from me.” Cullen had an easy confidence to the polite refusal, one that had her gaze turning to his for a breath.Holding his stare.I’m done with that place, the wind that passed between them seemed to emphasize on his behalf.
Eira brought her focus back to Fritz, squeezing him a final time.
“Good luck,” he whispered.
“Same to you,” she replied.
And then, they parted. She watched as he descended the side ofStormfrostand boardedWinter’s Bane. Even after the other pirates went about their work, she remained at the railing, Alyss and Cullen flanking her. All three watched the little ship melt into the eastern horizon until its flags could no longer be seen.
All the while, Eira’s cheeks remained dry. So when she turned and put her back to the waters of the Shattered Isles that bordered Solaris, she didn’t have to compose herself. There was no hesitation and no looking back.
All that was out there for her was ahead. To Meru. To beyond, where the ink bled off the edges of the maps.
24
It took two days and one other battle with the Pillars for them to successfully sail to the Isle of Frost. All the while, Eira continued to explore her new powers with Adela, testing if their long-thought-over plan would finally be viable thanks to Eira’s rune. Fortunately, early work suggested it would be.
The old pirate mainstay was somewhat out of the way. But it was one of the few places on the eastern side of Meru that could be trusted to be safe to rest and restock. Even if the island had been deserted for years.
Eira had asked Adela why she had ever abandoned the legendary mainstay, but their conversation didn’t go well…
“It was my decision.”
“Obviously,” Eira had said. “But what prompted that decision?”
“Nothing that is for you to concern yourself with.”
“If I am to one day captain theStormfrost?—”
“One day,” Adela repeated, tone harsher than winter. Colder than the ice that coated the island they spoke of. “But you are not her captain yet. And you are nowhere near ready.”
Nowhere near ready… The words echoed within her even now, days later. Eira massaged the center of her chest, feeling the raised and gnarled scar underneath her shirt and small clothes.
“Eira.” Adela jolted Eira from her thoughts. Eira glanced over her shoulder. The pirate queen approached and Eira stepped to the side so Adela could assume her position at the very tip of the bow.
“Can you sense when I’m thinking of you now?” Eira asked dryly.
“No. Thank goodness. I think we can both agree that’s for the best.” Adela gave her a sidelong glance. “Though you have my curiosity.”
“I was thinking about how I might have been overstepping of late.”
“Ah…” Adela hummed. “Our conversation still lingers with you.”
“Only because I’m confronted with its original subject.” Eira gestured to the island that was slowly growing on the horizon. “I was reflecting on everything I still had yet to do.”
“Good.” Adela rested both hands on her cane, keeping her focus to sea. “Complacency will be the death of you.”
Eira gave a small nod and allowed the conversation to be drowned out by the waves that broke against the sturdy hull of theStormfrost. The sun continued to ascend, its rays parting the chill gloom that settled on the island, turning it from little more than a shadowy gem to a sparkling jewel of the seas. It was held fast in a glacial embrace so cold that it almost glowed a brilliantblue in the morning light. So cold that time itself seemed to be captured in the grip of its eternal winter.
Adela narrowed her eyes and lifted her cane as her magic swelled in tandem. It was so rare to see or feel any kind of tell from the woman that Eira’s gaze was drawn instantly to her. When she lowered her cane with a softtap, magic exploded outward. It rushed across the surface of the ocean as if fired from theStormfrostherself. The magic condensed on the seas, merging with every breaking wave. The swell rose to epic proportions, casting a long shadow, as it drew near to the Isle of Frost.
As the tidal wave broke against the frozen land, a low rumbling could be heard, not just felt, deep within the earth. Adela’s magic had somehow crashed against the very foundation of the earth and even the air shivered with fear. The island came alive to her will. A thunderouscrackechoed over the seas, drawing a cryptic smile into the corners of Adela’s lips.
